The Contest Winner

The phone rang. I knew it was the desk. I had made arrangements with the clerk downstairs to give me a wake up call at 6:30 in the morning upon our return from dinner last night. I picked up the phone, my eyes still shut, and lazily dragged it over to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Good morning, sunshine!" a deep and beautifully sexy voice said. That got my attention right away and I opened my eyes.

"It's time for you to start your day. You've got a lot going on and we wouldn't want you to miss out on any of it."

Even though I was fully enjoying the sound of the man's voice purring into my ear, I thought that he was being rather personal. I wrinkled up my forehead, drawing my eyebrows together in a questioning frown.

"This isn't the front desk, is it?"

I heard a chuckle. "No, I'm not from the front desk."

"Then, who are you?"

"I'm just your wake up call, that’s all."

"Are you from Renaissance?"

"You could say that. Now, chop, chop, time's a wastin'. You don’t want to be late to the set now, right?"

"No."

"Well, get moving then. I look forward to your arrival."

"Who is this? . ." It was too late. The man had already hung up.

I lay there another minute, thinking how strange that call was, when the phone rang again. I picked it up once more.

"Yes?"

"Morning! This is the front desk calling. You requested a wake up call for 6:30 AM."

"Yes, thank you."

"You're welcome, ma'am. Have a nice day!" They hung up.

I got out of bed, concluding that the first caller must have been a caller from Renaissance. He just sounded so strange - so personal. Like he knew me or something. Oh well!

I quickly shook the incident from my mind as I hopped into the shower. I dressed and fixed my hair and make up, in case they were going to take pictures, and headed downstairs to the car waiting outside the hotel, just as Ruby had said.

******************

Ruby was waiting for me at the production camp entrance. This was the day that I toured the facility and got to learn about what really went on behind the scenes of a television production. I met dir director, various cameramen, costume and lighting folks, and just about anyone else that makes the show work. Once again, I was impressed at the friendly smiles and warm greetings all the New Zealanders freely expressed. Everyone made me feel quite comfortable and at ease. Any nervousness I had when I left the hotel that morning was gone inside of an hour of being there.

Ruby and I arrived at the wardrobe trailer, where I met Annie. She was going to be fitting me for a costume. She glanced over my not-so-bad figure and quickly surmised exactly how to outfit me. She rushed off into an adjoining room to retrieve a few pieces from the vast wardrobe. While Annie worked on me with her tape measure and straight pins, Ruby and I chatted some more.

"Boy, Ruby, is everyone always so nice and friendly?"

Ruby sort of snickered under her breath. "Well, most of the time, yes. But, believe me, there are days when nothing goes right and the entire cast and crew are on edge or at each other's throats. We're just normal folk, down here. Just like any other place, I guess."

"Well, I'm glad they're on their best behavior today. I don't know what I would do if the director was yelling at me or if Xena copped a killer attitude with me and decided to ‘slice’ my part out of the script with her chakram," I joked.

"You'll do just fine," Ruby assured me. "It's really not as hard as it looks. And besides, your actual camera time won’t be that long by the time editing and post-production get done with it. Everyone around here enjoys what he or she does. The cast is professional and lighthearted, easy to work with. You'll see."

I smiled largely. "I can't wait to meet everyone. This is sooo exciting!"

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Ginger. We couldn't have picked a better grand prizewinner than you. My biggest fear, as the PR director's assistant, is getting a contest winner that has no personality. Or some whacked-out psycho who ruins the scene or stalks one of our stars."

“Do people really do that stuff?"

"Yes. I remember about two years ago, some guy was harassing poor ol’ Renee, Renee O’Connor, that is. Apparently, this guy looked a lot like Kevin Smith's character, Ares, and really thought that Renee was Gabrielle. It was a terrible situation for her. Although he only made it to her trailer one time, he tormented her by phone and in other ways."

"How did he make it past the gate?"

"That's the spooky part. No one else had seen him. Coming or going. Renee said she turned from the stranger to call security and when she turned back, the man was gone. She said he looked to have stolen one of Kev's costumes, ‘cause he was all decked out like Ares. We posted some private security around Renee for the next year, even though she had quit receiving the phone calls about two months after his appearance. People are strange!"

"Boy, I never realized what a target an actor, or anyone in the public eye for that matter, could be. Well, I promise not to stalk anyone while I'm visiting!"

"I'm sure the entire cast will breath a sigh of relief, Ginger!" she teased.

"There! That'll do it," Annie said, as she backed away to view her handiwork.

I turned to look into the mirror and smiled. The outfit reminded me of Discord's outfit, only more feminine. It was a short leather skirt with a tight fitting halter, but I wasn't really exposing too much skin with the sheer, light flowing wrap artistically draped over me.

"Hey, Annie. That looks great. One of Ares' priestesses or servants for sure," Ruby told her."Oh"Oh, PLEASE, take me to my lord and master, Ruby," I said, holding out my arms in her direction.

"I take it you're one of Kev's fans?"

I just smiled and nodded my head enthusiastically.

I swear, it must have been the Fates at work, but just then, Kevin Smith popped into the trailer carrying his costume.

"Annie, some of the studs fell off my vest again. Think you can fix them before filming tomorrow, aye?" he said as he entered. Then he saw Ruby and me. "Oh, sorry, I should have knocked first. Didn't know you had a roomful of mates, aye." He smiled at both of us. "Hi, Ruby. What are you doing in wardrobe?"

"Hi, Kev. I'm getting Ginger fitted for her costume. She’s the winner of the contest and gets to be in Thursday's filming. A scene with you, no less." She turned to look at me, but I hadn't moved. I was frozen in awe at Kevin's presence. "Ginger, meet Kevin Smith. Ginger? Ginger?"

"Um . . . hi," I managed to squeak out. I know my face was completely red, I could feel the heat in my cheeks.

Kevin smiled at me and I nearly melted on the spot. Just how in the hell am I actually supposed to act in a scene with this man when he affects me this way?

"Hi, Ginger! Enjoying your trip to New Zealand?"

I shook my head, my eyes never leaving his face. "Um-hum!"

"That's great, mate!" He turned to Annie, handing her his vest. "Could you be a doll and . . ."
Annie cut him off. "Ya, ya. But this is the last time, Kev. You've got to be kinder to your costumes," she said, laughing.

Kevin grabbed her shoulders from behind her and kissed her cheek, smiling. "You're always so good to me, Annie. What would Ares do without you to help keep him looking so great, aye?"

"Oh, I hardly think it's Ares’ clothes that have all those young women lusting after him. Right, Ginger?"

Annie caught me off guard. Open mouth - insert foot. "Oh yeah, I bet you wouldn't need to wear a costume at all to make us all crazy for you. Oops, I mean, well . . . I . . . oh, forget it." Now I know my face was red. Red with embarrassment.

"You're probably right, Ginger. Talk about racking in the ratings, aye? That would sure do it!" Kevin joked.

Everyone got a good laugh out of it anyway, but I felt like an idiot.

"Well it was nice meeting you, Ginger. We'll see ya tomorrow on the set. Cheers, ladies." He bowed slightly and exited the trailer.

Annie turned to me. "Okay, Ginger. You can change out of that costume and back into your own clothes. I'll have this ready for you by rehearsal time tomorrow."

I went into the dressing room to change and heard Ruby talking to me.

"Well, you and Kev seemed to hit it off all right, huh?"

"Oh, sure, Ruby. If you consider embarrassing myself as hitting it off. Sure!" I said sarcastically.

"Don't be so worried about it. Kevin's very easy to work with. You wait and see. By the end of rehearsal tomorrow, you won't even be thinking of him as a star. He makes everyone around him feel more than comfortable."

"I hope so," I said as I exited the dressing room handhanded Annie my outfit. I thanked the seamstress and told her I'd see her tomorrow, and then Ruby and I left and headed back to the hotel.

During the drive back, Ruby strongly suggested I practice my few lines in front of a mirror or with my friend for at least a couple of hours tonight. It would be much easier for me if I had the lines memorized, although it wasn't necessary. She assured me that the director was aware that in this type of situation, someone like me is bound to be nervous and perhaps forget my lines.

Nonetheless, I told Ruby I would practice and I wouldn't let her down. I was determined to make a good impression in my 'acting debut.'

*****************

Later that evening, after Melanie got back from the beach and showered, she had me fill her in on all the details. The first thing I told her about was how I made such a fool out of myself in front of Kevin.

"Oh, Melanie. I gotta tell you, though. When he sm at at me . . ."

"Yes?" Mel said with wide eyes.

"Girl, if I’d been ice cream, I would have been a wet, sticky mess all sprawled out on the floor in front of him," I told her and then tilted my head to the side and smiled wickedly at the memory of being in the same room as him. "I was still wet and sticky, I just wasn't all sprawled out on the floor in front of him. Not that I didn't want to be . . ."

"Ginger, you are so bad!" Mel teased. "Is he as good looking in person as he is on TV?"

"Oh, yeah!"

"Oh, you lucky bitch! All the good stuff always happens to you. Ever since I've known you, Ginger. You're so lucky that way."

"Hey, don't forget, you're gonna get to meet him, too. On Friday. At the luncheon. Remember?"

"That's right! I get to go to that. Cool! Well, then, I guess it's okay that all the good stuff happens to you, as long as you keep taking me along for the ride," she joked.

"Will you help me practice my part?"

"I guess so. Sure! It'll be fun, I bet. What do you want me to do?"

I handed Melanie the script. "Can you read the other parts, so I can memorize my lines?"

"Okay, Ging. I'll start a couple lines before you come in. Ready?"

I nodded.

"Okay, here goes. 'Now, now, Xena. No need to get all bent out of shape about it. Besides, what could you offer me that I don’t already have?' It says here Ares pauses and then calls for: Miranda?"

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Come."

"As you wish, Master."

"Okay, now Xena is talking to you - your highness," Mel laughed.

"Yeah, and don't you forget it - servant," I teased.

We both laughed. "No, seriously now, Xena says to you, 'Miranda? Miranda, the daughter of King Samhajan?'"

"Yes, that is correct."

"What are you doing here with Ares? Don't you know your father has been heartbroken since you suddenly left the castle? The Kingdom of Augustine is falling apart since you left. All the king does is sit on his throne wondering why you left. You have to return, Miranda, before the entire kingdom is lost!""No"Now Xena, why would Miranda want to go back to that boring existence? Only here, with me, does she have any certainty about her life. Right, lover?"

"Yes, Ares. Only with you, my Lord."

"Okay, then Xena says, ‘What have you done to her, Ares?’ And Ares says, ‘I\donedone nothing to the sweet princess, Xena. She's here because she wants to be.'"

Melanie stopped reading the script and told me that was the end of my lines.

"Let's do it again," I said.

We continued to practice for another hour or so, until I was sure I had all the lines memorized, and realized my stomach was growling.

"You wanna go get something to eat?" I asked.

"Okay, I saw what looked to be a fun place when I was out driving around today. It's about a half-hour’s ride from here."

"Okay, just let me go and change my clothes real quick and we can head out."

While I was in the bedroom changing, I heard the phone ring. I called to Melanie.

"Hey, Mel? Would you get the phone, please?"

"What are you talking about, Ginger? The phone's not ringing," she called back.

I froze and looked at the phone on the end table by my bed. I could hear it ring clearly, and saw the little red light on the dialing plate flashing with each ring.

I walked over to it, saying to myself, "What do you mean it's not ringing? Are you deaf, Melanie?" I picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Is that you, sunshine?"

It was thme mme man who called me that morning to wake me up. I suddenly felt lightheaded.

"Who is this?"

"Just an admirer."

"What do you want?"

"I just wanted to see how things went today on the set of Xena."

I didn't say anything. There was a long moment of uncomfortable silence.

"Well? How did it go?" the voice purred again.

"It went fine. Who are you?" I asked again.

"A friend."

"Well a friend would tell me his name. And since you are reluctant to do that, this conversation is over."

I slammed down the phone, feeling a bit freaked out about the call. Apparently, he knew who I was. Otherwise, how would he have known where I’d been that day? I heard Melanie talking to me from the other room.

"Did you say something, Ging?"

"No."

Melanie appeared in my doorway. "That's funny. I could have sworn that I heard you talkin som someone, me for instance." She shrugged it off and went back to her room. "You almost ready?" I heard her say as she walked back.

"Ya, I just need to put my shoes on." I grabbed them from the closet floor and sat down on the bed to put them on. The phone rang again. This time I didn't answer it. I just sat there and stared at it. Melanie entered a moment later.

"Aren't you going to answer that?"

"You can hear it ringing?"

"Of course, silly." She looked at me strangely and reached for the receiver. "Hello?"

"Yes, she's here. One moment please."

Melanie held the receiver out for me to take.

"Who is it?" I asked while taking it from her hand.

"Someone in the script department at Renaissance."

Relief crossed my face as I brought the phone to my ear. "Yes, this is Ginger."

"You really should be practicing your lines and not going out to party on the town tonight!"

It was the same man who called moments ago. How did he know I was going out? My face turned pale as a ghost. I quickly slammed down the receiver and stood abruptly.

"Let's go. I nee get get out of this hotel room."

"What's wrong, Ginger? Is everything all right? Why did you hang up on that man?"

"I'll tell you in the car. Let's just get going, okay?"

"Sure, Ging. We can go now."

********************

On the way to the restaurant/club, I told Melanie about the strange calls from the man. As usual, Melanie had a way of easing my troubled mind with her logical assessment of the situation. Explaining it away with some funky notion that it was probably just Renaissance's way of testing me to make sure I wouldn’t give up any trade secrets.

At the time, it made perfect sense, plus it was a whole lot easier to accept that as the reason than what I was thinking, which was some psychopath was stalking me. Thanks to Ruby for putting that idea in my head.

We enjoyed our evening out; dinner, drinks and dancing the night away with some of the local boys we met ae bae bar. We finally arrived back at the hotel around 1:00 AM and I headed directly to bed, knowing I had an early start the following day.