Bernie
fought to bring his breathing under control and from tight lips spat out:
"Hayley Hampshire does not do nude scenes."
"And the swallows don't return to
Capistrano," muttered Hazel, realising that this unfolding drama
beat the film version hands down.
"This time she does," said Gio,
in a self congratulatory tone.
"Yeah," confirmed Hayley, in
pure street urchin.
Bernie's chubby fingers curled into fists.
"There's nothing in her contract or in the script that "
"Creative script changes. My prerogative."
Gio smirked, knowing he held the winning hand. Hayley sidled up to her
husband, ran her hand down his cheek, and assumed a little girl persona,
the chewing gum having taken a supernumery role for the moment. "Bernie,
my big boy. You wouldn't want your little baby to miss out on an Academy
Award by not doing this scene as the director asked, would you?"
Belinda felt that the chances of Hayley
and Oscar ever being in the same room at the same time was as remote as
Hayley actually laying her hands on the statuette - legally. Either the
prospect of a glittering prize, as unlikely as it may have been, or the
implied sexual undertone in Hayley's cooing intonation, caused Bernie's
anger to diminish somewhat. Taking advantage of the moment Hayley sealed
it with a long lingering kiss.
This tableau transfixed the remaining film
crew until Jack, after clearing his throat noisily, called: "All
remaining crew not required in this scene please leave now. Principals
to your first positions please."
Hayley took Bernie's hand and led him away
to the door leading to the North Drawing Room. With eyes filled with a
promise of sexual bliss she whispered: "Baby would love a cup of
coffee." Bernie, putty in her hands, melted further and with a gentle
push, Hayley sent him on his way. He disappeared from view, the picture
of a poor infatuated mortal dismissed by his personal goddess. The goddess
swung around and with a triumphant wink at Gio took her place on the set.
Sir Noel, already seated at the table,
applauded her softly. "My dear, such talent. Now if you could only
apply it to your work." Hayley, unsure if this was a compliment or
an insult, settled on the former and gave an imitation of a self-deprecating
smirk. She withdrew the wad of gum from her mouth and unceremoniously
jammed it on the underside of the seventeenth century cabinet.
Belinda gave a gasp of dismay at the desecration
of the treasure and Hazel almost had a convulsion. "The woman's a
congenital hooligan," she moaned.
Unaware of her transgression Hayley took
her mark before the camera.
Gio meandered over to Tim. "Do us
a favour, mate. Keep an eye on Bernie and make sure he stays away until
I get this scene in the can." He slapped Tim heavily on the shoulder
and turned back to the actors. With some reluctance Tim rose to his feet.
With a wistful look at Hayley and the unadorned display he was about to
miss, he left.
Hazel called mockingly after him in a parody
of Hayley's voice: "Never mind, my big boy. Baby will tell you all
about it later."
"Turn over."
"Speed."
"Mark it."
The camera assistant identified the take
with the clapper board, standby wardrobe removed the kimono from Hayley's
shoulders and the actress began her voluptuous dance. Using a bouquet
of flowers as tease, she ran it lightly and suggestively over her body
in a futile and false attempt at covering her nakedness. The atmosphere
on the set became electric as the dance progressed. Although the dance
centred on Sir Noel, who didn't need to act to indicate that he was enjoying
himself, it was plain to all in the room that Hayley was getting pleasure
from displaying her perfect unadorned body. Belinda glanced at Gio. Standing
by the camera his gaze was fixed on the naked cavorting figure, a wicked
smile of approval on his lips.
Hayley flung the bouquet of flowers at
the Duke, gave her raucous laugh and fell back into the Duke's embrace.
As they kissed, Belinda suspected that
there was more fervour expressed in this kiss than previous takes, at
least on the part of Sir Noel who seemed oblivious of the crew and appeared
to be quite satisfied if the kiss was to lead to further unscripted activities
not imagined by the original author of the play.
While they were thus engaged, Clarissa
in her role as the Duchess moved forward and, as was required in the scene,
surreptitiously tipped the contents of a small bottle into the goblet.
She then moved out of camera range. Sir Noel, with some difficulty, delivered
his lines of dialogue.
Hayley, with a broad smile, disengaged
herself from the Duke's exploring fingers, snatched up the goblet, and
eagerly drank the contents. Throwing the goblet to the floor, with a flirtatious
glance to Sir Noel, she began another wild dance.
Apart from the obvious erotic elements
the scene was much as been photographed earlier in the day. For a minute
Belinda watched the dance, fascinated by the total lack of inhibition
the young American was displaying as her dance became wilder and more
eccentric.
Her flawless skin, previously white, was
beginning to show a pink flush as she whirled and cavorted, arms flailing,
legs jerking. On and on she danced as though unable to stop.
But stop she did. Suddenly and violently.
Her hands began to claw at her skin, scratching
at the flesh as an inflamed nettle rash appeared on her torso. She clasped
her stomach as cramps took hold of her. With a tremendous gasp she turned
to face the camera and the assembled crew, her shocked eyes solid with
fright and terror. She clutched her throat.
Wheezing, gagging, gasping for breath as
though the task of bringing air into her lungs was beyond her reach, her
body went rigid. Her frantic, demanding gaze scoured the room as though
searching for some invisible object or being, to finally settle on Belinda.
Belinda, stunned by the occurrence, stared back unable to move, mesmerized
by this sudden horrifying development.
With a frightened muffled shriek that shook
her body and appealed for help, while feeble fingers tore at her throat,
Hayley buckled and collapsed onto the floor, her whole body writhing and
straining piteously in a vain attempt to breathe.