colours of the rainbow

'Who was it?' Desiree asks Carlos moving her palm on his chest.

'Alice,' he replies.

'What did she say?'

'She said Bower wants to mess up our already tithering lives. He sent an article and supporting photos of Charmaine pecking Mark, of her then giving Bill an open-mouth kiss. In the evening just after he had done scene-shootings for a day, at a parking lot.'

'What else did she tell you?'

'She advised me to stop calling her Miss Mcnott but, Alice.'

'That's out of the question. That's not a point I'm looking for. Calling her whatever name she thinks is appropriate doesn't stop her from reconsidering the article in question and publish it whenever she has run out of more scandalous stories to publish about we public figures. I've got a good mind of hitting the road to her office right now.'

'That would be unwise. I think you're a little bit harsh. You're yet to hear the rest of what I've to say. Now listen; from what she told me, there'll be no need for us to fear anything.'

'We've just become an item. Anything negative may wholly bring us to our knees. We've a baby on the way, a house and cars to pay off. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into by believing her every word.'

'Bower is nothing. Remember the meeting we just had at Sunday Press's office?'

'Yes.'

'We've teamed up with them. I believe it wasn't just about eating with them. The projects they're planning to use us on are real organisation names. You could go online if you're doubtful.'

'I've done so the very day that I've left their office. It's just that those people change colours. A rainbow is better because a couple of seconds or minutes after the rain it appears, disappears only to appear at some area after rainfall, then disappear again.'

'We're the colours of the rainbow. You needn't fear them gray scales.'

'You call them that?'

'Yes. They tend to make us darker in deeds as if they themselves don't have anything to hide. Let's trust Alice on this one.'

Yes, let's try.'


'

learn from us

'Does running away from the infatuated not tire you?' Tanya asks Mark.

'I'm new to this field,' he replies. Therefore any fan coming my way doesn't scare me. The other thing is; they're human just like me.'

'Of course, we're.'

'Even when I feel tired, I still try to make some time to talk to them. After all, we're who we're because of them.'

'You're on point today, hey?'

'Maybe I've talking rubbish during the holidays but, they were well-spent. With you around nothing can depress me. You're a soothing kind of a fellow who deserves praise every day of her life. Getting paid by cheques, though different from being paid through commission, annoys me.'

'What else annoys you?'

'Travelling.'

'That should be fun. You're boring when it comes to that. You must improve. Do you know Bower?'

'Talk about the devil!'

'Do you hate him?'

'Yes. People of his kind deserves to be hated at any given chance. How many lives has he destroyed? How many more he is still keen to destroy?'

'I'm not sure about the statistics but, many many more. So long as he doesn't find himself another job which he'll be in the public eye but, with less beings to rubbish in order for him to get paid.I love travelling and I'm puzzled that you let a former travel writer determine your likes and dislikes. I don't know you as an indoor person. People who tour are full of verve. They meet a lot of interesting people and learn how to live life better from them.'

'I get recognised everywhere. Maybe it has to do with my part time sales job. On set, I hate it when I have to re-do a scene. Don't these producers know that we've a life apart from the impersonations that we get paid for?'

'They know. It's just that we do things non verbally much better than a person on the street would.'

'Then do we really have to endure periods of frustrations? Not knowing where we'd get our next meal from because there isn't enough money in their coffers to fund their next project?'

'It's your problem that you're love serials. I go to soapy auditions only. They're now used to me. I could be number one hundred on the queue, they'll call my name.Getting hot under the caller will only make you poor, Mark. Learn from us.'

'I don't want to sound sexist but, the truth is; city life is more kind to women than it is to us men.'

'You sound like Bill. Before he pops up from nowhere like he's Jack in the Box, leave.'

'The next episode will be our last. Where would I get money to pay the rent from?'

Tanya shrugs.

analogy

'Hello?'

'It's Alice here,' Alice McNott says. The infamous Miss Alice McNott.'

'A chill runs down my spine as I hear the sound of your voice,' replies Carlos.

'I've got some bad news for you, sir.'

'Leave sir to the nerds andcall me Carlos.'

'At your service.'

'So you say you got bad news for me.'

'Yes, but, not so bad for a woman in control of the situation like me.'

'Please get to the bottom of that.'

'Carlos?'

'Alice?'

'Are you listening?'

'Yes.'

'You sound somewhat uninterested in what I'm about to tell you. Is there something that you're trying to hide from me?'

'No, Alice.'

'Good. Now listen to what I'm about to tell you.'

'I'm listening.'

'There's this journo who works under me. He just sent an article slaying a dozen of inner city actors and didn't spare you his whip. Just by going through it, tears trickled down my face, messing my make up. There's a shot of you outside Tanya's home stone drunk.Then of Charmaine kissing Desiree's ex. What's his name again?'

'Mark.'

'Yes, Mark. And you and Desiree have got something going on right now, hey?'

'Yes.'

'Right. Bill's with Tanya for now, hey?'

'Yes.'

'That makes Mark a thief or Tanya a nymphomaniac in some way or another. Maybe that's according to my analogy. I may be wrong. I'm sorry if that hurts but, I had to let you know about the love angles including you, which may be detrimental to your career at large. At large; means not only your but, your friends included.'


Desiree hands him a glass of bubbly.


'Thank you!'

'Dont' cut me off, Carlos. This isn't the end of the story just yet.'

'Not yet, Alice. I was receiving a glass of bubbly from my beloved, soon to be wedded, angel of mine, Desiree. She deserves a crown because she sticks with me through thick and thin.'

'The thought of firing Bower had crossed my mind until I gave his way of doing things a thought. He has never disappointed me for some time. He is only human and will surely get over the thinking of pursuing people I haven't asked him to. He having had wasted his own resources I believe, is punishment enough.'

'We know him that way.'

'His crap creeped in an hour after our end of the year office party. I'm way too tired for his **s. I read the article in patches but, it surely reads like a movie script to those not in the know. Had I not been here, maybe one of my cleaners could've had a fun day of her life reading it.'

'You're an editor Alice. You decide what's wright or wrong for your press. If  I'm to be a front page canditate so be it. For now all I need to hear are seductive whispers of my sidekick.And not forgetting the sweet taste of her lips.She too seems worn out by too much limelight that she somewhat feel safe under my wing.'

'Don't worry yourself to death. Remember; you're now part of us. Those haters who are used to seeing you front page for all the wrong reason will see more of you for all wright reasons. Be sure that this year will be the best ever for you.'

'Before you go, kindly send me a copy of Bower's mad article.

He bursts into a fete of laughter.

Desiree laughs too.

So does Alice.

unprofessional

Here we go again, Sunday Press editor, Miss Alice McNott thoughtfully says.

Irritated by an article she has just received through an e-mail, she angrily punches numbers on her office phone.

'Just what I was hoping for,' Bower says by the other end of the line. How may I help you Miss McNott?'

'Call me Alice,' she replies. Everybody has gone home to their respective families, relatives and friend. There you're in a suburb alone. What's it that you would like me to do with this article?'

'I would like you to publish that earnestly.'

'Bower?'

'Ma'am?'

'How could you bring your stature as a good reporter down to this effect?'

'I don't understand ma'am. Kindly elaborate.'

'Your article is in very bad taste. Don't you know that those people are going to work for us in due course?'

'I know but the truth shall set each and everyone of us at Sunday Press free. You always taught us the truth.'

'Not controversy!'

'I sent that copy for you to publish in next Sunday's edition. Maybe City Times could benefit from it too.'

'I've asked my assistants not to touch it. I didn't hand any of you a task or project since we're on holidays. You're single and could do with some girl. We've made peace with actors for this year at least. Only those
who disrespects will get to feel my wrath. It's not wise to further destroy a person who is trying his best to change his life. That, I mean Tanya, got kicked out of two soapies in one season. Think about what tailing her may do to her career.'

'I know but, a little bit of exposure wont do any of them harm. It would however, raise their soapies' rates.'

'I hear your line of argument but, don't you think that's a bit unprofessional?'

'Unprofessional, me unprofessional?'

'I'm talking to you. Do you know what does unprofessional mean?'

'Yes. The opposite of professional.'

'Don't answer me like you would a girl from the bundus. I'm your boss dammit!'

'Unprofessional is doing things out of anger instead of logical reasoning.'

'Good!'

'Is that a signal or the end of my research efforts?'

'Are you short of festive conquests?'

'No.'

'We're all popping champagnes all over the place. There you're by yourself thinking about ways to make a quick buck. You've made no research. You were present during that meeting with the actors. Why then should you turn around and try that you'd get the go ahead to tarnish their good names?'

'I can feel your anger within these wires. I'm getting sunburnt in this corner that I'm sitting in. The truth is, I don't trust city girls for now. I'm alone at this uptown eatery. My work has been done through wi-fi. I paid a fortune to them to get the article off the ground. I know that you'll give me more projects to do. To answer your earlier question; I'm indeed in need of some cash injection.'

'Enjoy your holidays. If something comes up besides actors misbehaving, call me.'

'I will ma'am.'

open relationship

'This whole love scenes rhetoric is somewhat twisted,' Bill tells Charmaine. You lie next to a fellow actor, feel her warmth but, you're sure as hell itself that all you'll get out of it is a kiss and a hug.'

'You're a prime-time actor,' she replies.Not some adult film gigolo. Families musn't supposed to be subjected to the things you hold dear because besides children being around, not all of us are addicted to your shit.'

'I know but, there was a time in life when I considered being a male prostitute. I flung the moral book straight out of my bedroom window. I thought to myself, here I'm being good to anybody else I get to cross my path with but, no one really cares how I'm doing. Nobody!'

'Yho!'

'Yes. I had an apartment in town and was running out of money to pay the rent but, nothing I told my landlord made sense to him. I fought with him till one freakish evening when a married woman tripped and fell face down on my hands. She was heading to our table. I was too drunk but, I just was able to catch her.
I was with two hookers drinking the night away. She gave me her car keys and one thing turned into another. I couldn't believe how lucky I was as we entered her house. Unluckily, her husband found out through people who are supposed to be minding their own business and we had to end it. But she supported me like I was her kid, paid my rent for six months 'til I came accross Tanya. I wanted any job in the world and became her chauffeur then her boyfriend.'

'I wont fool around with you anytime soon. I can't understand how one person can have such luck.'

'If I wanted to have you, I could've a long time ago. I just want us to have fun. As they always say; no strings attached.'

'That was just a kiss. Don't mistaken it for love. I want to tell Tanya about the open relationship plan I have in mind. Most couples do it. Spending the rest of one's life with one woman wont do it for me.'

free lessons

Sigh-i-lent night, sings Desiree. Ho-oly night, mother and child. Sleep in heavenly pea eace, sleep in heavenly peace.

'Well, Carlos says. You're a singer of devine distinction. Consider me your Father Christmas but, remember one thing; kids seat on his lap. You'll always be my baby. I hope you don't mind me calling you baby.'

'Not at all,' she replies.

She goes to him, puts her arms around his neck and; sits down on his lap.Gives him a kiss of his life.

He pulls his mouth from hers,swallows a bit of her saliva and say; 'That was helluva kiss.'

She gets off his lap and replies: 'I'm as out of breath as you. It's just that your sweet cherry lips are too sweet to let go off. I love nibling things resembling a taste of chocolate. I love it when a man is especially mouth clean. No one wants to swallow yesterday's food out of someone's mouth.'

'That was Guiness World Book type of a record.'

'We just been to the mall. I had thought we'd bump into someone we know but, that hasn't been the case.'

'I love ordinary people. I think being a C grade star gives me more peace than the most sort after performers because I've more time to fool around with you.'

'Don't fool yourself loverboy. You'll soon feel the pressure of being an A lister star.'

'Why when they are so much reverred get scolded over minitial things like eating a meal at a cafe?'

'It's because people look up to them. We can't have people we view as role models cut their hair or fine tune it at an unknown, cheap barber. That's a new low. If you're with us, you must act the part. We don't want palookas.'


'I only do four shoots a day. That's boring. What am I supposed to do with the rest of my time?'

'Study. Go to the library and do some research. You can't be an airheaded tv star. You must also pay attention to theatre because when you're out of tv, you must still do something to keep our home fires burning. We don't want a situation where either or both of us are out of work but, get more bill letters than ordinary Joes who are till waiting for High Court case to declare someone liable for their poverty state.'

'I don't think I'd be able to be natural. In theatre people are watching you closely. There's no script editing or shooting. How would I be able to keep up?'

'Everything in this world today is live. The tweets you post online reflect more about you to others than you think. Every week if not day, we sell our souls online. I know what I say isn't good for marketing. I better say these things to you than to a journalist. Anyway, those people are only doing their jobs. without they writing good about us, we'll be doomed.'

'But they still unsettle me.'

'All you have to do is to behave yourself.'

'I've given you free lessons on how to be a star, now listen to me clearly. I would like us to invite every of our friends or enemies to come eat new year lunch with us. That include your sworn, worst enemy, Mark.'

'Are you nuts?'

'I wish we were. It wouldn't hurt spending time in a loony house watching looney tunes with people you love.'

'Suit yourself.'

He stands up from their Christmas eve dinner table and walks away to the balcony.

The festive spirit has gotten inside of him, she thoughtfully says as she picks a sparkling glass of pure wine.

boundaries

'So you think you truly living the life?' Charmaine asks Mark.

           'I always do,'he replies. 'Sometimes people envy us from the distance. And murmur about tangible things. The environment makes me who I be.'

'Go on.'

          'I was a choirboy since I was a teenager. Girls moms and their pops put a lot of strain on me. My relationships never lasted longer enough. The very same people started branding me a player. Forgetting they're the ones who made me. I hate this pin up tag they've placed upon me.'


           'So you rather fake poverty than let them dictate to you how to live your life?'

            'I fake not anything. Not many a woman these days gets an opportunity to chat with me. You're lucky because you're in a circle of winners. When we shine we say; there are no squares in a circle of winners.'

'I just managed to create one in celebrity circles. Here I'm talking to a very much underrated tv star.'

          'In this community of us, no one does business with strangers. One false move, you're out. Don't even take reviews seriously. Individuals who does them just want to be us that's all. There's is no money in their line of work. They say Mark is a bad actor and the wet behind the ears hop at the back of their bandwagons.'

'Idiots.'

'Skin colour doesn't matter. We don't skim people ala credit cards. We just follow our hearts's desires.'

'True.What's your idea of heaven?'

'Come on. Is this a date?'

'Answer my question.'

'My idea of heaven is any man who isn't afraid to cross boundaries.'

           'I love a man who respects boundaries. My husband left me a couple of months back. He was jealous I ceased becoming a housewife but, a celebrity driver. He started to call me names and checked my phone calls. Mens contacts send a shiver down his spine. Bill and Tanya don't want to answer stupid questions so they're constantly chasing armatures out of their yard.'

'What do you say when all of that is happening?'

'I keep quiet.'

'Why are you still in the power circle?'

 'They say when you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. I'm tired of wearing an apron but, this is the life I chose.'

'Who are you dating?'

'I'm just too cocky to let anyone inside my heart now.'