Note from the author: Everything in italics is scripted! There will be chapters that will only contain the main-story, chapters with the main-story and scripted scenes and chapters, in which everything is scripted. I try to make it as exciting as possible.
Chapter 2:
The filmcrew brought their new members to their temporary doss. Jessie was led to a well equipped trailer. It was so large that they managed it to build a pool inside the caravan. Besides the swimming hole, there was a bar, a king-size bed, two bathrooms, a television room and a small terrace with a view to a beautifully maintained garden. The magenta-haired woman was overwhelmed with emotion. Never had she been granted to live in luxury. The only thing she knew were hard slides, tree strumps and cold, metallic benches in the park. Jessie wanted to hide her feelings and tried to blink back tears, after all, she was considered to be a real diva and she had to behave like one. The young lady asked her personal assistant MacCauley to mix her a refreshing drink and sat down on a deckchair in front of her entrance door. Even-temperedly and self-opinionated she put her sunglasses on and waited for someone to fan her.
„She's already having her head in the clouds", James sighted and accompanied Meowth to their private camper which they shared, just like Misty, Ash and Brock shared one on their own. It was a little bit smaller than Jessie's even though James had been recruited for the second main role, but he didn't bother about these conditions and jumped on the fleecy, purple couch.
„No time to take a nap, actors", Mr. Bergspiel yelled. He asked them to get together in front of the Schlüter-Manor in about ten minutes. It was time to present the plot, the roles and his true intentions behind this short.
Everyone received a personalized chair with his or her name written on the chairback. Jessie sat down opposite James. Brock took a seat next to his lavender-haired actor colleague and Misty and Ash fought over one seat, until Mr. Bergspiel ordered them to shut up and listen to his announcement.
„Thank you for showing up. I think we're ready to talk about the plot of the movie and the roles you are given. The movie is called „Maria's Butler". It's not only a musical, but also a romantic tragedy", the director explained. Jessie and James exchanged meaningful looks.
„First of all, take a look at this excellent filming location. We obtained shooting permits from the owner. The Manor is old and dignified, a splendid specimen", Mr. Bergspiel pointed at a come down ramshakle hut behind them. The windows were broken and they spotted a wall covered with graffiti. The garden looked like an overgrown primeval forest. Anyways, no one dared to contradict, they nodded approvingly.
„Maria is a noblewoman who is secretly in love with Johann, her butler. Most of the time, you'll see just the two of them in front of the cam, both too shy to confess their feelings, but always ready to give hints. The movie should make people cry and laugh at the same time", now he approached Jessie.
„You're going to impersonate Maria. She used to be a cheerful nature, merry and open-minded, but she's having a hard time, because she's convinced that Johann doesn't reciprocate her feelings. Sometimes, she appears to be bossy and intimidating, but that's because she has absolutely no joy in her life. Do you think you can get these character traits across?", Mr. Bergspiel wanted to know.
„She just has to be herself", Meowth whispered into James' ear. His friend chuckled.
Jessie nodded and they could hear her peal out loud in laughter.
„That's nothing! I've played more complex and profound roles in kindergarten",
she showed off.
The director clapped his hands.
„Brava! Brava! I knew that I made the right choice", he was fully convinced of Jessie.
Now, he turned to James.
„Let me tell you something about Johann. Do you know „Blackadder"?", Mr. Bergspiel asked. James shook his head. He had never heard mentioning this name before.
„You should act like him", the director added. Brock stuck his oar in.
„Wasn't he an egocentric, facetious and narcissitic butler from an old British TV-Show that ran during the 80ies?", the boy assumed.
„Exactly! „Blackadder The Third". That's what I want to see from you, James",
Mr. Bergspiel had high expectations.
„Why would someone like Jessie love me..., I mean love Johann, I mean, why could Maria possibly love Johann? He appears to be such a prickly character", James had almost misspoke himself.
Jessie listened attentively, she was more than happy to get so much screentime with her partner. She wanted to make overtures to James and it was way easier to do so on screen than in real life. She never had the courage to call him on feelings and heartaches, but, thanks to this movie, she would be able to converge. Jessie had been in love with James for a couple of months. After saving him from the Ghost of Maiden's Peak, she realized that there was more between her and this simpleton. Jessie cared for him. She would never admit it, but she liked this pathetic guy. She was certain that he wouldn't betray her like her faded loves did. Of course, she would never act like a naive and dependent dolly in public, she was too stubborn to make the first step, but now, Jessie was ready to take advantage of this situation. Unfortunately, she didn't know how James felt.
„Maybe she loves him, because she can trust him?", Jessie suggested. Everyone turned around to her. Misty was able to read between the lines. Sooner or later, she would confront Jessie with some awkward query.
„I mean, Johann seems to be the only guy in her life along with some other staff, court jesters and cooks, but they have only minor roles", Jessie had already read some pages of her script.
„And", she emphasized, „every film needs a good story about love and sacrifices and I'm going to be the heroine, a lovely and svelte lady to fight for", she added. James was shocked. His friend tended to exaggerations, but he didn't know that Jessie was so obsessed with infantine fantasies about a happily ever after. He was aware that she desired a romantic adventure, but couldn't she pull herself together and think rationally?
„This movie has to be perfect! No bloopers, no muffed scenes, no terrible acting!",
Mr. Bergspiel brought it home.
„So, why did you hire Jessie?", an incautious word escaped Meowth. Jessie hit his head with the script.
„Because the role of Maria fits her like glove, I'm absolutely convinced of it", the director said.
„Sir, I was wondering, if this film should become your masterpiece, why on earth are you working with laymen?", Misty wondered.
The director coughed slightly. „It's a noncompete agreement", he began. „The task is to shoot a short without professinonals in front of the camera. I need to win, I don't want Noleen to beat me again!", he stamped his foot like a little kid, rocking his chair. Ash and his friends flinched.
„Before I for...", Mr. Bergspiel had something on his mind.
„Another question, Sir", James interrupted. „Who takes care of our Pokémon while we're shooting the scenes? I want my little babies to be safe and well-protected", he said with a soft but determined voice, stroking his Pokéballs.
„Don't you ever interrupt me!", Mr. Bergspiel yelled. James sang small.
„The crew will look after your Pokémon, no need to worry", the director explained.
„And where do they keep them?", Jessie wondered. They had to know their abode and find a way to steal them.
„Backstage, there is a holding area", Mr. Bergspiel answered. „Before I for...", he started again, this time, it was Ash who had to rid himself of something.
„What about special effects?", the kid asked.
The director was fuming. He was blind with rage, his head was as red as a beetroot.
„No interruption! We don't have special effects, we use attacks from our Pokémon to create stunning scenes", he commented.
„Before I forget! I chose a song for each of you. You will perform it during the movie. I hope that I met your taste. Miss Jessie, your song is „Fading like a Flower" by Roxette, don't disappoint me, it's the grand finale", he took Jessie's hands. „Please, this is the crucial scene, I want to see sophistication, comeliness, a touching moment, an unforgettable instant", he was almost whimpering. Jessie knew that this was her only chance to become famous and she wanted to grab this opportunity.
Mr. Bergspiel talked to Ash, Misty and Brock about their roles and they agreed that some of the scenes needed to be shot until midnight. He wanted them to learn their lines by heart and get their roles down pat.
„Hey, what about me?", Meowth wanted to know.
„Oh, of course. You, my little friend, are going to be the director's assistant. How does that sound?", Mr. Bergspiel declared.
Meowth rubbed his paws.
„I will lead them by the nose", he thought and grinned mischievously.
James disappeared in his trailer. He was leafing through his script when suddenly, he noticed a particular scene. It was written in big letters: MARIA AND JOHANN KISS.
He blanched with fear.
„Meowth!", he cried out. The cat-Pokémon jumped on the table.
„What's wrong, Jimmy?", he asked.
„Take a look at that", James was shaking all over. Meowth read the words and his jaw dropped.
„I can't kiss Jessie. I'm not ready, we're just friends, I mean, that doesn't fit us...right?", James stuttered.
„Jimmy, sometimes you need to take the plunge. It's scripted, you have to do it! This is an instruction from the director's assistant", the cat-Pokémon said.
„Never! Not in a billion years! I'm sorry, Meowth, but I need to get out of here", James grabbed his jacket, the keys to their caravan and rushed off into the night.