"Prattfall..."

Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...

Archived at the Normalverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, .com...

Summary: As you know I leave the "Pratt" to the Whedonverse, except for this one little bit...

In early 30's Hollywood Spike offers advice to a distant relative...

Part XIII...

Spike carefully explained to an exasperated...How the hell long are these people going to be with this crap, it's hot with this muck in here?...but by nature courteous Lugosi that no, in fact, he was not a studio messenger boy fetching him his long-delayed lunch but in fact a staff writer of Mr. Whale's bringing him some notes on the character he was being considered for...The Frankenstein Creature...

"I see..." Lugosi in chair with hairnet on, stared at the slight blonde man... "Well...Very kind of Mr. Whale..." he noted, nodding as he took the folder Spike offered... "It's rare I get to actually see a project in detail before I'm told I'm in...Thank him for me...And could you possibly take a look in the hall and see if the idiots working on me and this muck..." he indicated what appeared to be plaster or some such material, smeared on his face and partially on the hairnet...

"Glad to, sir..." Spike nodded... "And I'll try to get a call through to the studio cafeteria on that sandwich..." he went over to the door... Peering out...

Three men and a middle-aged woman hurrying his way...One of the men and the woman looking rather harassed and in workaday clothes...The makeup people, no doubt...Two beefy men in suits looking midway between harassed and harassing...Studio execs, mid-level, he thought...

Say, I'm becoming quite up on this place...Getting all the nuances and character types down...He thought, smiling inwardly while putting a non-committal, easily switched from nonchalance to groveling servitude, expression on his face...

The male stylist mopping brow...The female sighing...

Ah...Spike thought...So...

Things not going so well regards the magic of movie makeup?...

Excellent...

"Say?..." he called... "Are any of you helping Mr. Lugosi?...He's asked me to find someone to help him with his make-up..."

The two execs stopped in their tracks and eyed hm, suspiciously...

"Just who the hell are you?..." the taller of the two execs glared at him...The other eyeing him narrowly...The two makeup artists looked him over as well, but with no attempt to seem immediately intimidating...

"Assistant writer, Mr. Whale's team...William Soa..."

"Yeah, yeah...Tell Bela we'll take care of it, just to sit tight..." one of the execs frowned at him...

"Yeah, we'll take care of it..." the other exec, a chubbier, shorter clone of the first nodded...

They paused at the door and after a nervous mutual glance inside to see Lugosi on his chair, muttering in Hungarian...Pulled back for a conference with the two makeup people...

"Right..." Spike nodded pleasantly at the group...

They'll take care of it...

Oh, this is going to be a lot easier than we ever thought possible...

"Mr. Lugosi?..." he stepped back inside...

"Ok, folks..." A weary Ray eyed his cast from his post next to one of the cameras, John looking sourly by his side at several actors and extras... "It's been a long, grueling day, I know...You've been at it a long time...But we're almost there for the day and if we can just manage to stay on our feet a bit longer, we're done...So, everybody...Light and bright, this is a party...Great...Action..."

"Scene twelve, take fifteen..." clap of clapperboard...

Lockwood in tux sauntered briskly across the set, the ornate ballroom of a fairy-tale grandiose mansion...Several lovely young women in gowns, including Abigail and Joan turning from their partners to look at him as he passed...Behind them, Carole on cue smiling at him as her partner, a young, blond-haired fellow in tux frowned at her...Frances, seated on small sofa with male partner, likewise turning to look at the passing Cary...Dru, standing by the leading lady, who, affecting a shy and nervous manner, requested her suggestion of what to do "faced with a man like that", indicating the gallant but cynical charmer swaggering past...

"You know, darling..." airy wave of hand...Mocking smile...

Ummn...Dru froze, blinking at the camera...

Ummn...

"A man like that..." her partner hissed angrily...Ray sighing...

"A man like that has got to be of some use...Just stick him with the rest of the potted plants..." Dru finished...Gulping at end...

"Cut..." Ray rubbed his forehead...Looking at John... "Can we use that?..."

"We can squeak by with it..." John nodded, frowning at Dru...Who looked a bit paler than she'd ever looked before...And rather wilted...

"Great...That's a wrap...Thank you, people..." Ray called...

"I'm very sorry..." Dru gulped...The leading lady, a blonde, sighed... "It's fine...We're all tired...It'll pass..." she turned and strode off to where Ray was engaged in conversation with John and several assistants...

"You were fine, Dru..." Frances had hurried over... "You were great, kiddo..." Abby patted her... "Tops..." Carole agreed...

Hmmn...Dru looked where their star was talking rather stridently to Raymond and others, including that rarely seen eminence from beyond, the director...Who'd stopped by to see how the minor bits featuring their star were doing...The director frowning now...

Oh-oh...

"I'm sorry, Dru..." Joan, having made her way over to her, eyed her a bit wanly, offering a weary pat on the arm... "I'm sure you'll do better with practice..."

The others stared at her...

Joan...Carole frowned...

Dru regarded the honest voice of newly imposed thrall...Frances having had a few days to adjust and adapt her condition into a mix of submission and adoring friendship...Oh, my...

I sucked...

"I was terrible..." she sighed...

"Not at all, girl..." Cary had come over, ignoring the call of his leading...And at least for the moment, in terms of star power, definitely leading, lady to join her and the big wigs clustering round her now... "You were fine, just a bit stiff on that last shot...Long day..."

"Really?..." she looked at him, a bit hopeful...

"Really..." he nodded...

Oh...

And beautiful eyes like that could never lie...Could they?...

Frances was fuming at Joan who merely stared at her, exhaustedly...

"That was a lousy thing to say...!"

The others ready to join in...

"No, no... !" Dru called...Nodding to Joan who cast a wanly nervous glance at her...

Did I do wrong?...

"She's just telling the truth...Don't be kind...I need to know..."

"Well, I'm telling you the truth..." Cary said firmly... "And I say you were good, you just got tired at the end of fifteen takes of one scene...It happens, you'll be fine...Just come back tomorrow and don't worry yourself exhausted..."

Dru eyed him...

Well...That is a hell of a sincere look...

"You are one marvelous actor, Mr. Lockwood..." she smiled...

"Dru..." sigh... "My girl, ninety percent of this business is how willing you are to work hard and come back the next day no matter what...Now if you have that kind of stick-to-it-tiveness, you'll be fine..." he replied...Hard stare...

"And you are good..." Abby noted...Carole nodding...

"I didn't mean anything bad..." Joan noted... "Please don't be angry with me, Dru...I want to be your friend..." Vaguely frightened, pleading look in the eyes...

"It's quite all right..." Dru nodded, smiling... "And I will come back tomorrow...Ready..."

"Good girl..." Cary nodded...

"So this is the part?..." Lugosi looked over the synopsis Spike had handed him... "No lines?...I thought I'd read 'Frankenstein' and I don't think the Hungarian version was that far off...The creature is quite eloquent..."

"It's the adaptation of the play that has been running well..." Spike shrugged...

"And they want me to sit under this pile of whatever the hell it is and just lumber around for two hours?..."

"And strangle a few people, probably...I think you murder a little girl in one scene..." Spike noted helpfully...

"What?..."

"Drown her, maybe strangle her...I don't quite remember..."

"A little girl?...Not some prostitute or unfaithful wife?..."

"No, sir, a little girl...If I may...?" he took the synopsis... "Yes, right here...The creature encounters a little girl making flower boats on the water after he's strangled Frankenstein's mentor and escaped the laboratory...She's too young and innocent to be afraid of him...And the next thing you know..."

A little ridiculous, to be sure...Given most three year olds have the sense to be afraid even of Dru...

"Let me see that..." Lugosi took the manuscript... "My god?...Is that idiot kid Laemmle out of his mind?..."

"The point is to make the creature as horrible as possible...Actions to match appearance...Though we're sure the actual drowning will probably not be passed by the censors...We'll probably have to just suggest it..."

Lugosi shook his head... "This is not how Bob Florey explained it to me before..."

"Well, Mr. Florey is not directing now, Mr. Whale is...And I believe Mr. Whale's changed Mr. Florey's adaptation considerably..."

"Goddamn..." Lugosi gasped, reading... "I'm an actor...I can deal with a ton of crap on my head and elevator shoes...I can handle not getting a single line in a two-hour performance...But...This is crazy...I can't drown little girls...I shouldn't even be shown near little girls after 'Dracula'...Unless my character is Heidi's grandfather or something like that...This is perverse..."

"It does seem a little much, sir..." Spike nodded...

"Prattfall..."

Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think
not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss
Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the
Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...

Archived at the Normalverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse,
.com...

Summary: As you know I leave the "Pratt" to the Whedonverse, except
for this one little bit...

In early 30's Hollywood Spike offers advice to a distant relative...

Part XIV...

Mission well on its way to accomplished…Spike happily thought as he strode through the hallway leading from where he'd left a fuming Lugosi with the two returned makeup artists…

A ton of crap on my head, no lines, and to top it off my character's a perverted maniac who slaughters little girls?...

He had to sympathize…Unlife would be hell despite the pleasure of murdering the innocent without the ability to banter during and after…I mean the killing would just be a chore without the chance to creatively exercise the wit…

Yes, Mr. Lugosi had chosen himself the right niche in horror for a handsome and urbane leading man…That suave and elegant Unman of the Underworld, the vampire…

Just a matter of finding another Stoker or two…But surely some brilliant young writer would soon come to the fore and provide new material for the genre…

He could really pat himself on the back…He'd just set two of the world's great artists…Three if one counted the creative directing genius of Jimmie Whale…On their proper courses…

Really, if one pondered the matter, Humanity owed him…Despite the 35,981 murders since that evening in 1880…

But, hey…No big deal…Happy to do it, Humanity…Especially given the involvement of family members…In fact…No reason that brilliant young writer who continues the saga of the vampire could not be one Walthrop…

He paused at the door to the outside…Hmmn…Luckily, dusk…He stepped out and pondered his next move…

Drop by his fellow writers' offices and report in on successful progress or head home and await their call?...Probably best to…

Hmmn…

The two suits from earlier were standing in the middle of the parking lot to the building, with them a furious-looking Laemmle…

And Florey, one of his own bosses…

Trying no doubt to add his bit to the success of their endeavor…Clearly Lugosi had already made his wishes known…He made his way slowly toward the group, hoping to learn more…After all, he could always claim to wish to catch Florey for…

"All I wanna know is…Who let Lugosi have that damned script?..." Laemmle was shouting now…

Hmmn…Perhaps, best to head home…My work here is done…Spike thought…

"Now, Carl…Jimmie probably wanted Bela to know just what he might be getting into…" Florey was noting…

On second thought, perhaps I could just hole up a moment here to catch the denouement…Spike felt his suit for a cigarette…Just your average working lad catching a smoke before heading home, watching the comings and goings...He lit up, eyeing the group…Keeping in the darkness at the side of the building…

"Goddamn it!..." Laemmle stamped a foot… "Since when do we care what an actor thinks about a role?...And now Lugosi swears he won't play it with Whale's version…"

Excellent…Spike beamed, leaning by the building wall…

"Well…Carl…" Florey smiled… "There is an alternate version…"

Spike paused…What?...

"One Bela was quite happy with…"

Laemmle eyeing the elegant Frenchman…

"Your version, you mean…?"

"Well, it was the original script…" Florey nodded… "We have a little footage of Bela in costume, you know…I think you might reconsider…"

You son of a…Spike stared…Of course, you were the original director before Jimmie Whale came in…

Good God… I've been set up …He realized…Glaring…

Me, William the Bloody?...Set up by a scheming little human?...Who sat there in that bar, laying his little plot to blow Whale out of his director's chair…Using one idiot assistant assistant writer…

And blowing cousin Bill up along with Whale…

He took face a moment, then pondering the matter, reverted…

No, not quite the solution here…Can't kill one without killing them all, and if I want to stay in Hollywood for Dru's sake, at least, that is not a viable option…

The group was moving off…He slid down the wall, trying to remain in hypersensitive earshot…

"Let me speak to Bela…" Florey was suggesting… "I think I can bring him round again…" The group reached a door and entered…

Jesus…Spike fumed…That little…

Well, welcome to Hollywood…He ruefully told himself…Where vampires and demons are relatively honorable threats to a human's existence…At least we torment one to one's face before opening one's throat…

All right…What to do now?...

Hmmn…Unfortunately nothing apropos comes to mind but savage murder of a certain Frenchman…

No, a confrontation is not the best plan just now…Perhaps I should go to Whale?...Though he might not be too pleased to learn his bright young junior junior assistant to the assistant writer just managed to involuntarily ease him out of his project…

Fort?...Just possible he wasn't in on this…In any case a bit safer to confront him than Florey…Though it might do well to have a full belly before such a meeting…Just in case things get ugly…He looked round…

Ah…A pretty young secretary leaving for the day, all by her lonesome, heading for the nearest bus stop I should say…

Perfect…The least likely person in this town to be missed…They disappear here all the time…And since she's not a resident of our humble boarding home…Not a violation of the agreement with Margaret…

Technically, anyway…He stubbed out his cigarette and set off…

Fort indeed seemed quite startled by his report when he caught him at his office…

Florey trying to regain control of the project?...Goddamn…He swore up and down Jimmie Whale's concept was the way to go…That he was happy to get the alternate directing assignment, "Murders in the Rue Morgue"…That little French…

"He's been playing his own game all along…Stringing us…" Spike noted…

"I'll kill him…" Fort fumed… "This means cutting me out too, you know…He'll use that miserable original script he wrote…"

"More important, a major artistic work is headed for the trash heap…" Spike shook his head… "That original script is a passable rewrite of the novel but a terrible film…Especially with Lugosi speaking…The whole concept is destroyed…"

"Not much we can do now…Not if Laemmle is sold on it…" Fort sighed… "Florey knows we can't risk speaking out…We'd have to reveal we passed the script to Bela and out to the breadlines we go…"

"Could Whale stop him?...Laemmle seems to listen to him…"

"Up to a point…But Carl wanted Bela from the start for the draw…If push comes to shove and he thinks the box office is on the line…" sigh…

"Then our job is work on Laemmle, the boy genius…" Spike frowned…

"Anything wrong, Frances?..." Dru asked as they drove home in Frances' cab...

Her minion was unusually quiet for her vibrant, upbeat nature, considering she'd not been required this afternoon to top off her daily nutritional ration...

"Just a long day..." Frances replied, eyes on the road... "You must be tired, Dru..."

"Astonishingly, given my nature, yes...Quite..." Dru sighed, stretching wearily... "One earns one's keep in this business, that's for sure…But I get the feeling you're unhappy about something?...Fran?...Was there something you'd like to talk about?..."

"Nothing important..." Frances replied...Watching the road carefully...

"Tell me...Am I keeping you from doing something important, you'd planned before we met?...Or is it something else?...Oh, do tell, dear...I should hate to learn I've caused you needless trouble…" Dru's voice just a bit insistent at the end...

"I...It's no big deal...I don't like her...Joan..." Frances frowned, not looking back...

"She'll be quite well behaved from now on, I promise you..." Dru replied… "And quite free of her loathsome addiction.."

"And now she'll be hanging around with you…" Frances said, quietly…

"Is that what was worrying you?...Oh, Frances…" Dru spoke soothingly…Patting her from her seat in back… "I've no intention of killing you yet…Believe me, when it comes to someone I want to feed on regularly…"

"So I'm still gonna be with you?..."

"Absolutely, Fran…I don't like Joan, though I think she couldn't help herself…I certainly do not want her in my resting place day and night…In fact, if circumstances allowed it to be uncomplicated, I'd probably have killed her in the bathroom today…Believe me, dear…It's only necessity…Though it is one more way to reduce the demands on you…And lengthen your life…"

"You don't like her?...You're not going to…?"

"Turn her?...Lord, no…" Dru sighed… "If and when the time comes, a simple twist of the neck and she's gone…Don't worry, love…"

"Thanks…" Frances nodded…And drove in silence for a few minutes…

"Dru?..."

"Dear?..."

"Do you…Have you got any plans…About me?..."

They turned into the street leading to their building…

"A long life and successful career, I hope, darling…"

"Thanks…But I don't care about that stuff so much now…I was wondering…After I die…?

"I see…" Dru nodded… "Fran, it's not something you should be eager for…A sweet girl like you…"

"You don't want me…I know…" Frances sighed…Pulling into the building driveway and parking…

"I am fond of you, Frances...But..."

"I get it..." Frances sighed... "I know you go that way, Dru…The straight Undead and all, I mean…William…But...It doesn't stop me from loving you..." she looked sadly back at her… "That way , I mean…"

"Well, dearest..." Dru shook her head, kind smile... "You would feel that way even if you weren't so inclined...Thrall has a powerful effect on humans...I do wish there was some way I could..." she paused, eyeing the sad-faced girl...

I never have had anyone to confide my secret in...And she'll never tell William...Not if her life depended on it...

"Frances?...May I tell you a secret?...My secret?..." Dru asked, gently... "Then we would have something between us we truly share alone?..."

Yes...Oh, yes...Frances breathed... "Please..."

"William doesn't love me, Frances...The soul, I mean..." Dru sighed... "And not even Spike loves me...Not just because he can't, in the human way...But...There's always been...Her..." she frowned...

"He's got another girl?..." Frances eyed her, startled... "But he seems all yours...?"

"He was sired by me...That has a certain bonding effect...And he is naturally attached to anyone who needs him...A trait from his human...But even though...After fifty years together..." Dru sighed...

"He's never forgotten her...Never..."

"Some gal...He knew then?..."

"He was married to her, for two days...The love of his human life...Who he believes rejected him and drove him to...Me..." Dru stared at the wall...

"I am merely a substitute, Fran...A comfortable pillow to lay his sad, lost soul on...And one day, perhaps..."

"So, she's...Like you?..."

"No, Frances...She's nothing like me...Or rather the exact opposite of me..."

"Ah, a blonde, like him..."

"No, Frances..." Dru sighed.. . "I mean in what she is, not her looks...She's a brunette, too...Or was...Lord knows what she'll look like if we ever do meet again...And we will, one day...I feel it..."

"Some slip of a dame...Dru, you'd kill her easy...Or do her like me and Joan..."

"Not this dame...Not Cicely..." Dru shook her head... "And when William finds out the truth...As he will, one day...Even Spike will curse the day he met me..."

"The day I stole him away from her...And took everything from him..."

It's my nature...she explained, wistfully... "He is like me...Like I was in that one respect...He is endlessly giving, as I was...Once...And for me, as I now am...That is the most powerful lure of all...And, one day, I see it will be the end of me..."

Or, from another point of view...She pondered a moment...

"But if she's just human, an ordinary girl...And dead...?" Frances noted, questioningly...

"She's not just human...She is...Was...Will always be...The Slayer..." Dru looked mournfully at Frances...

"The What?..."

"A woman gifted with great power to defend your people from all evil...Not just my kind, but even far worse...There is one in every generation, a Chosen one...But she is special beyond that...She has come back many times before, stronger each time...And William...Is her mate...Always…"

"But he's yours now..."

"No..." Dru shook her head... "He is not and never will be mine...Spike, even, is only partly mine...But William, much as I want him...Much as I risked to try and have him...He'll never be mine...Gods of Demonity help me..."

"And this dame...This Cicely..." Frances paused... "She's...Dead but..."

"But...She'll be back...And her footsteps echo in the memories of each and every Slayer...Her reflection buried in William's eyes, shining back to me once or twice in half a century...Little warning notes telling me to beware...To never rest easy...And telling William, the trapped soul, to wait, in hope...Because, one day…"

Frances stared at Dru's wan face...Serene, yet drawn...

"I am doomed, Fran..." she said, simply... "And God is cruel enough to a poor demon who can't help what she is to give her moments of lucidly clear vision of her doom...That is my secret, love...I know you'll keep it..."

"Sure..." Frances nodded... "Sure..." she repeated, eyes shining... "But gee what a movie it would make..."

"You really think so?..." Dru asked...

"Prattfall..."

Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...

Archived at the Normalverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse,

.com...

Summary: As you know I leave the "Pratt" to the Whedonverse, except

for this one little bit...

In early 30's Hollywood Spike offers advice to a distant relative...

Part XV...

"Frankenstein" writers Walthrop and Fort considered their options in Fort's office…Art and family at…Well, sometimes no other word, however unfortunate is appropriate, Spike thought…Stake…

"The kid actually does admire Whale and wants to be remembered as a creative person in his own right, like Thalberg…But in the end it all comes down to the bottom line…And even Laemmle has to answer to Carl Sr…And the banks…" Fort noted…

Spike pondered…An image of strangling said old man in his mansion drifting idly through his mind…Fun perhaps, but not the practical solution here…Hmmn…

"All right then, if the artistic won't fly, why not use the bottom line argument in our favor?…After all, why settle for one Master of Horror when two could be made available?…Allowing the studio to squeeze twice the number of films into the yearly gross…And even to do combination films pitting the Two Masters of Horror against each other…After all, this is America and the people love a good fight…"

Perhaps two Masters and a Mistress of Horror?...Though Dru really seemed more into light comedy and possibly straight drama…And of course she'd probably prefer to sign with Paramount anyway...Dru having a strong sense of loyalty in her own unique way…

"Double the take…That's a line of argument Laemmle Sr. and Jr. would go for…" Fort nodded… "And it wouldn't hurt the rest of us to have twice the demand for workers on horror films…The question is, how do we get that point across to our wunderkind Carl?...And get the project back on track minus the Count and his lackey…Without cutting our own throats for the greater good, please…"

"Would never occur to me…" Spike assured him…

As they reviewed the scenes possible for tomorrow, Dru determined to follow Mr. Lockwood's advice…A thought occurred to an immediately concerned Frances…

Spike had discussed Margaret with Dru in her presence…As one of those…What, again?...Slayers?...

"Not exactly, from what she's told us and what we've sensed in her…She was once a Slayer but is now a strange sort of hybrid…Mostly human but different…A unique case…" Dru explained…

"She could be tryin' to fool you…" Frances frowned… "You said Cicely would be back…Maybe she's here right now…"

"I would know, Fran…Both of her Slayer ability and her Cicely nature…At least, I'd sense the danger in her…" Dru shook her head… "Besides, I happen to know the current Slayer is in Germany and I've no doubt of Margaret's affection for Mr. Pratt…Believe me, if I thought otherwise, I'd've never agreed to our current arrangement…And Margaret was here long before Spike and I came…"

"Maybe you or I should knock her off just in case...Better safe than sorry, you know…"

"Fran?...She's Spike's cousin's would-be girl…I couldn't, he'd be upset with me…And, if she has still connections to the Council of Watchers killing her could bring the Council's and the Slayer's attention down upon us…Now, Frances…" Dru eyed her sternly… "I appreciate your concern but she's no threat to me as yet and I rather like her…I thought you did too…She is a very sweet person…"

"I like her fine, sure…But if she's got anything that could hurt you, Dru…"

"Please…Leave Margaret to me, Frances…I wonder if I should have told you these things…I didn't realize they would upset you so…"

"No, I can deal…" Frances put up a hand… "I'm grateful you trusted me, Dru…Just promise me you'll keep an eye on her…And if you have to…"

"Unfortunately I doubt that thrall is an option in Margaret's case, but should it come to that, I'll do whatever's necessary, don't worry…" Dru patted her… "Now, what about choosing a nice place for dinner?...I think William wanted to invite Mr. Pratt and Margaret…"

"Elmo's is pretty good and not too much…Ummn, Germany?..." Frances asked… "What's in Germany for the Slayer?..."

Dru shrugged…"I'm not sure…The current Slayer was born there, I think, and they always seem to be born near where they're most needed…Maybe something to do with that ranting little man with the mustache like Mr. Chaplin's little Tramp…"

"If we could just show Laemmle what Cous…Pratt is able of, especially alongside Lugosi's interpretation…And stress the benefit of two Horror Master draws…" Spike began…

"Along with the built-in benefit of being able to use one against the other if one starts getting too full of himself in salary negotiations…" Fort noted…

"Exactly…"

"And keep that weasel Florey away until the deal's done…" Fort suggested…

"I think that better be your department…" Spike noted…

Seein' as I'd likely end up dealing all too permanently with him…He did not say...

"I'll work on Laemmle…Pratt lives in my building, I can work out a meeting, and Laemmle will be less suspicious of of a nobody like me than you, the head writer…There's just the problem of getting Lugosi to try his monster at the same time…"

"We've got that sewn up…" Fort smiled… "The bit of footage of Lugosi as the monster as Florey conceived it is in Whale's office…I can get it tomorrow…I'll just say some of the boys want a good howl…"

"That bad?..."

"I'd say so…But dressed up a little by Florey, with a big push on the box office potential of the star of 'Dracula'…He might put it over…Especially without sound…" Fort grinned…

"Then I'll definitely need a good sound man…" Spike nodded… "Know anyone who can keep his or her mouth shut after as well as during…?"

"I think this being a film studio we can find…Someone…"

"So…You want me to come over to Universal tomorrow…For a make-up test?..." Pratt eyed Spike as they sat at Elmo Chop House with Frances, Dru, and Margaret…

"Oh, Billy…" Margaret beamed… "It sounds like a real thing…"

"This is sanctioned by Jimmie Whale?..." Pratt asked, careful look at "cousin Will"…

"Not…Exactly…But by Garrett Fort, one of the head writers…" Spike, firmly… "And it's essential to close the deal…"

"Well…" Pratt pondered… "I suppose it would be interesting to see what the damned thing will end up looking like…But surely…" he paused, eyeing the three eager young ladies listening…

"Trust me, cousin Bill…" Spike smiled… "This will clinch the deal and make you the most talked-about actor in Hollywood…And more important, immortal as an artist…"

Margaret eyed Dru… "Has he told you?...What the hell this thing is?..."

"Not yet…" Dru rolled her eyes… "The boys want to keep their 'big secret' a little longer…"

"But this is for the monster thing, right?... 'Frankenstein'?..." Frances asked… "And you English guys always play the crazy doctor, right?...Accents and all?..."

"'Fraid we can't say more, Fran…Sworn to secrecy, right Bill?..."

"At least for the present…" Pratt nodded…

"Well, we'll ferret it out, won't we, girls?..." Margaret smiled at Dru and Fran… "I say we slip over and get the goods on this production and blackmail Laemmle and co into giving Billy and Will a share of the gross…"

"Sounds good…" Frances nodded… "Yes, indeed…" Dru smiled…

Yes…Indeed…Margaret smiled warmly at Dru…

Anything to get you alone for five minutes away from my two poor beloveds, you hag from Hell…You murderess…You adulteress…

"Prattfall..."

Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think
not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss
Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the
Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...

Archived at the Normalverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse,
.com...

Summary: As you know I leave the "Pratt" to the Whedonverse, except
for this one little bit...

In early 30's Hollywood Spike offers advice to a distant relative...

Part XVI...

Elmo's Chop House…The inexpensive local haven of Hollywood's future stars as Pratt grandly put it…Nodding to the said Elmo, a friendly-looking, if somewhat grubby, balding middle-age man in cooking apron, who offered a brief greeting as their group took seats…

"Not quite as elegant as the Cocoanut Grove and of course one must accept that Elmo is neither an interior decorator…" All eyeing the drably wallpapered walls enlivened only by cut-out magazine covers of various film stars…One or two signed…Though one might question whose signature… "…nor exactly a chef of wide-ranging talents…" he noted… "But he's always willing to stake a starving artist to a coffee and roll…One can overlook appearances and make allowances for a good heart…"

"Absolutely…" Margaret smiled at him…

Stay with the basics…Anything beyond spaghetti, steak, or hamburger is risky…Pratt noted to Dru as she eyed the short menu…

"So long as it's rare and a bit bloody, I'm fine…" she smiled back…

"Now's there's a true English girl…" Pratt grinned at Spike…Who bowed slightly in acknowledgement of the paid compliment…

Despite her concerns, a suspicious Frances could find nothing to worry her in Margaret's behavior during their dinner…She seemed, if anything, inclined to offer Dru generous support in her determination to soldier on in her new-found career despite the slight setback of the day…

And Dru seemed to appreciate said support…Without any sign of concern toward someone who could be her only real threat in this town…At least until that other kid, the true Slayer fraulein whoever she was, showed…

Still…A little watchful care never hurt…And dearest Dru hadn't specifically put the nix on that, at least…

"It's the only way…" Margaret continued her campaign in tandem with Spike and Pratt to bolster Dru's spirits… "Just go right back in and show them you can take it…Believe me, we've all been kicked in our teeth in this town countless times, eh Fran?..." Warm smile to Frances who nodded…

"No doubt about that…"

"Well, I intend to give it me all, girls…" Dru agreed, smiling shyly… "Thank you…"

"There's the girl…" Pratt beamed at her from his seat… "Dru, I've no doubts about your coming success…Why in a few days you and Will here have managed better than all but a handful…I doubt Chaplin succeeded as quickly…"

"Have you met Mr. Chaplin?..." Dru asked, eagerly…

"Only from a distance…" Pratt smiled… "Though like all of us lacking the look of a screen idol, I've tried to find and model a character to capture the public as he did…Whenever ready to toss it all in the garbage and haul off for England, I go to see the Tramp on film and remember Chaplin started from nothing and now…The one universally recognized genius in the business…On all levels…"

"He'd better reconsider his attitude toward talkies, though…" Margaret noted…

"But why?..." Spike shook his head… "'City Lights' was a triumph…The greatest thing he's ever done and still remained a silent film…I think he's right as far as the Tramp goes…Let him speak and he's no longer a universal symbol..."

"I agree to a point…" Pratt nodded… "Certainly Chaplin's Tramp would be diminished in some ways by sound…Still a grand character but not quite the figure the world's come to adore…Still, I'd like to see Mr. Chaplin try new characters, new stories…I think he has it in him if he wishes…An actor should always want to break new ground…But…" Sigh… "Of course, I could understand him not wishing to start over from scratch with a new creation…It's a danger to create a character one can't let go of…Even if one loves the character…"

"Typecasting…" Dru nodded solemnly…Must avoid that at all costs…As her new girlfriends continually stressed…

"Yes…" Pratt agreed… "Even more, I think…If one has the luxury of choosing roles…Not something most of us get, unfortunately…There's that divide between wanting to take a successfully developed creation to its full potential, believing there's always a new depth to be found…And yet avoid it becoming simple repetition…"

"Yet Chaplin keeps finding new depths to the Tramp…" Spike noted…

"Yes…And it's hardly for me to tell him what to do…He may yet have a dozen great films in the character…But I would fear it becoming a trap in the end…" Pratt shrugged… "Perhaps that's just the fear of a limited actor…"

"Oh, Billy…" Margaret shook her head…

"Dear heart…I'm simply saying I'm hardly the man to pass judgment on a man of genius in the craft…"

"You will be…" Spike insisted… "You'll be one of those they will remember and look to for inspiration…A real credit to the family, Bill…"

"Would my brothers think so…I fear they'd have a different opinion as to my choice of profession…All being rather successful in the imperial diplomatic service…" Pratt, ruefully…

"When you next go to England…" Spike smiled… "They will scramble to be known as the brother of William Henry Pratt…Mark my words…" he raised a glass of beer…

"Or the cousin of William Soames Walthrop…" Pratt responding likewise with glass…

"I doubt it…" Spike said quietly… "But we can both hope to leave some bit of creative work behind us, cousin…Even if all I accomplish is to see you get started properly…"

Margaret eyeing him…A look on her face that Frances caught…

Sad, even shameful…And somehow, fiercely protective…A look given to both cousins…

Jesus…Frances blinked…She loves them both?…What the hell?...And yet…

The sorrow and shame was for William…Much as the protectiveness was for the two of 'em…And the twinkle for Pratt alone…Hmmn…

Something tells me…This don't bode well for my Drusie, I think…

"Ah, enough with the melancholy, lad…And lassies…" Pratt rose from his chair… "Come, lets have ourselves a fine walk home in the moonlight and be grateful we're alive and free to do the work we love…Come, Dru…Margaret…We've all busy days tomorrow…"

The group rose from their seats…Pratt gallantly helping Drusilla with her coat…As did Spike with Margaret, then Frances…

"Yes…" Dru smiled at Margaret… "RKO…How wonderful…"

"A small part…I play a maid…But, we'll see…" Margaret nodded… "Selznick is taking over there and he's quite a character…Lots of shake-up and some brilliant people coming to the fore…"

"A maid…" Spike shook his head… "Someone at RKO doesn't have eyes…"

"Agreed…" Pratt frowned…

"I was lucky to get it…" Margaret put up a hand… "And, as we all know, there are no small parts…" she grinned…

"Balderdash…" Pratt sighed… "Well, hopefully a couple of days of seeing your work and Mr. Selznick will cast you as his next top star…"

"That elusive dream of every young girl in this town…" Margaret noted with smile…

"But they don't all deserve it, lass…You do…" Spike said, firmly…

"There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio…" she replied…Eyeing him carefully…Then Pratt… "I am content, gents…Don't fret for me…"

Frances standing now by Dru as the group moved for the door…A questioning look…

Hmmn…Not even a little concern?...Slight frown as Spike continued to speak with Margaret and Pratt…

Well, my beloved Dru may know her feller but something tells Miss Frances Kay that trouble's abrewin'…

"Fran?..." Dru had turned to her… "Are you all right?..."

"Fine…" Frances nodded…Brief smile… "Aren't you going with William?..."

"He's engaged in his little plot with his cousin…" Dru smiled…Staring at her minion a moment…

"Is something troubling you, dearest…?"

Frances shrugged…Hesitating as Spike came to them… "Time to go, ladies…" he patted Dru's shoulder…

"We're ready…" Dru nodded…

"I just want to go over a bit more with Bill while we walk back…Do you mind?..." Spike asked…

"Not at all, William…" Dru smiled… "I hope things go well…"

"I may possibly have a role for you in this, lamb…" he grinned… "But let me work out the details…"

"Anything I can do to help, you know that…" she nodded…

"Thanks…She's a peach, eh Frances?..." he beamed at Fran, giving Dru a brief peck on cheek…

"She is…" Frances agreed…But her eyes were on Margaret who was staring at them…A hard, icy stare that somehow chilled the blood…Which immediately disappeared as Pratt, busy a moment with his coat, turned back to her…Her warm smile returned…

I may not know what a Slayer is, exactly…Frances thought…But I'd guess that was a Slayer's glare…

"So I just come by at ten and report to make-up…?" Pratt eyed Spike who nodded…

"Exactly…And just give them Fort's name…They'll do the rest…"

Questioning look…Slight frown…

My God, Spike thought, eyeing the grim visage facing him…There he goes again...Lord, I'm actually feeling uncomfortable…Any human would be shaking in his boots right now…How can so gentle a soul project such menace?...

"Will…" Pratt, slight growl… "I don't want you risking your own career…"

"Trust me, cousin…This will work…By this time tomorrow you will be the Monster…And Immortal…"

Slight start from Margaret at the "Immortal"…

"Maggie?..." Pratt, concerned…

"I'm fine…It sounds wonderful, Billy…I'm sure Will can pull this off for you…" she smiled at Spike…

Hmmn…Spike smiled back but blinked a bit…I do believe I sense an 'or else'?...

Somehow…I'm feeling almost as uncomfortable under her smile as I did under cousin Bill's glare…

"Just so long as it's okay…" Spike heard Frances saying to Dru as he came up to their room…

"Not at all…" Dru patted her… "I'm sure your family is anxious to hear you're well and working…By all means go and give your sister the best from all your friends here…"

"Frances is off to see her sister…" Dru explained… "I was telling her it's quite all right…Indeed, probably the best thing…For her to maintain contact with her family and all…Avoid anyone wondering about her behavior, that sort of thing…"

"Absolutely…Will you be away for a bit?..." he asked…

"Oh, no…Just stopping by her place tonight…I've work tomorrow…" Frances shook her head…

"Well, then …You should be off…" Dru smiled… "I only wish you'd spoken up sooner…I hate that you should have to have so short a visit with your sister…It would have been fine for you to miss dinner tonight…"

"She works late anyway…It's fine…I'll be back by 2 or 3…" Frances eyed them both…

"Certainly…" Spike nodded kindly… "Just take it easy coming back…"

"Yes, indeed, Fran…" Dru, a bit anxious… "Stay if you feel tired…I'll make excuses for you at the studio if necessary…"

"Thanks…See ya…" Frances turned and hurried down the stairs…Pausing to wave briefly at the bottom… "Bye…"

"Bye…" Dru waved back…Sighing to Spike… "She should have let me know she wanted to go visiting…I hate her traveling so late…"

"She'll be fine, pet…Fran's been a taxi driver in Hollywood for years, she's dealt with night driving…"

"I suppose…" Dru nodded… "Still…I must urge her to be more assertive with me about her needs…She's really very affectionate, poor thing…"

Sound of cab horn honking…Several other tenants, all young would-be actors or writers entered…Two cheerily greeting their acquaintances above… "Will!...Dru!..."

They returned the greeting…Dru looking at the sound of a car driving off… "There she goes…"

"Well, she seems about as content as thrall could make a lass…" Spike smiled, opening the door for her…Pausing in the doorway… "Did you enjoy dinner?..."

"Couldn't hold down that hamburger…" she sighed… "Mr. Elmo is sweet but overcooks as a rule I think…"

"Mine wasn't bad…But I do have a stronger stomach for human food…Cousin Bill seemed willing to try my little plan, eh?..."

"Indeed…I'm sure you'll succeed, Spike…" Dru, fondly…Brushing something from his coat…

"Would be nice to pull it off…" he paused… "Leave a little something behind besides umpteen murders…As you're doing as well, love…"

"Thank you…" Dru, beaming…Then a tad downcast… "But I have some ground to recover after my little fiasco today…"

"As Frances likes to say, you'll be aces…" he grinned…Pausing…Glancing into the open room…

She eyed him, a bit reprovingly…William?...

Respectable young actress here…We shouldn't push our luck when my roommate is away…And several people saw her go…

He ruefully backed slightly away…She smiling…

There's a good boy…

"Well, nite then, Dru…"

"Good night, William…" she kissed his cheek…Stepped inside and closed the door, gently…

Hmmn…Spike blinked a moment…

Somehow this wasn't how I pictured my vacation in Hollywood…

Frances pulled over a few blocks later…Stepping over to a drugstore where she placed a call to her sister, informing her that she was very well, working, but would have to ask a small favor…

Could Sue possibly agree to cover for her with a friend by promising to say she'd stopped by tonight…?

Her sister's voice requested more information in what seemed a frowning tone…Fran?...

"I'm seeing her feller…He's gonna tell her but just not yet…C'mon Sue…Help me out here…" she pleaded…

Well…At least this one's a guy…Sue thought…Sighing…

"Ok…You were here…Tonight…But Frannie, watch it…And make sure you know what this guy's about…?"

"I will…" Fran replied… "Thanks, kiddo…Give my best to the kids and Mom…Love ya…" she hung up…

Indeed, I'll watch It…Whatever Margaret is…And whatever she's about, I'm gonna find out…

"Prattfall..."

Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the

Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...

Archived at the Normalverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, .com...

Summary: As you know I leave the "Pratt" to the Whedonverse, except for this one little bit... In early 30's Hollywood Spike offers advice to a distant relative...

Part XVII...

Easier said than done, Ms. Kay reflected as she hesitated outside her apartment building…A light rain now falling in the humid darkness…No sign that her neighbor, fellow actress, and whatever else she was, Margaret Sullivan, was up to anything but getting a decent night's sleep before a busy day…

Getting any goods on Margaret was clearly going to require a few of those super powers her beloved Drusilla possessed…

Still, couldn't hurt to just keep an eye peeled for a few hours and see what's what…A pity she couldn't have risked parking her cab near but always the chance Dru might peek out and see…Wonder what's up and investigate, putting the nix on her sleuthing…

Dear sweet Dru…So confident in her abilities to meet any potential threat she wasn't even interested in keeping tabs on her most dangerous potential enemy…Well, pride goeth before a fall, Grandma always said…

Anyway what are devoted minions for but to anticipate and deal with problems for their mistresses…If it annoyed Drusie later, well…The worse that could happen would be she'd be dumped in that pit with Regina, which was likely to be her eventual fate when Dru no longer needed her, so why worry…

And if it led Dru to turn her…Her most fervent wish, to be Dru's forever…Fulfilled…

Of course in that case, something might have to be done about Spike…But, leave that to Dru…And she could deal with an eternal threesome if need be…

Hmmn…Gettin' soaked here…Don't want Dru upset by finding her ill tomorrow…She looked for any cover…

On the other hand, go inside in the outer foyer or hall and Drusie was likely to sense her…Keen as a good bird dog, her Drusie…

Ah, well…People get colds…Dru'd understand…Just tell her she'd got caught in the rain while jumpin' the battery or something…She peered at Margaret's darkened first floor window…Her living room…

Wonder if I could get in through the patio…So close to Maggie, Dru might not notice or even be thinkin' of sensing things there as opposed to the hallway…

And would give me a chance to snoop a little…

Though what to look for?...Letters, maybe?...Phone numbers to people who might be keepin' tabs?...Dru had mentioned the Slayer girls had some guys workin' with them… "Watchers" or something like that…She'd said to let her know if any English guys showed up at the house out of the blue…

Good enough…If she could slip in…Just for a few…She edged to the window…The blind half raised, she peeked…

Dark…Maybe a table and sofa…She moved carefully along the wall, flattening against it once when a police car whizzed by…

She reached a small patio, a pattern used in all the first floor apartments…Eyeing the screen door which led to the tiny kitchen…If she remembered right, Maggie's bedroom was separated by a short hallway…With luck…She tried the door…Locked…

Not a problem for the resourceful Frances Kay…She pulled a hairpin from her purse…Fiddling with the lock…Not the first time she'd had to break in late at night…Though usually it involved her own place and a problem with late rent payments…

The door opened softly…Phew…She cautiously slipped inside…Fortunately the rain was a bit heavier now and covered what little sound she made…

I'm in…Now…What?…She tried to peer around, nearly stumbling into the kitchen table…She paused to let her eyes adjust to the dark…

Hmmn…No dishes in the sink, no papers on the table, no mail lying around, that she could easy see…Maggie's rather a neat type even when no one's watching…

Except…She spied something on the kitchen table…A book…

Nothing unusual about an actress reading potential parts…She went over and took the book carefully…Hmmn…

Old, this one…She tried to read the cover in the darkness…Maybe…

"The Complete Works of…" she held the book close, trying to shift to let what little light the kitchen window allowed, in…

"…William Soames Walthrop…"

Hmmn…Walthrop?...Have I heard that name?...Walthrop…

She tried thumbing the pages…Dang, if only I could risk turning the light on…She looked over the kitchen table for a match, candle…Nothing...She made her way to a cabinet next to the sink, carefully opening the drawer…Ah, paydirt…She triumphantly pulled out a box of matches…

Ok, just one…She lit one…Scanning the pages of the book on the kitchen counter…A dedication page…

"For my beloved husband, from Cicely…" The match went out…

Hmmn…Published in 1880 in London…It was old…She lifted it and shook the book gently…Nothing tucked in the pages…

Keeping the book in hand and grabbing the match box, she moved to the entrance to the hallway…Maggie's room at the end?...Door closed…

Ok…Living room and parlor…She moved stealthily down the hall and entered the living room…Looking round…Not bad…Maggie does pretty well for a girl who never seems to get much work…

Of course everyone assumed she had family money…Exceptin' a few who thought it must be some rich gent payin'…Though she never went out and nobody came to see her but the gang in house…

She moved to the large hutch against a side wall, skillfully dodging the coffee table in the middle of the small living room…Pulling open a drawer, carefully…

A light snapped on… "Put that book down…" Margaret's voice, harsh…

She looked, blinking in the sudden electric glare, at Margaret in robe…A fierce and icy look on her face…

"Maggie?...Sorry, I got locked out and…"

"I said put my book down, Fran…" Margaret repeated coldly…

"Sure…I didn't mean to take it…I just wanted to see what it was…Ummn, say, who's…" she asked as she placed the book on the coffee table…

"Did Drusilla send you?..." stern and cold…

"Dru?..." Frances stared, trying her most innocent look…

"I'm truly sorry for you, Fran…I know I'm guilty for letting Drusilla leave you like this but I can't help you right now…

Did she send you?..."

"Why would Drusie…?" Fran began…

"You're hers…Don't play games with me, Fran…" Margaret sighed… "I don't want to hurt you anymore than you've been hurt…But I need to know if Dru and Spike have decided to move against me…"

"Dru didn't send me…" Frances hastily insisted… "I came on my own…Please don't hurt her…"

Margaret eyed her carefully…

Poor kid… Look at that pleading face…She's ready to die for that…Thing…

"Don't hurt her, Maggie…Please…"

"I wasn't planning to…Right now…If she and Spike keep their word to me…"

"They are…This has nothing to do with them…It was all me…" Frances, agitated… "Please don't hurt her…Kill me if you have to…"

"Fran…" Margaret sighed…Her face losing some of its hard, icy look… "Why would you come here on your own?..."

Fear for her mistress trumping all other concerns, Fran caved immediately…

"I wanted to see what you were up to…Dru wasn't worried about you but I thought…"

"She doesn't know you're here?...I find that a little hard to take, Fran…You're…" she paused…

"…Working for her…"

"I was scared for her…I thought you might be…" Fran glanced round…No weapons at hand…

"…Planning to Slay her?..." Margaret asked, helpfully…

"Or something…Yeah…"

"Much as I'd like to, for the moment our truce is all I want from her…And William…" Margaret shook her head…

"But you're…One of them…A vamp killer…?"

"Slayer…I was, briefly…Not anymore…Didn't she tell you that?..."

"She tole me that…But how come you don't wanna kill her?...And how do I know you aren't up to something?..."

"I might ask the same about you, Frances…" Margaret smiled now… "But if you want an honest answer, I wouldn't object to killing Drusilla…"

Frances tensed, looking for…Anything...Maybe that book…

"…But I doubt I could and for the moment it's important I survive…At least to me…" she concluded, still smiling… "If you're telling me the truth…And I know you couldn't help lying to me if Dru told you to…You shouldn't have come here, Fran…"

"I had to be sure…" Fran shook her head… "It didn't sound safe to me…Maybe I shouldn't have come but I have to be sure Drusie…" she choked up a moment… "I love her, Maggie…I can't let anything happen to her…"

Margaret eyed her…A sad look coming over her face now…

"Forgive me, Frances…" she sighed… "God knows, this is as much my fault as Dru's…Sit down…"

"Sit down…" she repeated…Waving at the sofa… "I'll put your mind at ease…"

"Sugar…?" Margaret offered as Frances accepted the tea cup offered…Both now seated on Margaret's sofa…Fran nodding…One, thanks…

"Cream or lemon…?" "Just lemon, thanks, Maggie…" Frances took the tongs offered and lifted a lemon slice which she dropped in the cup of steaming tea… "Great, thanks…"

"You've seen the book…" Margaret nodded at the old book now on the table…She holding what appeared to be a scrapbook which she'd fetched from her bedroom while making tea…

"Yeah…" Frances nodded… "And I just remember where I heard that name…It's Spike's, isn't it?..."

"He wrote it, yes…" Margaret nodded…A cloud passing over her face… "And we…she…I…" she paused…

"This is very hard for me, Frances…Do you know the Bible at all?...The New Testament…?"

Frances set her cup down on a lace doily and eyed her… "I went to Mass and catechism school, sure…I'm a nice Catholic gal…"

"Then maybe you remember this one…'My name is Legion, for we are many.'?..."

"Sure…" Frances , hesitating… "You're sayin'…"

"I am many in one, Fran, yeah…What did Spike or Dru tell you about me?..."

"Just you were once a Slayer…Some kinda supergirl vamp hunter…And somebody else as well…And…"

"And once, for a bit…A vampiress…" Margaret nodded… "Until my dear ole Council of Watchers decided that wouldn't do and for the sake of their miserable hides did their version of a rescue effort…"

"But…" she gave Fran a sidelong glance… "I didn't quite tell your…Friends…Everything…I couldn't…"

Frances, waiting…

"I didn't have to research to find out who William was or his relation to Billy Pratt…A relation a lot deeper than either knows…Though on some level, they know…I'm sure of it…" she sighed…

"They're one, Frances…Demon and soul…Though William currently has the old body…And I love them both…With all my heart and soul…Whatever's left of either…And it's because I love them, you've nothing to fear for Drusilla…So long as she protects William, God forgive me…Much as He owes me and my poor love…"

"Did you have a fine time with your sister last night?..." Dru asked with warm smile as Frances drove her and Margaret, first stop RKO studios where Maggie would take up her role as maid/confidante to her picture's star…A young lady of physical charm but, she noted wryly, not really much acting ability…

"Yeah, grand time…" Fran nodded… "Here's RKO…" she pulled up and Margaret emerged from the car…Dru carefully pulling back from the open door…

Still cloudy but some sun… Though Fran had carefully parked in the shade of several large trees…

"Call me if you want to grab a ride home…If we don't get held up too long…" Frances called…

"I will, thanks Fran…Have a good one, girls…Dru…" Margaret waved…

"Good luck…"Dru called…

"Well, here we go…" Frances noted… Pulling out…

"Yes…Hope things good a bit better today…" Dru sighed… "But I'm determined to put my best foot forward and press on…"

"There's the girl…" Fran nodded… "Lets hope Will and Bill do well today…"

"I'm sure Spike will see things through…" Dru nodded absently… Relax, be natural…Forget yesterday and press on…Yes…

"Could we go over yesterday's scene quickly before we go in…?" she asked…

"I got Fort's note last night…Mr. Whale approved this?..." the make-up artist, a short but distinguished-looking thin-mustached fellow in white smock eyed Spike and his rather intimidating if kindly-seeming companion…Whom he'd found awaiting him anxiously in the hall outside his studio…

"That's right, Mr. Pierce…" Spike nodded… "And he wants the full effect as described in his notes here…" he handed over a set of notes as Pratt sighed a little…

Will…He hissed at the first opportunity as he sat in his chair awaiting the return of the artist with his assistants and materials…Trust me, cousin…Spike reassured him…

This would be a big one…Pierce had noted…Though with some satisfaction…

Whale had certainly chosen a perfect candidate for the job…He could already see the route to take that would make this guy something the popcorn chewers would remember in their most vivid dreams…

"Will…For God's sake, lad…If you're risking your job on this…" Pratt frowned…

"This is bigger than a job, cousin…" Spike insisted… "This is for Art…And the family…It may be my one chance to actually do something for both at last…" he ruefully noted… "Bill…Just trust me a little…It'll work out…You just do your bit and…"

"Well, up and at 'em, I see, young Walthrop…" a French-accented voice at the door… "And how are you, Bill?..." Florey stepped in, smiling…

"Prattfall…"

Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the
Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...

Archived at the Normalverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, .com...

Summary: As you know I leave the "Pratt" to the Whedonverse, except for this one little bit...

In early 30's Hollywood Spike offers advice to a distant relative...

Part XVIII...

Several hours earlier…

Outside the Paramount-Publix studio, the clique of Dru's and Frances' fellow actresses had assembled awaiting admission in their street clothes…Abby nudging Carole to note both the usually tardy Joan's early arrival and her somewhat wan demeanor…Kate frowning in her turn…God, the girl's not high already?…

"Hasn't Dru come yet?..." Joan addressed the others, a bit anxious…

"They oughta be on their way…" Carole eyed her… "Why?...She owe you dough?..."

"I just wouldn't want her…" Joan paused… "I mean, if she's feeling badly about yesterday…I wouldn't want her to not come in…Have you heard ?..."

"No…" Carole looked at Abby… When did Joan suddenly become bosom friends with anyone, let alone Drusie?... "But she seemed pretty set on diving right back in…"

"I hope so…" Joan, anxiously… Kate, mirrored make-up case open in hand, engaged in fixing her long auburn hair, eyeing Abby who shrugged…

"I couldn't bear it if I made her unhappy…" wan sigh…

Happens just like that, sometimes…One of Cupid's bent arrows hits a girl and …Carole hissed to Abby who grinned…Now, girl…

Kate sliding over to them on the sidewalk, Joan a bit off by herself from the others, scanning the street, shielding her eyes a bit…

"Dickens, girls…What's with her?..." low voice…

"God knows…" Carole shrugged…

"You think she's…" Kate mimed a needle injection…

"Maybe…Usually doesn't make her all drippy and loving, though…" Carole noted…

"There they are…" Joan called to the others…

"You don't suppose Dru's…Got something for her?..." Kate asked in low voice as Joan went to greet the newly arrived Fran and Dru…

"Drusie?...Nah…She's not the type to push that stuff…" Abby shook her head…

"We don't know her that well…" Kate noted… "Say…What's with the parasol?..." she nodded in Dru's direction who held a parasol carefully over her head…

"That pale English complexion must be guarded…I'd say it looks more like luv…" Carole, sly grin… "Hey, she netted Fran within a day or two…"

"Joan…Of the persuasion?...I know one gangster boy who won't care for that…" Abby, in sing-song quiet voice, smiling…Waving to the new arrivals as they approached… Hey, guys…

The studio guard at the gate now unlocked and waved them in…Kate, Carole, Abby entering, Dru and her attendants following…Joan beside Dru on the right, Fran a bit annoyed by the new minion's presumption …And lack of sense…Geesh…Hangin' on Drusie's side like a lost puppy, for everyone to see and ask questions about…On the left…

Cary Lockwood smiling at them as they entered from where he stood talking to the director…

"Early bird, where's the worm?..." Abby called…

"I'll say this for Cary…He may have looks that could get him an easy berth but he's still one of the hardest working actors in this town…" Fran noted to Dru as the group waved to him… Cary!...Carole calling…

"He's such a kind man, really…" Dru smiled at him…Waving with the others…

"Aces, no question…" Fran nodded… "Eh, Dru?...Just a word?...Excuse us, Joanie?..." she glanced at the wanly disappointed Joan who quietly acquiesced at Dru's gentle stare and moved off slowly to join the others…Rather forlorn glance back to them…

Dru regarded Fran… Hmmn?...

"Tell Joanie to back off a little…And try to chirp up a bit…She's got too much of the hangdog about her today…" Fran explained… "The gals are noticing, you can tell…"

"You think so?..." Dru asked, glancing over at Joan now standing with the others awaiting entry to the dressing rooms, looking wistfully her way…

"I think so…" Fran nodded… "Just get her to be a little more old Joan, ok?...Not meaning to tell you what to do, Drusie…"

"Not at all…I think you're quite right…I may have taken a bit too much from her, though sometimes thrall can have an unusually potent effect on strong-willed people…They have no give in them so they can tend to break rather than bend…But I'll speak to her and see if I can 'chirp' her up a bit…Thanks, Fran…" Dru patted her arm…Folding parasol as they stood under the awning of the dressing room complex.

"Sure…" Frances beamed…

"You know I'd do anything to help you, Dru…" she breathed… "Anything…"

"There's a lamb…" Dru smiled at her…

Lockwood reached them, a broad smile and hearty greeting… "Ladies, ready for the lions' den?..."

"I think so…Yes…" Dru nodded, set and determined look…

"Nice touch with the parasol…" he grinned…

"Dru's got sensitive skin…" Frances carefully moved to cover…

"So do I…" Cary, wryly… "I ought to carry one myself…Eh, Dru…Just a word?..." he eyed her…

"Certainly…Excuse me, Fran?..." Dru smiled at the worried look of Frances who gave a quick glance at Cary then pasted a friendly smile and moved off to join the others…Taking special care to engage Joan in conversation…

"I spoke to the director…You've nothing to worry about…The scene was perfectly fine…In fact, you looked wonderful on camera…"

"Really?..." Dru blinked at her companion's smiling face…

"Really…Just thought you might need a little buck-up…"

"Mr. Lockwood…You're a true gentleman…" she smiled at him…

And God, much as I lust my current mate, the goddamnest handsomest man I've ever seen since the Immortal himself…And maybe even surpassing him…she thought…Considering…

Well, perhaps not just yet…He has such talent, really…A shame to deprive the world of his work in films unless of course he somehow fails…In which case…Hmmn?...She blinked again as he clearly had said something to her and was awaiting an answer…

"Grant?..." she repeated the last word he'd said to her…

"Yes…That's it…What do you think?...God knows how they pick 'em but that's the one they want me to try now…Short and sweet, anyway…"

Hmmn…Grant?...Cary Grant?...

"I don't know…Lockwood seems more distinguished, in a way…" she pondered… "Still, I suppose it's easier to remember…"

"And a few letters shorter on screen and poster…Always a consideration…" he grinned…

"However, for the ladies, depends on the type, though aristocratic is always welcome…I imagine you'll stay Drusilla Waverly…" he noted…

"Hey!..." Frances called from the door… "They want us to get a move on!..."

"Must go…But thank you…Mr. Grant…" Dru smiled, offering a hand…

"Always glad to help out a fellow Brit…And, between us, it's Archie..." he smiled back, nodding…Kissing hand with exaggerated formality… "Duchess, I'll see you on set…" he turned and headed for the men's dressing room…

Oh…My…Dru stared after him…Staring at her hand where he'd kissed…

This playing human is nothing but complicated…

Frances eyeing her from the door to the women's dressing rooms…Glancing over to where the newly christened Mr. Grant was entering the men's rooms…Then back to where Dru still regarded her hand…

Uh-boy…Eye roll…

Two hours later found the group of actresses again decked in gowns awaiting their call…Joan now a bit more lively after a brief conversation with Dru…Though still not quite her usual flippant self…Trying to quit after yesterday's little episode and just a bit under it, she'd earnestly explained to several of the other girls whose attitude had immediately changed to supportive and sympathetic…With understandable cautious reserve…

It's grand but…We'll see…Kate noting to Carole who agreed…

"Drusilla…" the addressed Dru paused in mid-conversation with Carole on the attributes of the Mr. Gable they'd met the other night at Cocanut Grove and turned to see Raymond the assistant director and his ever-present assistant John…

"A mo?..." he waved to indicate they should retreat to the outer hallway…

Fran looking anxiously after them…

"You don't think they'd can her after yesterday?..." she asked Abby who shook head…

"Ray would never take her out to tell her that…It's good news, I'd bet on it…Cary's right, she was fine yesterday…Don't fret, Frannie…"

God, she'd got it bad…Given that William I hope Dru lets her down easy…

Though on the other hand, Abby reflected, leaning back in her chair but careful not to wrinkle her gown…The said William wasn't bad…Now if Dru were to commit to the other side…Hopefully she'd allow a pal first dibs…

"Dru…" Ray beamed at her…She nervously smiling back…Tall John beside him eyeing her noncommittally, an appraising stare…"I think we have something special for you…I heard tell you have done a little comedy on the stage in England?..."

"Comedy?..." she blinked…

Florey regarded the two…Pratt in the make-up chair, Spike at his side…

"I see you're testing out Jamie's look for our creature?..." thin smile…

"Just wanted a gander at how well Mr. Pratt would fit the bill…" Spike nodded…

"Mr. Florey…" Pratt nodding in turn…A bit coolly, catching Spike's back-up air…

"Grand…" Florey smiled wider… "Our little effort paying off, then…?"

"We can but hope, sir…" Spike replied, tersely…

"Though…Unfortunately...It may be Mr. Laemmle has other ideas…He actually summoned me here for a discussion with Bela…"

"Did he?...Is Mr. Whale coming?...I'd imagine he'd surely like to be in on that…"

"Can't say…Though I'm sure he'll get word of it soon enough…" Florey, casual air…Pulling out exquisite cigarette case, which he offered to Spike who politely declined as did Pratt…

Pierce, the make-up artist, now returned, Florey lazily stepping aside to let him pass with a bag of items specially required for this task…

"Jack…" off-hand nod… "We may have another monster for you to make in a few…"

And I may shortly give you a monster to see what is a monster…Spike thought…Restraining himself for the moment…

Hardly further cousin Bill's career to don face just now…Much as it might inspire Mr. Pierce to new heights…

"So…I'm the daughter of the gangster?..." Dru looked at the script Raymond had handed her…

"One of the gangsters…The nicer one…"

"Oh…"

"And one of these four odd brothers is in love with me?..." she looked at the script…

"Zeppo…The good-looking one…" Raymond nodded…John beside him giving a slight…Relatively speaking I'd say…look…

"And when I get kidnapped…The brothers come to rescue me…?"

"Right…From the rival gangster…"

"I see…" Dru nodded… Hmmn…

John frowning slightly…Raymond awaiting her response with an eagerness that slightly dimmed as she hesitated…Reading…

"You do know who the Marx brothers are, Dru?..." Raymond, a bit perturbed…She looked up…

"The who?..." she blinked.. "You…You want me to work with the Marx brothers?...That band of buffoonish ruffians?..." she stared…John sighing…

Oh…Eyes rolling, she slumped to the floor…Ray looking at John who shrugged…Dru bouncing up with a smile…

"Just so the boys know I can do a pratfall…" she beamed…Kissing the startled Raymond on the cheek as John, relaxing, gave a considered faint smile and nod…

"Hooray for Cap't Spaulding…" Dru grinned…

"Prattfall…"

Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the

Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...

Archived at the Normalverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, .com...

Summary: As you know I leave the "Pratt" to the Whedonverse, except for this one little bit...

In early 30's Hollywood Spike offers advice to a distant relative...

Part XIX...

Well…Spike pondered, eyeing the self-satisfied look on Florey's face as he smiled at Pratt in his make-up chair and Spike…

I can either find a way to make this chubby French problem mysteriously go away in some dark corner…A bit unlikely in a major film studio now filling with personnel for the day…Or…

I can trust my instinctive faith in cousin Bill's artistic genius…For once in my Unlife returning to my former faith in Art and its power to make the Ideal Beauty, reality…

Mmmn…Naugh…Best to kill the f-ing French sob…After all, this one would be for the sake of Family…

Though how to do it without Bill being implicated?...Let alone attracting a lynch mob including a number of cast and crew who at least, thanks to their work on "Dracula" know the basics of how to deal properly with the Undead…I would have to pick Universal as my workplace…

Lord, playing human is complicated…

"Shall I get to it?..." Pierce asked…

Hmmn…Well, best to play it cool for the moment…Always time to find a good killing field later…

"Absolutely…" Florey smiled casually… "After all, Bela will want your full attention when he gets here…In just a few, actually…" he eyed his watch…

So much for option one…For now…Spike thought…

Ah, well…May Art triumph…This one time…

"Best to get to it, mate…" he smiled to the waiting Pierce… "I'm sure Mr. Laemmle will be anxious to see our Creature from multiple angles…" Reassuring smile to Pratt who eyed him…Nodding back…

Dru, in gown, hair waved and set, make-up being retouched found herself on the set of "Horse Feathers", being attacked from three sides…As Raymond and John made introductions…The crew scurrying about, some, with lesser cast members, pausing to watch the group around Dru…

"A delight to meet you, Miss Waverly…" the first heavily made-up actor facing her, cigar stuck in mouth, offered a hand…

"Indeed…" a second figure, in Italian peddler outfit, likewise made-up…Smiling…Slight bow…

"Enchanted, sweetie…" a third in top hat and long coat, horn at side, fright wig on head…Patting her arm…

"Is this what they're giving us now?..." a fourth actor, in casual suit and tie frowned at her…

"It's a great honor to be here with you…" Dru began…

"Yeah…" the fourth frowned again… "And we're aware of that, sister…I just hope you know how lucky you are to be here and what we expect from you…"

"Forgive our brother…" the cigar-chomping first actor pulled cigar from mouth, smiling… "Mother dropped him on his head…Many times, hoping to be rid of him…But somehow he survived to be the major pain in the ass he is today…" The other two chuckling…

"Just what experience do you have, Miss…What'its?..." the fourth actor glared at her, ignoring his brothers…

"Dru's a new find…" Raymond began, diplomatically…

"A find I'd like to make…" the first actor grinned at her…

"In other words, no experience…" the fourth eyed her coldly…

"Some stage experience, Mr. Marx…" she replied… "Including some vaudeville…In England…"

"And she's done some work here, for me…" Ray cut in…John behind him glaring at the actor…

"Vaudeville?...Our second…Actually generally our only…Given Pa's finances…Home…" the first actor beamed…

The third, in his fright wig and coat miming being shot through the heart by Cupid's arrow while doing a double-take and pratfall...The second grinning at the other two…Then winking at Dru, he joined his third brother on the ground… "What? You stealin' mi girl already? Come up and fight likea man…"

"Myself I prefer to run like a rabbit…Given they do rather better in getting the girls judging from those rabbit families…" the first grinned, as the other two began wrestling on the ground… "Come, my new find…Lets us leave these pugilists to their uncouth behavior and find a quiet corner to find out about each other in extravagant and censored detail…"

"Right…Funny….Look, Ray…This is business…" the fourth actor frowned at his brothers' antics…Drusilla beaming at the trio…The two on the ground continuing…The third brother now hopping up and running across the set toward an exit, the second in hot pursuit…Both pausing in succession to plant one on each of Dru's cheeks as they passed…

"So tell me…My wan English rose…" the first actor pulled Dru along, away from where the fourth was arguing with Raymond… "What shocking train wreck of events has led you to this sordid existence?..."

"Oh, Mr. Marx…" Dru chuckled…

"No, dear…" he shook his head as they reached a spot a bit out of earshot of the crew and the arguing group, the smile leaving his face… "I'm serious, kid…I know a vampiress when I see one and the boys made contact deliberately to confirm it…And I should warn you, my brothers and I have protection…How'd it happen, sweetheart?" sympathetic , yet hard stare…

"So it is Drusilla…" Groucho Marx sighed, eyeing Dru as they sat together, just by the set exit door on a sofa… "We'd heard rumors you were in the area but I never thought I find myself working with you…" he grinned…

His angry fourth brother, Zeppo, still in argument with Raymond and John regarding the need for a trained actress and the disrespect being shown the studio's greatest money-making asset…

"So…Mr. Marx?...You, a Watcher?..." Drusilla stared… "And your brothers?..."

"Fraid so, honey…Though not Zeppo…He never bought into Dad's side profession…He prefers to keep to the practical, non-occult world…"

"I see…So, now what?..." Dru, cool look…

"Don't make the others wonder, kiddo…Smile like a good actress…This may not end too badly…Today…" he cautioned…Sighing again…

"Dru…I wish we could help you…But all I can offer you is that if you leave quietly…And I mean town in general as well as here…Tonight…There won't be time for the Slayer to come in or for us to try and do the job ourselves, with help from a friend of ours…" Groucho eyed her sternly…

She eyed him coolly…

"You stay and you die, Dru…I know I shouldn't warn you like this, kid, but I've heard Drusilla's story and we've never liked that the Council's found nothing and made little effort to help folks like you…So, since I'd rather not risk my brothers and our friend to try and take on the great Drusilla…" smile… "You got 24 hours to get outta town kiddo…And that's no joke, pardner…" he wagged his cigar…

"Your 'friend'…Wouldn't be a Margaret Sullivan, semi-Slayer/demon, would it?..." she asked…

He eyed her, non-commitally…

"It's a fair deal, Dru…The best you're ever likely to get from the Council of Watchers…And you know why I'm able to offer it…"

"Suppose I refuse…And kill you all right now…" she replied, gently, keeping a friendly smile on her face as the two other brothers, still play-fighting their mimed duel for the crowd, gave brief glances to Groucho who nodded slightly…

"You might find us a little difficult…I think you can sense our defenses, kiddo…And Margaret, while not a full Slayer, has one ace up her sleeve, which even if she wouldn't use it…I would…" he regarded her…

"You'd tell…?" she stared…

"I'd tell…" he nodded… "And God knows how William the Bloody might react…Knowing what you did to him…

Especially with the soul of his beloved Cicely within reach…It could be bad for you, Drusilla…"

"So…Why doesn't she tell him?...Doesn't she want him?..."

"She's played her own game here, even keeping us in the dark about you...Hoping to keep him near as long as she could, I'd guess..." he sighed... "But she knows...It's not her time, Dru…Cicely's soul can only peep out from Maggie from time to time…But her day will come again…One day…"

"You helped…All of you…I could tell myself…He might not take that too kindly…" she frowned at him…

"The Council did…" he nodded… "In fact, we played the most despicable role in the whole affair, seeing as we did it for self-protection and power, not love or even hate…But that wouldn't save you…"

"And if I killed him…?"

"You'd lose him…He'd go to her soul and, doubtless when we need her, they'd both come back…Being the kind of people we both know they are…Are you ready to lose Spike…And what's left of William in him, Dru?..."

"I will one day…If you're correct…May as well be now…"

"Where's there's Unlife, there's hope, Dru…" he said quietly…Patting her leg… "I'm the guilty one here, sweetheart, letting you go…But, apart from sincerely mourning your fate, I have too much respect for your abilities and I love my brothers too much to take the risk of doing battle with you…Though again, I warn you…We might surprise you with our abilities…"

More holy water from a seltzer bottle?...She wondered…Still, they are a very able trio…And I do sense power here…

"And if I go…" she looked away, pout on lips… "If I give up my career and go, I can take Spike?...She won't try to stop me?..."

"It's not her time…And however much she'd like to stop you and keep him…She knows it…"

"She won't fight for him?..." sniff… "She's afraid…?"

"She's not fully Cicely…Just a part-Slayer whose sad fate lets Cicely peep out a bit…And who's devoted her life to doing what she can to protect him…To give him his chance to save himself…And her…"

"Protect him…You mean…?"

"For quite a while, yeah…And how she knew to come here and settle in, waiting for you?...She, Cicely, and God know…But yes, she's been with you, watching over you for a very long time…Got you both out of some tight scrapes, I understand…Without you ever knowing…"

"And you…All of you…You know you're murderers and you do nothing?...Set yourselves up in judgment over our kind…Over me?..." she stared at his made-up, infinitely sad and pitying face…

"We know…And some of us care…Though, God forgive us, not all or even enough…And those of us who care do not judge you, Miss Waverly…" he nodded… "Time's up, kid…What's your answer?..."

She eyed him…

Chico and Harpo now ending their mock fight on what appeared to be good terms, making a show of hand-shaking and exaggerated bowing to each other to the delight of the group of cast and crew watching…Harpo giving Dru a quick but kindly glance…

Zeppo demanding to see the producer…Ray and John looking over to where Dru was still engaged with Groucho…

Girl's no fool to make time with the lead while we negotiate, Ray thought…Still may bring this off…