… During the break …..
Ryan's assistant brings out a folding chair and the host plops down with a deep exhale. A make-up artist rushes out to add another layer of makeup to cover up the sweat. A woman from wardrobe brings him another dress shirt. He changes quickly.
"Ryan, you alright?" asks the production manager.
"Honestly, I'm not feeling very well right now."
"He does look a little pale," his assistant comments.
"I'll be fine," Ryan tells them as an intern hands him a bottle of water.
Announcer: Alright people we're on in thirty…
Everyone rushes to get everything offstage.
Announcer: In five, four…
"Welcome back, everyone," Ryan grins as he leans against the Salvatore podium. "We're here with Katherine who is going to tell us an A-list celebrity who has portrayed a vampire."
"Salma Hayek," Katherine turns to the camera and smiles.
"Good answer!" Damon and Stefan both shout.
"Show me 'Salma Hayek'"
The number four spot is revealed.
"Tarantino's From Dusk 'til Dawn," Ryan makes his way slowly back to the Damon in the first spot.
"A-list celebrity," Ryan bends the cue cards in his hand.
"Aaliyah," Damon smiles broadly nudging Stefan who also smirks.
"If only she were a real vampire," Stefan comments.
"May she rest in peace," Damon says solemnly.
"Amen, brother," Stefan agrees.
The vampires have a moment of silence for the talented musician and actress who died much too young in a tragic plane crash.
The moment passes and Ryan looks to the large board, "Survey says!"
BUZZ
Two red strikes flash.
"Stefan, two strikes and one answer left on the board," Ryan reminds him. "Can you tell me an A-list celebrity who has portrayed a vampire?"
"Wesley Snipes," Stefan answers.
"Isn't he in jail?" Charlie shouts from the Cullen podium.
"I'm not sure," Stefan answers looking a little embarrassed.
"I'm pretty sure he's in the big house," Charlie takes out his gun again. "Tax fraud."
"Thank you, Sheriff Swan," Ryan turns back to the board. "Wesley Snipes!"
BUZZ
Three red strikes appear.
The Salvatores groan in disappointment.
"Cullens have a chance to steal," Ryan announces as he walks across the stage to Charlie.
"A-list celebrity, Charlie."
"I'm gonna say…," he taps a finger against his head in thought.
When he doesn't answer Ryan moves to Jake.
"Kristen Stewart," the werewolf shouts.
Nessie yells, "Dakota Fanning!"
From the last spot at the podium Charlie says, "Johnny Depp!"
Everyone looks over at him.
"I think he was a pirate not a vampire," Jake tells the Sheriff.
"He was also The Mad Hatter and Willie Wonka," Nessie adds.
"No, the one where he sings," Charlie specifies.
"A singing vampire?" Jake groans. "Now I've heard everything."
"I think he means Sweeney Todd," Bella tells them.
"That's the one," Charlie snaps his fingers.
"Sweeney Todd was a serial killer, not a vampire," Edward informs everyone.
"You say that like there's a difference," Jake snorts.
"haha," Edward says dryly.
"Ok," Charlie frowns and starts thinking again.
"Bela Lugosi," Edward tells Bella.
"Bella, your family gave you a lot of great answers. You can either go with one of them or go out on your own," Ryan tells her. "There's only one answer left, if you get it wrong, the Salvatore family gets the steal."
"Okay," Bella runs her hands over face. "Definitely not Johnny Depp. So it's either Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart or Bela Lugosi."
Edward squeezes her hand in support.
"Five seconds, Bella."
"I'm going to go out on my own, Ryan."
"Okay."
"Traci Lords."
"The PORN STAR!" Charlie blurts out.
Across the stage the Salvatore Family laughs loudly.
"Show me…," Ryan pauses clearing his throat, "Traci Lords."
BUZZ
A large red strike appears.
Damon and Stefan chest bump each other as Elena and Jeremy hug each other.
"I'm sorry," Bella apologizes to her family.
"We'll get them next round," Jake replies.
"The number five answer was…" Ryan looks up at the board.
"Kate Beckinsale/Underworld," the audience reads aloud.
"Here we go," Ryan walks back over the center podium. "Jake and Jeremy, your turn to play the Feud."
The two tall teenagers jog up and take their places.
Ryan now looks like a resident of Munchinland as he stands in between them.
The boys shake hands and wish each other luck.
They both bend their knees and lean down, like tip-off at an NBA game.
"LET"S PLAY THE FEUD!" Ryan takes out a new cue card.
"One hundred people surveyed, top five answers on the board," Ryan looks up and over his shoulder at the large yellow display.
"Name a vampire inspired tee-shirt logo."
Both boys raise their hands to buzz in, Jeremy hesitates but the werewolf doesn't.
"Jake," Ryan points to Native American on his right.
"TEAM JACOB!" he screams at the top of his lungs.
An entire section of the audience jumps to their feet and screams with him.
"Show me "Team Jacob," Ryan gestures to the board.
The number one spot flips over.
"YES!" Jake screams. "YES! YES! YES! I finally beat you Cullen!" He fist pumps at the audience.
"JACOB! JACOB! JACOB!" they chant.
He tears off his shirt and runs to the edge of the stage, arms raised over his head.
"JAAAAACCOOOOOB!"
Edward, Bella, Nessie, Damon, Stefan and Katherine all cover their sensitive vampire ears.
"I LOVE YOU!" the werewolf proclaims as he dives off the stage into the audience. The fans lift him up and he crowd surfs through the theater. Girls paw him and tear at his clothes. In seconds he's covered in lipstick and hickeys.
A growl resonates, growing stronger with each second.
"THAT IS MY SOUL MATE!"
Nessie's brow furrows in jealousy and she charges forward, only to be stopped by Katherine.
"Let me go, or else," she tells the oldest member of the Salvatore family.
"Or else what?" Katherine laughs.
Nessie grabs Katherine's hand and shows her a mental image of herself burning in a fire.
"Oh please," Katherine slams the girl to the floor. "You're as scary as a My Little Pony."
"Let her go," Edward rushes forward with Bella millimeters behind him.
"Do as he says," Stefan orders. "Or else we'll be disqualified."
"She's only half-human." Katherine squeezes Nessie harder causing her to whimper. "Are they going to half-disqualify us?"
There's a loud snapping sound as the giant wolf leaps onto the stage. Looming over Katherine he snarls and bears his teeth.
Like the predators they are; Jake, Bella and Edward form a circle around Katherine.
"Let her go, now…," Edward tenses up preparing to attack.
"I say kill her," Damon remarks. "It would save us the trouble."
The camera pans to Ryan Seacrest who is admirably forcing a smile. "Looks like it's time for a word from our sponsors."
The GSN logo appears once more.
A commercial for Eclipse (the chewing gum, not the movie) begins to roll.
Much Love to Team Jacob! Gemma.