Part Three: Motivation
The cast taped the first of their six remaining episodes in record time. They had never finished one so fast before. Even the climactic Angel/Spike scene went quickly, played to perfection on the first take. That fact in itself was frightening, considering that both Spike and Angel had initially vehemently protested the very existence of the scene. Something had changed their minds. Whatever it was, though, no one tried too hard to find out. They had too much else to worry about.
Eventually it was time to tackle episode two. Again Gunn, Lorne, Spike, Angel and Wesley gathered in the office. Fred was also there, since she'd been restored to the cast due to Wesley's miraculous new time-altering ability. However, although Kathy had appeared in the previous episode, she was not present, mainly because she was an annoying newbie who was only on the show to help snag those elusive younger viewers, the mindless pursuit of whom had taken over the television marketplace and severely compromised program quality.
Everyone expectantly faced Lorne, who had once more worked on the new script. It was a job no one else was willing to take on.
"Well?" Gunn said. "You decide on cast changes yet?"
"We're still smoothing those out, but there's what we have so far. Gwen Raiden and Connor are coming back, and a new 20ish character named Paige will be introduced in the next episode."
"Paige?" Fred repeated. "Isn't that the name of one of the sisters on..."
"'Charmed,' yeah," Lorne confirmed. "Our plots have occasionally turned up on their show, so we're returning the favor a little by borrowing a name from them. Anyone here have a problem with that? No? Good. Anyway, aside from Gwen, Connor, and Paige, there are a couple of other changes. Don't worry; they're for the good of the show." While the others curiously watched, Lorne moved to the door and opened it. Eve and Lindsey walked in. "Everyone, welcome Lindsey back and wave goodbye to Eve. See, there is method to my madness. It's a trade. Move along, Eve."
With that, Eve was gone and Lindsey was not.
"The senior partners are going to spit Lindsey back out at us and take Eve away in his place," Lorne continued.
"That's very, well, interesting," Fred said carefully. "But why are they doing it?"
"Why?" Lorne echoed. "Who cares why? They just do. Accept it and move on."
Wesley nodded. "I understand. Logic has now taken up accommodations with common sense in a distant part of town."
"We're like 'One Tree Hill,'" Lorne informed him. "We don't need logic, and we don't need common sense, either. We do, however, need some semblance of character motivation."
Lindsey spoke up. "Great point. What about my motivation? Am I good or am I evil? How do I play my scenes?"
"Inscrutably, because we're making up your story as we go along."
Lindsey shrugged. "Okay."
"Okay?" said Lorne. "That's it? No complaints? Now, this is the kind of reaction I like to see. Why can't the rest of you be as agreeable as Lindsey and do what I say without protesting?"
Angel spoke up. "Oh, I don't know. I find it hard to be agreeable when it results in things like Spike declaring his love for me. Still, no harm done as long as I get to beat him up in the next episode." He paused. "Hey, I do get to beat him up, right?"
"No, 'cause my idiotic declaration was a nightmare scene," Spike corrected him. "Had to be. Which you'll see soon's we get the next script."
"Where is the script?" Fred asked, beginning to frown.
"It's being photocopied as I speak," Lorne replied. "I guarantee you, it's terrific. Spike, you'll hover between hopelessness and despair throughout the episode. Angel, you're confused and angry. The sudden reappearance of Kathy is seriously complicating your life. Gunn, you run the gamut. This episode is a true emotional workout for you. You celebrate the existence of life in the form of those beautiful, precious babies who are under your care, and later you mourn the senselessness of unnecessary death. You also hook up with Gwen again. Fred, Wes, you're the easy ones. Your mindset is that you're in love and happy. Don't worry, it won't last long. Just give us a couple of episodes to build up to making your lives miserable again. We have to milk you two for all the drama you're worth. Last but not least, I even give myself a story in this episode, for a change. I'm reading potential new employees, including the mysterious girl we eventually hire, and I uncover Knox's evil intentions toward Fred and nip them in the bud."
"Doesn't sound so bad," Gunn admitted. "So why do I have this real bad feeling about it?"
"No idea," Lorne said dismissively. "None of you could do any better."
His confidence momentarily reassured the others, but they all tensed as soon as the door opened and Harmony came in with an armful of scripts.
"Here ya go," she said, handing them out. "I just love this episode!"
"That settles things," Angel decided as he reluctantly accepted his copy. "If Harmony likes it, it can't possibly be good."
end part 3