Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon, or almost everything that I mentioned in this fic. Sigh.

Author's Note: Ya! No more harmony class! My summer vacation has started now! Yeah, I was gypped of a real summer, but what are you going to do? I have to take (and pass, oi) harmony to get extra credits for school. My parents are still gonna make me graduate from high school with more credits than I need. Oh well. Anyway, enough of my problems, on with the movie (sorta!)! But you need the updated cast listing first!

Popuri: Ruby (female lead)
Cliff: Evan (male lead)
Ann: Marian (female lead's best friend)
Karen: Claire (male lead's sister)
Jeff: Luke (bartender)
Duke: Reverend Johnson
Lillia: Lead female's mom
Basil: Lead female's dad
Jack: Whiteman son
Elli: Cassie (Lead female's sister)
Kent: Kent (Lead female's brother)
City Folk: Extras


Ruby Red in Mineral Town
The Small Break

(Elli's POV... only by default though)

Everyone looked at me anxiously. Each had their Styrofoam plate held out in front of them.

"W...what?" I managed to say. Did they expect me to clean it for them?

"Could we have seconds?" Ann begged, smiling widely.

"Or thirds?" Rick shoved his cousin out of the way to make himself in front of the pack, an even wider smile on his face.

"Uh..." I glanced down at the pot. A few strands were left inside.

"Is there any more?" Popuri grinned, licking her lips.

I sighed. When I volunteered to help with the food, I didn't think I'd have to make such a large quantity. I suppose it's my own fault, because I didn't take a look at the cast listing. But who could of guessed that a simple movie like this would require so much people? Our town can't even support fifty people, let alone a hundred and fifty. Most of them were people I didn't even recognize, so it felt kind of weird to give them the food I spent my time carefully preparing... and yes, spaghetti is an easy dish to make but time consuming!

"Well, yeah-"I began. Handfuls of people rushed to the pot and savagely slurped down the remaining strands of pasta. "...but..." Well, it's too late to tell them that those were for me, May and the Produce Man. "Well... I guess the three of us will have to pick up lunch by the snack table," I said to myself, in a voice I thought no one else would be able to hear.

"Oh yeah the snack table!" someone I didn't recognize yelled. The cast and crew ran into the direction of the bar, where it had been set up this morning.

"What!" Zach (the produce man) stared down at the empty pot. "What happened to our lunch?"

"I..." I began uncertainly. "They..." The reason? I hate to say this, but I am a bit of a pushover. Literally, I can't fend off an army of hungry people.

Zach sighed. "It's okay. We'll just eat from the banquet table." The two of us walked to the direction of the food, only to realize that it had all been eaten up again. I gritted my teeth but didn't say a word.

"That's it," Zach sighed again. "That's all the food we made for today. There's absolutely nothing else."

May squirmed out of her father's grasp. "Daddy I'm hungry," she whimpered.

"We could have cake, pie and cookies for lunch," I suggested, suddenly inspired. Maybe having sweets for lunch wouldn't be so bad!

"No, it's all gone. Every morsel of food. We'll be up late tonight baking and cooking up a storm."

Oi. I like to cook, I really do. But not in army-size quantities. And I'm starting to feel a little disregarded and taken for granted. My grandmother helps out, but there's only so much she can do before she gets tired. Jeff tries to help too, but he doesn't have a lot of time right now, since he's got a speaking role in the movie himself.

"Those mooches are lucky that we're such good people," Zach grumbled under his breath. He scooped up May and turned around to leave. I was just about to do the same, when I noticed the mess that those people had made. Baskets, plates, forks, and crumbs everywhere. On the bright side, at least they didn't waste any food. But a mess was a mess, and I honestly felt obliged to clean it up.

As I picked up the plates and straightened the tablecloth, I couldn't help but overhear a conversation Mayor Thomas was having with the casting director.

"How could you forget that part?" our Mayor raged, waving the script high in the air.

"It's such a minor role, it won't largely affect the story outcome," the casting director said. "She only appears in one or two scenes, it's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal? Not a big deal?" he slapped down the wad of papers. "It's a big deal because I say it's a big deal! We have to find someone to play her!"

"Well, then go ahead, find someone. I don't care. It's your movie, not mine. I was just trying to save you a bit of money, but if every single detail has to be in the movie then it's your call. Good luck convincing someone to play her in... oh, say, an hour." She then walked away hotly, taking pride in every stride she made.

Mayor Thomas looked around frantically. Oh crap! I tried to duck away behind the table, but he spotted me.

"Elli dear!" he galloped towards me. "Elli, hi, how are you?"

"Quite tired," I answered, quite truthfully.

"Uh, well..." Mayor Thomas scratched his head. "See here, we're in a quite a predicament... you see, my casting director forgot to find someone to play Ruby's rebellious sister."

"Oh, well, that's a shame," I said quickly. "Well, I better start with tomorrow's food."

"No, Elli. Would you... would you mind being that character? It's not very hard, and you'll get real lines and a credit in the movie!"

I thought about it. I already had a really small role as an extra in the bar (just to get 1000g for this adorable little bracelet for Popuri's birthday, which was coming up in two weeks), but an actual talking role might be good, but...

"Okay," the words popped out of my mouth before I could even contemplate all the pros and cons.

The Mayor grinned widely. "Thank you thank you! You won't regret this! Now, you have five minutes to get ready for the bar scene! Quickly now!" I rushed in the bar and took my place with Kai and Harris. The Midwife, Hall (Ann and Gray's father), the Head Carpenter, Rick and Gray filled up the rest (I never expected Gray to take part... I guess he's saving up money to buy a birthday present for Popuri as well to woo her!). Karen sat at the counter with Jeff pouring her a drink.

"Action!" Mayor Thomas shouted.

"Can I get a beer or what?" Karen pounded the counter.

Jeff eyed her suspiciously. "A young lady like you shouldn't be drinking beer."

"I've been drinking since I was sixteen. I think I know how to handle alcohol."

"Well then beautiful," Jeff poured what was really plain old water into a martini glass. "This one's on me." He winked at her.

I know I'm not supposed to be watching them (but 'enjoying' my drink and 'mingling' with my friends Kai and Harris), but I couldn't help it. That wink made me blush a bit, like it was directed at me. And this is going to sound very odd coming from me, but for someone who makes and serves sweets, he's got one hell of a body (Author's Note: I'm just making stuff up, so... don't think that it's true or anything, even though it could be true, but anywayz). I mean, how can he keep up a good figure? Look at me! I've been working at the bakery as long as he has and I'm pretty pudgy. I wonder if he likes pudgy girls...

"Uh, thanks," Karen studied the glass. "Is this is?"

"It's a martini," Jeff explained. "It's got more percent alcohol than beer so you sell it in a smaller quantity. But you can have as much as you want sweetie," he grinned mischievously at her.(Author's Note: Again, I'm too young to drink so I don't know if this is true either.)

Cliff walked in and plopped himself down beside Karen. "Hey sis... what is that?" he poked at the martini glass.

"I don't know," she pushed it away from her. "Take this back and get me a real drink, and I can pay for it myself," she snapped. Then she turned to Cliff. "And what took you so long Evan!"

"Sorry, I just got held up a bit," Cliff told her, his voice telling us he was still a little dazed. "This girl just started verbally attacking me. Then she flew off. Gosh Claire, maybe this town isn't as nice and peaceful as you said it was."

"Of course it is," Karen (Claire) maintained. "Just a couple of exceptions. We're just staying here for a few days anyway. But what do you mean, a girl verbally attacked you?"

"I don't know. She stumbled out of the bar, and started screaming about how people use other people and stuff."

"Maybe she was drunk. That would be a good explanation." Karen pointed out. She took a sip from her glass and grimaced. "Though it would take a lot to waste you. This stuff is so bland." Karen pushed the mug off to a side. "What did she look like?"

Cliff cleared his throat. "Well... I guess you could say she was pretty. Boy, all the pretty ones are lunatics."

Karen cocked her head. "Hey Evan, do you think your little sister is pretty?"

He grinned at her. "Sure. But you're crazy too."

"Why you little-"she grabbed her beer, poured it over his head and chased him outside, both of them laughing hysterically. With our parts done, everyone in the bar raced to the windows to catch the remainder of the scene. Neither Cliff nor Karen noticed Popuri in their path. Impact in two... one...

"Ow! What the hel-" Popuri doubled back. "It's you again!"

Cliff and Karen stopped laughing and looked at her. Karen climbed off her 'brother' to not give anyone the wrong idea. "You were the lunatic that cussed my brother out?"

Popuri twisted her face. "No... I... I didn't mean to. Sorry. I... I just forgot something at the bar. Excuse me." She tried to squeeze past them, but Karen couldn't allow that without a reasonable explanation.

"Why did you do that though?" Karen demanded.

"I'm sorry, all right!" Popuri scowled at both of them. "It's just that... I just broke up with my boyfriend."

Karen's eyes glittered in excitement. "A damsel in distress," she whispered to herself. Then she spoke loudly. "Uh... you know, I'm tired. I think I'm just going to head back to the hotel and take a nap." She gave Cliff a pat on the back. "I'll see you later bro." Karen quickly left the scene.

"So... are you okay?" Cliff asked Popuri after a moment's hesitation.

"Why wouldn't I be!" Popuri snapped. "I'm fine. I don't need a guy to make me happy. I'm perfectly fine all by myself."

Cliff raised one eyebrow. "You're certainly not afraid to tell total strangers your feelings."

"Well you're quick to judge me," Popuri snapped again.

You're not like any girl I've ever seen before," Cliff told her, a little intrigued.

"Is that because many girls don't like to be seen by you?"

"I travel a lot. I see a lot of people."

Popuri flashed him a surprised look. "Why would you stop here? It's not on the way to anywhere."

"I like to see everything, significant or not... I'm travelling around North America with my sister." Cliff anticipated her response.

"Travelling around!" Popuri wasn't as impressed as Cliff thought she would be. "Don't you have a job, or a family, or even a home!"

Cliff chuckled, almost reminiscent. "Now who's being judgemental?"

"You accuse me of things, but you don't even know me at all."

"It's the same on his side."

Despite their quarrel, you can sense a bit of attraction (A/N: Yeah, most of you are attracted to Cliff, hee hee). But both are too stubborn and too proud to admit it.

They both stared at each other intently before Popuri broke away. "I... I have to go." She scampered off quickly, giving Cliff a 'victory'. But Cliff was just left standing there, watching as she went inside.

"...Cut!" Mayor Thomas jumped in and we all poured out of the bar.

I was getting more and more hungry, which as a result made me more and more aggravated. And I had another scene coming up, where I would actually be on camera. I wasn't sure if I could do it though, especially a role that is not my nature at all. I'm supposed to act like I was dominant; too good for everything. I never act like that in real life.

I moseyed over to Maria's house, which was supposed to be Popuri (or Ruby)'s home for our scene. It was the biggest residential building in town so we had to use it.

I was to be inside with my 'mom' Lillia, my 'father' Basil (wow, Popuri's got it made) and our little 'brother', Kent. My stomach grumbled when I took my place, and I grumbled back at it.

"...Action!"

Popuri walked in, a dark red sweater draped over her arm. She smiled as Kent ran up to her.

"Hi big sister!" he squealed as she embraced him.

"Hi Kent," she gave him a kiss on the head and released him (the Mayor, our 'director' figured it would be easier just to let the youngsters keep their own names to cause less confusion for them).

Right about then, I was really, really hungry. My tummy was screaming, 'why are you tormenting me like this? What did I ever do to you?' But it was my turn to enter. Annoyed, I banged the door of Maria's room open. "Ruby, mommy and daddy have a surprise for you," I sneered at her in a condescending tone.

"What?" Popuri stood up. "What is it?"

"Don't worry," I assured her with scorn. "They've taken the trouble of doing everything in life for you. Not like they ever cared about me." I sat down at the table and rested my head on the heel of my hand. Lillia and Basil appeared from 'another' room.

"Ruby, darling!" both her parents grinned. Lillia caught a glimpse of the young sibling. "Um... Kent, would you go play in your room?"

"Why?" Kent asked with his natural sweet, naive innocence.

"We've got something very important to tell Ruby," Basil explained. Kent sauntered to Maria's room and closed the door.

Lillia glanced at me. "...Cassie, would you mind watching over Kent?"

I twitched my eye. "Yeah. Coz I'd much rather watch you send Ruby off with the richest and best bachelor in town when he should have been coupled up with ME, your oldest daughter." I couldn't wait to get away from the camera. I tried to do my best to take a moderate amount of time going to Maria's room. Once there, I sighed with relief.

"I'm so hungry," I groaned quietly.

Kent stood up and handed me a sandwich. It was sticky, it was small, but I wanted it so bad.

"No Kent, you eat it," I told him, but only to be polite.

"You can have it," Kent insisted as he sat down to make himself another peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Giving him a big hug was the least I could do. "Thank you so much," I gushed as I gobbled it up in a second. Ah, I feel a little better. Now, to press my ear against the door to listen to the rest of the scene as I followed along in my script book.

"What did she mean by that?" Popuri's eyes darted around the room suspiciously. "Is what Cassie said true?"

Both her parents smiled anxiously. "We thought..." Basil began tentatively, "Since you're beginning to grow older Ruby..."

"So we took the liberty of finding a nice gentleman for you," Lillia finished.

"WHAT!" raged Ruby, flabbergasted. "How could you do this to me!"

"Let's be realistic here sweetie," Basil negotiated. "Your 'saviour', as you called him, just left you. I don't see the point of wasting three months. That way, we can use the year to plan your wedding and you can get married in spring of next year."

"So who is this gentleman?" Popuri crossed her arms.

"It's the Whiteman's son," Lillia went to the other room and rushed him into the living room. The Whiteman's son was Jack, according to the cast listing. I knew for a fact that it was quite difficult to get him dressed and groomed properly.

"No way man," he had said earlier. "You can't take my hat away from me, it's who I am! I where it while working, raining, sleeping, even washing my hair!"

The hair stylist winced. "Aw, I did not need to know that," very carefully, she took the cap by its rim with her fingertips and slid it off.

Jack squeaked. "Oh my God, I feel so naked!"

"Don't worry darling, once I'm done you will look sophisticated and like a gentleman," she assured her.

"I don't want to look sophisticated," whined Jack, twitching in his seat. But the end result did look nice dashing. She was right; he did look like a gentleman with his hair shortened a bit and split on two sides. Though it wasn't her job to do so, she also selected the outfit for him to wear; a casual white Ralph Lauren Polo Shirt, cream-coloured dress pants and a belt to match. Sometimes looking like a member of a country club can give you refinement.

That's how I assumed he still looked like during the scene.

Jack grinned and shook Popuri's hand. It was all polite and distant, not really a way to interact with someone who you are arranged to be married with.

"He's a good polite boy," Basil coaxed. "He comes from a nice family and has a good job." He didn't have a job, naturally, just a large inheritance.

"Don't you like him Ruby?" Lillia questioned when Popuri seemed uninterested.

"You guys said you'd give me until my twentieth birthday!" Popuri whispered. "And you know what? I've actually decided I don't want to ever get married."

Her parents laughed out loud. "You can't not get married," Basil told her sternly. "You must. You must find a good husband, have children and give them a good life."

"Why?" Popuri challenged.

"Because that's a woman's role in life," Lillia answered simply. "If you asked Reverend Johnson, he would say the same thing as well."

Her attempts to resist her parents would be futile, so Popuri decided to venture another tactic. "What if I found another man suitable for marriage by myself?" she suggested. "If I find someone I love, then can I marry him?"

Lillia's eyes clouded over. Basil bit his lip. "Well, I suppose it would be all right..." Basil finally said.

"Uh-" Jack began, but Popuri's voice overpowered his.

"Okay then, I've got some errands to run, I'll see you guys for dinner." She fled to the door, shut it quickly when she exited her home and ran off to find Ann (Marian).

"And... cut! All right! Great work everyone! Now, be sure to be back at the town's square at eight am tomorrow!" After our Mayor's reminder, everyone erupted into conversation. I stepped out of Maria's room, holding the door open for Kent to slip by.

"Elli! You did so good!" Popuri jumped out and glomped me. "I never knew you were such a good actor!"

"T-thanks," I said, a little embarrassed.

"How do you do it? I mean, how did you adapt yourself to your role so well? I actually believed that you were Cassie, jealous and merciless sister of mine!"

"Well, to be honest..." I giggled. "It was kind of like method acting. I was really hungry, so that made me really angry. It was all by accident."

"Hungry?" Popuri scratched her head. "Why were you hungry? Didn't you have enough lunch?"

I was too happy to start anything, so I decided just to let it slip by. "Oh, you know me. I'm always eating!"


Tra la la... hey, I was wondering; would you guys rather me use their regular names during scenes or their character's names? I figured it would be better if I used their regular names so it would be easier to understand, but then it's harder to remember their character name if it comes up in the dialogue. Tell me what you prefer. Thanks.

Oh yeah, I didn't give Jack's character a proper name for a reason.