Chapter 3:

After a more than restless night, Team Rocket got ready to shoot the first few secenes of Maria's Butler III. Jessie had spent the whole morning fixing her hair and choosing a fitting attire. Her partner was continuously running from her suitcase to the bathroom, providing her with countless dresses and plastic jewellery since they couldn't afford gilded frills. „What do you think James?" Jessie spun in a circle, her evening gown fluttering gently. James walked up to her, pressed Jessie against the washbasin, placed his legs between her thighs and kissed her neck. She relished the moment, loosing her sense for time very quickly.

„Excuse me," Meowth was standing in the doorway, impatiently tapping his paws. „We're waiting," he snapped. His team-mates exchanged embarrassed looks, reached for their historical costumes and hurried downstairs.

„By the way, Meowth," James pinched the cat-Pokémon. „Don't dare to scare me out of my wits again! Keep that creepy laughter to yourself, alright?" he flashed his eyes at Meowth. The Scratch Cat Pokémon looked at James in bewilderment. „What are yous talking about?" he asked his friend. „Oh, don't act so innocent now! You know exactly what I'm talking about. Yesterday night, you were hiding in that wardrobe, laughing in a high-pitched tone in order to frighten Jessie and me. Admit it!" James opened his umbrella and stepped outside into the pouring rain. „Dad sure wasn't me, Jimmy," Meowth shook his head. His partner swallowed hard. „But, but if it wasn't you, who..." A shiver ran down James' spine. There was no natural explanation for what he had heard. Could it be that the mansion was really stricken with disaster? Haunted by a little girl who walked abroad? James tried to convince himself that his fears were farfetched, but something discomfited him. He decided to distract himself and turn his whole attention to the movie and the upcoming scenes.

Outside the mansion, the noise of the thunder was unbearable. Even though it was only half past ten in the morning, a dark veil of thick charcoal grey clouds enwrapped the old derelict manor. Rain fell in sheets and soon the complete crew was soaked to the skin. Still, Al Capello was adamant that they should start off with a couple of exterior shots. He asked Jessie, James and the children to gather in front of the heavy iron gate and film the opening scene. Jessie was shaking with cold, she wrapped her arms around her upper body. James took off his jacket and laid it around her shoulders. „Let's take a hot shower afterwards," he whispered, so that only his partner could hear his words. She smiled shyly, taking a last gander at the script. James placed a kiss on her forehead.

„Seriously?" Ash barged in between. „Stop smooching around, it's disgusting," he complained. The Team Rocket-members crouched down, each of them kissing Ash's cheeks. „We don't want you to get a raw deal," they giggled, observing the young Pokémon-trainer wiping Jessie's lipstick from his face. „Ugh!"

The director bade his crew to be quiet. „The sooner we begin to shoot our scenes, the sooner you'll be back inside. I want you to get ready for scene number one," Al Capello fetched his megaphone, taking a seat on his folding chair. It was roaring and flashing in close proximity to their filming location. No one felt comfortable, but they had to endure the director's pronounced penchant for the dramatic. He regarded a dripping crew and this deteriorated building as a perfect setting.

Scene Nr. 1:

Who: Johann/James, Maria/Jessie, Konrad/Brock, Rita/Misty, Frankie/Ash, Pikachu

Where: In front of a terrifying mansion

What: Maria is tired of roaming around in a seemingly aimless manner. They've been on the road for hours, still looking for the right hotel, but it seems that the travellers have so far gone round in circles.

Konrad/Brock is studying the map. Johann/James joins him, taking a closer look at the road map.

Konrad/Brock: Sir, I think we're lost.

Johann/James snatches the soaked piece of paper from Konrad/Brock and scrutinises it, eventually hitting Konrad/Brock with the map.

Johann/James: Oh, of course, we're lost, Könu! You can't see anything on this stodge! There are no roads, no houses, not even the compass rose is visible.

Johann/James crumples what is left of the map and throws the remnant on the floor.
Johann/James: Very well done, Könu. You're sense of orientation is as helpful as a peephole in a glass window. *He turns to Maria/Jessie* Lady Maria, I'm sorry to inform you that we're not only completely lost, but also stinky rotten broke...

Maria/Jessie: Oh, never mind. Why don't we stay here overnight? It looks very welcoming.
*She points at the old manor. At this very moment, the oak door pops open, providing a glimpse of the long hallway *

Rita/Misty: I don't know if they're expecting any guests. It looks rather abandoned.

Frankie/Ash: She's right. There's not a soul.

Konrad/Brock: It could be haunted...

Johann/James: Rats! Stop scaring the lady, you inarticualted dunces. If she expresses the desire to spend the night in this house of doom, we shall grant her wish.* Johann/James and Maria/Jessie link arms and enter the building*

„Cut! That was very good! Now, get inside my friends. I don't want you to catch a cold," Al Capello followed his actors inside. Dragana and Toni had been observing the crew with a rather hostile attitude. „I'm sure the lord would never endorse this third-class drama," the housekeeper presumed. Toni nodded approvingly. „They will get their money's worth," he acceded to her.

As soon as the crew had blow-dried their hair and slipped into heated up clothing, the director decided to shoot a scene in the mansion's kitchen. Dragana had allowed him to set up the cameras and spotlights in order to shine a light on the rather dark and comfortless cuisine, but James succumbed to a feeling of unease. He wasn't able to avert his gaze from the unlit corridor that lead to the upper floors and the forbidden west wing. Yet, he needed to slip into the role of an almost foolhardy butler, gallant, heroic and completely sceptical in terms of ghosts.

„Brock and James. Take up space. It's time to shoot the second scene. And action!" Al Capello shouted through his megaphone.

Scene Nr. 2:

Who: Johann/James, Konrad/Brock

Where: In the kitchen of the abandoned manor

What: Konrad/Brock is preparing supper, Johann/James joins him.

Johann/James: What's wrong, Könu? You seem so edgy. Don't tell me you've spoilt the vegetable stock. *Johann/James walks around the cooking island, grabs a spoon and tastes the soup * Disgusting, as always. It's too oily and spicy! *Johann/James slaps Konrad/Brock *

Konrad/Brock: Excuse me, Sir. It's just that...

Johann/James: What?

Konrad/Brock: I feel as if someone or something's watching me.

Johann/James: Nonsense! What do you expect? A ghost as your host? A phantom with local costum? A zombie, unpredictably?

Konrad/Brock: You shouldn't be so casual about it, Sir. Legends and myths have grown up around the history of this manor...They say...

In this very moment, a strong gust of wind rushed through the kitchen. James gave a yelp, jumping right into Brock's arms. „What was that?" his whole body trembled.
Misty reached for Jessie's hand. One of the camera operators tapped Al Capello on the shoulder. „Sir, the battery of my camera died," he made the director aware of the black screen in front of them. „How come? Did you forget to charge it?" Al Capello rocked the electric device. „No, Sir. I charged the battery only a few minutes ago," the operator assured. „Strange, very strange. Well, let's take a break, crew," the director put his megaphone aside.

Later that evening, Misty decided to pay a visit to the huge library in the east wing of the mansion, in order to find out more about the history of this building and the prosperous baron who enjoyed his well-earned old age, sealed off from the outside world. She was walking down the corridor, suddenly colliding with Daragana who seemed to have appeared out of the blue. „Miss Dragana, where's the library?" Misty enquired. The housekeeper remained silent, she was gazing into the empty horizon, obviously ignoring the little girl's question. Dragana strove past her without a second glance. Misty turned around and shrugged her shoulders. „What's up with her?" She followed her unswerving course to the bookroom. Misty noticed that most of the books were dusty and outdated. It must have been years, maybe even decades since the last time someone had the urge to look up a term or read a story. The young girl sat down in an upholstered chair and began to leaf through a book about the noble family that used to reside in Turda.

Meanwhile, James was adjusting the temperature of the water coming from a flat shower head. He asked Jessie to step into the bathtub, immediately joining her. „Can you put some cream on my back, James?" she demanded. He filled his hands with soft shower gel, rubbing his partners shoulders, running down her arms. Jessie enjoyed being spoiled. She could scent the tender touch of bourbon vanilla while James was carefully massaging her neck and her back. He approached her, kissing Jessie's collarbone. She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. It was impossible to keep his lust in check. James smothered her with kisses. He kissed her cheeks, the tip of her nose, her neck. Putting his hands on her waist, he pulled her closer, locking his lips with hers. Jessie bathed his body with wet kisses. Both were completely out of breath, but no one intended to crawfish out. „Jessie, I think I...", she didn't give him the chance to speak it out loud. It was still too soon for a possible confession, she wasn't ready yet. In order to avoid an akward silence, she moaned with pleasure, cupping James' face with both of her hands. They began to french full of passion and longing desire.

Ash and Brock were busy learning their lines by heart. Pikachu and Togepi were jumping across the room, presumably enjoying a new type of hide-and-seek. The young Pokémon-trainer monitored the sprightly creatures, laughing and twirling around, not noticing that someone had just locked the door to their dorm. Suddenly, Brock took a quick glance at the ceiling. „Ehm, Ash? Am I dreaming we're giants?" he wondered. Ash looked at him. „No. I don't think so," the boy replied. „Are we giants?" Brock broached the subject again. Ash followed his best friend's eyes, turning petrified with horror. „Ah! Brock, do something! The ceiling is coming down! It will crush us," Ash ran to the door and rattled at the lock. Brock joined him, trying desperately to force up the lock. „It's jammed! It does not move a bit!" The ceiling was only a half-meter away from their heads. „Somebody help us!" Ash yelled like crazy. He was frantically searching for a spare key. „Misty! Misty!"