"You did this?" Helen asked her eyes as wide as saucers. "But Annie you're not qualified to hire anyone! You're just a cast member!"

"HEY! I am not JUST a cast member! I happen to be Victoria, the graceful dancing cat! I have a dancer's body! Just ask-."

She stopped short, horrified at what she was about to reveal. Her horror was accompanied by her increasing heartbeat as she remembered Jimmy's words;

"I should have known you were a dancer. You have a dancer's body. Lithe and wiry, leaking of sexuality."

And casually she changed the subject... sort of.

"I-I didn't mean that I hired him! It was supposed to be a joke. He-he's my IRS agent."

"So?"

"So... so... I... uh... when he called me to his office for an audit on my taxes, he couldn't believe it when he found out that I'm in Cats. And he didn't just get excited, Helen. The man completely freaked! He's seen our show thirteen times! I mean who does that?"

"A lot of people, Annie! It's a classic! But just because someone's a fan doesn't mean you have to give him a part! An IRS agent? I think you're the one who's deranged!"

"Come on, it's not that bad-."

"Not that bad?" He's horrible!"

Annie swallowed hard and stole a glance backstage, ignoring the feeling of disappointment that came over her when she realized he was gone. It was a feeling that she quickly tried to will away, with little success.

Quickly, she tried to think of something to say; anything that would make Helen leave. The woman was ten seconds from causing a nervous breakdown. And it wouldn't be the first time.

"J-Jimmy's not horrible, Helen. He's just... a little inexperienced!"

"A little? How can an IRS agent possibly have any experience at all in theatre, dance or drama? And how did he learn his lines so quickly, not to mention the dance moves? But come to think of it, his performance pretty much speaks for itself! And I wish it would have had laryngitis!" Helen screamed, causing several pair of eyes to look in her direction.

"Fine, he's horrible. But he's an IRS agent, Helen! Not a Broadway star!"

"His name's not even in the Playbill, Annie! Don't you think that's a little suspicious?"

Annie feigned innocence. "No... Well, I mean you know how long those things take to come back from the printer! Why, just last week there was a picture of Justin Morris as Rumpleteaser!"

"So?"

Now Annie was really annoyed. The woman seemed obsessed with the word so. But she supposed it was better than Helen's usual obsession, which was... well... Helen.

"So, Helen? So? In case you've forgotten, Justin Morris was fired months ago! Remember that huge scandal?"

"No..."

"Th-the huge scandal! It was all over the New York Times! God, doesn't anybody read the paper anymore? I should tell my friend Caroline. She is the creator of Caroline in the City. You know, the cute cartoon, next to Peanuts?"

"I hate cartoons!" Helen spat.

"Fine, you hate cartoons! But I swear I'm telling the truth!" She lied. "Don't you remember? He was fired for doing it backstage with Meredith... otherwise known as Jennyanydots! Can you imagine anyone doing something like that?"

Helen crossed her arms and glared at Annie with narrowed eyes.

"Besides me." Annie relented. "And anyway, the audience hardly noticed his performance!"

"You must be completely blind because you must not have noticed the way the theatre cleared out so quickly!"

"I-."

"Look Annie, you'd better find a way to get rid of this Jimmy Callahan and fast! If the boss sees him, we're all out of a job. Do you have any idea how long I've worked to get this gig? It was my dream to be on Broadway and now I'm here! And Annie Spadero, you may think you're the queen of the Cats, but believe me, if you screw this up, you will pay! So either you get rid of that jackass or I will!"

Without another word, Helen stormed off leaving Annie alone with her unsettling thoughts. But she wasn't alone for long.