Sci Fi & Fantasy / Rieverzif- ch1

“CUT!”
The newly-hired clapper boy swiveled his head around, stuck his tongue out at the director and threw the clapper board at him. It missed, but it did knock the pompous fatso’s beret off. Paula Marie, the leading lady, bit her lip.

Damn, honey, you should’ve aimed a few inches lower.

The boy spun around and skipped away, hitching his loose pants up so as not to trip on them, completely oblivious to the director’s screams. Everyone on set longed to waltz off just as the kid did, but they had bills to pay and this man- this man shaking in his yellow folding chair, purple in the face from cursing kids, hired help, and kids- this man held the big wad of money.

Yes, that was why they still stuck around. Moneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoney-

“No one- no one gets paid this week.”

Paula Marie’s perfect coral mouth fell open. “What?!”

“You heard me,” growled the director, his freakish violet shade turning to dull maroon. River Harris the acting rookie stared at him, marveling at the color change. Wonder if he’ll go blue next. A pause. No, probably orange. Or maybe… Suddenly, the director whipped around and caught him looking.

“Well, no one except you, boy.”

River blinked. The director’s skin was grayish now. And did he just say-

“Here you go, boy.”

The check handed to him was clean- no crossed-out zeros, no rips, and no grey fingerprints where it had been held. In fact, it seemed to have a couple of extra zeros on the end of the figure-

“Don’t look at it now. Get going, your work is done for the week.”

Bowing slightly, River nodded his thanks and ran for the dressing room, amidst grumbling from the rest of the cast.

-—---—---—---—---—-—

In the dressing room, River carefully dug in his pants pockets.

He’s an odd one, isn’t he?..

River turned out the pockets. “Yeah.”

How much did he give you?

“I don’t know.” No, his keys weren’t in his pants… where could they be…

Let me have a look.

“I’m dressing,” he hissed. “You can count it later.”

Don’t worry, I won’t look at you.

He looked in his jacket pocket. No keys. “Shit.”