Free Hearts' Desires by Anke Napp

again.” Alison’s words were an order. It was clearly visible she did not believe the ‘accident-version’ of the story in the least.
              “Yes. Of course not.” Next time we‘re going to screw like bu n nies, believe me!
              “We are here to work, Lauren, and so far you have proven yourself a hard worker and a talented one as well. Don‘t di s appoint me.”
              Aw, fuck! This sounds just like one of the nuns in the co n vent school of this annoying Camilla-character! “No, I‘ll try my best.”
                  “Good. I don’t expect anything less.” Alison turned around and left.
              Lauren closed the door. “What do you know?” she mu r mured, what she hadn‘t dared to say into the director‘s face. “I want a life! I don‘t want to sit around and grow old and ugly waiting for an o p portunity like my mom! I‘ll GRAB it!”

              Alison felt uncomfortable, when she left Lauren. She was sure the little bitch lied. There was the climate on the set that worried her. And the rumors, which, she knew, always found a way to travel to the tabloids. On top of it… there was som e thing else bothe r ing her. She could not name it though. And at the moment, she had no time to worry about it, because she had to give the technical team and the set dressers the n e cessary instructions. This part of the crew would head out within the next hour to prepare ever y thing for tomorrow at the ‘hunting-set‘, some miles north-east.

 
     
    While shaving, Vance thought once again about calling his wife. However, it was shortly past midnight in L.A. now…. Moreover: what was he going to say? She had never been really interested in his work or life on a movie set, except her worry he could have one-night-stands with his female co-stars.
              “Shit!” He had cut himself.
              One-night-stands… Lauren‘s little performance popped up in his mind. S o you’re feeling guilty already, even though nothing ha p pened?! No, it was better to forget the phone call to Carolyn. She would no doubt sense the discomfort in his voice, interpret it as a guilty conscience and make a fuss.
              Vance started to get angry at himself – more so because La u ren’s image refused to disappear from his mind. He stared into the mirror again and made a grumpy face. I’m twice her age! At least! What does this chick want from me?!
              Ah yes, that he even asked this question was a certain sign of age, wasn’t it? Well, I’m not that Harker -idiot! He an s wered the sa r castic little devil in his head and started to dress. Yes, Harker could think he was still in his blooming 30ies! I wonder how he even fits through a door with that huge ego of his! … And I BET he had an hair transplantation last year! Maybe that got him the ‘Washington’… Brown- noser !
              The thought of ‘age’ reminded Vance of the stuntman Al i son had mentioned. He was convinced that he did not need a stuntman for a simple ride on a tame horse and a little faked fall on a soft mattress at the end of the scene! Okay, he had broken his leg on the set of ‘Ten Days’ - but only because a heavy spotlight install a tion crashed, hit his back, and therefore he stumbled very unfort u nately out of the airplane-set. This had nothing to do with his being in shape! He was fit, he was fine! Still angry about a lot of things, Vance finished dressing, took his hat and the sunglasses. The sun was not up yet, but the weather forecast had promised a clear sky and high te m peratures.
              The others were already waiting by or in the bus, chatting or busy with the script and annotations. Vance did not see Lauren and breathed a little sigh of relief. He was really not in the mood to deal with any of her