Chapter 14: One Year Later

Once again, the cast joined Natalie and Gary (married now) at their Redondo Beach home.

Brent asked, “I’m surprised you two haven’t moved to a more upscale house, with all the movie money you’ve received.”

Gary replied, “This place was my grandmother’s, and it’s paid off, so we’re staying here for now. Can I get anything for you and Sally?”

“I’ll take a beer,” answered Sally, “and Brent will have one as well.”

Nat was using her “director’s voice.”

“Settle down, everybody. Now, I know from Gary that he made a surprising amount of cash for those little Captain Santels toy figures. I have to assume you realized similar rewards.”

“Sally made twice as much as I did for her Darlen figures; my Kelton didn’t sell half as well,” grumbled Brent.

“That’s because they put huge boobs on mine; they made me into ‘Space Barbie’, but they didn’t give Brent the big bulge ... oops!”

“SALLY!”

“Sorry, Brent. It’s just that...”

“STOP! For crying out loud, please let’s change the subject. Dan, yours had blue hair, didn’t it?”

“Sure, and quite the manly bulge, too.”

Everyone burst out laughing, except for Brent, who was fuming. Then Lila had an idea.

“I think we need a dick-measuring contest to settle this. Dan, Gary, drop your pants!”

Brent stomped away and spent a few minutes in the bathroom trying to get control of himself. Then he heard a couple of knocks on the locked door.

“Brent, we’re sorry. We shouldn’t be teasing you like that. Please come back out and join the rest of us.”

As Lila and Sally waited, they heard the door unlatch and open. Sally rushed into his arms and kissed him.

“I promise, sweetie, no more jokes; I’ll make it up to you tonight.”

“Brent, please forgive me. Can I have a kiss, too?”

He had to smile and lean over to kiss her forehead.

“Let’s go see what Nat has to tell us.”

“OK, now that all six of us are here, I do have big news: the studio has green-lighted a sequel. All of you will have much larger contracts. We’ll have a new ship, much larger. And the crew will be expanded with at least two new characters.

“It’s not surprising, given the success of the first film. I’m hoping all five of you sign up. And if you do it tonight, I have a $30,000 bonus to promise you.”

Dan was first to speak.

“Thanks, Nat. I would even do it for scale, since on set I met the love of my life. Lila, will you marry me?”

“Hmm. Let me think. OK, I’m done. YES!”

Dan jumped on her as she sat on a long sofa, knocking her sideways before smothering her with kisses. After a minute or two, Gary spoke up.

“Would you like to borrow our guest room?”

“Really? We might be a while.”

Lila didn’t take the offer seriously, but the two of them started making out on the couch once more.

“Brent, do you have anything to say to me?”

“Um, what do you want for dinner?”

Sally started pelting him with pillows, and then Nat joined in. Gary just laughed at them.