Chapter 2: Lunchtime

After crowding together out of sight at the top of the ramp, the five actors descended a set of metal stairs parked at the other end of the “ship.”

“Hold up, Sally [“Darlen”], you’ve got lakebed all over your ass. Can I brush it off?” “Thanks, Lila [“Seleye”]. I’m sure the DP zoomed in on my butt while I was running.”

“I’m sure he did. From my perspective, I’ve seen a lot of butts, but yours is quite beautiful. Isn’t that right, “Captain” Gary?”

“Oops, caught me. Sally, that white coating on your two cheeks ... sorry, sorry. I’ve been out in this godforsaken wilderness for too long. And, uh, I’m sorry, Dan [“Lenk”], for staring at your girlfriend.”

“No, no, Sally’s not my girlfriend.”

“Yeah. I always thought someday I would be the one with the blue hair, not dating some GUY with blue hair. Lila, Dan is all yours.”

“Dan, I’ve been wondering. Is there any more blue hair on your body? Can I check?” “Not here, Lila, maybe later.”

“I’ll take that as a yes!” She coquettishly batted her eyes.

Stepping over obstacles to get to the catering/craft services tent, the group sought relief from the baking sunlight. Their first obstacle was a cable tied to a pickup truck, with the other end being connected to an underground plow (the “gopher”) used to heave up the surface during the scene. The second obstacle was more mundane.

Since the beginning of filmmaking, dollies running on temporary tracks have mounted cameras. Similar to standard rail tracks, they are only half as broad and are set up in lightweight 12-foot segments for easy placement and retrieval when required.

Camera 1 on the dolly kept pace with the cast’s scramble across the lakebed. A drone camera shot from above. Camera 3, concealed above the ramp at the back of the Mukha (Russian for “mosquito”) provided a third view.

Inside the walled tent, all five weary actors tucked in for a well-deserved lunch and icy cold drinks. Then the director—Natalie Osgood—walked up, all smiles.

“Lila, she’s making me nervous with that expression.”

“I’m with you, Dan. The last time she showed her teeth like that, it was to tell us we had to stay six extra hours!”

Their worries were unfounded, though. An experienced director, she began her career in series television and then worked her way up the ladder. She passed out copies of a special call sheet to each actor.

“Cast, I have excellent news. On the chase, all three cameras gave me perfect angles. Everything was great. You’re done for the day!”

Greeted by ragged cheers, Natalie continued, “And, best news of all, today was your last day on this accursed lakebed!”

Gary stood up, put aside his captain’s cap, and waltzed around the floor with Natalie while the other actors started humming the “Blue Danube.”

Brent [“Kelton”] and Sally quit humming early, however, because their hunger and thirst were still overwhelming them. The taste of the dry lake still bothered Sally, and it took a lot of energy for her to hump around her tall, 200-pound, and muscular body. Because of her height, she could weigh twenty more pounds and still look fit and trim.