Chapter 2

A board fell from the overhang of the grand porch and bounced off the steps. It barely missed clobbering one of the demolition workers walking back through the arch past the missing front doors to continue the work.

The producer, a tall, thin guy with blond hair and hipster circular-lensed glasses said, "Oh, crap. I wish we had been rolling. That close call would have been golden."

The camera man next to the producer brought the camera lazily up onto his shoulder without starting to film. He shrugged.

"Jeff?"

The producer turned his head to eye the couple standing just behind him in the knee high grass of the neglected property. Jane was short, but had big breasts and a round ass in her tight jeans. She had a sultry Polynesian look with tanned skin, almond shaped green eyes, and shoulder length dark hair. Her hair caught and reflected the sunlight with a shimmer. Her nipples showed through her blouse which was gold for getting a little sex snuck into what was a home makeover show for a rather wholesome audience. Even with the clean crowd that was drawn to this type of programming, sex still sold. She was perfect for TV in almost every way.

Her husband Marvin was a little heavy around the middle. He looked dusty and unkempt. He was the guy that got into the mess and got the work done. That wasn't bad for TV either. He had tight, curly red hair and his teeth were uneven. Maybe the camera wouldn't linger on him during his segments.

"Jane. Marvin," the producer Jeff said.

"Call me Marv."

Jeff bit his lip and then said, "Okay, Marv. I'm glad you two could come out on short notice like this. You two are just precious."

"You're already demoing the house?" Jane asked.

Jeff nodded. "Yes, we are on a really tight schedule with this shoot. One of our contestant designers dropped out at the last minute before we had a chance to shoot any of his segments. That bastard really left us in a bind."

"Sorry," Marvin said.

"Not your fault, Marvin ... ugh, Marv." Jeff pointed down the hill. "Come on, man. We need these shots. You're the second unit. Don't miss this stuff. Go. Go."

Jeff slapped the cameraman's back and he hustled down the hill still not shooting anything. Jeff shook his head.

"What do we need to do exactly?" Jane asked.

"Right." Jeff wiped sweat off his forehead from above his glasses. "This is an old farmhouse built in 1915 and refurbished in 1957. It has been abandoned since 1998. It sits on thirty acres. It has three floors and a loft. Grand fire place. A balcony. Etc. Reece, the host and the money behind the series, has bought it. The winning designer from this week will spend the next two months remaking the house based on their winning design. In addition to the construction/ design budget, there is a quarter million dollar award. Each week a winner is chosen from the three contestants for each project. The winning designers compete in a season finale to remake Reece's own mansion with a larger budget and a million dollar bonus. This is week three. We'll have one segment where you present Reece your ideas. That's all we need from you. You'll get ten grand for your appearance even if you're not chosen."

"You're already doing a demo," Jane said again.

Jeff shrugged. "This episode was already underway. You are a later than last minute replacement. Normally, we film a walk through. We'll shoot a couple close-up pick ups of you nodding and looking up at things. We'll do the voiceover of him doing the walkthrough from the other contestants."

Jane shook her head. "I don't have anything drawn yet. Are we shooting the design presentation today?"

"We have to," Jeff said. "We are behind schedule as it is. Just stand in the room Reece is using as an office. You give some general design ideas. We'll add some cut away animations later. It will look like you did the same prep the other two contestants did. We'll make you look good. Don't worry."

Jane licked her lips and tilted her head. "How will he know what I really got planned in order to decide if he wants to pick me as a designer?"

Jeff stared at her for a moment blinking behind his glasses. "Oh ... ugh, we have pretty much already picked the winner for this week. There is a German designer with some avante guard rustic design ideas. Unusual stuff. We'll need you to come back in tomorrow. All three contestants stand together and Reece makes his pick. You and your husband will be together for that shot. You'll look disappointed, but congratulate the winner. Easy work for ten thousand dollars."

"So, the winner has already been chosen?" Jane asked.

Jeff shrugged. "Well, not officially. Reece really does make the announcement tomorrow and can technically pick whomever he likes. We have to have three contestants though. That's the format of the show. We appreciate you helping us out with this."

Jane sighed and looked away.

Marv said, "I don't think I've heard of this show yet."

Jeff smiled. "It's brand new. The first episode hasn't aired yet. A bunch of the old home design shows are going off the air this season, so all those networks are rushing new products into production as quickly as they can. Since Reece can bankroll himself, this show was an easy sell. Million Dollar Design is going to be huge. It's also going to showcase Reece's energy efficient building materials and green friendly products. All good stuff for him, the network, and the families that are awarded the houses each week. Really will tug at the heartstrings. Tugging the heartstrings is pure gold with this kind of reality TV."

"I can't wait to watch it," Marv said. Jane rolled her eyes.

Jeff clapped Marv on the back. "That's what I like to hear. Let's get some make-up on you two and we'll shoot some of those pick ups. Where the hell did my cameraman run off to?"

As the trio walked down the hill toward the house, Jane said, "I want a fair shake at this."

Jeff shrugged. "What do you mean exactly?"

"If we are contestants," she explained, "then I want to have the same chance to present designs as everyone else."

Jeff pointed at wood blasting out of a wall where workers were knocking out rotten boards. "Watch your step. Let's go around inside and then around back for our first shots."

"Lots of space in here," Marv said as they stepped inside and he looked up at the high vaulted rafters.

"It's a good space," Jeff agreed. "The family being awarded the house and property will be very happy."

"Thirty acres is a lot to maintain," Marv said.

Jeff laughed as they stepped back out through the kitchen. "Maybe they can turn it back into a working farm."

"Can I look at the kitchen to start getting some ideas together?" Jane asked.

"In a minute," Jeff said. "Let me get these shots in the can. Just looking up. Pointing. You can act like you are talking to each other about the house. Stuff like that."

"We didn't get make up," Marv said.

"Don't worry about it," Jeff said. "You both look great."

"Can I have an extra day to put together designs?" Jane asked.

"Over here with the camera. Hurry up, please." Jeff sighed and turned his attention back on Jane. "I'm sorry. We have no more time. We have to do all these shots today including your presentation and the awarding of the job tomorrow. We are out of time."

The cameraman knelt next to Jeff and aimed up at Jane and Marv.

"So us being here is pointless," Jane said.