Someone's Afraid was a song about an accusation of infidelity. Being a rock band, the obvious approach would be to make it tough, on edge, a mean-spirited rebuttal. But the band took it a turn into left field by way of Don and Voz's brainstorming. Though the words told a different story, the video would depict a desperate denial.
They had the storyboard set. Raina's opinions and suggestions were long forgotten, though Voz himself had requested them, so enthralled they were with their idea. It was their version of 'life-on-the-road'. The beginning showed footage of Jury packing for the road. This was complete with wife/girlfriend good-byes, models standing in for Voz and Sam, who were unattached in reality. Happy-together-mingles-with-unwilling-sad-separation was the setting.
The next montage comes in flashes, first showing actual footage of the band on stage, groupies hanging on backstage, lonely men calling home from lonely beds to lonely wives/girlfriends at ungodly hours. It begins to sour here: Voz's girlfriend delivers the accusation. Now screaming matches and slamming phones are shown, along with each watching a lovely sunset in silhouette, more stage footage, the mad dash away from more groupies, missed calls, lonely bus and plane rides.
In contrast to the conflict, the video ends with a happy resolution. Voz gets off an empty bus, dejected, suitcase in hand, looking at the girlfriend's empty house at sunset. As he begins to walk away, she is to run out crying. During the last chorus they talk. As the music approaches the last few bars, their silhouettes are seen against a blazing sunset in a soulful kiss - to fade. Lovely, thought Raina. Humph! It does explain the need to stick around for three sunsets, though. To make it work, the end definitely needs the right look.
Raina had dressed casually to fit in with the crew. Notebook and pen in hand, she had quickly adopted Nikki, sidekick and prop-master extraordinaire. She had been working with Del Markey for ten years. Consequently, she was a treasure trove of information and minute details. After all, the only condition Mr. Wesell had given Raina about going (he had still been high over their Coca-Cola deal and had agreed to her leave quite quickly) was that he expected a full report from her at the meeting scheduled a week after her return.
She had met with the guys briefly, easily avoiding Voz because there was so much to be done. The conversation had mainly consisted of greeting, reviewing of the storyboard they seemed so ecstatic about, the handing over of a very tentative shooting schedule. She was also introduced ceremoniously to the well-respected Del before she was on her own.
Four hours after her arrival, Raina was having a splendid, if busy, time. By then she had already filled ten pages with notes from Nikki as she ran after her during a scene setup. It had sparked a remotely remembered childhood fantasy to be in the movies when she grew up. But she would never have believed it if she known then what she was about to find out - that she would get a real chance!
Raina was sitting in a director's chair out of harm's way. She scribbled away while everyone was called to the set, which is why she didn't pick up on the problem right away.
Nikki plopped down next to Raina with an exasperated sigh. "It's gonna be a while, then we'll really have to run our asses off!" she exclaimed. Raina didn't understand what had happened, so Nikki told her: the model who was hired to be Voz's girlfriend in the video had accepted another deal without warning. Although she had signed a contract, she felt the other job would give her more exposure besides more money, and her agent had told her that Jury probably wouldn't sue. That nasty bit of info had just come over the phone. Because it was Sheila's well-known propensity to be late (although tolerated none too nicely), everyone had just assumed she'd show up in wardrobe. When she hadn't done so by the first on-set warning call, the assistant director had been sent to find out why, and thus became the bearer of bad news.
"Now who knows how long it'll take to get a last-minute replacement. It could put us way over budget, too. Mr. Markey prides himself on his genius within budget. He'll be steamed." Nikki related this last with awed reverence, even after ten years. But Del was not a man to cross. Or piss off, as the model had; he was a man to be reckoned with.
An early lunch was called to cut production costs while the great model search was on. Raina ate with Nikki, quizzing her over a tuna salad and Diet Cokes. Just before lunch ended, a shout of relief came from one of the Wild Tiger's trailers - "Yes! That's it!" It must've been a common occurrence, as Raina was the only one startled into looking over that way. Nothing else was forthcoming, so she too went about clearing her table with the others.
. . . . .
When everyone was called onto the set, Don didn't want to go. He was not a happy camper. When Sheila didn't turn up, he was the only one unsurprised. However, he was the last one who wanted to work with Del when he was mad. He could be a real pisser. No one would say a word about it, though: he was the best and the whole band was glad to have snagged him for this shoot.
He, Voz, Roger, and Roger’s wife Lisa had attempted to eat lunch together while they went over the short - unbelievably short - list of currently available women to take Sheila's place within the hour. No one was right for the part, or the mood they wanted to set during Voz's conflict. "We need someone who can be truly angry and depressed," Roger had said. "Someone with flashing eyes - really angry," Voz contributed. Don knew they were right, and they all also knew that no one on the list would fit the bill.
Then damn Roger. And Lisa, for backing him up. Of course, Voz loved it, he would. Voz was walking a tightrope, with hopes of falling the right way, so he couldn't do it. Roger didn't really know her, so he didn't think he could be convincing. Everyone knew that Brill was the last one who could be diplomatic enough to come to the rescue. Don was a good talker, he was a friend, so he was elected. And he didn't like it one bit. Especially having to pop the question in front of everyone on the goddamn set - supposed to help encourage an agreement. Not fair. Even his own wife, Maria, had liked the idea when he told her. Now he was stuck. Stuck like a fat pig trying to squeeze through a knot hole.
How was he going to ask Raina to fill in and be Voz's video girlfriend, when she had no experience, and the video would be played nationwide? Damn if he knew.
But he - they - were in a spot, in danger of pissing off Del and getting a bad piece of film, in danger of going too far over budget to replace a pissant airhead model. Maybe, just maybe, he could appeal to her sense of compassion. For friendship. Hell, for free tickets to shows for her friends.
Somehow he had to do it, the guys were counting on him. Dammit. And he also knew that Raina could fit into this video better than Sheila. He sensed it. But with working so closely to Voz, so intimately . . . could either of them handle it professionally? Voz? No. He knew that for a fact after talking with his bandmate about her. Voz was definitely biased - and smitten. Raina? Maybe. Or... it could be Voz's golden opportunity! The one way to convince her that he was not your average Joe, nor your average rock star. Don knew what kind of guy his friend really was. If he made as good a boyfriend as he did a friend, any woman should die to have him. He needed someone to share his life with, it was the one thing he was missing. Raina could be that missing piece to the puzzle of his life. At least, that’s what he told Don, from the moment he saw her at the show for the records execs months ago. That made Don determined to help. Voz needed Raina. She could - would - fall in love with him. If Don could get her into this video, she may even realize it sooner than Don thought.
"Well, here goes . . . " he said to himself. He stood in back of his mates as Voz began to explain the solution to their current 'situation'. Don would be up next. He flashed a warm smile Raina's way. She smiled in return. But then, she was unaware. And he was n-e-r-v-o-u-s!
But when she heard, she fooled them all.