It
will come. If you wait for it will
arrive. You cannot see it but it is there! All you have to do is
stand perfectly still and stare straight ahead!
Neil
Carter stood between the buildings of New York 42nd Street. He raised
his gun and fired six bullets that even he knew was not enough to
stop the return of the dinosaurs.
The
Director yelled “Cut,” and Neil decided to go off for another
drink. Later, the special effects people would use computer graphics
to input a Tyrannosaurus or even a Diplodocus, something in
earlier films would have been a skill crafted with models.
Neil
saw his leading lady was already seated at the bar. Louise was not
used to playing in B-Movies; like Neil she was more used to costume
dramas or Shakespeare, even if tampered with by Hollywood to appeal
to a larger audience. However, times were hard - and with alcohol
problem costing him work, Neil knew he (like most thespians) had to
take whatever work he could get.
“How
was it?” inquired
Louise after Neil had ordered his usual scotch
and sat at the bar next to her.
“We
got it right at last. A whole day filming a bloody scene no one
really cares about. I mean it’s not as if the film’s a classic!
'Cept
to genre fans, and they’ll watch anything when they get home from
the bar!”
Louise
watched him down his scotch in one gulp and order another.
“Don’t
you think you should wait til later?” she inquired, trying to sound
diplomatic. “There are only a few more scenes, I think the director
wants you sober!”
“I
don’t need you to lecture me, you know the
real reason I stopped getting work in Hollywood?” He paused and
then in rhetoric stated: “It’s because it’s full of hypocrites
who don’t want anyone to get on ‘cept themelves.
That’s
the real reason!”
Louise
knew it wasn’t and so did Neil.
The
rest of the work finished about five, and Neil, having been given a
hotel room paid for by the studio so they could keep a close watch on
him, began to make his way back. It was dark, and the quickest way
was across a building site. He began to sweat even though the
air was cold, and now he had a curious sensation that he was
being watched. There was a growling sound like the sound of
an animal. Neil turned and saw the face of a green Tyrannosaurus.
Neil watched as the building began to crumble and the face of the
dinosaur slowly evaporated. Had he imagined it? Not stopping to find
out, Neil went to his hotel room, and with the video camera already
set up, turned it on. The tape in the machine, he picked up the
script off the dresser and began to rehearse his lines.
Neil
awoke the next day at 10am instead of 9 as he'd intended. The half
bottle of scotch he’d hidden was no doubt responsible, and he
arrived with the director demanding an explanation.
“Where
you been for Goodness Sake? You were supposed to
be here an hour
ago! Your breath smells terrible, have you been drinking again?”
“Sorry.
Where’s
my dressing
room?”
“Where
it always is! You got any toothpaste?”
“No.”
“Hold
on!” said the director
and called over a stagehand
He gave him some money and told him to buy some toothpaste and a
bottle of pure orange juice.
The stagehand
nodded and left as the director
muttered to himself, “He’s getting worse.”
Neil
did not sit around for a lecture, he merely entered his dressing room
and stared at his face in the mirror, bleary-eyed
and having slept less than usual with a late night at
the bottle. He knew he needed to get some real work and regain
his self-respect before it was too late. The door opened
and the director stated in confirmation:
“We’ve
gotta retake a few scenes. From
now on you drink orange juice at the bar. In
fact anything so long as it’s non-alcoholic, you understand?”
“Yes
Sir.”
“Good.
When
you’re ready go meet Louise, I want you both to go over your lines
again!”
Neil
watched him leave, feeling contempt for this B-movie director who was
trying to pull rank on such a great thespian as himself.
Louise
was already seated at the bar when Neil arrived. The barman informed
him that from now on he could not serve him anymore alcohol. Neil
nodded in silent confirmation.
“Don’t
worry,” said
Louise, “A
few more days and we can look for a better part in a movie!”
“I
hope so. Having
to stand against nothing for hours on isn’t my idea of acting. At
least in the old days there was a skill to it; now
it’s 'Let's
press a few buttons and the computer does the rest!'
It’s Ray Harry Hausen I
feel sorry for; I used to watch his movies
as a child. One evening when it was dark, I thought a tree outside my
house was a monster because of the shadows it made. This film isn’t
helping; I’m phoning my agent
this evening to see
if he can get me a decent part! I’ll put in a word for you if you
like?”
“You
better try
and stay sober
then?” concluded
Louise, smiling automatically.
Neil
did, though only because he was unable to obtain any
alcohol on the premises.
At
seven he needed a drink, and leaving for his hotel, he made his usual
way across the building site. He could hear a growling noise and as
he made his way quicker across the rubble. He could see a huge
shadow. It had a pair of sharp teeth, and now he could see them
snapping at him. He began to stagger back. He was about to scream
when he noticed the mechanical digger! Realizing his work was getting
the better of him, Neil decided he needed a drink and made his way to
the bar. This one he felt more welcome at.
“Good
evening Mr. Carter,” began David
the Bartender, “Thanks
for the autograph. My
daughter
tells me she’s one of your biggest fans. I told her I’d get it
for her. How are things?”
“Not
bad. Tell your daughter
I hope her acting continues. And
with any luck mine will reinstate itself. Can I use your phone?”
“Yeah
course. You wanna drink? On the house this time?”
“Thanks,
scotch”
stated
Neil as
he went
over to the wall-phone. He picked it up and dialed his agent’s
number. His agent
answered and inquired if he could be of assistance.
“I
need to know, have you got any work for me?”
“Well,
there is this science
fiction
movie
about aliens
trying to take over the world. Oh, and there’s a couple of offers
for lead roles in B-movie
monster
films about dinosaurs
attacking.“
“Look,
I don’t want to
be offensive, but
I am sick of B-movies.
I have to spend a whole day staring at nothing and imagining
that something is there! I mean, look what nearly happened to Bob
Hoskins when he started working on Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
I think it’s affecting my mind. Can’t
you even get me a bit part in something decent?”
“Not
until you sober up! Last time we tried you turned up drunk! It’s
gonna take some time, but
I’ll keep trying. Call me if you need any help.”
“I
will. Goodbye,” stated Neil and replaced the phone and went over to
the bar where he drank a sip of scotch.
“Any
good?” inquired
David, cleaning a glass.
“Oh
great, if you want to act in a
low-budget genre.”
Neil paused then inquired, “Do you believe in dinosaurs?”
“What
you mean?” inquired
David inoffensively.
“I
don’t mean do you believe they existed. Everyone knows they did. I
mean, do you believe it’s possible they're
still living in some far off continent that we don’t know about?”
“Well
maybe? ‘Cept I don’t think there’s much chance of them turning
up in New York. Although
there are stories of lizards
in the sewers, probably on loan from Florida!”
“I
think it’s possible they never actually all died out!” stated
Neil.
After
a few more scotches, Neil left at 11:30, staggering out of the bar
and checking that his hotel key was still in his pocket as if it
steadied him. Now he could hear a sound of clip-clopping on
two legs, and fearing this was a mugging, his hand tightened on the
sharp-pointed key. He began to walk faster. The clip-clopping became
louder. Knowing he was too drunk to run and not wanting a bullet in
his back, Neil turned and stared in disbelief. There in front of him
was a dinosaur the size of a man. It had green skin and a long
swishing tail, and its front legs had two crab-like claws for slicing
its victims. Neil heard it growl and then he uttered one word in
explanation:
”Velociraptor.”
With
a final growl and a show of its fangs, the creature turned
and scurried down a dark alley. Neil turned and ran after it
shouting: “Wait! Are you real? Did I bring you to life, or have you
always existed?”
However,
the creature was
gone.
Neil
returned to his hotel room knowing that he had to do something about
his drinking before it was
indeed too late.
When
Neil arrived for work the next day, he was still shaken by the event.
However, at least he had awoken more or less sober. Louise was a the
bar.
“I
need a drink.” stated
Neil.
“Orange
juice!” said Louise to the
barman, “Two!”
“Are
you alright?” she inquired as he sat next to her.
“I
saw a Velociraptor.” stated
Neil.
“Right!”
“I’d
just come out the bar, I’d only had six Scotches when I heard this
noise, like a clip-clopping.
I turned and there it was!”
“Neil,
listen to me,” Loiuse said
“I
- I’m not mad, they never all died out! I’ve got this theory: you
know that Ray Bradbury film, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms?
Well, what if when the ice came a lot of the dinosaurs
were frozen? Then when the continents began to drift, the warm
climate awakened them from their sleep. What
if they’re actually living in New York, buried under the concrete
waiting to retain what
is theirs?”
“Neil
you have to stop drinking!” said
Louise. “Please,” she
said as she touched his hand,
“before
it’s too late!”
Neil
did not reply, he merely considered what had
been stated.
That
night Neil decided he would try
and stay
sober. He walked his usual route across the building site, through
the unofficial entrance, all the time believing he was being watched,
yet wondering
if
it was all in his mind. When he arrived at the hotel,
he informed the man on reception that he did not want to see or speak
with anyone as he had lines to rehearse.
The
receptionist confirmed his understanding, and Neil went into his
hotel room, closing the door behind him and turning on the video
camera so he could record himself rehearsing his lines. He was about
to pick up the script from the drawers when he began to hear growling
sounds again. He turned and saw that the closet where his clothes
were kept was beginning to rattle, and the door was seemingly being
forced open. He turned, and now the bed was moving, and he could see
a huge horn sticking out. Now crawling out
was what could only be a Triceratops! The door of the closet
opened and inside was also a Tyrannosaurus. Neil realized it was
bigger than the hotel yet somehow it fitted into the closet, as if by
crouching it had made this possible. In the corner of the room was a
Velociraptor followed by an Allosaurus - all snarling at him and
coming towards him. Neil screamed. There was no way he could get to
the door. He moved towards the window.
It
was about five minutes later when the director
received the phone call from the receptionist
telling him something had happened to Mr. Neil Carter; that
there
had been an unusual occurrence that perhaps he himself would be best
to explain. Louise insisted on going with the director
and the two of them arrived with Louise having already told him about
Neil's
dinosaurs,
and how the work was getting to Neil what with his drinking problem.
The two of them entered the hotel
and Louise inquired:
“Where’s
Mr. Carter?”
“I’m
afraid Mr. Carter had
an accident,” said the
receptionist. He
fell out of the
open window and died! He was shouting so much that
we became very concerned! He
seemed to
be telling
something to get
away. At first we thought some fan might have
got into his
room, you know - the type with a gun rather
than an autograph
book.”
They
followed the Receptionist into Neil’s hotel room. The receptionist
picked up the control and played the tape. The three of them watched
Neil rehearsing his lines, and then they could see the dinosaurs in
the room coming towards him! The director knew what the receptionist
was thinking and by way of an explanation stated:
“I
know what’s happened, that’s an old studio tape. It
had one of our B-Movies on it! I told him he could rub over it. There
must have been a lot of dust and the two images got mixed up! It does
look as if they are chasing him, however we all know it isn’t real.
I
mean, everyone knows dinosaurs
don’t exist anymore do they?”
THE
END
