PREHISTORIC THOUGHTS Keith South

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