Chapter 43: Camera One

            “Chance! Where are you?” Darren hollered as he opened the front door to the condo.

            “What? I’m in the bedroom,” she yelled back, stepping out of the shadows of the hallway.

            “I need to talk to you,” he replied, gesturing for her to sit down. It had only been a few days since Chance had come back from her journey. She was still unpacking and getting used to her old way of life. It was nothing compared to the rice-eating monastery. She had to get used to the processed food she had eaten before. It was hard for her to adjust to all the changes again.

            “What is it, Daz?” Chance questioned, already becoming frightened about what he was going to tell her.

            “Well, the record company wants us to record the video for the song, and they want to fly us to the Swiss Alps to shoot it,” Darren answered as calmly as he could.

            Chance stared at him in disbelief. “What?” she almost screamed as her excitement rose. “Oh, my God! No way! The Swiss Alps?”

            “Yeah!” his own excitement finally burst.

            “AH! I can’t believe it! I’m taking a trip to the Swiss Alps. I’ve always wanted to go there. This is so awesome!”

            “But wait, there’s more!”

            “More?” Chance questioned. There had to be a catch to this, and he was finally going to tell her what it was.

            “MTV will be filming ‘Making the Video’ with us on that shoot,” Darren answered.

            “AH!” she shrieked. “MTV’s filming our ‘Making the Video!’” Chance jumped into his arms as a thank you. “When are we leaving?”

            “Next week. But we have to come up with the concept for the video. Wayne wants our input on this video as much as possible. He’s never worked with you before, which is one reason why he’d like the concept ASAP,” he said.

            “Wayne, as in Wayne Isham?”

            “Yeah.”

            “Dude! I love his videos. He’s got the coolest effects. I’ve loved his work ever since I saw that video for 98 Degrees, ‘I Do (Cherish You.)’ That was an awesome video. I loved that camera effect, you know, the 360-degree view. I want at least one of those in our video,” Chance was already planning.

            “Slow down, love. You’re gonna mix yourself up if you start with the effects first. Think of what you want the concept to be first, then get all the technical stuff done,” Darren laughed. He couldn’t help it. Chance seemed so excited about shooting the video. Then again, she had never shot a music video in her life, so that did count for something.

            “Okay, I’ve got the prefect idea. I didn’t think I was ever gonna use it up until now. I always had it planned in my head ever since I wrote the song. I can’t believe I’m finally gonna get to use my concept,” she started up again. “Wow, my first music video. This is so cool.”

            “So, what’s the concept?” he asked.

            “Okay, I have it already down to scene by scene. It’s so weird because I actually have some snow scenes in it,” she replied. Chance stood up and headed for the bedroom again. She searched through her closet and pulled out her guitar case. From inside, she pulled out a few sheets of paper and headed back to the living room. “Here it is,” she said as she handed the papers to Darren.

            “Jeez, you already have it completely planned out. This is definitely gonna make things move much quicker on the set. I’ll have this photocopied then give it to Wayne.”

            “That is a photocopy. Do you really think I’d let anyone even touch the original?” Chance retorted.

            Darren laughed at her sarcasm. He read the concept.

Scene 1: (before song starts) Daz and I are driving down a dark street looking for a club that we're supposed to be at. He's in the driver's seat of the new SUV he picked up days earlier while I'm in the passenger's seat. We’re arguing about which way we were supposed to go. "I told you to turn left back there," I say. "If you know where you're going, then why don't you drive?" "Fine! Get out of the car and I will." Daz gets out of the car. Just as he closes the door, out of the corner of my eye I see another car approach. By this time it's too late, and as I scream "Daz!!" he tries to dodge the car, but ends up getting hit. I run to his side just as the music to the song begins to play. At the end of the scene, right before the first verse, you see me on my knees crying because Daz is dead.

Scene 2: Right when I begin to sing "I lay upon my bed at night hoping to see your face/somewhere in my dreams/you take me away..." I'm in a bedroom that's plain white with a bed in the center covered in white sheets. The room is very dark with only the light of the moon spilling through the window.

Scene 3: Flashback: The indoor courtyard of a mall. Daz and I are goofing around, running after each other, and having a lot of fun. The camera effect should resemble something like a dreamy, hazy texture. Adding to the scene, as we're running though the mall, Daz catches me and gives me a kiss. That’s the end of the scene as I sing the rest of the first verse, "Someplace the sun never sets/a place my heart rests."

Scene 4: back to the bedroom where I’m alone on the bed. I finish the first verse. "Then I wake up and remember you're not there."

Scene 5: Daz and I are in a winter wonderland covered with trees lightly coated in snow and ice. The landscape is untouched, no footprints but ours. We’re standing in between two large trees, his arms wrapped around me, holding me tight. We sing the chorus together.

Scene 6: In this scene I’m sitting on a moonlit porch in a rocking chair in the middle of winter. I’m rocking back and forth in a lazy way. I begin to sing the second verse.

Scene 7: I fade out and Daz fades in. he looks up to the sky and as he begins to sing the lines of the second verse, he sees a shooting star streak across the sky.

Scene 8: I fade back in as we sing the last two lines together.

Scene 9: Back to the winter wonderland scene for the chorus. "Another dream/Another day/Another time far, far away..." Daz and I are looking into each others eyes, and his hand comes up to me cheek and he gently touches it. (Finish chorus)

Scene 10: Back to the mall. This time I’m walking by myself in a glum daze. I walk past the stores as I sing. Behind me is Daz also walking, but I don’t see him even though I look behind me. Has invisible. I finish the verse.

Scene 11: From the time I stop singing, Daz begins his lines of the third verse. The camera shifts to behind me.

Scene 12: He fades out and fades back in front of me, flying in the air. That’s when he finishes his lines.

Scene 13: Still at the mall. I’m sitting on a bench in the courtyard looking at the people as they pass me. Daz is sitting behind me as we both sing "Always and forever you and me."

Scene 14: Winter wonderland. Chorus again.

Scene 15: Mall.

Scene 16: Winter.

Scene 17: Mall. I’m singing while Daz is behind me, his hands on my shoulders. "I still see your face..." he sings backup, "I still see your face..." back to me on lead, "and wish that could/could feel your sweet embrace..." Daz in the background, "feel your sweet embrace..." It’s not the end of the song, and Daz has his arms wrapped around me again with his chin on top of my head as could sing the last two lines of the song.

            “Chance, this is incredible. How did you come up with such a wonderful concept? It’s…great,” Darren complimented.

            “I’m glad you like it. Of course, I revised it after we met and I knew the song was gonna be recorded. I guess you can say I got my inspiration from my life. Like in the first scene, you die. I think you know where I got that from,” Chance explained.

            “Scott’s death,” he quietly replied.

            “That was another revision that I made,” she said. “It was very tough to write, but I had to get over my fears and whatnot. Maybe doing this scene is gonna set some things free in my life.”

            “I hope it does,” Darren comforted as he wrapped his arms around her. Chance snuggled closer to him and placed her head on his chest as she tried to stop the memories of Scott’s death rushing through her head.

~~~~~~~~~~

            That week passed quickly as Chance and Darren got ready for their big video. Chance was still excited about the whole thing, which became worse the minute they got to the shooting location in the Swiss Alps.

            “Oh, my God! This place is beautiful!” Chance almost whispered the moment she laid eyes on the majestic snow capped peaks of the mountains. Darren helped unload their small amount of baggage. They were first stopping off at the ski lodge where the crew was already setting up their equipment for the first day of filming.

            “I thought you would like it,” he replied as he took her arm and led her into the lodge.

            “Darren!” someone yelled from behind them. Darren turned to face a much older man who was standing at the door of the ski lodge. He had a long beard and was wearing a pair of sunglasses.

            “Wayne! So nice to see you again!” Darren replied as he walked over to him. The shook hands and he added, “I’d like you to meet my fiancé, Chance Malone.”

            “Very pleased to finally meet you. You’ve been the talk of the town, and now I can see why,” Wayne said as he shook hands with Chance.

            “Believe me, the pleasure is all mine. I admire your work so much. It’s so great. I hope you have some great stuff planned for our video,” Chance replied in almost a giddy tone.

            “Trust me, I do. After I saw that plan you came up with, I got hundreds of ideas.”

            “Come on, we’ve gotta get to our room,” Darren said as he led Chance off in the other direction.

            “Be back here in an hour. We’re heading out for the mall scene then,” Wayne called to them.

            Darren and Chance made their way to the reception desk and got their key. It was then up the winding staircase to their room on the top floor. As Darren opened the door, Chance peeked inside to find a beautiful modern room with a king sized bed, a huge living area with a couch and flat screen TV, and an even bigger bathroom with a Jacuzzi.

            “Holy shit!” she exclaimed as she walked through the room and discovered its many wonders.

            “This thing is huge,” Darren added. He placed the bags down on the chest in front of the bed and jumped on top of the soft mattress. “Oh, you have to feel this bed, Chance. You’re gonna love it.”

            She walked over to him and lay down. “I want one!” she said as she snuggled into the sheets. “This is making me want to curl up and fall asleep.”

            “Me too. Why don’t we? It’s been a really long trip. All I want to do is snuggle up with you and sleep,” Darren replied as he rolled on top of her.

            “Or we could do what we usually do on trips away from home,” Chance suggested.

            “Do you really want to wear yourself out before a video shoot?” he asked.

            “Why not?” she angrily retorted.

            “I’ve been on enough of these to tell you you’re gonna need your rest. You put in more work on a music video than on an episode of ‘Roswell.’ I promise you by the time you’re finished with the first round of shooting, all you’ll want to do is go to sleep. But you won’t be able to because there would be hundreds of shots still left,” Darren explained as he slid off the bed and headed for the bathroom.

            “Fine,” Chance miserably replied. She took off her clothes only leaving her underwear and made herself comfortable under the sheets. To her amazement, the instant her head hit the pillow, she was out cold.

            It was Darren who woke her an hour later to get ready for the shoot. Chance climbed out of the comfortable bed and began to complain about not wanting to get up. With one kiss, Darren was able to shut her up and have her downstairs within ten minutes.

            The rest of the day was spent getting the shots that were good for the video. The mall was an hour away from the hotel, but it had all the modern features a mall in the states would have. Chance enjoyed the time she spent there, and didn’t want to leave at the end of the day. Darren managed to drag her away by lifting her over his shoulder and hauling her to the bus. It wasn’t until she stopped kicking and screaming that she realized she was dead tired and glad they were going back to the hotel for the night.

            “Daz,” Chance mumbled as she lay in his lap.

            “What?” Darren replied.

            “You were right. I’m so tired I think I might have just dropped dead at the mall if it wasn’t for you dragging me out of there. Thanks,” she said, closing her eyes.

            “You’re welcome,” he whispered, his arms wrapping tighter around her body as she fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

            “Chance, Wayne wants to talk to you,” Darren said as he walked up to her on the morning’s setup in the remote valley near the lodge. The area had been cut off to the rest of the people, and only cast and crew were allowed in. Chance had been sitting on the bus getting ready for the shot and was finally done with hair and makeup. She had been standing in the freezing cold weather for ten minutes waiting for Darren to bring her some coffee. Being up since five in the morning was taking its toll on her.

            “Why?” Chance asked as she gingerly took the coffee off his hands.

            “He wants to make some changes to the video. They’re really good, too,” Darren answered. He took her hand and led her over to the director.

            “You wanted to talk to me?” she asked once in range.

            Wayne turned around and replied, “Yeah. I wanna make some changes to the video. They’re not that big, but they do have some impact. I would like to put in a snowball fight for one of the scenes.”

            “Sounds like fun,” Chance said without having to think about it.

            “Great, then. That’ll be the first shot of the day,” he told her then walked off to talk to the rest of the crew.

            Chance began to walk off towards the warmth of the bus with Darren when she felt her foot slip on a patch of ice. She would have fallen if it wasn’t for Darren’s quick thinking and actions. He quickly grabbed her and held her up.

            “Whoa, that was close,” Darren said as he steadied Chance.

            “Thanks, Daz,” she replied, regaining her footing and carefully walking to the bus. Chance waited there for twenty minutes before Darren knocked on her door and told her the set was ready. They walked together to a patch of pure white snow between two great evergreen trees and waited for the shoot to begin.

            When Wayne yelled action, Chance was ready. She had a snowball packed in her gloved fingers waiting to throw at Darren. He began to run towards her, his playful mood indicating that this was going to go great. She too began to run away. Chance could feel the cold air rush about her as she ran through the pure white snow on the designated set. Her eyes began to fill with tears as more cold air hit her face. It was this tiny flaw that ruined everything. As Chance was rounding a corner, she didn’t see the patch of ice that had formed from a water spill earlier that morning. She hit the patch with so much force, it sent her flying through the air and landing in a painful position. Her leg was tangled beneath her body. Chance began to cry for someone to help her.

            Darren was the first one to reach her. Gently, he rolled Chance over and took off his jacket to cover her. “Shh… Baby. It’s going to be okay,” he tried to comfort her. “Tell me what hurts?”

            “My leg!” Chance wailed. Darren stared down at the tangled mass on the ground. He knew it was broken from the way it had twisted from the fall.

            The next person to reach Chance was Wayne. “Aw, shit. This is bad,” he cursed. “Stay put. I’m gonna get a stretcher over here. You’re going straight to the hospital.”

            Chance looked at him with agony in her eyes. “Please, tell them to get here quick,” she begged. She couldn’t take the pain any longer.

            Darren watched her with pain in his heart. There was nothing he could do to help her. He was useless in this situation. All he could do was provide her with as much comfort as he possibly could. He stroked her hair with his hand and cradled her in his arms. As Chance grew weaker and weaker from the pain, the cold, and shock, Darren began to wonder what was taking that stretcher so long. He was about to stand up to look for it when two men ran up with the stretcher between them. Darren gently placed her on top and they left for the SUV parked just a few feet away from the shoot.

            Chance’s leg was wrapped in ice, and the rest of her body was covered in three blankets for the half hour trip to the hospital. Once the crew got there, all hell broke lose. Not one doctor in the whole hospital spoke English. Darren was trying hard not to freak out, and did his best to tell them exactly what happened using hand gestures. He turned over the laborious task to Wayne so he could be with Chance as she waited for a doctor to examine her.

            “How are you doing?” Darren quietly said as he took a seat beside her bed.

            “I can’t feel my leg,” Chance whispered. Her condition was worsening.

            “It’s going to be okay,” he tried to comfort. “Hold in there. I’ll be right back.” Darren walked out of her room and found the huddle of crewmembers and doctors outside. “SHE NEEDS A DOCTOR NOW!” he yelled to get their attention. His anger had already boiled to the point where he couldn’t wait any longer, “Someone better get their ass in there and help my fiancé before she dies! I don’t care if you can’t speak English, just help her!”

            “I speak English,” a doctor who had just arrived said as he walked down the hall towards the mob of people. “What’s going on? Who’s in trouble?”

            “My fiancé. I think her leg is broken from the way she fell today during our video shoot,” Darren answered. He led the doctor into Chance’s room. “I think she also might be in shock. She’s getting worse by the minute.”

            The doctor took one look at Chance and said, “Okay, I need you to leave.” He shoved Darren out of the room and began to bark orders to other doctors and nurses in the hall in a different language he couldn’t understand.

            Darren left the chaos and headed for the waiting room where Wayne had huddled the camera people from MTV and his own crew. One of the camera guys walked up to Darren and asked him if he wanted to release this footage to MTV.

            “I don’t know right now. I just want people to leave me alone,” he said, then sat down in one of the chairs. He was getting sick of these frequent visits to hospitals.

~~~~~~~~~~

            Chance awoke several hours later in a darkened hospital room. Darren was sitting beside her bed asleep. His hand gently gripped hers as he snored. Taking a look around the rest of the room, she saw Wayne and several other people on the floor asleep. ‘It must be really late,’ she thought to herself.

            Wiggling her hand out of Darren’s grasp, Chance reached over and lightly touched his face with her fingertips. They moved a little further down and crossed his lips. He woke up instantly and blankly stared at her for a few moments.

            “Oh, thank God you’re awake,” he said, bending over to give her a kiss.

            “It’s nice to see you too,” Chance replied as she smiled.

            “You’ve been asleep for fifteen hours. We got worried about you because you were in shock before that, and the doctor told us that could possibly cause more damage than your broken leg,” Darren explained as he took her hand again and ran it over his face. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. I almost killed myself the last time.”

            “Then you know exactly how I felt when I was gone,” she said.

            “Wayne said we’d better stick to the original plan for the video. You don’t do too much running around, and you get to stay much closer to me,” he replied, getting closer. “By the way, are you willing to give those clips of you accident to MTV?”

            “Should I? I want to because they could be very funny. Hey, they just might make us look good.” Chance suggested.

            Darren smiled. “Okay,” he simply answered.