Kingdom Keepers VI(42)

Chip and Dale (BR3M, A, 8:00am)…Belle (BR 3F, MM, 9am)…Maleficent (BR11A, D12aft, 8am). Break Room 11A, Deck 12 aft, 8am

This appearance accorded with the video shoot now under way. Confirmation of a Cast Member playing the Maleficent character lowered Storey’s anxiety—it seemed less likely this was a sneak attack by the OTs.

She texted Willa:


on way to break room. M appearance confirmed.



In the break room, she swiped her ID card over the reader, pushed the lever, and banged her face on the door. It hadn’t opened. Storey swiped her ID a second time. The small light on the card reader: red.

She knocked loudly. The door had to be privacy-locked from the inside. No answer. She knocked again. And again.

A DHI could lock the door from the inside and then step through it, leaving the room sealed along with whoever was inside, like the Cast Member Maleficent, Storey thought.

DANGER!

Her fingers hovered over the Wave Phone’s keypad. How far did she dare to go?

Malef possible DHI

* * *

“Code red from Storey,” Willa whispered to Philby, being sure to keep her lips still. She didn’t want Andy screaming at her.

The five Keepers were lined up against the starboard rail, a pale trace of sun skimming off the waves. It was too tranquil a setting for the suggestion of any kind of danger.

“The shot is this,” Andy said. “First, Finn’s line about how every day is a beautiful day on the Dream—”

“The Disney Dream!” Jodi called out.

“The Disney Dream,” Andy repeated. “Okay. Charlene, you come back with ‘magical’; then Maybeck’s line; Philby checks his watch—we’re going to use some CGI there to make it glow or something—and then Willa, you spin your head around to see Maleficent. Finn, you give the line about running for it. Philby hoists the Return”—a film crew member handed Philby the prop—an automobile remote—“and then hold positions. In post we’re going to fade you out like holograms. Got it?”

“This is just a walk-through?” Finn said.

“A run-through. Yeah.”

“No Maleficent yet,” Willa clarified.

“You’re trembling, I suppose?” Andy was an incredibly nice guy. He just didn’t get it.

“Yes, as a matter of fact,” Willa said. She held her hand out; her fingers shook.

“You’re safe with me!” Andy cracked himself up. His crew laughed with him.

The Keepers practiced their lines and moves four times, with small adjustments made by Andy after each new pass.

“If she’s back there by the time you turn around…” Finn said privately to Willa.

“Yes. It’ll be too late.”

“Can Storey Ming get up here?”

“And do what? She thinks Maleficent may have crossed over.”

Finn looked dumbstruck. “This is not good.”

“Okay, everyone! This time’s for real!” Andy shouted.

The makeup artist, Nichole, rushed into frame, touching up hair and patting noses with white sponges.

“You guys are sweating like you just ran a marathon,” she said.

“No need for nerves,” Andy said, playing the coach. “You’ve done this dozens of times.”

If you only knew, Finn thought.

Philby caught Finn’s attention and pointed to two tripods supporting light panels. His hand signal told Finn to take the panel to the left. But take it where? How? Finn wondered.

“The blind leading the blind, eh, Andy?” Philby called out to the director while looking at Finn. He was trying to communicate something. Finn shook his head; Philby pantomimed the motion of twisting something. “On the back,” he mouthed, hoping Finn could read his lips.

“Stand by!” Andy said. “Roll cameras.”

The two cameramen called back, “Speed!”

“Action!”

That word jogged Finn’s thought: Philby hadn’t been clowning around with the lighting crew; he’d been figuring out how to operate their equipment.

Light panels. Turn knob. Blind leading the blind.

Finn understood.

“Action,” Andy called out. Finn faced the camera.

“Hey, guys! Every day’s a Disney Dream, every meal a banquet when you’re cruising with the Disney Cruise Line!”

“A Disney Dream?” Charlene said on cue. “It’s Disney Magic.”

“Or,” said Maybeck, “a Disney Fantasy. From the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, you’ve never cruised like this.”

“It’s time,” Philby said, checking his watch, “to welcome you aboard!”

That cued Maleficent to enter the shot. Willa turned simultaneously.

“Oh, no!” she said, reciting the memorized script. “Look who’s here!”