"Well, that's a little bit more complicated," said Fang, " ... and my time is really short, guys!"
Fang did explained that all of the scenes-except the conclusion-had been "shot" and that much of the equipment was being packed for transportation back to Hollywood. He also said that many of the actors had left.
At this last remark, both Sam's and my face must have dropped to the floor.
"Wha ...?" asked Fang.
A pause.
"What's wrong, guys?" He looked puzzled.
I jumped into the conversation to explain that we had hoped to see some of "the acting" while the movie was being made.
"Oh ... I see," said Fang, "you mean you wanted to see Lotte Madonna-Fish. Well, not to worry! She's still here ... and in fact she wanted to stay and see the final dance scene ... and help out, also. So the crew voted her "Honorary Assistant Crew Director" during the final scene," said Fang, "... and you can see her at the dance."
Trying to recover, I said, "Oh it's not that ... I meant that I wanted to see the type of movie your making."
"Oh, that's no problem, either" said Fang, "... just grab a look at the two scripts laying on that table, over there" and he pointed to two well worn documents laying open on a nearby table. "Lotte always came here to rehearse her lines and these are her scripts. She doesn't need them anymore-so take them and read the story at your leisure. How's that?" said Fang.
"Ok ... that's fine," said Sam. We both looked at each other hoping that Fang would not see our disappointment.
I noticed that Fang was now talking more rapidly and that his eye danced from window to door ... as if his mind was elsewhere.
Fang explained that "time" on a movie set was a precious resource ... and that he had to leave to prepare for the coming dance scene. "Until this was over," he said, "we were more than welcome to stay ... BUT NOW ... he would be very busy and we would not see much of him for awhile..."
As Fang went toward the door he said that a "field manager" would be over to see us, shortly, and that he would take care of our comforts. In the meantime, he bade us, "see what's in the fridge," and left.
At this invitation, Sam and I rushed to the fridge to find juice, fruit and other commodities. We started helping ourselves ... But then the door open, again, and we stood there facing, "the field manager."
"Ok ... what-da-ya-need ... I'm da field manager and "da-Fang" just tol' me to take care of youse. Ya gonna be here all night?" he asked.
To this question, Sam and I looked at each other. We hadn't planned on staying ...and we hadn't seen any sign of a motel ... but we certainly didn't want to miss any of the excitement or the activities that were about to take place ... even if it was only the final scene.
Sam asked, "Well what do you have in mind? We don't see any place to stay."
"Well if'n ya wa-na stay in town ... yer on your own. It 55 miles over da pass and down der road."
He paused.
"Now if'n youse wanna stay here ... we got plenty coats n'bunks soz yer can lay yer-selvez oot un-dr da bee-u-ti-ful starz ... and we gotta da best crew cookie fer miles ... say sup, in aboot an hour ... so wha-da-ya want?"
"Well stay here." we both said, at the same time.
Suddenly, Sam looked as if he had just remembered something. "Where are the Findians? he asked the field manager?
"Oh de don camp near here. Dose l'fellas only camp by dem selves joost-a down da trail. De sur-r friendly l'fellas ... but de off bye dem selves," he said.
Sam said, "Do you think we could bunk there tonight ?
"Don see why not," he responded. "Most-a da crew-that's left-been dar for da last cuple daz get'n ready for the moo-vee pik-sure mak'n ... and de been sleep'n der each night. E'vn dat famooze moovie-starz been sleep'n dar each night undr da bee-u-ti-ful starz."
"Well take our bunks down der ... I mean, 'there'," said Sam. But before he could finish, I entered the discussion ... "dat's where we'll both stay," I completed the thought.
Late that afternoon we met and were welcomed by the remaining movie crew and shared a memorable supper in the high crisp mountain air of this place called, Midnight.
After dinner Sam and I "pulled" our bunk gear from the "company store" and slowly walked down trail to the Findian camp. At dinner, we learned that preparations for the final "shoot" had begun even the day before. But now it was evening, Sam and I thought that it might be a night dance for the crew had set up lights around the Findian camp.But no! Later, we found out that the crew had been told that they had one ... and only one chance to get a live "take." It could not be repeated. So throughout the night the crew moved about quietly laying cables and arranging reflectors, microphones and camera angles. Sam and I watched their ghostly movements-in amazement-as the evening wore on. Finally we realized that it would be sometime before we would see any dance ... at all.
We then contented ourselves to use these lights to read the script that Fang had given us ... we were both still anxious to see what this movie ... this Western ... was to be about. However, I notice that Sam had dozed off several times. Finally I give up my readings and dropped into a deep sleep. To this day I am not sure if what I remember reading was a script
... or a dream ...
... or a place called, Midnight ...
... or a Western ...
... or aboot ...
... the "Great MacFin" ...
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