As the commercials started up, the crew seemed to shake off their torpor and Alison quickly took advantage. Her voice was clear and commanding as she said, "All right, we're moving this to studio C and the stage for Talking Points - back on air in 3 minutes!"
Her people responded, reminding her why they all deserved their jobs on this show. She needed it, because her gut instinct was to fire them all as soon as the episode ended but seeing them moving quickly and efficiently reminded her that they were not themselves today.
With the crew moving, Alison's next task was to get the talent moving, too. While it would feel great, the commanding voice was unlikely to move Danny, let alone Anastasia, and she'd need to do a touch more cajoling to get back on air in time. Moving through the crew she approached the stage to see Anastasia leaning in close to Johnny, whispering something to him that had him giggling. Danny was trying to get in close to hear what was going on, while Rafe kept repositioning to box him out and Rita clung to Rafe as she also pulled in. Alison increased her pace, hoping to hear some of what Anastasia was telling them.
As she stepped onto the stage, still just out of earshot of the whispering, Anastasia turned from Johnny to look at her with the one eye that could be seen under the hat. "Darling," she said as she spread her arms wide, fan unfurled in her right hand. She stood and pushed between Rafe and Danny to tower over Alison, then leaned down for an air hug as Alison stopped short. Her bemusement increased as Anastasia kissed her on both cheeks, then held her shoulders and said, "You're doing wonderfully, my dear - now lead on to the next stage."
Alison paused, unsure of herself, but Anastasia gestured for her to move and she moved. Anastasia fell into step on her right-hand side, the ridiculous hat serving as cover from people watching from that side. The path they took kept the crowd to the right and equipment to the left, making the hat perfect for blocking prying eyes. Alison wondered about that as she listened to Anastasia make small talk, but the thought fled as the small talk became pointed.
"I think you will fill your new role nicely, darling," Anastasia said. Alison replayed the conversation in her mind, but the comment came out of nowhere. Anastasia noted the hesitation and said, "Well, I suppose you could refuse, but have you ever refused Johnny anything? Even those things you really should have?" Alison's face burned as blood rushed to it. No one could hear, but Anastasia's words still cut deep and true. She tried to find a retort, but nothing came to her, not even the words to question what she meant by a new role.
"Your new role as my producer," Anastasia said with a grin. "Since Johnny will be taking on the job of, well, I suppose 'Prophet' is the right term, he will still need a trusted crew to help him relay my wonder to the world. While he'll do it without you, I'm sure he'd be much happier with you."
Alison finally found some words, although she almost immediately regretted them. "He can't leave, he has a contract!"
Anastasia laughed, a bright sound that called to mind wind chimes in a summer breeze, right as a cold, hard wind is starting to blow. "Still not there yet, I see. You will be. Ah, here we are," Anastasia finished as they arrived at the door to studio C. Alison glanced behind her and saw that the talent were all hurrying after them but had fallen a dozen yards or so behind during the walk. Anastasia opened the door and strode into the studio, and Alison quickly followed her in, expecting the others to catch up.
Studio C was one of the smaller ones in the building, designed for a two-camera setup to film the opposing sides and a central camera to focus on the host of Talking Points, Kiran Dalal. The live audience seating only allowed for a few dozen people, usually guests of the panelists, so the audience would need to remain in the main studio. Alison would have preferred keeping this all in the main studio in front of the audience, but the table set up here would allow them to keep things moving and being away from the audience might mean she could get things arranged for audience questions without everyone drifting off.
Anastasia walked ahead of her and went directly to the center chair, sitting in it like it was designed for her. Alison stopped, realizing that she had no real control over how they would arrange themselves, which drove home that she had no real control over anything tonight. Johnny patted her on the shoulder absently as he went by, aiming directly for the chair at Anastasia's right hand. Alison's heart broke a little watching him demote himself from the big chair so readily, although she wasn't sure who it was breaking for. She hadn't come up with an answer when the other two men passed her by and Rita pulled to a halt next to her. Alison glanced at Rita, but Rita just nodded her head in the direction of the two men, each clearly with designs on the seat to Anastasia's left.
Danny lengthened his gait to the point of looking painful in an attempt to keep up with Rafe, and in the end they both reached the chair at once. Danny had his right hand on the chair, just left of Rafe's left hand, and the two froze to look at each other. Danny stared into Rafe's eyes, putting every ounce of his Hollywood fame into a glare, and said, "I've put up with enough of you today - move, or I end you."
Rafe swallowed hard, and his grip on the chair loosened. Danny began to pull it away, a smug look on his face, when Rafe looked at Anastasia. She looked back, interest in how things would play out gleaming in her eyes. Rafe's grip hardened and the chair stopped. "It's a different world, little man. You don't have power here anymore." Neither Rafe nor Danny were looking, but a slight smile crept onto Anastasia's face as she waited to see what they would do.
Danny broke eye contact first, and let go of the chair to turn away. Rafe's eyes hardened, surprised by it and not really believing. He watched as Danny coiled, cocking his fist while looking away from Rafe, compacting himself as he gathered all of his muscles into a single intent. Danny dropped slightly as he turned, his fist twisting with his body and rising up in an uppercut leveraging his legs, back and arms into a single point of effort aimed straight at Rafe's chin.
Which Rafe was completely ready for, allowing him to slip backwards and evade the punch with ease, then grab the wrist with his right hand and the back of Danny's neck with his left. He thrust forward with his left while stretching Danny's arm up and back, slamming Danny's head on the desk and locking his arm painfully up behind him. Danny cried out in pain, while Rafe leaned down close and whispered in his ear, "I'm not a violent man, Danny, but I'm done with you. Go sit next to Johnny if you don't want to be embarrassed when the cameras come on." Rafe stepped back and pushed Danny away from the table, while staying ready for anything else that might come his way.
Danny looked to Johnny first, hoping for something, but Johnny kept his eyes on Anastasia, specifically not looking at the incident. Danny scanned the room to find that the crew that had made it over were all engrossed in their work, pointedly not watching anything on stage. He finally looked at Anastasia to find her staring at Rafe hungrily. She looked away from Rafe when she felt his eyes on her, and turned her gaze on him. She still looked hungry, but where for Rafe it was hunger to have him, for Danny it was hunger for weak prey. She smiled slightly, but her eyes danced with laughter at his fall. It was almost enough for Danny to turn back to Rafe, abandon propriety and attack to kill - as the thought crossed his mind, he saw Anastasia sit up straighter, the hunger in her eyes shifting again. But he looked up at Rafe, saw the bigger man staring him down, and moved to the chair next to Johnny. He slumped down, barely responding when Johnny reached out a hand to pat his shoulder half-heartedly without ever looking away from Anastasia.
Rita nodded and whispered to Alison, "This is going to go bad." Then she walked to the stage and took her place next to Rafe. Alison saw Anastasia smile at Rita and say something, and saw Rita nod in response. Just then, the floor director gave the 30 second warning, and she realized she needed to head back to the main studio and see how Carrie was doing preparing for Crowd Quiz.
