Forever and a Day (19 page)

Halo and JJ’s chartered flight from Brisbane to Pago Pago, American Samoa was non-eventful and smooth allowing them to get some much needed sleep. Upon landing, the pilot maneuvered the jet into its designated parking space. Halo looked out of the window and saw that the airport was rather quaint. The airport buildings were high peaked and covered with what looked like shingles. When the jet came to a stop, a red and white stair-truck began to move into place for their exit.

“Ready?” JJ asked Halo as she got up out of the aging 737’s worn seat.

“Yes! I need to stretch my legs!” Halo replied with a yawn and a stretch of her arms.

“I hope Deborah is here with our ride, I don’t like being left out in places I’ve never been.” JJ complained. She knew Deborah was their location manager and line producer in American Samoa. She was from LA as well, but had extensive history in filming in the South Pacific. She hoped that Halo chose well.

“It’s ok JJ! I’m here, we can both get lost together then!” Halo laughed and poked JJ.

“Oh, just great…” JJ said and got up and followed David Parker, the assistant director, to the front of the plane and the exit.

At the top of the stairs, Halo made out Deborah waving to them. The two huge men standing at either side of her made her look tiny. She hoped these two giants were her extra security. She scanned the area for Joel, but he must have passed on meeting her. Just as well she thought as she began her decent down the stairs and into the warm humid sunshine.

Deborah stood about Halo’ height and looked close to fifty with some gray peppering her short brown hair. She came walking up dwarfed by her giants following behind her, “Halo! Good to finally see you again!” She shook Halo’s hand, looked to JJ, and shook hers with a smile.

Deborah turned back towards the two huge men, “Halo, this here is Thomas and Joseph. They are your personal security and come highly recommended by the Governor himself, they are both blood related to him.”

Halo smiled at Thomas and held out her hand to him, “Hello Thomas, I’m Halo Raines. It is an honor to meet you.” Halo watched as her hand was swallowed up by Thomas’s huge dark hand, his grip was light as he shook her hand. Regardless of his light grip, she sensed his immense strength.

“Nice to meet you Miss Raines, Joseph and I will protect you like our own little sister, with us here—no worries for you.” He flashed her his big smile that lit up his dark face.

“Thank you Thomas, please call me Halo.” She turned to Joseph and held her hand out to him, “Hi Joseph, I’m Halo, nice to meet you too!”

Joseph ever so gently shook Halo’s hand and managed a tight smile, “Little sister.” He rumbled quietly in his deep voice with a nod.

Thomas spoke up, patting Joseph on his shoulder, “Excuse my cousin; he is a man of little words. I will be your driver here too, we don’t have many fancy cars, I hope the Toyota 4Runner is ok? Roads are bad…”

Halo smiled and nodded, “Of course Thomas.” She gestured towards JJ, “This is my assistant and my best friend, JJ.”

Thomas and Joseph both gave her a nod while JJ stood back and gave them a little wave, still intimidated by their size.

Deborah broke in, “Well now that’s out of the way, we have to get you settled in and ready to meet the governor. Joel set up the meeting and it is in two hours at the governor’s mansion. Speaking of Joel, he’s on his way from the set with Deacon as we speak, so he sends his regrets on not meeting you in person.”

Halo sighed, “Just as well. Where is baggage claim at?”

Thomas leaned over and spoke to Joseph, then spoke in his own deep voice to Halo, “Joseph will take you there, I will bring the Toyota.”

“Thank you.” Halo said as Joseph began walking towards the nearest building. JJ and Halo hurried to catch up as Deborah left with Thomas.

At the baggage truck, Halo pointed out their suitcases and Joseph grabbed all four suitcases and nodded to them to follow. Halo looked at JJ and shrugged, wanting to ask if he needed help but was too intimidated to ask. They followed him to Customs and were quickly processed and let through. On the way out of the terminal, JJ leaned over and whispered into Halo’s ear, “I think they both are bigger than “The Rock”!”

Halo nodded and replied, “More tattoos too, I think!”

Soon they came out and found Thomas and Deborah waiting for them with the Toyota in the arrivals area.

Joseph strapped the baggage to the top of the SUV and they were soon on their way down the bumpy highway towards Utulei. The two men sat silently as Thomas drove along, straining the seats with their bulk in the rented 4Runner. With the three women squeezed into the middle row, Deborah did her best to point out the local sights as they passed by.

The ride took about fifteen minutes to get to Sadie’s by the Sea. Deborah pointed out the hotel, “There it is. You two are sharing a room and have a great view of the beach. I have to warn you that the rooms all smell of bleach to deal with the mildew brought on by the humidity. It’s just a part of life here I’m told. Right, Thomas?”

“Yes, very humid here and hot in the summer.” Thomas replied as Joseph nodded in silent agreement.

JJ fanned herself as the 4Runner’s air conditioning fought to keep the five cramped passengers cool, “Worse than Florida.” JJ muttered to Halo.

Thomas pulled in front of Sadie’s and put the vehicle in park, “We will bring your things to you.” Joseph was already out and opening the door for Halo.

Deborah directed them to the hotel’s office and introduced Halo and JJ to the manager. After the pleasantries, Deborah took them to their room with Thomas and Joseph following along, baggage in hand.

Sure enough when Deborah opened the door, the smell of bleach made itself known, “It will go away, just let some air in. I will leave you two to get settled in. I’m just four doors down, or text me if you need anything.”

“Thank you Deborah. Thomas, may I have a word with you before you go?”

Thomas nodded, “Yes, but we are not leaving. One of us will always be here.” Thomas informed her proudly.

“Oh! Thank you.” Halo said a little relieved. “I would like to talk to you about why I asked for security, or did Deborah say anything?”

“No.” Thomas replied, “It is very safe here Halo, we honor the old ways here, tradition is important. We think that it’s your first visit, so you might be afraid?”

“Not quite. Thomas would you like to have a seat there? Or is that not proper? You are so tall…”

Thomas smiled big showing his white teeth and sat down on the proffered chair, “In our culture we all should sit before we speak in a home. If you go into a traditional Samoan home, you should also take off your shoes.”

Halo heard him say Samoa and it sounded like ‘Sah-moa’ to her, “Oh that’s good to know!” Halo sat down on the bed and bid JJ to sit next to her, “Thomas I will get straight to the point, there is an actor here named Johnny Stone. I did not want him hired for this film, but due to politics… I had to agree. I don’t want you to think I am some diva, but the man gives me the creeps.” She gave an involuntary shiver, “If I have to fire him, I need security around that can keep him from me.” She watched Thomas passive expression turn to one of concern.

“Do you think he could hurt you?” Thomas asked.

Halo shook her head, “No, I don’t think Johnny is that stupid. If he did, he would never get work in Los Angeles again. He knows that.”

“Good. Our jail is not good for outsiders.” Thomas chuckled to himself then continued, “A few years ago when a typhoon came, the guards sent all the prisoners home to their families until it was over. When it was done, they all come back. Now it is stricter, but still the front gate is open where the prisoners keep a big garden.”

“Wow. It’s not like that back home.” Halo exclaimed.

Thomas shrugged his huge shoulders, “If you treat a man like a dog, you get an animal when he comes back.” Thomas smiled at both women, “Don’t worry, we will be here to watch you. I will see to this John Stone.” He smiled big with a small smirk hinting at the corners of his lips.

“Thank you Thomas.” Halo said getting up and watched Thomas stand with grace belying his great bulk.

He reached in his pocket and handed Halo a small piece of paper, “This is my pocket phone and the number to police, hotel and hospital.”

“Excellent, thank you again Thomas.”

Thomas nodded and opened the door; looking to the girls, he then pointed to the lock with his huge finger and closed the door behind him. JJ got up and locked it and sighed, “It still smells like bleach.”

“Well better bleach than mildew, we better get washed up and ready. You can go first, I want to check in on Twitter and fire off some emails.” She saw that JJ was not moving to the bathroom and looked up at her as she gave her friend a look of concern, “What?”

“You going to email the Mystery man?” JJ asked with her hands going to her hips.

“Gee, I didn’t even think of that! Think I should?” Halo laughed.

JJ shook her head and went to her suitcase, “I’ll hurry.” Halo smiled at JJ and went to sending her parents an email and updating her Twitter.

An hour later, a knock came at Halo’s door. JJ got up and asked who was there and Thomas’s deep voice rumbled against it. JJ opened it and saw Thomas with Deacon and Joel.

“These two want to see you, is this ok?” Thomas asked. JJ turned to Halo who nodded as she put on her sandals. Thomas stepped out of the way of the door and let the two newcomers into the room, “I will be here.” His voice rumbled as he closed the door behind him.

“Halo, what’s with Gigantor at the door?” Joel asked irritatingly.

“Oh, that’s just Thomas.” Halo giggled, “He’s my driver and my big brother while I’m here. Then there is my other big brother, Joseph. He helps with the bags and stuff. So how was your trip here Joel, Deacon?”

Joel closed his eyes briefly and shook his head, “Uh, fine. How was yours?”

Halo smiled, “Good. Thanks for asking.”

Deacon smiled, “Hello Halo, JJ.”

“Good to see you Deacon. So what’s on the agenda with the governor?” Halo asked.

Joel took in a breath, “Stinks in here like bleach too… the agenda? Make the governor happy. He needs us more than we need him. He wants to meet you and thank you I guess. I could care less, to tell the truth. I just want to shoot these scenes and be done with and this God-awful place. We should have just filmed in Australia, tax benefits or no.”

Halo stood up and checked her long dark brown floral dress in the mirror, “I guess we all have to make a concession or two.” She turned and faced Joel, “Don’t we?”

Joel shot her a look as Deacon spoke up, “We will be a go on set in the morning Halo. It’s best we get scene 227 done with and behind us.”

“I agree Deacon, thank you. When do you think we will be done shooting here?”

“If this weather holds, more than likely a week. 227 to 229 will take all of tomorrow’s daylight. By the way, on Sundays people do not work, and if we hear a gong from the nearby village we have to wait until prayers are done.”