i not dead

'did you ever wonder what the sun was like in 1986?'

'no,' said meg with a smile. her blonde hair fell across her face, as her thick red lips gave way to a smile with dimples faint in the corners.

'has it ever changed?'

'i don't know?' she said.

'i told you i was telling the truth,' said oliver exhaling smoke and a cough as the crew wrapped python thick cables and pushed chrome lights behind him. he took another hit and handed the burning stub to the ghost of a man hidden behind the beard and now graying mane.

'i've never been one for abreviated names,' he said. 'can i call you megan?' he exhaled and passed the joint along.

'sure,' she said, taking the joint.

oliver looked across the white sound stage and motioned to val. 'come on over, he won't bite.'

'you know,' he said in his breathy baritone. 'i believe dylan's most erotic record was nashville skyline.' he tried to grab at something floating through the air. 'did you get it?' asked meg, her eyes turning red and vulnerable. he didn't answer.

'you've no right to parade him around like an animal,' said val.

'you can back out if you want,' said oliver. 'there'll be a hundred more actors lining up behind. kevin bacon's endowed enough for the part.'

'bacon?' asked jim.'there's a time for everything and everything for a time.'

'what's that supposed to mean?' asked meg sincerely.

'sweet girl,' said oliver to val.'dumb as a ford, but she tries hard.'

'where'd you find him?' asked val.

'please,' said oliver.'business is business. use him, study him, but don't be asking questions that you need not know.'

'when's the last time you changed those leather pants?' asked val.

'be nice,'said oliver.'who needs a drink?'

'where's he staying?' asked val.

'why, your place, of course,' said oliver.'the lizard is still king, man.'

'what about l.a. woman?' asked jim while playing with meg's paper thin hair. 'can she come too?'

'whatever you want, jim. whatever you want.'