Romance and Ropes

“…and I think we have time for one more question before we go to the newsroom.”  The radio presenter pushed a button and connected a call.  “You’re through to the studio, what’s your question for Caz?”

“I was wondering when you were going to admit that your depraved stories are corrupting moral ideals and agree to stop writing them!”  There was no mistaking the acid tones of Dr Temperance D Muir, a psychologist turned radio therapist that Caz had had problems with before.

“Hello again Dr Muir; so nice of you to call.”  Caz pulled a face at the radio presenter, who was trying hard not to laugh.  “I would have thought you were tired of hounding me by now.”

“Until you stop publishing your stories promoting damsels in distress, I will continue to pursue a morally acceptable outcome; namely, to denounce your work at every opportunity.”  The voice sounded smug, yet determined and Caz smothered a sigh.

“I believe I have made my position clear on numerous occasions, Temper.  I will not keep on having this discussion with you.”  

“Don’t call me Temper!”  Dr Muir screeched loudly and both Caz and the presenter winced as the sound came through their headphones.

“I’m sorry folks, that’s all we have time for today!”  The presenter disconnected Dr Muir’s calls and pushed a jingle button.  “You’ve been listening to Jay Wilds on KDID, discussing Caz’s new book, ‘Romance and Ropes’.”  He removed his headphones as the news team took over.  “Thanks for the interview, sorry about that last call.”

“Not your fault, she’s just out to cause trouble.”  Caz shrugged.  “It is rather annoying though.”

They left the studio to where David was waiting to take Caz back to the hotel.  As soon as he saw her, he rushed to give her a kiss and hug.  “Are you okay darling?  I was listening to the show; that woman really does have it in for you.”

“I’m fine, but before we go back to the hotel, can we go shopping?  I have that chat show to do this evening and will need a few things.”  Caz smiled mischievously as they left the studio.  “Yes, I think I need be much better prepared for this evening.”

---

“…and so give a big hand for Caz, our final guest!”  Andre Parvetti, host of ‘Andre Tonight’ stood up as Caz walked onto the studio floor, her long blue dress sparkled under the lights and her brown curls, expertly styled by the studio, framed her smiling face.  She carried a sparkly blue bag, which seemed to bulge though the host made no comment.  “Welcome to Andre tonight!”  He kissed her hand and bid her to sit on the couch.  “How are you enjoying your trip to America?”

“I’m very glad to be here, Andre.”  Caz smiled beautifully.  “I’m enjoying my visit to your beautiful city, though with such a busy schedule, I’m afraid I haven’t had much time to look around.”

“I hope you manage to get time to see the sights before you return to England.”  Andre grinned.  “Now, you have a new book coming out, called ‘Romance and Ropes’.  Why don’t you tell us what it’s all about?”

“Well, Andre; it’s a collection of short stories involving damsels in distress, who find romance after being rescued from their predicaments.  It’s meant to challenge people’s perceptions and show that damsels in distress, or DiD as it is more commonly known, can be light hearted and fun for all involved and that it has a romantic side.”

“Sounds interesting!”  Andre looked out towards the audience.  “I believe our studio audience have a few questions, if that’s alright.”

“That’s fine.”  Caz sat back and grinned, her eyes scanning the audience.  It didn’t take long to spot Dr Muir sitting a few rows back, already trying to attract the host’s attention.  “Hmm, how about that lady there?  The one in the plum coloured suit.”  Caz pointed to Dr Muir and the spotlight moved towards her.

“Yes, I do have a question for Caz.  Why do you persist in writing these indecent stories, despite my attempts to make you see reason?”  Dr Muir stood up, intending to speak her mind; it didn’t occur to her to wonder why Caz had been so quick to point her out.

“Before I answer, could I invite Dr Muir to join us on the couch?”  Caz smiled warmly.  “I think it would be easier to address this issue.”  

The host didn’t even have time to agree; Dr Muir strode out on the studio floor and, not even acknowledging the host, waved a finger at Caz.  “How dare you continue to flaunt your offensive literature, especially on prime time TV?”

“Offensive in what way, Dr Muir?  Caz says her stories are romantic and, considering the book sales figures, they have proved to be popular.”  The host rallied magnificently, trying to get the show back on track.

“Her stories are about young ladies being bound and gagged in various scenarios, who are then rescued by a man.  The worst thing a man can do is rescue a woman.  It encourages the image that women are helpless.  That is hardly romantic; I would call it a desperate plea for attention!”

“That’s rich coming from someone who keeps hijacking my promotional events.”  Caz replied, earning herself a furious look from Dr Muir and laughter from the audience.  “Considering you have starred in several DiD themed films, don’t you think you’re being a bit hypocritical?”

“I was never rescued in those films!  I escaped by myself!”  Dr Muir snapped back, turning red as the audience jeered and whistled.  “Besides, we’re talking about you, not me.”

“Andre, would it be alright if I were to give a demonstration of my views.”  Caz smiled, an impish look on her face.

“I, er….supposed…well….”  Andre stammered as Caz signalled to her husband, waiting off camera.   “David, if you wouldn’t mind?”

“Not at all, my love.”  David, looking very smart in his charcoal coloured suit, walked over to the group and grabbed hold of Dr Muir, pulling her wrists behind her back.  She responded with various threats and protests, making the producers cringe; this was a live show after all.  They hoped the guys in production had a big enough delay in place so that the torrent could be censored.

“Now, the first thing I would like to show you all is this scarf.  Note the softness?  If I tie a knot in the middle of this and insert it into Temper’s mouth…”  Caz held it up.

“Don’t call me …mpfff!”  Dr Muir reacted the way Caz had expected, giving her ample opportunity to use the knot to muffle the protests.

“..we can create a comfortable and effective gag.”  Caz continued as she tied the scarf firmly.  “I also brought several coils of soft rope which, when used correctly will not cause any discomfort, yet will secure Dr Muir quite securely.”  Caz made her point by first binding the wrists and ankles, preventing Dr Muir from escaping while she secured her further.  With hoots of laughter from the audience, Caz finished winding rope around Dr Muir’s arms and legs, while David endeavoured to hold their impromptu captive still.

“I…um…okay…”  Andre was left speechless by the sight.  Caz demurely retook her seat, while David moved out of the way of the camera.

“Now, as I was saying, before Dr Muir began her tirade…” Caz paused as the audience cheered.  “…you can see it is possible to restrain someone without them being in pain and I have to ask the ladies of the audience; knowing you’d be rescued by the man of your dreams, would you not find being in Dr Muir’s position rather romantic?”

The ladies in the audience cheered and whistled.  Caz beamed at the host as Dr Muir struggled to free herself.  “I should also like to ask the guys here today; would you not like to go to the air of a damsel in distress, especially that of a beautiful woman?”  Again the cheers rang out.  “In my stories, the heroes never rest until they have rescued their damsels, receiving a kiss for their hard work.”

“Mpfff!”  Dr Muir shook her head vehemently and shot Caz a filthy look.

“Oh, and in answer to Dr Muir’s argument?  Well, my damsels are always feisty, not some helpless bimbos that just scream helplessly or collapse in fear when they are captured.  I hardly think that needing help from a man makes us women ‘helpless’.”

“I see your point.”  Andre managed to say as the crowd cheered and applauded.  “Well, you’ve certainly given us something to think about.  Okay, that’s all we have time for tonight.  Thank you to all my guests.  Goodnight!”

---

“Okay, we’re clear!”  A bell rang out and the cameras were switch off.  Caz shook hands with Andre and turned to Dr Muir, her voice much sterner than before.  

“Okay Temperance, listen to me.  Enough is enough, you’ve got your opinion about damsels and I have mine.  Let’s just agree to disagree and leave it at that.”  Caz got up and went to meet David, who whisked her through the crowds and into their waiting car.

“Well done, darling.  Maybe now she’ll leave you alone.”  

“I hope so, but knowing her, she won’t take this lying down.”

The car sped them away from the studio, where Dr Muir was sat fuming while Andre fumbled with the knots.  As soon as the gag fell away, Dr Muir began complaining.

“I’ll show her, how dare she do this to me!  I’ll...I’ll..oh I don’t know what but I will have my revenge!”  Dr Muir twisted and struggled as she tried to get free.

“Dr Muir, please.”  Andre turned his attention to the ropes.  “I can’t untie you while you struggle like this.”

“Don’t you dare untie me, young man!”  Dr Muir ordered.  “I can get these ropes off myself!”  She continued her struggles so Andre sat and watched, ready to lend a hand if needed.

“So, er…you really don’t like this Damsel in Distress stuff then?”  Andre asked.  “Even though you’ve appeared bound and gagged in several DiD movies?”

“I hate the fact that Caz writes these stories with a hero coming to the damsel’s rescue.  When I do…er…did the movies, I always made sure I escaped by my own means.”  Dr Muir wriggled and twisted, the ropes around her arms falling away.  “Men cannot be relied upon and a hero just reinforces the idea that girls are helpless creatures.”

“Caz did put a good argument for the romantic side of DiD.”  Andre was finding himself wanting to help Dr Muir escape her bonds but each time he reached towards her, Dr Muir wriggled away from him.  “Hollywood uses that plot device too; it’s established that the hero will always find a way to rescue his damsel, often just in the nick of time.”

“Humph.  Caz always viewed her husband as her hero.”  Dr Muir’s hands were free now and she reached down to untie her legs and ankles.  “I want to find a way to discredit them.”  She smiled suddenly as an idea formed.  “Young man, do you think you could fetch your executive producer.  I have an idea for a show, one which you would be the perfect host for.”   She removed the last of the rope with a flourish.  

“Of course.”  Andre stood up and looked around the studio.  “I’ll be right back, Dr Muir.”

“Call me Temperance.”  She relaxed while she waited, ideas quickly forming.

---

A few days later, over breakfast, Caz and David were discussing Dr Muir’s surprising absence from the last few promotional shows.  There had been no sign of her at the book signings or talk shows.

“Perhaps we really did stop her from bothering you?”  David grinned.

“I don’t know; it’s not like her to give up so easily.”  Caz sighed as her phone rang.  “Hang on, darling.  Hello?  Yes, this is Caz…what kind of show?”  Caz frowned as she listened to the producer.  “I see; well thank you for the offer but the answer is no……yes, I do mean that…..I said no.  Good bye.”  She hung up.

“What was that all about?”  David moved his chair round so he could hug his wife.

“That was the studio from the other night.  They want to do a follow-up show, with me and Dr Muir; something about testing heroes.  Well, I’m not going to get involved.”

“I don’t blame you.”  David kissed her gently.  We’re going to be back in England in a few days and since you’ve finished your promotional tour, we can just relax and enjoy ourselves.”  David glanced at his watch.  “Why don’t you have a rest while I go and buy your Valentine’s Day gift?”

“That sounds good.”  Caz thought for a moment.  “Shall we meet at the restaurant on the corner for lunch?”

“Okay, we’ll do that.  I’ll see you later.”  David kissed Caz before leaving with a cheery wave.

“Hmm, while he’s out, I’d better go and collect his gift too.”  Caz collected her bag and went down to the lobby, making sure David had left first.  “This won’t take me long.”

---

“Sorry Temperance, she said no.”  The executive producer had phoned Dr Muir immediately after speaking to Caz.  “I’m afraid we’ll have to forget the show.”

“What?  No, we can do the show without her.”  Dr Muir pleaded down the phone.  “Geoffrey, please…”

“Without Caz, the show won’t work.”  Geoffrey Chaplow sighed.  “A shame, it was a great idea too and I had everything ready to record the pilot show.”

“Wait, what if I can persuade her to do the show?”  Dr Muir thought quickly.  “I mean, if you give me her hotel details, I can go and see her, talk to her.”

“Very well, but remember, if she doesn’t agree to take part, I won’t finance the show.”  He hung up.

“Oh, I’ll persuade her.”  Dr Muir hissed.  “One way or another.”

---

Caz was busy hiding her gift in the hotel room, when the phone rang.  She frowned when the receptionist told her who was wanting to see her.  “Tell her I’m coming down.”

A few minutes later, Caz walked into the lobby to find Temperance D. Muir sat waiting for her, smiling.  

“Okay, what’s going on?”  Caz scowled at her.

“Caz, please sit down.  I just want to talk.”  Dr Muir waved to a chair and Caz reluctantly sat down.  “I’m here about the show.  I understand you don’t want to be involved.”

“Not if you are taking part.”  Caz replied.  “Now, if that’s all…”

“Wait!  It’s a great idea for a show; the pilot of which would be shown on Valentine’s Day.  I want to test your theory that a hero will stop at nothing to rescue his damsel by setting the men a series of challenges to overcome.”  Dr Muir stared at Caz.  “Surely you would be interested in that?”

“Well, I agree it could be a great show, especially if you had some competing couples but I am not going to get involved; I don’t have time and I have no wish to work with you.  Our views are too different.”  Caz stood up.  “Excuse me; I need to get ready to meet David.”  As she left, Caz missed the calculating look on Dr Muir’s face.

“Right, if that’s the way she wants it…”  Dr Muir signalled the three crew members that had accompanied her.  “Okay boys, we have to work fast.  This is what we’re going to do.”

---

Caz had just finished changing into a brown and cream stylish trouser suit when there was a knock at the door.  “Who is it?”

“Laundry service.”  A male voice called back.

“Okay, just a minute.”  Caz checked her appearance in the mirror and went to the door.  Opening it, she saw two men with the laundry cart and stood back to let them in.

“Thank you; we’ll just be a moment.”  The men pushed the cart through but as Caz closed the door, they turned and grabbed her.

“Hey, what are doing?  I …mpfff!”  One of them clamped a hand over her mouth as they pushed her gently but firmly against the wall.

“They are following my orders, Caz.”  Dr Muir walked in, a self-satisfied smile on her face, followed by a smartly dressed guy who leant against the wall to watch the proceedings.  “This show is important to me and since the studio won’t finance it without you being involved, I’m afraid I must insist you come with us.

“Mpfff!”  Caz shook her head, trying to dislodge the hand that silenced her.

“I thought you’d say that.  We’ll do this the easy way.”  Dr Muir pulled several coils of rope from the trolley.  “Here, bind her securely, but first...”  As the men held Caz, she held up a scarf with a knot tied in the centre.  “Since you like this type of gag so much, I thought I’d use it.”  Despite Caz’s attempts to stop her, Dr Muir soon had the knot stuffed into Caz’s mouth and she wrapped the scarf around Caz’s lower face before tying it off.  “There, that should keep you quiet.  Now be a good girl and don’t fight us.  I have no wish to cause you any harm.”

She left the men to tie Caz.  First, her wrists were bound behind her back; then her ankles bound together, before more rope was wrapped, criss-crossing up Caz’s body until she could barely move.  They picked her up and placed her in the laundry trolley, covering her with towels.

“We need to get her to the studios; take her out the back way and meet me there.  We won’t be long.”  The man busied himself fixing a tiny camera in the room as the other men wheeled out the trolley, heading for the service elevator.

“Everything is in place, Dr Muir.”  The man operated a switch, turning on the hidden camera and checking the picture on his handheld device.

“Good.  Wait in the lobby for her husband and when he leaves the hotel, follow him.”  Dr Muir held up her own bag.  “I need to leave these clues around town on my way back.  This should lead him a merry dance, assuming he is really prepared to do anything to rescue Caz.”

The two of them took the lift back to the lobby and the man made himself comfortable while he waited.

---

“Hello, Geoffrey?  It’s Temperance.  I persuaded Caz to participate in our little experiment; she’s on her way to the studio now….no, don’t come over, I know how busy you are…the crew you gave me are perfectly adequate…I’m quite sure…yes, of course…goodbye, Geoffrey.”  Dr Muir hung up as she got into her car, a self-satisfied look on her face.  She set off for the studio, ready to put the next phase of her plan into action.

---

It was almost noon when David arrived at the restaurant.  A quick glace told him Caz hadn’t arrived yet so he took a seat at the bar and ordered a diet soda while he waited.  Ten minutes later, he wondered where she was and tried her phone.

“Damn, no answer.”  David hung up and tried the hotel.  “Hello, yes, could put me through to room 564 please…no answer?  Did my wife leave any message for me at reception?  Okay, thank you.”

Puzzled, David waited another ten minutes but as Caz didn’t show, he got up and returned to the hotel; not even glancing at the smartly dressed man in the hotel lobby.  He went up to their room and looked around.

“Hmm, her bag and phone is here so she can’t have gone far.”  He checked the bathroom and balcony and was wondering where to try next, when his phone beeped; an incoming text.

“NO COPS.  We hv hr.  If u wnt hr bk go 2 hrbr 3 2 c yr tsk.  What the hell does that mean?”  

David frowned at his phone display, confused.  A thought struck him and he rang down to the reception.  “This is room 564.  Did my wife go out at all?”

“She did earlier but she collected her key about an hour ago.  I haven’t seen her leave the hotel since.”  The receptionist replied.

“Something funny is going on.”  David mused.  “But what?”

---

“Why isn’t he moving?”  Dr Muir stared at the screen, seeing the feed from the hotel room camera.  “Tell Jacob to be on watch for him coming downstairs, he must be going to move soon.”

“Yes, Dr Muir.”  The technician adjusted his microphone and relayed the message.

“Mpfff!”  Caz’s muffled protests went unheeded as Dr Muir watched the screen.  She was tied to a comfortable recliner chair and in no discomfort but was rather unhappy at being forced into taking part in the show.  The chair was an addition to Andre’s usual set.  Andre and Dr Muir sat on either side of Caz and a technician stood on a podium to the side, surrounded by screens.  The studio audience consisted of people pulled in off the street, who had been promised gift vouchers in return for their time.

“Now remember, Caz is here willingly, but playing the part of a damsel in distress for the cameras.”  Andre had assured his audience, earning him a scowl from Caz.  “Will her heroic husband complete all the tasks that Dr Muir has set for him; rescuing his wife or will he give up?  Let’s follow the action and see.”

The audience were already restless.  On the big screen, they saw David pacing the hotel room, trying to decipher the text; several of the audience were yawning.

“So, what’s happening at the moment?”  Andre asked, in the hope of sparking some interest.

“Not yet.  I think he’s having difficulty understanding the text we sent.”  

Dr Muir was angry; her chance to humiliate Caz and David was so far backfiring.  “Send a picture of Caz tied up; see if he understands that!”

---

“Another text?  I…oh no!”  David stared at the image on his phone.  There was his wife; wrists bound to the armrests, ankles bound together and rope wrapped around her body and the chair, keeping her secure.  The image was zoomed in close, preventing him from seeing any background.  “What is going on?”

He was about to phone the police but hesitated; that was the only part of the message he had understood.  He jumped as someone knocked on the door.  Opening it, he was met with a girl holding a huge basket of flowers, chocolates and champagne, with heart shaped balloons tied to the handles.

“Um, I was asked to deliver these for Caz.”  The girl handed them over.  “Sign please.”  

David , still rather bemused by the whole thing, signed the slip and carried the basket inside.  Pulling the card out of the flowers he read ‘thank you for agreeing to do the show, signed Geoffrey Chaplow’.

“Hmm, that’s the guy who produced Andre’s show.”  David remembered talking to him before the broadcast.  “But Caz refused to do the show; she wouldn’t have changed her mind with Dr Muir being involved….oh, what has that woman done now?”

Grabbing his jacket, he rushed out of the hotel suite and down to the lobby.

---

“We have movement!”  The technician called out, waking several members of the audience.  All eyes snapped to the screen, showing the view from Jacob’s hidden camera.

“Follow him!”  Dr Muir shouted, forgetting that their man with the hidden camera couldn’t hear her.  

“Mpfff!”  Caz agreed, wanting to know what David was doing.  She could see the audience’s screen too and was interested, despite the situation she was in.

They watched as David ran out onto the street and hailed a taxi.  Jacob quickly slipped behind the wheel of his own car and followed them, heading towards the city centre.

“Strange, why are they going that way?”  Andre mused.  “I thought you set the first task was down at the harbour.”

“It was.”  Dr Muir watched the screen, scowling.  “I planned to have him searching through some rotten fish until he found the next clue.

“Mpfff!”  Caz giggled into her gag.  Seeing Dr Muir’s plans in disarray was worth being tied up for!

“You can laugh but when he gives up, you’ll be the one left humiliated!”  Dr Muir hissed.  “I’ll prove to you once and for all that you can’t rely on men.”

“Mpfff?”  Caz frowned, wondering what the doctor meant by that.

“Okay, we’re going to take a break but we’ll be right back!”  Andre stood up suddenly and addressed the audience.  A bell rang and some of the lights went off.  “If you good people would like to head to the adjoining room, there is food and drink laid on for you.”  He turned to Caz and Dr Muir and pointed to his earpiece.  “The producer said to call a break while David is travelling.  I need to know what they’re planning now that David isn’t following the tasks.”

Making sure he left, Dr Muir removed Caz’s gag and offered her a drink of water, still scowling.  “I suppose you think this is funny, but mark my words, your husband will give up the search for you.”

“So come on Temper …sorry, Dr Muir; why are you so down on men helping women?”  Caz asked.  “I mean, you and Frederick Islington were pretty close at one time.”

“And he let me down, like all men do!”  Dr Muir sighed, a faraway look on her face.  “It might surprise you but when I was younger, I had quite a few men competing for my affections.  However, each time I needed their help, they let me down.”  She resumed her scowl and stared intently at Caz.  “Your romantic notion of a hero coming to your rescue belongs in a fantasy world and women need to learn to be self-reliant!”

“So you had a few bad experiences and so all men get tarred with the same brush?  That’s hardly fair.”  Caz sighed, frowning as something occurred to her.  “What if the rescuer was a woman?  How would that fit into your view of DiD?”  

“I…um…what?”  Dr Muir was momentarily speechless and Caz took the opportunity to push the subject further.

“Think about it, the damsel cannot escape and another woman comes to her aid.  Does that still make females weak?  And if not, what’s the difference whether a man or a woman does the rescue?”  Caz grinned at the confusion on Dr Muir’s face.  “I think you’re a hypocrite!”

“I…how dare you!”  Dr Muir picked up the gag and replaced it, as Andre headed back towards them.  “My feelings are no concern of yours.  I suggest you concentrate on how you will feel when David fails to rescue you.  That should spoil your Valentine’s Day celebrations!”

“Mpfff!”  Caz’s protest went unheard, as the crew took their places, ready to continue filming the show.

---

“Just here will be fine.”  David paid the taxi driver and stepped onto the path outside the studios.  “Right, I’ll put a stop to Temper’s little game.”  He strode forward, only to be stopped by the security guard.

“Whoa, buddy!  You can’t just walk in here.”  The burly guard moved to block the entrance.  “Do you have a pass?”

“What?  No, I don’t.  I’m here because my wife is here, with Dr Temperance D. Muir.”

“Your wife…oh yes, I remember.  I saw what you two did to that stuck up woman.”  The guard checked the visitor list.  “Sorry Bud, you’re wife hasn’t signed in here.”

“She must be here, Dr Muir is planning something.”  David tried to push forward but was blocked by a thick arm.  He wondered if he dare accuse the doctor of kidnapping without any proof she was involved.

“Sorry, I can’t let you in.”  The guard smiled sympathetically.  

---

“He’s been unable to gain entry to the studios.”  Jacob was speaking into his microphone.  From his vantage point across the street, he had filmed David’s attempt to get past security.

“Ha, fallen at the first hurdle!”  Dr Muir was ecstatic.  “So he figured out you were here Caz, but that won’t help him.  Rather than face several humiliating tasks, he will face the humiliation of being so close but unable to gain entry to rescue you.”

“Mpfff!”  Caz shook her head.  “I’m sure he’ll find me” she thought to herself.

“Wait, where did he go?”  Andre said suddenly.  On the studio screen, David had vanished.

“What?  Tell Jacob to find him and fast!”  Dr Muir’s smile faded; was David going to thwart her plans afterall?

---

“I have to find a way in!”  David muttered as he walked around the side of the studio.  “I know Caz is in there!”  He spotted some men unloading boxes and headed towards them.  

Nearing the vans, he watched as the men unloaded some large props; two were struggling with a rather large box and it looked as though they were going to drop it.  Quickly, David ran up to them and grabbed it.

“Here, let me help.”  They lowered the box onto a trolley.

“Thanks pal.”  The foreman wiped his brow.  “If this had broken, Dr Muir would have given us hell.”

“She’s a real tiger, isn’t she?”  David grinned.  “Is she around?”  

“She’s recording in Studio 6, some new show.”   He turned back to his colleagues.  “Get those things inside!”  He turned back to find David had disappeared.  “Where’d he go?”

---

“Where’d he go?”  Jacob hurried along the street, trying to spot David and curing the bus that had gone past, hiding his view.  He turned a corner and saw the delivery trucks.  He moved to the loading bay and looked around but saw no sign of his mark.

“Hey you, get outta here!”  The foreman saw Jacob and ran over.  “You can’t come in here, buddy!”

“I work here, you cretin.  I’m looking for someone; did a guy just try to get in here?”

“Get lost!”  The foreman grabbed Jacob’s collar and spun him round, before pushing him out of the loading bay.  “Don’t come back!”

“I lost him.”  Jacob spoke into his mike, wincing as he imagined the wrath of Dr Muir.

---

“Mpfff!”  Caz giggled into her gag as Dr Muir and Andre exchanged worried glances.  The technician had passed on Jacob's message and it had been decided to call another break.

“He must be in the building somewhere.”  Dr Muir paced back and forth as she considered her options.  “Alert security.”  

“Yes ma’am.”  The technician picked up his phone.

“Temperance, we’ve screwed this up; they’ll never fund a show base on this pilot show.  It’s a complete disaster!”  He stood up, suddenly angry.  “Why did I agree to do this show with you.”

“Mpfff!”  Caz’s giggles grew, earning her a withering look from Dr Muir.  

“The audience is coming back, Temperance.”  Andre scowled.  “Looks like we lost of few of them.”

“We’ll manage.  Now Caz, stop giggling, your husband won’t come to your rescue.  Andre, you’re doing this to increase your television profile.”  She adjusted her plum coloured jacket and sat down.  “Now come on, they are about to start filming again.”

---

“I have to find studio 6.”  David mused as he walked down the corridor.  He’d walked further around the building and found the public entrance.  A few people were there, awaiting their tour guide and so when David joined them, no one was suspicious.

“Okay, if everyone is ready, we’ll start the tour.”  A cheerful woman wearing a light blue dress and scarf appeared with her clipboard.  “Welcome to CG International Studios.  Please follow me and keep to the route; not all areas are open to the public.”  She began walking; describing the history of the studio and the group followed her.

Jacob arrived in the foyer just seconds after the group had started the tour, missing seeing David by seconds.  He headed to security, hoping to use the cameras.

---

“Roger that, we’ll be on the lookout.”  The shift supervisor hung up and waved to the junior security guard.  “Go and patrol the corridors around studio 6.  They are expecting an intruder.”

“Yes boss.”  The young man grabbed his hat and hurried out of the office just as Jacob ran in and they collided in the doorway.

“Hey, you can’t just burst in here!”  The supervisor pulled the two men apart and dragged Jacob into the security office.  “Now, who the hell…”

“I’m with Studio 6, my pass is here somewhere.”  Jacob talked quickly, before the guard could throw him out.  “We have a possible intruder trying to get to the studio.

“I know; I’ve just sent someone over there to patrol.”

“Can we use the cameras?  I know what he looks like and we might be able to stop him getting near the studio.”  Jacob glanced at the bank of monitors as he held out his own clearance pass.

“Okay, I guess.”  The guard relaxed and sat down.  “Take a good look, do you see him?”

“I…no…wait…y-yes!”  Jacob pointed to a screen.  “That’s him; he’s with that tour group!”

“Camera twenty-six.”  The guard tapped his chin as he thought.  “Hmm, that’s outside Studio 3.  Let’s go!”

---

“…and they’ve gone to find him.”  The technician relayed to Dr Muir.  “I should be able to connect to security, here…okay.”

A screen showing one of the security cameras appeared.  The technician cycled through them until he found the one he needed.  Caz smiled to herself as she saw David on the screen but worried about how he would manage to get to her.

“Enjoying it now, Caz?”  Dr Muir gloated.  “We’ll catch and eject him from the building and that will be the end of his attempt to rescue you.”

“Mpfff!”  Caz shook her head; she knew David would never give up so easily.

---

“...and of course, being the largest studio we have, its perfect for filming our sit-coms.”  The guide had led them through a labyrinth of corridors and David had become quite lost.”

“What about Studio 6?”  One of the women asked.  “I want to see Andre Parvetti!”

“I’m afraid that area is off limits just now, as they are taping a new show.”  The guide moved them on and David glanced around, finally seeing a sign pointing to the studio he wanted.  As the guide moved them away, he hung back, pretending to read a posted then slipped quickly down a different corridor.  

“Okay, now to find the studio, and Caz!”

---

“Here we go.  Excuse me miss!”  The guard had caught up to the tour group.  “I need to…where is the man that was with you.”

“I don’t know.”  The girl looked worried.  “He was with us when we left Studio 3.”

“Let’s backtrack.”  Jacob turned back.  “He must have slipped away.  At least we know where he’s going.”

---

“Looks like your hero is still coming, Caz!”  Andre beamed.  “Dr Muir, do you still maintain your stance on heroes giving up when the going gets tough?”  

“Yes, I do!”  Dr Muir looked furious.  “This is not a proper test; he didn’t do any of the tasks I set.”

“But he has overcome our security in order to reach his wife.”  Andre countered.

“He hasn’t got here yet!”

---

David dodged behind a trolley as the young security guard walked past, humming to himself.  Waiting to make sure he really had gone, David walked quickly down the corridor and found himself outside the studio.  A red light shone over the door but he ignored it.  He pulled the door and cursed; it was locked and needed a pass card to open.

“Now what?”  David looked around for another way in but saw no other way through.  He glanced back down the corridor as he heard voices and quickly moved behind some crates.  As he did, he knocked a brown overall onto the floor.  

“Hmm, this is what those guys in the loading bay were wearing.”  David pulled them on and picked up a box as the young guard came back.  “Excuse me; buddy, could you open the door?  They need this urgently on set and my hands are full.”

“Sure!”  The guard used his card to open the door and held it open for him.”

“Thanks.”  David kept the box up and moved inside the studio, making his way carefully to the back of the set.

---

“Keep trying, we can’t have lost him again!”  Dr Muir was berating the technician, who had lost David on the camera again.

“He slipped into an area without any cameras.”  The technician feverously pushed buttons, try to find him.  “There’s Jacob, maybe he knows where they are!”

“Ask him!”  Dr Muir barked.

“So Caz, you still believe David will find a way to rescue you?”  Andre removed Caz’s gag, much to the dismay of Dr Muir.

“Yes I do.  He is my hero and will always come to my aid.”  Caz grinned.  

“What makes you so sure?”  Dr Muir snarled.  “Do you really think he can get through our security?”

“Yes, I’d say that was a definite possibility!”  David stepped out from the back of the set and stripped off the overalls.  “Hello, darling; sorry to take so long.”

“Quite alright, my love!”  Caz tried to wave but couldn’t move enough so blew him a kiss instead.

“I don’t believe it!”  Dr Muir screeched.  “How did you get in here?”

“He overcame all obstacles, just like in Caz’s books.”  Andre looked impressed and nodded as the audience roared its approval.

David bent to kiss his wife before starting to untie her.  It took just a few minutes and, to the delight of the crowd, he swept Caz into his arms and kissed her.

“Dr Muir, I should thank you.”  David grinned.  “A damsel in distress to rescue; what a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift!”

“I…but…you…”  Dr Muir spluttered.  She slumped onto the couch, utterly defeated.

“What a great end to a suspenseful show!”  Andre said to the camera.  “I hope you all enjoyed the show and happy Valentine’s Day!”

“Okay, we’re clear!”  The lights were dimmed and the cameras turned off.  The crew began leading the audience out of the studio

“Well, it could use a few tweaks but it could be a great idea for a show.”  Geoffrey walked forward and shook Andre’s hand.  He’d arrived earlier, despite Dr Muir’s attempt to keep him away.  “However, before we can broadcast this, we really ndo need Caz’s signature.  You seem to have overlooked that, Temperance.”

“She never asked for my signature as I never agreed to do the show!”  Caz scowled.  “However, I’ll sign the consent form if you promise that, should you commission a show based on today’s events, Dr Muir will not be involved in any way.”

“Granted.”  Geoffrey offered the form and Caz happily signed it, leaving Dr Muir looking more dejected than ever.

---

“I still say she’s lucky not to have been arresting for kidnapping.”  David said.  They were watching the broadcast in their hotel room.

“Well, there was no harm done and I doubt she’d dare try anything else now so it might just have been worth it.”  Caz snuggled closer to David.  “You did a magnificent job.”

“Well, I’m you’re hero, darling!”  David kissed Caz and held her close.  “I’ll always rescue you, no matter what!”