I was sitting at a café having a coffee. I had not let Kate go alone to the address that Sarah had given her over the phone. However we had agreed that if I was satisfied that it all looked above board I would leave her there for her 'interview'. The address was genuine. Hot Productions had an office on the third floor of a somewhat non-descript block in north London. As luck would have it, the café was directly opposite the entrance. I had no sooner started to read my newspaper when there was a tap on my shoulder. It was Kate.
"Well that was quick, Kate!"
"He wants to see the two of us together. He saw us arrive."
"Why?"
"He said he'd explain when you get there."
A short while later we were in the lift as it rumbled up to the third floor. I followed Kate into the office. A thickset balding man aged about forty-five got up from behind his desk and extended his hand. "Hello you must be Joe, I'm Pete Miles." He had a firm grip.
"Pleased to meet you, Pete." I sat down on the vacant chair next to Kate.
"Coffee?" he asked us both.
"Yes please, white, no sugar." Kate answered for the two of us.
He got up and walked over to the percolator. He poured out two cups and placed them on the desk in front of us before returning to get one for himself. The aroma of the coffee filled the room. He made his way back to his seat and took a sip whilst looking at us both over the top of his glasses. "Well, where do I start? Sarah has given me a bit of background. If I understand it correctly you need money for your sister. I gather that you might be interested to have a role in the film we're about to shoot."
She nodded.
He carried on. "I wanted you to be present, Joe, because it is best that you both know what you are getting into. I wouldn't normally bother myself about such matters but in view of the circumstances I am making an exception. There is a vested interest too. I don't want to be in a position where I have recommended someone for a project and they pull out halfway through because they or their other half can't handle it." There was a pause as he looked from Kate to me, and back again. "Shall I continue?"
We both nodded.
"Kate, I saw your shoot in Penthouse. You looked very nice. But nowadays there's not much money in nude modelling. If you want money, real money, you got to be prepared to go much further."
"How much further?" Her voice was surprisingly calm.
"Kate, the sign on our door says 'Hot Productions' and that is what we're all about. We're not as big as companies like 'Private' but we are in the same business. Nowadays it's referred to as adult entertainment. Look, there's no polite way of putting this. If you come to work for us you've got to be prepared to fuck on camera." Cynical as Pete undoubtedly was, Kate was not typical of most girls he interviewed, and I sensed his embarrassment as he disclosed this information. He looked warily at me.
"I know what adult entertainment involves. I've seen enough films to know that. How much money would I get?" Her voice was still devoid of emotion.
"Well you're not an established name so you won't earn more than a grand from your first film. But you are obviously very attractive and if you do well in your first film we would be prepared to offer you fifteen hundred in a second. If you're that good, we may offer you role in say a dozen films and you could get two grand per completed film. And if you're really outstanding a major studio might want you to star in one of their big budget jobs and you could make quite a bit more."
"How long would all this take?"
"It doesn't take that long to shoot a film. We're not talking about Hollywood blockbusters, you know." He laughed at his own joke. "What happens is that we hire a location for up to fourteen days. Obviously there is a cost in getting the cast and crew there so in order to keep the production costs at an acceptable level we try to shoot a couple of films in the fortnight. We allow ourselves a maximum of six days to complete each film. We could take longer of course, but it wouldn't be cost effective. We have to use the same cast for the second film, obviously, but we try for different combinations. But you can't do that for more than two films. The punters aren't stupid. They might accept the same stories but they want different locations and they want different casts. They want to see different studs fucking their favourite porn stars."
"Yes, but how long does it take to make the twelve films?"
"Probably six to nine months. They won't all be made at once, Kate."
I chipped in. "You mentioned a logistics cost when you hire a location. That implies that locations aren't local."
"Quite right, Joe. Take the project we're about to start. This location is in Jamaica. We've taken a private villa with its own private beach. It doesn't come cheap but it is absolutely ideal. We plan to fly the cast and crew in next month." He turned to face Kate. "As it happens we've recently had one girl drop out and we've not had much luck in finding a replacement. So I am in a position to fix something up for you. You would be in two scenes for the first film. We've not yet decided about the second one. But I'm jumping the gun a bit. Now you both know what's involved, I'm going to leave the two of you to talk it over before we go any further. I'll give you five minutes." With that, he walked out of his office, shutting the door behind him.
I spoke first. My mouth felt dry and I'm sure my voice showed the tension I was feeling. "Look, Kate, I'm not that enamoured about this in the first place. But I can't bear you to be away for two weeks or more."
She was more astute than I was. "Listen, Joe, I think they've got a genuine problem. They can't get anyone else. We can turn that to our advantage. How about if I tell him that I'll only agree to it if you can come too?"
She was serious about it. There was no longer any room for doubt.
"Kate, do you really understand what you are letting yourself in for? What did he just say, two scenes in the first film? That's got to be two different blokes at least and that's only the first bloody film!"
She stared at me. "What's the alternative?"
A little while later the door opened and Pete returned. "Should I come back or have the two of you already decided what you want to do?"
Kate answered. "Yes, you can come in. We have decided."
Pete came in and sat down. He looked expectantly at us both. "Well?"
Kate spoke. Her voice was firm, her tone resolute. "I will do it, Pete, but only on two conditions. One, I am guaranteed three thousand pounds for the two films, and two, Joe can come with me."
"I don't know about the money, Kate."
"Look if I can get the three thousand we can pay for my sister to get to the USA and start her treatment. That is the only reason I want it. And when I get a contract afterwards she can continue with her treatment." I had never seen Kate so confident.
He smiled. "All right, Kate, we may have a deal. But I have some conditions too. First, the offer depends upon your passing a medical. We don't like using condoms so everyone, and I mean everyone, has to have regular medical checks. I will organise one for you tomorrow. I presume you're on the pill. Secondly, although you will be performing with men most of the time, you will be expected to work with women from time to time." He paused for a moment. "Now about you, Joe. What did you have in mind?"