TRICK OR TREAT

Drena Hills

 

"Actors are just wanted men using alias after alias till they get caught."

-

Jimmy Cagney

 

 

Universal Studios

Hollywood, California

1971

 

 

            "CUT!"

 

                The word echoed around the cavernous sound stage leaving a wake of oaths in its trail.

 

                Tension was running high with the pressure to get the episode in the can and keep to the nearly impossible shooting schedule and patience was wearing thin.

 

                The two men, the center of all the activity, stood almost back to back in the mock saloon as if subconsciously protecting one another from the masses that outnumbered them.

 

                Neither one said a word, the fair haired man moving through the motion of drawing the gun strapped to his side determined to be ready, while his colleague closed his eyes and ran through his next set of lines.

 

                A make up girl hurried up and brushed back the one man's dark hair and then frowned at the blue eyed man next to him, finally touching up the make up on his forehead.  He really didn't need much, his tan made it easy, but the lights had melted what she had done earlier to keep off the shine.

 

                "I need a smoke," the dark haired man said giving up and escaping before anyone could catch him.

 

                His associate moved to stop him and then thought better of it.  They had done this scene six times now and every time some technical glitch had halted the scene.  He was getting weary of drawing the heavy weapon strapped to his side and stretched wishing he could steal a nap in his trailer before lunch.

 

                "All right places….where's Peter?"

 

                "Cigarette," the blond man said innocently.

 

                "Joe get him!" the director yelled disgusted.  It was clear if he could film without actors he would have been a much happier man.

 

                The dark haired man returned with a smile to the crew that eased some of the tension and made a few smile back.

 

                "Once more?" he asked his co-worker.

 

                "Yea, and hopefully this is the last I'm beginning to feel like "WE'LL never get out of Wickenburg!"

 

                The dark haired man laughed and clapped him on the shoulder sympathetically.

 

                "Look at it this way they make you draw a few more times and you will be the fastest gun in the west."

 

                His friend said something rude, but grinned and then realizing everyone was waiting they both coughed and found their marks.

 

                "Film, Scene 4, take seven…ACTION!"

 

                'Give me the cards."

 

                And then the world stopped and restarted…almost without notice…almost.

 

 

                                                ***************************

 

 

WICKENBERG, ARIZONA

1881

 

 

                Hannibal Heyes frowned at his partner.  The room had gone deathly quiet since he had drawn his gun and he had considered the matter finished, but now he wasn't so sure.

 

                "You all right?" he said coming up and putting a hand on his shoulder.

 

                Ben Murphy blinked and at first he thought the lights had gone out.  Gone were the bright hot spots that usually bared down on them.  Shaking his head he tried to clear the fogginess he was feeling.  That wasn't the right line, he was suppose to ask for the cards.

 

                "I'm sorry Pete, did you feel that?"  He turned and looked into a face he knew, or thought he knew, but the concern in the dark eyes surprised him.  Turning almost embarrassed he stopped. " Where did that wall come from!"

 

                Hannibal Heyes frowned, but was used to thinking on his feet and quickly confiscated the cards from the game his partner had interrupted and with a look gave the room permission to once more turn its attention back on itself. 

 

                Murphy missed none of this.  It was Pete, the clothes, the walk, even the mannerisms….but there was something more, an edge, an air, he couldn't put his finger on it and it made his head hurt more than it all ready did.

 

                "Come on you don't look too good," Heyes said firmly directing the man over to a back table confiscating a bottle and two glasses as he did.

 

                But Murphy saw none of this; his senses were too overloaded.

 

                The only thing he was really conscious of was the smell, smoke, stale whiskey and humanity without the benefit of washing. 

 

                The set had seemed so real, but compared to this piece of history it seemed fake and lifeless.  He stared at the men laughing at the tables and the grimy faded cards they played with.  The clothes were different, the texture, the way they didn't quite fit like his tailored costume and he felt suddenly dizzy.  This was wrong, this wasn't right…where were the lights?

 

                "Drink this," Heyes said firmly handing him a glass.

 

                He took a gulp and nearly spit it out," What is this stuff?" he gasped trying to breathe through the burning in his throat.

 

                Heyes leaned back truly worried now.

 

                "Whiskey, the good stuff, Kid what's wrong with you?  Are you sick?"  He moved to touch the younger man's forehead in a motion both casual and natural and born of a familiarity time and friendship brings.

 

                Murphy pulled back suddenly wary.

 

                "What did you call me?"

 

                "No one can hear us, but Thaddeus are you all right, like that better?"

 

                "Peter what is going on?"

 

                "Joshua, remember and you tell me?" Heyes said trying to sound annoyed, but his eyes gave away how worried he was.

 

“Pete will you stop it and tell me what is going on?”

 

                Heyes frowned for the first time seriously studying the man beside him and feeling a cold chill run up his spine.  The hair cut was too neat, the clothes too new.  The gun strapped to his side ‘wrong’, but it was his hands that convinced him.  They were not the hands of a man who lived on the trail and had seen their share of life and injury.

 

                Pushing his chair back he took in a deep breath.

 

                “You aren’t my cousin."  Saying it made him feel sick because it meant he believed it.

 

                "Your what?"

 

Carefully and most deliberately Hannibal Heyes pulled out his six gun and clicked back the trigger.  “And I want to know what you've done with him…… now."

 

               

 

                                                                                ***********************

 

 

 

                Kid Curry blinked at the bright lights suddenly shining in his eyes and for a split second forgot the man about to draw on him over the marked deck.  And then as his eyes adjusted he saw the row of men beyond the lights watching him all with guns turned on his partner.

 

                His gun cleared leather even as he pushed 'Heyes' down firing off 4 shots and sending the weapons flying and people screaming and diving for cover.

 

                And then he lay there protecting the dark haired man gun ready, waiting for returning fire.

 

                In the distance someone was frantically yelling they had been cut, and he presumed there had been a knife out there as well.  He looked down at the man he was protecting and realized he was laughing.  It was no small amused sound, but a deep full laugh that caused the man to fall back on his back and laugh till tears formed in his eyes.

 

                “Murphy what the hell are you doing?” he heard someone yell

 

                “Who taught him to shoot?  Hell who gave him real bullets?”

 

                “Look this ain’t props fault, nobody can shoot like that, did you see him?  He cleared leather faster than the camera could pick up.”

 

                “I don’t know how you did that Ben, but thank you,” the dark haired man laughed.  “I owe you lunch for that.”  He offered his hand and hesitantly Kid pulled the man to his feet his mind racing.

 

                That wasn’t Heyes.  He didn’t know how he knew or why, maybe you spend your whole with only one person to depend on you just know.

 

                “Murphy you ever try a stunt like that again and so help me!” the director said storming up and growling from behind his cigar.  He was a thin, balding man with too much caffeine running through him in competition for dominance with his ego.

 

                "Mr. Murphy!" a small, nervous little man said adjusting his tie and rolling his eyes as if just having to talk to an actor contaminated him.  "As the studio's representative I must seriously reprimand you for this…

 

                “Ah Ben better give me that gun before something happens,” a slender man dressed similar to himself asked.

 

                “Give him the gun Ben,” the Director snapped.

 

                Pete watched in amazement as the young fair-haired man raised his eyes to meet theirs and the glance quelled them all. 

 

                “I don’t think so,” he replied and twirling the gun back into the holster with a flourish that made his stunt man gasp he turned and walked for the door.

 

                "Where is he going?  He can't do that!"  the studio rep turned on the director.  "Tell him he can't do that!  He has a contract!"

 

                “What the hell is…Duel if you put him up to this I will have both your hides," the Director growled.

 

                "Was that Ben?" an older man said hurrying up pushing his glasses up excited.  "He shot those guns out of their hands?"

 

                "Mr. Huggins!" the studio rep snarled.  "You do not need to be encouraging such outrageous behavior!"

 

                "I wonder if I can work that in somewhere?" Huggins muttered to himself happily walking away.

 

                "Duel!" the Director barked.

 

                “Hang on, hang on,” Peter said suddenly excited and afraid and then excited again.  “Let me talk to him.”

 

                Running the actor followed the other man out the door of the sound stage and found him staring around bewildered.  Around him other costumed actors hurried by, but oddly this man looked out of place in the studio back lot while they did not.

 

                “Hey Ben…” he said touching his shoulder.

 

                The man whirled, “Where is it?”

 

                “Where’s what?”

 

                “Out of here,” Kid said frustrated throwing his arms up. 

 

                The excitement in him growing, Pete pushed his hair back and wet his lips trying to think.

 

                “You look like him, but you aren’t him,” Kid said watching the action with stone cold blue eyes that made the actor take a step back.  “So while your thinking up an answer you can throw in where my partner is.”

 

                “Your partner?” Peter asked voice a bit hoarse.  “And he would be?”

 

                “Hannibal Heyes.”

 

 

 

                                                **********************************

 

 

 

                "Its cold,” Kid said taking the bottle of beer surprised.

 

                “Yea we found out it tastes better,” Peter said falling onto the small sofa across from the man he had persuaded to enter his trailer and taking a slug of his own desperately.  “You really think your Kid Curry huh?”

 

                Kid looked at him and Pete set down the bottle.  No he knew this man was Kid Curry.  He had seen it in the way he had fired and protected him and faced down the director, hell the entire crew.  Ben was good, Ben had begun to shape Curry in just a few episodes, but this was different, this man breathed the word outlaw.

 

                “How did you get here?”

 

                “I was hoping you could explain that,” Kid said finally sitting down and taking a sip of the beer suddenly looking very young and vulnerable and Peter watched fascinated.  This was what Ben was always talking about, trying to bridge the two men, the legend and the all too human man.

 

                Kid looked up and for a moment the smiling face across from him gave him comfort.  He looked so much like Heyes, for a moment he tried to convince himself this was Heyes.  Heyes would know what to do; Heyes would figure it all out.

 

                “You sure look like my cousin.”

 

                “Cousin?  How did you know Huggins was going to work that…” Peter stopped.  “I really look like him?”

 

                “Yea, 'cept the eyes, you tell too much with yours,” Kid said taking another swig of beer.  “Wouldn’t last your first bluff in a poker game.”

 

                Peter grinned; Roy had said the same thing.

 

                “But how can it be?  Where did you come from?”

 

                “Wickenburg,” Kid said absently.

 

                Peter looked up sharply.  “You were in Wickenburg…Mary Cunningham’s saloon?”

 

                It was Curry’s turn to look up suspicious,” How did you know that?”

 

                “That’s the episode were filming.”

 

                “I don’t understand.”

 

                Peter sighed not knowing where to start.  From outside a yell came saying they were wanted on the set.

 

                “Look you gotta trust me until we can figure this out.”

 

                “Trust you?  Mister I don’t even know you.”

 

                “Look I’m an actor, I play your partner.  My friend Ben plays you.”

 

                The man straightened this obviously didn’t appeal to him.

 

                “Where is he?”

 

                Pete slumped back.  “I don’t know, but I got real bad suspicion…”

 

 

 

*************************

 

 

                "Pete!" Ben said laughing at the man's serious expression and slowly let it die as he felt the man's resolve.  "Peter if this is a joke it's gone too far."

 

                "I was thinking the same thing and why don't we just stick with Smith for the moment," Heyes said.

 

                "That's it!"  Ben said getting up annoyed and he had to confess a little scared. "I don't know what is going on, but the studio does not pay me enough for this trip through wonderland, you want me I'll be in my trailer."

 

                Getting up he brushed past the man who paused not sure what to do.  That was not his cousin, but he looked so much like him that to do anything to restrain him seemed wrong.

 

                Finally muttering an oath he got up and followed the man who had reached the outside door.

 

                Ben, meanwhile was beginning to appreciate Kid Curry's reputation as the room parted for him respectfully and a terrifying thought kept nagging at him as he stepped outside and stopped surprised.  "Night?  What happened to lunch?"

 

                The two men sprung at him from nowhere and he turned to protect himself as the first blow hit.

 

                It grazed his head and he went down on one knee in pain and completely missed the dark haired man flying through the door and pitching his two attackers into the street and with two quick punches dropping them both.

 

                Ben's mouth dropped open.  The man was a quick, efficient, dirty fighter and he fought like didn't expect to lose.  Swallowing Ben tried to stand and felt the man take his arm and swing it around his shoulders when he began to topple over.

 

                "Well you may not be him, but you sure get into trouble like him," Heyes muttered moving him towards the back stairs.

 

                "What happened to lunch?" Ben said slightly dazed.

 

                "And there's that as well, come on let's take a look at you," Heyes sighed and opened the door to their room.

 

                Ben stared at the small room furnished with only a bed and a dresser and a chair.  It was smaller than the sets of their rooms he was used to working on, but he had to smile when he noticed the window looked over the main street, they would choose that.

 

                "Sit down," Heyes ordered and he obeyed leaning back against the bed headboard and closing his eyes hoping the room would stop spinning.

 

                "Kid would have ducked," Heyes said grumpily checking the bruise.

 

                "Yea well it wasn't in the script that Kid Curry got jumped leaving the saloon," Ben said annoyed pulling away.

 

                "Script?"

 

                Sighing Ben pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to the man the exertion making him since.

 

                "What's this?" Heyes said suspicious.  CURRY:  Let me have the cards.?"

 

                "It's my lines."

 

                "You sure talk strange," Heyes said tossing the paper down on the nightstand and filling the bowl there with water from the pitcher.  "Kid would know better than to walk outside right after facing down a man, bound to be waiting or have friends waiting.  He'd at least of gotten me to back him up," Heyes said annoyed.

 

                Ben considered this and realized he was right.

 

                "You think your partner's a smart man," he said surprised as the man handed him a wet cloth.

 

                "My partner is a smart man, smarter than you," Heyes said defensively.

 

                His loyalty made Murphy smile.  "I thought Heyes was the brains of this partnership."

 

                Heyes turned at stared at him like he was an idiot.

 

                "Mister I don't know where you get your information, but my partner can outthink rings around any law man and twice that many bounty hunters and I don't take too kindly to you bad mouthing…"

 

                Ben grinned, "Sorry!  Sorry!  No offense really, actually Pete thinks the same way, were just trying to convince Roy, thank you.  Your partner is lucky to have a friend that stands up for him like that."

 

                "Yea well if you tell him I said that I'll shoot you," Heyes mumbled dropping into a chair and running his hands through his hair trying to make sense of what was happening.

 

                "I don't know how I got here, really," Ben said affected by the man's distress in a way he couldn't explain.  "I was pretending to be your partner…in a play a hundred years from now and suddenly we….I guess we changed places."

 

                "Oh and Kid said those Verne books were gonna affect me," Heyes groaned head in hands.

 

                "Look its gonna…"  Ben got up to walk over to him and stopped the room starting to swirl again.

 

                He felt the other man reach him before he fell and gently lay him back on the bed with a strength that his slender frame disguised.

 

                "Take it easy, blow to the head like that tends to throw you off," Heyes said in a soothing voice and Ben realized he was getting the comfort his partner would have because of how similar they looked.

 

                "Thank you," he whispered and felt darkness closing.

 

                "Rest, I gotta check downstairs, close up and then we'll talk."

 

                Ben nodded and drifted off into grateful unconsciousness.

 

 

 

                                                                ************************

 

 

 

                "What do they want me to do?" Kid Curry said visibly nervous as Duel encouraged him outside to the waiting cameras.  Suddenly the outlaw stopped having seen something.  Walking back he peered behind the 'building' they had just passed.  "They know this building is missing parts?"

 

                "It's called a façade," Peter said trying to get him moving again.

 

                "It's only got a front."

 

                "They build them like that on purpose."

 

                "And people don't complain?  I'd have thought the first winter night…"

 

                "It's all pretend."

 

                "Yea pretending they can build a house," Kid said stubbornly.

 

                "Will you come on?"

 

                Kid stared at him.

 

                "Please?"

 

                Kid let out a long sigh and shook his head.  The man was too much like Heyes and it was hard to refuse him anything when he looked that worried.

 

                "The scene has you practicing your fast draw," Peter said softly and then adding with a roll of his eyes.  "Like that's a problem.  I'm sitting over there figuring out how they are cheating Mary," he continued getting him to his mark and indicating the can he was to aim at.

 

                "You all ready figured that out…" Kid stopped looking a little lost.  "I mean Heyes did."

 

                "I know we shoot out of sequence.  Look if we can get this scene done then we'll break for lunch and you and I can try and figure this out.  We've only got a picture shoot for a book cover and a meeting with the author this afternoon and some crazy teen magazine contest.  Just shoot the stupid can and we'll bluff the lines, not like Ben and I don't do that anyway," he grinned. "Just try and talk to me like you would Heyes, answer what I ask like you would him."

 

                He turned to walk away and Kid's words stopped him.

 

                "You and this Ben, you partners?"

 

                Peter turned surprised at the question and considered the younger actor he had only known less than a year and finally grinned, "Yea, I guess we are."

 

                "I'll try to back you up until he gets back," Kid said uncomfortable, but earnest.

 

                The statement produced a soft smile from Peter who nodded his thanks and took his place on a box at the end of the alley.

 

                "All right places, look you two I expect this in one take after that little shenanigan this morning understand?" the director yelled.

 

                "I want both you gentlemen to know you are on report!" the studio rep said stiffly.

 

                "What's that mean?" Kid whispered.

 

                "Ben's gonna kill me," Pete sighed.

 

                "You want me to speak to that fella?" Kid asked quietly.

 

                Pete somehow managed to swallow a smile, "No, no it's okay, but thanks."

 

                He looked at the man with genuine affection as the scene started and watched in amazement as he easily shot the target into the air.  Around him he heard people whistle in amazement and felt an odd sense of pride.

 

                "Do you have to do that here?"

 

                "Gotta keep my hand in it," Kid said looking at him.

 

                "I keep telling you this keeps up you aren't gonna need to use that anymore."

 

                "You keep saying that and I keep believing you, but somehow it just doesn't work out that way."

 

                "Sir!   That is not the lines," the script girl whispered. "Ben hasn’t' hit one of them."

 

                "Shut up, let it roll," the director said fascinated as was the rest of the crew.  Something magical was happening and everyone there could feel it.

 

                Kid turned as Mary and her two children entered and part of him relaxed at the familiar faces.

 

                "I bet your fast?"

 

                "I've had to make that bet a few times."

 

                "Your not faster than the sheriff, no one is faster than the sheriff."

 

                "He pretty good is he?"

 

                For the second time that day the crew watched in amazement as Kid Curry drew his gun.  Some said they missed it a second time he was so quick.  The stunt men just gasped and groaned in appreciation and genuine awe and the director said something under his breath and promised the cameraman he would kill him several times over if he stopped filming.

 

                "He's not that fast no one is that fast.  Will you teach me?"

 

                "I could, but I'm not gonna.  You saw how fast I am, well there is someone faster than me out there, there always is and you'll find that out too if I teach you to fast draw."

 

                "Thank you," Mary smiled turning the children away.

 

                "I thought you were just telling me how good it was to know how to use one of those things," Pete said his face in a grin that made the other man feel homesick.

 

                "By the time he's grown people won't be wearing these things let alone using them, but right now people are going around doing both so I guess I'll just continue carrying my life around in my holster."

 

                The cut rang out in the air, but no one said a word.

 

                Kid merely flipped his gun back into his holster and looked at the dark haired man, "We done playing?"

 

                Peter laughed and slapped him on the back; "We're done playing."

 

                "Mr. Murphy!"

 

                For a moment the smile on Peter's face froze and a flicker of annoyance and something more crossed his face as he turned with Kid to face the studio Rep.

 

                "That is the second time you have discharged a weapon on this set."

 

                "Man said hit the can, I hit the can," Kid said reloading his gun slowly, but in such a way that Peter felt his stomach start to churn.

 

                "Listen here you troublemaker.  I can make you and I can break you…."

 

                "And you listen," Peter said stepping between the two.  "Were a team, you got a problem with him, you got a problem with me.  Now the studio likes the initial numbers and they like they way we work.  Now unless you want me telling Roy that Ben and I are real unhappy I think you better just back off and let us do our job, understand?"

 

                The man swallowed at the actor bearing down on him and snapping his organizer shut turned angrily and walked away.

 

                Peter turned and exhaled.  He wasn’t sure where that had come from, but he realized he would have easily decked the man and the thought startled him.

 

                Kid grinned, "Maybe your more like him than I thought, always did get riled when he thought someone was picking on me, started when we were kids, still does it."

 

                Peter found a smile forming, "He must care for you a lot."

               

                "Nah," Kid grinned back.  "Just wants to do it himself!"

 

                The two men grinned.

 

                "How about lunch and we try and figure this out.  I got an idea," Peter smiled.

 

                Kid paused suddenly suspicious, "You…actors…you eat normal?"

 

                Peter laughed remembering the health food lunches and tried to picture the muscular man with alfalfa.  "How does steak, baked potato and pie sound, I'll even throw in coffee."

               

                "Your coffee as bad as Heyes?"

 

                Peter laughed, "His that bad?"

 

                "We once melted bars with it to escape."

 

                Laughing the two men walked away.

 

                Roy Huggins shook his head and grinned and made a note in his bad, "Coffee, Heyes, lousy!"

               

 

               

                                                ******************************

 

 

                Things were not going well for Hannibal Heyes.  He had managed to clear out the saloon, get Mary home to her kids, even rouse the drunks from the porch and move them along.  And then he had found the two guns pointed at his belly as he turned from the bar.

 

                "Where's your partner?" the young man from the card game said rage seeping from him as he waved the gun.

               

                Heyes tried to think fast.  His real partner would take care of these two in a heartbeat, but the stranger upstairs would be dead before he hit the floor.  He sighed never realizing more how much he missed his cousin at his back.

 

                "You boys looking for me?"

 

                All three pairs of eyes turned to the stairway and for a moment Heyes's heart leapt, Kid was back!  It certainly looked like Kid, gun drawn, the cold resolve in his eyes.

 

                "I don't like people drawing a gun on my partner," he said quietly.

 

                The two men shuffled.

 

                "And now I got me a little problem.  If I kill you there I got all that blood to clean up before morning so Mrs. Cunningham don't fuss.  But if I take you outside and shoot you dead I 'm gonna wake the town and annoy the neighbors.  You boys are a real puzzle you are."

 

                "We were, we were just funning mister!" the man's friend said dropping his gun.  "We were just trying to get his money back!"

 

                "Shut up Hank!" the card cheat said disgusted at the man jumping ship.

 

                "You shut up!  I seen him draw, I ain't gonna let him show me how good he shoots as well."

 

                The card cheat turned to argue and Heyes saw his chance and with one punch decked the man cold.

 

                "Get him out of here, you show your face in this town again I'll do worse than kill you," Heyes said so coldly the man shook as he holstered his gun and pulled the unconscious man from the room.

 

                The outlaw watched them leave and then locking the door turned to face the man on the steps who holstered his gun and sat down unsteadily.

 

                "Thank you," Heyes said quietly.

 

                "Your welcome, wasn't sure if I could pull it off."

 

                Heyes grinned, "You pulled it off, had me scared."

               

                "Why afraid I might try and shoot this?"

               

                Heyes grinned and sat next to him, "Why'd you do it?  You could have got yourself killed."

 

                Murphy considered this; "Your right and that thought did cross my mind.  I guess I'm more into this part than I realized."

 

                "Listen I've been thinking about that," Heyes said standing and walking over to the middle of the room.  "You were standing here when it happened."

 

                "I was in the same place back, back there too."

 

                "This fella Pete?  He smart?" Heyes said worried.

 

                Ben almost swallowed a smile remembering his charming co-star; "Well he's sneaky."

 

                "Might work.  Kid might think to do it too."

 

                "Do what?"

 

                "Get you both back in the same position."

 

                "You think that will make us switch back?" Ben asked hopeful getting up and coming over.

 

                "I sure hope so or your gonna be dead in a week, who taught you to draw a gun?"

 

                Murphy looked slightly hurt, "I'm doing the best I can, you don't pick up the skill overnight.  I had to learn to ride and…" He stopped seeing Heyes's grin and realized the man was teasing him and for some reason it was comforting.

 

                "Look you're doing it wrong, here," Heyes good naturally began walking him through the tricks his own partner had taught him.  Moments later Ben had shaved off several seconds and the motion was quicker and smoother.

 

                "Much better," Heyes laughed.

 

                Ben grinned back suddenly feeling closer to this stranger.  "Thank you, for everything."

 

                "Don't mention it, kinda gotten use to looking after a partner that looks like you, comes second nature now," Heyes said swinging up to sit on the bar.

 

                "Must be a hard life, running," Ben said for the first time getting a clue to what his character's life must be like on the run.

 

                "Can be, easier if you have someone watching your back.  Tell me something, in this 'show' of yours, we ever get that amnesty?"  He said it casually as if he really didn't care what the answer was, but Ben was beginning to see through the calm exterior.

 

                Ben stared thoughtful, "I guess that will depend on whether we get renewed."

 

                "Whatever that means," Heyes said rolling his eyes.  "Just looking for a little hope."

 

                "Your gonna get it," Ben said suddenly, "Both of you."

 

                Heyes smiled at his genuine concern, "Thank you, I appreciate your faith in us."

 

                "Well I sort of have a staked interest in Curry making it.  I'm not much like him am I?"

 

                Heyes cocked his head, "No actually you are.  I mean physically yes, but there's some other things, your reactions, and definitely your appetite, for food and women!"

 

                They both broke into grins and the world once more tipped over.

 

 

 

                                                                ***********************

 

 

                "Look it started here and you said you were in the exact same place Ben was so maybe if your partner thinks to get him back there and we get you here, well maybe you'll slip back," Peter said pleased with his reasoning.

 

                "You as confusing as Heyes," Kid sighed.

 

                Peter grinned taking this as a compliment as he jumped up onto the bar to sit.

 

                "That the only thing?" he laughed and then suddenly turned on him serious.  "What would make me more…like him I mean?"

 

                Kid Curry turned and stared at the man.

 

                "Hard to explain, Heyes is more, well he's harder to get to know than you, but when you do your sure of him.  No offense intended, but I get the feeling a body would never be sure if he really knows you."

 

                Peter looked down considering this and it made him look less self-assured and Kid realized more like his partner than any other time.

 

                "Actors lot, I guess," he said finally with that smile covering the pain in his eyes expertly.

 

                "Couldn't get no other work?" Kid asked sympathetically.

 

                Peter burst out laughing, "This may surprise you, but I'm considered very lucky, I'm a star."

 

                "I just can't figure why they would want to do a play…show about us, " he suddenly looked up the expression young and hopeful.  "The amnesty…do you, we, get it in this show?"

 

                Peter was about to shoot back something sarcastic about ratings and getting cancelled, but something in the young man's eyes stopped him.

 

                "Yea, yea you do, road isn't easy, but in the end you get it," he lied sincerely.

 

                Kid grinned like a little boy let in on a Christmas present, "Thanks, Heyes, he gets worried sometimes, so do I.  I get afraid maybe he'd be better off going alone without me."

 

                "No!"  Peter said suddenly vehement, "No he needs you, trust me."

 

                Kid grinned and it lit up his whole face and Peter stared at how much he looked like Ben and suddenly realized he missed the crazy, often too serious lunatic.

 

                "Your more like him than I thought, you spin a tale like he does, makes a body want to believe," Kid said thoughtfully.

 

                "Him and you, get along well?"

 

                Kid let out a long-suffering sigh, "Get along?  Man is the most stubborn, pig headed genius that ever walked."

 

                Pete grinned, "But he is a genius?"

 

                Kid nodded affectionately as he thought back, "Smartest man you ever met.  Not just knowing stuff, but figuring out problems and people.  Never gives up either, harder things get the more he digs in to find a way around the problem.

 

                "And you miss him?" Peter said understanding.

 

                Kid shrugged; it wasn't something a man admitted.

 

                And then the world turned upside down…again.

 

 

 

                                                ********************************

 

 

                "I said how long do you think we should wait Heyes?" Ben said turning to face the man sitting on the bar.

 

                Peter looked around and blinked.

 

                "Where did the other wall come from?"

 

                Ben stared at him, "Pete?  Oh boy."

 

 

                                                ******************************

 

 

                "And for another thing never seen people so fussed about taking away a man's shooting iron…. you all right?" Kid said concerned as the man sitting on the bar gripped the edges and looked around almost frightened.

 

                "What happened?  Where am I?"

 

                "Heyes?" Kid said cautiously.

 

                "Kid?"

 

                Kid nodded a grin spreading across his face relief flooding over him.  He was still in trouble, but he was no longer alone.

 

                With a yelp the two men grabbed each other and slapped one another on the back both talking at once.

 

                "Craziest place you ever see Heyes and this fella, Pete?"

 

                "Looks just like you, not a bad fella, can't shoot like you, but who can…where are we anyway?"

 

                "Heck if I know Heyes," Kid said grabbing a bottle from behind the bar and pouring them both a drink.  "Strangest thing I ever seen."

 

                "Yea from what Ben was telling me…what is this?  It tastes like tea!" Heyes said setting his glass down disgusted.

 

                "So that Ben fella, the one who plays me, he ended up with you?" Kid said.

 

                "Yea and we figured you were with his friend."

 

                "Heyes what are we gonna do?"

 

                "Were gonna stay here till it all switched back again," Heyes said firmly looking around.  "What is this place?  It hasn't got a ceiling either."

 

                "Oh this is nothing Heyes, they got a whole town out there missing everything but the front!"

 

                "Must have been some snake oil salesman that sold that real estate," Heyes grinned and they both laughed together because they could.

 

                "There you are!" the studio rep yelled indignant.  "Mr. Fox is going to be here in ten minutes!  I suppose neither of you took the trouble to read his book?"

 

                "Who's he?" Heyes whispered.

 

                "Snake oil salesman," Kid explained.

 

                "I want to remind you both the studio owns you.  Now take a look at this and for God's sake don't go anywhere!"

 

                The man threw down the manuscript and hurried off.

 

                "I may have to shoot him," Kid said quietly.

 

                Heyes grinned amused and picked up the book, "Hey it's about us!  Listen to this…"

 

                Ten minutes later Heyes tossed the book down disgusted.  "Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous?"

 

                "I like the twin brother, Alfred," Kid said smiling pleased with the potential for annoying his cousin.

 

                "Don't start you want me to read that blade part again?" Heyes said laughing inspite of himself.

 

                "No, no please," Kid said laughing back.

 

                "Here we are Mr. Fox, I'd like you to meet Peter Duel and Ben Murphy," the studio rep smiled too broadly entering the set.  "I'm sure they can't wait to tell you what they think about your book!"

 

                "So 'Ben' you wanna go first?" Heyes said innocently.

 

                "I don't know 'Peter' your better with words than me," Kid said understanding his look and trying to swallow a smile.

 

                "This calls for more than words to show Mr….Fox was it?  What we think of his book."

 

                "Be my pleasure then," Kid said with a nod and suddenly in one swift, even motion tossed the book into the air and sliced six bullets through it.

 

                The author turned pale and gasped as pages rained down across the set.

 

                The studio Rep needed a change of underwear.

 

                "Dime novels got it closer," Kid said disgusted as the two men ran from the room.

 

                "I wonder if them actors are having this much fun?" Heyes said thoughtfully putting his feet up on a chair.

 

 

                                                ********************************

 

 

                "Look don't panic!" Peter said pacing the empty bar.

 

                "Don't panic!  I just lost Hannibal Heyes!"

 

                "I'm Hannibal Heyes!"

 

                "Not here!"

 

                "Well I like your faith in me!  Kid Curry didn't have much of a problem with me being Heyes!"

               

                "That's because he could out shoot the SWAT team!" Ben yelled.

 

                "Boy can he!  Ben you should have seen him I have never…listen when we get back you might be in just a little bit of trouble…"

 

                "When?  What about if…" he stopped.  "How much trouble?"

 

                "Don’t worry about that now, we have to figure out how switch back with them."

 

                "Peter what if we can't switch back."

 

                "We have to, they can't act, they'll ruin the show."

 

                "Will you listen to yourself!  Forget them, were wanted outlaws here!"

 

                "Yea and you can't fast draw worth…" he stopped as the gun flew into the actor's hand and he grinned.  "How did you do that!"

 

                "Heyes showed me," Ben said pleased.  "Learned it from Curry."

 

                "That was really good, but your still gonna get killed," Peter said pleasantly.

 

                "You are not helping, what are we suppose to do?"

 

                "Follow the script."

               

                "What!"

 

                "Look we even have an advantage, we know its Plummer, we can go root him out and cut 40 minutes out of the show!"

               

                "Peter it isn't a show!" Ben said with a groan.

 

                "Bet it is back at the studio!"

 

 

 

                                                ****************************

 

 

The bleachers were full of squirming, giggling, girls all desperately holding onto copies of Tiger Beat with pink ink pens in the hope of getting close enough to their heart throbs for an autograph.

 

                "Oh Ben is so dreamy!" a young girl sighed leaning against the railing.

 

                "I love this show!" another laughed.

 

                "Oh Peter I love you!" a doe eyed brunette cried so desperately the entire section broke into giggles understanding.

 

                In the wings Kid and Heyes peered out warily.

 

                "There must be hundreds of them!" Heyes said terrified.

 

                "Ben and Pete our dream date," Kid said staring horrified at the fan magazine they had been handed as they were dragged over to the makeshift soundstage.  "Little girls like this stuff?"

 

                "Little girls sure like them," Heyes said.  "They have an army."

 

                "Fascinating isn't it?" Roy grinned coming up.  "I'm thinking of doing an episode just for them, maybe let them save you two."

 

                Heyes looked up and Kid glanced at him warily knowing that look.

 

                "That's it!"

 

                "What's it?"  Kid questioned as Huggins turned to talk to one of the press people.

 

                "We get them to cause a diversion for us."

 

                "Heyes they could get hurt."

 

                "No, nothing like that."

 

                "Your gonna get them into trouble."

 

                "Kid what are they gonna do hang little girls?  We just get them running so they have to round them up."

 

                "How you gonna do that?"

 

                Heyes looked down at the fan magazine; "Well according to this all those little girls want you to be their first kiss."

 

                "No that says they want, US to be their first kiss….Heyes don't you even think of…"

 

                But Hannibal Heyes had a plan and the courage to act on it.

 

                "Afternoon ladies!" he said stepping out from the curtain and the cheer that went up made him take a step back.  "Anyone here wanna kiss Kid Curry?"

 

 

                                                                *****************************

 

 

                "Ya know there is a lot to be said for being a wanted criminal," Peter said cheerfully waiting as Ben opened the door to their room.

 

                "You enjoyed scaring Plummer to death," Ben said laughing inspite of himself.

 

                "This is their room?"  Peter said staring around the tiny room horrified.

 

                "Heyes its 1881, this is Holiday Inn of its time." Ben said sinking into a chair.

 

                "Peter," Pete said with a funny smiled sitting on the bed.

 

                "What?" Ben asked wearily.

 

                "You called me Heyes."

 

                Ben looked up and thought about it, "Guess I did, sorry."

 

                "No, no don't be," Peter said thoughtfully.  "I think we should try the saloon again."

 

                "Well Plummer owns it now and he's terrified of you," Ben said rising.  "$30,000, what happened to the 15 in the script?"

               

                "I thought it should be the same amount that he stole from Heyes and the gang for sentimental reasons."

               

                "I'll be sure to mention that to Roy when we get back," Ben said dryly opening the door.  "You given much thought to what we are gonna do if this doesn’t' work?"

 

                "Oh yea," Peter said cheerfully.  "I read next week's script!"

 

 

                                                                *******************************

 

 

                "Heyes you ever pull a stunt like that again I will…"

 

                The two men had stopped and were bent over breathing heavy in the quiet of the saloon set. Everything was dark and the building had been locked until Heyes had worked out the new locking system.

 

                "So I was right."

 

                They both turned to see a figure in the shadows.

 

                "Ah that you Mr…Huggins?" Kid tried.

 

                "Yes Mr. Curry it is."

 

                The two men looked at each other and he stepped forward.

 

                "Curry?" Kid said politely.

 

                "It's all right, I know and I take it we now have Mr. Heyes with us as well.  How do you do sir?"

 

                "Howdy," Heyes said warily taking his hand.

 

                "To finally meet you two, its every writer's dream you know, to meet his characters."

 

                "Ah were not characters," Kid said a little insulted.

 

                "I know, I know you aren't, I'm sorry that came out wrong."

 

                "Look you got any idea how we got here?"  Heyes said still wary.

 

                "No, other than this sound stage is linked with a great many supernatural occurrences.  They even changed its number from 13 to 27 to throw off the superstition, but the old timers know its 13, sound stage 13 on October 31st, makes a man pause."

 

                "Well I'm not pausing I just wanna get home," Kid said crankily.

 

                "I know, and I need my actors back, that's why I met you here, I thought maybe I could help.  You see this may be partly my fault.  I was doodling over there, trying to get the juices rolling when I started wondering what it would be like if you all met.  So I wrote a small scene and well things just sort of snowballed after that.  I tried to send you back, but I guess a part of me still wanted to meet Hannibal Heyes and well I compounded the problem."

 

                "You can do that?  He can do that?" Kid asked frowning.

 

                "I don't know," Heyes said simply.  "But we are here.  So your thinking you write we change back and it might happen?"

 

                "Yes."

               

                "Well then write it!" Kid yelled fed up.

 

                "Yes, yes, of course. And again I am sorry for any inconvenience."

 

                "Them actors they gonna be in trouble for anything we did?"  Heyes said as they moved back into position.

 

                "They are stars gentlemen, stars can be forgiven just about anything," Huggins smiled.

 

                "And those little girls?" Kid asked worried.

 

                "He thinks there gonna hang them," Heyes grinned and his partner scowled at him.

 

                "I promise they will be in no trouble either.  In fact when you trade back I'll rip up the page and all this will be a faint dream to the four of you."

 

                Both men shuffled uncomfortably not sure if they wanted that part.

 

                "One more thing," Kid said finding his mark.  "You’re the writer, them actors, us, Heyes and Curry, they ever get that amnesty?"

 

                Roy Huggins smiled and picked up his pen.  "Gentlemen I have a feeling like you, this show will take on a life of its own."

 

                "What kind of answer is that?" Heyes said annoyed and the world turned upside down.

 

 

                                                                *****************************

 

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA

1971

 

 

                "Good job, Pete, Ben," Huggins said quietly as the two men left the set wearily.

 

                "Yea nice gun work," Peter grinned to his friend.  "Ya know I think your getting faster, where did you learn to do that like that?"

 

                "I think I'm doing it in my sleep," Ben said with a yawn. "Hey Roy you ever find out what happened with those kids that got loose in the studio?"

 

                "Why you afraid they might hang them?" Roy asked innocently.

 

                Ben gave him an odd look.  "Well there are our fans, I just felt kind of bad."

 

                "Hang little girls!" Peter said with a deep chuckle heading for the door.  "Roy where do you get these ideas?"

 

*********************************

 

               

WICKENBERG, ARIZONA

1881

 

 

                "Heyes?"

 

                "Hmmm?" his sleepy partner said from his side of the bed.

 

                "I had the strangest dream."

 

                "Tell me in the morning."

 

                "I'll forget in the morning."

 

                "Good, you have the strangest dreams," Hannibal Heyes sighed rolling over, but his eyes didn't close and once more he stared at the folded piece of paper script he had found on the dresser.

 

                CUT TO SALOON

                HEYES AND CURRY ENTER…