It was the second week of filming what the producers hoped would be a blockbuster movie. The star of the film was Trevor Warding, a household name and veteran of twenty films.
Set in the nineteen twenties, the story was about an orphaned eleven year old street urchin who was taken under the wing of his uncle, a successful business man, who eventually turns the boy into a respectable civilised lad.
However, all was not well on the film set. Trevor was becoming increasingly irritated with the youngster, Kevin Conway, who was playing the part of the boy.
"I`ve had just about all I can take of that pompous little brat!" Trevor told the director.
"Yes, Trevor. I know that you two are not getting on very well, but the lad`s a good actor. He was outstanding amongst over three hundred applicants for the auditions for the part."
"Oh! He can act all right and he thinks he is the only one who can!" retorted Trevor, "Every time we have to re-shoot a scene he reckons it`s because I`m not doing it right! I`m not going to be told how to act by some eleven year old big-headed upstart!"
"Look Trevor," said the director, "getting the film finished on time is all important. Just try and ignore him and hold your temper! He will probably change as we go along."
"Well I hope so! If this goes on I will give him a piece of my mind!"
The tension between Trevor and Kevin continued. Then came the day that was to alter everything. There was to be a scene in the film in which the uncle spanks the urchin! No spanking was actually to take place of course! Trevor was to grab hold of Kevin shouting "You`ve been asking for this!" and haul him over his knees. The camera would then pan upwards and the audience would see the shadow on the wall of an arm and hand supposedly doing the spanking while the sound effects department supplied the slapping noise!
The make-up department had done a good job of turning Kevin into an urchin. With a pair of torn dirty short trousers, a filthy ripped shirt and dirt on his face and hands, the boy looked the part to a tee!
They started actng the scene. Trevor grabbed Kevin and put him across his knees. The trousers stretched taut around Kevin`s bum-cheeks. It was very tempting! Trevor restrained himself and they went through the scene.
"We`ll just do this scene again, I think!" said the director, "This time get Kevin across your knee a bit faster!"
Kevin looked at Trevor. "Can`t you get anything right?" the boy whispered.
Trevor was fuming! He was coming to the end of his tether. The clapper board snapped and the director shouted "Action!"
"You`ve been asking for this!" said Trevor, and as he dragged the boy across his knees he whispered "I`ll show you who can get it right!"
Trevor raised his arm and bought his hand down with a loud "Crack!" on that pert little bottom!
"Aoowl! Aoowl! No! No! No!
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
"Aoowl! Aoolw! Aoowl! Don`t! No! Stop! Stop! Aoowl!
One of the camera crew started to rush forward to intervene. The director grabbed him by the arm and motioned him to keep back! He twirled his hand to indicate to the cameramen to keep the cameras rolling.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
"Aooooowl! Aooooowl! Arrrgh!"
Kevin was struggling like mad, but Trevor was holding him with a grip of iron!
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
"Arrrrgh! Arrrrgh! Arrrgh!" Kevin was screaming out at the top of his voice!
Trevor released his grip. Kevin slipped off his lap with the speed of a jet plane, grabbed hold of his bottom with both hands and ran off towards the dressing rooms as fast as his legs could carry him, tears cascading down his face!
The director was rubbing his hands with glee!
"That`s got to be the best spanking scene in a movie ever!" he enthused.
Trevor was not so enthusiastic!
"What the hell have I done!" he ejected, "I just couldn`t help myself! Something snapped! He will complain to his parents! I`m in real trouble!"
"I don`t think he will complain to anybody!" said the director, "Not if he wants to keep his part in the film! Up to a million quid should be enough incentive for him to keep his mouth shut! But I do think that perhaps you should go and try to smooth things over with him!"
Trevor did not know what he was going to say to the boy. He did not want to actually apologise to him, after all, the little brat deserved all he got! Trevor went to Kevin`s dressing room. He did not knock, but just opened the door. Kevin was standing with his back to the full length mirror, his trousers down and holding his shirt tail up, examining the reflection of his bottom! He hastily pulled up his trousers when the door opened, but not before Trevor caught sight in the mirror of two very red bum-cheeks! He had certainly given the boy the works! Trevor had no need to worry about what to say. Kevin, still sobbing and with tears still rolling down his cheeks, spoke first.
"I`m sorry Mr. Warding for all those nasty things I`ve said to you! I won`t do it any more! Please don`t let them throw me out!" he pleaded, "I`ll be good from now on! I promise!"
This was an unexpected turn of events. Kevin was doing the apologising! Trevor walked over to him and put his hands on the boy`s shoulders.
"All right, Kevin. I`ll tell the director I want you kept in the film, but if we are to work together for the next eight weeks we mustn`t be at each others throats all the while, must we?"
Despite the tears and sobs the boy managed to put on a grin.
"It wasn`t my throat you were at, Mr. Warding!" he said.
Trevor laughed. The boy had a sense of humour after all!
"The name`s Trevor! Let`s get round to using first names, shall we?"
They not only got on with each other from that day onwards, but as the weeks went by a close bond developed between man and boy. The film was completed and the day of the London premiere arrived.
The media had had a preview of the movie and the critics had unanimiously applauded another brilliant performance by Trevor Warding and raved about the new boy actor! The two stars arrived at the theatre in a chauffeur driven limousine to be greeted by a large crowd and a host of flashing cameras. Kevin was almost unrecognisable from the urchin he had played in the movie. Dressed immaculately in a dinner suit, the handsome young lad looked very smart indeed. As they left the car Trevor put his arm round Kevin and his hand on the boy`s shoulder to guide him into the theatre. It was all a bit overwhelming for Kevin but Trevor was used to these occasions.
In the foyer they were met by a possee of press cameramen and reporters with questions being fired at them from all directions. One reporter asked the inevitable question!
"How on earth did you make that spanking scene? It looks so realistic!"
Trevor gave Kevin`s shoulder a squeeze as he looked down at the boy, and at the same time Kevin looked up at him. Both were grinning!
"Oh! That!" replied Trevor, "It was just a piece of darn good acting!"