Getting Into Character

The director yells cut for what feels like the hundredth time that day. Everyone is on edge, tired and overworked. The shoot has gone longer than originally planned and John can’t help but think it’s his fault. He has become emotionally attached to his character of the Master, and as happens with such an intense role, the lines start to blur.

This is the last scene of the day to be shot; in fact it was a last minute addition to the script. Russell, never being one to turn down sexual tension and a reason to create controversy, has added a kiss between the Doctor and the Master, to take place as the Master is dying. It is supposed to be a quick thing, more than a peck on the lips, but less involved than anything that happens over on the Torchwood set. It shouldn’t be a problem, and to everyone else it doesn’t seem to be; everyone but John.

John is lying awkwardly in David’s lap, waiting for Russell’s directions when David speaks up, breaking the tension at least for the moment.

“Could you give us five?” David asks and Russell throws his hands up in a somewhat mocking manner, which John assumes is a yes. David looks down at John, “Let’s have a break.”

They manage to get up off of the floor and John sort of absently follows David to the nearest empty area, which happens to be the Downing Street board room set. It is dark and quiet and John can hardly see David as he starts to go through the motions. Is it because I’m a guy, it’s only natural, it’s no big deal...

John laughs, nervously. “That’s not it mate.” He tells David in a quiet voice.

“What’s it then?” David asks him in a voice that carries across the empty set.

“It’s just...I’m lying there, thinking about dying, thinking about the Master, thinking about the Doctor...then I take a good look at you and all I’m thinking about is your mouth.”

David laughs this time, mocking him. “That’s clearly the right path to take, you see. You, the Master, love me, the Doctor and in the end, really, no one can resist a good snog with the old Doctor.”

“No, David.” John says in a slow, clear manner, voice remaining quiet as he pulls on the lapels of David’s best Doctor suit. “I’m not thinking about the Doctor...” His lips are inches away from David’s as he speaks.

“Someone could see us...”David whispers, words lost into John’s mouth, turned into a muffled sigh when their lips meet; slow and unsure at first. John pulls back to gauge David’s reaction, delighting in the feel of David’s long fingers on his cheeks, pulling him back in. Their lips skim across each other’s again and again once more before John slips his hands into David’s hair and his tongue across David’s lips, pleading for entry. David gasps his compliance as he feels John’s tongue slip past his lips, like velvet against his own. There is a sense of urgency around them, knowing they could be caught any minute, spurring them on and leaving them finally gasping for air.

“What was that?” David asks, eyes closed, forehead resting against John’s.

“They call that getting into character.” John replies as he turns away from David and heads back to the set, finally ready to shoot the scene.