Bob looked up and frowned. "I'm not sure you understand your role here, Oherra. We look for serious writers with strong concepts. Those suggestions of yours sound like you're a network exec or something."

"Oh, give the kid a break!" Maria smiled. "Bob's miffed because he didn't think of 'Trading Hovels' on his own."

"We usually leave the crazy suggestions to the suits at the network," Bob snarled. "If you want to be a Lazy Dog writer you need to cut the crap."

"Oh, Bobbie," Angela purred. "I do believe you're jealous of our little Oherra." She rose languidly from her chair and sauntered slowly toward the newcomer. "So you're Maria's cousin? How charming."

"Uh. Yes, ma'am. I am." Oherra swallowed hard.

"Ma'am?" Angela frowned.

"He's from the south," Maria explained. "He'll get over being polite once he's been HERE awhile."

Bob merely grunted.

Angela purred again. "The south is so… southern." She ran her finger up Oherra's arm, noting his reactions with deep interest.

"Now leave my little cousin alone!" Maria exclaimed. "He's new!"

"I'm not THAT new!" Oherra objected.

Angela cocked her head and considered matters. "In this business EVERYbody is somebody's cousin. Or nephew. If we're going to set up rules like 'don't flirt with cousins' this town is going to be pretty boring."

"Maybe we could stop fussing about the new guy and get some writing done?" Bob's voice was sarcastic. "Maybe we could start thinking of who to cast for this show?"

"How about Bruce Campbell for Wallace?" Maria asked.

"Who the hell is--oh, yeah. Briscoe County, Jr." Bob thought a moment. "He'd be a pretty good choice really. But he's got a new series. Some Sci Fi thing. Too bad Jack of All Trades was cancelled so soon. I liked that one."

Maria and Angela exchanged speaking looks.

"You don't want THAT guy!" Oherra shook his head. "He's bad luck in a key role. Look what happened to Xena when he became a semi-regular."

"Okay. I'll bite. What happened to Xena?" Bob asked.

"He turned them into lesbians!" Oherra replied earnestly.

"Ummm… I don't THINK that was his doing," Maria said. "They sort of went in that direction from the beginning of the show. Amazon warriors and all."

"His shows do get cancelled too quickly though," Angela commented thoughtfully. "It's unfortunate. He's a good actor. And cute." She smirked at Oherra. "I like cute men."

"Didn't anybody ever tell you men don't like to be called 'cute'?" Bob asked.

"Oh, that's okay." Oherra smiled at Angela. "Feel free to call me cute all you like."

Maria tapped her pencil on the table. "Attention! It's time to get down to work here. We need to do a nice outline for the first six episodes, get some costume designs, start casting--"

"Pull up a chair, Oherra." Angela laughed. "It's going to be a bumpy night!"