“Well, I don’t think my career is in such good shape at the moment either,” Janey replied. “Everyone in New York knows that if they die before they eat my food, I’ll be back to take it. How do you think that feels?”

“It’s your own fault for being lazy,” Daphne snapped.

“Once again, I’ll turn the other cheek. But I’m going in with you to get the sheep.”

Daphne rang the bell, and an assistant let them in. Pumpkin was standing alone in the middle of the set, doing stretches and making guttural noises as she prepared for the next scene. Janey could see that Dolly and Bah-Bah were positioned under the hot lights. They looked as if they’d been combed and brushed and fluffed.

“You’re back!” Jacques cried to Daphne. “And who is this with you?”

“Hello, sir!” Janey said. “I’m from the Settlers’ Club, and I’m here to get the sheep.”

“What?!” Jacques demanded.

“I couldn’t talk them into it,” Daphne apologized. “I’m sorry.”

Jacques shook his head. “Then get out! Both of you! Ruin my movie! Take them! I’ll get new ones someplace else!”

“Are you firing me?” Daphne asked.

“I guess that’s what you would call it.”

As Daphne ran to grab the wardrobe she’d brought down with her in the morning, Janey hurried over and grabbed Dolly. One of Dolly’s eyes popped out onto the floor. She quickly picked it up and stuck it back in, noticing that the other eye was also gone. She looked over at Bah-Bah and lifted up the wool off his face. He, too, was a one-eyed monster.

“Hurry up!” Jacques ordered. “Get out! I can’t stand the sight of you!”

Janey began looking around on the floor for the missing eyes.

“Move!” Jacques cried.

“Their eyes are missing,” Janey explained. “I have to find the two eyes!”

“You can get them another time. I have to make my movie.”

The sense of empowerment Janey felt in the cab was firmly in place. “I’m not leaving until we find those eyes!”

“Help her find the eyes!” Jacques screamed. In an instant, several assistants were on their hands and knees, searching the floor.

“Pretty dusty down here,” one of them muttered.

“I’m giving you thirty seconds,” Jacques yelled. “Time is money.”

From the corner, one of the assistants cried, “I found one! Under the heater!”

“And I found the other!”

The two assistants came from different directions and handed the eyes to Janey.

“GET OUT!”

Janey stuffed the stones in her coat pocket and grabbed Dolly under the belly. She turned and called to Daphne. But she was gone. “Could someone please help me carry this other one downstairs?” Janey asked. “I’d be ever so grateful.”