“Well, if I were Serena, I’d kill him,” Nancy heard a woman in the tour group say. “I mean, who does that Rory Danner think he Is?”

“They may have to kill him,” her companion replied. “I heard he’s leaving the show at the end of the season.”

“No!”

“Yes! Didn’t you read the Star Sentinel last week? He wants to break his contract to make a movie.”

“Well, if you ask me, Rick Arlen has gotten too big for his britches,” the first woman said. “We fans count, you know.“.

At the rear of the group was a large man in an old sweatshirt. He was shifting from foot to foot and muttering, “You’ll find out, Rory. You’re not that great.”

At last they all disappeared through a set of swinging doors. “Boy, they sure seem angry,” Nancy remarked.

“That’s nothing,” the security guard said. “Ever since Arlen decided he was leaving the show, seems like everybody hates him. I wouldn’t want to be him right now, no siree.” He shook his head. “Can I help you girls?” he finally asked.

“We’re here to see Mattie Jensen,” Nancy said politely. “She’s expecting us.”

The guard checked his book. “Miss Drew and Miss Marvin?” he asked. “Let’s see—ten o’clock . . . she’s probably just going into makeup. It’s down the hall and around to your right. First left after the producer’s office.”

Thanking him, the girls made their way through the set of swinging doors that led into a long hallway. The noisy tour group had gone directly onto the set, but Nancy and Bess continued on, looking for the makeup room.

“This must be the hall he means,” said Nancy.

“Maybe we’ll pass the casting director’s office,” Bess whispered, following her.

Just then, two young secretaries stepped into the hall ahead of them. “Well, I think he has a good point!” one was saying to the other.

“He may have a point, but that’s still no way to talk to people. Even if he is the producer!”