Darkest Africa

[izzysmith]

It was Sarah Jane's Birthday 1975: the one after he took her dancing with Paul Newman.

This time he showed up on her door step dressed like Cary Grant in Gunga Din. He knocked on Sarah Jane's Door. waiting until she opened the door and said, "Sarah Jane, Get your coat, were going on safari."

He had never taken Sarah Jane Time Traveling before. of course it would be with his Vortex Manipulator.

[Sarah Jane]

Izzy Smith. At it again. A she smiled hugely as she let him in.

"Izzy, you remembered my birthday, I don't see how you keep it straight, all the time hopping you do."

Her place is small, but it is her own. Brick and wood, her favorite. It is really, only a few steps to the kitchen.

"Help yourself to the bar, cousin, I'll be right back down." She ran up the stairs, half having expected to see him. She had two different bags packed. Safari it was. Less than ten minutes later, she is spinning in the living room to show him her quite neatly tailored skirted safari jumper with it's well appointed jacket and perfect white hat. Not too large. The boots were the best part, slim and trim but built for a good run. She had one small pack on her back.

"It's spring in Africa right now Izzy." She grinned.

[izzysmith]

Izzy made his way looking around at Sarah Jane's New place admiring all the marvelous little things she collected. Perhaps she would pick something up on the set of The African Queen. a little memento from Bogie or Hepburn.

Then Sarah Jane came whizzing down the stairs looking ever so smart. her outfit now matching his.

"It's spring in Africa right now Izzy."

"Yes, But who said we were going to Africa this year..." said Izzy Being very cryptic in a way that usually meant he was about to do something rather clever and randomly funny.

"Hug me Sarah Jane!" said Izzy as he wrapped his arms around Sarah Jane Tightly hitting the teleiport button on his vortex Manipulator.

~Flash~

The two came out the other side in a lush dense jungle. Africa one would assume, there was lush vegetation everywhere they looked. the flash had no doubt scared away many small animals.

"Here we are Sarah Jane."

But as they stood in the woods little did Sarah Jane know that just threw those trees were Humphrey Bogart and Kathrine Hepburn shooting a river boat scene for the fa mouse Oscar winning movie The African queen. Izzy remembered reading about this in old history books and yet Knew that Sarah Jane would love to meet Kathrine Hepburn, Plus Bogie was an old friend of Izzy's.

[Sarah Jane]

Before she could say another word, Izzy had caught her up in an embrace, and off they went. Travel by Vortex Manipulator did not sit with her well, and they popped into existence in the Jungle, Sarah clutched on to Izzy still, waiting for the world to stop spinning, and with hopes she would not indelicately revisit her birthday her breakfast all over Izzy's fine romper. There was always that ache up your backbone, but she knew it would fade in just a few seconds.

She swallowed hard, made her eyes open. She took a deep breath and all was well. Never had she smelled such air before. Such rich, fragrant air, thick with oxygen and wildness. It smelled of giant flowers just dripping with nectar. Sarah Jane drew back until she was only holding on to his arm blinking her eyes open and taking deep breaths.

"Oh. Oh IZZY. You've outdone yourself this time." She could see 2000 shades of green just from where she was standing.

[izzysmith]

Izzy smile a Cheshire grin, he could barley keep in how excited he was. he wanted to jump around like a giddy school girl. but he had to lead Sarah Jane onto the set first.

"If your impressed now wait five seconds..."

Said Izzy as he began cutting his way threw the thick brush with an umbrella. but as they drew nearer and nearer Sarah Jane could begin to hear noises. it sounded like two people arguing.

"you mean you want to go on...?"

"I beg your pardon..."

"Miss your crazy, those rapids almost tore us to pieces!"

Izzy pretended not to hear it keeping it a surprise. he couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she met Kathrine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart...

As they drew closer the two could see a man and a women on a River boat. The women as dressed in period clothing. it looked like something around the turn of the century about 1900. it was clear now that They had traveled into the past.

[Sarah Jane]

She followed Izzy into the bush, her curiosity rampant. She was not surprised to hear voices ahead, for Izzy rarely left the excitement of swirling society. The words, though, almost made her stop in her tracks with wonder. She didn't stop, not wanting to loose site of Izzy. The African Queen. She'd seen it so very many times. Katherine Hepburn was one of her favorite actresses of all time, not only because she was amazing, but because she was a child of the Women's Suffrage movement. A political powerhouse who portrayed strong women when most actresses were more interested in being weak.

They burst into the clearing. She caught at Izzy's sleeve as she saw them there, filming one of her favorite movies. Hepburn and Bogart, larger than life in 3 dimensions. She was stunned.

"Oh, Izzy." She whispered in awe, giving him a tap of friendship with her elbow.

[izzysmith]

"Happy birthday Sarah Jane!" said Izzy, giving his great aunt a hug.

Izzy walked side by side with Sarah Jane making his way back onto the set. watching as the scene played out waiting for the two stars to take five. "I hope your having fun so far. I would have taken you to the set of Magombo, However Clark Gable and I are old enemies."

Soon after the scene wrapped up Izzy looked at Sarah Jane and said, "So, Gal Friday... what's say we pose as reporters see If you can't get an interview with Kathrine..."

Izzy made his way inside the actors tent where they sat in makeup next to one another. "I hate this, it's to dam hot! Why is it you get to stay in the boat when I gotta be down in the blasted muck!"

"Oh Jim-a-knee Christmas will you stop griping!" Said Kathrine growing tired of Bogart's constant complaining. "I don't see what you have to complain about, I'm the one who has to kiss you in this picture you nasty pug-faced Old goat!"

Izzy remembered reading the book Kathrine wrote about her experience while filming on the set. he remembered that Bogart hated making this film but his performance would win his his first Oscar.

Izzy loved Bogart almost as much as Bacall. but he frightened him a bit with that tough exterior...

[Sarah Jane]

She hugged him back enthusiastically.

"No, no, Izzy, this is perfect, it's Katherine Hepburn. Thank you!"She said in his ear before breaking loose to smile at him.

She couldn't believe she was listening to these two film giants bicker at each other in the heat just a few meters away. There was something startling about seeing them so young and in color at the same time. She almost expected them to be in black and white.

"Reporters are an excellent idea, Izzy!" she shoved Izzy in the direction of Bogart, and went for Hepburn herself, feeling giddy.

[izzysmith]

Kathrine sat writing a latter to Spencer. she had grown so tired of being on location without him. That's when she noticed a plucky young girl heading her way. she thought she might be a new makeup girl. course she didn't dress like one.

"Oh hello, my your a pretty little thing aren't you!"

Izzy made his way over to Humphrey Bogart with his camera wrapped around his Neck. hopping to get a few shots with Bogie.

"Mr. Bogart, My name is..."

"Izzy?" said Bogart in surprised as if he had seen him before, Humphrey smiled and said, "Now why is it that this mug of mine just keeps getting older while yours stay the same!"

it took every ounce of strength for Izzy not to scream like a giddy school girl. it appeared not only did Humphrey Bogart know who he was, but he also seemed to have known him in the past. Izzy played it cool not letting Bogart know that he had never met him before.

"Yes, it's good to see you again too, Mr. Bogart..."

Humphrey raised and eyebrow...
"So, what's with the camera and pen and pad of paper?"

Izzy wasn't sure how good of friends they were in the past. He thought it best to just level with Mr. Bogart after all he was a very mean looking fellow. and Izzy was a little afraid of any man who looked like he could beat him up.

"It's part of my cover, Me and a friend are posing as reporters so we could sneak on to the set. it's her birthday and she's a huge Kathrine hepburn fan. please promis me you'll keep my seceret?"

"We'll don't worry kid, I won't give you away. In fact stay for awhile. the native that allowed us to shoot in there village want to throw a huge party for us tonight. I Love for you to come."

"well, could i bring Sarah Jane?"

"Course Kiddo."

[Sarah Jane]

Great Kate knocked her socks off with her first words, her first gesture. No matter how close the camera got, it could not capture her stunning, three dimensional reality. Oh! And that voice! Her beauty was shocking.

Sarah Jane managed to hide much of her gawking over Ms.Hepburn's powerful physical presence by diving directly into politics. She began question her on her childhood experience in the Women's Suffrage Movement, and they were off.

Sarah did not lack charm herself, and quite soon the two of them are deep into discussion on the best ways to create lasting change in a society. At some point, she remembered to peek over at Izzy and Mr.Bogart to see how he was doing.

Sarah Jane, for her part was over the moon.

"Why . . .Sarah Jane." Katherine Hepburn suddenly burst out with, voice rich with umbrage. "Are you a reporter? A news girl? And you didn't tell me." Sarah Jane froze. Katherine was notorious for not talking to reporters. Perhaps had crossed some unfortunate line, and just when things were going so well.

[izzysmith]

"Sarah Jane could you bring your camera over here and get a few shots of Bogart." said Izzy calling her over

"You don't mind do you Mr. Bogart?"

"Naw go ahead, you can get one with me if you like." said Bogie

[Sarah Jane]

"I really came because it was my birthday. I just happen to be Journalist." She said, and she could tell that this idea had gone over like a lead balloon. Thank goodness Izzy called her over right then.
"Got to go." She said, making a quick exit before Kate the Great gave her a piece of her mind. She ran over to Izzy, taking a tiny camera from one of her pockets.

"Certainly Izzy." She looked through the viewfinder, then dropped the camera to speak to them. "Stand closer Izzy, closer" She raised her camera. "Is that as close as you can get?" She complained, teasing them.

[izzysmith]

"No I think we can do better..." said Bogie holding Izzy very close looking at him with those big puppy dog eyes of his. It took everything in Izzy not to faint or scream like a giddy school girl. however from the smile on his face, it was obvious that Bogie seemed to have a certain fondness for Izzy....

"wow..." said Izzy in a low whisper as Sarah jane snapped the picture, "You got purdy eyes.."

Bogie laughed, "Thanks kid, you got a nice pair yourslef..."

Izzy then made his way over to Sarah Jane taking her aside to where no one could hear them.

"Sarah Jane your not going to believe this But I think Bogart knows me, like in his own personal past...!"

[Sarah Jane]

She let Izzy pull her away, the pair of them clutching hands each with their own excitement. She laughed at him, and said in an stage whisper, grinning at him.

"Of course he does Izzy, who don't you know? You owe me one for the 'closer closer' bit. Ms.Hepburn liked my protest chant I wrote! Oh Izzy, this is perfect." She planted a kiss on his cheek. "Are you going to pretend you already know him and try to . . .to - " She nudged him with her elbow a little " -get back on his lap?"

[izzysmith]

Izzy jaw dropped looking shocked at Sarah Jane's suggestion that he hit on Bogart.

"What do you think I am a home wrecker, he's married for goodness sake!" Said Izzy.

"Plus I think I can do better than Bogart. although he is cute in a sorta pugilistic way..." said Izzy sighing like a school girl with a crush.

As Bogart and Kathrine got ready to shoot another scene on the boat Izzy and Sarah Jane stood by watching as all of a sudden a storm came out of nowhere making the river run wild.

"Izzy, the ropes!" yelled bogie trying to keep the old tugger tied to shore. but it was no used. the ropes snapped sending the two the stars down stream in a title wave of water.

"Oh no Sarah Jane, we have to save them. I hope you can swim!" said Izzy jumping into the river without thinking. He swam out to the boat wrapping some ropes around his shoulder.

"Jimmy Christmas where on earth did this storm come from?"

"From the sky I suppose Kate."

"Oh shut up and help me get these two aboard!" said Kathrine