Actor Sent Undercover by Manny

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"But filming is supposed to start tomorrow," Milton stammered, knowing he was fighting an uphill battle. "Everything and everyone is in place. Think how much we'll lose by canceling at the last minute."

"The math has been done. Buying out contracts will be cheaper than going ahead with another season. The polls are clear -- fan interest is fading fast. Season four was basically a ho-hum re-hash of season three," Mr. Martin said in a bored sort of way, not even making eye-contact with the desperate producer.

"I'm aware of those criticisms and have hired two new writers to refresh the content and spice things up," Milton stammered.

"Is that so? Hmm...." Mr. Martin was clearly unimpressed.

"We're going to flip the dynamic around between the popular sidekick and the waning star whom our key audiences seem to have grown tired of...." Milton spoke rapidly and with conviction, even though he was making some stuff up on the spot.

Mr. Martin looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Really?! Sideline that self-absorbed, pompous pomp-ass prima donna? Now that's something that sparks MY fancy. He is so full of himself. The way he struts around and thinks he's the center of the universe. I'm tempted to keep the show going just to see him reduced from star to sidekick! Prancing around with all that hair...like a cockscomb. I have to say that every time the camera zooms in on his tight ass, I feel like wrenching down those tight pants and taking a paddle to it!"

Milton gasped. It was something he himself had felt like doing on multiple occasions, especially when Parker Stevens would unleash drama on the set and interfere with filming.

"And, as to those silken locks swishing about his shoulders...." Mr. Martin pulled a pair of scissors out of his desk drawer and brandished them. "Drag him to a barber shop and have him shorn!"

"Consider it done! He'll sport a short crop in season five!" Milton declared, certain there would be a very unhappy actor when the news of a makeover was conveyed.

"Find a barber who is aggressive with the clippers. Those are my conditions for a reprieve from pulling the plug on your baby, Milton. His tresses on the barber shop floor and his part in the show reduced -- substantially!" Mr. Martin ordered.

The actor of whom Mr. Martin had spoken disparagingly was Parker Stevens, a one-time heart-throb who didn't realize he was past his prime. Whereas several years ago he'd regularly been on magazine covers, now the PR team was satisfied with a mere mention of him in the gossip column. Yet, Parker still thought he was the cat's meow, especially with the lady folk who'd been drooling over his copious locks ever since he first hit the silver screen. Now, Parker was in his mid-30s and had put on a few extra pounds that stubbornly would not come off, but his hair remained as glossy and luxuriant as ever. The showy, shoulder-length flow had always been his signature feature.

Milton had once developed a crush on Parker. But, after being spurned repeatedly (and quite rudely), he'd given up on trying to establish any sort of personal relationship with the star.

As Milton strode over to inform Parker about the dramatic changes that had been ordered by the boss, he continued to re-imagine season five. Coming up with ways to marginalize proud, preening Parker Stevens excited him, unexpectedly! And, the makeover he envisioned the aging star receiving made him downright hard! Mounds of that wonderous chestnut-colored hair piling up at the barber's feet....Milton couldn't wait to watch it happen.

Milton rapped curtly on the Parker's door and then entered uninvited. Parker was primping in front of a vanity mirror. His freshly-washed hair oozed vitality and sheen under the bright arch of lights that surrounded the mirror. So much body....it was a dreamy mane, for sure. The idea of having it chopped off continued to excite Milton. He found himself eager to inform the aging star his days of sporting long, sexy hair were at an end.

"You need to thank me, Parker," Milton said casually as he strode up to the chair where Parker was primping.

"For....?" Parker said, plucking a few stray hairs to shape his thick, manly eyebrows.

"For saving the show from a last-minute cancelation. Mr. Martin was ready to pull the plug on it this morning," Milton said.

"What?!" Parker stammered in disbelief.

"You're not the star you used to be, Buddy. The boss referred to you as 'a has-been heart-throb,'" Milton quipped, turning the knife a bit.

"But he didn't cancel on us....?" Parker asked, looking perplexed and feeling insecure.

"The show is hanging on by a hair," Milton smirked, secretly chuckling at his choice of words.

Such thick, beautiful hair! To take a scissors to it! Or, better yet, a fast-feed electric hair clippers?! Milton pictured poor Parker caped and cowed in a big barber chair.

Then, he continued with his startling news, "The boss said we need to generate some headlines before the season premieres. And, I thought of this...." Milton reached out and gently grasped a thick lock of Parker's dreamy mane.

"My hair?" Parker asked. "I guess it is something the fans adore..."

"Yep, but we need NEW news, not old news! We're going to shake things up a bit. Mr. Martin and I decided you will sport a new look in season five and your role is going to morph a bit. From the lead into more of a supporting role...." Milton said, his eyes twinkling at the thought of a reduced status for the prima donna.

"That's absurd!" Parker snapped. "New look? Supporting role? I am totally not onboard with any of this."

"And as to your hair...." Milton held up his fingers, like a pair of scissors.

Parker blanched at the insinuation -- cutting his long hair!

"You're joking," Parker stammered.

"I can just see the media coverage. Before and after photos in the magazines. Parker Stevens' new look for season five," Milton teased. "Shorn of his showy mane!"

Parker whirled around and stood in an attempt to re-assert his primacy.

"Cut my hair short? NEVER!" Parker snapped.

"Well, that was Mr. Martin's condition to stave off the show's cancellation...we need headlines! A big haircut, a dramatic makeover for the show's star, will certainly generate a few. At first, I was thinking about taking off just enough for people to notice -- two or three inches. But, Mr. Martin suggested something really short -- he wants clipper action. A very barbered look!"

"CLIPPERS?! The place has gone mad!" Parker gasped, clearly rattled by the bomb-shell. "Did you dissuade him?"

"No, I quite agreed with him. It's haircut time for you -- today! You're going to get a clean-cut office look, a traditional short back and sides. No more tight pants and unbuttoned shirt with that furry chest showing either. Instead, you'll wear a non-descript office shirt and tie to go with your standard men's haircut," Milton said, trying to conceal his glee.

"That makes no sense -- cut off the hair that attracts so much attention?" Parker stammered as he returned to the mirror. He took a long look at himself....his glorious hair. The wonderful chestnut-color with the natural, fiery highlights.

"The sexy TV detective is going undercover, and he can't be recognized. What better way to start that journey than a trip to the barber shop?" Milton explained.

Parker's face withered. Milton was serious about the haircut!

Milton pulled out his cell phone. "Jace, I have an exclusive for you, but it needs to be the lead story on Infotainment Tonight. Parker Stevens like no one has ever seen him before -- caped up in a traditional barbershop! .... That's right, his long locks on the chopping block! Not since Elvis got drafted will a haircut attract so much attention. You'll have a blast filming mounds of his pampered locks piling up at the barber's feet. But you can't show the new shorn look until just before the season premieres. ... That's great! How fast can you get over here? I thought we could do a few 'before scenes' on set. Parker brushing his locks. Perhaps some audio clips from his fans gushing about his hair, desperate to fondle his locks...then we cut to him being led into the barber shop ... No, he's absolutely dreading it....when you see his nervous looks, it won't be acting....ha, ha....but he really has no say in the matter .... Yep, you can film him sitting in the chair with the cape on, looking absolutely petrified. But, then, it's just the floor. Understood? ... Okay, hair falling to the cape, as well. But no head shots of the ex-longhaired heart-throb, remade as a type of G. I. Stevens until just before the new season starts. He's going undercover in season five."

After Milton hung up, Parker stammered, "Not a military haircut, please!!"

Milton came up behind and gathered up the long locks. The feel of the soft, lustrous hair made Milton harden. He especially like the feeling of control he was exercising. Parker squirming at the thought of his impending makeover and Milton holding all the cards.

"Your fans won't recognize you without all this. Imagine feeling a powerful set of clippers taking all this off, right at the scalp. When was the last time you had your hair tapered short around the ears and up the back?" Milton asked.

Parker gulped. A tear welled up in his eye and then slipped down his cheek. "I've always worn my hair long....it's a bit part of my identity."

"You just might like the new look," Milton remarked, feeling a bit taken aback by the emotional reaction.

Parker's mouth felt dry and his legs weak. "And, something else....my ears stick out awfully, that's why my long hair is extra important to me."

Milton grinned and took the liberty to push Parker's hair back, behind his ear. Then he pulled it into a tail â€" what a thick bulk of hair Parker was going to shed! He grasped the tail possessively. To take it off at the nape and hold it up as a hunting trophy....

"They sure do," he laughed. His fingers lingered as they played with Parker's pretty hair. So soft, so silken....

But, instead of altering course, Milton went on to deliver more bad news.

"You won't appear at all in the first episode. People will be talking about you, wondering where you've gone. Undercover, they'll eventually find out. A wonderful disguise. You'll be unrecognizable without your heart-throb looks, sporting a short haircut and drab, baggy office clothes. In the following episodes, there will be some brief scenes where you'll be on screen, but you won't be recognized or acknowledged as an important character. No, with your shorn and geeky look -- whitewalls, and hair slicked to the side with Bryl cream -- a bit of a walking prop. Oh, and a bunch of pens in a plastic liner in your shirt pocket! You'll finally be revealed to the viewers as a contract worker, an office gopher! Low boy on the totem pole that gets bossed about constantly. Oh, and mocked for having ears that stick out awkwardly. Dumbo will be your office nickname," Milton laughed as he fingered Parker's large ear.

His mind worked quickly to totally transform the ex-star. "And, one evening, when the boss catches you rifling through his desk, looking for some evidence....let's just say I hope the censors don't mind a little adult spanking! Maybe I'll have Mr. Martin appear in a cameo role as the office boss, paddle in hand, ordering you to drop your britches. And your trousers won't be some tight, form-fitting cutting-edge fashion statement. Oh, no! How about shapeless, baggy threads with dated pleats?!"

Parker cringed at the thought of such a look and awful humiliation being broadcast on prime time -- definitely not his usual role or persona.

"But, in the end, I'll be the hero and re-emerge as the main star, right? Going undercover as the office gopher is just temporary, to solve the case?" Parker asked hopefully.

"We'll see how the fan mail goes," Milton replied cryptically. "They might adore your geeky look and humble, subservient attitude! And your ears!!"

Milton again pulled back Parker's hair to reveal his awkward ears. "'Dumbo has such sweet ears,' your ex-fans will write!"

"I doubt it very much," Parker replied.

"Oh, something else. Your current side-kick...he starts the season in charge while you are undercover. I'm going to ramp up his persona and image -- bold, decisive, and SUPER sexy. I wouldn't be surprised if the audiences are all focused on him by the time you are back in the plot."

Milton looked momentarily at Parker's chestnut-colored hair and felt a tinge of sadness.

At the same time, Parker was recalling how Milton once had a crush on him when they first started working. Now was the time to use his trump card!

He threw himself at Milton's mercy. "Please, Milton, you can stop this madness! I'm begging you. I'd do anything, anything at all...."

Milton closed his eyes momentarily and imagined Parker on his knees preparing to give him an unforgettable thrill.

"Anything?" Milton asked, toying with a reprieve for Parker and his long hair.

"Anything!" Parker exclaimed anxiously.

"But, the reporter I called, Jace, he's on his way here...." Milton said softly, feeling a bit torn about Parker's distress and tempted by his come-on.

"Can't we use a wig as a disguise? Even a bald cap, if you must," Parker implored.

"Those are so cheesy and fake-looking. With as much hair as you have, a bald cap would never work. And, there's the news headlines we need to generate per Mr. Martin's instruction. Infotainment Tonight has been told you're getting a short haircut in the barber shop. Jace is eager to film all your beautiful hair piling up on the linoleum floor....the barber casually stepping on it and standing on top of it," Milton said, recovering his more assured tone.

He again caressed Parker's hair tenderly. "Perhaps, if...." Milton swallowed awkwardly. Would the proud Parker kneel to save his mane? With his other hand, Milton reached to his buckle and fiddled with it.

Parker's eyes darted down and then up again. Milton was nibbling at his bait. Parker took over the task of unbuckling the belt.

"Please help me...." Parker whimpered as he went down on his knees.

As Parker unbuttoned Milton's trousers, Milton said softly, "It's still going to get cut short, but I will have the barber leave it fuller so that your ears aren't so goofy. A medium office taper instead of the whitewalls I had planned...but you will be barbered. Understood?"

Parker hesitated. It was hardly a reprieve. But, he was mindful things could get worse. If the haircut turned into a bootcamp induction massacre, he'd be totally humiliated.

But things could also get better. Milton's heart was felting in the glow of his affection. Without another thought, Parker was doing everything he could to save his precious hair from a brutal butchering.

Milton fondled the silken mass while Parker's passionate performance quickly brought him into ecstasy. He panted and let himself go.

"I've surely earned a reprieve for my hair," Parker said with a hopeful tone, as he looked up. "Feathered on the sides and covering the top half of the ears?"

"I'll have the barber leave it full on the sides and back, and fairly long on top. But, Mr. Martin may still want it shorter," Milton said, still a bit breathless.

"Oh, thank you, Milton," Parker replied, deciding to further ensnare his director emotionally with a passionate kiss.

The two made out for quite a while.

Milton's brusque approach to Parker was weakening. The longer he was in Parker's embrace, the more sympathetic he became to his plight.

"Just cut off the length in back, but leave it over my ears. I know you can do that for me," Parker cooed sweetly in Milton's ear. "If you spare my hair, every night while we're filming, my bed will be yours, Milton."

Milton felt conflicted. He needed to save the show. But, Parker was so handsome and his charms were so...irresistible.

"Come," Parker murmured tenderly. "Brush my hair for me. Take your time and enjoy it. I'll understand if it needs to be cut a bit. But, if you tell me you will do everything you can to leave it as long as possible, and over my ears, I will make you the happiest man..."

Milton's fantasy quickly shifted from watching Parker's hair fall to the barbershop floor to spending evening after evening in his sexy lover's arms. He marveled at the luster of Parker's hair as he brushed it. Then he kissed it and whispered. "Just three inches off the back...I promise. You are so handsome, Parker. Definitely NOT a has-been heart-throb like Mr. Martin described. My knees feel weak just looking at you."

His vanity stoked, Parker felt emboldened. The cocky look crept back onto his face.

"Then, my hair should not be cut at all. I'll go undercover as a hippy, not an office geek. Call that reporter off. There will be no barbershop headlines!" Parker barked.

Milton was taken aback at the shift in the dynamic.

Then, Parker totally overplayed his weak hand and pushed Milton too far.

"And now, you! On your knees!" the longhair ordered.

Milton was jerked back into reality. Parker was such a manipulator! He needed to be taught a severe lesson, to be humbled!

Milton grabbed the shimmering locks and gave Parker a painful yank!

"It would be best if you adjusted quickly to the new reality, Parker. You're no longer the star. You should be thankful you still have a part," Milton stated flatly. "Now I need to find some good audio fan mail like I offered Jace for his piece. Once it's all been shaved off, I won't be able to yank it like that again."

"Shaved off?" Parker stammered. "Oh, dear Milt-..."

"And guess what I just decided! You are getting a flattop!"

Parker shrieked. "A flattop!?! Milton, please...."

Milton roared with laughter. "BUZZZZZZZZZZ. All that hair is coming off! And you can kiss my ass!"

Milton could not contain his glee as he exited Parker's dressing and makeup quarters.

When the reporter arrived, Milton was ready to inflict a drastic change of poor Parker. The closer the time for clipper action came, the more morose Parker became.

"We'll start with Parker at his dressing table brushing his long locks for the last time," Milton said.

"Perhaps someone should be brushing them for him, fussing over them and praising his hair," Jace suggested. "Perhaps you, Milton?"

"Oh, yes!" Milton replied enthusiastically. "I'd enjoy that."

Parker had no choice but to go along with the filming session.

Milton took the brush and began working it through Parker's amazing hair.

"Such sheen, such vitality, such length," Milton murmured as the camera focused on the lustrous locks of chestnut.

"But, these trademark tresses are coming to an abrupt end today. A set of powerful fastfeed electric hair clippers in the hands of one determined, no-nonsense barber. Our star is going undercover in season five. No one will recognize him once he's been shorn," Milton explained.

"How do you feel about having all your long hair shaved off, Parker?" Jace asked.

"Petrified," the fading star replied with a quavering lip.

"But, my fans love my acting more than my hair," he added quickly.

"I understand the haircut is not the only change, though," Jace continued.

"No, in fact it is just one of many changes facing the famous Parker Stevens," Milton teased. "But, the only way to find out what the others are is to tune into season five this fall. Come! Is time to get Parker caped up in the barber chair!"

The next filming segment was of Parker ambling slowly to the Hawk's Nest Barber Shop. It was a small, stand-alone building with a large plate-glass window. Hawk's Nest was written in very dated cursive, red lettering; Barber Shop was spelled out right below it in standard blue print. Beneath the name of the shop were four haircuts the barbers specialized in: business cuts, razor shaves, flattop's (curiously misspelled) and military cuts.

Jace panned the camera from the raven mane swishing about Parker's shoulders to the word flattop's and then to the military cuts option.

Inside, Hawk's Nest Barber Shop was in a time warp. The grey and white bullet barber chairs still had ash trays in the arms, dating to the time when smoking in barber shops was standard practice. Behind the row of three chairs was a wall half covered with a green counter and half covered in a huge expanse of mirror. Every sort of cutting instrument was laid out, ready to be employed in the obliteration of Parker Stevens' luscious locks. Over the back of the chair lay a neatly folded white cotton cape with large stripes that matched the gray uphostery. The walls of the shop were covered with illustration of short haircuts which looked as if they dated to the 1950s.

A young barber named John smiled broadly as the trio entered the shop. He sported the same light blue jacket that the other barbers wore which covered his white dress shirt and maroon tie. His own sandy blond hair was groomed to perfection. A very short taper up the sides and back with a slick side part.

"Gentlemen," John said in a welcoming voice, a bit taken aback by the large movie camera Jace was carrying.

"We'd like to film a dramatic makeover, if you would be willing," the cameraman said. "Parker Stevens here is going to be shorn of his long hair. You may recognize him from television."

"I do!" the barber with a jaunty cap said. "My wife watches that detective show religiously."

"Am I going to be on TV?" John asked eagerly.

"You might see yourself on Infotainment Tonight taking the clippers to Parker's mane," Jace replied.

"How much is coming off?" John asked.

Impulsively, Milton replied, "All of it! I want you to take him down to the wood. A humble baldy cut for our star!"

Parker gasped in horror. "Oh, Milton, please...."

In a flash, Jace had the camera recording the star's agony as he was sent to the chair!

John was quick with the cape.

Poor Parker! His face as white as the cloth that covered his sexy, unbuttoned shirt.

"Do you think it's best for Parker himself to ask for the baldy cut or for someone like yourself, Milton, to instruct the barber to shave off his hair?" Jace asked.

"I think him silent and submissive in the chair is best. He will be meek and compliant as the verdict of the show's producer rings â€" induction cut!" Milton laughed.

"Feel free to dramatize the makeover in whatever way you see fit, John. Ham it up as best you can," Jace urged. "Okay! Let's roll!"

Milton ambled up to the cape star and grasped a lock of his lovely hair. Parker's hazel eyes pleaded, but he remained silent.

"This is all coming off," Milton sneered. "An induction cut for Parker Stevens!"

John had the huge set of balding clippers already in hand and snapped them on. Then he held the naked chattering teeth in front of Parker's eyes.

"Welcome to boot camp, Stevie-boy," John chortled as he gripped the long mane from behind and yanked it back so that Parker was forced to stare toward the ceiling. "This is how recruits are treated by the barber!"

The nervous Adam's apple bobbed up and down as the clippers were thrust into the lush collection of hair.

The camera whirled, recording the spectacular fall. Jace thought how great the scene would be in slow motion as the shanks of ebony drifted down to the cotton expanse and bounced helplessly and slid into history.

The shorn swath was tight to the scalp.

Milton gasped, a bit horrified at how short John was shaving the TV star. But, then he remembered Parker's treachery. And, there was nothing to be done about it but enjoy the transformation he had imposed on the cocky prick.

After watching more of Parker's scalp get exposed, Milton thought back to the blowjob. Oh, poor Parker!

John was relentless with the clippers.

Mounds of cut hair piled up everywhere. On the shoulders, on the cape, on the floor, atop the barber's loafers. Jace's camera captured it all!

Suddenly, the cameraman squealed, "Dumbo! Look at those ears!"

The whole shop burst into peals of laughter.

"Dork!" Milton howled, eager to grab the large appendage of give it a good tug.

"But, he's got a nice, very round head," John noted.

"It looks like a melon!" Jace laughed.

Pretty soon, only one patch of length remained. John was quick to harvest the remnants of Parker's mane.

"There! A very uniform induction cut," John bragged as he snapped off the clippers.

Milton could not resist. He was rubbing the fine pelt and savoring his triumph over the humiliated Parker.

"Almost nothing left up here. But, you need to see for yourself to believe the change is real." Then, Milton slowly swiveled the chair around to face the mirror.

The camera recorded the moment Parker took in his new image. "Aghhhhhhhhh!" was all he could manage. It took every bit of self-control to keep the tears from streaming down his cheeks.

"What a perfect undercover disguise. No one will recognize you without all this," Milton said as he pulled a huge wad of cut hair out of Parker's lap and dropped it to the dull gray linoleum floor.

"My ears," Parker stammered.

"Dumbo!" Milton laughed as he twisted one playfully. "You might use them to fly, just like Disney's baby elephant."

Jace was busy recording footage, getting close-ups of the floor, the clippers, the barber's name tag and Parker's bald head.

"This is going to be one swell scoop of entertainment journalism," Jace crowed.

"I can't wait to show off the new Parker to Mr. Martin!" Milton exclaimed.

Finally, John let poor Parker get up from the chair.

"So much hair on the floor," the barber said, fascinated with the display. "That should be a good 4-5 dustpans full of cut hair."

Milton handed John a $50 and told him to keep the change â€" he'd done an excellent job hamming things up and providing for real dramatic footage.

Parker rubbed his bald head and smiled sheepishly at his new image. Being hairless was such a change. It felt cool and....well, to be honest...refreshing. Maybe it was a change he needed....

Back at the studio, Milton could not wait to show Parker's bald head to Mr. Martin.

"Go on, walk in there," he urged the reluctant Parker. "Mr. Milton is anxious to see his refreshed veteran actor."

Parker turned the handle of the office door slowly. "Uh, Mr. Martin, I wanted to show you...."

He poked his head in.

Mr. Martin took one look and burst into laughter.

"Oh, my!! Come in. Let me see the new you!" Mr. Martin chortled.

Parker stood feeling very vulnerable and a bit ridiculous.

"I love it!" the boss exclaimed.

Then he motioned for Parker to come closer.

"Yes, this suits you perfectly. That hair was such a distraction.... It will not be growing back!" Mr. Martin said with an air of finality.

"So, I had an idea, Mr. Martin," Milton said. "In Episode 5, our undercover detective is caught rifling through his boss' office. The boss himself catches the snooping and decides to punish him right on the spot....with a paddle! How about a cameo appearance? Wouldn't it be fun to give this tight rear-end a few stern snacks with a paddle?"

"Like, lean him over the desk he was pilfering from and wrench down his slacks?" Mr. Martin asked. "Of course, I will do the honors! But, I will need to practice. A lot!"

Milton agreed, of course.

"Now, take Parker to the wardrobe and having him outfitted in a total geek look â€" black polyester peg-leg pants, white socks, clunky wing-tip shoes, a short-sleeved white dress shirt and a plastic pen liner with plenty of pens in his pockets. Oh, and clunky black plastic frames! Our star needs glasses!" Mr. Martin clucked.

"Yes, sir. I'm so glad you saved the show by authorizing season five!" Milton crowed before leaving the office quite content with how things had turned out.

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