CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
DREW
Jason knocked on the door and, without the answer that should have followed, invited himself inside Drew's trailer. Drew looked up at him from her laptop in surprise. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, it was the most normal she'd seen him look in almost three months.
"What do you do in here after we wrap filming?" he asked.
Drew shrugged. "I don't know...read, email, watch movies...I stay occupied."
"You're not happy."
"Yes I am. I'm plenty happy."
"You're not. You're not even that social with anyone. People are starting to think you're being a diva."
Drew closed her laptop and narrowed her eyes at Jason. "Did you come in here to insult me?"
Jason smiled. "No, I'm just letting you know what's going on. I cover for you and tell them you're just shy."
"Uh, I didn't realize it was a such a big deal. So sue me if I want to just wind down after an excruciating day of filming."
Now he laughed. "Excruciating? That's the word you're using to describe this film? Don't you think that's a little dramatic?"
Drew flipped her hair off her shoulder and stuck her nose in the air. "I am an actress. It's what I do."
"Come have a beer with Gerard and me."
She came down off of her invisible high horse and looked at Jason. "You're not even supposed to have beer. And I am certainly not supposed to have it. Besides I don't want to be the third wheel in your little date."
"Come on," he pressed her. "I know you're not happy. You miss Mel. And Zac. You're lonely. You could use the change in scenery."
"I'm fine."
Looking around the room, Jason's eyes landed on a random jacket. He grabbed it and threw it at her. "Let's go."
Before she knew it, she stood in an Irish pub with Gerard and Jason. A real Irish pub, of course, not those weak ones they try to pass off as Irish in the states. She took one step in the door and looked around. "Um,
I'm, like, the only chick here..."
"Relax," Jason said. "I've watched you sling back drinks just like you're one of the guys. Don't sweat it."
"I'm not even a beer drinker," she said. "Not to mention, I was specifically told by--"
"Oh come off it, Drew," Gerard butted in. "Just have a beer, it won't kill you. Or a shot of vodka or two, whatever tickles your fancy."
"Well, if the director says so..." Jason said in her ear.
She back-handed his stomach and he laughed.
Two hours later, Drew was three sheets to the wind. Three sheets on authentic Irish beer. She thought she'd never see the day. Hell, she could barely see right in front of her. In her stupor, she found her hand on Gerard's shoulder. "I love you. I just do. I mean, like, you're a fucking hard-ass sometimes and you really stress me out and piss me off, but you're so--you're just so goddamn handsome. I mean, for a British
guy. A British hard-ass." Then Drew laughed loudly. "You have a British hard ass!"
Jason snickered at Gerard and Gerard cut an amused glance at Jason.
"And you!" Drew turned her drunken attention to Jason. "You are welcome to fuck my best friend any day of the week. I don't care. If fucking you is what makes her happy, then that makes me happy. It makes me
happy that you fuck her. Did you know that?"
"Okay!" Jason said. "I think the party is over! Time to go!"
"Idontwannagoooo!" Drew said. "I just started having fun."
"I think you've had quite enough fun," Jason laughed.
"Come along now," Gerard said. "We have an early day tomorrow."
The last thing Drew remembered was Gerard and Jason on either side of her, helping her walk out the pub door.
The next morning, she woke up to Gerard standing over her. The daylight from outside her trailer nearly killed her. And then she saw Gerard and she panicked. "Oh my god," she said. "I'm late for set, I'm not even in makeup, oh my god!"
Gerard laughed. "It's okay. I just came to tell you I changed around the filming schedule a little. Take a load off today, you're in no condition to get in character."
"I am so embarrassed, you have no idea. I mean, everyone apparently already thinks I'm some kind of diva just because I don't 'hang out' after work but the one time I do I make a complete ass out of myself."
"Screw what they think. You're not here to impress or entertain them. You're here to film a movie. And so far I think you're doing a damn fine job. And if your boss tells you to take a day off, then just take a day off and enjoy the time."
With that, Gerard winked at her and left her trailer.
She flopped back on her bed, her head suddenly throbbing. She immediately set off in search of water, coffee, and medication. She had a feeling this was going to be a very long day off.
_________________________________________________
MEL
Taylor didn't even knock. Mel couldn't remember the last time he knocked on her office door. He bustled in, shut the door behind him and sat down, shoving his phone across the desk at her. "Look."
Mel immediately saw the "Glamarazzi" website logo and rolled her eyes. "Oh god, you, too?"
"Just LOOK."
She scrolled down the page and her eyes landed on it. She had to know this was coming. He had to know. They both had to know. There they were--in the two seconds he had her by the hand as they left Majestic,
someone had snapped a photo. And now Glamarazzi had ahold of it. "Is the singer of MMMBop mmmhopping over to another lady? And who is this new mystery lady?" Mel read aloud. "None other than the former Melody Bradshaw, heiress to the late Bernice Bradshaw's fortune from New York City. Hanson and Bradshaw (now Banks) were seen leaving Club Majestic in Tulsa, OK hand in hand after being spotted talking by the bar earlier in the evening. We know this is certainly not the first time they've met..." her
voice tailed off as the article went into all the old stuff about New York.
"You see why I could hardly even look at you in there the other night?" he said.
"Hey, YOU took MY hand," Mel said.
Tay sighed. "I know. I am so fucking screwed if Natalie sees this. And she will. She and Kate are on it all damn day. "
Mel was speechless. Normally she had a response for this sort of thing but she didn't this time. Tay's voice caught her off guard. "I can't let her divorce me."
Her eyes suddenly widened at the shock of his statement. "Excuse me?"
"No, I mean--I can't let her divorce me based on THAT," he pointed to his phone in her hand. "She'll fucking clean me out and I would expect her to."
Mel looked at him, confused. "Do you not have a prenup?"
"Of course we have a prenup," he said. "But it's extremely specific. Especially in the adultery clause...oh goddamn..."
"I thought you said divorcing her wasn't about the money?"
"Well in theory, no. I mean, I'm--you and I are going to be together. Even if all I have to bring to the relationship is a cardboard box. Okay? But realistically? If she divorces me citing adultery, we're talking enormous alimony payments. Fucking enormous. And she'll fight for it, too, I just know she will."
"Why the hell would you do something like that?" Mel asked.
"Fuck, I forgot to check my crystal ball so I could see the future, Mel. Because I totally saw this conversation right here coming and I wanted to completely wipe out my fucking bank account and hand it all over to
Natalie. FUCK!"
Mel chewed on her fingernail in thought. She really didn't know what to say to help him.
"Stop doing that," he said.
"What?"
"Stop biting your nails."
"Do you really think now is a good time to have the pet peeves conversation? Now what if...I mean you could just tell her it LOOKS like we're holding hands..."
"No, it's pretty damn obvious."
"Well...maybe she won't even see it."
"She'll see it."
"Tay, it can't be that bad."
"It's pretty bad. But even if--I mean it really isn't about the money. Seriously. But I just--I mean I wanted this to be a clean break. Get all my ducks in a row before I presented her with it and--dammit she's going to drag this out into a nasty brawl, I can just see it now."
Mel sighed, defeated. Her heart broke for him and she wished she could help him. And she couldn't help but feel terribly guilty, though she wasn't quite sure what for. "I'm sorry, sweetie," she said to him. "I am so sorry. I really wish I could help."
"I know," he said. "I don't--I really don't know why I even showed you, or even aired all this out at you. I'm supposed to be dealing with it on my own."
Mel smiled. "I can't believe I've actually gotten to the point where I can say this, but I want you to be able to lean on me. That's what I'm here for. I know this will be difficult for you. I know ten years is a long time to spend with a person. I get that. But in the end, all I want is you. And if it takes...well if it takes forever to get there then it will have been worth the wait."
Tay smiled at her. "You make me feel like I'm sixteen again."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"You know what I mean."
She smiled at him again. "You'll be fine. Promise."
As he left her office, her nerves began to get the best of her. She hoped and prayed that he wouldn't back track and change his mind about his plans for them.
___________________________________________________
DREW
A couple of days later, Drew had bounced back from her epic Irish hangover. She had made sure to make sufficient time to blame Jason for her international social embarrassment.
Today was a big day. One of the days she'd been most nervous about. They were filming the final fight scene between her and Jason. They'd rehearsed it a million times. She had the choreography down cold. But now they were doing it for real this time, in full costume and rolling tape. Stage fright seemed to be getting the better of her today.
She and Jason stood across from each other on set, makeup artists touching up their makeup and the costume department adjusting their costumes. Blush, lipstick and double-sided tape ran rampant between the two stars.
Suddenly, Gerard Cline's British accent bellowed into the room. "WHO IN THE BLOODY HELL GAVE A GODDAMNED INTERVIEW??"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him. You could hear a pin drop. He displayed a newspaper in his hand. "Every single person on this project, including myself, signed a non disclosure contract before coming to work on this film. DOES EVERYONE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THE DEFINITION OF NON DISCLOSURE??? It means nobody, absolutely NOBODY, is to speak to anyone about this project." He began walking around the room, still displaying the newspaper. " 'Why?' you may ask? BECAUSE OF RUBBISH LIKE THIS!!" He threw the newspaper down, face up, on one of the prop tables.
No one dared make a sound. No one dared even move.
"Now I imagine that this so-called 'Anonymous Insider' thinks they're cute and clever by calling themselves anonymous. May have even made themselves a little extra cash. But what's NOT cute is blatantly violating a signed contract and spreading heinous lies and rumors! So since Anonymous has a few grievances to air out, let us all have a moment to air out our own grievances in front of everyone so that we may all be on the same page here, yes? I'll start. I am the director! I direct this film! That means I direct everyone what to do, where to stand and HOW to act! I direct EVERYONE on this set to do exactly as I see fit for this film! So if that includes changing some filming schedules around that suits ME, then that's what I'm going to do and no one need question it. Anonymous thinks I'm showing favoritism to Drew by allowing her a day off and switching
around the schedule to please her. Is that what everyone here thinks? WELL I DON'T GIVE A RAT'S ASS WHAT ANYONE ELSE HERE THINKS! Anonymous thinks I show favoritism with Drew and Jason both. Well what do you bloody expect? They're the goddamn stars of the film! They have bigger roles and more screen time! When the rest of you star in one of my movies, I'll spend extra time with you as well. GROW UP, PEOPLE!!! GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSES!!! This article has gone VIRAL!! This is the very first bit of media about this project and it is full of negativity and lies and it is now VIRAL! The next bit of information I see floating around about this movie, it will be over for whoever leaked it. I WILL find you and I WILL fire you and I'll have NO GODDAMN PROBLEM WRITING YOU OUT OF THE FILM AND RE FILMING THE ENTIRE BLOODY THING WITHOUT YOU!!! Do I make myself clear?"
Gerard paused and looked around the room at everyone, expectantly.
"Anyone have anything else they'd like to add?"
Silence.
"Very well, then. We have a big day ahead. Let's get ready to roll this."
Drew and Jason looked at each other wide-eyed, both of them speechless. Drew couldn't begin to have an idea who would have leaked the information but she was sure glad it wasn't her. As she watched Gerard go on his rampage, she felt a series of emotions radiating off of him that she had never felt before. She didn't know if everyone felt it or if it was just her. Immediately she detected fear. Up until this moment, Drew regarded
Gerard as absolutely fearless. But now she knew the truth. This was a man who was extremely proud of his work but also extremely afraid of failure. The dramatic way he got his point across translated to Drew as
passion. Sure, everyone knew Gerard Cline was passionate about his work but she never imagined him having this type of reaction over a simple newspaper article. She began to see an admirable quality in him that she hadn't detected before. It was strange. She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something about him in this moment that was so...turning her on? Surely not. He was her boss!
The moment she though of him as her boss, her moment of temporary insanity suddenly vanished and she shuddered. There was no way she could think of him that way. He was rough and crass. She needed someone
who possessed the ability to have compassion and feelings. Someone who wasn't afraid to share themselves and wear their heart on their sleeve...
Someone like Zac Hanson.
________________________________________________
DREW
Jason knocked on the door and, without the answer that should have followed, invited himself inside Drew's trailer. Drew looked up at him from her laptop in surprise. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, it was the most normal she'd seen him look in almost three months.
"What do you do in here after we wrap filming?" he asked.
Drew shrugged. "I don't know...read, email, watch movies...I stay occupied."
"You're not happy."
"Yes I am. I'm plenty happy."
"You're not. You're not even that social with anyone. People are starting to think you're being a diva."
Drew closed her laptop and narrowed her eyes at Jason. "Did you come in here to insult me?"
Jason smiled. "No, I'm just letting you know what's going on. I cover for you and tell them you're just shy."
"Uh, I didn't realize it was a such a big deal. So sue me if I want to just wind down after an excruciating day of filming."
Now he laughed. "Excruciating? That's the word you're using to describe this film? Don't you think that's a little dramatic?"
Drew flipped her hair off her shoulder and stuck her nose in the air. "I am an actress. It's what I do."
"Come have a beer with Gerard and me."
She came down off of her invisible high horse and looked at Jason. "You're not even supposed to have beer. And I am certainly not supposed to have it. Besides I don't want to be the third wheel in your little date."
"Come on," he pressed her. "I know you're not happy. You miss Mel. And Zac. You're lonely. You could use the change in scenery."
"I'm fine."
Looking around the room, Jason's eyes landed on a random jacket. He grabbed it and threw it at her. "Let's go."
Before she knew it, she stood in an Irish pub with Gerard and Jason. A real Irish pub, of course, not those weak ones they try to pass off as Irish in the states. She took one step in the door and looked around. "Um,
I'm, like, the only chick here..."
"Relax," Jason said. "I've watched you sling back drinks just like you're one of the guys. Don't sweat it."
"I'm not even a beer drinker," she said. "Not to mention, I was specifically told by--"
"Oh come off it, Drew," Gerard butted in. "Just have a beer, it won't kill you. Or a shot of vodka or two, whatever tickles your fancy."
"Well, if the director says so..." Jason said in her ear.
She back-handed his stomach and he laughed.
Two hours later, Drew was three sheets to the wind. Three sheets on authentic Irish beer. She thought she'd never see the day. Hell, she could barely see right in front of her. In her stupor, she found her hand on Gerard's shoulder. "I love you. I just do. I mean, like, you're a fucking hard-ass sometimes and you really stress me out and piss me off, but you're so--you're just so goddamn handsome. I mean, for a British
guy. A British hard-ass." Then Drew laughed loudly. "You have a British hard ass!"
Jason snickered at Gerard and Gerard cut an amused glance at Jason.
"And you!" Drew turned her drunken attention to Jason. "You are welcome to fuck my best friend any day of the week. I don't care. If fucking you is what makes her happy, then that makes me happy. It makes me
happy that you fuck her. Did you know that?"
"Okay!" Jason said. "I think the party is over! Time to go!"
"Idontwannagoooo!" Drew said. "I just started having fun."
"I think you've had quite enough fun," Jason laughed.
"Come along now," Gerard said. "We have an early day tomorrow."
The last thing Drew remembered was Gerard and Jason on either side of her, helping her walk out the pub door.
The next morning, she woke up to Gerard standing over her. The daylight from outside her trailer nearly killed her. And then she saw Gerard and she panicked. "Oh my god," she said. "I'm late for set, I'm not even in makeup, oh my god!"
Gerard laughed. "It's okay. I just came to tell you I changed around the filming schedule a little. Take a load off today, you're in no condition to get in character."
"I am so embarrassed, you have no idea. I mean, everyone apparently already thinks I'm some kind of diva just because I don't 'hang out' after work but the one time I do I make a complete ass out of myself."
"Screw what they think. You're not here to impress or entertain them. You're here to film a movie. And so far I think you're doing a damn fine job. And if your boss tells you to take a day off, then just take a day off and enjoy the time."
With that, Gerard winked at her and left her trailer.
She flopped back on her bed, her head suddenly throbbing. She immediately set off in search of water, coffee, and medication. She had a feeling this was going to be a very long day off.
_________________________________________________
MEL
Taylor didn't even knock. Mel couldn't remember the last time he knocked on her office door. He bustled in, shut the door behind him and sat down, shoving his phone across the desk at her. "Look."
Mel immediately saw the "Glamarazzi" website logo and rolled her eyes. "Oh god, you, too?"
"Just LOOK."
She scrolled down the page and her eyes landed on it. She had to know this was coming. He had to know. They both had to know. There they were--in the two seconds he had her by the hand as they left Majestic,
someone had snapped a photo. And now Glamarazzi had ahold of it. "Is the singer of MMMBop mmmhopping over to another lady? And who is this new mystery lady?" Mel read aloud. "None other than the former Melody Bradshaw, heiress to the late Bernice Bradshaw's fortune from New York City. Hanson and Bradshaw (now Banks) were seen leaving Club Majestic in Tulsa, OK hand in hand after being spotted talking by the bar earlier in the evening. We know this is certainly not the first time they've met..." her
voice tailed off as the article went into all the old stuff about New York.
"You see why I could hardly even look at you in there the other night?" he said.
"Hey, YOU took MY hand," Mel said.
Tay sighed. "I know. I am so fucking screwed if Natalie sees this. And she will. She and Kate are on it all damn day. "
Mel was speechless. Normally she had a response for this sort of thing but she didn't this time. Tay's voice caught her off guard. "I can't let her divorce me."
Her eyes suddenly widened at the shock of his statement. "Excuse me?"
"No, I mean--I can't let her divorce me based on THAT," he pointed to his phone in her hand. "She'll fucking clean me out and I would expect her to."
Mel looked at him, confused. "Do you not have a prenup?"
"Of course we have a prenup," he said. "But it's extremely specific. Especially in the adultery clause...oh goddamn..."
"I thought you said divorcing her wasn't about the money?"
"Well in theory, no. I mean, I'm--you and I are going to be together. Even if all I have to bring to the relationship is a cardboard box. Okay? But realistically? If she divorces me citing adultery, we're talking enormous alimony payments. Fucking enormous. And she'll fight for it, too, I just know she will."
"Why the hell would you do something like that?" Mel asked.
"Fuck, I forgot to check my crystal ball so I could see the future, Mel. Because I totally saw this conversation right here coming and I wanted to completely wipe out my fucking bank account and hand it all over to
Natalie. FUCK!"
Mel chewed on her fingernail in thought. She really didn't know what to say to help him.
"Stop doing that," he said.
"What?"
"Stop biting your nails."
"Do you really think now is a good time to have the pet peeves conversation? Now what if...I mean you could just tell her it LOOKS like we're holding hands..."
"No, it's pretty damn obvious."
"Well...maybe she won't even see it."
"She'll see it."
"Tay, it can't be that bad."
"It's pretty bad. But even if--I mean it really isn't about the money. Seriously. But I just--I mean I wanted this to be a clean break. Get all my ducks in a row before I presented her with it and--dammit she's going to drag this out into a nasty brawl, I can just see it now."
Mel sighed, defeated. Her heart broke for him and she wished she could help him. And she couldn't help but feel terribly guilty, though she wasn't quite sure what for. "I'm sorry, sweetie," she said to him. "I am so sorry. I really wish I could help."
"I know," he said. "I don't--I really don't know why I even showed you, or even aired all this out at you. I'm supposed to be dealing with it on my own."
Mel smiled. "I can't believe I've actually gotten to the point where I can say this, but I want you to be able to lean on me. That's what I'm here for. I know this will be difficult for you. I know ten years is a long time to spend with a person. I get that. But in the end, all I want is you. And if it takes...well if it takes forever to get there then it will have been worth the wait."
Tay smiled at her. "You make me feel like I'm sixteen again."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"You know what I mean."
She smiled at him again. "You'll be fine. Promise."
As he left her office, her nerves began to get the best of her. She hoped and prayed that he wouldn't back track and change his mind about his plans for them.
___________________________________________________
DREW
A couple of days later, Drew had bounced back from her epic Irish hangover. She had made sure to make sufficient time to blame Jason for her international social embarrassment.
Today was a big day. One of the days she'd been most nervous about. They were filming the final fight scene between her and Jason. They'd rehearsed it a million times. She had the choreography down cold. But now they were doing it for real this time, in full costume and rolling tape. Stage fright seemed to be getting the better of her today.
She and Jason stood across from each other on set, makeup artists touching up their makeup and the costume department adjusting their costumes. Blush, lipstick and double-sided tape ran rampant between the two stars.
Suddenly, Gerard Cline's British accent bellowed into the room. "WHO IN THE BLOODY HELL GAVE A GODDAMNED INTERVIEW??"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him. You could hear a pin drop. He displayed a newspaper in his hand. "Every single person on this project, including myself, signed a non disclosure contract before coming to work on this film. DOES EVERYONE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THE DEFINITION OF NON DISCLOSURE??? It means nobody, absolutely NOBODY, is to speak to anyone about this project." He began walking around the room, still displaying the newspaper. " 'Why?' you may ask? BECAUSE OF RUBBISH LIKE THIS!!" He threw the newspaper down, face up, on one of the prop tables.
No one dared make a sound. No one dared even move.
"Now I imagine that this so-called 'Anonymous Insider' thinks they're cute and clever by calling themselves anonymous. May have even made themselves a little extra cash. But what's NOT cute is blatantly violating a signed contract and spreading heinous lies and rumors! So since Anonymous has a few grievances to air out, let us all have a moment to air out our own grievances in front of everyone so that we may all be on the same page here, yes? I'll start. I am the director! I direct this film! That means I direct everyone what to do, where to stand and HOW to act! I direct EVERYONE on this set to do exactly as I see fit for this film! So if that includes changing some filming schedules around that suits ME, then that's what I'm going to do and no one need question it. Anonymous thinks I'm showing favoritism to Drew by allowing her a day off and switching
around the schedule to please her. Is that what everyone here thinks? WELL I DON'T GIVE A RAT'S ASS WHAT ANYONE ELSE HERE THINKS! Anonymous thinks I show favoritism with Drew and Jason both. Well what do you bloody expect? They're the goddamn stars of the film! They have bigger roles and more screen time! When the rest of you star in one of my movies, I'll spend extra time with you as well. GROW UP, PEOPLE!!! GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSES!!! This article has gone VIRAL!! This is the very first bit of media about this project and it is full of negativity and lies and it is now VIRAL! The next bit of information I see floating around about this movie, it will be over for whoever leaked it. I WILL find you and I WILL fire you and I'll have NO GODDAMN PROBLEM WRITING YOU OUT OF THE FILM AND RE FILMING THE ENTIRE BLOODY THING WITHOUT YOU!!! Do I make myself clear?"
Gerard paused and looked around the room at everyone, expectantly.
"Anyone have anything else they'd like to add?"
Silence.
"Very well, then. We have a big day ahead. Let's get ready to roll this."
Drew and Jason looked at each other wide-eyed, both of them speechless. Drew couldn't begin to have an idea who would have leaked the information but she was sure glad it wasn't her. As she watched Gerard go on his rampage, she felt a series of emotions radiating off of him that she had never felt before. She didn't know if everyone felt it or if it was just her. Immediately she detected fear. Up until this moment, Drew regarded
Gerard as absolutely fearless. But now she knew the truth. This was a man who was extremely proud of his work but also extremely afraid of failure. The dramatic way he got his point across translated to Drew as
passion. Sure, everyone knew Gerard Cline was passionate about his work but she never imagined him having this type of reaction over a simple newspaper article. She began to see an admirable quality in him that she hadn't detected before. It was strange. She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was something about him in this moment that was so...turning her on? Surely not. He was her boss!
The moment she though of him as her boss, her moment of temporary insanity suddenly vanished and she shuddered. There was no way she could think of him that way. He was rough and crass. She needed someone
who possessed the ability to have compassion and feelings. Someone who wasn't afraid to share themselves and wear their heart on their sleeve...
Someone like Zac Hanson.
________________________________________________