Hello, Hollywood!

by Janice Thompson

  “You didn’t bring food?” He shook his head. “Has the whole world gone crazy? Nothing is as it should be.”

  No, nothing is as it should be—and yet everything is as it should be. Only, I couldn’t say that to Paul, now could I? He settled in at his desk, grumbling about his empty stomach. I looked around the room—that crazy, mixed-up room—and settled onto the spot on the divan next to Stephen. Talk about inspirational.

  While the actors met for their roundtable reading of the Snidely Whiplash script, Paul, Stephen, and I pounded out our ideas for next week’s show. I could tell Paul’s heart wasn’t really in it. Until Stephen mentioned something that got us all excited.

  “Did you realize that Milo has done some acting?”

  “No way.” I looked up from my laptop. “He has?”

  “In Greece. He was on a soap opera in the sixties.”

  “That’s crazy. I had no idea.”

  “Yes, apparently he was quite a handsome fellow back in the day. I did a little research online, and he had a real following with the ladies.”

  “Wow. Who knew.”

  “It got me to thinking that we should use him in the next episode. And maybe . . .” Stephen grinned. “Maybe we could use your aunt Melina too.”

  “Aunt Melina?” Yikes. “I don’t know about that, Stephen. Sounds a little risky. She’s got a few . . . problems.”

  “I know, but they’ve got great chemistry. I think it would translate to the screen. Besides, it would be fun to add more seniors to the episode where Angie reveals her pregnancy, don’t you think? The older women would have a lot to say about it.”

  “True.” I thought about that. “So, is that where we are in the plotline? Are we ready for Angie to break the news about the baby?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  “It’s about time.” Paul grinned. He reached into the toy box and came out with the soccer ball. “I’ve missed Little Ricky. Can’t wait to add him back into the script.”

  The next several minutes were spent laughing and talking about the “Angie’s Having a Baby” episode. Thankfully, Stephen went along with all of our earlier plans, which made for smooth sailing in the writing room.

  “I love that Cuban bandleader idea,” he said. “Hope we can get George Lopez on board. I think viewers will make the connection to the old I Love Lucy episode.”

  “Yeah, it’s gonna be great,” Paul said. He rose and began to pace the room. “Can’t you see it now? Angie tries a hundred different ways to tell Jack, but he doesn’t get it. In the end, he gets the news in a public setting. Crazy.”

  “That’s the last place I’d want to share something that personal,” I said.

  “Which is what makes it so perfect.” Stephen grinned. “Comedy is supposed to make you squirm. That’s half the fun.” He wiggled his eyebrows and I laughed, realizing just how much I’d squirmed in the swimming pool the other night, especially with Brooke and the other girls watching our every move.

  On and on we went, talking about how perfect the upcoming scene would be. All the while, I kept thinking about how perfect the here-and-now scene in my own life was turning out to be. Brooke was right. Stephen and I were at Step 9 on the plotline. I was experiencing a long-overdue moment of triumph in my life and loving every minute of it.

  We’d just pounded out the final line to the new episode when a knock sounded at the door. Kat stuck her head inside and smiled.

  “Hey, you guys.”

  “Hey, yourself.” I rose and joined her at the door, seeing Lenora standing next to her.

  “Tia wants to know if you guys want to join us in the studio for our walk-through.”

  “Oh wow. You guys never do the walk-through till Tuesday. What’s up with that?”

  “You worked a lot of physical comedy into this episode,” Kat said. “So Tia feels like we’ll need to go ahead and map things out. That’s why she wants you in there, so you can help with the blocking. She wants to get a feel for what you had in mind. What do you think?”

  “Cool.” Paul rose and joined us. “Sounds like fun.”

  I nodded. “Yeah. I’m okay with that. It’s great to be included, and we’ve already gotten a lot done today anyway.”

  “Well, c’mon then,” Paul said, leading the way. “Let’s round up the usual suspects.”

  “Ooo.” Lenora grinned. “Casablanca. 1942. Claude Rains.”

  Stephen looked her way, clearly impressed.

  “It’s a gift,” I whispered. “She can’t remember what she had for lunch today, but she can remember almost any line from any movie.”

  “No joke?”

  “No joke.”

  I tagged along on Lenora’s heels to the studio, feeling Stephen’s hand on my back as we made our way down the hallway. Funny how something as simple as a hand on the back could give you such confidence. I entered the studio feeling like a million bucks. And as I settled into a director’s chair—at Tia’s bidding—the world was my oyster.

  Oh, what joy the next hour turned out to be. Every funny word we’d written danced across the lips of those delivering the lines. It all felt . . . magical. Like I’d waited my whole life for this moment.

  I watched as Tia worked with the actors and cameramen. Seeing her in action intimidated me a little. And the few times she veered from the script, I did my best not to let it hurt my feelings. Who would cross her? Not me!

  Sometimes I looked at Tia—beautiful, petite Tia—and wondered why some fellow hadn’t snatched her up and married her. Other times I listened to her bark commands at people and knew exactly why some fellow hadn’t snatched her up and married her. The woman—though tiny—was a force to be reckoned with. It would take some kind of man to stand up to all five-foot-two of her. I had to wonder if such a man existed.

  Jason manned one of the cameras, focused as usual. At one point, though, I happened to catch a glimpse of him looking at Tia. I couldn’t quite gauge his expression. In that moment, the strangest thought occurred to me. Perhaps his so-called angst toward her was just a ploy to get attention. Maybe what he wanted was something altogether different. Interesting.

  “So what do you think about how things are going?” Kat asked. “Is it like you envisioned it?”

  I startled to attention. “Oh, even better.”

  “Good.” She grinned. “Because I think this is your funniest script ever, Athena. It’s . . . amazing. Everyone agrees. I wish you could have heard us laughing at the roundtable reading this morning. I thought Grandma was going to bust her buttons.”

  “Or take off flying with that umbrella of hers?” I asked.

  Kat grinned. “Something like that. It’s really great when we’ve got amazing material to work with. Makes our job as actors so much easier. You have no idea.”

  “Aw, thanks.”

  “It’s funny because you’re funny.”

  “You think?”

  “Of course. You’re one of the funniest people I know. In a natural, God-given sort of way. Not contrived funny, if that makes sense.”

  “It makes sense.”

  “I really had a blast with you at the shop on Saturday,” Kat said. “It was fun building heroes with you.”

  “Ha! I had fun too.” I leaned in to whisper, “And I have so much to tell you.”

  “You do?”

  “Yeah, after we got back to the house, things, well . . .” I felt my cheeks grow warm. “I’ll tell you later.”

  “Yeah, I need to talk to you later too.”

  Tia called everyone back to attention, and before long the Snidely Whiplash scene was fully under way, physical gags and all. I managed to interject a few ideas along the way, adding more humor to the scenes. What a joy to listen to the laughter that rang out as the lines were delivered. Nothing could top that feeling for a writer.

  Not that everything went according to schedule. In the middle of the rehearsal, a voice rang out. “Stop the presses, we’ve lost one of the kids!”

  I turned, recognizing
the children’s teacher.

  Tia brought the rehearsal to an immediate halt. “Who is it?”

  “Toby.” The teacher paled. “I can’t find him anywhere.”

  “Toby?” I turned to Paul. “He’s only five.” A thousand awful thoughts went through my head. Had he been kidnapped? Maybe someone was holding him for ransom?

  Seconds later, he popped up from behind the sofa on the set and hollered, “Boo!” Scared the daylights out of Tia and even distracted Jason, who jerked away from the camera.

  The whole thing was a little scary, but somewhat typical of the kid. He was always up to tricks. Then again, they all were. That’s what made the show work, after all. Having the kids aboard added all sorts of possibility for conflict—on and off the set.

  Tia, ever the professional, got right back to work. Within minutes, everyone was laughing again. And when they finished, even the crew members cheered. I couldn’t remember this kind of enthusiasm on the set of Stars Collide since Jack and Angie’s wedding scene last season.

  An undercurrent of energy laced Rex’s words as he turned my way with hand extended. “Let’s give our writers a hand.”

  I gave a little curtsy as the cast and crew applauded our efforts. Paul gave a deep, kingly bow, and Stephen . . . well, Stephen just blushed. He gestured to me, giving me the credit. Seriously? We’d done this together. And we’d write many, many more scenes together, if things went the way I hoped they would.

  “Just wait till you see what we have next!” I said. Looking at Rex, I whispered, “Is it okay to tell them?” and he nodded.

  “Jack and Angie are going to have a baby!”

  A collective gasp went up from all in attendance, then everyone began to cheer.

  When the applause died down, Kat looked my way, her brow wrinkled. “I just have one question,” she said. “Pink or blue?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Pink or blue? Girl or boy?”

  “Oh, he’s going to be a boy. We’re already calling him Little Ricky. Funny, right?”

  Several of the cast members chuckled at that one.

  “We’re using the I Love Lucy angle because we know viewers will connect with it. That’s the goal, to help them connect. It’s going to be really funny, especially if we can get George Lopez to play the Cuban bandleader.”

  “Wonderful idea,” Scott said. He pulled Kat into his arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “My blushing bride . . . expecting! What a fun plot twist!”

  “It’s going to be hysterical,” I said. “Just wait till you see all that we have planned. Hope you’re up for a lot of fun.”

  “I am.” Kat grinned. “I can’t wait. But I’ll bet I know something even funnier than anything you writers can cook up.” She paused, her eyebrows elevating.

  “Oh?”

  “Yep. Let’s just say that God has impeccable timing and an amazing sense of humor.”

  “Well, sure he does. I’ve always said that.” I went off on a tangent, talking about the Scriptures on laughter. After a couple of moments, I couldn’t help but notice that Kat was staring at me. She crossed her arms and sighed. Loudly.

  “What?” I asked. “Did I lose you?”

  “Athena, sometimes it’s better just to come out and say something instead of beating around the bush.” She looked directly into my eyes. “I’m having a baby.”

  “Well, yeah. I know that. What do you think I’ve been talking about? We just wrote the scene this morning—the one where you stand up in front of your friends and tell them that you’re . . .” My words drifted off and my breath caught in my throat. “Kat, you do mean that your character Angie is pregnant, right?”

  “Right.” Kat nodded. “She’s pregnant.”

  “Oh, good.” I paused to giggle. “Because for a minute there—”

  “And to make things even more ironic, so am I.”

  I continued to ramble until her words sank in. “You . . . you . . . you’re . . .”

  “Yep.” She nodded, then began to cry. Happy tears, no doubt.

  Scott pulled her close and began to sing in perfect pitch, “We’re having a baby, my baby and me!”

  Everyone swarmed them at once. I found myself surrounded on every side by well-wishers pouring out their love and affection on Kat and Scott. I wanted to hug Kat first but missed out when Rex grabbed her. Then Nora. Then Tia. Then everyone else on the planet. My heart swelled with joy as I watched the giddy expression on my best friend’s face. Oh, the things I wanted to tell her! How had she kept this from me? We never had secrets. Never!

  Then again, some things were meant to be between husband and wife. That was the point, wasn’t it?

  The crowd finally cleared, and I gave her a big hug. “I’m so happy for you, I could just scream.”

  “Join the crowd.” She gestured to the cast and crew. “Looks like everyone loves the idea.”

  “What’s not to love?” I paused a moment and whispered, “I’m assuming Lenora already knew?”

  “Oh, heavens, yes. She’s already hired a decorator for the nursery. She’s sure it’s going to be a girl.”

  “But the baby we’re writing into the script is a boy, remember?”

  “I know.” Kat grinned. “This is just all too funny. Can’t wait to see what God does.”

  “Looks like he’s already doing it.”

  “Yep. Looks like he is.”

  I lost her to several of the kids, who gathered around her, squealing and chattering about the new addition to the Stars Collide clan. Not that my feelings were hurt. She needed some time to share this news with everyone. We were one big happy family, after all.

  Thinking of happy families reminded me of Stephen. I searched through the crowd until I found him standing beside Paul. He winked and gave me a little wave, which I returned. I was dying to ask him where this latest bit of news placed Kat and Scott on the plotline of their lives, but I didn’t dare.

  Only one thing I knew for sure as I observed the joy radiating from my best friend’s face—if this was what a real-life happily ever after looked like, you could sign me up right now.

  The three weeks following the filming of the Snidely Whiplash episode were filled with great moments on every front. Stephen and I grew closer by the day. At some point I stopped asking where we were at on the plotline because I didn’t want to know. As long as our days were filled with sunshine and rainbows, why should I care what potential catastrophes might lie around the bend? Wasn’t this what the life of faith was all about, anyway? Mountains and valleys? Not knowing about tomorrow, but resting easy in today?

  My relationship with Brooke turned out to be one of the sweetest gifts I could have imagined. She became a regular fixture at the Pappas household, helping Mama with the little ones on several occasions, and hanging out with Trina and Mary on a regular basis. A couple times she opted for an overnight stay with me just so we could be together. Getting to know and love her was the highlight of the autumn season. Next to falling for her dad, anyway. Nothing could top those sweet kisses he and I shared when no one else was around. Not that we had a lot of time to ourselves. Still, I treasured every precious moment.

  The craziest thing that happened during those three weeks? We all—horror of horrors—fell in love with Zeus. That mangy mongrel weaseled his way into our hearts, winning us over with his slobbery kisses. How dare he worm his way into our family! I could hardly believe it. I almost found myself regretting the fact that we’d sent him to live with Stephen and Brooke. Almost. He was as much a part of our family as they were.

  Other things stirred during those weeks too. I’d never seen my best friend so happy, or so fulfilled. Every day I watched as Kat bubbled with anticipation over her little bundle of joy. Already Tia, Jana, Nora, and I were planning a baby shower. Not for several months, of course, but when it happened, it would be the best ever.

  Hmm. Better not tell Stephen. He’d probably try to script it.

  All in all, life was pretty great. And
in my current frame of mind, I could only guess that things would continue to get better and better, both in my personal life and in my professional life.

  On the night the Snidely Whiplash episode aired, I joined my family—along with Stephen, Brooke, Mary, Trina, Milo, and Aunt Melina—in my living room. Mama made popcorn and we gathered around the TV. I hadn’t really done a big buildup for the episode, so no one else knew this one was any different from the rest, but I knew it had special pizzazz. Time would tell if they agreed. Babbas usually had a pretty good eye for comedy. He would let me know if it worked.

  My suspicions were confirmed as the show progressed. I’d never heard so much laughter in all my life. What a gift for a writer—to see people actually enjoying her work. Every time I looked at my father, he had tears in his eyes from laughing so hard. And at one point Aunt Melina had to excuse herself to go to the restroom because she’d laughed until her weak bladder gave out.

  I had to conclude, everything about the episode worked. Every line. Every nuance. Every bit of slapstick. Everything. I had that rare sense that writers get, say, once in a lifetime when a miracle occurs. And I did not take it for granted. Indeed, as the show came to a conclusion, I found myself overwhelmed with sadness that it had ended. I rarely got that feeling anymore.

  As the closing credits rolled, Mama looked my way, hands clasped together at her chest. “Oh, Athena, you’ve outdone yourself. It was brilliant.”

  “Thanks. I loved hearing you laugh. But remember, I didn’t write it alone. Stephen and Paul and I worked together. We’re the Three Musketeers.”

  “Well, the Musketeers need to keep on writing together,” my father said, “because that was sheer brilliance. I can’t remember laughing that much in years.”

  “We had fun,” Stephen said. “I wasn’t so sure it was going to work at first, but Athena’s persistence paid off. She was right all along, and I’m man enough to admit it.”

  “Thank you.” I kissed him on the cheek and released a sigh of satisfaction.

  “A good man always knows when to let his woman take the credit,” my father said. “You’re a smart guy, Stephen.”