The Director's Cut

by Janice Thompson

  “Puh-leeze.” Athena rolled her eyes. “You were not.”

  “Well, I thought I was. Does that count?”

  “I guess.” She shrugged. “So what do you think now? Still happy single?”

  “I can’t even imagine not having Jason in my life. He’s . . . he’s . . .”

  “Yep, he’s all of that and more. And just for the record, you are too.” She grinned. “So why are you standing here talking to me? Get over there and give that man a kiss. Tell him you’re nuts about him.”

  “I’ve already done that.”

  “Do it again. Men are slow. They need to be reminded.”

  That got me tickled. In fact, I couldn’t stop thinking about her words as I walked across the room to Jason, who had taken up residence in my director’s chair.

  “Oh, sorry.” He rose when he saw me coming.

  “No, don’t be silly.” I gestured for him to remain seated.

  He stood anyway. “Just thinking about something.”

  “Oh?”

  “Thinking through this week’s episode. It’s going to be great.” He leaned close and whispered, “And by the way, I have no doubt you’ll take home the Emmy award for best director in a few weeks too.”

  I shrugged, realizing that it didn’t mean as much to me as it once did. “Win or lose, I’ll just be Tia.”

  “You’ll never just be Tia.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “You’ll always be Tia-mia. My Tia.”

  I cradled into his arms, completely content.

  Content. There was that word again—the one that had eluded me for so long. I hadn’t found contentment in the director’s chair. I hadn’t discovered it in my Bel Air home. Funny, after all of my hard work trying to prove myself, I’d found it in the arms of a man who—just as Lenora predicted—rubbed away my rough edges and loved me simply for being me.

  Then again, who else would I be? I’d tried pretending to be something I wasn’t, and it hadn’t gotten me very far. From now on I’d just relax and enjoy the process.

  I looked around the room, a memory overtaking me.

  “What are you thinking about, Tia?” Jason asked.

  “About how I always said that I like to keep my drama on the set.”

  He looked my way, an “I know better” look on his face. “How’s that working out for you?”

  “It’s impossible.” I grinned. “I think I’ve finally figured out that life is filled with drama no matter where you go. Whether I’m eating tamales at my parents’ place in South Central or flipping a house in Bel Air West or riding out an earthquake on the set, it’s all unscripted. And there’s nothing I can do about any of it.”

  “But that’s the joy of it,” Jason said. “Because you didn’t plan for it—and you don’t know what’s coming next—you can see it as an adventure.”

  “I guess.” I shook my head.

  “What?”

  “I just had the weirdest flashback. I saw Lenora in the middle of the earthquake, squealing with excitement because she thought it was a roller-coaster ride.”

  “It kind of felt like one.”

  “I was thinking how ironic it was that even in the midst of something catastrophic, she saw it as the ride of a lifetime.” I paused to think about what I’d said. “So I guess you’re right. Life really is an adventure.”

  “Mm-hmm.” He grinned. “And if you think that was fun, wait until I get you out on the water on a surfboard. Summer’s not over yet, you know. Just because we’ve gone back to work doesn’t mean I won’t get you to the beach.”

  I put my hands up in mock despair. “Oh no you don’t!”

  “Okay, okay. We won’t talk about it now. But someday.” He gave me a kiss on the cheek, then whispered, “I’m starved.”

  “Me too. Want to go out to eat?”

  “Nah. I was thinking we’d cook.”

  I did my best not to groan.

  “I know this great cook.” He waggled his brows. “She makes a mean tamale.”

  “My mother’s on a date with my dad tonight, so you’re out of luck.”

  “Not your mom. You.”

  “Oh.” Wow. Make tamales . . . by myself?

  He laughed. “You’re hysterical, Tia. You can bring a script to life, you can corral dozens of people, you can direct a scene like nobody’s business . . . but you’re afraid to conquer a tamale.”

  “Hey now.” Those were fighting words.

  Nah. On second thought, looking into those beautiful green eyes, I had to conclude, what would be the point of fighting? No, my fighting days were behind me once and for all. With Jason at my side, there were only happy days ahead.

  He wrapped me in a loving embrace and kissed me soundly. “That’s a thank-you in advance.”

  “For the tamales?”

  “No, for giving me the courage to say what I’ve been dying to say all day long.”

  I gave him a curious look. He wasn’t making much sense. “What did you want to say?”

  “Just this.” He squared his shoulders and looked me in the eye. “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

  I knew the reference. When Harry Met Sally. Billy Crystal. 1989. But was he teasing me, or . . .

  As Jason dropped to one knee, the soundstage filled with all of the people I loved—my family members, the cast, and the crew. Most were cheering or laughing. My thoughts began to whirl.

  I caught a glimpse of my parents off in the distance, arm in arm, tears streaming. My brothers cheered from the sidelines as well. And Benita? Well, this certainly explained why she had encouraged me to wear my new teal blouse.

  Looked like the director had been duped. Yep, duped. But as I gazed into the eyes of the man holding open the ring box—Wowza! Check out that solitaire!—I could conclude only one thing: no movie, no television show, no previously recorded love scene could even come close to what I was witnessing right here, right now. And if I tried for the rest of my life, I could never come up with a lovelier script.

  SPECIAL FEATURE

  “LET FREEDOM RING!”

  DIRECTED BY

  Brock and Erin Benson

  STARRING

  Tia Morales and Jason Harris

  A CALIFORNIA BEACH at sunrise. Tight shot on TIA, standing along the shore dressed in a bright pink bathing suit. “CALIFORNIA GIRLS” plays overhead.

  Tight shot on two surfboards, which appear to be standing of their own accord in the sand.

  JASON steps out from behind the surfboards wearing red swim trunks, hair slicked back.

  JASON

  (flashing confident smile)

  You ready?

  (picks up surfboard)

  Tight shot on TIA’S face. She looks as if she might be ill but manages a nod.

  TIA

  (biting her lip)

  As ready as I’ll ever be.

  Wide shot on ocean. Waves are rough. JASON shows TIA how to paddle out to their starting point.

  Tight shot on TIA as she tries to stand on the surfboard.

  She falls. She gets back on it and tries again, wobbly but hanging on.

  Wide shot on JASON and TIA standing alongside each other. A wall of water rises in front of them, and TIA looks terrified at first. Then, just as quickly, she smiles.

  TIA

  (raising her arms triumphantly)

  Woo-hoo! Here we go!

  Wide shot on ocean. TIA and JASON disappear into the wall of water and emerge seconds later, floating in the water. They swim toward each other, all smiles.

  Tight shot on TIA. She waves at JASON, who grabs his surfboard. He pushes it toward her, and she climbs aboard. He joins her.

  Tight shot on the couple wrapped in each other’s arms, drifting on the waves. They begin to kiss.

  FADE TO CIRCLE. TIA PEEKS THROUGH AND SNAPS A SCENE BOARD. FADE TO BLACK.

  Author’s Note

  Dear Reader,

  I’ve had such a
wonderful time writing the three books in the Backstage Pass series. I’ve always wanted to write a story set in Hollywood. Perhaps this desire came from my earlier years when I actually lived in Bel Air West and belonged to the Screenwriters Guild. Oh, what wonderful, sunny memories I have of those carefree California days!

  When I think about the many believers who live and work in Hollywood, I’m floored! Several years ago I took a team of Christian drama students to L.A. to meet with the folks from Act One, a training and mentorship organization that focuses on the next generation of Christian artists and professionals. Oh, how our eyes were opened to all that God is doing in Hollywood! Soon after that, I joined the Hollywood prayer network so that I could be apprised of prayer needs among industry pros.

  Speaking of industry pros, it’s hard to say goodbye to Kat, Lenora, Athena, and Tia. In my mind, they—and the show—live on. I see Kat and Scott happily married with at least two more children. Kat is offered a major movie deal, which she refuses. She’d rather spend her days on the Stars Collide set with the people she loves.

  Lenora’s struggle with Alzheimer’s continues, sadly, but she still shows up on the set each day dressed as a movie star from the golden years of Hollywood. Though her memory is fading, she has Rex with her through it all.

  I see Athena and Stephen raising a whole houseful of Greek babies, hanging out in her parents’ gyro shop, and bringing all of the kids—and the dog—to the studio with them when they work. They continue to produce funny scripts for Stars Collide and even go on to win major awards. In between visits to Greece, of course.

  And what about Tia? Well, she lives happily ever after. She learns the ultimate lesson that the true happily ever after isn’t really about earthly relationships anyway. It’s about giving her life, her problems—and yes, even the reins—to the one who created her. (Not an easy lesson for a control freak.) I see her running rehearsals with a baby on one knee and a script on the other. And I see Jason, once focused only on the action through the camera, now wholly given over to his family. Oh, and they’re both nominated for Emmys for the “Angie Gives Birth in an Elevator” scene. Tia’s acceptance speech is shaky but heartfelt.

  And Brock and Erin? Brock wins Dancing with the Stars, and he and Erin become Hollywood’s power couple. They’re offered major motion-picture deals, which they accept but carefully balance against their time on Stars Collide. In the end, they start their own production company so they can raise money for Brock’s after-school facility. They also take a trip to Texas to visit with Bella and D.J. from the Weddings by Bella series. Speaking of which, if you’re a fan of Weddings by Bella, stay tuned for more news about the characters you’ve grown to love in an upcoming series from Revell.

  So there you have it! I hope you’ve enjoyed your trip backstage with the Stars Collide cast and crew. They’ve been happy to have you. And remember, if you’re ever in L.A., stop off at the studio and take a tour. Maybe—just maybe—you’ll get to see one of our stars pass by. For now, I wish you a blessed and happy journey as you continue to act out the role you’ve been given. May your life’s script be filled with blessings every step of the way.

  Janice Thompson

  Acknowledgments

  Because I’ve worked as a director at a local Christian theater, I connect with Tia on so many levels. There’s such a fine line between being a control freak and giving good, solid direction.

  I would like to thank my good friend Brenda White, who serves as my co-director on all of our Curtain Call Café productions. Thank you for linking arms with me and working alongside me. Together, we are Tia-riffic!

  Many thanks to sweet Janetta, who read every word of this manuscript, sticking with me till the very end. Girl, I couldn’t have done it without you.

  To my editor, Jennifer Leep. Bless you for allowing me the privilege of writing this series for Revell. What a distinct honor to write about something so near and dear to my heart. You’ve blessed me beyond belief.

  Many thanks to my copy editor, Jessica English. Girl, I sing your praises from shore to shore. You are truly the best copy editor I’ve ever worked with, providing the perfect balance of polish and encouragement. Thanks for your kindness and your expertise.

  To my marketing gurus, Michele, Donna, and the others who spend so much time marketing and promoting my books. Bless you! Oh, what fun to work alongside you.

  To Chip MacGregor, my faithful agent. We are quite the team, aren’t we? You will never know how grateful I am for your presence in my life. If not for you, these stories wouldn’t exist.

  JANICE THOMPSON is a Christian freelance author and a native Texan. She has four grown daughters, four sons-in-law, four beautiful granddaughters, and two grandsons. She resides in the greater Houston area, where the heat and humidity tend to reign.

  Janice started penning books at a young age and was blessed to have a screenplay produced in the early eighties, after living in the Los Angeles area for a time. From there she went on to write several large-scale musical comedies for a Houston school of the arts. She continues to direct at a Christian theater and enjoys her time in the director’s chair.

  Currently, she has published nearly eighty novels and nonfiction books for the Christian market, most of them lighthearted.

  Working with quirky characters and story ideas suits this fun-loving author. She particularly enjoys contemporary, first-person romantic comedies. Janice loves sharing her faith with readers and hopes they will catch a glimpse of the real happily ever after in the pages of her books.

  Books by Janice Thompson

  * * *

  Weddings by Bella

  Fools Rush In

  Swinging on a Star

  It Had to Be You

  Backstage Pass

  Stars Collide

  Hello, Hollywood!

  The Director’s Cut

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