“Where did you get that record?” Annie said. “I didn’t know you had a copy.” Phil smiled.
“I bought it on Ebay last week. I thought I’d surprise you.” He snuggled up beside Annie and took another sip of hot jo, then sighed. “I’ve finally got you all to myself for twelve straight days.” He put his arm around her and drew her close.
“What shall we do?” Annie said.
“A lot of nothing and a little bit of everything,” Phil said.
“I like the sound of that,” Annie said. Phil turned the TV on and they watched the Disney Christmas Day Parade, while nibbling on pastries.
“We should go to Disneyland sometime,” Annie said. “since you’ve never been there.”
“I’ve been to Disney World,” Phil said. “I did grow up in Orlando, you know.”
“Not the same,” Annie said.
“Good enough for me.”
“You just don’t want to go to LA.”
“We’re going to LA in a couple of weeks – remember?” Phil said. “The Globes.”
“OK – then, after the Globes we’ll celebrate at Disneyland,” Annie said.
“We’ll see,” Phil said.
When the televised parade ended, they straightened up the living room. The phone rang. Phil picked it up.
“Hello, this is Phil.” He handed the receiver to Annie. “It’s for you.” Annie took the receiver.
“Annie, this is Tony.”
“Oh, hi, Tony. Merry Christmas.” She buried the receiver in her shoulder and turned to Phil. “It’s my agent.” Phil nodded.
“I’ve been trying to reach you. Why aren’t you answering your cell phone?” Tony said.
“It’s Christmas. Don’t I get a day off?” Annie said.
“Well, it might be a holiday, but the work doesn’t stop.”
“OK, what’s up?” Annie said.
“Two things – a film crew with Entertainment Tonight wants to fly out to Billings and shoot some footage for a segment they want to do on you in case you win the Golden Globe. You know, back story kind of stuff. I told them I’d check your schedule.”
“How soon?” Annie said.
“They want it ready for airing the day after the ceremony, so they need to shoot you in the next couple of days, if you’ll pardon the expression.” Annie winced.
“OK, we can handle that. What’s the other thing?” Annie said.
“The Anna Kendrick film, you need to do some pick-up lines in studio down here in the next week or so. They’re under the gun to get this thing finished, so I gotta get you down here. I’ll let you know as soon as they book the session.” Annie visibly cringed.
“There goes our twelve days,” she thought to herself.
“OK – let’s try and do the ET crew first, then I’ll fly down over New Years for the looping session,” Annie said. When she hung up the phone, she turned to Phil.
“Change of plans. How would you like to do Disneyland over New Years?”
v
The film crew arrived on the 27th, raring and ready. They shot footage at Annie’s childhood home in Billings in the morning, then riding her TV series horse in an open meadow, various clips of Phil and her taking in some of the popular sites in downtown Billings, and ended with assorted shots at The Sanctuary, where she used to work. Phil put on a happy face and endured the intrusion, especially filming inside the retirement community. He laid down some rules.
“You can’t shoot any of the residents in the building and air it without their permission,” Phil explained. “And some of their families have to be the ones to allow it.” The crew chose to avoid the complication of waivers and releases, and simply filmed vignettes of Annie all alone in the dining room and at the reception desk. The event created considerable buzz, as residents and employees called their friends to come see a Hollywood film crew at work. By late afternoon 20-30 looky-loo’s added to the disruption in the building.
“I really appreciate your patience,” the crew’s director said to Phil as they wrapped up. “This should be some good PR for your facility.” Phil smiled politely and sent them on their way. Then he turned to the onlookers.
“OK, the show is over, folks. You can all be on your way now. Thanks for coming.” He tried to wave them out the front door, while Annie happily signed autographs for loyal fans. One overly enthusiastic fan was not satisfied with a signature – he wanted a souvenir – maybe even something he could sell on the internet. While Annie chatted with a small cluster of visitors, he snuck up from behind and grabbed her cast member jacket, with her name embossed on the back. Phil spotted him sculking and began walking his way. When the thief lifted the souvenir, Phil called out.
“Hey – put that down!” The thief tried to make a run for it, but the front door was too congested with people. He turned and ran down the hallway, hoping to find a side door exit, with Phil in hot pursuit. The hallway led to the assisted living wing, where Dillie Mertz, one of the residents, sat faithfully every day, waiting for her phantom son to arrive to take her away. The thief paused in front of the nursing station, frantically looking for a way out. Dillie spotted him.
“Bobbie, you’re finally here,” she called out.
“What are you talking about, lady?” the thief asked.
“I’ve been waiting for you all morning.” She gave him a big hug. “Can you carry my suitcase? It’s in my room.” He scanned quickly down the hallway.
“Yeah, sure, let’s go get it,” he said. The two disappeared into Dillie’s room just as Phil rounded the corner. The nursing station sat empty. Phil was unsure how menacing this intruder might be, but he wasn’t going to take any chances. He got on his walkie-talkie and called the front desk.
“Sanctuary – can I help you?” Ashley said.
“Ashley, this is Phil.”
“Oh, hi Mr. Branson.”
“We’ve got an intruder in the building whose hiding out. I need you to call 911 to get over here in a hurry.”
“Yes, sir. Right away,” Ashley said. Phil hung up, then pushed the number for Allan Dodge, Director of Security.
“Allan, pick up,” Phil said.
“This is Allan, what’s up?” Allan said.
“We’ve got an intruder hiding somewhere in the building. I need you to activate the electronic lock on all side doors so he can’t get out,” Phil said.
“Will do,” Allan said. In a few seconds he got back on the line.
“Now what?” Allan said.
“He’s hiding somewhere – I’m guessing somebody’s room. I need you to rewind your security footage back five minutes and start with the lobby. Look for the guy in the navy hooded sweatshirt - he grabbed Annie’s jacket and took off down the hallway towards assisted living, but I lost him after that.”
“OK, hang on,” Allan said. Allan played back the security camera footage for the lobby and spotted the thief. Allan switched to the assisted living security camera footage to see where he went.
“Phil, you still there?” Allan said.
“Yeah.”
“You’re not going to believe this, but he’s in Dillie’s apartment,” Allan said.
“Good lord,” Phil said. “I better get in there and save him. Thanks.” Phil walked over to Dillie’s door and knocked.
“Had enough in there?” Phil called out.
“Yes,” a voice called out from inside. Phil opened the door and found the thief sitting on the couch with Dillie hovering over him. “Please just get her off me. She thinks I’m her son. I’ll go quietly,” he said.
Phil led the subdued fan back to the lobby and into the capable hands of two officers.
“Thanks, guys,” Phil said. “I don’t think he’s dangerous, just a little misguided. I can stop by and give you a statement if you need it.”
“Thanks, Phil,” one officer said.
That evening Phil and Annie sat at the kitchen table.
“That wasn’t too bad,” Annie said. “A little more excitement than we’re
used to.” Phil was not amused.
“Annie, it’s one thing if you want to trapse all over Billings and the countryside for your acting career, but when your world starts to impact the safety of my residents at The Sanctuary, I have to draw the line,” Phil said.
“I agree. No more filming in the facility,” Annie said. “But didn’t you think it was kinda fun today?”
“What part?”
Annie wanted to answer, but suddenly realized that she would sound utterly self-absorbed to mention every instance in the day when she was the center of attention. Sure, it felt great to be fawned over, even so far as letting someone else fetch her a bottled water when she could have gotten it herself. But was it healthy? She was not ready to look at that part of herself.
“I don’t know. Never mind,” she said.
“Now, when do you have to be in LA to re-record your lines from that Kendrick movie?” Phil said.
“The recording session is set for December 30.”
“Now, why exactly do you have to say your lines over again?” Phil said.
“Sometimes the boom mic doesn’t pick up our lines clearly, or there may be some noise in the background that they can’t edit out. So, we have to go into a recording studio and lip sync our lines over again. They call it looping. It’s actually kind of fun, and it usually doesn’t take very long.”
“OK. Then what?” Phil said.
“Then, I know you’re not going to like it, but on the 31st I’ve got an audition with my agent and a casting crew who want to hear me read some lines for a movie that will start filming next summer. It’s some kind of romantic comedy. Then we’re free to do whatever we want to do after that. I thought we could go somewhere and watch the New Year’s fireworks go off, then on January 1 we could go to Disneyland and watch the New Year’s parade – maybe smooch on the Haunted Mansion ride.”
Phil smiled and nodded.
“You know, I don’t see why we just shouldn’t stay in LA all the way through to the Golden Globes. It’s only another week,” Annie said. Phil had to put his foot down.
“No, sorry. Maybe you can stay if you want, but I have my annual state inspection survey to get ready for, and I can’t do that from LA,” Phil said.
“Well, if you’re not going to stay, I’m not going to stay,” Annie said. Phil put his arms around Annie and gave her a tender hug and kiss.
“Thank you. If we’re going to find time for each other, it’s going to take some work, but we’re just going to have to make the effort,” Phil said.
Chapter 9
In the spirit of making time to share their adventures together, Phil agreed to join Annie in LA for her looping session and audition. He accepted one of life’s ancient sayings, “If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, then Mohammed is just going to have to go to the mountain.” And in this case, Hollywood was definitely the mountain.
On December 29 Phil and Annie flew to Los Angeles and booked a room at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
“Hanging with a TV star does have its perks,” Phil said to Annie in the elevator as two bellhops schlepped their bags. They walked into their opulent suite and Phil scanned the surroundings. It rivaled any exquisite dwelling for a foreign head of state. The bellhops put their bags away as Phil checked out the luxurious living room, the ample bedroom with king size bed fitted with silk sheets and comforter, overlooking a panoramic view of the city. The bathroom came with a large ornate tub for two set on a pedestal, giant shower, jacuzzi, two stylish sinks with wall-to-wall mirrors, vanity, side-by-side toilets in their own discreet private room, deep plush towels, and a wide assortment of shampoos, conditioners, lotions, soaps, and a year’s worth of bubble bath granule packets.
Phil always chose quality hotels when he traveled on business, but nothing like this.“How do you like it?” Annie said.
“I’m a little disappointed. Where’s the strawberries and champagne?” Phil said.
“I know,” Annie laughed.
“If you have to be away from home, this’ll do,” Phil said.
“I love it. I know it’s a guilty pleasure, but we’re worth it, don’t you think?” Annie said. Phil just shook his head and smiled.
“Maybe on your salary - not on mine,” Phil said. He tipped the bellhops and sent them on their way. “I move we adjourn to the bathroom for a leisurely bubble bath, then dinner downstairs.” Annie’s cell phone range. She checked the screen – it was Tony, her agent.
“Hi, Tony,” Annie said. “Yes, we just got in. When is the recording session?…OK, you’ll pick us up?…Yes, Phil thought he’d tag along. Is that OK?… Great. See you in the morning.” She turned to Phil.
“That was Tony. The session starts at 9:30 tomorrow morning. He’ll pick us up at 8:30 and drive us to the recording studio.”
“Then the evening is ours,” Phil said.
For the next hour they shared the over-sized tub frothing with bubbles. Phil gave Annie a delicate foot massage.
“We definitely need one of these back home,” Annie purred.
“I could get used to it,” Phil said.
After the tub therapy session, they got dressed and wondered down to the hotel’s restaurant level to select their dining options. The Beverly Wilshire featured several choices, including Wolfgang Puck’s CUT steakhouse, Sidebar Lounge, and ‘The Blvd at Beverly Wilshire’, a sophisticated, all-day dining spot with lofty ceilings, large windows and a sidewalk patio. Patrons could also choose from various casual dining lounges designed with intimate tables and lush sofas, where guest could order a light meal or simply appetizers with a glass of wine for a romantic night.
“They sure don’t make it easy for a guy to choose,” Phil said.
“Why don’t we just share some appetizers and wine,” Annie suggested.
“Perfect,” Phil said. They settled in a quiet corner, where they could be pampered in privacy. While the kitchen prepared a sampler platter of seafood delicacies, Phil checked in with the facility. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed.
“I know it’s late, but I didn’t want to go to sleep without knowing how the day went,” Phil asked Tina, the office manager.
“No problems,” Tina said. “Mrs. Hardy wanted me to tell you she won bingo twice today and donated her candy bar prizes to the homeless shelter.”
“Bless her heart,” Phil said. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“You really love those residents,” Annie said. “That’s the first thing I noticed about you.”
“I could say the same for you,” Phil said. Annie leaned over and kissed Phil softly on the lips.
The next morning Tony, Annie, and Phil pulled into the parking lot of the Hollywood recording studio. They walked into the lobby, and Tony approached the receptionist.
“Annie Belmont for the ‘Kendrick’ looping session,” Tony said. The receptionist scanned her schedule.
“You’ll be in Studio 2 – if you’ll follow me,” she said as she stood up. Tony signaled for Annie. Phil stood up as well.
“Is it OK if I watch?” Phil said.
“Sure,” Tony said, and waved him through. “I’ll tell them you’re with me.”
The director and sound production supervisor met Annie in the hallway.
“Thanks for coming in, Annie,” the director said. “I know it’s a big bother to fly down here, especially this time of year, so we’ll try to get this done as quickly as possible.”
“Not at all, glad to take another crack at these lines,” Annie said. The director handed her a few pages with the lines highlighted for re-recording, then the engineer ushered Annie to her recording booth and handed her a set of headphones.
“You’ve done this before?” he asked.
“Yeah, we do it all the time for ‘Rangeland’. I know the drill,” Annie said.
Tony and Phil took a couple of folding chairs and sat in the back of the engineering booth.
“I never sat in on one of these before,” Phil said. “Usually for ‘Rangeland’ An
nie does all her pick-up lines down in the Albuquerque studios.
“Yeah, I’m trying to move her in to more movie roles, so, who knows, she may need to move back to LA at some point,” Tony said. Phil did not like the sound of that, but chose to remain quiet. “She’s going to be auditioning tomorrow for a big part in a murder-mystery. I think she’d be great for it,” Tony continued. “She’s a pretty hot number right now.”
A flat screen video monitor with time code on the bottom of the screen sat on a four-wheeled tray-top utility cart in the recording studio. A couple dozen scenes from the Kendrick movie requiring looping were played so that Annie could match her lip movement in the film as she re-recorded her lines. Phil watched with pride as Annie knocked them out with ease and skill. He watched the director out of the corner of his eye and could see he was pleased with her delivery.
Halfway through, Annie had to re-record a tricky line that got muddled in the original shoot. Annie was supposed to turn to Anna Kendrick and say, “That’s such a stupid superstition.” In the original shoot the boom mic didn’t pick up her voice. She just needed to say that line over again in the studio. She waited for the engineer’s cue as she watched herself on the monitor. The engineer pointed to her a second sooner than she thought he should and got a bit frazzled.
“That’s such a super soopid stishon,” she said. Everyone laughed at the mistake, including Annie.
“OK, let’s try that again,” the engineer said.” They recued the film, and Annie waited for her cue, then—
“That’s such a stuper super…” she said. “Sorry,” she apologized. “I’ll get it.” She stopped and took a drink of water, cleared her throat and assumed her sternest expression of determination.
“That’s such a super stooper—”
“That’s such a stupid stooper—”
“That’s such a soopid super, a super dooper, a stupid stuper-dishon.” She threw up her arms in frustration. “Can we just change that line?” Annie said to end this ordeal.
The Sanctuary II: Lost and Found Page 6