On Location

by Jen Calonita

  "That's not true," I nearly shout. "That's all smoke and mir rors stuff that Carol has succeeded at doing" I think of the one-page article in last week's Celebrity Insider "Kaitlin Burke's Hot Secret Love Affair. SHH! Don't Tell Her Boyfriend!" I was praying Austin wouldn't see it. "I begged Laney and Mom to fight her, but Carol is like the Darth Vader of Holly wood. She could strangle me with a wave of her hand."

  "This is why you couldn't bring me to the Antarctica pre miere. And why you went solo to that Arista benefit last week," Austin realizes. His face looks very tight and expres sionless. "How long have you known about the Titan Awards?"

  "Two weeks," I choke.

  "You've known this for two weeks and you haven't said anything?" I anxiously bite my lip and taste blood. "I couldn't care less about going to the awards show, Kaitlin," Austin says, looking hurt. "I just wanted to go because it meant I got to spend the night with you. And all you care about is going with Drew and making Carol look good. Tell me whose priorities are messed up." Austin's voice gets louder as he speaks. He covers his eyes. "I feel like such an idiot," he says softer.

  "I'm sorry," I apologize weakly. "I wanted to tell you so many times, but I could never find the right moment." The reason sounds stupid even to my own ears.

  "When were you going to tell me then?" Austin asks. "The night of the awards? By e-mail?" He's now pacing the long room, maneuvering around the large clothing rack and the food cart. In the bright sun, it looks sharp-edged and harsh.

  "I just...I was hoping the situation with Carol would...change." I stare out the window at the Los Angeles skyline.

  "I can't do this," Austin says suddenly. "I'm trying to adjust to your world Kaitlin, but you're not making it easy. You keep shutting me out. You never tell me what's going on with work, or your problems with Laney or the studio. It's embarrassing. Sometimes I feel like a rent-a-date instead of your boyfriend. I deserve better. We both do." He's standing still now, with his back to me.

  "You have no idea how hard it is for me to trust people," I protest, my voice shaking.

  "I guess we agree on something," Austin turns to me and his face says it all. "I hate feeling this way, but a part of me has just been waiting for you to break my heart."

  When he says that, I feel mine shatter. "What are you say ing?" I whisper. When Austin doesn't answer me, tears begin to well up in my eyes, and I can't stop them.

  "You want to know what really bothers me?" Austin asks. His face looks pale despite his tan. "That you're afraid to stand up for yourself. And that means you're afraid to stand up for us."

  "It's not that simple, Austin," I protest. I don't know how to stop this conversation. It's like a Porsche driving in the Cheviot Hills when the brakes fail. "Sometimes I have to do things I don't want to do to help my career."

  "Stop being afraid," Austin begs. "They work for you, re member? I bet if you told some of the bigwigs at that studio what was going on, Carol would back down."

  "This is my career, Austin! This town just got over what I did at Clark. If I mess things up with Carol, I may never re cover." How can I make him understand?

  "You don't really believe that, do you?" Austin looks shocked. "That one woman has the power to squash your career? Stop listening to Laney and your mom and Carol and make your own decisions. What do you have to lose?"

  I look down at my Manolos. "Everything." The purple and gray lines of the shoes wobble. "I'm sorry Austin. This is my life. Take it or leave it."

  His face crumbles. "Then I'm sorry too, Kaitlin." I could swear his voice just caught in his throat, but he clears it.

  I don't want him to walk out that door. I want to tell him how much I need him in my life. But he gave up so easily just like I feared he would, that my pride gets in the way of stopping him. "Please leave," I cry instead. I turn my back so that he can't see the mascara roll down my cheeks.

  I hear Austin grab his coat and walk to the door. "Ask yourself this, Burke." His nickname for me is painful to hear now. "Is it worth making everyone else happy if it makes you this miserable?"

  I hear the door shut behind him and I let the tears fall.

  SATURDAY 8/4

  NOTE TO SELF:

  Who cares? My life is officially over

  THE UNTITLED HUTCH ADAMS PROJECT

  SCRIPT CONTINUED:

  218 INT. AIRPORT TERMINAL - SAME

  We PAN ACROSS the nearly deserted terminal of the closed airport that Project XT has taken over for their opera tions. Mrs. Murphy and her minions are dead near Gate 26, and the converted newsstand that houses the large lab full of the superhuman serums is on fire. Donovan lies on the ground unconscious and bleeding. Carly is hiding be hind an airport check-in desk, breathing heavily. Regina, the only superhuman still alive, is hunting Carly so that she can finish her off.

  REGINA

  Come out, come out, wherever you are, Carly.

  Carly spies a crowbar lying near Donovan and makes a break for it. Regina sees Carly and runs for the crowbar too. As the fire engulfs part of the converted lab, the two fight for the crowbar. Regina gets it.

  REGINA

  Look at you. You're pathetic. You never would have passed our rigorous program like I will. Just to prove it, I'm go ing to drop my weapon. I'll still beat you without it.

  CARLY

  We'll see who's the pathetic one.

  She whacks Regina in the stomach with a piece of falling debris, knocking her backwards. Regina and Carly con tinue to fight as the MUSIC crescendos. Regina hits Carly in the back and Carly smashes Regina's face. The CAMERA pulls up and we see a huge piece of steel fall to the ground and split a row of waiting room chairs. The noise startles Carly and she loses her footing. Regina wrestles her to the ground and tries to strangle her.

  REGINA

  You couldn't leave things alone! You had to ruin them with all your questions! You've destroyed everything Mrs. Murphy and I worked for and now you're going to pay.

  The terminal is falling apart. Carly struggles to break free from Regina's grasp. She sees a piece of glass hang ing precariously over them. Carly smiles.

  CARLY

  The only mistake I've made, Regina, is trusting you. But I'm smarter now. I won't fall for the pathetic best friend routine at my next high school.

  REGINA

  There isn't going to be a next time, Carly.

  CARLY

  That's what you think!

  Carly swings at Regina, hitting her in the head. Regina falls backwards and we see the bruise on her cheek. Regina tries to get up, but can't find the strength. That's when she hears the glass drop from above. Carly moves to get out of the way and the glass shatters in a million pieces on top of a screaming Regina. The CAMERA CUTS AWAY so we only see Carly's reaction. She grimaces.

  CARLY

  I knew she couldn't cut it.

  Carly shields herself from more falling debris as she makes her way through the smoke towards Donovan. She feels for a pulse. He opens his eyes and moans.

  CARLY

  Don, can you hear me? Can you get up?

  DONOVAN

  (barely a whisper) I think my legs are broken. Get out of here, Carly. This place is going to blow.

  CARLY

  Are you crazy? And face a new school of obnoxious quar terbacks and cheerleaders on my own? Not on your life!

  CARLY

  Hold on, Don. This is going to be a bumpy exit.

  She drags him through a plane boarding area. We see the fire raging behind her as she pulls Donovan out the door to the runway and down the stairs to safety.

  SIXTeen: The Taste of Revenge

  Ever wonder how a director shoots a major scene in a bustling airport terminal or how they fit a twenty-person camera crew inside the cramped coach cabin of a 767?

  HOLLYWOOD SECRET NUMBER SIXTEEN: Even a movie di rected by Steven Spielberg and starring Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts, and George Clooney wouldn't be reason enough for LAX to shut down a terminal for a week of shooting. That's why Hol
lywood came up with a solution for filming their countless airline scenes: They've created their own airport. Air Hollywood in Los Angeles is a 30,000 foot soundstage with a full working airport terminal that in cludes a bar, magazine shop, and X-ray machines as well as airplane body mockups of a 767, DC-10, and 747 that are con structed with seating, lavatories, a realistic cockpit, and removable walls for filming. Beats being hassled by the pa parazzi in the arrivals area, doesn't it?

  We're filming the climactic and outrageously expensive explosive scenes for our still untitled movie at Air Holly-wood during our final week on set. (Notice I didn't say final scene. We shot that two weeks ago. That scene involves Drew, or should I say Donovan, and me walking the halls at our new high school two months after we've destroyed Proj ect XT We're laughing about our fabulous new lives and then we see a boy walk by drinking a fluorescent blue bev erage from a clear bottle that looks remarkably familiar. "Nah, it couldn't be, could it?" Don asks Carly. The boy takes a final swig and crushes the bottle with his bare hands.)

  Needless to say with all the explosives and special effects involved in the airport battle, not to mention the stunt crew and the extras needed to play the superhuman army our set is in chaos. Hutch isn't handling the stress as well as one would hope.

  "YOU PEOPLE ARE KILLING ME!" he shouts into his megaphone. "THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HARROWING SCENE AND I'M NOT FEELING EMOTION!" Hutch's AC/ DC shirt is drenched with sweat. A PA. holds out a tissue and Hutch reaches down from the camera dolly he's sitting on, grabs it, and dabs his forehead. Drew, Sky, and I, along with the actors playing Mrs. Murphy and the evil govern ment agents (including Rodney), wait on the wrecked set for more, ahem, encouraging instructions.

  "Maybe I need to meditate. Or rewrite the scene again," I hear Hutch say to Daniella, who is standing nearby with Liz. Liz seems happiest on set when she's shadowing Daniella. At least someone is having a good time.

  Daniella shakes her head. "The scene is fine." She removes the headset covering her long black hair. "We're already over budget after the government scene you reworked. Just give the actors more direction. Nicely Hutch. Nicely."

  Instead of walking onto the set and talking to us directly Hutch lifts his trusty megaphone again. He closes his eyes and takes a few quick, deep breaths before he chants. "People, I need to see passion. You hate each other. Feel that deeply and use it to fight to the finish. I know that won't be a problem for some of you," he adds, thankfully not looking in my direction. "And for the rest, just think of pummeling Hutch the Horrible."

  I bite my lip to keep from laughing. So he knows about his nickname....

  "I know I'm not the easiest man to work with," Hutch continues. His voice sounds warm and friendly for the first time in weeks. Hutch looks over at Daniella, who is clutch ing her clipboard tightly. "We've had to overcome bad press and script leaks. That's enough to send anyone over the edge. The bottom line is that as your director, I've seen us through the dark hours." Hutch's voice echoes through the terminal waiting area. The crew decorated it to look aban doned (there is dust covering the tables, cobwebs on the walls, and all of the magazines in the kiosk are ten years out of date. Behind us are the bar and the duty-free shop, which has been converted into a lab.).

  Hutch's speech is interrupted by a ringing cell phone. Cells are a big no-no in Hutch land. We collectively hold our breath as Daniella nods apologetically and takes the call.

  "You've handled the pressure well," Hutch concludes, glaring at Daniella. "Now let's finish this thing and take the box office by storm like the rest of my films!"

  Hutch applauds and slowly a few members of the crew nervously join in while Daniella hoists herself up on the dolly and whispers in Hutch's ear. For a moment, he looks angrier than I've ever seen him, but he quickly composes himself. "People, save that enthusiasm for later. We're going to take a ten-minute break while I attend to some urgent personal matters," he says through his megaphone. He gets off the dolly and walks quickly with Daniella to a private area of the soundstage. I look worriedly at Liz, but see she's grinning from ear to ear. A P.A. runs past me.

  "Miss Mackenzie?" I hear him call to Sky, who has walked off with Drew. "You have an urgent phone call."

  "Give it to my assistant, Madison," Sky snaps as she ad justs her silver bandeau top and skintight jeans.

  The PA. looks nervous. "Madison is the one calling, Miss Mackenzie." He hands Sky the phone. Sky sees me watching their exchange and I quickly look away.

  "How are you feeling?" Liz asks cheerfully as she ap proaches me. She looks super comfy in a shrunken blue CREW t-shirt, low-cut tan cords, and Pumas. I, on the other hand, am wearing tight leather pants that cut off my circulation and a pink tank top that shows off both my real and fake bruises from the day.

  "Let's see," I half-joke, scratching my black-and-blue chin. "I'm being blackmailed, my boyfriend dumped me, and my friends have been acting distant. How do you think I'm doing?"

  Liz doesn't say anything. We get in the golf cart waiting to take us to my makeshift dressing room while Rodney stays behind to discuss something with the stunt coordinator. When we arrive, Nadine is standing outside the door. She looks happier than she did the day she sold her Pixar stock.

  "Is she...?" Liz starts to ask.

  "Inside." Nadine pushes me towards the door. "She only has a few minutes before they escort her off the premises."

  "Who are you talking about?" I ask as they shove me.

  Liz and Nadine open the door with my name on the plas tic plate and point to the couch. Madison is sitting on it hys terically crying. Nadine nudges me forward, and she and Liz stand watch at either side of me like security detail.

  "What is she doing here?" I ask angrily. "It's not enough that you're with her more than you are me, but now you're hanging in my private dressing room together?"

  "Madison has something she'd like to tell you," Liz ex plains. "DON'T YOU, Madison?"

  "I don't want to hear anything she has to say," I respond bitterly.

  "You'll want to hear this," Liz replies with glee.

  Madison blows her nose and looks up at me with puffy eyes. "Don't blame Liz and Nadine for that article about their fight. I planted it," she gulps through tears.

  "What?" I'm instantly relieved. I trust Nadine and Liz with all my heart, but that article really hurt my feelings. I look at Nadine. She's flushed with excitement.

  "Go on," Nadine demands, sounding almost like Laney "Tell her the rest."

  "I'm also the one who planted all those items about you and Drew and how jealous you were of Sky"

  "I knew it!" I shriek.

  "That's not all," Madison wails. She uses the sleeve of her black thermal to wipe her nose. "I made up the stuff about Hutch hating you too."

  "Why are you telling me all this?" I'm shaken by Madi son's confession, yet oddly comforted that Hutch might not dislike me as much as I'd assumed.

  "Because she's been fired," Nadine offers smugly. "Liz and I made up this whole story about you sleeping with your ratty childhood teddy bear blanket, talked about it in front of Madison, and voila! Within days it showed up on The In sider!" Nadine looks extremely pleased.

  "I was wondering where that story came from," I laugh.

  "When Liz told Daniella what happened and how the same scenario occurs every time Madison is within earshot, Daniella told Carol, and she asked for Madison's immedi ate dismissal," Nadine reveals. "Liz got permission to bring Madison here to make her apologize to you before she's kicked off the premises. So you see, Liz and I are completely innocent."

  "Kaitlin could sue you for all you are worth." Liz sounds like her father, my entertainment lawyer. "And I should too for defamation of character. You almost cost me my best friend!"

  "Yeah, and you almost cost me my good friend and my paycheck," Nadine seconds, looking like she's enjoying the confrontation now that she's off the hook herself.

  I smile at both of them. "You guys couldn't get rid of me that easily," I promise.


  Madison hiccups. "I'm not an awful person, Kaitlin. It's just Sky said I'd lose my job if I didn't spy on you."

  Why didn't I assume that Sky would stoop that low? "You care about pleasing Sky that much?" I ask. "From what I can tell, she doesn't treat you very well."

  "She's my cousin!" Madison blurts out miserably.

  Nadine, Liz, and I look at each other in shock. Sky and Madison look nothing alike. Well, except for their ex tremely small chests. Okay, that was mean, I know.

  "Our mamas are sisters. Sky needed a new assistant, and it was either this or work at my parents' whole wheat pasta fac tory this summer," Madison groans. "Stuffing dough into the machines is so boring, which is why I took this job with Sky. Job. What am I saying?" Madison shakes her head. "Sky doesn't even pay me! She said family should work for free."

  "Well that explains everything," Nadine says.

  "It sounds like the plot to a bad Lifetime movie," Liz agrees.

  "Oh God...sued," Madison sobs. "I don't think I even have enough money for a plane ticket home!"

  I almost feel bad for the girl now.

  "You better go now while we talk over our legal action." Liz winks at me. "I'm sure security is looking for you."

  Sniffling, Madison picks up her slouchy purple leather bag and snatches my box of tissues. "I'm truly sorry Kaitlin," she says. Nadine escorts her firmly out the door.

  When Nadine locks it behind her, she and Liz grab each other in a tight embrace.

  "As you can see, Nadine and I completely made up," Liz says, reading my mind. "We decided to adopt your approach of handling things with Sky--we duked it out during a pri vate kickboxing session."

  "What a rush!" Nadine exclaims. "I signed up for a regu lar class." They both laugh. "We're sorry if we stressed you out," Nadine adds. "We know you've had a lot to deal with this summer and we haven't made things any easier."

  "You guys have kept things interesting, that's for sure," I joke. "But I think from now on, Liz, you should find your own summer jobs." She chuckles. "I think it's best if I keep my personal and professional lives separate and let Nadine fly solo on the assistant front." Nadine smiles at me gratefully.