by Lynn Ames
Rebecca pointed at a section of the script and held it up for everyone to see. “This? This interaction right here is all wrong. The thing that motivates Celeste in this interchange is her recognition of Harold as a kindred soul. The way this is written, we don’t see any of that. This is absolutely critical because it sets up the nature of the bond between the two main characters. It’s the underpinning of the entire story and it’s just not here.” She slapped the script back down on the table.
In the ensuing silence, Rebecca wondered if she’d gone too far. She glanced around at the faces, trying to read their reaction.
“Professor?” George was the first to speak. “What are you doing for the next ninety days?”
Rebecca raised an eyebrow. “Ninety days?”
“That’s how long we’re scheduled to shoot and I don’t see how we can go forward without substantial revisions to the script.”
“I—I’m not a screenwriter. I’ve never written anything that wasn’t academic in nature.” Rebecca felt the panic rise up in her throat.
“We’re not asking you to write it,” Eric said.
“What we need is for you to do what you’re doing right now. Read it, and doctor it. Edit it so that it matches the author’s original intent,” Randolph said.
“You understand these characters and the nuances of this story. You’ve studied it extensively.”
And I’ve had the advantage of conversing with the author. But Rebecca had no intention of mentioning that out loud. “I have, but, as I said, I have no experience with movies or writing screenplays, or even doctoring them.”
“Professor, we really, really need you,” George pleaded. “Without you and your insights, there’s no point even shooting another minute of tape. It’s a waste of the studio’s money.”
“We might as well fold up shop and cut our losses,” Eric agreed.
Rebecca was torn. Even if she ignored the fact that the semester had barely gotten underway and she couldn’t just walk away from her teaching responsibilities, there was the matter of a learning curve. She was certain there was one, and they already were in the middle of production. There would be no time for her to figure out what a script doctor did and to learn enough about the business to feel competent at what they were asking her to do.
Something else occurred to her. “You’d want me to be on the set every day?”
“Most days, at the very least. We’d need you there to re-imagine scenes if necessary, and to advise me as we shoot,” George said.
If she agreed, Rebecca no doubt would be face-to-face with Dara. The thought simultaneously thrilled and terrified her. What would Dara think about that? How would she feel? There’s no way Rebecca could even entertain saying yes until she knew the answers to those questions.
“Can I have a little time to think about it? This is all very sudden. I would have to take a leave of absence from my teaching position, which would require a conversation with my bosses. Then there’s the matter of relocation.”
“We’d rent you a condo for the time you’re out here. And get you a car so that you could get around,” Randolph said.
“And the consulting fee would be substantial,” Eric threw in.
Money’s not the issue here. I need to know that this is the right thing to do for Dara. That thought triggered another question. “Would the actors be made aware that someone was coming in to rework the script?”
“They’d be made aware, sure,” George said. “But they’d have no say. You’d be working primarily with me, with Audrey, and our editor.” His tone left no room for discussion. It appeared that on set, the director was king.
“As I said, I’d really need a little time to think this through and make sure this is the best thing for me.”
“Your flight tomorrow is at 7:00 a.m. We can give you until then. Shooting resumes Monday morning,” Randolph said.
“That’s not a lot of time. Less than twenty-four hours.”
“Time is money, Professor. Time is money.”
“Okay. You’ll have your answer before I board the plane.”
“Good enough,” Randolph said. “My assistant will give you all the contact information you need and I’ll have terms messengered to your hotel for your consideration.”
As the meeting broke up and Rebecca started to leave, George approached her.
“You know, I was against bringing you here. But I don’t hold the purse strings, so I didn’t have much choice.”
Terrific. A hostile work environment and I haven’t even said ‘yes’ yet.
“But after watching your lectures and listening to you today, I realize I was wrong. I believe in this film. I signed on to direct it because I was impressed with the depth of the emotions and the intricacies of the plot. This is a story that really, really needs to be told. That isn’t going to happen without your help. I don’t want to be overly dramatic here, but the fate of this movie rests on your shoulders right now.”
“No pressure here.” Rebecca kept her tone light, even as a knot the size of a softball formed in the pit of her stomach. She had so much to think about and roughly seventeen hours to figure it all out.
As she was being driven to her hotel, Rebecca mapped out a strategy. There were two phone calls she needed to make. One was to the head of department at Middlebury. But even before that, she needed to reach out to the one person who might be able to guide her in this situation. She needed to call Carolyn Detweiler.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The hotel lobby was crowded with tourists, no doubt hoping to catch a glimpse of a favorite star. Carolyn found Rebecca sitting in a high-backed chair, her Kindle in hand. She was completely absorbed in whatever she was reading.
“Hi.” When Rebecca looked up, Carolyn noted the bags under her eyes that the makeup couldn’t quite cover. Her expression was a cross between deer-in-the-headlights scared and kid-caught-with-a-hand-in-the-cookie-jar guilty.
Rebecca scrambled to her feet and tossed the Kindle into a briefcase. “Hi. You look great.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.” Carolyn noted the resulting blush creeping up Rebecca’s neck and silently congratulated herself on obtaining confirmation of Rebecca’s sexuality. Rebecca never actually outed herself to Dara in their letters and Carolyn wanted to be sure, especially since Dara continued to mope around in a way that told Carolyn that she was missing Rebecca. Even if she still refuses to admit it.
“Thanks so much for coming on such short notice. I didn’t know you had an office out here, but that’s certainly fortuitous. I thought we’d just be talking on the phone.”
“I always prefer face-to-face whenever possible.” That was certainly true in this case. Carolyn wanted another opportunity to get to know Rebecca a little better. She gestured for Rebecca to walk with her.
Rebecca seemed so nervous that Carolyn practically could feel her vibrating next to her. The only thing she said on the phone was that she needed to talk about a time-sensitive matter of great urgency. “It’s too loud in here, don’t you think? Have you eaten lunch?”
As if on cue, Rebecca’s stomach rumbled loud enough that, even in the hubbub, Carolyn heard it. She laughed. “I’ll take that for a no.”
“I haven’t had time.”
“I know a great place around the corner.”
After they’d ordered, Carolyn said, “Okay. I’m listening. What’s so important?” It wasn’t really the first question Carolyn wanted to ask. She wanted to know how Rebecca was doing and if she was missing Dara as much as Dara was missing her. She knew she couldn’t ask it, but once she sat down across from her and had a chance to study Rebecca’s face more closely and in better lighting, the stress and sadness were written in the lines around her mouth and in the depths of her eyes.
Rebecca began shredding a napkin. Her hands were trembling and Carolyn felt sorry for her. So sorry that she reached across the table and stilled her hands. “Whatever it is, Rebecca, it’s going to be okay.”
&nb
sp; “I hope so.” Rebecca looked up with tears in her eyes. “I don’t know what to do. I feel like I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t.”
Carolyn withdrew her hand. “Why don’t you start at the beginning?”
By the time Rebecca finished her tale, they’d finished eating and were drinking coffee.
“Say something, please?” Rebecca pleaded.
“Wow.”
“Tell me you’ve got something more than that?”
Carolyn’s mind tumbled over the possibilities and implications. She tried to organize her thoughts.
“I didn’t ask for this,” Rebecca said.
Carolyn realized that Rebecca mistook her silence for disapproval. “I know that. There’s a lot to sift through here.” She took a deep breath. “Okay, for starters. I’m going to put on my business manager hat for you. I can’t help you officially, not without talking to Dara first. And I don’t think any of us is ready for that. But I do want to make sure this is even feasible for you and professionally in your best interest. I won’t let anyone take advantage of you. Did you receive a contract offer yet?”
Rebecca reached down next to her chair and fished around in her briefcase. “Right here.”
Carolyn removed the document from the envelope and read through it. The offer was both generous and fair.
“Well?”
“It’s a good deal. There’s nothing in here that would raise a red flag for me. If you were my client, from a business standpoint, I’d tell you to sign it.”
“Good to know. Thank you. And the rest?”
Carolyn pursed her lips. This was so thorny and delicate. Dara would be completely rattled to know that she was going to have to face Rebecca again, never mind see her at work on a regular basis. Then again, Dara was dour without Rebecca’s letters and putting the two of them together in one place might be just the thing to give them a romantic shove toward each other. Beyond that, there were the business aspects of the situation to consider…
“Earth to Carolyn?”
Carolyn realized with a jolt that she hadn’t answered Rebecca’s question. “I think it’s complicated.”
“Tell me about it.”
Really, there’s only one thing to do. “You said you fly out first thing in the morning and they want a decision by then?”
“That’s right.”
“What are you doing for dinner tonight?”
“Didn’t we just finish eating lunch? Is that all you Hollywood types do, eat?”
Carolyn recognized Rebecca’s teasing tone and matched it. “Nope. Occasionally, we drink too.”
“Of course you do.”
“Well?”
“It’s not like I know anyone in this town. I don’t have any plans other than to collapse into a soporific stupor.”
“Nice alliteration.”
“It’s a habit. My friend, Natalie and I…” Rebecca started to explain. “Never mind, it’s not important.”
It was the first time Rebecca had mentioned another woman, and Carolyn thought it was very important. Before she could stop herself, she asked, “Is Natalie your…”
“Girlfriend?” Rebecca’s tone was incredulous. “Oh, my God, no. We’d kill each other. She’s just my best friend. A colleague and running buddy.” Rebecca narrowed her eyes. “What makes you think I’m gay?”
Busted. “I—I didn’t. Really. I—Isn’t it…” Carolyn threw her hands up. “I’m sorry. That was an inappropriate question.”
“For the record, I am gay. And no, I’m not in a relationship. The last one nearly destroyed me.”
“I’m sorry.” Carolyn meant it. “You’re not giving up on commitment, are you?” Please say no. Please say no.
“No.” Rebecca sat back. “How did we get on this topic?”
Carolyn sat back too. It was time to get this conversation back on less personal ground before Rebecca got around to asking why Carolyn wanted to know about her sexuality. Dara had never come out, and, apart from some mild speculation no doubt caused by her non-existent love life, very few people knew she was a lesbian.
“I want you and Dara to sit down together and talk about this,” Carolyn blurted out. She watched as Rebecca’s visage morphed from shock, to fear, to horror. “Before you say no, hear me out.”
“No.”
“What did I just say?”
“No. No. No.”
“Rebecca, listen to me. I know Dara better than anyone in the world.”
“You saw her reaction to me the first time.”
“And what do you think her reaction would be if you showed up on the set as a script consultant without any forewarning?”
That notion seemed to make Rebecca stop and think. Her shoulders slumped. “She hates me.”
Carolyn scoffed. Quite the opposite. She just doesn’t know it, yet. “She doesn’t hate you. She’s afraid of what you represent.”
“Her loss of privacy. Her ability to have something that is disconnected from the movie star persona. And that’s what it is, isn’t it? A persona. She’s so much more than what’s visible on the surface.”
Carolyn’s eyes gleamed. Yes, Rebecca definitely was as smitten as Dara. Now if she could just get both of them to see it.
Rebecca leaned forward again. “In Constance’s letters to me, I could see a genuine, gentle, thoughtful, vulnerable woman. The prose in her books represent Dara yearning to be seen as the complete human being she really is, not someone else’s sophomoric fantasy, but an intelligent, caring, deep, passionate, complicated woman.” Rebecca clicked her jaw shut. “Sorry. I got carried away.”
“Don’t be.” Carolyn’s voice was husky. Sitting in front of her was the first person ever to truly understand her best friend. She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Instead she reached across the table again and took Rebecca’s hand. “Come to dinner at my place tonight. Please. I promise to run interference and to make this okay.”
“I don’t have a way to get there.”
“I’ll have you picked up and dropped off.”
“I have nothing to wear.”
Carolyn could see that Rebecca’s resistance was weakening. “I’ll take you shopping right now.”
Rebecca still looked uncomfortable and dubious.
“Please? This may be the one chance you have to set things right with Dara.” She knew that was a low blow, but these were desperate times.
Rebecca chewed her lip. “Are you sure it’s a good idea?”
“Positive.” Carolyn released Rebecca’s hand, threw some money down on the table, and stood. “Let’s get you something smashing to wear.”
Dara glared at Carolyn’s reflection in the mirror as she put on her makeup. “It’s my night to rest and recoup. You know I hate to go anywhere on the weekends when I’m shooting. I’m wiped out.”
“I know. I wouldn’t insist if this weren’t vitally important. And you can rest tomorrow. I promise I’ll leave you in absolute peace and quiet. Not even a phone call or a text.”
“Who are we meeting, again?”
“It’s a potential colleague. Someone who could be a great ally.”
“To you or to me?”
“Both of us.”
Dara turned to face her best friend. “Why are you being so cagey about this? I can tell when you’ve got something else going on, and you, girlfriend, definitely have another agenda.” Dara looked back in the mirror to apply her lipstick. Suddenly, a horrifying thought occurred to her. “You’re not setting me up on a date, are you?”
Carolyn’s eyes opened wide. “A date? No. I told you, this is about business.”
“Well, there’s something fishy going on here. You won’t even tell me where we’re going and you’re acting weird.”
“You mean weirder than usual?” Carolyn checked her watch.
By Dara’s count, that was the fifth time she’d done so in the last ten minutes. Something was definitely going on.
“Okay. I’m ready. Let’s go.”
; Carolyn practically ran out the door in front of Dara.
The whole set up gave Dara a sinking feeling. That sinking feeling turned to ice cold dread when Dara realized that they were in Carolyn’s neighborhood. “You’re taking me to dinner at your condo? And you had me dress up?”
“Business casual doesn’t count as dressed up.” Carolyn parked the car. “Now, when we get in there, I want you to be open-minded. Don’t freak out on me.”
Dara grabbed Carolyn by the arm before they reached the front door. “I’m going to ask you one more time before I turn around and take your car back to my house. Who are we meeting?”
“Rebecca,” Carolyn mumbled.
Dara’s pulse quickened and her eyes opened wide. “What? I could’ve sworn I heard you say, ‘Rebecca.’”
“That’s because I did.”
Dara brought them to a complete stop inches away from the front door. “I’m not going in there.”
“Dara, please.”
“How could you?” Dara’s voice vibrated with anger and indignation. “You have no right—”
“This really is about business. I swear. Rebecca is in town on business and it affects you. I felt it was in your best interest—my client Dara Thomas’s best interest—to take this meeting.”
Dara tried to swallow, but suddenly she was having difficulty. “How did she know who you were?”
“It’s not like that’s rocket science. She Googled your rep, found my info and called me.”
“Rebecca called you and asked for this meeting?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“No. She called me and asked for my advice. When I heard what proposal she was being offered, I asked her if she would meet with you. She doesn’t want to be here anymore than you want her to be. She’s in a tough spot, Dar. Together we can work this out. Please don’t let your fear get in the way.”
“Fear? What do I have to be afraid of? I’m not afraid.” Dara’s heart raced and she fought the urge to bolt. “I don’t know what this is, but I don’t want any part of it.” Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, Dara registered that she was making a scene on Carolyn’s doorstep, but she didn’t care.
