The Director's Cut

by Janice Thompson

  “I record several of them, but I usually fall asleep late at night watching them. Between my work here and the renovations at home, I’m swamped.”

  “No time left over for a love life then?” She gave me a little pout.

  “Hardly.” My gaze shifted to Jason, who stood next to Erin and Brock on the far side of the room. He glanced my way and smiled.

  Kat leaned my way and whispered her next words. “Having a career is great. Can’t deny it. But Tia, one of these days you’re going to wish you’d slowed down long enough to let love in.”

  Her words felt like a sucker punch. I tried not to let my feelings show, but she’d hurt me. Deeply. Did she think I didn’t love people? Was I really such a workaholic that she thought I’d never find happiness outside the studio?

  Would I?

  The very thought left me reeling.

  I managed to excuse myself and signaled for Erin to join me. As we made our way up the stairs to the room where I’d watch the film clips from today’s show, I tried to put on a brave face. Still, I couldn’t help but reflect on what Kat had said. Was I really so caught up in my career that I didn’t have time left over for love? If so, could I go on living like that . . . forever?

  As we entered the theater, I reached for my phone and noticed I’d missed a call from the doctor. After listening to his message, I scribbled down the name of the allergist he recommended. Maybe I could get these sneezing fits behind me.

  “You okay, Tia?” Erin cast a concerned look my way.

  “I’m . . . well, I’m a little tired. Aren’t you? It’s been a long day.”

  “Are you kidding?” She turned in a circle, nearly giddy. “I feel like this is my home, the place where I was bound to end up. Don’t you?”

  “Hmm?” I glanced back at my phone then shoved it in my purse. “Oh, yeah.”

  “What made you want to be a director, Tia? Have you always wanted to do this?”

  “I . . . I don’t know. From the time I was a teen, anyway.” I settled into one of the chairs.

  Erin remained standing. “Do you think there’s something inside us even as little girls that makes us want to tell others what to do?” She chuckled. “My mother says I was always a little bossy. What about you?”

  “Oh, I’m not sure bossy is the right word. I’ve just always been one to take charge, especially when no one else would.”

  And trust me, in my world very few people were willing to take charge.

  “Well, I for one love the whole idea of it, from start to finish. Taking a script and envisioning what it’s going to look like through the eye of the camera. Helping the actors with their lines. Fine-tuning their inflections, rhythm, and so on. Helping them pace their lines with the other actors. Oh, and I love the idea of blocking a scene—deciding where everyone should stand and how the set should be arranged. And now I get to watch the dailies. I’ll be the very first person to ever see what was filmed. Along with you, I mean.” She sighed. “It’s all so wonderful.”

  I nodded, though her enthusiasm did give me reason to pause. She reminded me of myself just after film school. Had I really become so jaded over the years? Nothing about this process felt as amazing as it once had.

  Erin snapped her fingers. “I think I know why it sounds so magnificent.” She clasped her hands together. “It’s almost like we get to create our own world, one where funny stories come to life and everyone lives happily ever after. I’ve always loved happily ever afters. Haven’t you?”

  “I . . . I suppose I have.” I thought about that. The resolution—the part of the story where everything worked out in the end—was always the part I fretted over the most. How many times had I sent a script back to the writers for a stronger resolution? But why?

  Because the very idea of a happily ever after seems impossible to you.

  The words flitted through my mind, but I could hardly believe them. Didn’t every girl long for a happy ending to her life’s story?

  My heart twisted, and I realized the truth. With all I’d faced at home—watching my father break Mama’s heart time after time—I’d given up on happily ever afters. That’s why none of the endings felt real. I’d never seen one played out in the real world. So how could I possibly direct one?

  “Tia?” Erin’s brow wrinkled. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “Hmm? Oh, no. I, um . . .” I glanced at my watch. “I think it’s time to get going on these dailies. You ready?”

  “Always! I live for this.” She plopped down on the sofa and threw her arms back in dramatic fashion. “It’s been the best day in television history. That whole experience was like going to Disney World. And the icing on the cake? I got to spend the day with Brock Benson. Every hour was like a minute. Every minute was like a second. Every second was like a nanosecond.”

  I put my hand up. “Okay, okay, I get it. He’s pretty amazing.”

  “You can say that again.” She sighed and leaned back against the sofa cushions.

  “He’s pretty amazing.” I giggled. Before long, we were both laughing.

  Rex joined us moments later, the soft wrinkles in his face growing more pronounced as he looked on. “You two okay?”

  I did my best to get it together. “Um, yeah. We’re fine. Just talking about . . .” I bit my lip to keep from saying what.

  “Just talking about . . .” Erin echoed, then burst into laughter.

  Rex shook his head. “Never mind. I have a feeling I don’t want to know.” He took me by the hand. “But it’s great to see you smiling for a change, Tia.”

  Ouch. Smiling for a change? Was I really as somber as all that?

  My giddy mood changed immediately as I pondered the words people had spoken to me today. First Kat hit me out of the blue with that line about being too focused on my career, now this?

  Rex glanced at his watch. “I’ll have to rush through the process tonight, ladies. I don’t know if you noticed, but Lenora’s not doing very well today. She’s exhausted. Kat and Scott are going to take her to their place in a little while, but I don’t want to leave her for long.”

  Erin looked his way with the sweetest expression on her face. “Rex, I think you’re an amazing husband. I really do.”

  “Being married to Lenora is the easy part. Watching her struggle with her memory . . .” His eyes filled with tears. “Well, that’s the tough part. But she’s in good hands with Kat. I never worry when those two are together. But Kat’s exhausted too. I can see it in her eyes. She needs to rest.”

  He pushed a button, and we watched as the bits we’d recorded played against the big screen. I found myself laughing out loud as I watched the delivery scene in the elevator. The writers would be tickled pink when they saw what a great job the actors had done with their script. Every single line, every single nuance was there.

  About twenty minutes into the dailies, my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number but answered, thinking it might be the doctor or allergist.

  “Tia, we need you on the set.” Jason’s voice startled me.

  “I’m up in the viewing room with Rex and Erin, looking over the dailies.”

  “I know, but that’s going to have to wait.” In the background, I heard the strangest sound—sort of a squeal. Or maybe panting.

  “What in the world is going on down there?” I signaled for the film to stop, then sat up straight.

  “I’m not sure you would believe me if I told you.” His next words were rushed, laced with nervous energy. “You know how they say that life sometimes imitates art?”

  “Sure.” I smiled as I glanced at the screen, which had frozen mid-scene just as Kat, as Angie, held the baby in her arms for the first time.

  “It’s happening. Right now. In the studio. Kat is—” He was gone for a moment, then came back, sounding frantic. “We just called 911.” Another pause followed. “Tia, she’s asking for you. I’m not kidding. You guys need to get down here. She’s having the baby.”

  I raced down to the sounds
tage with my heart in my throat. Rex rode my heels the whole way. So did Erin, who was oddly silent. We found Kat on the sofa of the living room set, still dressed in her rabbit costume, with Scott kneeling next to her. She was curled up in a fetal position, panting just as she’d done during our filming. For a moment, I almost thought it was an act. I wanted to shake her and say, “Ha! Funny one, Kat!” But this was no joke. As she turned to me, eyes wide, I realized just how quickly things had progressed in the short time I’d been upstairs.

  Oh, help!

  Jason rushed to my side. “The ambulance is on its way.”

  “Thank you.” I glanced around, trying to think of what to do. Without a script to guide me, I had no idea how to manage the scene before me. For once, I’d met with something inside the studio walls that rivaled my life outside. Beat it, in fact.

  “Where’s Grandma?” Kat’s words sounded strained.

  “She just ran to your dressing room to get a pillow.” Scott stroked her arm. “She wants you to be comfortable.”

  “I’ll go get her.” Rex turned on his heels.

  “A pillow isn’t going to cut it.” Kat let out a whimper and began panting again.

  I shook my head, trying to make sense of this. I looked at Scott, who appeared to be timing her contractions. “Why didn’t you guys just get in the car and start driving to the hospital as soon as her water broke?”

  Kat shook her head, tears now streaming. “I—I told him not to. I didn’t think I could move just yet. The baby is—” Her eyes widened, and she began to pant once again. I had to admit, these contractions looked even better than the ones we’d filmed earlier.

  Someone turn on a camera!

  I heard Scott counting the seconds. When he reached forty-seven, the tension on her face eased a little.

  “That was a long one,” she whispered. She looked my way. “We never saw this coming, did we, Tia? I mean, I knew I was going to have the baby, but not in the studio.” She leaned in and whispered, “I felt the baby drop just after my water broke. I honestly don’t think we have time to make it to the hospital.”

  “What?” Really? C’mon! You’re exaggerating, right? “I feel pretty sure you won’t have the baby right here.” I hope. “But in case you do, we’ve got the world’s best delivery guy here.” I pointed to Brock. Weird. What was he still doing here, anyway? I’d dismissed the cast half an hour ago.

  “Can I get you guys anything?” Brock asked.

  Scott chuckled. “I’ll have one baby, well done, seven pounds, ten ounces.”

  That eased the tension in the room for about a minute . . . until Kat doubled over in pain. “Tia.” Her wide eyes now reflected something more than pain, though I couldn’t quite read them. “Can you get everyone out of here except you and Scott? And try to find my grandparents too, okay? If those paramedics don’t get here quick, I’m going to need you.”

  “Ay yi yi.”

  I’m the director. I can handle this.

  I called for all of the tech crew to sign off for the day and sent Erin and Brock packing too.

  “Are you sure, Tia?” Erin asked. “What if you need my help?”

  “You deliver babies too?” I asked.

  She chuckled. “No. I meant need my help in some other way. I’m your production assistant.” She pointed to Kat. “And this is quite a production, if I do say so myself.”

  “Tell you what.” Brock reached into his pocket and came out with a set of keys. “You hang out with me for a while, Erin. Maybe we can meet up with everyone at the hospital later.” He glanced Scott’s way. “That okay?”

  “Of course.”

  “We’ll grab a bite to eat and see you after the baby’s born.”

  Erin looked as if she’d won the lotto as she tagged along on Brock’s heels to the parking lot. I could only imagine what my sister might’ve said, had she stuck around to witness all of this.

  Within minutes the room was nearly empty. Scott hovered close to Kat, helping her with her breathing.

  I caught sight of Jason gripping his script in his hands. I took a couple of steps toward him, and he grabbed my hand. “I’m going to wait outside for the paramedics. I’ll stay out of the way, I promise, but I can’t leave until I know you’re—I mean, Kat’s—okay.”

  “Thanks.” I gazed into his eyes, noticing how much calmer I felt afterward. He had that way about him, for sure.

  As soon as he left, Kat cried out in pain. A few seconds later, she glanced my way. “Tia, where are my grandparents? Why aren’t they here?”

  “I’ll go find them.” Scott took a couple steps away from the sofa.

  “No.” Her eyes widened, and she shifted her position on the sofa. “Don’t go anywhere. Please. I need you.” She glanced my way. “You too. Please don’t leave.”

  “You . . . you need me?”

  “Yes.” A frantic look took over. “Tia, this baby is coming soon. She’s not going to wait. I’m going to need help. I can’t do this by myself.”

  “Oh no. No, no, no.” I began to pace, then dove into a lengthy dissertation—in Spanish—about how that would never do. Turning her way, I managed a few words in English. “I’m completely to blame for this.”

  “You’re completely to blame . . . for this?” She pointed to her belly, then winced. “How so?”

  “It’s all that panting I made you do. Maybe it was really causing something to happen.” Suddenly I felt a little woozy.

  “Tia, that’s silly.” She groaned and pulled her knees up. “Or maybe not. But either way, babies come when they want to. And obviously this little girl is determined to make her entrance, even though she’s not due for another few weeks.”

  Still, a wave of guilt washed over me. I’d been guilty of a lot of things in my lifetime, but never throwing a woman into labor. My directorial skills were apparently much stronger than I’d realized.

  Thank God the paramedics arrived before I could give it another thought. Otherwise I felt sure I’d be personally responsible for delivering the baby. And though I’d conquered the art of floating and taping Sheetrock, I felt sure bringing a child into the world would require skills I did not have.

  Lenora and Rex came rushing into the room, pillows in hand, as the paramedics loaded Kat on the stretcher. Lenora appeared completely discombobulated, even more so than usual. “Why are those men taking my granddaughter away?”

  “Kat has to go to the hospital, Lenora.” Rex pulled her close and kissed her on the forehead. “Remember? We talked about this.” He glanced my way and whispered, “Sorry. That’s what took so long. She just couldn’t make sense of this.”

  “Why the hospital?” Lenora’s face paled. “Whatever is wrong with her?”

  “She’s having the baby, honey.” Rex held her tight. “But don’t worry, she’ll be just fine. She’s in good hands now, so we can rest easy.”

  “But KK already had the baby earlier today . . . right? I watched her. In the elevator. It was a boy. I heard them say it, loud and clear.”

  Oh, yikes!

  “That was just a scene from the television show, Lenora.” Rex stroked her arm. “It wasn’t real. But this is. She’s having the baby now.”

  “But that didn’t look like KK at all. I thought it was a rabbit. A very tall rabbit.”

  As the paramedics wheeled Kat out, with Scott following, Lenora continued to ramble nonsensically. She grew more agitated by the second. I felt horrible for Rex, who led her out to the car. I followed them, still confused about what to do. Should I follow the ambulance to the hospital? Go home and paint the living room? Work on next week’s script?

  Thank goodness Jason met me at my car and gave me pointed instructions. “We’ll take my car. I told Brock and Erin we’d meet them for a quick bite to eat before going to the hospital. That sound okay?”

  “Huh? Oh . . . oh, yeah.” Sure. Sounded like a good idea. I certainly didn’t want to horn in any more than I already had.

  “We’re going to Pink’s to kill s
ome time. Hope you’re hungry. I know you’re not much for food, but I think it’s a good idea. You need the carbs, frankly.”

  I looked his way. “Hungry. Pink’s. Hospital. Carbs. Okay.”

  He looked at me and chuckled. “You sure you’re up for this?”

  I shook my head, and tears began to flow. “D-don’t mind me. I a-always cry on d-days like this.”

  “You’ve had other days like this?” he asked. “Because this is a first for me.”

  I nodded then shook my head. Then nodded then shook my head. “No. I mean, I’ve had weird days, but nothing exactly like this.”

  “Me either. Never seen a woman have a baby twice in one day before. And the rabbit costumes are just the icing on the cake. You saw that Scott was still wearing his too, right?”

  I just shook my head, unable to think of an appropriate answer. I hadn’t noticed, but then again, I hadn’t been looking at Scott.

  “Good thing I’m driving.” Jason took me by the arm and led me to his car. Seconds later I was strapped into the passenger side of a sexy BMW Z4 with a head-turning driver leading the way. Or, would that be a head-turning BMW Z4 with a sexy driver leading the way? Either way, we were on our way to meet Erin and Brock at Pink’s, one of Hollywood’s most famous hot dog stands, then on to the hospital.

  We’d made it only about halfway when I got a call from Rex.

  “Tia, it’s a girl!” He rambled on and on, giving me the baby’s stats, but most of it was a blur. He’d lost me at the part where he said the baby arrived in the ambulance. I couldn’t seem to think clearly after that. The tabloid writers would have a field day with this one. I could almost see tomorrow’s headlines now. What would that do to the show’s ratings? Send them soaring or cause them to plummet?

  I ended the call, drew in a deep breath, and then delivered—pun intended—the news to Jason. He stared, open-mouthed, when I told him that six-pound, nine-ounce Katherine Lenora Murphy had arrived en route to the hospital.

  “Oy.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Poor Kat. Probably not the way she planned it.”

  “This is all my fault. I caused all of this.” I leaned back against the seat, completely defeated.