announced and ushered the Flints inside.
“Rick, my man, you’ve been busy!” marveled Josh as he was introduced to the kids.
“Don’t criticize his hobby,” Hal said.
Josh shook every Flint kid’s hand and made a little small talk; the small dressing room felt like a busy beehive. Britta had a beet-red face the entire time, well obscured by her hair, and Dana hid behind her father’s legs.
Another knock at the door brought in Louise. Whereas talking to Josh had been merely exciting, the introduction to Louise brought the older kids, including Hal, over the top. Even Britta shed her wall of hair and tried to get a word in with her.
Rick watched his gang with amusement. Like kids before the Christmas tree. Josh and Louise were both unknown people to them but at the same time familiar faces, from TV shows and the occasional kids’ movie. Josh acted like a big brother with Charles and Agnes, moved Britta out of her reserve by flirting a little with her, and even got a giggle out of Dana-in-hiding, now bravely beside her oldest sister. Louise, on the other hand, kept a certain distance. It was like she was on autopilot, saying the right things at the right time. Rick caught her several times watching Dana, quietly observing. Maternal feelings of a childless superstar? That’s unfair. What do I know about her, really?
After a few minutes, another production assistant came in and declared, “On set, please!”
Rick noticed that with that command both Josh and Louise turned some internal switch, and they became two professionals again. A last smile, much less brilliant, hugs around, and off they went, following the production assistant to the soundstage.
The next hour or so they watched the set rehearsal, the first test takes, and then the real takes. Dana’s batteries were used up, and she became restless, and Rick feared that she would start making noises soon. It was a fascinating spectacle, but Dana came first. After the wrap of the first scene, he tapped Laurie on the shoulder.
“Is there a place where I can sit or lie down with Dana? She’s getting cranky.”
“Sure,” Laurie said and showed him and Dana the lounge area, where a cold cuts and fruit buffet was feeding the hungry team. As the shooting was in full swing, only two other people occupied the space—actors from the soundstage next door it seemed, as they wore strange-looking military costumes. Maybe a science fiction movie? Rick mused, and he picked some melon pieces from the buffet for Dana. He then settled down in one of the fantastically comfy recliner chairs, watched Dana eat, and listened to the surroundings. Then Dana came over for a little hug time.
How comfortable, indeed. After a hard week and morning, hugging my little baby . . .
Rick fell asleep.
When Laurie woke him up half an hour later, Dana was gone.
Louise
They had finished the scene for the second take, and Roger was still not happy. Josh, Walter Brenner, and Louise were fully concentrated; it kept getting better and better.
“But we are not there yet,” Roger exclaimed. “The last bit of spice is missing—we need to take it a little bit further. We’ll do two more takes to get where we want to. Otherwise, no lunch for all three of you.”
Laurie came hurrying to his side and whispered to his ear.
“What? A kid?” Roger groaned and turned to the crew. “We have a kid missing on the premises! What imbecile has allowed a kid onto the set?” Laurie shrunk visibly, but of course she had been only the bearer of bad news.
Always the comedians, Walter and Louise stepped back and left Josh standing in front of Roger. He timidly raised his hand. “That imbecile is me, Rog.”
“And who let the kid loose? This is a dangerous place! Electricity, heavy equipment, trampling masses, hot lights, prop guns, don’t let me get started about what can happen to a lone kid here. Who lost the kid?”
“That’s me!” Rick said, coming forward with Hal.
“Rick, my man, you’ve been busy!” marveled Josh as he was introduced to the kids.
“Don’t criticize his hobby,” Hal said.
Josh shook every Flint kid’s hand and made a little small talk; the small dressing room felt like a busy beehive. Britta had a beet-red face the entire time, well obscured by her hair, and Dana hid behind her father’s legs.
Another knock at the door brought in Louise. Whereas talking to Josh had been merely exciting, the introduction to Louise brought the older kids, including Hal, over the top. Even Britta shed her wall of hair and tried to get a word in with her.
Rick watched his gang with amusement. Like kids before the Christmas tree. Josh and Louise were both unknown people to them but at the same time familiar faces, from TV shows and the occasional kids’ movie. Josh acted like a big brother with Charles and Agnes, moved Britta out of her reserve by flirting a little with her, and even got a giggle out of Dana-in-hiding, now bravely beside her oldest sister. Louise, on the other hand, kept a certain distance. It was like she was on autopilot, saying the right things at the right time. Rick caught her several times watching Dana, quietly observing. Maternal feelings of a childless superstar? That’s unfair. What do I know about her, really?
After a few minutes, another production assistant came in and declared, “On set, please!”
Rick noticed that with that command both Josh and Louise turned some internal switch, and they became two professionals again. A last smile, much less brilliant, hugs around, and off they went, following the production assistant to the soundstage.
The next hour or so they watched the set rehearsal, the first test takes, and then the real takes. Dana’s batteries were used up, and she became restless, and Rick feared that she would start making noises soon. It was a fascinating spectacle, but Dana came first. After the wrap of the first scene, he tapped Laurie on the shoulder.
“Is there a place where I can sit or lie down with Dana? She’s getting cranky.”
“Sure,” Laurie said and showed him and Dana the lounge area, where a cold cuts and fruit buffet was feeding the hungry team. As the shooting was in full swing, only two other people occupied the space—actors from the soundstage next door it seemed, as they wore strange-looking military costumes. Maybe a science fiction movie? Rick mused, and he picked some melon pieces from the buffet for Dana. He then settled down in one of the fantastically comfy recliner chairs, watched Dana eat, and listened to the surroundings. Then Dana came over for a little hug time.
How comfortable, indeed. After a hard week and morning, hugging my little baby . . .
Rick fell asleep.
When Laurie woke him up half an hour later, Dana was gone.
Louise
They had finished the scene for the second take, and Roger was still not happy. Josh, Walter Brenner, and Louise were fully concentrated; it kept getting better and better.
“But we are not there yet,” Roger exclaimed. “The last bit of spice is missing—we need to take it a little bit further. We’ll do two more takes to get where we want to. Otherwise, no lunch for all three of you.”
Laurie came hurrying to his side and whispered to his ear.
“What? A kid?” Roger groaned and turned to the crew. “We have a kid missing on the premises! What imbecile has allowed a kid onto the set?” Laurie shrunk visibly, but of course she had been only the bearer of bad news.
Always the comedians, Walter and Louise stepped back and left Josh standing in front of Roger. He timidly raised his hand. “That imbecile is me, Rog.”
“And who let the kid loose? This is a dangerous place! Electricity, heavy equipment, trampling masses, hot lights, prop guns, don’t let me get started about what can happen to a lone kid here. Who lost the kid?”
“That’s me!” Rick said, coming forward with Hal.
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