Another chapter that may be the teeniest bit difficult to stomach, but be not afraid!
Be not afraid...
~*~*~
“Yeah—no, that sounds perfect, but can 당신 have it 의해 tonight?” Lisa plugged her free ear, trying to hear the voice on the other end of the phone.
“Lisa! Damn it, where is she…” A voice floated over from the 다음 room and she cringed, still trying to hear. One of the prop guys came walking past, and her arm shot out to grab him 의해 the sleeve.
“Eddie! Thank God, listen—can 당신 tell them I’m coming?”
Eddie fixed her with a wary look. “Lisa, David’s head is going to explode. I don’t want to get any on me.”
“This is important, Eddie, please?” She fixed him with her very best winning smile and pleading eyes. “I swear, I’m going to be two minutes.”
“You owe me,” he warned as he started back out. “Two minutes. And only if 당신 promise to proclaim to all and sundry that Eddie is the Master Propman and all shall bow before me.”
“Absolutely. 키스 your hand and bow before you, yes, just—two minutes. Yes! I’m still here, what?” Eddie chuckled and walked away. “Yes, orange—right, that sounds just perfect. Can they be delivered to—oh, 당신 are a lifesaver. Monuments will be built in your honor. Thank 당신 so much, I really appreciate it.”
Hanging up the phone, she rushed back on set, nearly toppling over David Shore, who was en route to find her and drag her out. Lisa glared at Eddie, who shrugged and mouthed ‘I tried.’
“No proclamations for you,” she said, pointing at him and jogging over to 가입하기 Jennifer and Jesse on the clinic set. Hugh had a rare late call, and hadn’t arrived yet, which had made it possible for Lisa to attempt some last 분 arrangements in her new quest to get things back to normal. And, God willing, with the delivery she would receive tonight, tomorrow would get them back on track…
~*~*~
“Psst!” Lisa looked around the corner and waved at Greg. “Is Hugh anywhere around?”
“No, why, what’s up?”
“Oh, good.” Kicking the door open and holding it with her foot, Lisa hauled in a large box and managed to make it almost all the way to the prop 표, 테이블 without dropping it. Greg leaned over her shoulder to see what it was and furrowed his brow as she opened the 상단, 맨 위로 to reveal an entire box full of camouflage colored baseball caps. Lisa picked one out at 랜덤 and put it on, turning to face him. The words ‘REALLY CRAZY’ were stitched in bright 주황색, 오렌지 across the front. “What do 당신 think? It’s me, right?”
“Yes. And why?” Greg tried on one.
“Oh—just something to cheer Hugh up. He seemed kind of down the other day…” Greg raised an eyebrow at her. “Well, remember, he’s always saying how 팬 make him nervous, and he wishes that the really crazy ones would wear hats that say—”
“Really crazy,” Greg finished, finally getting it. He laughed. “That is too good.”
“So I thought this would be fun, if we can get them handed out before he gets here,” she said, digging in the box and grabbing another one. “Eddie! Catch!”
“Whoa!” He spun around, trying to save the box in his arms and catch the hat that she sent flying in his direction at the same time. “Ohhhhhh, nice.” Immediately he put down his load and affixed the hat backwards on his head. “Is this what 당신 were arranging yesterday?”
“Yep!” Lisa called back, handing out hats indiscriminately to cast and crew.
“Totally, totally worth it,” Eddie said, checking himself out in a mirror.
Out of nowhere Lisa suddenly heard an unmistakable laugh, a British laugh, a laugh she could pick out of any crowd in the world, and turned around to see Hugh standing in the doorway gaping at the sea of really crazy fans, each with its own hat. Lisa pulled her own down over her eyes some more—she wanted to see his reaction before he figured out it was her. Hugh set down the cane he was using for that day’s filming and leaned on it, speaking to one of the directors that was standing nearby. Lisa grinning to herself, reaching for the box to throw it under a 표, 테이블 for anyone that hadn’t been there in the morning yet, when—”
“You!”
She turned and saw Hugh walked toward her, pointing his cane in her direction. She blinked demurely, lifting the lid of her 캡, 모자 just slightly to look up at him. “Me, sir?”
“You evil, horrendous, wicked… sneak!” And Hugh dropped his cane against the 표, 테이블 and grabbed her, lifting her off her feet into a hug and spinning her around in a 원, 동그라미 before putting her down. Their audience applauded, and there were a few catcalls and whistles before the casts’ hats were removed for filming and the crew members got to work. Hugh shook his head at his co-star, smiling bemusedly at her before walking away. Lisa frowned a bit at his retreat.
You’re imagining things, Lisa, she told herself sternly. Now get to work.
~*~*~
Lisa knocked on the door shortly before pushing it open. “You got a minute?”
“He doesn’t,” the clinic patient told her rudely, then turned to his wife. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Sorry.” Hugh snarked back. “I’m sure she’s got a medical crisis. And I need 더 많이 time to figure out some leading 질문 for your wife.” He limped over to the door, where she was leaning against the frame.
“What’s going on with Cameron?” Lisa asked, resting the side of her head against the jamb.
“She doesn’t want back on my team,” Hugh answered. “And she doesn’t want to jump me.”
Oh, good. Lisa’s brain piped up.
Shut up, you. Lisa’s conscience said, bopping her brain over the head with a rubber mallet.
This mental picture was enough to start Lisa giggling even as her 다음 line was coming out. “Ok…” She started to leave, and Hugh stuck his head out the door, glaring at her.
“Wha, whoa, wait! 당신 ask a question… and… 당신 are so done. Lisa’s done,” he called to the directors, who stopped the cameras. They were used to Lisa’s sudden giggly outbursts 의해 now, and knew almost down to the 초 how long it would take her to recover. Hugh craned his neck around the corner to see Lisa standing in the hall, her head back against the wall. “You about ready?”
Lisa looked at him. Hugh looked evenly back, and she swallowed hard. “Yeah, sure. Whenever 당신 are.”
They continued.
“Wha, wha, what?” Hugh said when they got back to the same point. “You ask a question. I rule out two possibilities… and you’re satisfied? That means 당신 don’t want an answer. 당신 just wanted to know there wasn’t a particular answer.” Lisa raised an eyebrow as he meandered down his merry way through House’s logic. “Either 당신 were worried that she wanted back on my team, 또는 당신 were worried she wanted back on me.”
Lisa opened her mouth to answer, but was cut off 의해 the patient’s husband. “This isn’t a medical crisis, is it?”
As Hugh turned around to snap back at the man, Lisa ducked off to the side and took a few steps down the hallway out of the shot. A 분 또는 two later the scene was finished, and they took their places to run it again.
“Think 당신 can manage not to get the giggles this time?” Hugh muttered, heading into the room. Lisa stared after him, trying to tell if he was kidding 또는 not. One way 또는 another, she did manage to get through a few 더 많이 takes, and then lunch was called.
“Well that wasn’t too bad,” Lisa said, plopping herself down in a 좌석 at the same 표, 테이블 as Hugh, who was not eating but studying his script yet again for the 다음 scenes. “All things considered, I’ve had a much harder time than that getting through scenes before.” Hugh nodded, not looking up. “Oh, so I saved 당신 a hat… if 당신 want one.” She went on. “I left it in my trailer… if 당신 want to come over and get it ever…”
“I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Hugh said shortly, glancing up at her for a 초 before going back to his lines. Lisa’s eyes dropped to the 표, 테이블 as she tried to figure out what was happening.
“Hugh, what—”
“I gotta ask Greg something.”
“Hugh!” Finally he stopped and looked at her. Lisa spread her hands on the table. “What the hell is this?”
“What?”
“I—after this morning, your reaction, 당신 hugged—”
“Just because we’re having issues is no reason to worry everyone else,” Hugh said tightly. “We’re getting behind schedule, over budget, they do not need to worry that their actors are feuding.”
“We’re feuding?” Lisa’s voice cracked on the last word and she immediately looked around to make sure no one had heard. “Hugh, that is insane! We’re not—”
“Fine, we’re not feuding. We’re just having a difference of opinions. It’s no big deal, just like 당신 said. Nothing to worry about it.”
Lisa’s stare was icy. “Well. All I have to say is I cannot believe 당신 haven’t gotten an Emmy yet, your 연기 skills being such as can fool even those who think they know 당신 의해 now. Congratulations.”
Hugh gave a very sarcastic, very short bow to his co-star and made his way over to the directors. Lisa took one bite of her lunch, tasted sawdust, and threw it away.
Thank God you’re not called for a few days now, her conscience said helpfully.
Oh, shut up, said her brain.
~*~*~
