For the first time in almost three months of filming, Rome walked onto the sound stage with a smile on his face. Granted, he was a good two hours late, but that was actually early compared to his recent schedule. He had been coming in anywhere from three to four hours late. He knew it was driving the director, Jeannie, insane, but for the most part, he hadn’t made them wait on him. Every day except for two or three they hadn’t been ready to start filming when he walked in because there was some sort of issue with that stupid ass robot, and he’d ended up waiting anyway.
Seeing him sauntering across the open space toward where the cameras were set for the day, Jeannie crossed her arms and shook her head. “Well, if it isn’t our wayward star. Coming in a little early today, aren’t you? It’s only ten, and you weren’t supposed to be here until eight.”
Rome smirked at her. He knew that she understood his purpose, that it had nothing to do with her or his work ethic. Even after she’d begged him to try his best to be cooperative, he just couldn’t do it. Henry Caron was the thorn in his side that insisted on festering, and Rome wasn’t about to be a team player.
But today was different. Today was the last day, the final day, the end of the shooting for this wretched film. Yes, after today, he’d be a free man! That is, until the next project started. He’d already learned what that one was to be, and it wasn’t any better. In three weeks’ time, he was set to start filming When Unicorns Attack. Once again, he’d be playing the lead, only instead of staring opposite a crime fighting robot, he’d be partnering with an eight-year-old girl to fight zombie unicorns. Just when he thought a more absurd manuscript than the one he was currently working on couldn’t possibly exist, someone had thought up this gem. The entire situation made him want to hunt Henry Caron down and introduce his expensive French hair products to a dirty toilet.
He wasn’t thinking about all of that right now, though. Instead, he was concentrating on the fact that this was the last day he’d have to come to this pathetic set and shoot this horrible movie with this outrageously stupid robot. So the smile on his face was genuine for once. It seemed like he hadn’t actually smiled this broadly since he’d finished filming his last real movie, and that had been months ago.
“Are we ready to go?” he asked, ignoring Jeannie’s question.
She pulled her mouth to one side of her face and took a deep breath. Letting it out, she said, “In a few minutes.”
“Of course.” He shook his head and turned toward the hair and makeup team. He’d need to get his costume on as well. At least he got to wear tough guy detective clothing in this one. In the next movie, the script said he’d wear a spandex leotard in purple, blue, and red. Apparently, the movie took place on another planet. He really hoped Ella found a way to get the production company out of Henry’s hands before that movie ever saw the light of day. Perhaps he could have a horrible accident that left him unavailable for filming. Or maybe it was time he seriously considered faking his own death. If it could work for her, it could work for him, couldn't it?
He wouldn’t do that, tempting as it was. As the makeup artist began her work, Rome sank into a chair, looking through the mirror at nothing, wondering if there was some way to get out of the situation that they had yet to think of but coming up blank. He hated the sacrifices Ella was already making, but he hadn’t been able to talk her out of it. Now, she was so invested, he didn’t know if she’d stop even if he didn’t have to make the horrible unicorn movie.
“Are you excited about the awards announcements?” Rhea, the woman doing his makeup, asked, darkening his eyes so it looked like he was tired.
“Oh, yeah,” he said. He hadn’t given it much thought. The next day, the biggest awards in all of Hollywood would be announcing their selections for the upcoming ceremony. Some people believed Rome would be nominated for the role he’d played in the movie he’d done with Wynnie, but it had only been out for a few weeks, and he doubted enough people had seen it, though there had been advanced releases sent to influential people. He was trying not to think about it.
“I hear you’ve got a good shot this year,” Rhea continued. “Best Supporting Actor would go a long way toward getting you out of movies like this one.” She wrinkled up her nose.
“Actually, it won’t,” Rome said, being completely honest. “I have a contract with Henry Caron that says I’ll make whatever shitshows he assigns me to for the next nine films after this one, so… I’m kinda stuck.”
“Really?” Rhea’s dark eyes widened. She clearly liked to experiment with makeup techniques on herself, her blue, green, and aqua eyeshadow almost as bright as the lights on the mirror behind her. “Well, that really sucks.”
“You’re telling me.”
“It’s too bad. You’re a good actor, Rome. But this movie… well, it’s terrible. I don’t even want to go see it, and I’m usually proud to take my family to the movies I’ve worked on. But this one? Huh uh.” She shook her head adamantly enough to make the bun on top of her head dance.
“Thanks, Rhea,” he said, wishing he could shake his head without messing her up.
“Just sayin’. Is there something wrong with Mr. Caron that he picked such an awful script for you?”
“I guess you could say that.” Rome didn’t really care at this point who knew the truth. “He hates me.”
“Oh. Why?”
“It’s a long, complicated story,” he said, letting out a sigh. “But it’s because of my wife. He… had a thing for her.”
A solemn expression took over Rhea’s face. “Oh.” Her tone was completely different this time than it had been the first time she’d made the same sound. “She was so pretty. I bet she was really sweet, too, huh? It’s too bad. I’m really sorry, Rome. I don’t think I’ve ever told you. But that whole thing was just… too bad.”
“Yeah, thanks.” He took up the expression that always came to him whenever someone apologized for his loss. It wasn’t hard. He’d lost Mark at the same time, after all, and Ella had lost Tim. He didn’t have to fake being sad, even if he knew it was nothing compared to the anguish he would’ve felt if he’d actually lost Ella. He imagined if Rhea had to choose a word to describe his reaction, she’d choose stoic, maybe brave. Not devastated. Not… depressed.
She cleared her throat, worked on his cheeks a moment and then added, “Well, if there’s ever anything I can do to help, let me know. I don’t know what it might be because I’ve already taken a film with another studio that starts next week. I sure the hell won’t work on another one of these crapfests if I can help it, but you know, if something comes up.”
“I appreciate it, Rhea.” He smiled genuinely at her. He had no idea if she could help either, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep it in mind, in case something came up.
She smiled and continued with her work. Rome silently went over his lines for that day, sure he knew them all, as horrific as they were, and prayed this would somehow be the last awful movie he was forced to make, though something told him he wouldn’t have that kind of luck and soon enough he’d be frolicking with a little girl as they chased down slack-mouthed unicorns.