The Director's Cut Read Online Free PDF Page A

room. She returned moments later with my coffee in hand, sloshing a bit of it on the script. “Oh, pooh.” She put the coffee down on the table, then reached for a napkin to dry my script. Her hands trembled so violently I reached out and touched them to calm her down.
    â€œIt’s okay. Really.” I gave her an encouraging wink, and she moved on to give Brock his latte, then settled into the chair next to him. Convenient.
    Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of Jason, who rose and left the room, whispering something about needing coffee.
    Minutes later, everyone else joined us. Lenora sashayed in, wearing her white chiffon dress, and did a semi-arthritic spin to show it off.
    â€œYou look like a million bucks, kid,” Brock said with a wink.
    â€œSeeing her in this dress makes me feel like a kid again,” Rex said as he pulled out Lenora’s chair. “I was barely a teenager when A Streetcar Named Desire came out.”
    â€œOne of my favorite movies.” Brock nodded and flashed a broad, white-toothed smile.
    â€œOh, Vivien Leigh was beautiful, wasn’t she?” Lenora released a contented sigh.
    Rex ran the back of his hand across his wife’s cheek. “Not half as beautiful as you are right at this very moment.”
    The whole room seemed to come to a standstill at his proclamation. His words—and Lenora’s teary reaction—held us spellbound. In fact, the scene they’d just inadvertently acted out in front of us was probably more emotional than any we’d filmed in weeks.
    Still, we had work to do. And how could I call myself a director if I couldn’t manage to get a simple roundtable reading started?
    I finally got control of the room, and Scott dove in, reading the first line. The story took several twists and turns, each one more humorous than the last. Before long, we were all laughing aloud, even the children. By the time we ended, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
    â€œThis is brilliant,” Brock said as he lifted his script in a triumphant manner. “The funniest thing I’ve ever read. No wonder you guys took home the Golden Globe back in January.”
    High praise coming from a man whose last movie had garnered five Academy Award nominations.
    â€œWe’ve got some great writers.” As I looked Brock’s way, my gaze lingered on his gorgeous face—perhaps a moment too long. Still, who could blame me? No harm in looking, right?
    Jason cleared his throat as he reentered the room. “Should be a lot of fun to film.”
    I startled back to attention. “No doubt. Let’s get together and talk it through, okay?”
    As he nodded, a hint of a smile creased his lips. I found myself torn between the prettier-than-a-picture actor seated across from me and the intriguing-sometimes-sarcastic-always-has-something-to-say-about-everything-even-the-things-I-don’t-care-to-talk-about cameraman taking a seat to my right.
    Thank goodness I didn’t have to ponder this dilemma for long. Kat’s words interrupted my thoughts. “Tia, I love this whole episode, top to bottom, and I’m sure the viewers will too. I just think it’s hilarious that Angie goes into labor in an elevator and Scott—er, Jack—has to deliver the baby with Brock’s help. Pure genius.”
    â€œMy favorite part is that we don’t even know that Brock’s character is a rival talent scout.” Scott grinned. “Thinking he’s a gyro delivery guy is what makes it so brilliant.”
    â€œAnd dressing Jack and Angie up like Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny is the icing on the cake,” Kat said. “I can’t even imagine how funny it’s going to be to add that element.” She giggled. “I also can’t imagine what it would be like to have that happen in real life. Can you?”
    Frankly, no.
    Still, I’d better respond. “Well, we figured since the show will air