November 8th 2010.
Things had gone better than Jay would've expected. Thanks to Scamp, Lou hadn't thrown a fit at his leaving. She had, instead, compromised on video calling as often as possible.
He had packed his luggage – guitar included – and had flown to L.A yesterday at 6pm, eastern time, and had arrived at 10pm, western time.
He had slept right after reaching his room, and had been awake since 5:30am sharp. He had done his routine and dressed up already, he was currently eating breakfast at the hotel's restaurant with Ruby.
"So," she opened, "Someone from the set will come and get us shortly. You start filming at 8 am, glad to know you can wake up early."
"I wake up at 5:30 am everyday." he brightly said, to the woman's horror.
"Maniac." he heard her mumble as she finished her plate of maple syrup-topped pancakes and downed her espresso. Ruby was obviously not a morning person.
At 6:30am, the staff member charged with driving came and brought them to the set.
They were there by 6:45, and that left Jay with one hour and fifteen minutes to get ready. He was ushered in the makeup room where they proceeded to lightly do his face, and trim his beard a little. Then, they slicked his hair back, but not in a cringy kind of way.
He was fitted in a dark red suit and oxford brown leather shoes, a couple of rings and a very expensive watch.
When everything was done, they brought him to the set where the directors and Steve were already waiting.
"Hey Jay, how was your flight?" Steve asked.
"Fine, thanks. Which scene are we filming first?"
"Hannah and Jacob's first meeting at the bar, the first scene we tried out together." Emma who had appeared behind him responded. She was wearing a black cocktail dress and matching black heels.
John Requa, one of the directors asked him, "Have you memorized all your lines already?"
"Yeah, I have. I'm good with any scenes."
Requa nodded. He turned to everyone and yelled "Alright everybody, let's put this movie back on track!"
He was greeted by assenting yells.
***
Jay plopped down on his bed at the end of the first day. He hadn't thought it would be that tiring.
The directors had made him go through so many retakes he had stopped counting. He felt a little embarrassed at wasting everyone's time, but they had all been very nice and supporting.
His Acting skill was at 31, which, he had reckoned, gave him the ability to learn the craft faster.
That was a major plus. Without it, he would probably still be on set, getting drowned under the spit of the two directors.
He took out his script and started writing notes on it based on the advices he had gotten on set and his own experience. Despite his tiredness, he diligently worked on getting better and didn't go to sleep until he had completely understood what he had done wrong.
It was 1am when he finally dragged his exhausted body to bed.
***
November 13th 2010.
Five days in, and Jay had settled into a nice pace.
His acting had gotten better as a result of repeated practice and now he only needed four to five takes at most, which had the directors, Steve and the others, rejoicing to no end.
Everyone was gathered on the current set, which was an expensive Hollywood crib. It was his character's, Jacob Palmer's house in the movie.
The scene they were about to shoot was the dirty dancing lift that Patrick Swayze had made famous. It was also one of the pick up moves that Jacob used to get laid.
"Silence on the set!" Glenn Ficarra, the second director, yelled.
{ Hannah: Okay, so then what do we do? What happens now, like logistically? What's your move?
Jacob Palmer: What do you mean, what's my move?
Hannah: What's your move? What's your big move?
Jacob Palmer: I got lots of moves.
Hannah: What's your big move?
Jacob Palmer: I'm not telling you my big move.
Hannah: Telling me your move!
Jacob Palmer: You can't handle the big move, trust me.
Hannah: Tell me your big move!
Jacob Palmer: I work Dirty Dancing into the conversation.
Hannah: Dirty Dancing?
Jacob Palmer: Can I sit down, please?
Hannah: Yeah.
Jacob Palmer: Can I put back on my shirt?
Hannah: No.
[Jacob sits down, still shirtless]
Hannah: Why Dirty Dancing? What do we do? Do we watch it?
Jacob Palmer: You know the big move at the end of Dirty Dancing, where Patrick Swayze picks up Jennifer Grey?
Hannah: Yeah.
Jacob Palmer: I can do that.
Hannah: Okay.
Jacob Palmer: So I tell girls I can do the move. I put on the song, Time of your Life, I do the big move and they always wanna have sex with me.
Hannah: [laughing] Oh, my God! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
Jacob Palmer: I agree. But it works every time.
Hannah: That would not work on me! }
They ended the conversation and switched their placements.
They got into position and when the directors yelled 'action', Emma started running towards him. He picked her up and lifted her above his head, and that's when shit hit the fan.
She started screaming and scratching his face. Hard.
He put her down as gently as he could. Considering the situation, her reckoned she should be grateful he hadn't thrown her across the room. His face was stinging.
Pandemonium broke out on the set and Ruby made a beeline for him.
"Oh my god, are you okay?" she worriedly asked as she checked him for injuries.
"I'm fine. How bad is it?" he groaned and asked.
"I guess you should be grateful she trims her nails. Jesus, what was that about?"
Jay looked in Emma's direction, realizing she was sitting on the ground, crying.
He exasperatedly sighed and approached her, "Hey, everything alright?"
She looked up at him with tears streaming down her face, "I'm sorry… I… I don't know what… I'm gonna go watch Labyrinth."
Jay looked at her oddly and when Glenn who came over with John overheard her, he asked, "Labyrinth? What are you talking about? We need to finish shooting the scene Emma."
But she was adamant, she went backstage and found a room with a TV and DVD player and proceeded to watch it. She had actually brought the movie with her.
Steve Carell slapped his forehead, "Alright everybody, let's take a break."
And so they did. They took a two hours long one.
***
"I'm so, so sorry Jay. Are you alright?" Emma said after inspecting his face for the umpteenth time.
"I'm fine, really. What was that about?" Jay asked.
He saw her cheeks heat up in shame and she spoke, "God, this is so embarrassing. I… I think I was probably traumatized when I was in high school. I had no idea until now, but it brought back memories. It was most likely from gym class, where my teacher let go of me and I did this sort of dive in the void… from about a 6 foot height…"
"... I see."
"I'm really, really sorry." she said again.
"I know you are. By the way, thanks for trimming your nails." he laughed and said.
Emma got startled at that before bursting out loud.
"You better make it up to me." Jay said meaningfully.
"Sure," Emma nodded, "Ever toured L.A? I'll be your guide."
"That's a deal! Let's make it happen sometime soon." he added before jogging back towards the set.
***
November 15th 2010.
Today was the day they shot the group "fight" scene.
Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Kevin Bacon, Analeigh Tipton and little Joey King were all present.
Jay had approached the middle-aged woman and asked for her autograph after a few failed takes and between a break.
"Of course." Julianne smiled, "To whom do I address it?"
"Lisa Parson. Thank you very much, really." Jay earnestly thanked.
"It's not a problem at all." she wave her hand and gave the picture back to him.
Leah had entrusted him with her mother's favorite one to get it signed. He had fulfilled his mission.
"Alright guys, let's do this!" Glenn yelled once he deemed the break had been long enough.
Everyone got in place, and the filming started again.
"... Fourth Take, and action!"
{ [Emily still blindfolded for Cal's surprise]
Emily Weaver: Jacob, it's so nice to meet you. I've heard so many wonderful things about you from Nanna.
Jacob Palmer: I'm sorry, what's a Nanna?
Hannah: I'm a Nanna. You know, I couldn't say Hannah when I was little. How do you know my dad?
[Jacob looks shocked realizing for the first time that Hannah is Cal's daughter]
Emily Weaver: She couldn't say her H's at all.
Cal Weaver: Okay, I'm having trouble understanding what's going on here, right now.
Hannah: Dad, this is uh…this is Jacob. My boyfriend.
Cal Weaver: No, it's not.
Hannah: I'm just bringing him over to meet mom.
Cal Weaver: No! No! No! No!
Jacob Palmer: I can't breathe.
Emily Weaver: I wanna see the boyfriend, please! Can I take this off, now?
Jacob Palmer: Cal, what are you do…what are you doing with a daughter that's grown up?
Cal Weaver: I was seventeen, that's why we had to get married so young.
Jacob Palmer: That is something you should have told me.
Cal Weaver: You never wanted me to talk about my children!
Molly Weaver: Um…I'm gonna go watch TV now.
Cal Weaver: Yeah, that's fine, honey. Why don't you go do that?
Jacob Palmer: Yeah, can I come?
Molly Weaver: No!
Cal Weaver: Let me get this straight. So you guys are a thing, you guys are a couple, right? You guys are together?
Hannah: Yeah! Yes.
Cal Weaver: No way! Break up, right now!
Hannah: Daddy?
[to Hannah]
Jacob Palmer: Please don't call him that.
[turns to Cal]
Jacob Palmer: Cal, that's not gonna happen.
Cal Weaver: Then I will mess you up!
Hannah: Dad!
Emily Weaver: Cal!
Jacob Palmer: Cal!
[at that moment Robbie sees Jessica and her Dad storming into their garden to beat up Cal]
Robbie Weaver: Jessica!
Cal Weaver: Bernie!
[...]
[David appears in the middle of the fight and revelation of Jessica being in love with Cal]
David Lindhagen: Excuse me, Emily? You left your sweater in my car the other night.
Emily Weaver: Oh!
Hannah: Who are you?
David Lindhagen: I'm David Lindhagen.
Jacob Palmer: David Lindhagen.
Cal Weaver: David Lindhagen.
[Jacob takes off his ring and walks over to David]
Jacob Palmer: Okay.
David Lindhagen: Is this a bad time?
Emily Weaver: Yeah.
[suddenly Jacob punches David in the face]
Hannah: Jacob!
Jacob Palmer: You know how much pain and suffering you caused my friend, you dumb son of a…?
[before Jacob can finish, Cal grabs hold of Jacob]
Cal Weaver: Stay the hell away from my daughter!
Emily Weaver: Cal!
[at the same time Bernie grabs hold of Cal who's holding Jacob]
Bernie Riley: You stay away from my daughter!
[suddenly David jumps in and grabs hold of Jacob]
David Lindhagen: I don't even know you!
[they are all now tangled together fighting each other]
Jacob Palmer: Oh, my God! What are you grabbing?! }
"CUT! CUT!" John yelled! "Seriously?! We said pretend fighting you guys, PRETEND! Kevin let go of Jay! Oh my god!"
The Fourth Take was a mess. It was easy for lines to start getting blurred when able bodied men started fighting, and Jay could proudly say he might have received a stray punch or two.
They never managed to shoot a decent scene at all that day.
But it was a hell of a lot fun.
***
November 20th 2010.
They were doing the scenes where Jacob takes Cal for a complete makeover, and Jay was really anticipating it.
"You look like a kid who's been let out in a candy store." Ruby commented.
"I get to slap Steve several times in the following scenes." he supplied.
Ruby narrowed her eyes, "Careful young man, I give your mother daily reports."
"Yes, ma'am."
They were filming at the Westfield Century City mall, and Jay had been given a slice of pizza to start the opening scene.
When Steve came out on the set, he was wearing baggy close and horrible looking NB shoes.
"Alright, let's start!" Glenn said.
"... First Take… action!"
{ [meeting Jacob at the mall]
Jacob Palmer: Let me ask you a question, Cal. How much money have you got today for clothes?
Cal Weaver: Um…
Jacob Palmer: What happened to your feet?
Cal Weaver: What do you mean?
[looks down at his feet]
Cal Weaver: These are my four-o-sevens.
Jacob Palmer: Oh, the four-o-sevens. Can I see them?
Cal Weaver: Yep.
[Cal takes off his sneakers]
Cal Weaver: These offer a lot of support.
Jacob Palmer: Right.
[Cal hands his sneakers to Jacob and he throws them down the mall]
Cal Weaver: Woh!
Jacob Palmer: What are you, in a fraternity?
Cal Weaver: Are you insane?
Jacob Palmer: Are you in a fraternity?
Cal Weaver: You could have hit somebody! What was that?
Jacob Palmer: Are you? I'm asking you a question. Are you in a fraternity?
Cal Weaver: No!
Jacob Palmer: Are you Steve Jobs?
Cal Weaver: What?
Jacob Palmer: Hold on a second! Are you the billionaire owner of Apple computers?
Cal Weaver: No!
Jacob Palmer: Oh, okay. Well, in that case you got no right to wear new balance sneakers, ever!
[he slaps Cal in the face]
Jacob Palmer: Come on. }
"AND CUT! Great job guys, it's a wrap!" Glenn yelled happily.
It was the first scene they had done without another take, and it felt great.
Jay laughed at Steve who was rubbing his cheek, "You okay?"
The man rolled his eyes at him, "I'm glad it was just a pretend slap. It still stings even then."
Jay smiled sheepishly and they changed locations for the next scene. They ended up doing this for the entire afternoon, and were really on a roll, if it didn't take one try, it took two at most.
At least that's how it happened, until the scene of Cal's final makeover, when he comes out of the changing room.
"... First Take… action!" John Requa yelled this time.
{ Cal Weaver: I feel kind of stupid, but…
[Cal comes of the changing room with his new suite and haircut]
Tiffany: Wow! Look at you!
Cal Weaver: I feel like I'm going skiing.
[to Tiffany as they look at Cal]
Jacob Palmer: Would you sleep with him?
Cal Weaver: Jesus! God!
Tiffany: Yeah, probably.
Cal Weaver: Wha…? You would?
[Cal laughs]
Cal Weaver: What? What are you even saying?
Jacob Palmer: You see what just happened, Cal? Soon as you opened your mouth, Tiffany started doubting whether she wanted to sleep with you or not.
Cal Weaver: That's probably the meanest thing anyone's ever said to me.
Jacob Palmer: No. This is.
[he walks up to Cal]
Jacob Palmer: Your wife cheated on you because you lost sight of who you are as a man, as a husband and probably as a lover. }
There was a huge moment of silence as people were taken aback by the intensity with which Jay had delivered the last line.
"Err… Cut!" John Requa said, "Jay, you don't need to be that... vehement. Jacob is just trying to make a point, not kill someone…"
Jay snapped out of it, realizing he had let his emotions get the better of him. He had said that line with so much hate you could practically feel the venom dripping from it.
"I'm sorry, let's do it again." he sincerely apologized to everyone.
Ruby went to talk to the directors and they nodded before Glenn announced a ten minutes break.
His agent came up to him worriedly, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Really. I don't know what happened." he lied.
Those words he had had to say felt like knives slicing through his own skin. He thought he had forgotten all about that incident, but it was clear he had been kidding himself. The worst part was that he couldn't tell anyone about it.
He tried his best to placate Ruby and when she finally left, sighed in relief. He secretly slapped his cheeks. He needed to get a hold of himself, this was a movie set. The right kind of emotions would make him soar, while anything else would drag him down.
He exhaled a breath and went back to work.
***
Later that day, when he was back at his hotel room, he sat down on his bed and mulled over what had happened earlier. Thankfully it had been during a non-threatening setting, or that could have been dangerous.
[Would you like to forego your emotions?]
"... What?" Jay got startled.
[The system can shut down your emotions permanently.]
"No, I need them to act…" he started before pausing. "What do you mean by permanently?"
[Permanently means forever.]
Jay felt his blood run cold. "Are you insane?! Of course not! Never ask that again."
[As the host wishes.]
In all honesty, he tried his best to avoid interacting with the system. The fact that it was sentient was one thing, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that it was hiding something.
It gave out missions and EXP, and was capable of many amazing things. It couldn't be described as either evil or good, it was simply a tool, but its lack of empathy made him uncomfortable.
Jay doubted any sane person would willingly cut off their emotions. Happiness, sadness, sorrow, anger… they were what made humans, humans. Only empty shells would be left without them.
He took off his clothes and got in bed, putting a stop to his increasingly wandering trail of thoughts.
He was asleep before he knew it.