"You mean the two songs at the end of 'The Lion King' script?" Catherine asked, her green eyes wide with feigned confusion.
She had to act this way because, truthfully, she had completely forgotten that she had written the theme songs for 'The Lion King' at the end of the script. George's mention of it brought it back to her memory, and she instantly regretted it. The styles of the two songs were so different. Claiming to have written 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight' might be believable, but 'The Circle of Life' was another matter, especially the iconic opening.
"Yes, they are excellent songs. Everyone agrees they fit the animation perfectly," George nodded.
"That was me. It took a lot of effort," Catherine admitted. Denial wasn't an option unless she conjured up a fictitious author.
"That's great. We'd like to buy them if possible," George said, spreading his hands.
"Alright, but Mr. Wells, shouldn't you discuss this with Mr. Sparrow?" Catherine shrugged.
"Yes, I know. I will. But before that, I have a question," George took a deep breath. "Catherine, it's clear from the other night that you love music and are quite skilled with various instruments. Your voice is also very beautiful. Have you ever considered making a record?"
Having lived another life, Catherine already knew what George was going to ask. She realized she had drawn too much attention the other night, and now he was asking about 'The Lion King' songs. However, she had more pressing concerns, like figuring out what to say if people inquired about her 'inspiration' for 'The Circle of Life.'
"I haven't thought about it yet. Let's finish this movie first," she replied, pointing to the busy crew preparing for the next shot.
George seemed to have anticipated this response and nodded calmly. "Alright. But if you do consider it, I hope you'll think of us first."
"Of course, Mr. Wells," Catherine agreed easily. "Now, I need to get back."
After ending the conversation, George felt relieved. At least she had agreed verbally, which, while not binding, left a positive impression of Disney. Maintaining this good impression could make a difference if Catherine decided to pursue a music career in the future.
George realized he was overstepping his authority again and would need to call Mr. Eisner. He retrieved his phone from his bag with a wry smile.
*************************************
"Great, very good!" Charles clapped his hands and stood up, satisfied with the final shot.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, especially Catherine. Distracted by the 'The Circle of Life' issue, she had experienced a series of NGs that afternoon, much like during the forest park shoot. The director had been displeased, but Catherine managed to focus and nail the final shots.
"Everyone, I'm pleased to announce we've finished shooting in Napa Valley. Take a short break, then pack up quickly. We need to head back to San Francisco and catch Flight 1272 to London," Nancy announced, prompting groans from the crew.
"Why can't we rest for two days before going?" someone grumbled.
"Yeah, it's the weekend tomorrow. I promised my son I'd take him camping," another added.
"Nancy, you vampire, are you trying to drain us dry?" shouted the photographer,Phoenix.
"Alright, gentlemen, we just had a break the night before last," Nancy replied coolly, crossing her arms. "Does anyone not want to spend the weekend in London?"
The crew instantly quieted down and began packing quickly. Some were already planning what gifts to buy for their families. Catherine couldn't help but admire Nancy's tactic. She looked around and saw Jessica busy stuffing small items into her pink bag.
"Jessica, do you have that much stuff to pack?" Catherine sighed. She wanted to talk to someone, but her sweet sister was occupied with her beloved husband. She wasn't going to London, as she had no scenes there, and Dennis had only a small part. With such a hasty departure, they naturally wanted to spend some time together. Mr. Sparrow was talking animatedly on the phone, and Aunt Jennifer was packing Catherine's things, leaving Jessica as her only option.
"Oh, my princess, I'm packing your luggage for you. If you have anything to say, please save it for the plane!" Jessica feigned impatience, mimicking a haughty maid who managed every aspect of a princess's life. It wasn't until Catherine adorably pouted and glared at her that Jessica chuckled, zipped up her bag, and sat beside her. "Alright, Cassie, this is my first time traveling abroad."
"So, you're this excited?" Catherine seemed unimpressed.
"But it's also my first time going to London," Jessica shrugged.
"London isn't as beautiful as you think, dear Jessica," Catherine patted her shoulder, smiling. "Yes, the Tower Bridge, Westminster Palace, Big Ben, the Tower of London, and so on are all lovely sights, must-see places for tourists. But the weather is very unfriendly. While the seasonal temperature variation isn't huge, it's definitely colder than Los Angeles. You should be grateful it's June now. If it were still May, it could be a whole week without seeing the sun. And most importantly, it can rain anytime."
"That's okay. I'll bring an umbrella," Jessica shrugged again.
"Oh my, Jess, don't you understand?" Catherine sighed dramatically, covering her forehead. "You're not going on vacation; you're going to shoot a movie! You have to captivate all of London, make them dance at your fingertips!"
The dramatic little girl almost stood up but realized something was off and looked at Jessica, who was sitting leisurely with her arm propped on her thigh, supporting her chin, watching her.
"Done venting?" Jessica raised an eyebrow.
Catherine blinked. "How did you know?"
"Come on, Cassie, you always ramble when you vent. It's not about seeing it or not," Jessica shrugged again.
"That just means my acting isn't good enough. Otherwise, you wouldn't notice even if I rambled," the young girl stretched to disguise her headache, still trying to come up with an excuse for 'The Circle of Life.'
Just then, Mr. Sparrow walked over and handed her the phone. "Miss Mason, it's your mother."
Mom? Catherine pouted, fully understanding why her mom would call now. Reluctantly, she took the phone. "Hi, Mommy."
"How are you, darling? It's been three weeks since I saw you. You're not upset that I haven't visited the set, are you?" Susan's concerned and gentle voice came through the line.
The little girl rubbed her nose apologetically. "Of course not, Mommy. I'm sorry I haven't come home on weekends."
Susan's soft laugh echoed. "I know, Mr. Sparrow told me you're immersing yourself in your role. My Catherine always likes to stick to her goals."
Catherine stuck out her tongue silently. Despite feeling sorry, she still had to ask, "Mommy, can I not go?"
There was a brief silence before her mother's gentle voice returned. "Catherine, that would be very impolite."
"Oh, come on, Mom. I'm going to London for work, not for a vacation or tour. I'll be back soon," the little girl said, her face scrunched in an unseen grimace. Then she added, "If you insist, Mommy, I can go, but I won't spend New Year in London this year."
"Little one, don't bargain with me," Susan laughed. "Alright, you don't have to go to your grandpa's, but you must come up with a good excuse—unless your movie isn't released in the UK. I won't cover for you then."
"No problem, Mommy. It's a deal. Bye, I love you!" Hanging up, Catherine couldn't resist wanting to whistle. Dealing with Grandpa was easy, though she still had to visit for New Year. Hopefully, it wouldn't be like the summer before last. It wasn't that the little girl didn't like her grandpa; she loved the old man, and he loved her too. He would accompany her all over his estates whenever she was around, but in some matters, he was… well, very old-fashioned.
Maybe half of his soul still lived in the Victorian era. Every time the little girl thought of certain things, she couldn't help but grumble a bit. Though she wasn't going to her grandpa's, there were always some people's homes she had to visit. Someone hadn't written to her in two months!