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It had been one of those days. Lareina sat in front of the computer, frustrated and tired. She had less than an hour to complete this weeks script, and had just lost all of her text because she didn't save what she was working on. The sound of her annoyed and frustrated cursing could be heard all the way into the next room. Frustratedly she reconstructed what she could from memory, then printed it out, so as to review it from some place other than the computer. "This is bulljive," she huffed as she picked up the last of her pages from the printer. Then she called Ben in for an opinion. He kindly rubbed her shoulders, giving her a much needed massage. Then he put on some coffee, as Lucinda had phoned to say she was on her way into the office. It was going to be a very long day, Lareina just knew it. Lucinda had been the one assigned all the research duties that week. Though each often contributed to the necessary research, that was by no means anything less than a monumental task; the team often took turns appointing one to do the tedious job of collecting all the necessary facts, so the others could get a head start on the task of penning the episode.
"What's wrong love?" Ben asked compassionaltey.
Lareina sighed. "I just can't seem to get it together," she huffed, her annoyance seething through her statement. "I HATE when i feel unproductive."
"I know you do," said Ben. "Just relax and take a deep breath. Walk away from it for a moment, then dive right back into it when you feel revived."
Lareina sighed again. Ben walked over to her and began massaging her shoulders again. (3) "THE SECRET IS TO REMAIN A CHILD," he said, "Make everything as simple as possible, and don't waste time overthinking."
Lucinda walked into the room, carrying a stack of papers and file folders. "Well here it is," she said. "Here is EVERYTHING i could find on the realistic possibilities of angles and degrees of direction of flying projectiles; Everything i could find on cerebral hemmoraging and cerebrospinal fluid, which was actually kind of interesting; As well as everything on police procedure concering warrants, rules of evidence and criminal homicide..." Then she plopped the papers onto the desk, "Annnndd so on and so on ad infinitum."
"Thanks you're a doll," said Lareina.
"How's it coming?" asked Lucinda.
"Not so good," Lareina sighed. "I just can't seem to pull it together," she said. "I'm stuck on this one stupid scene."
"It's alright, no worries," said Ben, "It happens. I'm sure you'll pull through."
Lareina sighed frustradely, "I don't know. I've got two more that i need to finish today; One for next week that i need to start on; and this stupid one that has got to be done in an hour, that had to be written over, that i'm now stuck on! This is getting depressing!"
(1) "DO NOT DESPAIR LOVELY ONE!" said Lucinda, "This happens all the time. You know that. We all get stuck every once in a while. Stay focused. (6) IN TIME....ALL WILL BE__fine; You'll see. It'll come together, as it always does."
Lareina smiled. "And it's not like we haven't revised in the middle of production before," Ben chuckled, "It's all good."
Lareina sighed, "Oh Ben, (2) IF YOU TRULY LOVE ME....You won't mention another re-write! I don't even want to think revisions!" Lucinda and Ben chuckled. "Well it DOES happen," said Ben. "Yes, but considering the work load of what has got to be put out and finished this week, I'd rather just get the dam*ned thing done, so we can start on the next one." Lareina said.
Then she sighed. "I just don't know what to do with this! This whole plot is SO overdone. It's weak."
"Well....." said Ben, "You could always..... well I mean, if you're stuck..... there IS the possibility of....." he trailed off.
"What?" said Lareina curiously. She was suddenly intrigued with Ben's suggestion due to her current level frustration as well as the pressure of timing she was under. "I'll take anything you can suggest at this point." she said.
"Well, I mean...... we constantly have an influx of emails and write-ins and such from viewers with story-ideas for the show. We could always take one of those, and alter or ammend it.... and viola!" Then he added, "It's not like it's never been done before."
With sudden indignation, Lariena furiously replied, "YES, but, You know how i feel about that! A writer's material is sacred, Ben. I do not like taking someone's else's ideas!"
"Oh i know," said Ben, "But the fact remains, that this business is so competitive, and original ideas so few and far between... we all end up trampling over eachother's toes anyhow."
"He brings up a good point, Lar," said Lucinda. "I mean, it's very hard to produce originality in an industry where all contributions are esentially borrowed from someone else's ideas."
"I know that," said Lareina, "But.....im NOT into plagerising another writer, NOR am i into absconding another's work in an effort to finish a script that i know i can do, if i just stay focused."
Then she took a sip of her coffee, and motioned for Ben to massage her shoulders again. She continued, "Besides, most of that which is sent into us, has been done before, either by us, or another show. There maybe has been one or two ideas that have been somewhat decent, but even so, it's just NOT what we're looking for. It's not the direction we want the show to take. 500 emails a day, and that's really an under-estimate. In all of those, it's nearly impossible to find something decent amongst all the garbage that we're sent. AND it's a matter of legality. Most of what is 'suggested' to us is absolute crap. And, there's not a single one of them, that would consent to our taking a story idea without wanting recognition for their contribution in credits."
Then she sighed, and continued as Ben continued on with the massage. "Besides, a writer's job is to put out a winner of a story, not a piece of absolute garbage. Most of these are just fame-seeking wannabes that send us total crap. We already have a great team of writers, that can more than well do the job. Aside from THAT fact, do you know how MANY angry letters i've received from people swearing we've taken their ideas, or something they've suggested, OR are writing about them personally? The amount of threatened lawsuits due to supposed 'idea stealing' gets to be ridiculous after a while." Lareina concluded.
Lucinda and Ben agreed. Then Ben said, "Yes, yes, I agree with you whole-heartedly Lareina. This takes nothing less than total team-effort, and we are competent in and of ourselves to put out a decent script. BUT, the fact that this industry is notorious for borrowing ideas from others is just an obvious fact."
Then he walked over to the couch and sat down, looking at printed copy of the script that Lareina had laid down. "I don't like to do it either. You KNOW how angry it makes me when some no-name wannabe accuses me of taking an idea or two, and it is really not the case."
"Yes, yes," said Lareina, "So you understand my point then, don't you?"
"Of course," said Ben, "I understand EXACTLY how you feel. It's downright bloody aggrivating."
Lareina sighed. "What do you think Lucinda? What are your thoughts?"
"Well," started Lucinda, who was seated in front of the computer. "I agree with both view points. We have competent writers that can fair well for themselves without resorting to stealing ideas from the general public. And while the fact remains, to quote a very trite and overdone cliche, that 'great minds often think alike,' I am seriously just as frustrated as both of you are in being accused of stealing story ideas."
Then she clicked the mouse, and said, "Even so.... i agree with Lareina, most of what is sent in is total crap. AND even if we did find something decent, she's right. There's not a single one of them that would agree to...... a type of 'ghost writing' to contribute to an episode or two without wanting full credit of thier name on the screen as being a contributing 'writer.' It's ridiculous." Then she sighed, "Besides, that's mostly done with books anyhow, not scripts."
Then Ben added, "True. But it's not like we haven't pulled before from an idea or a suggestion made by someone else; either for story-line or character name."
"YES BUT," added Lareina, "We're NOT idea theives, as some of these people have suggested! That really offends me Ben!"
"Oh i totally agree with you," said Ben, "I get offended as well. There is a major difference between someone's suggestion sparking a decent idea, and totally taking someone else's work to the bank, you know?"
"And THAT's the issue here," said Lareina. "I'm starting to think you're suggesting that we, or atleast I am not able to produce decent material after so many seasons, and that piss*es me off!"
"That's NOT what i'm saying at all!," Ben said. "You know we're ALL on the same side here, Lar. All i'm saying is, well, you've pulled a TON of material from that friend of yours, Lar," he said, "A TON."
"Oh hold on now," she said somewhat offended, "Yes, an idea or two from something she said, or an issue in and about her life that i thought would make for a good story-line, BUT she's not a fame-hungry whore monger that's going to accuse me of being an idea theif and try to sue me. And she's not humping my leg for a job either! She's not a wanna-be trying to get into the business!!" Then she added angrily, "Besides, Gwen didn't know about any of what i do until just last week, and I've known the girl for years!! AND even SHE'D tell you, those ideas, are all my OWN, i did not borrow from her own writing, which she does for fun. She's not in this profession. And, if you don't believe me, ASK HER. She'll tell you!"
Then Ben said comfortingly, "I believe you Lar, that's not what i was trying to say. I know you, I know you can put out great stuff, okay?"
Lareina remained silent a moment, then said, "Okay. But I mean it..... if that ever even becomes an issue, OR a thought, seriously, call the dam*ned girl and ASK her. I'm offended that you'd even suggest I'd take someone else's material just to keep a job."
Ben sighed, "That's not what i was suggesting Lar, okay?"
Then Lucinda chimed in, "We all know that feeling Lar, it's okay. I don't think Ben was trying to suggest that." Then she turned towards Ben, "But it did kinda come out that way."
Then Lareina said, "Okay look guys, we don't have the time to waste arguing or being mad with eachother. It's already been a half hour of this nonsense, and we NEED to finish the script."
Then Lucinda laughed loudly. "What?" said Lareina. "This," said Lucinda indicating what was on the screen. (4) "WHAT A WONDERLAND IS THIS!" she said.
A very curious Ben and Lareina made their way over to the desk. "I decided to open up some of the um...... 'suggestions' that are sent to us every day, right?"
Ben laughed, "Right and?" he said. "Well," said Lucinda, "There were some that really were GREAT, but then, there were those that... well, as Lareina said, were absolute crap!"
"Right, we know that," said Ben. "Okay but... you've GOT to see a few of these," she said laughing. "I'm not trying to be mean.... but...." she said, as she opened up a few windows on the computer. "This guy, has suggested a nearly pornographic idea or two for how we can show Kristen and Tommy erm.... consumating their relationship!"
"What?" said Lareina laughing. "Oh my," she said reading the email. "He wants us to show them doing it in the shower!" She became hysterical with laughter. "Yes, um... i do NOT think so friend."
"Oh look at this one!" Ben exclaimed with a grin, "He even tried his hand at putting it into format." Then he read aloud what was on the screen, "Whide shot of Phinneas walking into a wharehouse or sumthin'" Ben shook his head, "Poor guy can't spell worth a lick," he said, the he continued reading aloud the email, "Phinney has a gun rite, and it's drawn at this other dude, and he's all like, "(5) WHEN THE MAGICK-CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT.... it's like party time, my freind. You AN ya boys is goin down.' then he takes out a uzi and shoots up da place."
They all smiled, and laughed. "That's funny," said Lareina, "Can you see Dan toting an Uzi?"
"Oh he'd object to the scene entirely," laughed Ben.
Just then Lucinda's cell phone rang. "Hello?" she said still laughing. "Uh-huh, uh-huh," she said as she began to go through some of the papers she had previously placed atop the desk when she had entered the office. "No no, it's pronounced, ortho-static-hypo-tension, and it's fairly common. Right, it wouldn't cause any type of cerebreal hemmoraging. It's relative to a sudden drop in blood pressure where the individual has stood up too quickly."
Then she motioned for Lareina and Ben to hold off with the chuckling as they were still getting a kick out of some of the suggestions via email. Lucinda continued, "Right, right, it WOULD be accompanied by the whole dizziness and seeing spots. Right. No, no, that doesn't concern the other. It's the um.... hold on, we'll come right over." Then she hung up.
"What?" asked Ben.
"That was Alyssa," said Lucinda. "She had a few questions about some of the things in the script. She and Neal are going through the scene right now."
"Ah okay," said Ben. "We'd better get going," said Lareina, "We can finsish this up later. It needs a major over-haul anyway."
Then Ben picked up the prinited copy and said, "Yeah, we can work on it over there. Maybe something will come to us."
"Good thinking," said Lareina. Then they turned off the computer, and left.
♥♥The End♥♥
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*edit* oh my god people... i pick these names out of the blue.
i go through a babybook or the phonebook and just pick names. i'm not writing about anyone on Y!A. *rolls eyes* good lord.... this is just for fun. Whatev.