With relief, and trepidation, the doors finally opened to the penthouse. Ian guided Jenson out of the elevators and to the service desk. “Good afternoon, Barbara.” Ian smiled.
She looked straight up. “Ah, good afternoon Mr. Justyn and Mr. Michaels…everyone else is in Mr. Turner’s office.”
“Everyone else?” Ian swallowed the sudden lump in his throat.
“Yes. Go right ahead in, they’re waiting on you.”
“Thank you.” Ian guided Jenson to the office he’d never been in. As he reached for the door latch, he had to fight the temptation to grab one of Jenson’s hands and start finishing up the chew job. Before he pushed the door open he looked at Michaels.
“Okay, stand up straight.”
Michaels obeyed.
“Take a deep breath.”
They both did.
“And here we go…” Ian pushed open the door.
“Hey there, Baby Doll!” Came the familiar voice a split second before he was racked in a bear hug.
“Tippy?” Ian pushed her back.
“And you must be that writer Ian keeps talking about.” Before Jenson could spit out a nail, Tippy had bear hugged the man, grabbed him and yanked him the rest of the way in the office.
“Now this is my husband, Colton Shores, and the man behind the curtain over there is David Turner. Mr. Turner, I believe this is Mr. Jenson Michaels or is it Michael, singular, I’m not quite sure?”
“Uh…” Jenson was processing the speeding train that was Tippy Shores, when Turner stood and took over.
“Mr. Michaels, Young Justyn…please join us. May we get you something to drink?” He motioned to two empty chairs.
“I’m fine, Mr. Turner, thank you.”
“Mr. Michaels…Jenson? Something for you?” The old man asked. When Michaels shook his head, Turner had a seat. “I can only assume that you are wondering why I asked you to come on such short notice…”
Jenson’s leg began go bounce, and Tippy took her hand and squeezed his knee, smiling. The nervous tick ceased, and she turned back to Turner.
“Ian, I’d like to congratulate you on your instincts. You’ve spotted a real talent in Mr. Michaels here and had the good sense to nail him down.”
“Thank you, Mr. Turner, but I can’t take all the credit. The team found him, I just took the initiative to hunt him down and kill him…” He laughed nervously. Michaels looked moments away from a coronary.
“Colton?” Turner turned to the quiet man. “What did you think?”
“I agree, Dave.” Colton turned to Jenson. “I’m not exactly sure why I was asked here this afternoon, Mr. Michaels, but the three scripts I was asked to look over are just about the best pieces of work I’ve seen.”
Tippy patted her husband’s thigh and reached over and gave a soothing rub to Jenson’s back. “We’ve both be around a long time, honey, so that’s a pretty high compliment.”
“Well, thank you. I’m flattered.” Jenson nodded humbly. “Though I’m thoroughly confused. I’m sure there’s a big ‘but…” coming.
“I’ve taken a very keen interest in Young Justyn here, and asked if I could get a look at the things that seem to be exciting him. I hope you don’t mind that I took the liberty of getting Shores here to take a look as well.”
“Not at all sir.” Ian said. “But I am just as confused about what’s going on as Jenson is.”
Turner nodded his head. “Bear with me just a moment.”
Ian nodded. Turner picked up one of three manuscripts on his desk. Let’s start with the pilot script.”
“Anything you say, Mr. Turner…sir...” Jenson gulped and squirmed in his chair.
“Usually in a freshman series the first episode is always the strongest. That isn’t the case here.”
Ian and Jenson looked at each other.
Turner waved his hand. “Don’t get me wrong, for an average series, the pilot script is great. Perfect set up, great presentation of character and plot, everything signaling a strong start to grab an audience and keep them tuning back in.”
“I agree, Dave.” Colton chimed in. “I’ve never read anything, in drama anyway, that by the end of the first scene you knew exactly what to expect from the two main characters with a set up to make you anxious to know more.”
“I think Colton here will agree with me when I say, usually the next episodes always tend to be a let down.” Both Jenson and Ian started to speak. Turner cut them off. “Not in this case, the second episode is even stronger than the first and the third, well let’s just say I think with the right cast and the right production team episode three would be phenomenal.”
Both Ian and Jenson let out held breaths and relaxed in their chairs. “Thank you, sir. Thank you.” Jenson groveled.
“Don’t thank me yet, Mr. Michaels. I am far from finished. I understand that Saxon Allen is interested in Executive Producing?”
“We've have discussed that.” Ian said. “She’s requested a meeting with Jenson to see if they feel they would be able to work as a team together.”
Turner nodded. “Yes, I actually spoke with Ms. Allen this morning.” Turner looked at Ian with a wry smile. “She’s sends her best.”
Ian nodded his head, and couldn’t help but notice Tippy and Turner exchange looks. “She’s interested in forming a production company, I’m not sure if this would be a part of that, or if she would just be contracted through the network.”
“Yes.” Turner, “We discussed that at length, very smart, talented woman there, Young Justyn.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now. Let’s cut to the chase. Taking a look at everything and weighing some options, Mr. Michael…Ian, I’ve decided to over ride your green light for a pilot.” Turner said.
Both Ian and Jenson’s faces fell. “But Mr. Turner…” Ian tried to change his mind.
“Save your breath boy, you won’t change my mind. I’m nixing a pilot. Why waste the expense? At the meeting Wednesday I’m going to announce that we have already given you a contract and the go ahead for a full season order.”
Jenson almost passed out. Backs were slapped and congratulations were shouted.
“Wait…wait…” Turner insisted. “I have one condition…”
“Anything…anything Mr. Turner…” Jenson and Ian both chimed in.
Turner turned to Colton. “Now we get to why I not only asked you to take a look at these manuscripts, but why I asked you to join us at this little meeting.”
Colton nodded his head as the old man continued. “I will only okay a full season order without a pilot on the condition that you agree to play the father. It’s time you came back to television and this is the perfect vehicle.”
Colton was stunned, as was the rest of the group.
Turner quickly turned to Ian. “I apologize for stepping in with casting, but as you reminded me earlier in the week, I’m the boss and I’ve decided to start stepping back in occasionally to throw my weight around.”
Colton looked at Turner, then to Ian . “I don’t know what to say…”
Jenson slapped his forehead. “I don’t believe it. Mr. Turner, how did you know?”
Turner smiled. “Justyn here isn’t the only one with good instincts…”
“How did he know what?” Ian asked.
“When I was writing the script…this is embarrassing…” Jenson looked at his feet. “I always imagine someone I know in the role. “Small Town Private Eye” was my favorite growing up and Mr. Shores just became the main character. I am honored that Mr. Turner and Ian want to do this series, but I’d be even more honored if you would consider taking the role.”
“Colton, I’m sorry, I never thought of you.” Ian apologized. “This series is…is not a soap, not a detective show, a little bit of old fashioned everything with jaw dropping twists every step of the way. I’ve read drafts of three more episodes and Jenson and I are working together on the Bible for the rest of the year. ANd they're right, Colt, this is perfect for you."
Colton was obviously moved and nodded his head. “I am tempted to just say yes, but I need to talk this over with my wife. It’s a big step, commitment to a series and all…”
They heard a throat being cleared behind them and turned to see Tippy standing, trademark hands on hips. “The wife is honored the husband wants to talk it over first, but the wife thinks the husband is a darling idiot who needs to get back to work.” She said and very calmly reseated herself.
Colton tried to hide the fact that he was a little teary eyed. “Well, I guess that settles that.”
“Why don’t you come in the office next and we’ll work out the contract?” Turner told Colton who just nodded his head and held the script reverently in his hands.
And it was settled. David Turner got his hands dirty in his company once more. Colton Shores got a series. Mamie Rae Tipton got her husband out of the house. Ian Justyn got his first notch on the fall schedule and Jenson Michaels got his color back.
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