“How could you let this happen?” Lucille was all but shrieking.
“How could I let this happen?” Turner shot back. “Who the hell put me in control?”
“You’ve always been able to control her before.” Lucille slapped the year old Time magazine back on the table.
“Look, everyone just calm down.” James Redfield finally spoke after hours of total silence. “This is a mess, but we’ll figure this out. Hopefully, she’s fine and we can go ahead and get the picture finished. Then all of this angst will be for naught.”
“Finish the picture?” Lucille almost threw one of the magazines at him. “That’s the mess I’m talking about. You’ve seen the dailies!”
“It’s not that bad.” Turner bit his lip. “Okay, it’s not great, but it’s fixable.”
“The music’s good.” Redfield tried to look on the bright side.
“Of course the music’s good.” Lucille sniped. “The lunatic can sing like a canary.”
“Maybe this little episode will bring things into perspective for her.” James made another attempt at being positive.
“Or send her completely over the edge.” Lucille mumbled.
“Okay, let’s tinker with the plan a little.” David finally stepped back in. “We’ll get her scenes completed for the film, then send her off on a vacation while we shoot things our way.”
Lucille and James smiled. “Bring her back for the premiere. She’ll never know.”
“Fine smart guy.” Lucille looked at Turner. “What if she starts making demands again?”
David hated to admit it, but she was right. “Maybe now is the time to just end it. Once we get this picture opened, I think we need to discuss long term options.”
“Long term options?” James looked up.
“We have to face things, Jamey. She’s out of control.” Turner couldn’t believe how much that hurt.
“We certainly have enough to get her taken care of.” Lucille nodded.
“Taken care of?” Redfield started to boil. “She’s not a dog to have put down. For God’s sake, she’s a human being.”
David scowled at his friend. “We’re not going to have her put to sleep, Jamey. She needs help…and I just can’t do this anymore.”
“Let’s talk to Herman. He’s always been able to get to her before.” Redfield almost begged.
“I’ve already called him.” Lucille told him. “He’s on his way.”
“I know that most of it is the diabetes. It’s medical, not mental.” Turner said to convince himself. “Granted, she always been a bit unstable, but she was never like this before.”
“I hate to admit it, but I certainly prefer the timid little mouse who cried every time you pointed a camera at her.” Lucille shook her head. “Now it’s like trying to control one of those Super Ball things, bouncing out of control.”
“One minute crashing on the ceiling, braying like a banshee,” Turner looked out the window from his chair. “The next smashing on the floor glazed over and trembling.”
“She’s such a sweet frail thing.” Jamey said to no one in particular.
“Sweet, frail thing?” Lucille turned to him in exasperation. “She’s got us by the balls, she knows it and she’s squeezing with all her might.”
Her husband started to respond, but attention was grabbed by the man in the white coat who suddenly entered the room.
“How is she?” David Turner, despite his desperation, was still deeply concerned.
“She’s fine, getting dressed.” He smiled. “You can take her home.”
“You don’t need to keep her?” Even to Lucille, she sounded disappointed.
The doctor laughed. “No. No, she’s fine.”
“But she passed out.” David stepped forward. “We’ve tried so hard to keep her sugar under control.”
The doctor held up his hand. “Actually, you’ve been doing a good job. That’s not to say that the next few months aren’t going to be difficult.”
“Doctor, forgive us, but what’s the problem then?” Redfield asked. “What brought on this episode?”
The doctor turned when the waiting room door opened. He smiled. “I think I’ll let her tell you that.”
“Thank you doctor.” She smiled timidly and nodded her head as he passed her by.
The three stood there looking at each other and back at each other. “How are you feeling, honey?” Lucille smiled.
She nodded her head. “You’re not feeling sick any more?” Redfield asked her timidly.
“No.” She said quietly, reminiscent of the sweet little thing she used to be.
“I’m so glad.” David smiled and stepped toward her. “The doctor said we could take you home. Are you ready?”
She cocked her head, smiled and then decked him with a surprise right hook. Lucille and James Redfield looked stunned as the woman strutted over and looked down at David Turner still reeling from the surprise punch.
“I’m pregnant, you son of a bitch!” She wailed.
“Good Lord.” Lucille rolled her eyes
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