The current camera shot disappeared and was replaced with a technical difficulties video loop.
Both Myra and Wyatt looked at the monitor. Several seconds passed, the video loop was replaced with the screen saver for the “Sunny Days,” vlog. A message apologizing for the disruption due to technical difficulties appeared as feed running along the bottom of the screen. It invited viewers to tune in for the next episode on Monday and wished everyone a pleasant day.
Wyatt set about preparing the equipment to be returned to storage.
“People being contained in hospital rooms.” Myra said as she placed her notes on the patio table. “Citizens with the virus being contained at Alcatraz.” She stood up. “Survivors of some transformation being transferred to Area 51 for testing?” She crossed the patio to Wyatt navigating around monopods, cameras, and microphones. Stepping over storage containers. “What’s going on out there?”
Wyatt did not respond.
“Wyatt!”
Wyatt’s phone lit up with a studio number. Wyatt looked at Myra before tapping the icon. Bill the hothead’s face popped up.
“What the hell is going on over there?” Bill asked. “How did those calls get through?”
Myra took a step back, out of Bill’s line of sight.
“I don’t know sir.” Wyatt responded. “I have not had a chance to look at the call log. Calls are forwarded here from the studio, how the calls got through is a question which could probably be answered better by the Productions office.”
Bill nodded. The executive looked at someone off screen and barked, “Get the Productions office on the phone. I want a meeting in five.” Bill turned back to Wyatt. “Is Myra with you?”
Wyatt looked at Myra, their eyes held for a moment. “No, she went inside. She said she needed a few minutes.”
“Good.”
“What should I tell Myra?” Wyatt asked. “How do I explain to her what she heard?”
“Don’t tell that airhead a goddamn thing, it’s not in her contract.”
“Considering today’s incident…” Wyatt began.
“I guess silence isn’t going to cut it, is it? Bill asked.
“No sir. I don’t think so.”
“What do you usually tell her?”
“I stay silent or remind her about her contract. Sometimes I tell her it was technical difficulties. But this…”
“Running out of bullshit to spread huh Wyatt?”
“You could say that.”
“Okay...tell her it was lies. All Lies. Those callers were lunatics who broke out of a local hospital. They are paranoid. Delusional. They called because they want to spread their delusions. The callers want desperately for someone to believe them. Tell her police are looking for them now. Do you need me to see to it something gets mentioned about it on the news?”
Wyatt did not answer.
“I can have someone crank out a paragraph or two if you think it will help.”
Wyatt watched Myra’s face. “No sir. She can’t watch the news. It would violate her contract.”
“Of course. What was I thinking. Stay close to her today Wyatt. Find ways to take her mind off what happened. Make her a nice dinner. Sit down and watch one of those two or three hour movies with her women always seem to have sitting around the house. Help her forget—the last thing we need is our poster girl for swallowing bullshit to no longer believe it. If she doesn’t believe what she’s saying no one who’s listening will either.”
Myra closed her eyes, just listening to Bill’s voice was becoming intolerable.
“Later Wyatt.”
“Later.”
There was a long silence before either of them spoke.
“Why did you tell Bill I was in the house?” Myra asked.
“It was wrong to keep all of this from you. It was beyond wrong.” Wyatt responded.
“Why did you? Why did you stay? Why did you lie to me?”
“To keep you safe. I knew if I stayed, although I might have to lie and keep things from you, I also knew if things got really bad out there I could trust myself to tell you what you need to know. Anyone the studios brought in would be…”
“...all about the business.” Myra said, finishing Wyatt’s sentence.
“Another PA might have tried to take advantage of their position in a situation like this. They might have stolen from you or done something worse.”
“Much worse.” Myra sat down on one of the patio sofas. She patted the seat inviting Wyatt to sit down next to her.
He complied, switching his phone to airplane mode as he took his seat. Wyatt held up the phone and pointed to Myra. He mouthed, “Where’s your phone?”
She pointed in the direction of the main house, indicating it was still inside. Wyatt nodded, he tossed his phone into a table drawer and closed it.
“Did you want to check the furniture, for bugs?” Myra asked.
Wyatt shook his head, “The patio is a no camera/no microphone area. It’s in our contracts. Besides I checked it this morning on my way to the main house.”
“What happened to us? How did we end up here?”
“Once upon a time there was a very talented actress…” Wyatt began.
“That’s not what I meant.” Myra looked out towards the beach. “I knew there was a pandemic. I knew important information was being hidden from me. But this?” She turned to Wyatt.
“I get everything Myra. Copies of your fan mail too. Regardless of everything else “Sunny Days,” is still doing good things. You really are helping people.”
Myra nodded and thought about Wyatt’s reassurance. “I’m glad. It’s good that some people feel better about what's been happening than they might have under other circumstances. You do understand, what we have been doing these last several months, doesn’t work for me anymore. I want full disclosure. Now.”
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