Laguna Nights (16 page)

Madison had walked onto the set. The picnic basket and towel had been moved and a white picnic table had been brought into the scene. From reading the script, Josh knew the two of them would be sitting on top of the picnic table for the show’s opener, another allusion to their painful break-up on camera fifteen years ago. Madison seemed fine with it, though, and so was he. Josh watched as she hopped up on the table, her legs pivoted at an angle. This would be a close-up of his face and then would pan out to reveal his co-host, both of their faces framed on camera just like all those years ago.

Josh took his place next to her on the picnic table, giving her a tight smile.

“Speed,” the DP yelled, and the cameras were rolling. Anger had replaced his anxiety, Josh realized.

“Hi, I’m Josh Welsh and welcome to the first episode of
Journeys with Josh and Friends
. I’m excited to be able to travel the world with you, take you to places you haven’t been before, and maybe show you some exciting secrets hidden within the places you’ve already been. As you can see, I’m back home in Laguna Beach. I was born and raised here, and then as a teen I was a cast member on a little show you might remember called
Laguna Nights
. We covered a lot of ground on that show, but there are still some secrets right here in my hometown, and I’m going to share them with you,. Welcome my special guest, Holly Alcott!”

Josh knew the camera angle had widened to reveal Holly sitting next to him. The script was clear her name was Holly. Josh turned to look at her, his best bad boy TV sneer planted on his face. “You sure look a little different, Holls,” he said. It wasn’t scripted, but he knew it would work. And he also knew that look would hurt her by bringing back memories of the other show at the same time.

He felt Holly stiffen next to him but she held her own, making eye contact with him while delivering her first line. “You’re right Josh, a lot has changed in fifteen years. You have, I have, Laguna Beach has.” And then she turned to the camera and said, “It’s great to be reunited in a place I also called home and still do. In fact, we still have a lot of secrets to share, don’t we? So stay tuned.”

Josh closed the shot, he knew the camera had zoomed in, framed his face in a close-up, his alone. He flashed the dimple and said, “We’ll be right back after this. Thanks for taking the journey with us.”

“Cut,” said the director.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” said Marty who smiled at Josh and gave him a thumbs up before hurrying to Roger’s side. The two men were deep in conversation at they ran the entire take back on the monitor. It would be a while before they would tell him if it was a wrap.

Madison pushed herself off of the picnic table and walked toward the ocean. Josh stayed where he was. He was back in the saddle, his career was about to take off again. It felt familiar, actually. He’d depended on Madison to feel secure, but then, even though he hadn’t done anything, she’d turned her back on him when he needed her most. Sure, he could understand, after he’d seen episode four, but still. Josh realized this time he’d be the one to turn his back. He watched Madison standing at the edge of the ocean, and told himself not to care about her anymore.

Marty joined Josh on the picnic table, sliding into Madison’s position. He said, “Hey. So we’re going to try the opening again. They’re not sure they have the story right yet, not sure it resonates. Ok for take two?”

“Sure. I mean I didn’t expect to nail it on the first take,” Josh said.

“Great. Ok, well, here’s the script,” Marty said, handing him another four pages. “This time, Holly has the open. Don’t freak. Just go with it. You don’t want them to use your expression as the money shot. Because they could be filming, right now.”

Josh’s heart had stopped beating and he felt sick. He looked down at the revised script and read, “
Holly and Josh’s Great Adventure
? What the fuck Marty?”

“Just do us both a favor and read this. And then nail it, like the last take. Just do it,” Marty said, patting his leg and then sliding off of the picnic table. “We need makeup over here.”

Josh sat on the table, a combination of shock and disdain washing over him. His new lines would be easy. An idiot could memorize them, he realized, as the passive aggressive makeup artist arrived.

“Shiny,” she said as she pulled out powder and began to dust his face. “Close your eyes.”

“Ok, let’s get set,” Roger said. “Holly, get over here.”

Josh opened his eyes and the makeup artist scurried away. He watched as Holly stood at the edge of the ocean, this time, facing shore. Her blue dress was a perfect complement to the sparkling sea behind her. The camera and the lighting board had followed her to the ocean’s edge. The director yelled, “Speed.” As Josh watched, Holly welcomed viewers to her new travel and adventure show.

“Get ready,” Marty hissed, and Josh sat up straight. “The wide shot is coming.”

Josh glanced at his new script. Holly walked across the sand to the picnic table and the shot panned out. Josh forced a smile.

“And here’s my surprise guest host, Josh Welsh. I’m sure you all remember him from
Laguna Nights
,” Holly said.

The script had Josh standing up and joining Holly in front of the picnic table. Instead, Josh decided to play it his way. “But do they remember you, Holls? Probably not,” Josh said to Holly. Then he turned to the camera. “Thanks for joining us in beautiful Laguna Beach. Many things about our hometown are the same, but so many things have changed.” Josh attempted his dimpled smile, but wasn’t sure it worked. His anger was just below the surface.

Holly said, “So join us as we explore the Laguna Beach you remember, and introduce you to some of the parts of our hometown you may not have visited yet. The adventure is just beginning. Stay with us.”

“Cut,” said the director.

“Are you kidding me?” Josh said. “Holly how could you do this?” Josh had closed the gap between them and was standing close enough to Holly to smell her signature shampoo. He couldn’t believe he still wanted to touch her hair, feel her in his arms when all the while she was ruining his life. He was going crazy.

“Do what, Josh? What have I done?” Madison said, her blue eyes blinking, a hurt look on her face. “I’m trying to help you.”

Over her shoulder, Josh noticed a camera mounted on the rock above them. They couldn’t be filming this, could they? He’d read about hidden cameras mounted inside rooms on reality TV shows. They recorded day and night, and were controlled by a joystick from a behind-the-scenes control room. He took a deep breath. They couldn’t leave, not until it was a wrap, he knew. But he also couldn’t let them capture this reality –
what was really going on?

“We need to talk. But not here,” Josh said, his anger was subsiding enough to realize they both were vulnerable. He reached for her shoulders and gently pulled her closer. “There may be a separate agenda here. A real story we don’t know about.”

“What are you talking about?” Madison said, looking into his eyes. “You’re freaking me out.”

“I’m sorry. Let’s just get this wrapped. We’ll be fine,” Josh said, staring into the small lens of the camera embedded in the rock behind Madison. He hoped it was just a security camera tied to one of the houses up on the cliffs far above them. That could be all it is, he told himself, realizing if it wasn’t, this situation was much worse than he’d realized.

S
he’d done everything she could to help Josh and now he was acting as if she’d betrayed him, or done something wrong. Sure, he’d apologized, but still. She knew he had been angry, she could feel the tension from across the beach. As she’d approached the picnic table during the scene, it grew worse. It had taken all of the latent acting skills she possessed to act like she was glad to see him. She was certain he hadn’t pulled off the same feat.

Josh had pulled her in close, though, and standing here, talking quietly, just the two of them, it seemed like his mood had shifted again.

“Ok, let’s get this wrapped. I agree. But they keep changing the scripts,” she said, and she felt Josh’s hold on her shoulders tighten.

“You’re not a part of that, right?” he said, his blue eyes dark, his jaw clenched.

“Of course not,” Madison said.

“Here comes Marty. Just stay calm,” Josh said.

“Hey you two. One more take, ok? It’s really getting there. Roger and the director just need one more. Here’s the script,” Marty said, handing both of them sheets of paper. Madison noticed that Marty had removed his suit jacket and, for once, was walking around in a white dress shirt and tie. A little more normal at the beach.

Madison glanced down and read the new title: Holly Alcott’s Marvelous Adventures. She locked eyes with Josh, shaking her head. “I won’t read this.”

“You have to. Just do it. We’ll talk after. Please, just do it, Madison,” Josh said. He looked more sad than angry now, and to Madison, that was worse. Madison sucked in her lower lip and nodded, feeling the resolve she used for business course through her. She could do this. It mattered, for both of them, although she wasn’t certain why Josh would ever agree to such as farce.

“Holly, we need you on set,” the director said. Madison looked over to the picnic table and noticed the scene had been reset. The beach had been raked clean of footprints. It was as if they’d never shot a take with the picnic table before. Holly smoothed out her dress and walked to the picnic table. This time, the script had her sitting on the bench.

“Speed,” the director said.