Black Friday Manor.

Nightmare Time Rehearsal

Lauren sighs which causes her boyfriend to reach over and put a reassuring arm round her shoulder.
"You'll be fine. If something goes wrong, it's only rehearsal, we can just stop."
Lauren smiles weakly and joins the zoom call. She and Joey have to share, as do Curt and Kim, due to lack of microphones. Everyone is there except Corey. Suddenly, his face flickers into view. Everyone is here.
"OK let's begin."

Nori tugs at her lead, pulling Jaime off her feet. Everyone laughs and Dylan helps her back up. The conversation steers to the others.
"You know, Curt is so messy. His stuff is everywhere!
"I can confirm this. It spills into the hallway."
Kim and Dylan laugh at their remarks.
"Well I am actually scarred. Angela forgets to warn me when Mariah comes round."
Kendall tugs at her t shirt collar awkwardly to laughs.
"It isn't great to be next to Lauren cause she wakes up in the middle of the night and runs out to the bathroom all the time and her door is so loud."
Jaime sighs as they pull open the door of their usual cafe spot.

Meanwhile, Lauren is sobbing, out of the camera's range so only Joey can see her. His face is full of concern and Robert notices this.
"Joey? Sorry guys but Joey, are you OK?"
Joey ignores him and quietly whispers Lauren's name. Tears are streaming down her face and her compressed sob alerts the others.
"Lauren?"
Jon begins but Joey gestures to stop for a moment.
Joey sits next to Lauren, stroking her hair. Suddenly she jumps up and runs out the door, slamming it shut. Joey sighs an inaudible sigh and returns to the rehearsal.
"I think she is just feeling shitty. She was crying and I think she is now throwing up. She'll be OK, just keep going."

10 minutes later, Lauren returns. She smiles weakly at Joey and he joins her, his character now dead. They tilt the laptop so they can see the others but they remain unseen. Lauren speaks, under her breath.
"I am certain that will happen in the actual thing."
"You'll be fine." Joey replies at an equal volume. He kisses her head as Nick announces.
"OK so now will be the song Hatchetfield Ape Man and we are on part 2. Shall we have a quick break? Get some food or drinks or whatever. We won't be seen or heard while the song plays but we won't have long."
Everyone nods and a few leave their frames. Lauren stretches and goes downstairs for some water. As she goes out into the hallway, she notices Angela slipping into Kim's room, where Mariah is. Lauren laughs silently and continues her descent. Robert tries to stop her on her way down but she avoids him. However she can't escape everyone.

"Lauren, are you OK?"
Lauren nods but Jeff remains unconvinced.
"Will you be ok for tomorrow?"
"It's a pregnancy Jeff. It doesn't just go away by the next day. But hopefully I won't have to leave like earlier."
Jeff remains worried but nods and takes his drink back to his room. Still feeling like crap, Lauren fills her waterbottle with Wiggly on and follows Jeff upstairs.