"Frank, that was your cue." Charlie's voice booms across the small theatre.
Charlie had spent majority of the morning mapping out lines and scenes, telling people where to stand or when to do something.
It seemed like this was all Charlie ever did— writing endless notes and critiques in his tiny black notebook as the days passed on.
This was his second home— the theatre. Although it was a little shabby and rough around the edges, there wasn't anything he loved more but then to sit in the dusted and vintage red velvet chairs, watching the creaky and rented spotlights trail along the stage as he directed.
He somewhat enjoyed the repetitive pattern because it gave him a sense of control amongst the chaos that the divorce had put into his life.
Charlie felt like he didn't have control when it came to the divorce aspect of his life. Although him and Nicole got split custody, he knew she still had all the control in the situation.
Charlie needed control, and that's why he loved the directing aspect of his life. He was the director and he could do what he wanted to do whenever he wanted to do it, and nobody could tell him otherwise.
He lets out a deep sigh, bent finger pressed against his mouth as he sat a few rows back from the front stage, eyes trained on the actors as they played out their scene.
Since the divorce and leaving his theatre back in New York, he opened a new Exit Ghost in LA, with a new set of faces and a fresh beginning. He found himself enjoying it more knowing that the actors weren't murmuring to each other about his divorce and impending life style no longer. They knew basically nothing about his personal life.
When he noticed that frank hadn't taken his cue again, Charlie took a stand from his seat, clapping his hands to get everybody's attention.
"Again Frank, you missed your cue. Let's take five and review the script, it's important that you guys memorize this." Charlie half-scolds.
Some of the actors give each other looks or nods, disbursing off the stage and into smaller groups as they start to review their scripts once more.
Charlie's small phone vibrates in his pant pocket against his thigh, his laughably large hand fishing into his pants to grab it.
He studies the small screen for a moment, brows pulled into a furrow. The blue light of his screen reflects against his stoic features as he recognizes the familiar name across his screen. He answers the call, moving to hold the phone against his ear.
"Nicole? I'm at work, you know you're not supposed to call me when I'm at work." Charlie questions sternly.
He could hear Nicole give a small sigh into the other side of the phone. "I know Charlie, but I've been asking you to find a nanny for Henry for weeks now." Nicole explains.
"And you couldn't wait till after work to talk to me about this?" His voice gruffs in complaint.
Charlie's eyes flicker between his lap and the stage, lips pressed into a thin line. He lowers his voice, making sure none of the actors could hear him.
"I'm trying, okay? You know how busy I am, especially with starting this new project—" Charlie protests.
"Charlie." Nicole says sternly, cutting him off. "I'm serious about this. If you don't find someone to take care of Henry when you decide that work is more important then spending time with your son, then I'll do something about it." She threatens.
Charlie goes silent, jaw grit. Although they were divorced, he still loved many parts of her. Except this part.
Although majority of their marriage was all sugar and spice, near the end she had grew into this pattern of constant nagging. No matter what Charlie did, it was always "did you do this" and "did you do that".
YOU ARE READING
PUT ME IN A MOVIE - Charlie Barber.
Fanfiction" Lights, camera, action....he didn't know he'd have this much fun..." Recovering from his divorce, Charlie had fallen into bad habits - smoking again, drinking again, and not prioritizing his time with his son, Henry. Charlie was desperate for a...
