Treasure

Treasure - Part Two

2000

Richard went to the offices three more times that week but never saw Noel again. He was growing increasingly annoyed by Jerry's comments but still hadn't been able to say anything. He felt like he didn't want to continue with it. Perhaps what he had written was only meant for stage. He usually had a drive, to be able to finish things with precision and detail were some of his greatest attributes, even if others may think it was obsessive.

He knew what the vision in his mind was and it wasn't coming out on paper. He wasn't happy about it, but being only 23 and one of the younger comedians that had infiltrated the offices lately, he wasn't exactly welcomed for his experience. It was the same for all of them.

At the tail end of the 90s to now, a surge of young comedians seemed to be trying to find their way into TV. Older, more experienced and astute comedians hated it, even though they were new once. They liked things how they were. They liked being on top.

They didn't like the new ideas or vision the younger ones bought in and many of the funny TV shows were still stuck in the 80s or early 90s, which hadn't always been the best for equality or jokes that did not contain some kind of sexist or racist remark.

Richard walked along the hall, thinking that after today, if Jerry was back with his ridiculous comments, he would leave, take it back to the stage or perhaps something else. Maybe the words Jerry had said to Noel actually applied to him and he wasn't right for this.

Looking at the ground as he walked, and lost in his own thoughts, he noticed the man in front of him far too late, crashing into him and causing him to drop half his paperwork.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry," Richard said, as surprised as the other man was. "I wasn't paying attention, I'm so sorry,"

He said again, bending down to help collect the papers up.

"Don't worry, it's fine, honestly." The man was tall with a mess of brown hair. He seemed intimidating at first, but there was a warmth to his smile as he held out his hand.

"I'm Julian," he told Richard as they shook. Richard introduced himself stepping back slightly and handing the last of the papers to him.

"I wasn't looking where I was going either. Are you alright? You look lost," Julian commented and Richard shook his head and half smiled.

"Not lost. Just dreading going in," he admitted.

Julian tilted his head slightly, he felt something was going on with this kid but he couldn't place it.

"And?" He asked, leaning against the wall slightly.

He was only 9 years older than Richard was, but he was quiet, he seemed guarded. Julian was used to working with Noel, who wasn't much younger than him, but long admitted he was younger mentally, and the lucky sod looked about 19 even though he was nearing 30.

"Oh, just someone I'm working with... They aren't the best person for what I want, but younger people don't get to say what they want, do they?" Richard mused, making eye contact with Julian before starting to walk past him.

Julian was confused by his comments, but both of them stopped when Noel shouted down the hall to Julian, making them both turn around.

"Oi, Julian! Before you go, don't forget this!" Noel shouted and smiled as he noticed Richard.
"You alright?" he asked more softly and Richard nodded smiling back.

Julian rolled his eyes but smiled.

"What, Noel? What did I forget?" He asked, having been subjected to Noel's ridiculous assortment of objects for the last week as he'd tried to leave.

Noel laughed as he walked to him, handing him a notebook.

"All the phone numbers," he grinned and Julian was surprised.

"No purple dinosaurs? No weird drawings? No handmade clothes for tiny mice? No dice with only six all the way around?" He questioned.

"Nope." Noel smiled.

Julian raised his eyebrows.
"Well, thank you for this." He said and smiled again to Richard.

"Oh, Julian, this is Richard who I was telling you about - he's got that dick Jerry working with him."

"Urgh, really?" Julian asked and Richard nodded. "Yeah, you don't need that. Come and work in our office if you like, do you have a partner or are you working alone?"

Richard took a moment to reply but told them he should be working with Matthew soon but for the mean time he was on his own.

He only had some others on his team because they were trying to write his work for TV, but they were trying to change everything. He admitted that he found Jerry overwhelming and overbearing but couldn't bring himself to say anything.

Julian shook his head. "No, no we can't have that. You don't need that bastard. He's awful. We've got a few people we are working with, maybe you could try out with them?" he suggested, but Jerry had overheard them as he came out the room.

"Are you trying to poach my client, Barratt?" he asked and Julian turned to face him.

"No. No I'm not. But it's clear you aren't a good match with him, so I was giving him other options."

Jerry looked at Richard and it was the first time Richard actually felt worried with Jerry's behaviour. He looked like he was about to swing for him.

"Well? Is that right?" he accused and

Richard barely nodded, looking to the floor.

"You could at least answer me properly," Jerry said, raising his voice, making Richard wince slightly.
He hated any kind of confrontation, but even more so if it was aimed at him.

"Alright! No need for that!" Noel replied seeing how uncomfortable Richard was. "He clearly doesn't want to talk to you."

Jerry looked away from Noel and to Julian.

"Keep your nutcase comedy partner on a lead, will you? I'll be sending you charges for poaching my client." Jerry concluded as he turned back into the office and closed the door.

"I'm not having that!" Noel protested, as Julian tried to stop him, Noel banged on the door until Jerry answered.

"Yes, Noel?"

"Who do you actually think you are?! You're not a director or a producer, you're just part of the writing team. And it's not like you've had much success since the 80s, is it? You throw out the same old shit, year after year. You take decent, original work and fuck it over until it's the same as all your other generic bullshit," Julian tried to stop Noel again, but he didn't listen.

Richard couldn't believe his eyes. Not only had Noel helped him the first time he met him, now he was standing up for him on their second meeting.

He couldn't understand it. People just didn't do that, not to him, he had friends but the select few he had wouldn't have his back as such, they were much like him and would be too anxious to speak out. They would have his back afterwards. But Noel and even Julian were sticking up for him right from the off.

"If Richard doesn't want to work with you, he's not obligated to. It's up to him. He doesn't want you pissing all over his work, because that's what you do. You tried to do it to us and you're trying to do it to him." Noel finally stopped when Julian grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"You're not charging me for anything, Jerry. Richard doesn't want your services," Julian concluded.

"No, I don't." Richard suddenly piped up and Noel smiled at him.

"It isn't working out, it's not what I want for my work. I am going to find someone else," Richard told Jerry, trying to hide the fact his hands were shaking.

Noel threw his arm around Richards shoulders and grinned back at Jerry, Julian nodded to what Richard said and Jerry, for once, didn't know what to say.

"We are going for a drink to celebrate," Julian told him.

"Have a good afternoon, sir." Julian laughed slightly, as Noel and. Richard walked ahead of him, he placed his arms around both of their shoulders from behind and Jerry watched, seething, as they walked up the hall and round the corner.