8
It was three nights later 20/20 did their thing and the world got to see the downfall of the studio and the righteousness of their Piney. As expected it was a wild shit-show and Walter turned the phones off as they rang off the hook, retiring to bed early with Cutis to watch social media explode with the indignation of millions of fans.
The studio was done.
Sponsors trying to contact Walter to give support to his new venture … any and all enquiries to go to his Tad as instructed, Ianto sitting by the phone and computer with a steely glare at the stats and comments trending as he told THEM what he expected from them, not what they thought they were going to give. Oh no. It was the Piney Show now!
Then at the weekend thy all headed to the Lake Houses for some peace… Ianto chewing over the lengthy contracts and such with an excited George who had never stayed over before… Walter and Curtis placing all faith in the man that knew how to spin all the plates…cups….saucers…kids… puppies….
It was here that Walter finally had the strength to do the last thing he needed to.
"Curty?"
"Hey" Curtis looked up from the book he was reading as in the distance children screamed. Ton was with them, Angel too so they were all fine, no limb loss as clearly it would be a different sort of scream. Tads know these things. Ianto had taught him so.
"Baby. I love you. Sorry for all of this, you have been a champing for me and … well … I have been talking with Tad and Dad and … well. Wanna go to Hawaii?" Walter asked "Or Bora Bora? You and me? Three or four days away, just us? Maisey is ok now, she loves sleepovers and we can fly over, have some fun and be back in no time."
"Walt … are you asking me away for a dirty weekend?" Curtis huffed with fake horror, and then he lit up "Oh Walty."
"You, me … room service?"
"Besides, best not be in the country when things go bad" Curtis grimaced "Now it's all over the Hoodlums are seeking revenge."
"Oh god!" Walter groaned "I hope it's not traceable."
"Babe. Are you serious? This is your Taddy's Clan. You seriously think they would fuck up?" Curtis laughed and Walter had no choice but to agree …and go make sure Babs knew the score. She and Bethy were heading to London to the Penthouse for some photo shoot so they would also be untouchable as they flitted about with the paparazzi following them everywhere gushing on the babies.
Tad.
Walter pondered if he should say something there as well then decided best leave that dog chain un-rattled for now … whatever was about to happen … his Tad would be bloody Teflon.
.
.
.
.
"Sorry, I can't help you" Ianto said calmly as the phone caller screamed at him, he then calmly hung up and called Animal.
"Hey, you guys really took EVERYTHING in the sets?" he asked "Cameras too?"
"The contract stated clearly Toto, every and all things within the walls of the studio lot's 'Hope' sets were Walter's. Not our fault they didn't get any of their gear out. Judge signed off on it "
"George. You mean George covertly signed the uplift for you to all go in the dead of night with large trucks and skin the entire fucking lot!" Ianto spluttered.
"Only our side"
"And the golf carts?" Ianto asked sweetly "Four of them that were studio property?"
In the back-lot of the 'Hope' corner. Ours as per the uplift order" Animal said with glee oozing down the phone "They go like stink. Besides. We didn't take EVERYTHING. We left the crappy scripts behind that were for that Dale bod. And Walter's trailer. Well … we might have bulldozed that due to it being a health hazard… someone jizzed in there at some stage I think."
Ianto rubbed his face and started to laugh softly as he knew they were technically right. The studio was lucky they didn't take the bloody overhead lighting. Oh shit. They didn't did they? The roof? Shit.
Ianto took another bite of delicious chocolate cake.
Read some more of his novel rewrites.
Not his problem.