Yada-yada-yada. You know the drill. Review. Be nice. Here's the symbol key for those just joining us:

"These" = people talking. ~This~ = an inaudible thought. ***These*** = new scene location or my description of a setting. *This* = something emphatically or expressively stated.

This chapter takes place the day after chapter 2.

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"Frank, I asked you to keep that thing in a cage."

"It isn't a thing, Jake. It's a-"

***Jake isn't paying attention, so Frank stops talking.***

"All right. Everyone?"

***He looks at Penny who is the only one not seated at the meeting table.***

"Penny? You too."

"I typed the memo. I know what you're going to say."

"Penny."

***She goes over and sits down.***

"All right, everyone... um... this isn't easy for me to say, so, I'm just gonna-"

"They're canceling the show."

"Penny!"

"What?!"

"They're not canceling. They're thinking about canceling."

***Gavin pipes in.*** "What's the difference? We're as good as gone. Can't say I'll miss all of you."

"The show has not been canceled! We have two weeks."

"Two weeks from yesterday."

"Thank you, Penny. You can go back to your desk if you want."

"No, I'm good."

"We have two weeks to bring the ratings share up. Not by that much. We can do this."

***Frank Breaks in.***

"Not unless you can get Gavin to wear a dress again."

"We all agreed never to bring that up again."

***Dylan chimes in.*** "They made you wear a dress?"

***He suddenly gets very serious.*** "Yes."

***Everyone gets quiet.*** ***Jake breaks the silence.***

"Gavin isn't going to be wearing a dress. Okay? We've got ideas."

***Penny has to ask.*** "Who's we?"

"Me. I do."

"Why'd you say 'we'?"

"The show. I'm part of the show. The show can do this."

"The show sucks!"

"Thank you... Gavin."

***Dylan steps in.*** "Will everyone just let Jake talk?"

***Penny just has to say...*** "Only if you will."

"All right! That's enough! We aren't children. I know all of our jobs are on the line. I understand that everyone is really stressed out. But I know we can do this. We can. I don't want to hear anyone say otherwise."

***Penny is the first to make peace.***

"Sorry, Jake. You're right."

***Gavin adds.*** "Yeah. Whatever."

"Thank you. We're stepping up promotion this week. Gavin, I'm going to need you to do some public appearances."

"Sure."

"Everyone, including guests, need to look their best. So, Dylan, I'm going need you to be on top of everyone. Even guests who say they don't want you to do their makeup. Work your charms. Get them to agree. Frank-Where did Frank go?"

"He's probably off delegating."

"Fine. We all have to be on top of our games. I managed to get a few big interviews through some of my Dateline contacts. That's all I've got for now. I'll be in my office if anyone needs me. Penny, can I talk to you?"

***She's a little taken by this.***

"Sure."

***Everyone else disperses.***

"Close the door."

"What did I do now?"

"Nothing."

"Oh, okay."

"We're friends, right?"

"We've been over this, Jake."

"Penny, I need a friend."

***She sits down.***

"Yes. We're... friends. What do you need? A coffee?"

"I don't think we can do this."

"But you just said out there-"

"I was lying."

"So you don't have interviews?"

"One. Not so big. And that's not what I meant. I was lying about thinking we could. We can't."

"Uh... well, I don't know what you want me to say."

"Anything would be good."

"Don't worry about it? Uh, it'll all work out."

"Penny, I need you to be you right now."

"All right. The show sucks. We're getting canceled. Can I have references?"

***He looks at her. He's almost amused.***

"You should be talking to Dylan about this."

"She thinks I have faith in us. I don't want to worry her."

"But it's okay to worry me?"

"No. It isn't. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

"No, I should worry about it. You're the last person I want to hurt."

~Thought that was Dylan.~ "Okay."

"I mean, you're the last person I should be hurting."

"Well, yeah."

"There are just some things I don't feel I can talk to her about. You know?"

***Penny nods.*** "I really don't have anything to say, Jake. I can't exactly tell you this is the worst news I've ever gotten. Being here is kind of... not what I want anymore. I hope it works out for your sake."

***She gets up and walks out.***

***Later. Jake walks into the hair/makeup room.***

"Hey, Dylan."

"What's wrong?"

"We're about to go on air to interview a man who ate beaver intestines."

"Actually, it was a prairie dog. And people like that stuff. He won a lot of money."

"It isn't good TV, Dylan."

"No, but it'll get ratings. That's what we want, right?"

"I want a good show."

"Well, of course. That goes without saying. But sometimes you've gotta-Are you doubting our ability to pull this off?"

"No. Yes. Slightly. Aren't you?"

"No. I have complete faith in you. I know you can do this. It's why we came back."

"Yeah. It is why. Have you gotten Gavin ready yet?"

"He's on his way."

"Make him look good at least. I'll be in my office."

***Penny walks to her desk.***

~What--~ "Jake?"

***He's just then walking by.***

"What are those?"

"Daisies. Daisies aren't romantic."

"No, they can be. But why are they on my desk?"

"I wanted to apologize for not being more sensitive before. I'm just really confused about a lot of things."

~Really?~ "Like what?"

"Just life. That's nothing new, right? So, anyway, I'm sorry."

"Jake, you're a nice guy."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Yes."

"O-kay. Why?"

"You did me wrong, so now you're obsessed with making it up to me."

"Again... Is that a bad thing?"

"It makes you an idiot, Jake. Dylan doesn't like it... and I don't either. So, just stop it, okay?"

"I don't understand. What-"

"You're not making things any better by being so nice to me, Jake. Why don't you get that?"

"I'm just trying to be there for you. I know you were hurt. And it can't be easy--"

"You can't be there for me when you're the guy who hurt me. It doesn't work that way. It just hurts more."

"That's what I don't want."

"Look... things between us have been okay today. Once this whole cancellation thing blows over, I think things won't be so awkward. So, just don't worry about that. Focus on the show. It needs you more than I do."

***She looks at him assuringly before walking out.***

***She comes back in.***

"I took the day yesterday because I couldn't stand seeing you and Dylan together for another minute."

"What?"

"You were dying to ask again, right?"

"Yes, actually."

"So, that's why."

"What about Gavin?"

"I told you. We were commiserating. Our world is sad and lonely. I mean, we're both trapped here. It's just-So, I took a day. I won't do it again. Especially not now. Okay?"

"It's fine. Thanks for telling me."

"Yeah. I'll make those calls you asked me to make earlier."

"Thanks."

***She walks out again. This time for real. Leaving him alone with his thoughts.***

~Sad and lonely... At least they have an excuse.~