A/N Again, got nothing. But I did finish the first draft of chapter 31 last night.
Chapter 12
President's Office, Cal Tech, 10:15 AM, Wednesday April 11, 2012
Leonard was waiting nervously outside Dr. Siebert's office. Dr Eric Gablehauser had been at the door of his lab when Leonard arrived at work, telling him to be here at 10 AM, for a meeting. When Leonard tried to ask about it, he was abruptly cut off and simply told to bring the notebooks that contained his current research on particle detection.
He was starting to wonder if he was going to be called in when President Siebert's door opened and Dr Gablehauser motioned for Leonard to come in. As he walked passed him, Leonard whispered, "Do I call you Eric or Dr Gablehauser?"
Eric answered, also in a whisper, "You can call me Eric, but it's President or Dr Siebert."
Leonard nodded and Eric directed him to the small conference table on the wall opposite Dr Siebert's desk. At the table was Dr Siebert and another man who Leonard didn't recognize.
President Siebert motioned at the other man, "Dr Hofstadter, I want you to meet Dr Geoff Whatney, Dr Whatney, this is Dr Leonard Hofstadter."
Leonard started, recognizing the name of the person he had sent an email to, asking about his work, but had never gotten a response.
"I see you recognize my name," said Dr Whatney with a slight smile, in a distinctive English accent . "I'm quite sorry I didn't reply, but I had already planned a trip here and thought it better to talk to you in person. Well, anyway, it is nice to meet you Dr Hofstadter, but, please call me Geoff."
"It's nice to meet you too, Dr W…er, Geoff, and please call me Leonard."
"I will, thank you."
"Leonard," said Eric, "As you evidently know, Geoff is from Oxford. He has been following your research into particle detection. He has been working on the some of the same things and has some ideas of his own, he came here to see if there would be a way for the both of you to possibly work together, swap ideas."
"I…I…I…er, what?" stammered Leonard.
"Please let me explain," said Geoff. "I have been following your research very closely Leonard. I have had some similar ideas, but your ideas seem to be much farther along than mine. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I got the impression that you are getting ready to calculate what shape the reflection should be for each of the particles. Is that correct?"
Leonard hesitated, giving away the progress of research was something that wasn't done without some sort of agreement. He was looking at Eric, hoping for guidance. Since Eric was standing behind Geoff, he couldn't see him. But, Leonard saw Eric nod and hold his thumb and index finger close together. Leonard took that as a sign to he could say just a bit about his research.
"Yes," started Leonard, "I've started calculating the shape, but it's difficult. Each of the different particles offers some challenges, since their characteristics, spin, mass, charge, are all different from the one another. And the hadrons, being composite particles leave me unsure as to even know where to start."
"Yes," said Geoff, "I can see the problem there. What about the others?"
"I really haven't got anything to say right now," said Leoanrd. "Once I determine which equations to use for detection, then I have other calculations to do, to find the best frequency and power to use to make the detection easier. So I'm not in any way ready to explain how it might work."
"Yes," said Geoff, "I can see where that might be a problem."
"It also appears I would need more powerful lasers, than I have available here," said Leonard. "Not all of what I'm doing would be detectable with the current power I have here."
"Hmmmmmm," said Geoff, "you know, if what Dr Gablehauser tells me is correct, we have several, more powerful, lasers than you have. We might be able to help you with the detection with our lasers. Of course, we would need to know what to look for. As for that, I've talked to both these gentlemen, who I believe have something to tell you."
"Dr Hofstadter," said Dr Siebert, "I want to point out that any help you give them, any work you two do together, would bring in some extra money to the University. They have several endowments for this research and they are willing to split it with us. We also have a donor who is willing to increase their donations, and possibly fund a new high powered laser for the university, if some of the key ideas of yours can be worked out."
Eric spoke up, "Also, Leonard, this type of research will produce quite a few papers, and the nature of this work could mean publishing in Science or Physical Review D for you, and Nature for Geoff. And not just papers from you and Geoff. Other researchers would come to talk to both of you, or reference your papers in their own research. This would obviously bring credit to the university and as a result, draw more donors here. and…er…"
Eric looked at Dr Siebert, who nodded.
Eric continued, "We can see that this may require hiring some post-docs to help your with your calculations and experiments. The board would already look kindly upon an individual who brought in more money and more prestige to the university. If that individual was also overseeing post-docs, I'm sure the board could be nudged to endow a tenured chair for such an individual, if you get my drift."
Leonard looked shocked. Dr Siebert, was smiling and nodding. Eric was also smiling. He just nodded. Eric gestured at Geoff, his palm up.
Leonard turned to Geoff, opening his notebook, "What exactly do you need to know, Geoff?"
Apartment 4B 4:00 PM, Wednesday, Apr 11th, 2012
Leonard walked into 4B, and could hear the shower running. He went to the bathroom door, stuck his head in and said, "Penny…"
There was a shriek, and Leonard could see Penny pull her arms in to cover herself.
"Penny, it's me, Leonard."
Penny face appeared around the shower curtain. "What the hell Leonard, you scared me? What are you doing home so early? Isn't tonight comic book night?"
"Yeah, it is," said Leonard. "But I have some good news, so Raj is going to bring Sheldon home."
"Well, go pour us a couple of glasses of wine," said Penny. "I'll be out in a minute."
It was actually several minutes before Penny appeared in a sweatshirt with "NEBRASKA" on it, and a pair of jeans, with her hair up in a ponytail. She sat down at the table and before Leonard could say anything, she spoke up.
"Leonard," she said, "before you start, Jim called me today, and said I have to be at their office tomorrow."
"What's up?"
"They didn't say," she continued, "but, I don't think it's bad, because if they didn't want me or wanted to fire me, they would need to go through my agent. I just wanted to let you know before you started telling me your good news cause you could be talking for hours."
Leonard smiled, took a sip of wine, and began telling Penny of his meeting this morning, and the opportunities it offered.
Apartment 4B 7:30 PM, Thursday, Apr 11th, 2012
Leonard walked up the stairs to the fourth floor. He was late tonight, due to all the files he had to give to Geoff. He entered 4B and knew something was wrong as soon as he walked in the door. Penny was sitting at the table, a bottle of wine standing in front of her, and another on it's side next to it. She also had a full wine glass in front of her. But, what really let Leonard know there was a problem was the box of tissues off to the side, along with the pile of used tissues next to it.
Leonard took a deep breath, he knew he had the knack of saying the wrong thing, at the wrong time, and wanting to make sure that didn't happen this time. He walked over to Penny, stood behind her and rubbed her shoulders. "Rough day?" he said.
"Leonard," said Penny,"Iwontbeabletodotheshowbecause," Penny took a deep breath, "theyregoingtomoveittonewyorkandIwonbet…"
Leonard grabbed her gently by the arms saying, "Whoa Penny, slow down, take it easy. Wait, let me go get a glass, pour some wine and you can tell me…slowly." Leonard walked to the cupboard and grabbed a glass, bringing it over to the table. He sat down and poured a glass. He was looking at Penny, her nose was runny and her eyes were red, he could still see tears in them.
"Ok, Penny," he started, "nice and slow, start at the beginning and tell me what happened. I'm assuming this has something to do with your meeting with the television people today, am I right?"
Penny nodded, "Y-y-yes, it does. We got there and Jim and Kelli were there, along with a bunch of network big wigs. They seemed really nice, but looked serious, which made me nervous. They were asking me how I enjoyed working on this. Pushing me on whether I thought I was ready carry this much of a show, or was it too much for me. It sounded like they were going to fire me."
"But," said Leonard, "I was there at the taping, when Jim and Kelli said you were great, why would they fire you?"
"I don't know," said Penny. "They were asking me all these questions that sounded like they didn't want me anymore, and it seemed as if they were trying to get me say I didn't like it. And remember, whether or not Jim and Kelli liked me, the network people could say they didn't like me and I would be gone."
"So, did they fire you?"
"No, they didn't," said Penny. "I told you Kelli told me that besides the offer of a lead, there was another possible reason Dana decided to drop out of the project."
"Yeah, so what? What's going on?"
Penny swallowed, and looked very serious. "They are moving the production of the show to New York."
"So, why did that make you so upset?"
"Leonard," said Penny sounding exasperated, "I would have to move to New York. That would mean you here, and me in New York."
It took a second to register, then Leonard felt as if his stomach had flipped over. "You?" he said forlornly. "In New York?"
"Yes, that's why I'm so upset," said Penny. "Here's my big break, my real chance at getting my career started," Penny looked down, sounding heartbroken, "and I would have to leave you, to do it."
"But, why would they move it?" asked Leonard. He felt numb, and was trying not to show how upset he was. "I thought the stage was here in LA?"
"There are a couple of reasons. They are worried about matching the exterior shots with the stock shots," said Penny.
"What?"
"Leonard, exterior shots are those of outside things. The execs didn't like how the stock shots didn't match the exterior shots. They didn't like the difference between the stock shots and the sets."
Leonard was thinking of something he remembered from his tour at one of the studios, "Don't they have a…have a, place where they have buildings outside?"
"It's called a back lot," said Penny. "Yes, they have them, and that's what they used for the exterior shots, but for the execs, they didn't match up with the stock shots."
"Think of it this way, for New York, instead of shooting on a small section of the back lot, think of actually using the subway, or Broadway for your shots. Or,using landmarks, like the Empire State Building, or the Statue of Liberty. All that could be done if the show was in New York."
"How would that even work with an audience?"
"We would shoot the interior scenes on a set like with shot the pilot," said Penny. "Just on a sound stage in New York. Remember the scenes you had to watch on the monitor? They would probably ship the set that's here, to New York. If we needed outside shots, we would pre-shoot at the actual site. It would be like the pre-taping we did for the pilot."
"What's the other reason?"
Penny continued, "Warner Brothers is the studio that does most of the multi-cam shows. It's what they do, and they are the best at it. CBS wants to convert a couple of studios there, to have the ability to do some multi-cams at their facility in New York. CBS wants Warner Brothers' help to set things up. To do this, CBS is paying Warner Brothers to do the show there, and also help them to get a second studio set up for multi-cam."
"Was New York the other reason Dana left?"
"Yes, it is, partly," said Penny. "Dana went to them about a month ago, to tell them about an offer he got for a lead role. He was worried that he wasn't going to be able to take the lead. When he told Kelli and Jim, they mentioned the possibility that the show might move to New York, and would he be able to go there with it."
"He told them it wouldn't be a problem. Jim told him that their contract controlled, but what if the show moved and Dana couldn't go to New York, they would have to let him out of his contract. Jim then asked. 'Was sure there wouldn't be a problem? Wink, wink.'."
Penny chuckled, "Dana caught on, and told Jim moving to New York would be a huge problem and his contract said the show would be shot in LA, so why should he move? Kelli and Jim told him if that is how he felt, they would release him from his contract. Kelli told me they were laughing and giggling the whole time that happened."
"So, Dana gets a shot at a lead role, but we were missing an actor. Jim and Kelli talked to the network and they suggested the new guy. That's why we went in for the reshoots last month. Then, last week, they found out, officially, they were definitely moving the show to New York, but it was pretty much already set."
Penny sighed, then continued, "They called Dave in on Monday, and he said he didn't have a problem with it, and then called Jeanie in yesterday morning. They had already talked it over with the new guy, back when they hired him. That's why they called me yesterday afternoon, and asked me to come in."
"The execs were kind about it at first, but basically they said I was told last as they thought I would be the easiest to replace, if it came to that." Penny choked up when the next words came out, "They said they already have a couple of ideas of who can replace me."
"I asked when they needed to know," said Penny. "because, I needed to talk it over with you, first"
"They said they needed to know right then, one way or another."
Penny smiled, "Jim jumped up and told them it would not be easy to replace me. That I have a great combination of line reading and facial expressions that are perfect for the character, and if I needed a day to think things over, I damn well would get a day. And if they had a problem with that, they could talk to him."
"How did they react?"
"They backed down," said Penny. "But, I do have to give them an answer tomorrow."
Leonard knew what he had to say. He swallowed and tried to sound supportive, "There really isn't anything to talk about. You go to New York and do the show."
"But you can't come," said Penny. "You have your new research work and with that, all those opportunities. You can't just up and leave to come with me."
"I'll take a sabbatical," said Leonard.
"No, Leonard, your work is here." said Penny. As much as she didn't want to, she knew she had to say the next part, "I'll just tell them I can't do it in New York. If you're not going, I'm not going. I'll stay here, remember Jim and Kelli have other ideas for me."
Leonard stood up and started pacing. He turned and said forcefully, "No, dammit, you have to take it. I'm not standing in the way of your career. You've worked for years to get something like this and I'm not allowing you to throw it away. I'll take a sabbatical."
"And I'm not taking you away from your work, especially now that you are getting the recognition you deserve. I'm not going to be the one that causes you to drop your research. I'm not going."
Penny and Leonard looked at each other, both looking unhappy, but resolute. It was Penny, with tears in her eyes, who broke the silence. "Leonard, what are we going to do?"