A/N Hey everyone. My show is over, however, I've managed to injure myself. I tripped down some stairs today, at home, and my elbow hurts, badly. I was trying to eat some cereal tonight, and I couldn't raise the spoon up to my mouth, I had to eat left handed. I tried typing tonight, and it didn't go well. If I can't get a chapter written in the coming week, I may not publish next Monday. I'll just have to see how it goes, and how well I can type one handed. Back to hunt and pecking. This chapter was done and all I had to do was this A/N one handed. Thanks to my primary reader TBBT78, who is continuing to read through some serious issues, and my copy editor bfm10, who is checking through a very busy time. Many, many thanks to them both. I also want to thank all those who are reading, and especially those who are writing reviews, thank you all so much.
Chapter 38
Caltech Cafeteria, 12:15 Tuesday October 2nd 2012
Leonard was yawning as he looked around the cafeteria, trying to find Sheldon, Raj, or Howard. He found Sheldon at a table and headed in that direction. He said hello to Sheldon and put his tray on the table. As he was sitting down, he yawned again.
"It's your own fault, Leonard," said Sheldon. "You stayed up late, then had to get up early. No wonder you're yawning. If you would get to bed earlier, like I do, you wouldn't be so tired."
"Getting to bed late wasn't the problem," said Leonard, "it was getting up early to take Penny to the airport. Besides, weren't you, on the ride to work today, complaining about being up late?"
"No, Leonard," said Sheldon, "you need to pay better attention. I was in bed at my usual time, it was you and Penny who woke me up with her vocalization of your coitus. All last week your coitus kept waking me up, I need a better grade of noise cancelling headsets."
Leonard was smirking at Sheldon, "Sorry Sheldon, she's gone for two weeks, so when she come's home we do what we can to get enough sex in to last for the next two weeks."
Sheldon shook his head, "It doesn't work like that, you can't save up sex like a savings account. At least you'll be alone for the next two weeks and go back to quiet self-abuse."
"Who's going to self-abuse themselves, because their alone?" said Alex walking up.
"Leonard," said Sheldon.
"Dr Hofstadter," said Alex, "just because you're alone isn't a reason to abuse yourself…oh…ahhhh…I…uh…" her voice trailed off, and she looked away from Leonard as she realized what Sheldon meant.
"Sheldon," Leonard hissed.
"I sense I crossed a line," said Sheldon.
"Yes, you did," said Leonard, sounding frustrated, "that's not something we speak of in public."
"Well then," said Sheldon, "I'll be leaving, I have a meeting coming up anyway." Sheldon rose, and picking up his tray, walked away from the table.
They watched Sheldon walk away, then Alex said, "It's Ok, Dr Hofst…"
"Alex, it's Leonard," said Leonard, "I'm not one to require doctor in a casual setting. I mean, our cat is referred to as Dr Boots Hofstadter, so how serious can I take it."
"Ok, Leonard," said Alex, "I was just going to tell you, it's nothing to be embarrassed about." Her voice became seductive, "You do know women use self-abuse also, right." She smiled sweetly at Leonard.
Leonard was getting embarrassed, much as he had when he found Penny's vibrator, when they were cleaning her closet out. With a red face he answered, "Yes, I know, but it's still something I would rather not talk about."
"Why?" asked Alex, "I haven't had a boyfriend in several years, and while I prefer a real man, I…"
"Yes Alex, I get it. I understand it's normal, but I'm not comfortable talking about it with you. Now can we move on to something else?"
"Ok," said Alex, shrugging, "I tried to find that seminar on Wednesday morning, but I lost my way, trying to find the place. Perhaps you could take me and show me where it is?"
Leonard thought for a minute, "I have a meeting tomorrow, so I can't do it then. How about next week, I'll stop by Sheldon's around 9:30, so we can get there by ten."
Alex smiled and started twirling her hair, "That sound's great Leonard. I'll look forward to it."
Apartment 601, 8:15 PM Tuesday October 2nd 2012
Jeanie heard a knock on the door. Getting up, she walked over to it and looking through the peephole, she let out a little shriek, and quickly opened the door. Penny was smiling and engulfed Jeanie in hug, as Jeanie said, "Welcome back." After a few seconds, Jeanie broke the hug, and invited Penny in, telling her to sit at the table. Penny pulled her luggage over to the table and sat down.
Jeanie went, opened a bottle of wine, poured two glasses, and took them both to the table. Jeanie asked her about being on "The Late, Late, Show".
"Did you see it?" asked Penny. "I was so nervous, but I guess it went OK."
"OK?" said Jeanie, "yes I saw it, and you were amazing on there, you're getting so much attention in the trades. Jim and Kelli have been getting phone calls, several people I'm friends with in the trades have called me to ask about you. I would say you were outstanding. Tell me all about it. When you got there, how it was, what he said to you, all of it."
Penny began telling Jeanie all about it. She began with getting there, Craig coming by before the show, getting ready for the show, the show itself, and Craig coming back to her dressing room after the show.
She told Jeanie about how nice Craig had been, not just to her, but to Leonard also. She also told Jeanie about the two women who were going to be her hair and makeup people in California. And then the surprise at finding out how it went, and all the people who were trying to call her.
After a refill of their glasses, Penny then described the rest of her week. Her experience at the market, with the fans, pictures and autographs. How her friends like the show, and her meetings with her west coast agent and how they were going to try and get her on Leno when she went back in two weeks.
Jeanie told Penny she had something for her, and pulled out the script for the table read in the morning. "Let me tell you something, I didn't read it."
"Why not?" asked Penny.
"I wanted to wait until you got here," said Jeanie, "so we could read it together."
"But what if I was late?"
"Then I was going to start reading at 9:30," said Jeanie, "before getting ready for bed. But, now that you're here, let's read it together, then talk about it. But, lets get a refill first." Penny was feeling tired, but agreed.
They both sat and read, and after they finished, they got another glass each and then started talking about the script. The first thing Penny mentioned was having several scenes alone with Brent for the first time. All their other scenes together had been with either Jeanie a couple of times, and more likely with Dave. They then compared on how they each had read, their intonations, and in Penny's case her facial expressions. They talked for over an hour, getting another couple of glasses of wine.
Finally, Penny asked Jeanie how her week went, and Jeanie started telling Penny about her three day trip home, where she ran into her high school boyfriend. They each got another glass of wine, while Jeanie told Penny how awkward it had been, because he wanted to get back together. Jeanie suspected it was because she was now a star, not because of his feelings for her.
By now, it was one AM and they both decided it was time to get to bed. Penny tried to stand up, and had to grab the table as she lost her balance. She managed not to fall, but was giggling, and so was Jeanie.
Then Jeanie tried to stand, and she fell over, landing on her butt. They both erupted into loud laughter, as Penny then lost her balance, also ending up on the floor. This brought even more laughter from both Penny and Jeanie as they sat on the floor of Jeanie's kitchen.
Apartment 601, 8:15 AM Wednesday October 3rd 2012
Penny's alarm on her phone went off. Penny rolled over, grabbed her phone and turned it off. Her head hurt, her mouth was dry. I must have really been drunk last night.
She opened her eyes, and was looking at a white ceiling. Where am I, thought Penny. My bedroom ceiling is pink, not white. She tried to sit up, but the pain, in her head, made that a struggle, so she just fell back on the bed. A couple of minutes later, she tried again, and this time she did make it to a sitting position.
Opening her eyes, she was looking around when the door opened and Jeanie came in. She looked like she was hurting also, but she had brought Penny a couple of aspirin, along with a glass of water.
"Good morning," said Jeanie, with a smirk.
"Maybe for you," said Penny, popping both aspirins into her mouth and taking a long drink of water.
"It's not for me either," said Jeanie. "But, at least I've had my water and aspirin. We still have over an hour before we have to leave for the studio, so you might want to take your luggage back to your place and get a shower."
"You're right," said Penny, "I really should. Did you suggest me staying here last night?"
"Yes, I did," said Jeanie. "We both had trouble standing, so I thought instead of you trying to get home, it would be better if you stayed in my guest room. I've also got coffee ready, so, if you want a cup go ahead and take one. And bring your travel mug up and you can fill it before we leave."
Penny smiled at Jeanie, "Thanks, I'll do that." She managed to stand up, and, unsteadily, start the trip to her apartment.
Studio 44, 11:45 AM Wednesday October 3rd 2012
Penny was at the craft services table, getting another cup of coffee, when Jeanie walked up, and also poured another cup of coffee.
"More aspirin?" asked Penny.
"More aspirin," confirmed Jeanie as she handed Penny a couple more tablets. They both took the aspirin and were standing there, both looking miserable, when Tina walked up. "Hi Jeanie, Penny. Kelli says her and Jim are ready anytime you are, Penny."
"Huh?"
"I said Kelli and Jim are ready anytime you are," said Tina. "Something about them wanting to talk to you?"
"Oh God," said Penny, "I forgot about that. You don't have to wait for me Jeanie, I don't know how long this is going to be."
"You sure?" said Jeanie, looking concerned.
"Yeah, Kelli told me it wasn't really anything bad, so I'm not worried."
"Ok," said Jeanie, "I'll see you back at the apartment." She turned, walking towards her dressing room and stopped. Turning around, she said to Penny. "Come on up around four, I want to take a nap."
Penny said, "Make it six, I want a nap also."
Penny turned and followed Tina to Jim and Kelli's office. Tina opened the door, told them Penny was here, and then left, in the direction of the writers.
"Come on in, Penny," said Jim, "have a seat. We need to get some things set up, give us a couple of minutes."
Penny watched as they brought over a monitor, and Jim connected it to his computer.
While he was doing that, Kelli got up from her desk and walked over to Penny, handing Penny several pieces of paper, "These are a few of the reviews from the second episode, I thought you might want them."
Penny looked at them quickly, "…new comedy star… absolutely the funniest person on the show… a bright new addition to the comedy world…" were some of the comments Penny read. She had to smile reading them.
Jim got up and walked over to Penny. She looked up and said, "It's not that bad, right? Kelli said it wasn't that bad."
Jim looked surprised, "Did you think we were going to yell at you?"
"No," said Penny, "Kelli said it wasn't bad so I wasn't worried."
Jim smiled, "Good, it really isn't anything bad, just think of it as another piece of your education."
"What?"
Kelli said, "You're playing a character, but think of yourself. You react to something the same way every time. If you changed that reaction, it wouldn't be you. For example, you've told us that when your boyfriend starts talking about his comic books or other science fiction things, you roll your eyes."
"Yeah, so?"
"Well, what would happen if instead of rolling your eyes, you instead told him he was stupid?"
"I wouldn't do that," said Penny, "I would never call him stupid for his hobbies."
"Why not?"
"Because, that's who he is," said Penny. "He knows I roll my eyes because I don't understand his fascination with it, and because he knows it mostly bores me."
"But, the important thing," said Jim, "you do the same thing every time."
"OK, yeah," said Penny, "but what does this have to do with Jess?"
"Well, Kelli and I have been watching the first few episodes and the edits on the last couple and we've noticed you've changed your reactions on a few things. Three to be exact."
"What do you mean?" asked Penny.
"Here, let me show you," said Jim. He started a clip of Penny making a snarky comment about Jeanie's character, Ally's date. Jim said, "Now watch, as you say the line, you dismiss the guy with a wave of your hand."
"I see it," said Penny, "what about it?"
"That was from the first episode," said Jim, "Now here's another from the second."
Penny watched herself say a similar snarky line, and dismiss Ally with the same wave, raising her arm and hand, and throwing her hand in a downward direction.
She looked at Jim and he started another clip, and said, "This one is from the third episode."
Penny again watched herself do the same motion with her hand, again, talking to Jeanie.
"Now," said Jim, "This one is from the last episode we taped." He played the clip and it was Penny, making a similar comment, but this time, she was wagging her finger back and forth.
"What's the big deal?" asked Penny.
"Penny," said Kelli, "you established the character makes a dismissive wave, when you make a snarky comment. If you establish that, you can't do other things, willy nilly."
"What do you mean?"
"When you establish a saying, a movement, or anything else as a part of that character, you have to be consistent, you have to do the same thing every time."
"Wait," said Penny, looking worried, "You mean I have to remember everything I do with a character and do the same thing all the time?"
"Basically, yes," said Jim. "Unless the writers decide it needs to be changed and then they'll write an episode about it. It can be tough during a series, as there can be a week or two, between actions, or even a summer between actions."
"Now, here are a couple of others," said Jim, as he played some more clips for Penny.
"I'll never remember all of that," said Penny despondently after Jim was finished. "Hell, I didn't even know I was doing the hand wave. If I don't know I'm doing it, how the hell can I even realize I stopped doing it?"
"We'll help, Penny," said Kelli, "where we can. What we will ask of you, is to write down any physical movements you do, or write down if we tell you about a physical movement, and then just be aware of it."
"I can't even remember my blocking half the time," said Penny, sounding frustrated, "How the hell am I supposed to remember this?"
"I told you Penny," said Kelli gently, "we'll help. Were not going to jump on you if you mess up. All we're asking is that you try to be aware of it, and try to keep things consistent, OK?"
Penny was aware her headache may be making her grouchy, so she just nodded her head. Maybe Jeanie can help me with this. "I really should thank you for not yelling at me and trying to get it over nicely. So thank you, and I'm sorry to sound angry."
Jim said, "Actually, I think it's more you are frustrated with all of this. That you didn't realize how much work this was actually going to be."
Penny eyes flashed at Jim, then she looked down, "You may be…awwww hell you ARE right. When I got to LA, and even up to shooting the pilot, I had no idea how much actual work went into this, week to week. So thank you, for picking an inexperienced actress and trying to teach her what she doesn't know." Penny looked up smiling at Jim.
Kelli said, "That's what we want to hear. You're doing good Penny, but you do have a lot to learn, and we're willing to work with you until you get it. But, only if you are willing to work at it. So far, you are willing, and we thank you for that."
"So, remember," said Jim, "pay attention to physical movement, write it down and compare it to other lines and movements. If we tell you of a repeated physical motion, pay attention to that and write it down. If you see a spot in the script, write it down when you first get the script."
"And remember your lines," said Kelli, "and your blocking, and the direction you need to look, and …"
Penny laughed, "OK, OK, I get it, thanks to both of you."
"That's it Penny," said Jim, "We'll see you tomorrow at ten."
Penny stood up, "Bye, see you tomorrow." Penny walked to the door and left. She was going to her dressing room to pick up her bag, and start walking home.