A/N Thanks to all of you for waiting. I'm got another trip to make, but it's a short one, and won't interfere with publishing. As a matter of fact, after writing the last couple of weeks, I'm back to my 20 chapters ahead of publishing (working on 61) in first draft, and 10 ahead of publishing with copy correction. One thing I did notice, was I'm down to two pages of outline left (out of 12). I've been averaging about six chapters per outline page, so I'm about 12-15 chapters from the end. How does all this affect you? Well, I will not be skipping any more Sunday night/Monday Morning publishing days anymore. Even if I don't finish the first draft of a new chapter in a week, I have enough already written, that there won't be a need to skip any more Monday's. Once I finish, I may bump up publishing to twice a week (probably Monday and Thursday). But that's later, and going to depend on a couple of things. Anyway, here's the next chapter.

Chapter 41

Studio 44, NY 3:00 PM Monday October 8th 2012

Penny was sitting in her director's chair, on the stage floor, in front of the guy's apartment. Penny was studying her script, her blocking and where she should be looking. Brent was next to her, playing on his phone.

Normally, she wasn't here this late on a Monday, but her and Brent had three scenes to pre-tape, and Steve, the director, had wanted to reshoot the first two, three times each. Now she was just waiting for the next scene.

Steve had been gone for about 15 minutes and she was wondering if he was going to come back. Tina came up to her, handing her a folder.

"What's this?" said Penny.

"That's your itinerary for Wednesday, when you are on Letterman. The limo will pick you up here at three , and take you to the Ed Sullivan Theatre. When you finish, around 6:30 or 7:00, the limo will take you back to your apartment."

"Oh, thanks, Tina," said Penny. "I didn't expect all of this, it will make it rather easy for me."

"Yep," said Tina, "by the way, you two are done once this scene is over."

"Thanks, Tina," said Penny.

Brent looked up from his phone, "Yeah, thanks, Tina."

"You all have a good evening," said Tina, "see you tomorrow."

Tina turned and left, just as Steve was walking up. Looking at Penny and Brent, Steve said, "You ready for this one?"

"Yeah," said Brent, "let's get it done so we can get out of here."

Penny asked, "What was the delay for?"

"Not sure yet," said Steve. "Something doesn't look right, but we'll look at it more tomorrow, when they edit it for the taping. Let's go."

Penny and Brent walked to their starting places, Steve looked around, then said, "Action."

They ran through the scene, Steve called, "Cut," and they were finished with that take. Steve wanted a couple of changes, and they ran it again. Then a few more, and they ran it a third time. Steve was looking at it through playback.

He turned to the two actors and said, "Something still doesn't look quite right, but three takes should cover it, and, as I said, we'll also look at this when we do the editing. You two are done for the day, we'll see you tomorrow."

Brent and Penny looked at each other, both of them shrugged and they left the stage for their dressing rooms to get ready to leave for home.

Studio 44, NY 10:00 PM Tuesday October 9th 2012

Their show had finished taping, and the actors had gone to their dressing rooms, as the audience filed out. Penny cleaned off her makeup and put her computer and makeup into her bag. Her new script was already in the bag, she had looked it over at the taping's intermission. She turned off the light and then left her dressing room. She walked down to Jeanie's dressing room, and found her waiting. They left the studio together, walked out of the broadcast center and toward Jake's.

Arriving at Jake's, they found Jim and Kelli in the rear of the bar. Dave was already there with his wife, Pam, along with Tina. Jeanie and Penny sat in the back with Tina. Everyone said hi to them, then Kelli asked them what they wanted and then went to get their drinks.

Penny and Jeanie had just settled into their seats, when Brent came up, from the direction of the bar, and sat down at the open chair, almost across from them. Jeanie leaned over and whispered, "I don't remember him sitting here with us before, do you?"

Penny shook her head and answered, "No, he's stopped by, but I don't remember him sitting here either."

Everyone said hi to Brent, and Kelli came back, giving Brent a beer, and Jeanie and Penny their wine. They all held their glasses up while Jim offered a toast. After that, the group started talking among themselves in smaller groups.

Kelli and Jeanie were both trying to get Penny to see how much better she was doing, with Tina agreeing. Penny was trying to explain that it wasn't just how she was doing, but also, some embarrassment to all the attention she had been getting. Penny however, was feeling good about the compliments she was getting here tonight. Dave and Brent were talking, while Jim and Pam were talking and laughing at something.

They had been there for about a half an hour when Jim offered to get another round. As he went around the table, everyone gave him their order. When he got to Brent, he declined, saying he was going to go home.

He stood, and called out to Penny, "Hey, Penelope, it was great working with you, finally, in scenes, with just us. I'm looking forward to some more, whenever we get some. Great Job."

Penny was shocked, but managed to get out, "Thank you Brent. It was fun working with you too, you made this week a pleasure."

He smiled, raised his bottle, and finished his drink. "Goodnight everyone," he said, "I'll see you tomorrow morning." With that, he turned and left the bar.

Jim went and got everyone's drinks and they spent another 45 minutes there, talking. Tina was next to leave, then Dave and Pam. Finally, Kelli, Jim, Jeanie, and Penny got up to leave. Once outside, they said their goodbyes and Penny and Jeanie left for their apartments.

Studio 44, NY 9:45 AM Wednesday October 10th 2012

Penny was in her dressing room, reading over her script, when there was a knock on her door. She rose, walked over to the door and opened it.

Tina was there, and said, "Penny, Steve and Billy Rowe want to talk to you and Brent after the table read today."

"Billy Rowe?" said Penny in a questioning voice. She didn't recognize the name.

"Yes," said Tina, "The show's editor. They are thinking you two may have to reshoot some of the scenes you shot on Monday."

"What? Why?" Said Penny.

"I don't know," said Tina, "They just wanted me to stop by and tell you both to stick around after the table read."

"But, I have to get to the Letterman taping," said Penny. "Will I have the time?"

"Sorry Penny," said Tina, "I told them that and they said they know about it, but the show comes first."

"Ok, thanks Tina," said Penny.

Tina left and Penny grabbed her script, markers, and travel mug, and headed down to fill up her mug with coffee before the table read.

Studio 44, NY 11:30 AM Wednesday October 10th 2012

The table read was over and Penny went to fill her mug, before starting toward Steve's office. She got to Steve's office and found his door was open, so she simply cleared her throat. He looked up and waved her in, pointed toward a chair and went back to writing notes. Billy and Brent came in about a minute later. Steve looked up, put down his pencil and waved both of them to sit down.

"I know you're wondering why we wanted to see you," said Steve. Brent and Penny nodded their heads and Steve continued, "When Billy and I were editing the scene, we noticed that you both are leaning away from each other. Go ahead and put it up Billy."

Billy put in the DVD and hit play. He said, "Brent, Penny, look at your body language here. You are supposed to be working together on something for Bill, working closely together, but you are both leaning back, when you should be sorta huddled together."

Steve spoke up, "Remember on Monday, I was telling you something didn't look right, when I had you rerun the taping several times? I couldn't tell you exactly what, but when Billy brought this to me, I understood why it looked off to me."

Brent and Penny were looking at it, and Penny spoke up, "What do you want us to do?"

"Well," said Steve, "we talked to Jim and Kelli, showed them this, and they suggested, and Billy and I agreed, that we reshoot the scenes. We want to break for lunch, now. Penny, we know you have Letterman today, so we want to make sure we get the re-shoot finished in time for you to make it over there."

"Tina will be here shortly, with the pages for the three scenes. She'll have them so you two can refresh your memory for your blocking and your lines. So after you eat, go to the makeup room, and Linda and Jaime will get your hair and makeup ready, and Janet has your costumes. While you're getting ready, you can go over your lines and your blocking. We'll see you there at 1:30."

Penny and Brent nodded. A few seconds later, Tina walked in and gave them the pages for the scenes. They took the pages and then walked toward the craft services table to grab some lunch, then went to their dressing rooms, to eat, and to study.

Studio 44, NY 12:30 PM Wednesday October 10th 2012

Penny and Brent were both sitting in front of the guy's apartment, waiting for the rest of the crew. The cameramen were there, and several other production crew members, who weren't normally on set, at this time on Wednesdays.

Brent and Penny were both going over the lines, and looking at their blocking. Steve, Tina, Kelli and Jim walked up and Jim asked, "Is everyone ready?"

Everyone nodded and Steve said, "Places." Brent and Penny got into position, Steve called, "Action," and they ran through the scene. Steve, Billy, Jim and Kelli walked over to the monitors and watched the playback.

After watching, Steve called, "Let's do it again. Brent, you were fine, Penelope, we need you to lean in more. Let's go." Everyone got into position and Steve called, "Action," and they ran the scene again. Steve walked over to the monitors, and watched with the others. They conferred for a few seconds, then Steve walked over to the two actors.

"Brent, you were fine, again," said Steve, "Penelope, is there a problem with you leaning closer to Brent?"

Penny shook her head and said, "No, but can I have a couple of minutes?"

"Sure," said Steve, softly, then he yelled out, "five minutes everyone."

Penny walked over to her directors chair and sat down. She was looking at her script, to hide her thoughts, when she heard, "Penelope?" Looking up, she saw Brent standing there.

"Look," he said, "I know you thought I was a bit creepy when we first met, and that may be part of this. But, as I told you last week when we talked, when it comes to production, I don't mess around."

"I don't know what you've heard, or who you heard it from, or if it's just the feeling you got from me, but when we're shooting scenes, you have nothing to worry about." He chuckled, "Not to mention, if you think so, just remember all the people that will be around us."

Penny nodded.

"You might want to try to lean what you think is too much in my direction," said Brent. "If you do that, you should have it about right."

Penny said, "Thanks Brent. It was just the feeling I got when we first met, and the times you hit on me. You're right about all the people here. It's just something I have to work on. That leaning in too much may be a good idea, I'll try it for the next take."

Brent nodded and walked away, Penny was looking at the set, thinking.

After five minutes, Tina called everyone back. The actors got into place, Steve called "Action," and they ran the scene. After calling, "Cut," Steve walked over to the monitors. He and the others watched the scene, conferred, and Steve called out, "That's a good one, Let's move to the next scene."

Penny looked at a smiling Brent. He raised his hand, "High five?" he said. Penny smiled and slapped his hand, then they moved to their places for the next scene.

Studio 44, NY 2:50 PM Wednesday October 10th 2012

Penny closed and locked the door to her dressing room. She walked down to the lobby of the broadcast center carrying her bag and purse. Her dress was being taken to the studio where Letterman was taped by the two women who would do her makeup and hair. She made it to the receptionist and talked to her. She nodded and mad a call for the limo, while Penny sat down and waited.

While waiting she was thinking. She was happy how well the re-taping went, they only had to do one take for the other two scenes. Brent's comments and suggestions did the trick and she thanked him for the idea. Now she was re-evaluating her attitude towards Brent.

He's been nice to me, here at work, for a couple of weeks now. Hell, he made that nice comment Tuesday after the taping, and he brought me coffee, last week, so he's been nice to me even when were not actually working. I wonder, what has changed? Maybe I should ask him about it, maybe…

"Miss Jensen, your limo is here," said the receptionist.

Penny was brought out of her reverie gathered her things and walked out of the broadcast center, and entered the limo.

Ed Sullivan Theatre, NY 5:40 PM Wednesday October 10th 2012

Penny was waiting nervously in the Green Room. Jaime and Linda, who were from her show, had taken care of her makeup and hair respectively. She thought about looking into having someone on the East coast for such things. Dave was currently wrapping up talking to a politician she didn't know, and she was going over her notes on the scene they had provided Letterman.

The door of the green room opened and someone, an intern she assumed, informed her that she would be on in about five minutes. She got up, took a drink from her water bottle, checked herself in the mirror, smiled and gave the other two women a thumbs up. She then walked out, following the intern and was shown where to stand, behind the set.

She was looking at all the two by fours, and the other supporting wooden structures, thinking, It's just like our set, it looks so substantial and strong, and it's noting but the least amount of wood they can use to make it look that way.

She was brought back to reality when she heard Dave start his introduction. "Our next guest is the new sensation from the show Major's Tales, please welcome, Penelope Jensen."

Sensation? thought Penny, as she walked out from behind the set, and walked out to thunderous applause.

Ed Sullivan Theatre, NY 6:45 PM Wednesday October 10th 2012

Penny had started putting her things away. Jaime and Linda had left, Linda taking her dress with her. She was looking forward to calling Leonard later tonight, to tell him all about it, when she heard a knock on her door.

She opened it and there was David Letterman standing there. "Mr. Letterman, come in, please," said Penny.

"Please Penelope," said Dave, " Call me Dave."

"Yes,sir," said Penny.

Dave chuckled, "Happens every time." Then said, "I hope you had a good time tonight. You made me laugh several times, the audience several more, so the TV audience should enjoy it."

"Thank you," said Penny.

"I know you got a lot of good publicity after you were on Craig's show," said Dave. "As a matter of fact, one of the reasons we wanted you was the recommendation of Craig. His show is part of my production company."

Penny was shocked and just nodded.

"You handled yourself very well," said Dave. "You have some sort of natural comedy instinct, that makes you very funny."

"But, I wasn't trying to be funny," said Penny.

"That's what I mean," said Dave, "you weren't trying to be funny, but you are. Even the story about not understanding anything when your boyfriend, and your other friends are talking because they are at Caltech, was funny. It just seems to come naturally to you."

"And another thing, you are so down to earth, almost all of my audience will connect with you, which is usually good for you. I just wanted to congratulate you, and wish you the best. Although, I think you are going to do just fine."

"Thank you, si…" Dave held up his forefinger and tilted his head.

"Dave," said Penny, as Letterman nodded. "That means a lot coming from you."

He smiled again, "You're welcome, good luck Penelope." David Letterman left the door.

Penny was smiling as she finished putting away her things. She walked to the lobby, and her driver called to her. As she was getting into the limo, she was thinking about how much she was looking forward to telling Jeanie what had just happened.