Chapter 4 - New Horizon
A/N: I'd like to thank celrock for reviewing every chapter so far; your feedback is greatly appreciated! Please leave a review, good, negative, constructive criticism, or anything in between, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
It was Didi's last day in London before returning to America, and they spent time at the shopping mall, where they met up with Kian.
As they finish their coffees and Tammy finishes her hot chocolate, she leads Didi by the hand to the store she's been wanting to visit.
Tommy chuckles and says to Kian, "I think I know what shop, Tammy wants to go too."
"Let me guess fam, The Reptar Store!" Kian chuckled
"That's the one," Tommy declared.
The Reptar store was the largest department store in the entire shopping mall, they offered everything from plush toys to electronics, and a smaller version of the Reptar robot was the major feature and a draw to many shoppers.
Stu commissioned the reptar robot, which had similar specifications to its lifesize counterpart but with fewer flaws and was more child friendly because Stu didn't want another accident lawsuit against him.
Tammy was mesmerised by the Reptar Robot, and she hurried over to hug it because the electronic Robot was made to be child-friendly, and the robot's steely arms wrapped around her.
"Isn't that just cute, I remember you were such a big fan of Reptar," Didi added as she snapped a photo with her phone's camera.
Tommy smiled as he saw Tammy's happiness.
"Say Reptar!" said Didi as she snapped photos.
"Reptar!" exclaimed Tammy, delighted as she posed with the robot.
"Let's take a picture with my goddaughter," Kian says as he poses with Tammy, making a funny face at the Robot.
Tammy smiles for a shot with her Godfather while Didi snaps another picture.
A retail assistant takes a group shot of them all, and Didi takes a photo of only Tommy and Tammy.
Didi takes the photo and adds, "Aw, that's one for the fridge magnet, wait until I text these photos to Stu, he'll be so jealous," she laughs.
Didi observed Tammy glancing at the latest Reptar Toy and said, "I see you have your eyes on that toy"
"The Reptar 3000," Tammy confirmed.
Didi takes the box and reads the description: "The Reptar 3000 can be connected with any mobile device, and the Reptar 3000 app allows for even more interactivity."
"It's definitely not cheap, bruv," Kian added.
"If money weren't so tight right now, I'd buy it for her," Tommy sighed.
Didi adjusts her spectacles and kneels down in front of Tammy, asking, "Have you been saving up your allowance?"
"Yes, Granny Didi, I've been saving for weeks now, and my piggy bank is full," Tammy explained.
Doting on her only granddaughter while grinning at her, Didi tells the child, "You save your pocket money for something nice, let your Grannny Didi buy it for you."
"Thank you, you're the best Granny Didi," Tammy exclaimed, bouncing with pleasure, and then she turns to her father and adds, "Dad! Granny Didi is going to get me a Reptar 3000!" Tammy stated
"Since you've been doing so well in school, I think you deserve a treat," Tommy remarked, rubbing her face with his finger.
"I'm well jelous!" Kian exclaimed, messing up Tammy's hair.
"When we get home, you can play with me," Tammy said, nudging Kian's jacket.
"Sounds like a plan, we can set up your Reptar," Kian remarked.
Didi is holding a large bag of Reptar mechindise in addition to the Reptar 3000 as they depart The Reptar Store.
"Mum, you are spoiling her!" Tommy chuckled.
"It's a grandmother's job to spoil her grandchildren," Didi explained.
"Let me take that off your hands," Kian remarked as he took the bag.
"Thank you, Kian, you're such a gentleman," Didi added.
"It's no problem, Didi," Kian smiled.
Tammy stated, "I really liked spending time with you Granny Didi, I wish you didn't have to leave so soon."
She tapped her nose. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon with your Grandpa Stu," Didi added.
Didi pulls into her purse and asks, "Tammy, why don't you and your Uncle Kian get us all some cookies from the candy kiosk?"
Thank you, Granny Didi, Tammy says as she takes the cash.
Didi grinned, "You're welcome, sweetheart.
"Right, Tammy, last one is a smelly nelly, I'll race you 3...2...1..." Kian says as he gets a head start before getting too one.
Tammy said, "Hey that's cheating Uncle Kian!" and the two of them sped off to the candy kiosk.
Tommy looks at his mother and says, "I'm lucky to have Kian as a best friend and I'm glad you came to see, I was a wreck," giving Didi and Tommy some time to converse alone.
"Aw, Tommy, you two have been through so much, and you know something, Kian is just as lucky to have you as a best friend," Didi added.
Tommy leans in for a hug, and Didi adds, "I'll be there for you, no matter what the time difference is or how big or small your problems are, whether you call, text, or video call."
"Yes, Mum, I'll try not to keep things bottled up," Tommy responded.
"I'm overjoyed to hear that," Didi exclaimed.
Later that evening, when Didi had made dinner and was washing the dishes, the house phone began to ring.
Didi answers the phone, "Hello, Tommy Pickles recidence, Didi speaking" she nods, "Uh huh, yes of course, I can pass on the message, okay thank you, bye"
"Who was it?" Tommy wondered as he heard Didi on the phone.
"It was your agent, he's emailed you the address, they didn't mention their name but they want you to visit Y-OFF studios immediately!" said Didi.
"Could only be one thing," Tommy speculates, thinking it could be good news.
Tommy receives a notification on his phone, checks his emails, and drives away.
Tommy meets Maxwell Carrington, the executive producer, at the Y-OFF productions office. Maxwell is a dignified, well-spoken man in his 70s with a full head of white hair combed to the right and a tiny moustache.
His office is surrounded by enormous antique book shelves and a drinks globe on the left side, a fancy leather sofa next to it, two fancy leather chairs in front of the desk, and props from previous films, such as the Bronze gun, which was proudly displayed in a glass case.
Maxwell was sitting at his dark oak desk, writing with his fountain pen, when Tommy came in.
"Greetings, Thomas. My name is Maxwell Carrington, and I watched your directing reel and I am very impressed with your portoflio," Maxwell stated.
"Maxwell, I've been following your producer career since I was a nipper," Tommy added, enhutistically shaking Tommy's hand.
"I have been in this industry for quite some time," Maxwell stated.
"Do you mind if my most recent film was a complete flop?" stated Tommy
"Even the finest directors have failed, and not all films are surefire successes, They're a bunch of idiots for letting you go," Maxwell observed.
"Thank you, Maxwell, I'm glad someone like yourself can see through this smokescreen of insecurity," Tommy remarked.
"A man has not made something of himself unless he has failed," Maxwell said.
"Words could not be more true," Tommy said.
"It's time for the Blaine franchise to go in a completely different direction, something new and edgy, a bad boy who only looks out for number one!" Waving his finger in the air, Maxwell said.
"I agree, I think it's time to freshen things up," Tommy nodded.
"Now let's beat around the bush, I want to employee you as director, you will have full creative control of how you see fit subject to castings being complete" said Maxwell
"That Southgate will get what's coming to him, and we'll take him to the cleaners!" Maxwell declared.
"We'll definitely do it, and I'll make sure of it, and most importantly, I'll take the job!" Tommy said.
As they shake hands, Maxwell says, "Excellent, glad to have you on board, Thomas."
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to pay you until filming begins," Maxwell explained.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine for a while," Tommy said.
"I know this is a lot to ask, but we're running behind schedule, can you write a full script by tomorrow?" Maxwell inquired.
"You expect me to write a full script in less than twenty four hours?" questioned Tommy
Despite the fact that it appears to be a lot to ask, Maxwell said, "I think you can pull it off, old boy."
"OK, I'll see what I can think of," Tommy replied.
"That's the right attitude, Thomas," Maxwell said, "I'll see you in the morning, and good luck."
Tommy reasoned that he needed the money, no matter how difficult it would be to pull this off.
When Tommy got home, Kian, Didi, and Tammy were playing the board game impatience in the living room.
Tammy yelled, "Yay, I won!"
"It's a stupid game anyway, but the name's correct, I don't have the patience for this!" Kian jokingly pretended to flee in a huff.
Didi replied, "Your Uncle Dil is the brains behind impatience."
Tammy gushed, "Uncle Dil is so cool, I watch his videos all the time."
Didi smiled and added, "Well, I'll try to arrange for your Uncle Dil, Auntie Allie, and cousins to visit.
Didi questioned "How did it go?" when she saw Tommy enter the room.
"I'll tell you when we get to the airport," Tommy promised.
Tommy requested, "Kian, can you watch Tammy while I drop Mum off?"
Of course, Bruv," responded Kian.
Tommy got on his knees and told Tammy, "I'm taking your Granny to the airport, I want you to be a good girl for Uncle Kian, yeah"
"I promise, I'll be good," Tammy said.
Tommy remarked, giving her a kiss on the cheek, "That's my girl"
Didi hugged Tammy tightly and resisted letting go, prompting Tammy to say, "I will miss you Granny Didi."
Didi, fighting back tears, said, "I will miss you too, but don't worry, I will be back real soon."
Tammy kisses her grandmother on the cheek.
Didi hugs Kian and says, "Kian, take care of yourself."
"You have a safe flight home, yeah," Kian remarked as Didi kissed him on the cheek.
As Tommy and Didi leave for the airport, Kian adds, "Let's get this Reptar set up," and Tammy exclaims, "Yay! "I'm going to play with my new toy!"
Tommy arrives at the airport and removes Didi's suitcase from the boot of the car.
Didi removes her suitcase without first inquiring about Tommy's news. "Well, are you not going to tell me your news then?"
Tommy grinned and stated, "I've got the job! Maxwell wants me to direct the next James Blaine film!"
Didi smiled with relief for her son, "Tommy, that's fantastic!" "I am overjoyed for you!"
Tommy and Didi exchange a farewell hug, but Tommy now has to return to create the script with a deadline, with time not on his side, he must fire all cylinders with every might of his brain power, and if Maxwell likes the script, Tommy's financial difficulties may be over.
End of Chapter 4