Chapter 15: Anticipation

The crew of "Everybody Loves Raymond" seemed unusually calm on this particular day, seemingly unaffected by the underlying tension. Despite the lurking storm, the actors, directors, and assistants carried on with their tasks as if nothing was amiss.

However, the glances exchanged towards the person sitting on a chair by the studio hinted at their awareness of the unfolding situation. Most of the extras couldn't help but conceal their amusement. It was convenient for them to forget their envy, jealousy, and resentment from just a day ago when Reese chose that young man.

Nonetheless, many chose to turn a blind eye, as such situations were commonplace in the entertainment industry.

"They've already planned it, those damn bastards! But I won't give in," muttered Eric Reese as the afternoon shoot came to an end, his anger seething.

"Be here and wait again tomorrow!" he commanded Sean, who had been waiting for nearly a day.

"Okay, Mr. Reese," Sean humbly nodded, opting to remain silent.

Sean's genuine display of deference made Reese feel a twinge of guilt and embarrassment. He slowed down, patting Sean on the shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, Sean, everything will be fine tomorrow."

"I'm extremely grateful to you, Mr. Reese," Sean replied with a bow.

At that moment, Sean wanted to inform Reese that Stevenson's intention was not just sidelining him but also pushing him out of the set completely. However, the thoughts of his agent made Sean swallow his words. He lacked substantial evidence, and he couldn't predict Reese's reaction. Frederick had also cautioned him against speaking too much.

Since their separation the previous night, Sean hadn't contacted his agent again. Despite his curiosity about the progress, he chose to place complete trust in Frederick, suppressing any hesitations or worries. Sean didn't dare claim to have perfect judgment, but he could sense Frederick's genuine desire to help him. So, he poured all his energy into his performance and even sought advice from Naomi on what to do and what to avoid when she returned home.

"Don't let me down, Fred," Sean silently pleaded as he left the studio.

**********

"I'll make a note of this, Miller. Don't worry, this minor issue won't trouble us," Philip Rosenthal assured someone on the phone as he walked out of the bar, a hint of self-satisfaction colouring his flushed face.

Just as he reached the door, a man suddenly entered from the side, as if trying to leave ahead of him.

"Oh, sorry... Phil?" the man apologized after accidentally bumping into him, then looked surprised upon recognizing him.

Rosenthal paused for a moment, trying to recall where he had seen this familiar face. Putting away his phone, he finally remembered, "Fred?"

"Of course, it's me, who else?" Fred replied, laughing and shaking hands with Rosenthal.

"It's quite rare to see you here. Didn't you say Max's bar had terrible brandy and swore never to return?" Rosenthal asked, half-jokingly.

"Yes, that's right. But recently, I made a bet with someone that if I lost, I would have to drink whiskey from all the nearby bars," Frederick shrugged, feigning helplessness.

Rosenthal chuckled, and the two of them walked out of the bar onto the street, engaging in a conversation about "Everybody Loves Raymond," the show Rosenthal had written and produced.

"You know, if I had worked harder and secured the production company, I might have gained the agency rights for this TV series," Frederick suddenly said.

"Ha, you're still thinking about that?" Rosenthal responded, taken aback by the unexpected turn.

"Absolutely. This is one of the few works that can compete with NBC's flagship TV series. Just yesterday, I recommended a young talent to the crew, and now I'm waiting for the contract to be signed. If it weren't for me being preoccupied with the agency, I would have... well... Eric Reese noticed him first. I would have definitely brought him over to 'Friends,'" Frederick slumped his shoulders, expressing his regret.

"Oh? Are you that optimistic about him?" Rosenthal was genuinely surprised this time.

"Definitely. Do you want to know how I met him?" Frederick recounted the encounter at the bank, "It's incredible, Phil. Just wait and see, he will undoubtedly boost the ratings of this drama by several percentage points."

With that, Frederick bid farewell, glancing at his watch before heading towards his car parked on the street. "Well, I have something else to attend to for now. See you around."

"Likewise." Rosenthal waved and walked towards his car, while Frederick stopped in his tracks.

"A young talent?" he muttered to himself before getting into the car.

Watching Rosenthal's car disappear in the rearview mirror, Frederick let out a long sigh, slowed down, and wearily rubbed his face.

Philip Rosenthal, the show's creator, copyright owner, and producer, as well as the star Ray Romano, the screenwriter and producer, and a few CBS executives he met at last night's reception, should be sufficient, right?

No, no, that's not enough, Frederick shook his head. Although he informed them that he recommended a young talent to join the crew, he couldn't reveal his involvement in the power struggle between the two producers. He had to be cautious, making it difficult to predict the final outcome.

So, who else? Frederick furrowed his brow, lost in thought. Besides them, who else could sway the decision in their favour? As a well-informed agent, Frederick knew that Stevenson had been plotting to edge out Reese for some time. He even discovered that Stevenson initially planned to gradually marginalize Reese, pushing him to the point of either voluntarily resigning or being fired due to severe conflicts with others. Reese's volatile temper was widely known.

**********

[Next day]

Stevenson's plan was proceeding smoothly—Reese was gradually isolated, and many arrangements had been made and overturned. On that day, Frederick had managed to secure an actor for the main supporting role in Reese's storyline, only to find himself directly facing Reese when Sean was unexpectedly chosen.

What a troublesome situation, Frederick couldn't help but complain internally. However, it wasn't all left to chance. When both sides confronted each other, Reese still had a fighting chance against Stevenson if he gave it his all.

But time was running short once again. Frederick was trying to emphasize Sean's importance while Stevenson tirelessly worked to defeat both Reese and him. And let's not mention...

"Damn it! There must be a way!" Frederick gritted his teeth, tightly gripping the steering wheel.

As he vented his frustration, a sense of urgency washed over him. It had been nearly two days, and even if he failed, there should be some news.

**********

During the crew's lunch break, Sean, who had just finished queuing for his meal, was approached by Lyman Vilsa, Stevenson's assistant. Sean frowned slightly upon recognizing the man, who had previously tried to persuade him to leave early that day.

Lyman Vilsa sat down at a table, and although his gaze carried a condescending air, he attempted to sound charitable. "Your name is Sean, right? Let's talk."

Sean remained silent, observing the man.

"Alright, I forgot you're an actor," Vilsa said, suddenly realizing something, a mocking smile appearing on his face as he emphasized the word 'actor.' "How about $3,000 and a recommendation? Since you can't stay on 'Everybody Loves Raymond,' Mr. Stevenson has many connections, and he can recommend you elsewhere without any issue."

To be honest, it was a tempting offer, and Sean couldn't help but feel a momentary temptation. However, as he had discussed with his agent before, commitments made in such circumstances were not reliable.

To give a simple example, let's say he withdrew and was recommended to another crew. During the audition, they could simply say he wasn't suitable. What would he do then? Even if Stevenson were a decent person and recommended him to another production, there was no guarantee they wouldn't reject him. Furthermore, he couldn't be certain if they were intentionally undermining his chances.

Moreover, if he were to agree to this arrangement, he would be labelled as disloyal. For a newcomer with nothing to their name, that would definitely not be a good thing.

So Sean calmly shrugged, "Do you mind if I inform Mr. Reese about this and let him decide?"

"Don't be too greedy, kid," Vilsa raised an eyebrow, a hint of contempt crossing his face. "For an extra who's been in the industry for less than three months, this offer is already quite generous."

"I understand," Sean nodded. "It's indeed a generous offer, but I still believe it's better for Mr. Reese to make the decision."

Vilsa fell silent, staring at Sean without blinking, as if he was looking at a fool.

After a few minutes, he snorted and laughed. "What has Reese given you to be so devoted? Can you even afford to have lunch here?"

Beneath the table, Sean clenched his fist. He had been waiting at the studio for two days now. Yesterday, someone had privately badmouthed him. Still, he didn't let it interfere with his mindset. He continued preparing for the performance, even though there was no sign of starting shooting for the role.

"If the director needs it, I can resume my work as an extra at any time," Sean maintained a confident yet neither humble nor arrogant attitude.

The smile vanished from Vilsa's face, replaced by a heavy snort. Dropping the pretence of politeness, he let his tone turn sharp. "It doesn't matter. Every now and then, someone like you thinks they've found a producer with a few connections and that they're on an easy road, forgetting who they are. They actually believe we can't do anything without them?"

With that, he stood up, straightened his collar with a condescending air, and declared, "Since the choice has been made, let you and Reese be buried together."