MAX

“You’re late,” I frown as Natalie walks up to the table I had to fight for at Octane coffee. Her eyes dart around as she takes a seat. This place has been here forever, established during my dad’s day, maybe before that. And since the environment is fantastic for entrepreneur types, we’re surrounded by computers that reflect varying income levels. Either that or some of these people don’t give a shit what we think of their outdated models. But I doubt it.

“I almost didn’t come.”

“Should I be grateful?” I ask with sarcasm. “I’ve been waiting over a half hour. You think I don’t have better things to do with my time?”

“I’m sure you do.”

“If you’re going to be late, call.” I whisk my fingers over the screen and reveal the web page I wanted to show her. “This film, it was suggested to me by Amazon about six months ago. Watched it, loved it. Really great camera work even though when I did a search—because I’d never heard of it before—it was an indie. First time director. First time cinematographer. So I wrote to him and never heard back, first the director, then Rain, the cinematographer. But last night, opened my email and bam, there he was.”

Natalie’s eyes hold no interest. “And?”

I lean back. “You’re having an attitude why?”

“I’m here. Just tell me what the email said.”

“No.”

She sighs, “Great, well then I’ve gotta go,” stands up, turning on her heel with the full intention of leaving.

I fly out of my seat, hurry to stop her, lowering my voice so we don’t make a scene. “Hey, don’t go. I need you here.”

“You were just upset I was late. You need someone who’s on time.”

She tries to get around me. “Remember how I wasn’t afraid of being naked in public. I’ll strip right here if you try and leave again.”

A smile tugs at her lips. “Don’t charm your way out of this, Max. I’m just not the right person for your project.”

Anxiety punches my veins. “You’re the only one who believes in it! Don’t leave.”

Her eyelashes flicker. “You believe in it. That’ll be enough.”

“No,” I mutter, shoving my hands in my pockets. “It can’t be just me. Come on, sit down. Let me show you this guy’s work. If you don’t think it’s exactly what this movie needs, then go. Because I think he’s perfect. Come and sit with me, Natalie. I don’t want to do this alone.”

Sucking on her lips she nods and we head back to the table. It’s like dragging a kid to eat their vegetables. She sits with that look on her face as I play sections of the other film on silent. “His name is Rain. He’s Korean and super talented. Look at the subtle lighting he used on this breakup scene? Pretty great, right? Even on mute you can feel what they want to convey.”

Natalie leans forward, sucked in by the imagery. “How do you know this isn’t the director’s work, his idea?”

“Because he wrote back first and told me. Gave credit away for this and a few other scenes I loved. That’s what I need, someone who can take a seemingly normal moment and make it beautiful. Isn’t he great?”

“What if Rain doesn’t want to D.P. your film?”

I blink, a smile flashing. “Look at you, knowing the jargon.”

Her eyelashes flicker with a hint of pride. “I told you I studied hard for this.”

Challenging her I lock onto her, leaning closer, “Then why are you trying to sabotage it?”

She glances to the computer, voice restrained. “Look, I want this. I do. Maybe it will go nowhere but I can’t help but think something might come of this film, Max. Maybe I’m just naïve. I’m beginning to think I’m crazy. But I really want to work on this with you.”

“Great! Then what’s the problem?”

She mutters, “Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Yeah right,” I lean back in my chair, legs spread as we stare at each other. “Fuck it.” I lean close again, close as I can get over this table. “Natalie, I was about to say if you want to go, leave, but I don’t want to say any of that! You didn’t do all that research because you don’t care. If you’re pissed we hooked up again and you want to make it very clear that’s never happening again, fine I get the message. I got it when you didn’t want to meet today and tried to cancel on me three times! But don’t bail on this. When you get bit by the bug, like all us filmmakers do, you can’t ignore that. I need someone on this movie who doesn’t care that it’s crazy to do it. I need someone who will back me up with the skills I don’t have. I need you.”

Chewing her lip she flicks her glance to the side. “How do you know I have the skills?”

I blink at her, shoulders slumping. “Oh I know what this is about. Your boss told you I called him, didn’t he? Natalie, look at me.” She meets my eyes with her chin taut. “Hey, I was going to tell you I did that.”

“After.”

“Yeah, after. Look, this is my money on the line. I needed to check your references just like with any job.”

Her eyes widen with vulnerability, and it’s the first time I’ve seen this ballbuster take her guard down for real. “You should have warned me.”

It takes the steam right out of my defensiveness. Rubbing my face I admit, “I’m sorry. You’re right.”

“Why didn’t you?”

I stare at the floor a second. The truth isn’t easy to admit but I’m not a man who runs from it. “It wasn’t easy to call him. I didn’t want to, so I guess, I don’t know…telling you first would have made it more real.”

She frowns, confused. “You didn’t want to call Paul?”

“No.”

“Then why did you do that, Max?”

Clearing my throat I rub one palm up and down my thigh, a nervous tick. “I was trying to be smart. This money, I saved it myself. I needed to know you were who you said you were.”

Her frown smooths out. “Oh, that’s…of course you wanted that.” Fiddling with her bangs, her head drops. “After we had sex it was more appropriate for you to tell me you were going to call. Given me a heads up. I don’t know if it would have done any good anyway.”

“You could have given me a false number.”

“The phone number is on the website.”

With no way to deny that she’s right I exhale, “I didn’t want to do it. So I handled it badly. I’m sorry. Natalie, I really want you on this project. I need you here.”

“You know I’m here willingly, right?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t you be? There are no chains on your feet.”

Glancing to the computer she absently touches the keypad. “Just checking.”

“We never talked about rate.”

She shakes her head, quiet and not like herself. “We need to meet at your place, or mine if I know my roommate is gone. My boss doesn’t like that I’ve taken on another job.”

“Whatever you need. But what about money, your rate.”

“Just pay me when it makes money. I’m going to help this fucker fly and when I do, I want a percentage.”

With gratitude I grab her arms. At her expression, I let go and hold my hands up, “Sorry. No touching. But what if it flops? What then?”

Her eyes steel. “That’s not going to happen. Now tell me what he said in the email.”

Excited, I lean over to open it up, watching her eyes widen when she realizes that he’s read my script. “See that, he knows what he’s signed on for. He wants to come on board. Hey, did you read my script?”

“I did. It’s what made me get in my car today.”

“My film is supposed to be made.”

She locks onto me with this fierce look in her eyes. “You know what? I think so, too.”

Leaning close I say, “Then that’s all I need, Natalie. Me…plus one other person who believes.”