Footage from the set of
A Winter’s Tale
5/5/96

John and Melanie are quietly running through their lines in a corner. Barry is sitting at a table drinking a cup of coffee and making notes on a script copy. Next to him sits a very pretty blonde. It is Mandy Reynolds. She is young—about twenty-four—and is wearing a short denim skirt and a blue blouse. Her long hair is pulled back into a low ponytail.

MANDY (looking over at John and Melanie)

So, how are your co-stars doing today? Any bloodshed?

BARRY

Not yet. But then again, it’s early. Give them time.

MANDY

I don’t get the animosity. This time last year, they were madly in love. Now they despise each other. What happened?

BARRY (laughing)

You really are new to Hollywood, aren’t you? Well, the short story is that John got tired of living in Melanie’s shadow, and Melanie believes that John arranged her stint in rehab to further his career at the expense of hers.

MANDY

What’s the long story?

BARRY

Basically the same thing, but with some drug abuse, affairs, immaturity, and domestic battery. Mainly on Melanie’s side.

MANDY

Seriously? Any of it true?

BARRY (shrugging)

Who knows? Melanie was a train wreck. There’s no doubt that she needed rehab. But sometimes I wonder if John didn’t use the whole sad affair as an excuse to step out of her shadow and into his own limelight.

MANDY (keeping her focus on Melanie)

Well, she definitely looks better. Her color’s back, and she’s gained some weight back, but … I don’t know, she looks tired.

BARRY (glancing up)

Does she? I guess she does a little. But then again, we probably all do. Frank has been breathing down my neck day and night about every little thing. He’s practically manic.

MANDY

Really? Any idea why?

BARRY

You mean other than the fact that he’s a control freak and a jackass?

MANDY (laughing)

And all this time, I thought in addition to being his brother-in-law, you were also really good friends.

BARRY

We are. Which is why I didn’t call him an egomaniac prone to irrational and verbally abusive psychotic episodes.

MANDY

Ahhh. Now I see the loyalty.

BARRY (smiling)

That’s off the record, by the way.

MANDY

Which part?

BARRY (winking)

All of it.

MANDY (smiling)

That’s too bad. You make for good copy.

BARRY (laughing)

Ah, the story of my life.

MANDY

Don’t let the feminine exterior fool you, Barry. I’m a reporter first.

BARRY (pretending to be confused)

Wait? You’re a woman?

MANDY

Well, thank you for your time, Mr. Meagher. Do you know if Ms. Franklin is on set? I’m scheduled to meet with her as well.

BARRY (frowning)

What?

MANDY (smiling at something behind Barry)

Oh, hello, Mrs. Meagher. How are you? I was just trying to find Christina for an interview. Did you happen to see her on your way in here?

Barry turns around in his seat. He sees a woman of about thirty-five approaching. She is plump, with a round pleasant face. It is Cecelia Meagher, Barry’s wife.

CECELIA

No, I don’t think I did. Sorry. I did happen to see her mother, though. Nasty woman. (To Barry) She demanded—actually demanded—that I talk to you about giving Christina more screen time.

BARRY (shaking his head in annoyance)

Well, you’re in good company. She’s been pestering everyone about that. The other day she even cornered one of the construction grips. Poor man didn’t speak a word of English, which now that I think about it was actually a blessing.

CECELIA

I know Janice has always been pushy, but she seems to have put the whole stage monster thing into overdrive lately. What’s her problem?

BARRY

To adequately answer that could take years, so I’ll just skip to this week’s problem. Janice claims that there’s some secret conspiracy to give Melanie as much screen time as possible—at the expense of the rest of the actors’ roles—but Christina’s in particular.

CECELIA (pausing a beat)

Is there?

BARRY

Of course not! God. Step away from the Kool-Aid, CeCe. It’s nothing more than simple math. A Winter’s Night was a 500-page book that’s being made into a two-hour movie. Melanie is playing the main character, so it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that she is in most of the film. On top of that, your brother is on the warpath about wanting this thing wrapped up on time and under budget. That means I don’t have time to give every character a fully developed story line. And I certainly don’t have time to stop every ten minutes so some idiot can yell at me.

CECELIA

Interesting.

BARRY

That’s one word for it I suppose. Annoying, meddlesome, irksome also work.

CECELIA

Are we talking about Janice now or my brother?

BARRY (smiling)

What do you think?

MANDY (standing)

Well, I’d best be off and find Christina. Thanks for the interview Mr. Meagher. It was nice to see you again, Mrs. Meagher.

Mandy walks away. Barry resumes reading his script. Cecelia glances at Mandy’s retreating form and then back at Barry.

CECELIA

She seems nice.

BARRY (distracted)

Hmmm? Who? Oh, Mandy? Yeah, she’s a nice kid. She’s just starting out at HNS. She’s been assigned to cover “all the scintillating, behind-the-scenes goings on” of our movie. Or at least I think that’s what her editor called it.

CECELIA

Be careful, Barry.

BARRY (looking up)

Be careful about what? Mandy?

CECELIA

Yes. First of all, she’s not a kid. And second, she strikes me as someone who doesn’t stop digging until they get to the truth. And you and I both know that could be a major problem.

BARRY (looking in the direction of where Mandy just left)

I see your point. I’ll keep that in mind.

CECELIA

Do that. Remember, this doesn’t just affect you. It affects all of us.