Inquisition

24 October

There were always options in life. For instance - for tonight's event,  I could have chosen between staying with Colin last night, going home or staying at Hilly and Jack's. It wasn't a choice, in the end. I had to make a combo of all of the above. I begged off Colin. I was too tired for anything and he was acting too weird for my comfort zone. Maybe he needed another nights rest without interruptions. I knew I did. When we pulled into their driveway, next to my car, Jack and Hilly vehemently denied me the opportunity of my own bed. I had to agree I was in no shape to do the honors of fighting my way up loop 360 and further up 183; the highway from hell. The problem was, my clothes for the Festival screening were at my house. The solution was to sleep in and then go home. The showcase wasn't until seven anyway. I was usually tired after football games, but this time I was downright worn out.

After breakfast, and one too many guarded conversations between Hilly and Jack, I packed what I had, went home and packed even more stuff and decided I was going downtown to be with Colin. We could walk to the Paramount. It was only a block from the Driskill. What was the purpose of going all the way out to Westlake and wait for a limo to bring us right back where we were in the first place? Then we'd have to go back there to get his, or my, car. And the after party was in the Driskill Ballroom, conveniently located right next to Colin's suite. When we made our excuses to leave we had twenty-five feet to go before we could tear each others clothes off and tear into each other. Call me conventional, but I think the walking was the better option here. Hilly and I had had a minor disagreement about the travel arrangements until I reminded her where the party was and what room Colin had. After that it was a given we'd meet them out front and go in together from there.

As we turned the corner onto Congress we could see Hilly and Jack waiting near a tree. Jack turned around, saw us and threw a wave up in the air. Colin walked up to Jack and they started talking off to the side. It was still a little early to go in, but we decided it would be better to forgo waiting for the Austin version of a red carpet; which basically doesn't exist.

"Are we going to go in so we can get a brew before this shindig?"

"Jack you can drink at the after party."

"I've seen this movie."

"Meaning what?"

He didn't answer and I was hard pressed to go further with my query.

"Hey, I finally made it. Try finding a fucking parking spot in Austin... anytime."

I turned around to find Adele, mildly winded and windblown.

"I told you what time to be here if you were coming."

"I know. Had to go home and change."

"Did you?"

"It's a movie mom. I wasn't about to dress to the nines like you. I'm just here for the show."

"Well, you've accomplished your goal. We're going in, coming?"

"I'll wait for Matt. He's still looking for a place to park the car. Sides, I'm not sitting with the circus. We'll find seats."

The four of us showed our passes and were taken to the wrong side of the lobby. The concession was on the other side. Jack tugged at Colin's sleeve and they made a clean getaway to the drink counter as I got cornered by Kirsten. Kirsten was really a nice person. We'd known each other for quite a few years. Ever since I came to a screening here for one of Colin's movies and I'd explained who he was, what he'd been in and she'd discovered I was the head of his fan club. She still didn't really know who he was or what he looked like, or anything more about him than what I told her from time to time. Don't be mistaken. She was the director of the event, but sometimes I wondered if she knew the difference between Colin Firth and Colin Mochrie, or any other British actor for that matter. She kept hold of my arm and pulled me closer to the theater office.

"Diane, that's not your husband."

"Which one?"

"Which one? Oh, I know Hilary and her husband. And I know Thom. That's not Thom."

"No, it isn't."

"Damn girl, he's gorgeous."

"Yes, I'm more than aware of that one."

"He's really with you?"

"Yep. Look, I better not dwell here. Don't want the boys wandering off, getting lost. Where do you have us sitting?"

"Oh, anywhere you want, pick a place. As long as it's down front."

"Sure."

I managed to suppress the giggle welling in my throat until Kirsten was out of earshot.

"As clueless as ever, Di."

"As ever."

"Let's go find Colin and Jack before they get totally smashed."

"Right behind you."
"Hilly, how did you take that, "He's really with you?" from her? Sounded like a diss to me."
"Yes it did. But ya know what Di?"
"Hmm?"
"He is!"
I gave her a high-five that got her laughing. We linked arms together and went to find the guys and our seats.
Colin wanted to sit in the balcony - right. There was no second thoughts as to why he was fighting for that position, but we had to be close for the parade of pathetic and pointless probing after the film. Still, though we had passed on the balcony, which in this theater didn't hide anything anyway; Colin continued the pubescent pursuits he'd displayed on the way to the game last night. In other circumstances it might have been enjoyable and I might have been up for reciprocation. This was not the time or situation for any of it.

Oh Christ! Not again. I mean really, you would think that someone like Colin would know appropriate behavior, even when the lights went down. I was almost ready to leave my seat and sit between them when Diane gave Colin a look that kept his hands at bay, at least for the remainder of the movie.

You never know how an audience will react to a film. Every one is different, but here in her home... on her turf... Diane's film got a standing ovation. And it was really her film, more than anyone in this theater will ever know. That is, except those of us who lived it with her. Kirsten moved onto the stage with two stage hands in tow, carrying two chairs. It took her a good five minutes to quiet the audience before she could speak. When order was resumed she called Colin and Diane up to the stage. She had forgotten that Boo was also in attendance. That faux pas was quickly remedied and another chair appeared for Boo. Generic questions were bantered about. Ones that, by now, Colin, Boo and Diane could have phoned in. It was all going well and I had anticipated nothing out of the ordinary, until one film critic, someone I didn't recognize, opened the floodgates
"Is this a one time collaboration or do you plan to continue this partnership in the future?"

On the surface that question was benign, wasn't it?! Yes surely it was, but yet, an underlying challenge had been issued.
I looked at Colin then back towards the critic, whom I actually knew. Colin looked at me, even if I was facing front I felt his eyes. We were having a time of it deciding who was going to answer. But we couldn't hesitate for long. Colin took it and his answer was as ambiguous as the question.
"We've no idea what the future holds for the production company. We might continue on to other things, or it could fold next week. We can only wait and see."
Hold on there! What in the hell? While at the moment this latest enterprise was the only film on their agenda. It had been my understanding when I formed Eastbourne Productions that it would not be the case. I went through my mental checklist, was that my assumption or was that something I had been told by Colin? Or Diane? Recall was escaping me now, but I would resolve that question soon enough.
"I have a question."
Oh god! Jack, no! I love my Jack to death, but face it, he is a wild card. I tugged on the bottom of his jacket to get him to sit down, but he slapped my hand away. Any further attempts by me to get him to sit down would be futile and possibly embarrassing. I held my breath.
"Colin, can you give your fans here a bit of a preview. What personal projects do you have in the offing?"
Colin sat back with a small chuckle as he placed one leg on top of the other knee and picked up a bottle of water. I was still reeling from his missive to the last question when he leaned in towards me like we were plotting a reply.
"Am I supposed to answer that?"
"It's a good question Colin."
"It's Jack."
"He's redirecting."
"Redirecting what?"
"Answer him."
His brow wrinkled, at me to be sure, as he set the bottle back on the table and leaned forward some.
"I've a few things lined up yes. I'll be filming starting in December. A drama set in Africa. After that I've only one that's a go. I believe they've set that to shoot starting late April or early May. It hasn't a working title as yet."
Then he sat back and glanced over at me, for approval I supposed.
Jack's question seemed to bring the crowd back to topic and Boo actually got a few more queries directed his way. The evening concluded with several questions entailing the Premiere in London in December and who was on the guest list. I provided Diane with the preliminary responses which seemed to mollify the masses.

I had seen Kirsten off to the side as the session took place. Her face went from concern; probably that this would all come off without a hitch, to quizzical; like her brain was processing information she couldn't quite fathom; to a form of total and complete shock. Maybe it was recognition. Maybe a light had gone on in her head. She had put two and two together. Whatever it was, it looked scary. When we were finally done Colin and I went down with Hilly and Jack to hang around while the crowd thinned and occasional fans came to Colin for an autograph or to have their picture taken. It was almost eleven before we decided it was safe to leave. When we turned I saw Kirsten standing in the doorway at the back of the theater like she was stalking us, or she was ready to pounce. I wasn't about to have any confrontations. I just wanted to go back to the hotel and spend the rest of the night with Colin. Tomorrow he would be doing other things, so we wouldn't have the day. As we navigated the aisle Kirsten disappeared until we hit the foyer. Then she was right behind us, half excited, half determined to prove she had figured a few things out.

"That's Colin Firth!"

Had this, after the whole evening, not become obvious? I turned to face her, giving Hilly a cheeky glance as I did.

"Yes, he is."

"You're with Colin Firth!"

I took Colin's arm, turned back and nodded to Jack and Hilly that it was more than time to leave. As we hit the door to the street I yelled back.

"I know Kirsten. Believe me... I know."