The Movie

Chapter 7

WOAK felt about as foreign as entering another country for Reid. He had no interest in the media and had never been happy about the movie, but supported Luke once the final decision was made to go ahead with it.

Now all Reid wanted was to make sure the movie being produced was an honest account of Luke’s years as a young adult, and period culminating in the tragic loss of his parents.

Stopping at the reception desk, he was about to ask to see Noah Mayer when he came up behind him.

“Reid, what are you doing here?” Without waiting for an answer, Noah turned to the woman sitting behind the desk and handed her a stack of large envelopes. “The messenger will be here to pick these up in less than an hour. Please make sure he signs the slip accepting receipt of the full count.”

“Yes, Mr. Mayer.” It was obvious Noah was garnering some respect after his stint in Hollywood. By Oakdale standards he was probably considered a celebrity, although Reid questioned anything that was measured purely by Oakdale standards.

Turning back to Reid, Noah spoke directly to him again. “Are you here to visit with Katie? I think she’s just finishing up the morning show.”

“Actually, Noah, I’m here to see you.”

Still clueless as to the nature of Reid’s visit, Noah chuckled. “Now that’s a switch. I used to be the one who always needed to see you a few years ago. Come on, I’ll show you to my office -- I actually have one.” Despite Reid’s lack of response, Noah babbled on. “In L.A. I shared a space with several others. It’s one of the perks of being back here. Even if I’m no Spielberg, I get treated like one in Oakdale.”

Reid snorted. “So much for the judgment of the people of Oakdale.”

Noah had the courtesy to laugh along with Reid. Maybe the idiot really had matured somewhat during his time away. Opening a door with his name on a placard glued front and center, Noah ushered Reid inside. “Well, here it is. It’s not the grandest, but it’s mine, and I actually like having my own space. Mark says it’s the gay gene itching to decorate something, even though I leave most of that stuff to him at our apartment.”

Was this a mistake? Reid was taken aback by the light, candid warmth of this young man. He wasn’t the obnoxious, unappreciative person who left Oakdale years earlier.

“So, what can I do for you today? Is this about Mark -- maybe some kind of bachelor party before the wedding? I was hoping we could do something for both of us combined. Do you think Luke would go along with that?”

Shit! Reid needed to figure out a way to handle this and not let himself be disarmed by this new, charming, Mr. Mayer. “Although I’d be happy to discuss bringing in gay go-go boys to entertain you both shortly before your impending nuptials, I’m not here about that.”

“Oh, okay. What’s up?” Noah really didn’t see any issue. Reid wasn’t sure if this was a good or bad sign.

“I’m here about Luke.”

“Is he okay? He’s not sick again, is he? He just got a new kidney this past year. He’s not rejecting it now?” Noah’s eyes widened.

“No, no, nothing like that. Physically he’s fine.”

Noah nodded. “Well, considering you’ve never come here to see me before, I’m assuming by your statement that this is emotional and I’m somehow involved.”

“Now you’re getting it.”

Wisely, Noah remained silent waiting for Reid to explain further.

“Luke has always had issues with insecurity. If you think about it, that should be no surprise to you.” Reid started pacing while Noah leaned against his desk and appeared to listen. “His parents were the poster children for an unstable relationship -- I know they’re dead and I should be respectful, but it’s the truth nonetheless.

“When he came out, everyone Luke loved the most found a way to turn on him, even if it was temporary. He was even taken advantage of by someone much more mature, who should have kept his hands and lips to himself.” Reid paused and looked directly at Noah. “And the man he thought he’d spend the rest of his life with, and thought he’d found eternal love with, turned his back on him and threw him away every time he made a mistake.”

Biting his lip, Noah lowered his head. An uncomfortable silence enveloped the room. Reid waited, hoping for some reaction, some acknowledgement from Noah.

After more than a couple of awkward minutes passed, Reid broke the silence. “He still has lingering insecurities, despite the fact that he has a completely loving and stable relationship with someone who appreciates him for who he is. I celebrate his successes and unconditionally accept his flaws, as he does mine. We’ve created a pretty damn good environment to raise Ethan too. But that doesn’t mean that when his past, particularly from a certain someone’s point of view, is thrown in his face, it doesn’t bring back all the bad memories and feelings of inadequacy Luke spent over twenty-two years trying to overcome.”

“And this movie -- the way I’ve interpreted Luke’s past is doing just that.”

“Mr. Mayer, you are doing just that.”

“But Luke and I got everything out in the open the other day.” Noah still didn’t get it.

“Yes, you did. Now it’s all on the surface again, and still scheduled to be part of the film. Unless you see your own culpability in all this, or change the slant of the film, you’ll destroy what should be a tribute to Lily, Holden, and Luke Snyder.”

Reid put a hand on Noah’s shoulder. He wasn’t sure why, but he needed to somehow connect with him for Luke’s sake. “He wrote a great story. Don’t throw him under a bus now to add to the dramatic impact.” Noah and Reid made eye contact. “Noah, I love him more than anything in the world. I thought you once did, too.”

“I did. You know I did.”

Reid shook his head. “By the time I came on the scene, you had already left him in every way but the final declaration.”

“I want this to be a success... for me, for WOAK, and most of all for Luke and his family.”

“Then you have to fix it.”

“You really must love him, because if there’s one thing I could never imagine it would be you begging me, of all people, to help someone you care about.”

“Wouldn’t you do it for Mark?”

Noah was wise enough to think before answering such an important question. “I would do just about anything, including break the law, for Mark.”

“Kind of like protecting someone who’d fixed an election that was already rigged... or lying despite feeling emotionally crushed to help someone stay in the United States?”

“Oh God,” Noah whispered as he covered his face with his hands.

“Think about it, Mr. Mayer. My educated guess is that you’re just the person who can make everyone happy. In the meantime, I have patients to see, doctors to direct, and nurses to intimidate.”

As Reid was about to open the door to leave, Noah spoke again. “Thank you, Reid.”

“For what?”

“My guess is there’s a laundry list of thank you’s that I owe you, but let’s start with thank you for giving me my sight, for bringing Mark into my life, and for loving Luke in a way I clearly never could or would. I know he appreciates you as much as you do him.”

“And?”

“And I’ll work on the film and see what I can do.” Noah paused. “I promise.”

“Good. And I’ll see about some hot go-go boys to entertain you and your fiancé shortly before you tie the knot -- by the way, tying the knot was the best thing I ever did in my life.”

“Better than becoming a brilliant surgeon?”

“No contest.”

Noah nodded.

Reid left, hoping the message had been received, loud and clear, and would be acted upon -- soon.

[TBC]

Return to The Movie