As we fly over large areas of white, I look down on the snowy mountains. I then notice the engines change.
As we lose height, I nervously give him a look. Harrison tells me to put a belt on and sit, and we drop down and finally land.
An hour later, I’m on a movie set, sitting in a director’s chair.
I am handed a fresh juice by one of the production team, and I watch several movie stars act. The director works with them on shots, and he moves and talks fast.
It’s my first time on a movie set, and this one is huge. Harry said he helped to finance the movie, and that it was some spy thriller, but way behind schedule.
I’m giddy, and I watch big-eyed. The lights, crew, stars, and cameras all seem to move fast, with perfect precision and focus.
I watch Harry talk to the producers in the distance.
He listens, takes it all in, and then he commands. Commands them to make changes to get back on schedule.
As they walk back on set, he tells them to watch the overedges. He then tells them to trim several script pages. Reluctantly, they agree, and I am amazed at his confidence and calm.
We finally leave, and I take one last look at the movie set in awe.
It is electric, and it is inspiring.
We are driven back to the airport in silence whileHarrison makes a few notes in his media diary.
Finally,we land at LAX, and a shiny black Mustang rental is waiting for him.
As Harry drives towards his meeting across Los Angeles, he’s nice enough to drop me near Mom.
We meet at a café near a recording studio and it is where she is rehearsing.
She is doing a show, and after a long hug, we sit and talk. Her apartment is in Glendale, but it’s cool to meet down this end of the city.
We have always been close, unlike my father and me.
Mom explains she’s well, and she looks it. I know having her office job and this job is tiring for her, and I know we need to pay off her apartment and do it soon. She is not as young as she was, so it’s time to start acting fast.
We talk about life, and she asks how my new job is going.
I tell her fine, now that the grumpy old man knows I know what I am doing around a kitchen. Only I don’t, around him,at all.
After, I take a cab and meet my brother. We do it near where he’s studying at UCLA. It’s good to see him, and to learn his studies are going well. We need to stay close. After seeing what Harry is going through, I have a renewed respect for siblings and family.
As my brother and I talk about life, ups, downs, and Mom working so hard, my cell rings.
“Hey,” I say, realizing it’s him.
“I finished early, where are you?”
“I’m with my brother, near UCLA. I’m about to go to my old apartment for?—”
“Great, I’ll come by.”
“Wait, hang on.”
“You don’t have a car.” There is silence. What do I say? “Where are you?” I sigh and lock up. “Message me the address.”
And he is gone.
I send him the street location, and as my brother and I are finishing up, he messages to say he is outside.
