(In a conference room, seated around a long table are a television series’ showrunner, producers, and lead actors; various assistants are seated throughout the room behind them, ready to provide technical and moral support)
Showrunner: (Beaming widely at the attendees) Hiiiiiii, everyone! I hope you all had a great hiatus! (There is a chorus of mildly enthusiastic “Yeah”s, “It was OK”s, and one noncommittal grunt) So! By now you’ve all heard the amazing feedback on the success that Season 3 was this year; the audience couldn’t get enough of us and kept demanding more – (To one of the producers) genius idea to go the traditional route and release only one episode a week, by the way –
Producer: (Smugly) That’s why they pay me the big bucks.
Showrunner: Finally paid off. (Producer double-takes) We’re the critics’ darlings, reviews and ratings are through the roof, and all the awards are pouring in, including – (Gestures to Lead 1) our very own Best Actor in a Popular Series nominee, yaaaaaay! (Starts clapping for Lead 1; everyone else slowly joins in)
Lead 1: (Mildly embarrassed) Thanks, everybody; that really belongs to all of us, truly.
Lead 2: (Seated next to Lead 1 and staring straight ahead) Then where’s my nomination?
Lead 1: You know very well I have no control over that stuff.
Lead 2: Of course – it’s not like there’s any campaigning involved in these things.
Lead 1: You were plenty welcome to submit your name as a nominee.
Lead 2: That’s not how I roll. (Turns to Lead 1) Last I checked, this was an ensemble show. We all support each other.
Lead 1: Oh yeah? Tell that to the upstagers over there; I think they missed the memo. (Nods across the table at Lead 3 and Lead 4, whose mouths drop open in shock)
Lead 3: Ex – cuse me?!
Lead 4: Yeah, why’re you suddenly dragging us into this?
Lead 1: Oh, I don’t know, maybe because every time we do scenes together, one or both of you are mugging for the camera in every shot!
Lead 3: It’s called “staying in character”, as you should know at this point in your career! And not being boring about it, by the way.
Lead 4: Maybe, if you had a little more fun with the role, you’d’ve also been nominated for “Most Dynamic Performer in a Series” like we were.
Lead 3: And won! Twice! (Lead 3 and Lead 4 high-five each other)
Lead 1: (Seething) That’s a baloney award from a baloney organization and you know it.
Lead 4: Award’s an award.
Lead 2: (Back to staring into the middle distance) You’re telling me….
Showrunner: Children, my children! We’ve gone completely off-track and are now barreling through the forest of inanity. Let us return to why we are all gathered here today: our table read for the much-anticipated Season 4 of our show, yaaaaay! (Claps again but only a few assistants and producers join in this time) Now, you all were given each episode’s script on your way in, so no peeking ahead to the finale!
Lead 5: (Raises hand as the other leads take the top script from the pile) Question: how come these weren’t sent to us over hiatus like usual? I like to prep before these things.
Showrunner: Well, this season I wanted to do something a little different: I wanted you all to experience the wonder, the thrills, the chills, and the emotional destruction of each episode together, communally, just as almost the entire audience will when they watch these on the release dates. (The leads stare blankly at Showrunner) It’ll be fun!
Lead 4: Sure, why not; I’m always up for something new.
Lead 1: (Narrows eyes at Lead 4) You would be. (Lead 4 gives a baffled “What?!” look)
Lead 2: (To Lead 1) Not exactly the insult I’m sure you were going for.
Lead 1: (Flipping through the script) Realized that after the fact.
Showrunner: OK! So, like usual, I’ll be reading the stage directions and such; and you all of course know where to come in. Please save any minor questions for the end so we can keep this going; but if there’s something major you notice, feel free to speak up immediately! These are pretty much the final drafts since the multiple plots building up over the past few years are so heavily intertwined that any revisions at this point will cause the whole series to collapse in on itself, but, you know, as the showrunner and sole writer on this show, I’m technically open to suggestions.
Lead 6: Why are you bothering with a table read then if you have no intention of making any revisions?
Showrunner:
I wanna hear out loud how awesome it is.
So! Without further ado, let us
begin with
SEASON 4, EPISODE 1
Showrunner: “Scene 56. Exterior. Fortress. Nighttime. Snow is falling gently as a stumbling figure shambles toward the woods, then falls onto the ground in utter defeat. Staring up at the star-filled sky, we see that the fallen figure is none other than -------, who smiles sadly as both Fate, and the camera, close in.”
Lead 6: (Looking concerned) “Whelp, it seems my journey ends here. What a wild ride.” (To Showrunner) Hold on a second – did my character just die?!
Showrunner: (Grinning) Sure did! I was very emotional writing it; the tears flowed freely the entire time. I think you’ll enjoy filming it, too.
Lead 6: So I get killed off in Episode 1?!
Showrunner: Yep! Definitely motivation for all the other characters to, you know, keep fighting the good fight.
Lead 6: So I’m done here for good?!
Showrunner: Yes indeedy! It’s been fun, byeeeee! (Waves at Lead 6)
Lead 6: But you told me back in January that I’d be in Season 4!
Showrunner: And you are. In Episode 1. Byeeeee! (Waves again)
Lead 6: (Tosses the script onto the pile and mumbles) Wish I’d known that before I relocated last year. (Everyone else makes sympathetic noises)
Lead 5: Yeah, are there budget cuts or something we should be worried about?
Showrunner: Not at all! (To Lead 6) It basically came down to the fact that you weren’t, how shall I put this, a “fan favorite.”
Lead 6: (Glares at Showrunner) You forgot my character was in the show again, didn’t you.
Showrunner:
(Becomes focused on the script) Yes I did – shall we continue?
SEASON
4, EPISODE 3
Showrunner: “Scene 2. Interior. ------’s room. ------ is seated at a table, piling wooden blocks in a symbolic gesture reflecting two of this season’s main themes when there is a smart rapping at the door. ------ accidentally knocks over the blocks, again symbolically, walks over to the door to open it, and sees -------- on the other side.” (Showrunner sets down the script, unobtrusively takes out a small box of popcorn, and begins snacking on it while watching Lead 3 and Lead 4 with intense glee)
Lead 4: “Oh, hi!”
Lead 3: “Hey there! You busy?”
Lead 4: “Not at all – come on in!”
Showrunner: “-------- enters and jokingly slams the door shut; the two then flop casually onto two armchairs facing each other.” [CRUNCH-CRUNCH]
Lead 3: “So, that last assignment sure was a lot of fun!”
Lead 4: “I’ll say! And I love that it gave us so many opportunities to bust our self-appointed leader’s chops.” (Looks significantly at Lead 1, who fumes quietly)
Lead 3: “Well, busting chops is my specialty! Plus we got to, you know, save the universe again and everything. Pretty cool of us, I think.”
Lead 4: “Yeah; who knew saving the universe at least once a week would be both spiritually fulfilling and hilarious?”
Lead 3: “Right on!” (Everyone with a script simultaneously turns to the next page) “You know, while we’re on the subject, I think it’s about time we moved on from goofing off non-stop and you – ” (As Lead 3 and Lead 4 lean forward to their respective scripts with extremely furrowed brows) “finally let me worship that hot, hot body of yours”?! (Looks up confusedly at Showrunner, who nods vigorously with manic glee)
Lead 4: (Still staring at the script) “Oh baby, you don’t know how long I’ve been wanting to say the exact same thing – take me now”?! (Also looks up confusedly at Showrunner) Are these the right lines?!
Showrunner: Of course they are – got your characters’ names attached to them, don’t they?
Lead 3: Yeah, but this isn’t us. (Gestures to self and Lead 4) We’re the comic relief!
Lead 4: There has to be a mistake; these are the type of lines you usually write for those two! (Point to Lead 1 and Lead 2)
Lead 1: (Smiling evilly at Lead 3 and Lead 4) I find this extremely hysterical.
Lead 2: Guess you two better start hitting the gym, huh.
Lead 1: (To Lead 2) Ooh, maybe with the heat on them now this’ll mean we get a break this season – doing love scenes are ten times more exhausting then pretending I can do hand-to-hand combat, any day.
Lead 2: No argument from me.
Lead 3: Hey, at least you two knew what you were getting into when you got cast as the attractive leads of a show with such unsubtle romantic undertones – I, however, did not sign up for naughty business when I auditioned for what I thought was just going to be a quirky clown character with several intriguing mini-arcs!
Lead 4: (To Showrunner) And I was supposed to be a one-off and then killed-off, but you called me back because you said the fans loved me so much!
Lead 6: Hm. Must be nice.
Lead 4: (Winces) Sorry. (Back to Showrunner) So when did “punching up the script” turn into “borderline softcore porn”?!
Showrunner: Relax: you know the love scenes I write are always extremely tasteful. (Returns to the script) “-------- grabs ------, throws the latter onto the king size bed, and grabs a bottle of hot oil handily waiting on a lamp table as they passionately tear each other’s clothes off – ”
Lead 3: OH, BLAZES, NO!
Lead 4: My wife’s gonna kill me!
Showrunner: Don’t worry: there’ll be an intimacy coordinator there the whole time so everything’s on the up-and-up.
Lead 3: Not the point! Neither of us agreed to these types of scenes in our contracts!
Showrunner: Well, you didn’t not agree to them, either. (Both glare at Showrunner, who sighs) Fine, fine: I’ll cut the scene short and you won’t have to do any of that stuff. Will that stave off the lawsuits your eyes are threatening?
Lead 3: Maybe. It also makes zero sense for these characters, but I’ll be satisfied with no on-screen shenanigans.
Lead 4: And no kissing. (To Lead 3) No offense; it’d just be too awkward.
Lead 3: None taken – I agree, and I don’t want your wife killing me, either.
Showrunner: Aw come on, watching people make out on-screen is so cathartic!
Lead 3 and Lead 4: NO!
Showrunner: (Sighs again and starts crossing out lines in the script) You win; it’ll just be heavily implied. A lot of fans are going to be very disappointed, though.
Lead 3: Well, tell them that’s what fan fiction’s for!
Showrunner: Where do you think this idea came from?
Lead 4: Seriously? Our characters got paired up in fan fiction? (To Lead 3) I never played it that way; I thought we were just buddies, almost like siblings.
Lead 3: (Laughs ruefully) Pal, that’s where some of the most intense sagas there get started – not that I’ve actually read any of them…. (Sips water while looking everywhere else but at Lead 4)
Lead 1: As riveting as all these negotiations are, can we back to the actual reading before it’s time to start filming the season, please?
Lead 4: Why, are we upstaging you again?!
Lead 1: Yes!
Lead
4: Fair enough.
SEASON 4, EPISODE 10: SEASON FINALE
(Three quarters of the attendees have dozed off)
Showrunner: “Scene 257. Interior. A cozy living room. A figure sits contemplatively in a chair facing a fireplace.” (Looks up from the script and throws a piece of popcorn at Lead 7, who has been sleeping while leaning on folded arms on the table for almost the entire session) Oi! That’s your cue!
Lead 7: (Startles awake and sits up) Huh? What? You killed off my character last season; I don’t even know what I’m doing here.
Showrunner: This is a flashback!
Lead 7: Oh. Do you really need me, then? Just use stock footage; not to sound disrespectful to everyone here, but I’m in the middle of a film shoot and don’t even care about this show anymore.
Showrunner: It’s a new flashback so we have to film it! Read the line and collect your paycheck!
Lead 7: (Rubs tired eyes) Sure; something to do. (Starts shifting through the pile of scripts to reach the bottom one; Lead 5 hands over a script open to the correct page) Thanks.
Lead 5: Don’t mention it – I got killed off two episodes ago and I’m just following along out of courtesy.
Lead 7: (Clears throat and reads flatly) “And so, as the black hole slowly devours our solar system, leaving Earth as the last sacrifice to its eternal greed, we come to that ultimate question that has defied the logic of ages: What truly is the meaning of life?” (To Showrunner) If this is a flashback, when would my character ever have said this? And to whom? And where is this even supposed to be?!
Showrunner: And that is the question!
Lead 7: What?!
Showrunner: And now you’re done – you can go back to sleep.
Lead 7:
(Hands the script back to Lead 5) Sounds like a plan. (Lowers head and arms onto the table again
and immediately falls back asleep)
SEVERAL HOURS LATER
Showrunner: “Scene 3,072. Interior/Exterior. ---- and ------ are on opposite sides of an open doorway in yet another symbolic expression of this season’s themes as a reality-ending storm rends the fabric of spacetime around them.” (To Lead 1 and Lead 2) This means you have to scream at each other to be heard, by the way.
Lead 1: (Braces self) “This is it!” (Most of the attendees suddenly wake up) “The end of all things!”
Lead 2: (Braces self) “That’s what you said at the last seven reality-ending storms!”
Lead 1: “And I meant it, every time!”
Lead 2: “Guess this is good-bye forever, then!”
Lead 1: “I just have to tell you one last thing before we part for eternity!”
Lead 2: “I know! You don’t have to say a word! I will always love you too, my love!”
Lead 1: “Well… I actually wanted to say that I finally realized that I like you more than love you, if you know what I mean!”
Lead 2: “…What?!”
Lead 1: “I’ve grown to respect and admire you as a person, so that transcends the whole romantic, physical part of our relationship and makes it feel a bit mutually exploitative, to be honest!”
Lead 2: “…What?!”
Lead 1: “I do still love you, though! Just in the Platonic ideal sense, which shows that I have truly evolved as a human being!”
Lead 2: “We’ve been intimate for almost five years and you’re just figuring this out now?!”
Lead 1: “Because now is the end of all things!” (To Showrunner) I’m sorry, I gotta stop you right there –
Showrunner: (Working on a bag of candy) Nope! It’s almost over, so we’re finishing this uninterrupted!
Lead 1: (Grinds teeth while looking back at the script) “My only regret is that we failed to save the universe this time, and soon all space and time will be flushed down the galactic toilet that is a supermassive black hole!”
Lead 2: “I know! And more importantly, all our friends’ll be gone, too! We’re losing everyone we care about!”
Showrunner: “At that exact moment, -------- and ------ ride up in a superhyperspeed-powered motorcycle.”
Lead 1: Unbelievable – upstaged again!
Showrunner: Wait your turn! “Ride up in a superhyperspeed-powered motorcycle.”
Lead 3: “Speak for yourselves, losers! We created our own supermassive wormhole that’ll take us to an alternate Earth where we’ll be safe and never have to deal with these cosmological hijinks ever again!”
Lead 4: “Sorry – not sorry – there’s no room for the two of you to come with us! So… it’s been real!”
Lead 3: “You and me against the multiverse, babe!”
Lead 4: “I am so turned on right now!”
Showrunner: “They sloppily make out with undying passion – ”
Lead 3 and Lead 4: NO!
Showrunner: Right. (Crosses out more lines and writes new ones) “It’s heavily implied that they will sloppily make out with undying passion after they arrive on the alternate Earth, and they rev off at faster-than-light speed to their new destiny.”
Lead 3 and Lead 4: “Whoooo.”
Showrunner: A little more enthusiasm would be nice.
Lead 3: (Turns a page ahead) Wait, that’s our last line?!
Showrunner: This season, yeah.
Lead 4: (Mutters to Lead 3) This series, I’ll bet.
Showrunner: What?
Lead 4: What?
Lead 1: (Holding head in pain) Can we please wrap this up?!
Lead 2: I second that: we were supposed to end hours ago, and the daycare meter’s been running well into overtime.
Showrunner: Do not rush art! And your own interruptions are not helping the cause, either. (Returns to the script) “---- and ------ stare at each other with profound meaning as reality collapses around them.”
Lead 2: “The end!”
Lead 1: “Or is it?!”
(Everyone still reading the script turns the page)
Showrunner: “Cut to title card: TO BE CONTINUED.” (Sets down the script and looks around the room triumphantly) The End! For this season. So, what do you all think?
(Mostly silence, and soft snores from those who had fallen back into a doze)
Lead 1: It… may need to be workshopped a bit.
Lead 2: A lot.
Showrunner: Children, we start filming in a few weeks; I told you there’s no room in my tightly plotted scripts for major revisions!
Lead 3: Then I’ve only got one thing left to say: brace yourself for the backlash.
Showrunner:
Oh. Right. That.
ONE
YEAR LATER
(In the same conference room with almost all the same people as last time; nearly everyone looks dour)
Showrunner: Hiiiiiii, everyone! I hope you all had a great hiatus! (There is a chorus of “Hmmmmm”s) So! The reviews are in and by now you’ve all heard the, how shall I put this, not-so-great –
Lead 4: Abysmal.
Showrunner: – could-have-been-better response, which of course is no reflection on the hard work of every single person in this room. You should all be proud of yourselves, yaaaay! (Claps alone)
Lead 6: Can I just say that this was the easiest paycheck I ever earned? I had the best time, and the fans even wanted me back!
Lead 5: I envy you so much, you have no idea.
Lead 1: (To Showrunner) Regarding the elephant in the room: I noticed this time we neither got scripts during hiatus or on our way in here.
Lead 3: (Holds a hand up to one side as if whispering a secret that everyone can hear) Spoiler alert: there aren’t any.
Showrunner: There are too! I wrote a beautiful and moving Season 5 that will make the world weep! (They all stare at Showrunner) But, I got word from the studio this morning that the show’s been cancelled so, yeah. No Season 5, unfortunately, children.
Lead 2: Yeah, we pretty much all figured that was the only logical outcome for this situation.
Lead 4: Good thing I recently was cast as the lead in an exciting new adventure series that critics already are comparing to this show, “when it was good,” so I guess you would’ve had to kill off my character this season anyway.
Lead 3: (To Lead 4) Aw, you got the role? Congratulations!
Lead 4: Thanks! They’re still looking to cast a few more regulars if you’re interested, and can take time during the other five shows you’re on now.
Lead 3: Send me the info – I grab all the shows I can get!
Lead 1: (To Lead 2) They never stop, do they? It’s like a compulsion.
Lead 2: I physically cannot care any less than I do at this very moment.
Showrunner: Some good news, though: we got nominated again for lots of awards, including – you guessed it – Best Actor, yay!
Lead 1: I’m frankly amazed myself.
Lead 2: So am I. (Lead 1 glares at the other) What? Admit it: this year we both checked out before principal photography even began.
Lead 1: (Looks away shiftily) I thought that was an unspoken understanding for all of us….
Lead 3: Um, not those of us who actually take our craft seriously! Unworthy.
Lead 4: (To Showrunner) So: any reason this is a meeting and not an e-mail?
Showrunner: Glad you asked! We may not be able to film Season 5 per se, but there’s no reason why the storylines and most of the dialogue can’t be salvaged and plugged into an amazing new series that I want everyone here to be a part of – (Everyone else in the room stands up and leaves) Rude. Eh, who needs them? I can always post it in fan fiction.
