A prompt a week - 48. The Intern - Prompt 597

“How does he always know what to say?” Teddy looked at Bruno, then turned his attention back to Chris.

“Have you met him?” Bruno laughed and shook his head. “For the new kid to the show, he knows more than most of the rest. Chris likes to study everything. He can probably tell you the history of every character in the show. And then there are his personal interests.”

Teddy stood amazed as he listened to Chris, going point by point, fact to fact, about a dozen different topics. Cindy Asper, the interviewer for channel 8, seemed surprised by his knowledge and understanding of such diverse topics.”

“Ms. Asper, there are many things I have little or no knowledge of.” Chris paused and smiled into the camera. “All it means is that I have plenty of life to live.”

“Thank you for a riveting interview. This is Cindy Asper, Channel 8 News.”

“Cut. We’re clear.”

Chris took off his microphone and walked straight out the door.

“Is he okay?” Teddy watched as Chris seemed to almost run out the door,

Bruno shook his head. “Chris showed off on purpose.”

“Why?”

“Where you listening to what she asked him?” Bruno cocked a thumb at Cindy as she talked to her camera men. “That woman is a snake.”

Teddy paused to think what her discussion had been. She had talked about his role, what college he was attending, and she had started to say something about a rumor. Teddy bit his lip.

“She was asking if was gay, again! She knew he wouldn’t answer. But because she only got as far as, the rumor has it, he cut her off. He talked about the classes and topics he was excited to know more about when he starts college classes this fall. Notice how he even thanked the studio for working around his college schedule? Chris is really shrewd. He ran the time out and left. He basically hijacked the interview and left her unable to get the gossip she wanted.”

“Wow.” Teddy looked from the closed studio door, back to Cindy who looked angry.

“Yeah. Chris is eighteen, single, living alone. No drinking, wild parties, or women draped all over him. So they figure he is either too good to be true, or gay.” Bruno shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t care. He’s a good kid, listens, and doesn’t cause a problem.”

“Didn’t his agent try to stop this?” Teddy pulled the clipboard tight to his chest and stared at Bruno.

Bruno shrugged. “Hey, I just write scripts, but I like the kid. Chris is the only one to thank the writers after every script. We are all very careful with his character, because we know he loves the show. It’s more than just a job to him, and he respects everyone from the janitor to the corporate executive.”

Teddy started to walk away when he noticed two things. First was Cindy, getting loud. He paused and was shocked by what he heard.

“Look, I came here for an exclusive. Not so some piss ant kid could dodge my questions. I’ll retake my seat and you film me asking the questions. If you cut here, and then here after I ask the bombshell it will look like we caught him unable to answer and that he’s just a little fag.”

Teddy started to walk over towards Cindy when he noticed the second thing. The light on camera five was on and the cameraman had recorded everything that Cindy was saying. The cameraman spotted Teddy, smiled, and waved him over.

“Listen, I know you work for the kid’s show. Give me a moment. I’ll burn the original interview and everything the bitch said onto a dvd. Make sure it gets to the kid’s manager. Okay?"

“But…”Teddy looked at the camera guy and stood there like a mannequin.

“I watched how you stared at him during the interview. He is a good guy. Who cares if he's gay? My kid is gay. No one should be forced out of the closet ‘til they’re ready. Besides, I’m tired of her ripping apart good people. When they complain, they have no proof. This time, she’s screwed.”

Teddy just nodded as the cameraman went to the back, while Cindy still held the other man at her side, describing just what she wanted. Teddy’s temper grew and as he was prepared to go over and tell her off the camera guy came back holding two envelopes.

“She kept Bill listening to her crap.” He stared at Cindy and grimaced. “Here are two copies. Give one to Chris’s agent and the other to the show’s producer. Hurry, before she gets her retakes done.”

Teddy rushed out the door and toward the producers office. “Damn, my internship just got interesting.”