The door opened, fractionally, just enough for Cal to catch a brief glimpse of surprise and pleasure on the face of the woman he loved.
Giving her no chance to recover herself Cal virtually pushed his way through the small opening giving no regard to the sharp intake of breath he left in his wake.
Reaching the middle of the living room Cal turned and faced Gillian who had only just finished closing the door
“So Foster, do tu make a habit of opening your door this late at night, not knowing who is on the other side – o were tu expecting company? – should I leave?”
“Good evening Cal. Would tu like a drink?” Gill had finally come to her senses and was trying to gauge his mood, and therefore the reason for this unexpected visitation.
“Well that respuestas the segundo part of my pregunta at least, Yeah, a large one, still waiting for an explanation on the first part tho” Cal discarded his capa por throwing over the back of the nearest chair.
Gill handed him a well filled glass and then sat on her sofá “Problem Cal?”
“Evasion Foster”
“Sit down Cal. tu standing menacingly in the middle of the room like that is not exactly conducive to any kind of conversation – and no! is my answer because the ONLY person that would turn up at this time of night expecting me to answer the door, is you” She finished her sentence with a fixed, sweet smile and a patting motion with her hand on the couch.
Cal slumped into the comfort of the cushions and indulged in a few large gulps from his glass. “Why do always assume a have a problem Foster?”
“Cal, please, tu always have a problem – problems- but this one has been obvious to the whole office for the past few days now”
Snapping his head round to face her he realised she was grinning, “What are tu going on about woman?” He felt slightly panicky now, surely not – she couldn’t possibly have worked it out, NO WAY.
“Cal” Gillian put on her best ‘psychologists’ voice on “for the past 3 to 4 days tu have been staying later than normal at the office, jumping down everyone’s throats más than normal, positively slaving over paperwork yet not actually doing any of it – AND – for the past 3 to 4 days your daughter has been away on her first unsupervised holiday, out of your reach, out of your sight and out of your control.
It’s not hard to work out what all this is about sweetie” she finished her summation of the situation with a soft laugh, her hand on his and a quick kiss to his temple.
Cal only just managed to suppress a howl of laughter as his panic and accompanying tension immediately dissipated. God, was that what she thought this was all about?
He found himself feeling grateful that for once Gillian had read him and go it completely and utterly wrong.
The brief respite from tension was short lived however when the real reason for his presence here returned to the fore front of his mind.
The solidity of his decision was starting to dissipate as the fear built up.
He was so certain he could do this when he had his finger pressed on her doorbell, but now, with the stark reality of actually sitting here, facing her, the whole structure of his commitment was beginning to collapse around him allowing, yet again the preguntas and doubts he had previously done battle with, start to gain a foothold.
Would it work with them?
Was he good enough for her?
What if it went wrong and he lost not only his dreams but her as well?
Oh God was he really that weak willed that he could back out now? Cal Lightman – a COWARD. Shit his head hurt, but the temptation was there now because unknowingly Gill had provided him with an out, an alternate reason for his visit here tonight – Emily.
lost in his own enredados thoughts he had not realised the length of time he had remained silent until Fosters voice broke through.
“Cal, it’s ok, it’s perfectly natural for tu to be feeling this way, but tu have to get a grip on it sweetie. She will be fine, Emily is an intelligent, well reasoned young woman, and, like her father, she can handle herself. Trust her Cal, just trust her”
“Yeah I know luv, I know. And I do. I guess I just needed to hear it” he faked relaxation, noting the same but genuine reaction from Gill.
Cal felt totally deflated and sad. Then he felt the irritation start, shit he was a piece of crap, where was his dedication to the truth now.
Fighting the annoyance that only he was responsible for he threw the last of his drink down his throat, jumped up, grabbed his capa and started making for the door.
“Gotta go Foster”
He got so close to making his escape when he heard Gills soft dulcet tones again
“You don’t have to go Cal”
“What” he spat out.
“Stay for a while, you’ve hardly dicho más than 20 words since tu got here, sit down and talk to me, what’s the rush?”
No No NO Cals brain was screaming at him, don’t do it
“Well you’ve hardly let me get a word in have tu Foster. Once again tu have sorted my problem out – Thank tu por the way – End of... Nuffin left to talk about really is there?”
Gill was sitting staring at him, her gaze was quizzical but with growing concern.
“I don’t know Cal, because tu are looking like a man that still needs to talk – about something. What…what is it Cal? Because I am beginning to feel that Emily is not the whole reason tu came here tonight.
Is there something else?.....Cal?.....Please sweetheart, what is it?... come back here, sit down, talk to me” her voice was sharing the concern that was on her face now.
Bollocks! Cal thought, so nearly there. But now he knew he had to stay. He could not walk out on her again leaving in this state of doubt and confusion.
Very slowly he walked back to the sofá shrugging off his capa as he did so.
“You’re right, as usual luv. How about a refill first tho – a large one
please”
Giving her no chance to recover herself Cal virtually pushed his way through the small opening giving no regard to the sharp intake of breath he left in his wake.
Reaching the middle of the living room Cal turned and faced Gillian who had only just finished closing the door
“So Foster, do tu make a habit of opening your door this late at night, not knowing who is on the other side – o were tu expecting company? – should I leave?”
“Good evening Cal. Would tu like a drink?” Gill had finally come to her senses and was trying to gauge his mood, and therefore the reason for this unexpected visitation.
“Well that respuestas the segundo part of my pregunta at least, Yeah, a large one, still waiting for an explanation on the first part tho” Cal discarded his capa por throwing over the back of the nearest chair.
Gill handed him a well filled glass and then sat on her sofá “Problem Cal?”
“Evasion Foster”
“Sit down Cal. tu standing menacingly in the middle of the room like that is not exactly conducive to any kind of conversation – and no! is my answer because the ONLY person that would turn up at this time of night expecting me to answer the door, is you” She finished her sentence with a fixed, sweet smile and a patting motion with her hand on the couch.
Cal slumped into the comfort of the cushions and indulged in a few large gulps from his glass. “Why do always assume a have a problem Foster?”
“Cal, please, tu always have a problem – problems- but this one has been obvious to the whole office for the past few days now”
Snapping his head round to face her he realised she was grinning, “What are tu going on about woman?” He felt slightly panicky now, surely not – she couldn’t possibly have worked it out, NO WAY.
“Cal” Gillian put on her best ‘psychologists’ voice on “for the past 3 to 4 days tu have been staying later than normal at the office, jumping down everyone’s throats más than normal, positively slaving over paperwork yet not actually doing any of it – AND – for the past 3 to 4 days your daughter has been away on her first unsupervised holiday, out of your reach, out of your sight and out of your control.
It’s not hard to work out what all this is about sweetie” she finished her summation of the situation with a soft laugh, her hand on his and a quick kiss to his temple.
Cal only just managed to suppress a howl of laughter as his panic and accompanying tension immediately dissipated. God, was that what she thought this was all about?
He found himself feeling grateful that for once Gillian had read him and go it completely and utterly wrong.
The brief respite from tension was short lived however when the real reason for his presence here returned to the fore front of his mind.
The solidity of his decision was starting to dissipate as the fear built up.
He was so certain he could do this when he had his finger pressed on her doorbell, but now, with the stark reality of actually sitting here, facing her, the whole structure of his commitment was beginning to collapse around him allowing, yet again the preguntas and doubts he had previously done battle with, start to gain a foothold.
Would it work with them?
Was he good enough for her?
What if it went wrong and he lost not only his dreams but her as well?
Oh God was he really that weak willed that he could back out now? Cal Lightman – a COWARD. Shit his head hurt, but the temptation was there now because unknowingly Gill had provided him with an out, an alternate reason for his visit here tonight – Emily.
lost in his own enredados thoughts he had not realised the length of time he had remained silent until Fosters voice broke through.
“Cal, it’s ok, it’s perfectly natural for tu to be feeling this way, but tu have to get a grip on it sweetie. She will be fine, Emily is an intelligent, well reasoned young woman, and, like her father, she can handle herself. Trust her Cal, just trust her”
“Yeah I know luv, I know. And I do. I guess I just needed to hear it” he faked relaxation, noting the same but genuine reaction from Gill.
Cal felt totally deflated and sad. Then he felt the irritation start, shit he was a piece of crap, where was his dedication to the truth now.
Fighting the annoyance that only he was responsible for he threw the last of his drink down his throat, jumped up, grabbed his capa and started making for the door.
“Gotta go Foster”
He got so close to making his escape when he heard Gills soft dulcet tones again
“You don’t have to go Cal”
“What” he spat out.
“Stay for a while, you’ve hardly dicho más than 20 words since tu got here, sit down and talk to me, what’s the rush?”
No No NO Cals brain was screaming at him, don’t do it
“Well you’ve hardly let me get a word in have tu Foster. Once again tu have sorted my problem out – Thank tu por the way – End of... Nuffin left to talk about really is there?”
Gill was sitting staring at him, her gaze was quizzical but with growing concern.
“I don’t know Cal, because tu are looking like a man that still needs to talk – about something. What…what is it Cal? Because I am beginning to feel that Emily is not the whole reason tu came here tonight.
Is there something else?.....Cal?.....Please sweetheart, what is it?... come back here, sit down, talk to me” her voice was sharing the concern that was on her face now.
Bollocks! Cal thought, so nearly there. But now he knew he had to stay. He could not walk out on her again leaving in this state of doubt and confusion.
Very slowly he walked back to the sofá shrugging off his capa as he did so.
“You’re right, as usual luv. How about a refill first tho – a large one
please”
Tim Goodman..........
Every televisión critic I know is making both end-of-year and end-of-decade lists. Although we have many different takes on what happened this año and in the last 10, there does seem to be one consistency: We each make what amounts to an improbable list. This is mine.
_________________________________________
"Fran here - I will not bother putting the whole lista in ...just this bit"
________________________________________
Tim Roth, "Lie to Me," Fox. It's easy to give network programming - even the finest of it - less attention and affection in the face of so much impressive work on the cable side. But Roth's combination of smarts, aggression and compassion has not only elevated this procedural drama, but also proved he deserves the Emmy attention that has previously (and deservedly) gone to Hugh Laurie on "House."
Every televisión critic I know is making both end-of-year and end-of-decade lists. Although we have many different takes on what happened this año and in the last 10, there does seem to be one consistency: We each make what amounts to an improbable list. This is mine.
_________________________________________
"Fran here - I will not bother putting the whole lista in ...just this bit"
________________________________________
Tim Roth, "Lie to Me," Fox. It's easy to give network programming - even the finest of it - less attention and affection in the face of so much impressive work on the cable side. But Roth's combination of smarts, aggression and compassion has not only elevated this procedural drama, but also proved he deserves the Emmy attention that has previously (and deservedly) gone to Hugh Laurie on "House."
