bit uncomfortable. “I know it’s not really my business,” he says gently, “but you might have to remove your mother hat while you’re working for their show, Brynn.”
“That’s right,” Paige says quickly. “If you make us act like perfect little ladies and our show turns into a total snooze, Helen will
not
be happy.”
“Even Fran said she hopes we have cameras running when Paige confronts Eliza.”
“Really?” Paige looks surprised.
“Of course, we don’t have to use the footage, but we should film it just in case it’s show-worthy. And in case you and Dylan really do break up, it might be good to show the reason why before the tabloids run amok with it.”
“Run amok?” Paige giggles.
“You know what I mean.”
“Well, I can see I’m in the minority here.” Mom stands and puts her hands on her hips. “Maybe you girls would like someone else to produce and direct your show in New York.”
“No, Mom,” I insist. “That’s not it at all.”
Paige doesn’t say anything.
“It’s just that we need to understand each other,” I explain quickly. “We have to be on the same page before we go to New York.”
“I’ll be curious to hear Helen’s view on this,” Mom responds as she heads back into the house.
“I know Helen’s view,” Paige says after Mom’s gone. “And it has to do with the bottom line.”
Not surprisingly, our Moroccan lunch is a relatively quiet and polite meal. We all try to smooth things over, but it’s obvious Mom’s feelings are hurt. And as I’m driving home, I think it must be difficult being a mom. Maybe it’s especially hard for moms of daughters. It’s like they identify with us too closely—they think what we do is a personal reflection on them. And yet we’re just trying to be ourselves and live our own lives. I wonder if Mollie will go through this sort of thing with Fern some day — which is very weird to think about.
Chapter
7
Monday morning’s meeting in Helen’s office
feels like we’re picking up right where we left off yesterday. “I’m not sure I understand you, Brynn,” Helen says to my mom. “Are you saying that you don’t want to direct the show?”
Mom is frustrated and I feel sorry for her. “I’m saying I can’t encourage my daughters to act like mean middle-school girls for the whole world to see —no matter how much the ratings would love it.”
“And you think that’s what I’m suggesting?” Helen looks offended.
“I think you’re both saying the same thing,” I interject. “But in different ways.” Now all eyes are on me and I know I need to explain. “It’s the same as always,” I say to Helen. “You want Paige and me to mind our manners —as well as to be ourselves and get a good show. Right?”
Helen nods. “Right.”
“That’s what I want too,” Mom says a bit meekly. “Except that you want to control us,” Paige points out. “No … not really.”
“Look, Brynn.” Helen adjusts her glasses. “This is not Channel Five News. Your job is not to control anything. Your job is to keep things rolling, keep people doing what they’re hired to do, and to just let things happen. The best reality TV directors know how to step back.” She peers at Mom. “Do you know how to step back?”
Mom frowns. “I’ll admit that’s not easy when we’re talking about my own daughters.”
“We’re your daughters,” Paige says, “but you don’t own us.”
“I never said I did.”
“But that’s what it feels like when you talk like that.”
“Well, I’m sorry.” Mom folds her arms.
“And, see …” Paige stands and holds out her hands. “This is exactly what I’ve always been afraid of. I mean, if Mom directs, it could turn into a mother-daughter power struggle.”
“That’s not what we want.” Helen rocks a pen between her fingers with a stumped expression.
The room has become so quiet, you can feel it.
“I guess I should step down then,” Mom says sadly.
“Maybe so
“That’s right,” Paige says quickly. “If you make us act like perfect little ladies and our show turns into a total snooze, Helen will
not
be happy.”
“Even Fran said she hopes we have cameras running when Paige confronts Eliza.”
“Really?” Paige looks surprised.
“Of course, we don’t have to use the footage, but we should film it just in case it’s show-worthy. And in case you and Dylan really do break up, it might be good to show the reason why before the tabloids run amok with it.”
“Run amok?” Paige giggles.
“You know what I mean.”
“Well, I can see I’m in the minority here.” Mom stands and puts her hands on her hips. “Maybe you girls would like someone else to produce and direct your show in New York.”
“No, Mom,” I insist. “That’s not it at all.”
Paige doesn’t say anything.
“It’s just that we need to understand each other,” I explain quickly. “We have to be on the same page before we go to New York.”
“I’ll be curious to hear Helen’s view on this,” Mom responds as she heads back into the house.
“I know Helen’s view,” Paige says after Mom’s gone. “And it has to do with the bottom line.”
Not surprisingly, our Moroccan lunch is a relatively quiet and polite meal. We all try to smooth things over, but it’s obvious Mom’s feelings are hurt. And as I’m driving home, I think it must be difficult being a mom. Maybe it’s especially hard for moms of daughters. It’s like they identify with us too closely—they think what we do is a personal reflection on them. And yet we’re just trying to be ourselves and live our own lives. I wonder if Mollie will go through this sort of thing with Fern some day — which is very weird to think about.
Chapter
7
Monday morning’s meeting in Helen’s office
feels like we’re picking up right where we left off yesterday. “I’m not sure I understand you, Brynn,” Helen says to my mom. “Are you saying that you don’t want to direct the show?”
Mom is frustrated and I feel sorry for her. “I’m saying I can’t encourage my daughters to act like mean middle-school girls for the whole world to see —no matter how much the ratings would love it.”
“And you think that’s what I’m suggesting?” Helen looks offended.
“I think you’re both saying the same thing,” I interject. “But in different ways.” Now all eyes are on me and I know I need to explain. “It’s the same as always,” I say to Helen. “You want Paige and me to mind our manners —as well as to be ourselves and get a good show. Right?”
Helen nods. “Right.”
“That’s what I want too,” Mom says a bit meekly. “Except that you want to control us,” Paige points out. “No … not really.”
“Look, Brynn.” Helen adjusts her glasses. “This is not Channel Five News. Your job is not to control anything. Your job is to keep things rolling, keep people doing what they’re hired to do, and to just let things happen. The best reality TV directors know how to step back.” She peers at Mom. “Do you know how to step back?”
Mom frowns. “I’ll admit that’s not easy when we’re talking about my own daughters.”
“We’re your daughters,” Paige says, “but you don’t own us.”
“I never said I did.”
“But that’s what it feels like when you talk like that.”
“Well, I’m sorry.” Mom folds her arms.
“And, see …” Paige stands and holds out her hands. “This is exactly what I’ve always been afraid of. I mean, if Mom directs, it could turn into a mother-daughter power struggle.”
“That’s not what we want.” Helen rocks a pen between her fingers with a stumped expression.
The room has become so quiet, you can feel it.
“I guess I should step down then,” Mom says sadly.
“Maybe so
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