April 19, 2026

I continue my attempts to get people to cooperate with my journal logging.

Marcus and I have been assigned to cleaning up the dining hall. This time, the hall has been infested with both rats and ants because it seems that apparently no one in the higher ups has decided to call pest control or do any of their own.

I figure that Marcus, with his sensitive personality and doormat tendencies, might be more willing to help me out than Lavender. On the other hand, I’m also aware that these could backfire and make him more susceptible to aiding the director if he gets coerced or pressured. Nonetheless, I decide to shoot my shot carefully.

“Heya,” I greet Marcus.

“Hi,” he greets me back. 

“You doing ok?” I ask him.

He takes a noticeable pause before answering.

“I’m alright,” he says. “Why?”

“It’s just,” I elaborate, “well…I’ve seen how this set’s been with you the past few days and I wanted to check in.”

Marcus sighs.

“It could be worse,” he tells me. “He used to have a secret closet for winter costumes. It was very dusty, and sometimes he’d lock people in when he wanted to…chastise them.”

“Chastise?” I gulp.

Marcus retreats slightly from me.

“I’m sorry,” he apologizes, “I’ve said too much.”

“You can always talk to me about this stuff,” I reassure him.

“Thanks,” he replies, “but I gotta go now. The director wants to talk to me.”

I then decide to approach Pierre. He’s busy trying to touch up the last bits of his makeup because the makeup artist who’s supposed to be handling the guys today is currently in the hospital for a fracture. He does not look happy.

“What’s cappin’?” he asks me.

“Just wanted to ask how things have been,” I say.

“Oh,” he starts, “just awful! But I’m sure you already know that.”

“Yeah,” I mumble, “I’ve gone through the set. But anything for you in particular?”

Pierre clicks his tongue.

“Well,” he explains, “half the girls here are young enough to be in high school. The other half are single or don’t want me!”

“Wouldn’t being single make them more available?” I snark.

“Yeah,” he states, “but that means more commitment.”

Guess I’m getting no help here, I sigh.

I go to some of the other actors about the debacle. Just about all of them have no willingness to stand up to the director - or no willingness to talk to me at all. The one that comes closest is the boyfriend of the female dancer who I called 911 on, and even then, he’s very hesitant.

“It’s not gonna make Carrie not sick, y’know,” he tells me.

It’s at this point I give up on pressing further and carry on my usual tasks: videotaping, cleaning, the rare meal time. I still note take when I can, but I’m increasingly losing hope that I can even convince the producers to threaten the director into normalcy, let alone fire him.

Eventually, after God knows how long, my workday is over - though not the workday of many of my colleagues. The director is busy talking to the producers, allowing me and everyone else some much needed peace and quiet despite the fact that he lies about us being kept healthy and secure on set. While I’m busy trying to pack from my cubicle, I notice Lavender coming in to rest and cool herself with an ice pack.

“Ever read any fictional diaries?” I ask her. 

“Eh,” she responds, “not really. But I’ve read an actual published one!”

“Lemme guess: Anne Frank?” I wonder.

Lavender softly chuckles.

“You got me there,” she says. “Why are you asking?”

“I was just thinking,” I explain, “that maybe when we can, we can keep diaries for venting about this production!”

Lavender takes out a locked book in her bag.

“Funny you say that,” Lavender replies, “because I have my own diary. I haven’t gotten a chance to do much with it lately, though.”

“I can see why,” I state. “Maybe you could start journaling again as discount therapy.”

Lavender smiles and flicks her hair.

“Maybe I will,” she tells me. “We’re not getting rid of this director anytime soon…”

On the drive home, I start to regain hope maybe Operation: Production Reporting might work after all. Of course, I still have a long way to go with convincing the cast that turning against him could be worth it after all, and who knows if Lavender would ever be willing to share anything from her entries about the set. But hey - at least I have a second witness now.

(Wattpad version: https://www.wattpad.com/1658509022-the-daisy-theory-chapter-13)

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