Love On Set - Florence Pugh

twenty six

Me: I guess, but it doesn't really help, you know? We aren't even together for a month and it's gonna be 3460 miles between us soon. It doesn't sound too well

I ramble quickly, stammering over my words. I sound really rushed, but I can't help it. My brain works differently right now. I hear Florence chuckle on the other side when I stop talking, taking a deep breath again and bush by my own actions.

Flo: You checked how much is from New York to London?

Flo laughs softly and I crack a small smile, blinking away the tears.

Me: Maybe. It helped me with handling this whole situation, you know I like numbers

Flo: I know, love. Well, I'm worrying about it too, you're not alone in this, baby. I know you're worried, but we can try and see each other in a month

Me: What, how?

I blur out confused. I didn't think that we'll be able to see each other till the December.

Flo: Scarlett and I are gonna be in LA for a few things and probably she's gonna stay there for more than a week, so you could go with her

She suggests and my eyes widen with hope.

Me: Really? I didn't know that

Flo: Yeah, Governors Awards and a premiere of her movie. I'd show you my home there and we could go to the beach or something, it should be still warm, so yeah. What do you think?

Me: That... That sounds perfect actually

Flo: See?! We have a plan already. And after that, I'm gonna be in New York at the beginning of December and we have Christmas and then, boom! I'm already living in LA and we have fewer miles between us.

She exclaims, trying to sound eager and calm me down.

Me: It's still a big distance, Flo

I whine out, chewing on my bottom lip.

Flo: My love, I know it's big, but we'll make it work, I promise. We want to make it work, right?

She asks unsurely and I nod immediately, but then I remember it's a phone call. I facepalm myself mentally for being so stupid.

Me: Yes, of course, babe. I want it very much, I want nothing more than this, Flo.

Flo: That's what I'm talking about!

Flo yells excitedly and I giggle at her goofiness before I get serious again when an idea pops into my mind.

Me: What if...

I start talking, but I stop myself before I say something I'll regret. And Florence clearly picks up my hesitation.

Flo: No, no, you were saying something. Tell me, baby

Me: No, it's stupid. Forget I say anything

I mumble, closing my eyes and being annoyed with my self. Maybe it's not even annoyance, but fear.

Flo: No, please, say it. You don't have to be scared or anything, you can tell me anything

Me: What would you say about telling my mom about us?

Flo: S-Scarlett?

She stammers out suddenly and I feel the tears showing again in my eyes. Stupid, stupid, stup-

Me: I told you it's stupid. Can we just change the topic, please?

I plead quietly, blinking my eyes angrily.

Flo: No, I'm sorry. You just took me from surprise. You never mentioned it before, that's it. If you want, we can tell her

Me: We don't have to if you don't want to, Flo. I don't wanna force you to do it. I just thought it could make things easier for us. Because I don't know what to tell her when we're gonna want to meet in LA or even in New York and to be honest I don't wanna lie to her that much. She doesn't deserve it and I just I-I-

I rush out and begin to stammer at the end, my breathing starts to accelerating one more time.

Flo: Hey, Isa! Calm down, baby. It's okay, we can tell her. Please calm down. Breath with me, please, breath with me

She says gently and takes many deep and loud breaths, so I can hear her. For a first second, I listen to hear before I start to follow and breathe with her.

Flo: That's it, you're doing a great job, darling. Keep breathing with me. In and out, good job

We keep breathing together for a couple of minutes until I calm down fully.

Flo: Are you feeling better now?

Me: Y-Yeah, I think so. Thank you

I whisper to the phone, relaxing against the wall behind me.

Flo: You don't have to thank me, pretty girl. And as I said, we can tell Scar as soon as you want. I don't mind, but maybe we can wait after our last day of shooting?

Me: Why?

Flo: I don't want to make a weird atmosphere on set for the last few days. It's not a big difference and would make it easier, I guess

She explains her reasoning and it seems okay to me.

Me: Okay, it makes sense actually. We can talk with her on Monday, so she'd know before we go back home

Flo: Yeah, we'll do this on Monday

Me: Okay, good. Good

Edited: October 23, 2022