Desert Dreamers VII
Previously: Ana hit several milestones - becoming a young adult, sharing a first kiss with Gracie, and snagging her first professional acting gig - while Rafael attempted to make friends on the playground and Gabriela became a toddler.
In order to compete with the biggest and brightest stars in Del Sol Valley, Ana has decided to prematurely invest her first paycheck in hiring a personal trainer to really kick her ass into gear.
Trainer: Come on, you can do better than that! Faster! FASTER!
Ana: I'm going as fast as I can, I swear! I want you to train me, not kill me!
Trainer: And I want you to stop with the bullshit excuses and work!
As you can see, Ana really needs the boost in motivation because on her own she would do nothing but lie in bed and laze around in the bath all day, which isn't a particularly successful path to achieving a svelte physique.
To mark their official entry into middle age, Gideon and Fátima are celebrating with an adults-only dinner reservation at Chez Llama. Nadia has decided she's got better places to be, though. Don't tell me she's still keeping up that pointless fued with Fátima...
Apparently, it is of the utmost importance that she take a jog at this exact moment in time. Her work at the lab must be keeping her too busy to maintain a regular fitness schedule. She's got to sneak in those miles where she can.
Fátima: Why does she always have to make everything all about her? This is our night! Can't she sit here and support us instead of pulling some attention-grabbing stunt just this once?!?
Nadia: Hey, guys, I'm back. Looks like I'm just in time for dinner. Awesome!
Fátima: You're lucky we even ordered anything for you, you ungrateful wench.
You'd think these two would calm down a bit with age but apparently not.
Random Townie: Oh my! This just looks scrumptious. Don't mind if I do!
Gideon: Yeah, that's actually my food, but I hope you enjoy it. I wasn't even hungry! *incredibly forced smile*
Now for the birthday festivities! Gideon makes sure to lay his birthday serenade on real thick so Fátima can feel secure in the knowledge that she's clearly the center of attention in this room.
Of course, Fátima returns the favor in kind for Gideon, showering him in surprise birthday confetti.
Afterward, everyone heads straight to the bar, as expected. After a drink or two, Ana is feeling bold enough to invite Gracie back to her upstairs apartment directly in front of her parents.
I guess Gracie was down. Ana attempts one last seduction before they head upstairs. She really wants to seal the deal.
The deal has now definitely been sealed.
Meanwhile, whatever babysitter they hired to take care of the kids while they were out apparently had no concern for making sure Gabriela made it safely to bed. Fátima wants to pick her up and tuck her in, but she also wants to admire how strangely adorable her passed-out daughter looks for just a moment longer.
In the morning, Ana heads to Del Sol Valley for her first job, and she can hardly contain her excitement.
She's never been on a real set in a real studio before, and she has no idea what awaits her on the other side.
First, she heads to hair and makeup. She never realized just how luxurious it feels to sit back with your eyes closed while someone else does your makeup for you.
Unfortunately, he gets the hair totally wrong. As cute as this look would be for, like, a futuristic Marie Antoinette movie, I don't think it's particularly suitable for a pirate.
What, she doesn't even get a pirate hat? Color me disappointed.
The stylist messes up her outfit on the first pass, too! God, is this really what being on-set is like? Is everyone this hugely incompetent? This is going to be a long and painful journey to the top, if so.
Before stepping onstage, Ana stops to meet the director and let him know how much she appreciates the opportunity.
Thanks to her hours of practice with an invisible wheel at home, Ana absolutely nails the realism of this scene where her character masterfully steers her ship out of the path of danger.
How does seeing a pirate swab the deck help sell people on detergent? Is she using the detergent to swab the deck? I guess I'm probably overthinking it by trying to see a logical storyline here.
At any rate, it's not Ana's job to ensure the commercial makes sense. She can only work with what she's given.
Judging by the reactions, I'd say she did pretty well. Hopefully, this means she can graduate from doing commercial work very soon! She's desperate to dig her teeth into a meatier role.
Producer: Goddamn it, how many times do I have to say it? Never let the talent fall asleep on our sofas! This isn't a homeless shelter, for crying out loud.
"Surprising" outcome... Please! They should've had faith in Ana all along!
I guess I should probably give one of the other kids the spotlight for a minute or two. Unfortunately, Rafael was not available (or possibly too boring so far to document), so have Gabriela and her dad playing adorably instead.
She is just too cute in her little cat slippers. I. CANNOT!
Fátima: Wow, we really make beautiful children together, don't we? Say, do you think we should-
Gideon (and me): ABSOLUTELY NOT!
In order to compete with the biggest and brightest stars in Del Sol Valley, Ana has decided to prematurely invest her first paycheck in hiring a personal trainer to really kick her ass into gear.
Trainer: Come on, you can do better than that! Faster! FASTER!
Ana: I'm going as fast as I can, I swear! I want you to train me, not kill me!
Trainer: And I want you to stop with the bullshit excuses and work!
As you can see, Ana really needs the boost in motivation because on her own she would do nothing but lie in bed and laze around in the bath all day, which isn't a particularly successful path to achieving a svelte physique.
To mark their official entry into middle age, Gideon and Fátima are celebrating with an adults-only dinner reservation at Chez Llama. Nadia has decided she's got better places to be, though. Don't tell me she's still keeping up that pointless fued with Fátima...
Apparently, it is of the utmost importance that she take a jog at this exact moment in time. Her work at the lab must be keeping her too busy to maintain a regular fitness schedule. She's got to sneak in those miles where she can.
Fátima: Why does she always have to make everything all about her? This is our night! Can't she sit here and support us instead of pulling some attention-grabbing stunt just this once?!?
Nadia: Hey, guys, I'm back. Looks like I'm just in time for dinner. Awesome!
Fátima: You're lucky we even ordered anything for you, you ungrateful wench.
You'd think these two would calm down a bit with age but apparently not.
Random Townie: Oh my! This just looks scrumptious. Don't mind if I do!
Gideon: Yeah, that's actually my food, but I hope you enjoy it. I wasn't even hungry! *incredibly forced smile*
Now for the birthday festivities! Gideon makes sure to lay his birthday serenade on real thick so Fátima can feel secure in the knowledge that she's clearly the center of attention in this room.
Of course, Fátima returns the favor in kind for Gideon, showering him in surprise birthday confetti.
Afterward, everyone heads straight to the bar, as expected. After a drink or two, Ana is feeling bold enough to invite Gracie back to her upstairs apartment directly in front of her parents.
I guess Gracie was down. Ana attempts one last seduction before they head upstairs. She really wants to seal the deal.
The deal has now definitely been sealed.
Meanwhile, whatever babysitter they hired to take care of the kids while they were out apparently had no concern for making sure Gabriela made it safely to bed. Fátima wants to pick her up and tuck her in, but she also wants to admire how strangely adorable her passed-out daughter looks for just a moment longer.
In the morning, Ana heads to Del Sol Valley for her first job, and she can hardly contain her excitement.
She's never been on a real set in a real studio before, and she has no idea what awaits her on the other side.
First, she heads to hair and makeup. She never realized just how luxurious it feels to sit back with your eyes closed while someone else does your makeup for you.
Unfortunately, he gets the hair totally wrong. As cute as this look would be for, like, a futuristic Marie Antoinette movie, I don't think it's particularly suitable for a pirate.
What, she doesn't even get a pirate hat? Color me disappointed.
The stylist messes up her outfit on the first pass, too! God, is this really what being on-set is like? Is everyone this hugely incompetent? This is going to be a long and painful journey to the top, if so.
Before stepping onstage, Ana stops to meet the director and let him know how much she appreciates the opportunity.
Thanks to her hours of practice with an invisible wheel at home, Ana absolutely nails the realism of this scene where her character masterfully steers her ship out of the path of danger.
How does seeing a pirate swab the deck help sell people on detergent? Is she using the detergent to swab the deck? I guess I'm probably overthinking it by trying to see a logical storyline here.
At any rate, it's not Ana's job to ensure the commercial makes sense. She can only work with what she's given.
Judging by the reactions, I'd say she did pretty well. Hopefully, this means she can graduate from doing commercial work very soon! She's desperate to dig her teeth into a meatier role.
Producer: Goddamn it, how many times do I have to say it? Never let the talent fall asleep on our sofas! This isn't a homeless shelter, for crying out loud.
"Surprising" outcome... Please! They should've had faith in Ana all along!
I guess I should probably give one of the other kids the spotlight for a minute or two. Unfortunately, Rafael was not available (or possibly too boring so far to document), so have Gabriela and her dad playing adorably instead.
She is just too cute in her little cat slippers. I. CANNOT!
Fátima: Wow, we really make beautiful children together, don't we? Say, do you think we should-
Gideon (and me): ABSOLUTELY NOT!