#fredcronin

Bethany: Ma’am.

Sigolène: Mm-hmm?

Bethany: Sorry to interrupt. Agent Dryer is outside and apparently needs to speak to you.  She’s insisting.

Sigolène: Well then, if she’s insisting, show her in.

Bethany: Yes, Ma’am.

Agent Dryer: Madam First Lady.

Sigolène: You can relax Agent Dryer, I’m not your Commander-in-chief. Beth said you have something you want to discuss?

Agent: Yes Ma’am. As you may know, it’s secret service protocol to review any security camera footage after an event where a member of the first family is present.

Agent: With the footage from the Oskar ceremony, we found something - something that I should be reporting directly to my superior.

Sigolène: And as I’m not your superior officer, I assume there is a reason why you are speaking with me?

Sigolène: Thank you agent and thank you for coming to me first. This is a family matter. You understand that this must be kept private?

Sigolène: The last thing Fred needs is to have his privacy violated further. I’ll handle this - there is no need to involve the West Wing.

Fred: Mom? What are you doing here?

Sigolène: Oh, just these really. I was passing and saw them. So many memories on this wall. Look how little Teddy was… and how handsome you are. And those Paulis got their mother’s good looks…

Fred: I guess so. Look mom, I don’t know what is happening to you right now, but I gotta get going. Drake is having some of the boys up to his family’s summer cottage - one last hurrah before the wedding.

Fred: I love you mom.

Nathalie: Yes – of course, Sir – right away, thank you Mr – yes – goodbye Sir.

Nathalie: Well, the President is pleased.

Nathalie: Aren’t you happy Fred? With how things went?

Fred: Huh? Oh yeah, it was fun. I guess.

Nathalie: Honestly Fred, I don’t know where your head is at.

Nathalie: This weekend was a great success – you’re lucky I was here! Think what might have happened…

{Flashback}

Nathalie: I need you to wait in the holding area until I find out what is going on.

Nathalie: Why do these things always run late?

Fred: Perhaps, and I’m just throwing this out here, it could have something to do with the unscheduled naked man. Go, I’ll be fine. You on the other hand, I’m not so sure.

Nathalie: Stay in that room until I come back for you. Watcher help me, I need a lie down.

Victor: Finally. I’ve been imprisoned here, alone I might add, for the entire ceremony!

Fred: You should have texted me; I would have helped you pass the time.

Victor: Oof, hardly. You are always leaving me hanging. Being ghosted, after saying I couldn’t stop thinking about you… it does not make me want to repeat the process.

Fred: That was shitty, I’m sorry. But I just didn’t know how to tell you how I felt over text. I’d prefer to show you.

Victor: Que broma! you fucking Cronins, you all think you are charmers. Well close that door and get over here and apologise like you mean it.

Victor: Don’t leave me on read again mi amor.

 {Flashback ends}

News Anchor: Last night the President and First Lady stood united in their support for the environmental charity, Speak for the Trees.

Fred: “United” my ass.

Nathalie: Fred? Can you focus please?

Fred: We have been over this a gazillion times. We land. I walk the red carpet. I smile and wave. I answer their questions. I meet with Pauli. Then we go on stage and present my ex-girlfriend’s mother — who’s idea was that? — with a lifetime achievement award. What could possibly go wrong?

Nathalie: So darn much. Remember, you are attending as a representative of the White House. The President needs this to go smoothly.

Fred: Yes, yes, I know. I got the full “For the campaign” speech before we left. What the commander-in-chief wants, the commander-in-chief shall receive.

Nathalie: Watcher, help me.