Lucas.

  For the first time in almost 2 years everything was calm. Sophia was her old self again. Beautiful. Strong, playful, cheerful. She now needed little acting work in Hannah. Which made filming go reasonably smoothly. Of course filming came with its necessary mistakes. Texts that didn't work. Alexander who regularly yelled "CUT" through the takes. Improvisations that didn't quite work out. Or just so good that I wanted to keep them in the final result. Laughing fits. Fits of the giggles.

  I knew somewhere that we had to be quick. The little one would make itself known. The more we had before that happened, the better. Then we would have to hide the little one as little as possible.

  "Earth to Lucas," said Joyce teasingly. "Where is your mind at?" She sat down next to me. "Or do I already know that," she said giggling. "Is she that beautiful?" I sighed. "I was just thinking about whether I'm doing the right thing by making her work so hard." I looked at Joyce. "I know it's smart for the series, but what if I make her work too hard?"

  Joyce laughed. "She's not suddenly fragile, Lucas. She can definitely keep working," she said grinning. "But listen to her. And let her listen to her body. If she gets too tired, she must rest. And not stubbornly continue." She pushed me playfully. "I know you want to put her in a display case most of all. But she's not the type for that."

  I sighed. She was right somewhere. We filmed for another three hours or so. Then I thought it was really enough. Sophia and I would have a little interview that evening at a talk show about the show and which themes were incorporated in it. And got to join the conversation with the other guests.

  The studio was brightly lit. They had stuffed Sophia into a ridiculous pantsuit and tamed her hair with gel. I was just wearing jeans and a shirt. And they had combed my hair. I was covered in foundation and they had made up my eyes. I must have looked ridiculous. This was different from theater makeup.

  Sophia was also heavily made up. I couldn't wait to get that mess off her skin and that disgusting gel out of her hair. Wash it out. We were asked to sit at a long oval brown table. Around it some people were already sitting.

  I didn't recognize them all. The presenter I only knew as Mirte also sat down at the table. "Do we all know each other?" she asked. "Seems handy before everyone comes in and the recording starts." I nodded. "Hello, I'm Lucas de Witte. Director of Hannah's Chaos. This is my lead actress Sophia." We didn't want to give away too much if not necessary. "I'm Nigel de Graaf. Columnist," said a gray gentleman with brown eyes and a pointed face. "Lara Goedman. Athlete," said the young woman opposite me arrogantly. She looked as if the world should worship her as a goddess. "Hi," said a young woman. "Flora. Singer." She had long brown hair. Brown eyes and a friendly smile. She was a bit taller than me. This was the last guest besides the regular guest named Milan. I always found him a bit annoying.

  Mirte nodded. And soon the studio filled up. The floor manager counted down. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, great that you're watching again. Tonight we talk about. language and its deterioration with columnist Nigel de Graaf. We talk about sports with Lara Goedman. We listen to the beautiful sounds of After Night's own Flora Wezens. And we talk about Hannah's Chaos, Videoland's new hit series with director Lucas de Witte and his leading lady Sophia," said Mirte at a furious pace.

  After the beginning where clips were discussed, Mirte spoke with the columnist. "But you think the Dutch language is really suffering?" she asked. "Absolutely. Look at the socials. A dyslexic with the spelling handicap pulls out the errors. Things like that receipt. And I've got that bag full. Just a few examples." he said. "And what do you think that's due to?" asked Mirte. "Many young people have parents who weren't born here, and speak and write no Dutch at home. Children whose parents did, often think it's cool." Mirte nodded. "But be honest now. If you see a text that starts with: 'Listen bruh?'"

  I laughed for a moment. "What's so funny about it?" asked the man. "I understand your point. I agree too. I just think a lot of youth now yells very loudly at the TV. Isn't it that they can do it, but don't want to properly?" I asked. The man nodded. "Interesting. In this example I think you're right. But I see ads where someone offers a bike for resenabel prise az god azs nieuw.” I nodded. "Good point. I definitely think writing skills are neglected with AI and spell checks that are blindly taken over."

  We discussed for another small 4 minutes. It was a wonderfully stimulating conversation. In contrast to Lara. The columnist disagreed with her view on sports. She was so stuck in her opinion that it almost turned into a fistfight and Mirte had to intervene.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The singer who sat opposite Sophia brought a beautiful ode to the famous people who passed away this past year. Then Mirte turned to us.

  "Then now: the Videoland hit series Hannah's Chaos. Season 1 now available on the streaming service and every week on Net 5 at 12 noon." She looked at us. "I have creator, writer and director Lucas de Witte here. And leading lady Sophia. The face of Hannah," she began. "You play a poor young woman who starts as an au pair with a rich family that in my view neglects the children." Sophia shook her head a little. "Neglect I think goes too far. Emotionally yes, but the Kleins do make sure the children are taken care of." She explained. "We wanted to emphasize more that people sometimes have children just to have them. And as soon as that's succeeded, someone else can take over that task. Because yes, in the world you have to be successful and work hard," I explained. "I wanted to create an exaggerated family where the down-to-earth Hannah maybe doesn't fit, but is badly needed."

  "Take mother," began Mirte. "Ambitions galore always away. We see her I think in season 1 of the 12 episodes 6 times." I nodded. "Yes, fashion huh. She wants to be the best designer. So always in the fashion valhallas. For her children are like bags, if they match your outfit, they can come along once." Here the audience had to laugh. "Father is there but also not. What is his goal?" she asked. "Workaholic. Children, oh well they come with marriage. And he loves them. But busy, busy, busy. He wants to become the new Walmart. With supermarkets all over the world," I explained.

  "And James the butler?" she asked. "Housekeeper," Sophia and I called out in unison. Which again brought laughter in the studio. "Yes, James is a butler," Sophia told. "But he doesn't want to be called that. That's such an ugly word huh."

  "I see you looking at Sophia all the time," Flora noted. "Are you a thing?" she asked. I felt myself blush. "I'd better be honest." I declared. "Sophia here is my wife," I said, taking her hand.

  "Wow. Met on set?" asked Mirte. "No. I met Sophia here 10 years ago on stage for a play about the war. Where she played Saartje, my Jewish counterpart. Where my character had a secret relationship with." I said.

  "Also together that long?" I shook my head. "That's a story for another time. Or buy the DVD of my first film, that's our story." I said. "But long story short. You should watch my film for all the details. 4 years ago we got married." I kissed Sophia's hand, which brought an awww in the studio.

  "How does that work on set then?" asked Mirte. "Does everyone know about you?" Sophia took over. "Absolutely. No secrets is the most important. In a marriage, but also on set. But honesty requires me to say that our core cast is almost only friends and family." She looked around. "Jannik is played by Alexander. Our nephew. Mother Linda by his sister-in-law and my best friend. James by my brother-in-law. And Jan by a good friend. And old army buddy of Lucas and Jonas."

  I looked at her, her eyes sparkled mischievously, she wanted me to mention my film idea. “ with the army?," said Mirte. "Yes, Jonas. Who plays James. Sam and Lucas served in Aruba. Lucas here has wanted to make a film about it for years." I sighed. She was such a rascal.

  I told in bird's-eye view what my film would be about if I got the chance. But then I steered the conversation back to the series. We talked about the guest actors and the plot. And also that season two was already done and that recordings for season three were already in full swing. We kept quiet about our baby.

  We wanted to keep that private. At least until it was born. And maybe even after that too. We closed with the trailer for season two. We showed Jan his secret investors meeting. Hannah who increasingly became the mother figure for the children. And at the end a hand and a pregnancy test. Not yet showing if it was positive or not.

  Murmur broke out in the studio. "That looks exciting," began Mirte. "Whose hand is that at the end?" she asked. "Wouldn’t you all like to know, for that you have to watch. From December every week on Wednesday after as the world turns.” The audience groaned collectively. "That's all the time we have. Thank you for coming." I nodded, took Sophia's hand and we left.

  The next day was just as much a madhouse. Long hours, little breaks. And a Sophia who kept telling me: "That can wait a bit longer." I insisted on taking a good lunch break. Even though the ladies on set absolutely didn't think it necessary.

  "Say Luuk. Your dearly beloved once asked us how many children we wanted," began Jonas. "I throw that question back." I took Sophia's hand. "Maximum 3. But one is already enough," I said. We ate together for another hour.

  After lunch Sophia ducked into the toilet. "Is she still so nauseous?" asked Joyce. "Sometimes yes, sometimes no." I explained "Lucas!" I heard her suddenly call. She sounded panicked. I ran to the toilet. She screamed my name again. "I'm here," I shouted, pulling open the door. She sat crying on the floor. "What's wrong?" She shook her head. Her face looked pale.

  "Blood," she said terrified. "I'm bleeding." Crying she pulled her knees to her chest. "I'm losing it aren’t I?" she said. I knelt down. "How would I know," I said. "I... I just feel it," she said sobbing. "I'm being punished. He gives me a baby... to take it away again." She cried heartbreakingly. "What did I do wrong, Lucas?" I embraced her. I didn't know what to say or what to do. Were we really losing our budding new happiness again?