"Thank you, Jessa," he said as he handed the water over to Skylar. "Nonsense. Drink it. Just because you should be ACTING - and see, the key word is ACTING - fatigued does not mean you should actually feel that way. Do you need to sit out this practice?" he wouldn't mind. One of the backups could grab a script and try their best...so that the practice could go on. And in an actual show, he would need one of them to stop up if Skylar got sick anyway.

"I'm trusting you to be completely honest with how you currently fe----"

MYRTLE.

PAUL HAD HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH HER. He whipped around, his blue eyes on FIRE as he gestured at her. "Myrtle, that is ENOUGH. If you cannot be quiet while we practice and figure things out....you. are. OUT. I am NOT kidding!" He gave Gaston an irritated look. There was no use in trying to "connect" or "make deals" with Myrtle. He regretted his NICE decision, honestly, all those months ago.

AND ZORYN SPINNET. Paul was feeling more patient with her because honestly, he was having a hard time not laughing at her earthquake rendition. His mouth twitched. "Zoryn...I love the Earthquake. Unfortunately, it isn't the script. You can certainly give this scene an interpretive GROUND dance, if you like, and if I deem it WORTHY, you can totally do it the night of the play. So show me what you've got...." he said gently before moving back. "Skylar, if you're feeling okay....we're months into practicing, you should know your cues by now, m'dear. Come on!" he clapped a few times and went back to his spot in front of the stage, no longer sitting as he watched the action on stage. "Jessa, if you will say your line again!"

Derf hiding went unnoticed by Paul, as did much of the other stuff. HE HAD A PLAY TO GET RUNNING, OKAY?