Chapter Text
Ever since his early childhood, Franklin always knew he wanted to be on TV in some sort of way, particularly because he wanted to be famous. It was every child’s dream at the time, since international broadcasting was becoming ever more popular. However with family and attitude to social life like Franklin’s, it wasn’t going to be particularly easy.
Franklin was always viewed as a miserable grump wherever he’d go, never wanting to have fun and was very rarely ever seen smiling. He was ‘the down-pour to everyone’s sunny day’ as people said. Because of this, he was often turned away at auditions and interviews when he grew to an adult, or was thrilled to be excepted into something, only to despise the role and leave the production as soon as possible.
Unfortunately however, once his only supporting family member of his, his grandmother, passed away in her sleep on a late February evening in her home, Franklin was left with nothing. No love, no support, no help with money, he had absolutely nothing now. So, in the end he had no choice.
Depressed and even more miserable, Franklin desperately searched for auditions high and low, going to every single one he could, whether he wanted it or not, to no avail. He was broke, exhausted and emotionally shattered. He felt he had nothing else left. Nothing at all.
That was until one day in May of 1969 he received a phone call for a ‘call-back’ to one specific audition he had attended a few weeks prior. It was for a children’s puppet show set to release later on that year called ‘Welcome Home’.
Franklin’s heart dropped at the sound of this. Shocked he had actually gotten accepted, but also have dread set in as this was the one audition he would have been happy not being accepted for.
A children’s show…seriously? Just the mere thought of it caused Franklin to go through 7 cigarettes that day alone. He absolutely despised children. Maybe being broke and sad would’ve been better.
Whatever, it was money at the end of the day, and that’s all Franklin needed. He didn’t give a shit about fame anymore. He gave up on that dream a long time ago.
Finally, the day rolled around for Franklin’s ‘call-back’ audition. With a rough night’s sleep, a slight hangover being the cause of it, deep eye bags and a look of absolute dread, Franklin took a deep breath and made his way inside of the building.
And that’s where our story begins now…