Episode 2 of "The Franchise" unfolds with Daniel steering his way to work, the dawn of a new day brimming with unforeseen challenges. His journey is abruptly interrupted by a phone call informing him that the newly appointed producer, Anita, has convened an emergency meeting in just 25 minutes. In response, Daniel hastily indulges in his vape, each puff adding to his already frayed nerves.
Arriving at the set, he frantically orchestrates the gathering, his heart pounding with anticipation. However, his efforts are met with a swift blow—Anita has unexpectedly canceled the meeting. The ripple effects of her arrival continue to disrupt the production, as she drastically cuts down the movie's moss men from 80 to a mere 5, intended for a scene depicting a vast crowd. This latest twist intensifies Daniel's stress, already heightened by the upcoming stunt, which looms like a specter of uncertainty. Moreover, Peter's fragile spine narrows their margin for error to a mere three attempts.
Despite the mounting pressures, Daniel adopts the moniker "Xanax Man," striving to maintain composure amidst the chaos. Dag, voicing concerns about her career trajectory, peppers him with pointed inquiries. The stunt in question entails Tecto (played by Adam) wielding an invisible jackhammer to rescue him and Eye (played by Peter) from the encroaching moss men. Dag recognizes the absurdity of the shot but is silenced by Daniel, who insists that their creative input is nil.
When Dag requests headphones to better understand the dialogue, Daniel firmly declines, recounting his own experience of waiting six long years for such a privilege. The stunt rehearsal commences, yet the lever system drags Adam and Peter at a pace slower than anticipated, heightening the tension. Meanwhile, Peter's relentless teasing about Adam's top billing on the call sheet adds fuel to the fire.
Later, retreating to his trailer, Adam seeks solace from Daniel, querying if the jackhammer makes him look like a fool. Daniel, knowing the truth but choosing diplomacy, lies convincingly, affirming that it gives him a cool vibe.
He heads back to his office to discover Dag rummaging through his drawers, her curiosity piqued. She inquires whether he ever ponders over the possibility that they might be destroying cinema itself. Convinced by her earnestness, he decides to confront Anita head-on.
Stepping into Anita's office, their discussion unravels a tale of heartbreak: Anita and Daniel's relationship crumbled when she betrayed him with an actor. Anita then warns him bluntly that she intends to publicly reprimand him in front of the entire team, firmly denying his plea for more moss men characters.
Later, on the set, Anita carries out her threat, scrutinizing Daniel in front of the crew, albeit her critiques subtly target Eric's directorial style. Unable to openly criticize the director, she veils her intent. On the set once more, Daniel, desperate, tasks an already weary VFX artist with adding 80 moss men post-shooting. Dag, meanwhile, starts distributing headphones to those lacking them, prompting Daniel to halt her actions, fearing it portrays him as lacking control.
The cameras roll, but an untimely sneeze from Adam disrupts a take, while his disputes with Peter escalate. Meanwhile, Eric is engrossed in perfecting the stunt's final shot. Daniel seizes this moment to approach Anita, urging her to foster creativity instead of spreading fear, specifically by rejecting ridiculous ideas like the imaginary jackhammer.
Anita concurs and attempts to reach the elusive studio head, Shane, whose assistant, Bryson, functions as his voice on set. During this endeavor, Pat confides in Anita that Shane's enthusiasm for the project was never high. Worried about her job security and the film's fate, Anita fears its cancellation. Pat reassures her, yet her doubts persist.
Back on set, Anita and Daniel reluctantly accept the jackhammer's inclusion, hoping it won't look as disastrous on screen. Daniel then subtly demotes Peter by altering his call sheet number from 2 to 1A. As Anita prepares to depart, Daniel expresses his desire to create a genuinely commendable film. Anita, anxiety evident, launches into a metaphorical speech about Rome's fall, ultimately advising Daniel to detach himself from the movie's outcome, as seen in the conclusion of The Franchise Episode 2.
