Peter smiled at Tessa. “You don’t have to read.”
“I like to read.”
“You don’t have to try out. You have the part.”
Peter Barrington was holding auditions on the soundstage at Centurion Studios. Tessa Tweed was already cast in the lead role. Indeed, Peter had written it for her. The rest of the roles were wide open, so the casting call was a bit of a zoo, as every actor in Hollywood wanted to work with the hot, young Oscar-nominated director.
“Well, let me put it this way,” Peter said. “Much as I like to hear you read my lines, today I barely have time for it.”
“Some of the people you’re auditioning have scenes with me. I can read with them.”
“They can read with the production assistant, too. I’m not going to have you read with a hundred people. Though I’m happy to have your input on who should get callbacks.”
Tessa grinned. “Isn’t this fun?”
“You enjoy it as much as I do.”
A production assistant hurried up with a stack of pictures and résumés. He set them on the table next to the director’s chair. “Here’s the first batch of Lolas.”
Peter looked at the huge stack. “I thought Deirdre was going to weed them out.” Peter’s casting director handpicked the actors who would get to audition.
“She rejected hundreds. This is what’s left.”
“Success is fatal, Peter,” Tessa said. “Everyone wants to be in your picture.”
The outer door opened and Viveca Rothschild burst in, followed by her agent. “Peter Barrington. So nice to finally meet you. And, Tessa Tweed. I love your work.”
Peter rose from his chair to meet her. “Miss Rothschild, this is an unexpected pleasure. How can I help you?”
“I came to read, of course! You are the hot young director everyone’s talking about. Oh, this is my agent, Warren. Don’t mind him. He thinks if I land a part without him I won’t need him anymore. Relax, sweetie, it’s just like it’s always been. I get the part and you make the deal.”
“Oh, dear,” Peter said. “This is terribly embarrassing. I don’t know who you set this up with, but the part of Claire is already cast. Tessa is playing it. I’m sorry you came all the way down here, but I’m not going to read you for a part you can’t have.”
“I appreciate that. But surely you have another role I could read?”
“Only supporting roles. I don’t have another part for an actress of your stature.”
“Good supporting roles are hard to come by. Is there one I’d be right for?”
“We’re auditioning the part of Lola, the main supporting role. Tessa plays a bank president who is being held hostage by a gang setting up a bank robbery. Lola is the kidnapper’s girlfriend. She’s scheming, manipulative, and the brains behind the outfit.”
“That’s right in my wheelhouse.”
“You can read for it if you want to,” Peter said. “In fact, I’d be delighted if you did.” He stole a look at her agent. “But I need to be up front that this is a supporting role. It won’t pay anywhere near what you’ve been getting.”
“Warren is duly warned,” Viveca said. “Okay, I understand. Let’s give it a shot.”
“Are you doing the trailer scene?” Tessa said.
“That’s right.”
“Great. I’ll read with her.”
Viveca was surprised. Stars didn’t read roles they were already cast in for the sake of an audition.
Viveca and Tessa accepted the script pages from the production assistant and walked out on stage.
“Okay,” Peter said. “To set the scene. Claire has been kidnapped and kept in the trailer over the weekend. Lola is priming her to help them rob the bank when it opens Monday morning. Lola is tough as nails and has been treating her harshly, but it’s been a couple of days, and Stockholm syndrome is starting to set in. So, Viveca, you have a grudging respect for this woman, even though you hate everything she stands for.”
The actresses started reading. In the beginning Peter followed along with his script. After the first few lines he put the pages down and just watched.
They were sensational. They played off each other perfectly, with a give-and-take that was subtle, nuanced, and right in character. For a cold reading, it was the best Peter had ever seen.
When they were finished, Peter said, “Oh, my God. Viveca, I don’t know what to tell you. If I thought you would really take it, I would offer you this part right now. I would like nothing better than to have the two of you working together in this movie.”
“So would I,” Tessa said. “I don’t know what that looked like out there, but it felt electric.”
“Well,” Viveca said, “I’m not hurting for money, but I am hurting for good, meaty roles. They don’t come along that often. If you want to offer me the part, I want to take it. As for the rest, it can be negotiated.”
Viveca turned to her agent. “Warren. Make it happen.”