Manny’s office was a second-floor walk-up over a coffee shop. Teddy banged on the door, but there was no answer. It was just as well. He was due back on the set to work with Peter and he wouldn’t have had time to give the gentleman the attention he deserved.
Teddy drove back to the location, which was still the bank. He parked the production car on the street, tossed the keys to one of the PAs, and slipped into Mark Weldon’s trailer when no one was looking. Five minutes later Mark Weldon emerged and headed for the set.
He was shooting a scene with Viveca. She’d been shooting all morning with Tessa and probably could have used a break, but Viveca was a real trouper in that regard. When it was time to get down to work, she was always ready.
So was Teddy. The two of them nailed their scene in one take, and Viveca was done for the day.
Viveca went back to her trailer to change. Before she could, Peter Barrington knocked and poked his head in the door.
“Hi. I know you want to get home, but could you spare a moment?”
“Of course.”
“Good. I just wanted to talk to you while they move the camera.”
“Is there a problem?”
“Not at all, I couldn’t ask for anything better in your performance. You and Tessa are wonderful together.”
“It’s nice of you to give me lines.”
“I’m not being nice. I’m trying to make the best picture possible. You guys are helping me do that, and believe me, it’s great.”
Viveca laughed. “Well, let’s not go overboard. So far all we’ve done is walk into a bank.”
“Yes. A simple action scene that somehow managed to say it all. Anyway, I was just on the horn with Ben Bacchetti, and he has managed to work it out with all concerned. So, if we can just work it out with you and your agent, we’re all set.”
“Work what out?”
“Well, we originally intended the credits to be: Tessa Tweed in Trial by Fire. When you came on we made you the first credit after the title, so it went: Tessa Tweed in Trial by Fire, with Viveca Rothschild.”
“Which was very nice of you, but Mark has a much bigger part. I hate to edge him out in the credits.”
“Believe me, he doesn’t mind. He’s a glorified stuntman basking in success. He couldn’t care less about the credits. He’s happy just to be in a movie with you. Anyway, we’re moving him to first credit after the titles.”
She frowned. “You’re bumping me down?”
“Not on your life. If it all works out, we’re billing you above the title: Tessa Tweed and Viveca Rothschild in Trial by Fire, with Mark Weldon.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Not at all.”
“Does Tessa know about that?”
“It was her idea.”
Viveca was stunned. She felt a flash of guilt about trying to tear Tessa down, but reminded herself that her feelings were separate from her professional aims. The Oscar competition was always cutthroat. It had nothing to do with Tessa as a person. It was all the Hollywood game.
And yet . . . Viveca was beginning to wonder if she believed her own bullshit anymore.