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Sabrina was late getting to her shop on Melrose, but Bea never got angry at Sabrina and was delighted that they both now had red hair.  The shop was busy and Sabrina left Bea in charge later that afternoon to go to the modeling interview.

The audition almost seemed to be preordained, even though Sabrina was almost turned away at the door because of her red hair.  In the reception area about twelve gaunt blonds stared at her arrogantly; the assistant director officiously said that she would be wrong for the part; the gay writer swished angrily and said, This is a California-Beach-Toothpaste-Commercial for God's sake.  But the production assistants winked at Sabrina because they knew her.  The man filming was no other than her first photographer and lover, Tracy Rieber. 

Tracy asked disgruntled executives, Who needs another blond, anyway? Blonds are a dime a dozen with their feathered hair and birdbrain reputations.  This commercial would be outstanding and fresh.  Look at her! She's perfect.  So tall and thin, and besides, she would not only look beautiful, but exceptional. 

Tracy made Sabrina demonstrate how good she was at rubbing her teeth with her tongue and saying, Um-mm, while smiling brilliantly.  Then he had her change into her bathing suit and presented her as the epitome of the California Look.  The fact that she had to repeat the rubbing of her teeth with her tongue, and murmur Um-mm endless times while being paraded around in her bathing suit did not bother Sabrina.  Modeling had inured her to the endless repetitions that were done for the writer, the production manager, the art director and the casting executives.  The whole process was so hysterical that Sabrina had to keep tight control or she would have broken up at the silly seriousness the agency people took in casting their commercial. 

In the end, Tracy triumphantly pulled it off, having been given Creative Control in his contract.  Sabrina was cast as the lead model.

Annoyed, irritated-as-hell tall, thin blonds were turned away.  Tracy finally took Sabrina aside for a moment and asked her how she could have done such a thing? To him? To change her hair just before his first important national job, breaking into film from print work photography. 

Sabrina finally burst out laughing.  She told him truthfully that she had been called by her modeling agency for the job and had no idea that he would be filming.  Then she spent an endless time thanking him for bucking against all of the executives so she could get the job.  Sabrina really was grateful to him, but mostly because he had never once suggested she change her hair back to blond.  She really did appreciate the fact that he withstood all the studio flack on his first important national film job for her.

Sabrina found she would have to be in Malibu at five in the morning, tomorrow.  They would film before the beach was sullied by unnecessary Looky-Loos.