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. I could order in dinner, Mirah said. I d like to review the shooting schedule, Eddie said,  andfinalize the plans for local hires in Spain.As they discussed their next steps and devoured a fewsandwiches and sodas, Selena realized she was surrounded bypeople who loved the movies as much as she did.If she stayedfocused on the good, and stopped obsessing about the pettinessof some, she d be better off.Gail Welles flitted through herthoughts and she smiled to herself, picturing both the confidentactress flirting with Hyde as well as the waitress trying to scrubmayonnaise out of her hair.Her resolve was tested by having to ignore not one, but twocalls from Jennifer before she reached home.She did not want toknow what Jennifer was after now.Gail was winding her apron around her waist when her cellphone buzzed.She wasn t quite on the clock, though Friday103evening traffic in the diner was already heavy.Since she d beenglued to her phone for the past twenty-four hours, hoping forsome kind of word on the part, she fished it out of her pocketand checked.It was Madeline.She steeled herself for disappointment andducked into the kitchen to answer. I just got a package for you from Ryan Productions.You rebeing offered the part of Georgette in this movie  No way. Would I make this up? You have to decide by noonMonday  Yes. I haven t even read the contract yet. I would do it for free. She couldn t believe she sounded socalm with her heart was beating so hard she could barely holdonto the phone. Nonsense. Madeline sounded annoyed. I ll be in scenes with Hyde Butler. I ll be in scenes with HydeButler.There was a silence and Gail was aware of the clanging ofpots and pans behind her.She shifted to get out of the doorway. I wasn t aware he was a principal.Had Madeline even tried Google?  Well, I m very aware ofit.Hyde Butler and Jennifer Lamont.I read with them.Madeline s tone was growing warmer by the moment. In thatcase, they re not paying you nearly enough.Ryan Productionshas a rep for being fair, so you ll get the backend promised shareof revenues, but they re not offering much more than SAG scalefor the part itself.The enormity of the moment sunk in, all at once.She hadgotten the part, a great big beautiful part, with two big name stars.She had earned it damn near on her own.She wasn t going to loseit now.Her voice didn t sound the least bit like a nice girl from Iowa. Don t mess this up for me.I ll sign the deal as offered. But Gail, I know I can get you more.104 But you ve just said they re fair, so how much more couldyou get before they think I m a pain in the ass and go withsomeone else? It s my job to get the best for you.I ll read the contract overcarefully and advise you on whether it s a good deal.I alreadythink the compensation is too low.Trying hard to keep her volume down, Gail said,  I want toread the contract myself.And then I ll decide if I m going to signit.Madeline sounded offended. You have to let me do myjob.Maybe it was the accumulated three years of anxiety andfrustration, or maybe comparing notes with the other auditioningactors.Maybe it was Selena Ryan herself and the casting director scut-to-the-chase style.When she d arrived last night she hadn tat first realized she was the only actor whose agent wasn t there,and only now did she feel the sting of humiliation that Madelinehadn t made the effort.Ryan Productions was no lightweightoutfit.If Madeline had done even the slightest amount ofresearch, she would have known that Hyde Butler was linked tothe movie. You know, she said firmly,  it s late for you to start acting likean agent.You sent me on that audition without even checking outthe production.So here s the bottom line.I can t afford to take arisk.I will listen to your advice but I m making this decision.Ifyou can t live with that, I m getting new representation.After a short silence, Madeline said,  I m not accustomed tobeing lectured by a newcomer  I ve been your client for three years. If you ll calm down, I m sure we can work this out. I m perfectly calm. Gail realized she was, at least in thatmoment. I can come by first thing Monday morning.I m willingto hand-carry the contract to them, too.I want this part. I want you to have it too.I can see you at nine. Thank you, Madeline.I ll be there.She stood in the doorway for a moment, her stomach about to105turn inside out.It really didn t matter what Madeline did.She dgo right around her and sign anything she had to for that part.Telling herself to take control, she looked up the phone numberfor Ryan Productions, wracking her brain for the name of thenice assistant who had arrived late.Stylish-to-the-last-degreeblack woman, lively eyes and smile& Katie, Kelly& May I speak to Kim, please? We met yesterday at theaudition reading for Barcelona.Her guess was rewarded by a brisk voice coming on the line. This is Kim. This is Gail Welles.I m sorry to call so late in your day.I justwanted to say that I just heard that you re offering me the part,and I will work out any detail necessary to make it happen.The tone grew much warmer and Gail could hear a smile. That s welcome news.I thought I d have heard from youragent earlier today, so was wondering if there was some kind ofproblem.How long had that contract been sitting on Madeline s deskbefore she d even deigned to call Gail?  No problem at all.Thesigned documents will be in your hand if I have to walk theremyself to deliver them. I m looking forward to working with you then.As soon aseveryone is on board we ll have a schedule for rehearsals and thelocal and Spain shoot schedules.Spain& she was going to Spain? Good thing her passport wasup-to-date.She thanked Kim for her time and hung up, feelingdizzy. Whenever you re ready to join us, Gail, Betty called.Gail tried to snap out of her stupor, but she really thoughtshe might faint.Angel paused, plates lining both arms. Are you okay? Becauseif you are, I could really use some help. I got a part. Great.I ve got five tables waiting. I ve got a part in a Hyde Butler movie. Okay, that s cool.Very cool. Angel paused. Betty! Gail s106gonna be a star! Sure, kid. Betty left the counter with her customers-are-waiting look. A Hyde Butler movie. Really? Betty gave Gail a searching glance, her expressionmindful of a mother hen. Honest? You get to speak lines andeverything? More than just speaking lines.I m his wacky girlfriend.Jennifer Lamont is his wife. Gail still didn t believe it.Sherecognized this detached feeling as shock.Not as bad as whenher parents had died.Strange to find out that it was sort of thesame feeling when something really fantastic happened. Thanks for giving me time off yesterday, she addedbelatedly.Betty waved her to work. Be kind to me in your memoir. Count on it, Gail promised.She tried to get into the rhythm of the dinner service, lookingfor the tables where no one yet had water and menus.At her firstbreak she made the only phone call that mattered. I know it s late Aunt Charlie, but I ve got good news. I was just about to take out my teeth, she said. The momentthe phone rang I knew it would be important. I got the part.I m going to be in Barcelona starring HydeButler and Jennifer Lamont.I m his girlfriend.It s a big partnot a star, but a big part. Oh, child. Aunt Charlie s breath caught. I knew if you onlygot a chance, it would be fine.I can die happy now. Don t you dare.You have to be at the premiere.Promise? I will do my best.I ll do my damnedest, in fact!And she would, too [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]