Episode13 Alisa is being bullied
1836 Words
In this round, the first to take the stage is Alisa.
She wasn’t favored in the first two rounds, but she’s determined to make a comeback in this final round.
“The content for this final audition is…”
“Re-enacting a film scene based on a given script!” John announced loudly.
“Now, Alisa, please come up and take the first script!”
Alisa quickly walked up to receive the script.
“You now have five minutes to prepare. After five minutes, one of us judges will act as your scene partner. We’ll then decide based on your performance.”
Alisa opened the script and found it was a scene from a famous soap opera.
The plot involves an argument between a husband and wife, where she would play the role of a wife who discovers her husband’s infidelity, while the judge would play the innocent husband.
The overall scenario wasn’t too complex, but it was far from easy.
The wife had long monologues, and memorizing them all in just five minutes was nearly impossible, let alone delivering them with emotion.
Sweat began to form on Alisa’s forehead as she quickly muttered the lines to herself.
John smirked slyly from the side—this was exactly what he had planned. For seasoned actors, it’s not the acting skills that are tested but rather these tiresome and lengthy lines, the only thing that could truly stump them.
Meanwhile, Emilia and Caitlin were standing on the other side of the room, waiting.
They didn’t know what script Alisa had received, but they could see how nervous she was.
Emilia felt sympathy for Alisa, seeing the same tenacity in her as in herself. She even hoped that Alisa could win this role.
Just then, Caitlin spoke up from beside her, “Emilia, I really admire your courage for coming to this audition. Did you sell yourself to Lorenzo for him to make this decision?”
Emilia was taken aback and looked at Caitlin’s seductive face, not understanding her meaning. “Sell myself to Lorenzo? What do you mean?”
Caitlin sneered, “Many women, for the sake of ambition, would do anything to cling to powerful men, even becoming their slaves. Don’t you agree?”
Feeling insulted, Emilia replied, somewhat angrily, “I didn’t! Please don’t make such assumptions. I have nothing but respect and gratitude for him.”
“Respect and gratitude? That’s amusing. Do you really think I’d believe that? Someone of Lorenzo’s status wouldn’t help an ordinary woman for no reason,” Caitlin said with a voice full of disdain and arrogance.
Emilia’s thoughts were muddled after hearing this.
Caitlin’s words made sense—why would someone as prominent as Lorenzo help her? Could it really be out of pity?
“I don’t know, but I believe Lorenzo did it out of a sense of justice,” she countered.
“Justice?” Caitlin mocked with a laugh. “Do you even know what Lorenzo does? And you still talk about justice?”
“I know, but I still hold on to my beliefs.”
In truth, when Emilia said “I know,” she only meant that she believed Lorenzo was a businessman with many enterprises, unaware that he was a mafia boss. No one had ever told her this.
Caitlin’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Emilia, wondering if this woman was truly naive or just pretending. Did she really believe that a mafia boss could have a sense of justice?
Perhaps this was just an excuse for herself? Caitlin felt a pang of jealousy—she had long wanted to get close to Lorenzo. As Strong’s daughter, she was a perfect match for Lorenzo in terms of status, but that cold-hearted man had always been indifferent to her.
Caitlin deliberately continued, “Your performance earlier was terrible. You even chose the same topic as me. Were you trying to challenge me?”
Emilia felt embarrassed.
“I didn’t mean to challenge you; I just couldn’t think of anything else to perform.”
“Then you made a big mistake. The judges had no idea what you were doing. I played a strong and brave woman, while you played a nonsensical waitress.”
“Actually... I was trying to play a strong and brave waitress, but maybe I didn’t do well.”
“No, you did well. Your waitress was spot on, practically a natural performance. You should stick to being a waitress and not try to be an actress,” Caitlin sneered.
Emilia didn’t get angry but humbly replied, “I know I lack experience, but I’ll work even harder.”
Caitlin wasn’t done yet.
“Work harder? Look at me—I’ve been learning to act since I was a child, received professional training, and have a wealth of experience. What do you have to compare with me?”
“I’m not comparing myself to you. I’m just trying to do my best,” Emilia replied, shaking her head.
“You’re too naive. That kind of ignorance will only embarrass Lorenzo,” Caitlin scoffed.
“Thank you for the warning. Regardless, I just want to seize this opportunity for my family. If I disappoint Lorenzo, I will apologize to him.”
“Apologize? What good is an apology? Lorenzo is the investor of this film, and he’s spent a lot of money on it,” Caitlin said dismissively, continuing to put Emilia down. “And opportunities favor those who are prepared, not someone like you who’s just gambling on luck. This is a lead role, not an extra where your face isn’t even shown.”
“And let me tell you something you don’t know. This industry isn’t just about working hard. Talent, experience, luck, and things you’re unaware of—like an actor’s background—all play a crucial role.”
Caitlin smirked. “Those are all very important. And you seem to have none of them.”
“Maybe you’re right—I have nothing. But I still believe that hard work will pay off,” Emilia said, unfazed, and even more determined.
Caitlin laughed coldly, “Fine, continue with your fantasies. But the judges won’t be as naive as you. They’re looking for real actors, not empty determination.”
Emilia didn’t respond to Caitlin because Alisa’s preparation time had just ended, and her performance was about to begin.
Alisa’s scene partner was Judge Peter, who had been pre-selected for this role.
The scene was set in a modest living room, with some photos scattered on the table.
Alisa, playing the wife, stood in front of the table, her eyes filled with anger and hurt. Peter, playing the husband, stood opposite her, looking indifferent and dismissive.
Alisa: (Clutching the photos tightly, her voice trembling) How could you do this to me? These photos—what do you have to say about them?
Peter: (Smirking mockingly, shrugging) Say about what? You’re imagining things again.
Alisa: (Trying to stay calm) These photos—you’re with these women. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?
Peter: (Nonchalantly) It’s just work-related socializing. You always overreact and never trust your husband.
Alisa: (Raising her voice, becoming agitated) Work-related socializing? Do you think I’ll believe such lies? What is real between us?
Alisa was visibly nervous, trying to recall the next line with each word she spoke.
Peter: (Impatiently interrupting her) Alisa, you’re being unreasonable again. This behavior will only make things worse between us.
Alisa: (Voice trembling, tears welling up in her eyes) Unreasonable? Is that really how you see me? I just want an explanation—something to ease my mind.
Peter: (Laughing coldly, hands in pockets) Explanation? I’ve already given you one. If you don’t want to believe it, that’s your problem.
Alisa: (Hesitating) I… I don’t understand why you always… always treat me like this. You’ve never… uh…
Alisa started to stammer, clearly forgetting the lines.
Peter showed no sympathy: (mockingly) Oh? You don’t understand what? Go on, you always have something to say, don’t you?
Alisa: (Struggling to remember her lines, her voice growing softer) You’ve never… really cared about me.
Peter: (Emphasizing his words, stepping closer) Never cared about you? Then tell me, why have I been working so hard all these years? Was it not for you and this family?
Alisa was visibly under pressure, her hands trembling with anxiety.
Alisa: (Voice trembling) I just… just hoped you could… spend more time with me and the kids…
Peter: (Laughing coldly, his tone growing harsher) Spend more time with you and the kids? What more do you want? I’ve given you the life you wanted, but all you do is complain.
Alisa’s face turned pale as she struggled to focus, still unable to remember the next line.
Alisa: (Voice barely audible) I…
Peter: What? What do you want to say? You can’t even string a complete sentence together, Alisa!
Tears welled up in Alisa’s eyes as she lowered her head, utterly dejected. She had lost the confidence to continue.
John interrupted the scene, sneering, “It seems our dear Alisa can’t remember her lines and her acting is just as poor.”
Hypocritical Lucy seized the opportunity, “Our dedicated Alisa might not meet our selection criteria after all.”
Jack, however, had a different opinion. “It was clearly the wrong script for her, an experienced actress in the wrong role. Her acting wasn’t bad.”
But Peter added disdainfully, “Acting isn’t just about looks; it requires true talent.”
However, John rebuked, "We’re here to select the best actors. How can we not increase the difficulty? Should we have them perform a children’s show instead?”
Jack found himself unable to refute John’s words, but he was still dissatisfied. “We should give the actors more time to prepare so they can fully showcase their acting abilities.”
“Ridiculous! Just because Alisa couldn’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t,” John retorted, then turned to Caitlin. “Right, Caitlin?”
Caitlin stepped forward and, feigning humility, said, “Mr. John, I’m more than happy to accept any challenge.”
John took a script from the stage and handed it to her.
“Caitlin, you also have five minutes to prepare. Prove to certain ignorant people what it means to be a professional actor!”
Caitlin nodded, smiling as she accepted the script.
But there was a catch here.
Although the script had a similar level of difficulty, John had already tipped Caitlin off about it.
Caitlin had prepared in advance, and her scene partner would be the compassionate Susan, which was also part of John’s arrangement.
He was using Susan’s kindness to help Caitlin.
The author has completed thirteen chapters at this point. Thank you to all the readers who have been following along!
So, how will Caitlin perform? And can our dear Emilia overcome Caitlin to win the role? Stay tuned for the next chapters!
- Writer
