It Never Comes Easy

3. Perfection on set

Rue showed the security guard her Id before the perfectly tanned skinned security guard let her through the gate. If she had caught their name right it was Ruben, it had been pinned on the right with white block letters large enough for her eyes to catch before slipping through the barred gate.

“Did you finish the script?”

She hadn’t gotten close to the set she was heading to before the male voice questioned behind her, giving her a bit of a startle.

Glancing over shoulder to the light purpled haired head walking up to her, she shrugged.

“Well good morning.” she said then went back to finishing the contents in her disposable cup — caffeine for a long day that had just began.

“Yeah that, did you finish the script for what we’ll use for auditions?” he walked beside her, his hands crossed in front of his chest.

He was inconsiderate to say the least, annoying at times but apparently he and Anne were the only real friends she had managed to keep in touch over the years.

Rue turned to face him, keeping a serious face. “Barely slept 3 hours typing your script, you know the one you called me around 10 in the evening to change practically everything?”

On the other hand as Rue glared at him, he nervously smiling removing his black cap that exposed his dyed shoulder length purple hair.

“So did you finish it?” he innocently smile as he squeezed the cap fabric in his palm.

“Did I have a choice?”

“Not really.” he shook his head causing his hair to swing left and right with the motion.

Scoffing Rue unzipped the laptop back pulling out a red flash drive. “I would appreciate if next time you would tell me before midnight Luis.” she hissed tossing him the flash drive.

Luis pulled his left long sleeved T-Shirt enough to expose the wrist watch. Vigorously nodding he grabbed her hand and starting pulling her to walk. “Sorry alright, now let’s go we are late!”

“Where are you taking me?” she questioned while trying to free her hand.

It did look like a child being dragged by a parent, she did feel like he was treating her like one — it didn’t involve their age at all.

“You will read Louise’s part in the script with the people we’ll audition and the other way around if they happen to be auditioning for Louise instead of Jamie.”

Immediately Rue forcefully pulled her hand out of his grip making both of them stop in their tracks.

“We? You speaking French now?”

A short giggle escaped his lips. “Come on, help a friend out. Anne ran away from this casting job, I’m all alone!”

“I can’t do it!” she protested, nervously she slipped her fingers through her light brown hair.

“Yes you can Rue, you wrote it you know the emotion each character show display at every soliloquy, monologue or duologue — whatever it is, let’s go.”

In a reverse action, as Luis took a step forward Rue took one back preventing him from dragging her to do something she had no strength, more less courage to do.

“I appreciate you giving me more work but I’ll have you know writing is a big job.”

“I’m just letting you control the things you work hard on. You deserve to make a decision on such matters, I am a friend I’ll do what is in your best interest.”

Even if her accompanying him was to help him, it as well benefited her. That much he knew, he had seen her when they walked over her hard work or changed it to meet demanding actors needs — without her consent or thought.

Anyway pay was pay either way — jobs weren’t always so satisfying, most commonly a job you would work with different people each time.

Different morals, behavioural and needs — all she had to meet.

The girl had been so caught up in her thoughts she did not notice her friend pushing her through the doors. Instantly she was met with long line of people, others who seemed to be socializing or loudly practicing lines they wouldn’t use anymore.

Seated, standing, anxiou or confident — all a way of emotion she noticed on their facial expressions.

Catching the last glimpse of the crowd she was pulled into an open empty room with just a table and two chairs. Luis had already taken his seat and was motioning her to join.

Rue sighed, guess she was really doing this.

§

“Okay thank you, we’ll keep in contact.” Luis spoke checking out her name on the list but not adding it to the potential people that would get the part.

He wouldn’t be in touch at all. She couldn’t help but feel bad for the dark haired girl as she cheerfully thanked them, with a smile she walked out.

“Next!” Luis shouted as the door closed behind the girl. “You look tired.” he added staring over at her.

With one swing she threw the printed script on the table and leaned back to her seat, arms crossed.

“I have been reading these same lines for 2 hours now, it has come to a point I know them by heart — I could say them in my sleep. I know why Anne ran away.” she murmured.

“We can’t blame her can we?” Luis playfully rose his left eyebrow at her as a smirk appeared on his face.

Rue shook her head. “Nop, so how many more?”

“Twenty more women for the part of Jamie, for Louise like eight. These women only want to be the lead, even though Louise is the main character at some point — they would like to carry the show from beginning to end.”

It wasn’t a lie, who wouldn’t like the spotlight at some point.

“You have to do auditions for the rest of the supporting actors and actresses?”

“Yep, Imagine how tiring it is.”

“I can—”

Unable to finish saying what intended to she stared over to the door where the masculine voice came from.

“Oh Luis!” the man sang making his way to where they had been seated.

Even though it was her first time working with this director she didn’t like him all that much. He was demanding as she heard and saw it, sometimes rude but it was the way he flashed creepy smiles at female staffs. Either the ones on the set or behind the scenes, it made her cautious everytime around him.

“What are you doing here director?” Luis asked a bit surprised by the man’s abruptly appearance.

And yet Rue seemed not interested just curious and not just for his sudden appearance. So still crossing her arms she watched their interaction.

“Nice to see you too, I would like you to audition Miss Lexie Moa for the part of Jamie.” he announced still smiling brightly.

“The Miss Moa?”

It seemed Luis had been taken by surprise again, as he asked letting the words out like a shocked gasp.

“Yes the raising star that has won two awards already, her. I know you would have given a speech about just handing her the part, so I’ll let her prove herself. Can she audition?”

“Of course!”

“Good!” the man clapped his hands turning his heels and walking out as fast as he came.

Once she knew he couldn’t hear her she scoffed, the man hadn’t even acknowledged the person writing his scripts.

At that moment Rue turned to her friend who happened to be jumping or whatever it was, still seated.

“You are shaking? why?” she questioned.

“I always wanted to work with this actress and now I can!” he mumbled as though she had gotten the part already.

But given the men’s happy face it did seem she already had it in the bag even without auditioning.

“Okay?”

“I’m such a fanboy!” he squealed covering his face with his both his palms.

Rue shook her head as she stared at the grown man act like such a fanboy, maybe it wasn’t a waste sitting in the room for hours — this was far interesting then reading a script.