The Perfect Audition. Kate Forster

to be something she isn’t.”

      “I did notice her lips were fuller than last time I saw her,” said Diana archly.

      TG slumped in his chair. No matter how much he liked film, he hated the bullshit that went with it and the desperation from the actors, no matter how big their star was.

      “It’s kinda sad, actually,” said TG thinking of his ex girlfriend and Jessica and her overblown lips.

      Diana scowled, “Sure, but who the fuck would want to be an actress anyway?” she asked.

      TG laughed as the casting assistant bought the next woman in for the role of Isabel, not right thought TG as he watched her work. To comedic, no depth.

      He worked with two more actresses when Sapphira De Mont stalked in and sat down without speaking. TG swallowed nervously. She was predatory and dangerous and he glanced at Diana who sat back in her chair, her face blank.

      TG was familiar with Sapphira De Monts’ work, she was arguably the most famous and enigmatic women on the planet at that moment but they had never worked together.

      “Thanks for coming.” TG smiled, his voice professional.

      Sapphira raised her eyebrows at him and reached out and took one of Diana’s cigarettes and lit it.

      “Gotta love it when New York comes to Hollywood,” she drawled before crossing her legs in her skin tight leather pants. TG could see the bones on her chest at the gap in her coffee coloured silk blouse, so translucent he could make out the outline of her tattoos underneath the flimsy fabric and the outline of a black, lace bra …

      “So, the role of Isabel …” Started TG and Sapphira blew smoke above her head.

      “Yes, I’ve been thinking,” she interrupted and TG held his breath. She was the least likely person he would cast as Isabel at this moment, regardless of her significant talent but she had huge box office clout and her agent had petitioned strongly for TG to have a look at Sapphira for the role of Isabel.

      “The film is really Isabel’s story. As the widower who’s forced to grieve as well as survive in her half renovated villa. I think when she opens the villa for the tourists because she needs the money, the intention is financial but her guests become family so in that way the film really needs to be an ensemble piece.” TG sat back surprised and relieved.

      “I think as Isabel begins to care for the guests, they begin to care for her and then obviously the love interest for her helps her move on and start again. A new start, not a better one, but new.” She mused as she smoked her cigarette.

      TG nodded impressed. “Can we do the sides?” he asked as she put the cigarette out in the water that Jessica had opened and turned to the camera.

      As the casting assistant said the lines, Sapphira seemed to shape shift in front of the camera and the vulnerability of the character, the nervousness and worry crossed her face as she said her lines. She was exceptional and even Diana sat forward as they watched.

      When she finished she turned to TG and shrugged. “Fucking great script.” Don’t you dare butcher it.”

      “Not a chance.” Said TG and she nodded her respect.

      And with that she stood up and walked from the room, leaving in her wake the scent of cigarettes and Bulgari Black perfume.

      “Wow,” said TG as he watched her leave.

      “I know,” said Diana. “She is her own woman that’s for sure.”

      “But her acting?” She’s good.”

      “She is,” said Diana, “She needs a role where she is no longer seen as just the sexy vixen and she knows it. She’s smarter than people realise that one.”

      TG didn’t have time to ask her any more questions as the casting assistant announced the arrival of the first actress for the role he had once promised to his infidel ex girlfriend.

      “Hi, I’m Anna,” said the younger actress and TG smiled and she went through the role and the lines to camera.

      After she left TG turned to Diana, “Sweet but too young, needs to be a little older.”

      “She’s a talent to watch though,” said Diana. “Just did the new Judd Apatow film.”

      TG stood up and stretched his legs.

      “When is the next one arriving?” he asked the assistant.

      “Fifteen minutes.”

      “I’m gonna take a walk.” Back in ten.”

      TG opened a can of Coke and slurped from it noisily as he left the office and stood on the street when he heard someone yell, “Fuck.”

      He turned and saw a blonde yelling into her phone. “Mom, just stop, ok? You’re not my manager anymore.” She yelled and snapped the phone shut.

      TG stared at her.

      “What?” She yelled at him.

      He was taken aback. “Are you ok?” he asked.

      “Do I look ok?” She dared him to ask more questions. “What a stupid fucking question.” she mumbled.

      “Ok, well good luck then.” He said and sipped from his Coke and turned from her.

      “Hey listen, I’m sorry,” she said behind him. “I’m having a shit day. I’m sorry.” He turned back to her again. “Can I ask a favour?”

      “I guess,” he said, his shoulders shrugged casually.

      “Can I have a sip of your coke?” she asked. “I have this audition and I’m so parched and I hate to ask but I didn’t bring a water.” TG looked into her gold flecked eyes and nodded and handed the can to her.

      She took a greedy sip. “God, I love coke,” she said and gave a tiny burp. ‘The drink, not the drug,’ she clarified in case he was a reporter.

      “What’s the audition for?” he asked although he already knew the answer.

      “Some fucking film set in Italy that I won’t get,” she said. “I’m not nearly talented enough, I don’t even know how I got this far,” she laughed. “Anyway if I don’t get it there’s some action thing in the works, although I don’t really want to do it,” she mused.

      “Why not?” he asked carefully.

      It was her turn to shrug, “Well, you know action is hard to break out of and I would love the chance to do some real acting with good actors,” she said her words tumbling over each other.

      She had no idea why she was rambling to this stranger but she thought she knew his face from somewhere, although she was notoriously bad with faces and names, much to her pushy mother’s horror.

      TG nodded as she kept talking and drinking his Coke. She was tiny, like a little doll but she had a fierceness when she spoke that belied her physical frame. TG found himself mesmerised by her and barely listened as she spoke, instead entranced by her mouth and the way her eyes danced and the way she scratched her shoulder and had a tiny drop of Coke on her bottom lip.

      “Hey,” he heard the casting assistant and he turned to her and nodded.

      “Well good luck,” he said, smiling at the girl.

      “Thanks, I’m gonna need it.” She laughed and handed him back his nearly empty can. “Fuck, sorry.” She grimaced at her own bad manners.

      TG waved it away, “Finish it,” he said and walked inside and sat in the room and waited.

      “Calypso Gable,” said the assistant a few minutes later and she did a double take when she walked through the door.

      “You?”

      “Me.” he said and was surprised by the flipping of his stomach as she entered the room. “Hi,