Pat’s Story

We ended up running for about twenty minutes. I was the only one who ran the entire time taking no breaks, although I was definitely feeling it near the end. One reason Walter and I preferred running in the morning was to avoid the mid-day heat. I was really grateful it was only March, not the middle of August.

As we followed the cart back to the studio, the guy with the spiky hair turned to me. “Dude, how’d you train for this?”

I shrugged. “I didn’t. I run half an hour every morning, then take a turn in the weight room.”

“Since you learned about the role?”

I shook my head. “Nah. Been running for, like, three years now. Maybe four.”

Once we were through the gate, the director stopped us. “There are locker rooms on the third floor of the office tower. The café is on the third floor, but you are welcome to explore the other dining options in the area. The afternoon screen test begins promptly at two.”

She went into the building without another word. One guy chased after her, but I just headed toward the locker room. I took a quick shower, recolored my hair, and put on my spare clothes. I wanted a break from my costume for a while.

I checked my phone, discovering a message from Walter that he was thinking about having lunch at a Tex-Mex takeout between our two studios. I immediately agreed and saved myself the aggravation of finding a parking space by walking to the restaurant. Since Walter was only a few people in front of me, he came to stand beside me.

“How was your morning?”

Something in his tone had me sending him a curious look. “You okay?”

He shook his head mournfully. “I hate technology.”

While we waited to order, Walter explained how one line took an entire hour to record because of a myriad of technical issues. After we got our food, I told Walter about my audition.

Hanging out with my brother was nice, but neither one of us could stay for long. I got back to the studio and changed into my Patrick costume before returning to the conference room.

Three girls sat at the conference table. One of them I had never seen before and I figured she was a newer actress. The other two were former costars. And ex-girlfriends. I tried to avoid making eye contact as I sat as far away from them as possible.

I buried my face in my hands and closed my eyes. Taking several deep breaths, I tried to get into character. I heard more people entering the room. Although people greeted each other, conversations were sparse. Most people sat alone, quietly rehearsing their lines.

“Welcome, ladies.” I opened my eyes at the casting director’s voice. “It looks like we’ve lost one of our Patricks. Oh well. This is Riley. She will call pairs to work on the scene in the other room.”

The director continued, explaining how the auditions would work. Like before, there would be three cameras. However, we would work in random pairs until everyone worked with everyone else. The director called two names to go first and a moment later, the assistant Riley called the next two names. “Patrick and Natasha.”

As we were walking down the hall, Natasha turned to me. “What happened to your hair? I didn’t recognize you.”

I shrugged. “I thought I should look the part.”

“Well, I love it. I didn’t know you were auditioning for this. How amazing would it be to work together again?”

Riley turned around. “Please whisper,” she hissed. “They’re recording in there.”

A few minutes later, the door opened, and Riley escorted the couple back to the conference room. Natasha and I walked in. The director pointed toward two chairs against the far wall.

“You are welcome to sit or stand as you feel the scene warrants. Whenever you’re ready, you may begin.”

I waited a moment before taking Natasha’s hands. I led her to the chairs as I said my opening lines. While I was trying to be serious, Natasha looked like she was going to burst with excitement. When she announced she was pregnant, she nearly screamed in celebration. I tried my best to display fear, but she didn’t respond to my cues. At the end of the scene, she threw her arms around me and kissed me, knocking me over so I almost fell out of the chair. I didn’t even pretend to kiss her back.

The director ended the scene, and Riley escorted us back to the conference room. As soon as I settled into a chair, Poppy sat in my lap.

“Patrick! What did you do to your hair?”

“Poppy, you have two seconds to get as far away from me as possible, or I call my lawyer and have him get a restraining order.”

Poppy ran her hands through my hair. “So, I was thinking, maybe if we both get this part, we can pick up where we left off.”

I picked up my phone. “I mean it, Poppy. I’m calling my lawyer.”

Poppy rolled her eyes, but she did move into the neighboring chair. A moment later, she was called to audition.

Unfortunately, my next scene was with her. Although she took the role more seriously than Natasha had, she was all over me. I was so uncomfortable, I stumbled over a few of my lines.

When I tried to perform the third scene, I took the girl’s hands in mine. “So, Coach said —”

“Ohmigod! You’re Patrick McGregor!” The girl let out an ear-piercing shriek. “I can’t believe this. Oh. I’m sorry. What’s my line?”

I sighed and started over. She looked like she wanted to be serious, but she was wiggling in her seat in excitement. We made it to the end of the scene, and I kissed her hand. She fainted.

I turned to the director. “I don’t think she’s acting.”

The director sighed and crouched beside the girl. “Why don’t you go back to the conference room? It’s probably best if you’re not here when she wakes up. Tell the next group to wait in the hall.”

I nodded and did as I was instructed. Instead of sitting at the table, I grabbed my water bottle and sat on the floor in the corner. A little while later, the last actress came to sit beside me.

“You don’t mind if I join you, do you?”

I shook my head and stuck out my hand. “Patrick.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard your name called a few times. I’m Destiny. So, I was wondering if I could talk to you about the scene real quick?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

She lowered her voice to a near whisper. “So, when I read this, I was thinking the characters were scared and sad but everyone I’ve read it with has been really upbeat and excited. You’re my last scene and I really want this part. So, I wanted to know—”

I nodded. “No, it definitely should be serious.”

I could hear relief in her sigh. “Oh, good. Well, I just wanted to check. I’ll, uh —”

I smiled. “You can stay here if you want. I’m just trying to avoid people.”

“Like a certain ex-girlfriend?”

I held up two fingers. Destiny giggled. “Do you date all your costars?”

I shook my head. “No. I really don’t.”

“Good. Because if you and I both get this role, I’m taken.” She pulled a necklace from around her neck. Around it hung a diamond ring. “I didn’t want to wear it to the audition, but I feel so naked without it.”

I narrowed my eyes. “How old are you? I mean, I know I’m not supposed to ask women that, but don’t look old enough to get married.”

“I’ll be nineteen by the time this starts shooting. My fiancée is graduating West Point next year, so we’re getting married this winter, before he gets stationed somewhere.”

“Well, congratulations. I can’t imagine having your future all planned out like that.”

Destiny laughed. “Oh, it’s not. I know I want to act. If this role doesn’t work out, I may go to New York. Try stage acting for a while.”

“Patrick and Destiny.”

I looked up to see Riley in the doorway. She was scanning the table and didn’t see us. I stood, helping Destiny to her feet, and we followed Riley down the hall.

The director nodded when we entered the room. “You know what to do.”

I took Destiny’s hands and looked her straight in the eye. I guided her to the floor, and she followed me as I said my opening lines. “So, Coach said he can scrape together enough money for me to get to Montreal. I’ll be staying in Olympic Village. But, if you come, you’d have to stay in a hotel and you need airfare and, baby, we just don’t have that kind of money right now.” I tucked a lock of hair behind Destiny’s ear.

When she answered me, she sounded sad, but she had a slight smirk. “It’s okay. I’m probably not going to want to travel, anyway.”

I cocked my head to the side, trying to convey concern. “What do you mean?”

“Junior will only be a few weeks old. I don’t think he’ll be ready to travel yet.”

I dropped Destiny’s hands and sat back. “What are you talking about? Who’s Junior? Is that the kid you’re babysitting?”

Destiny sniffed. “No. He’s your baby.”

“My baby? I don’t have a baby.”

“You will. Junior is due in June.”

I inhaled sharply, opening my eyes as much as possible. I looked from her belly to her face a few times, then stood and started pacing. Each time I faced Destiny, I tried to speak. “You . . . you mean . . . you’re . . . we’re?”

Destiny nodded and reached up for me. I took her hand and sat back beside her. Making a fist with my free hand, I put it to my mouth as I closed my eyes and sighed deeply. I thought about what my father said about being simultaneously scared and excited. Feeling a tear in my eye, I took Destiny’s other hand in my trembling one. My voice was almost shaking as I whispered my next line.

“I’m gonna win this race. And Junior’s going to have every advantage that you and I never got to have. That’s my promise.”

I wiped the tear from Destiny’s eye and kissed her hand. Then I pulled her close to my chest and waited for the director.

“That was fantastic,” she said. “From both of you. Where was this two hours ago?”

Destiny giggled as we rose from the floor. “No offense, but I wasn’t paired with him two hours ago.”

“That was the scene we were looking for. Check with Reilly to see if you are done. If so, you’re free to leave. I have to review all the footage from today, but I’ve got to tell you. Both of you keep your summers blocked out. I smell contracts coming in your direction.”

Melinda’s Story

Melinda’s story will resume in Episode 161.

Attention Hammerheads

Melinda is always trying to build her vocabulary. What were some words in this episode that were new to you? She will add them to her vocabulary journal.