The Proud and the Prejudiced: A Modern Twist on Pride and Prejudice

by Colette Saucier

  CHAPTER 3

  The Edge of Darkness

  Chapter 7

  The summer before my junior year of high school, I went through a tremendous metamorphosis. My face cleared up, I had my hair cut and styled, and I lost all the weight. With a surge of confidence, I knew this year would be different.

  Although our high school was also all-girls, we were close to an all-boys school and served as their sister school. We cheered for their sports and had co-ed clubs. That year, one of the first things I did was join the drama club and audition for Godspell. Even though I only got a part as an understudy, I had never been so thrilled in my life. I might not be performing, but I had been chosen over so many other girls. And for the first time, I had friends – lots of them – and the cast and crew spent all their time together when we weren’t in school.

  I worked hard on Godspell. Not only did I have to do all of the duties of an actress, in learning lines and blocking, but I also worked on the tech crew. But with the excitement and fulfillment of working on the production, the work didn’t bother me at all. Plus I was the envy of my classmates because I worked with Sean Hooker, the heartthrob of high school. I hated to admit it, but even I had a bit of a crush on him. Besides being the most gorgeous senior on the boys’ campus, he was a professional actor, working on plays outside of school and even commercials, which made him completely irresistible.

  I understudied for Lisa, and she frequently missed rehearsals, so I had to work closely with Sean in several scenes. I couldn’t help feeling shy around him. I tried to treat him like all the other actors, but he would look me right in the eyes and I would melt.

  After opening night, I hugged the others in the cast, but to Sean I only offered my hand. I refused to let him believe I was another co-ed in love with him. It had gotten to the point where one day at tech, Sean was forced into seclusion by ninth-grade girls who found out he would be there that day. To my surprise, Sean rejected my hand and pulled me into a bear hug. I, being a consummate actress, hid my state of shock well, even as my heart raced, and said, “Congratulations! I’m so glad it went well!” He silently released me and walked away.

  After the next performance, I took the offensive and placed my hand on his shoulder and said, “Congratulations,” just as a woman from the audience came up and started commending his performance.

  I removed my hand, but Sean stuck his out to me, and I had no choice but to take it. He held my hand tightly and then took it between both of his and rubbed it, never taking his eyes off the lady. I was totally bedazzled. But then something caught his attention. He dropped my hand and walked away, leaving me to talk to the woman. I came to the conclusion that, since I didn’t throw myself at him like all the other girls, he was being kind of a tease. That killed the crush.

  A lizard lived outside my bedroom window. Every morning when the alarm woke me, I would see his silhouette on my shade as the rising sun shined in. On this particular morning, my lizard did not appear.

  That day a Marine came to our door. Tad was missing in action.

  *****

  “Nobody ever died from a trifling little cold.”

  “She’s burning up!” Alice gawked up at Mrs. Jellyby, her hand on the forehead of the near-delirious Giselle, slouched beside her on the sofa of the set for the living room. “And, by the way, people do die of colds every day, if they are allowed to develop complications.”

  “But the rehearsal!” cried Mrs. Jellyby. “The scene is not that long.”

  “I…I can do it,” Giselle said, but wooziness pulled her back against the couch even when she tried to sit up.

  “Forget about it,” Alice said. “It’s Friday. Rest this weekend and get well. The rehearsal can wait until Monday.”

  “Monday!” Mrs. Jellyby shrieked the word as though a rodent of unusual size had just run across the set. “We can’t begin with delays. What will he think?”

  “Who?”

  Mrs. Jellyby glanced around before tilting her head and speaking low to the sofa. “Peter Walsingham.”

  Alice crinkled her forehead and curled her top lip. “Who gives a shit? Giselle is sick!”

  “I just don’t want him to get the wrong first impression.”

  “Oh, believe me: he already formulated his first impression.”

  Then, the voice from the movie screen boomed from behind them. “What’s this about first impressions?” Peter sauntered toward the set with his hands in his pockets and Winnie and Jack two paces behind him.

  Mrs. Jellyby wrung her hands together and sputtered over her words. “I-I am so sorry, Mr. Walsingham, but we may have to postpone today’s rehearsal.”

  Alice rolled her eyes. Why the hell is she apologizing? She’s his boss! “Giselle is burning up with fever and needs to go home and rest.”

  “Oh, no!” Jack ran around Peter to the sofa and sat on the other side of Giselle, taking her hand.

  “What does this do to the production schedule?” Peter asked and pulled his hands from his pockets as he stepped onto the stage, standing at the corner of the sofa.

  Alice had to twist her neck to look up at him. “We still film on Monday. You’ll just have to rehearse earlier that day.” Heat rose in her cheeks when their eyes met and he wouldn’t release the hold. “Probably only one once-through before filming.”

  “Isn’t that enough? I know my lines.”

  She turned around to face him. If they were going to do this staring contest bit again, she didn’t want to get a crick in her neck. “It’s more about blocking, camera angles, and pace. Today’s rehearsal was more for your benefit. Giselle could do this in her sleep, but you’ve never done a soa- a daytime drama before.” If he took offense, as she halfway hoped, he did not let it show.

  “I am dreadfully sorry for the inconvenience.” Although Mrs. Jellyby’s whimpering nauseated Alice, at least it drew Peter’s attention away from her.

  Peter flaunted his hand in Giselle’s direction. “The girl is clearly ill,” he said, annoyance raising his volume, his voice echoing off the fake walls. “If this rehearsal is intended to assist me, can’t someone stand in for her? I’m sure this isn’t the first time something like this has occurred. That’s why they invented understudies.”

  “I…I…” Mrs. Jellyby – finally at a loss for words!

  “She’s in no condition to drive,” Jack said. “I’m going to take her home.” He and Alice stood and helped Giselle to her feet.

  “No,” Giselle said, “you don’t need – ”

  “It’s no problem.” Supporting her and with an arm around her waist, Jack escorted her off the stage.

  “Winnie,” Peter said. “You should go with them.”

  Winnie, who had been standing back watching this scene with crossed arms and a bored frown, said nothing, but her gaping eyes and mouth spoke the defiance she would not voice.

  “She may need a woman’s assistance.” Peter noticed Winnie’s eyes flash to Alice. “Alice can’t go. She’s working. You’re not doing anything. Go help Jack.”

  With a huff, she stomped after Giselle and Jack as they hobbled out of the soundstage.

  “Now, let’s get on with it,” Peter said far more like a director than a movie star. “Where is Mr. Peacock?”

  Peacock had been sitting away from the stage, perusing the script and eating a sub waiting for this particular drama to conclude, so he had his mouth full when his name caught his attention.

  “In the conservatory with the candlestick?”

  Even though Peter spoke in so authoritative a tone as marked his self-importance, Alice turned her back to him and jumped off the stage before he could see her grin that threatened to break into laughter.

  “M white ear.” Mr. Peacock garbled his words through the sandwich in his mouth as he arrived at the set.

  Alice opened her script to the scene and put it into the hands of a clueless technician. “Here, Jeff. Go stand in for Sienna.”

  Jeff popped another Funyun in his mouth, wi
thout having swallowed the one he had been chewing, wiped his hand on his jeans, and nodded as his eyes scanned the page. As he walked to the set, Alice took her seat behind the cameramen where she could see the monitors mounted from the ceiling.

  “All right, everyone.” Peacock stood in the center of the set and clapped his hands, assuming control as Mrs. Jellyby wandered off in defeat. “Places! Now Tristan,” he said to Peter, provoking an eye-roll. “You will start at this spot.” He pointed down at a marker. “Then when Sienna turns around, she’ll start walking, you’ll follow her and stop on that marker. Got it?”

  “Why would she turn and walk away from me during this emotional conversation?”

  “That’s…that’s how we’re going to try it. It’s just a rehearsal, so we can see how it works. Sienna,” Peacock said, turning to the trim young man in jeans and a t-shirt, still wearing his headset. “You will stand on this marker.” Then he pointed to places on the script in Jeff’s hand. “You will turn around here…then you will walk to your next marker starting here. Got it?”

  Jeff nodded. “Yup.” With all the time he had spent watching the production, he probably knew the setup better than Peacock.

  “OK, then.” Mr. Peacock scampered off the set and sat in his chair beside Alice, eyes on the monitors. “Action!”

  Jeff (in complete monotone) – It has been a long time Tristan since you went away.

  Tristan – I know. Too long.

  Jeff (in complete monotone) – I began to be afraid you would never come back again people did say you were lost at sea but I hoped I hoped it wasn’t true

  Tristan – They were right, Sienna. It’s true, I have been lost, lost in my own head. I had to find myself before I could come back to you. But now I am back.

  Jeff (turns around; in complete monotone) – A lot has happened in Valley View Bay since you went away you know Lucas is married now do you remember Damien he was in a terrible accident

  Tristan – A lot has happened to me as well. I want to show you that I have changed –

  Jeff (walks away; in complete monotone) – Yes I hardly recognized you.

  Tristan – But I want to show you that I have changed on the inside. Being at sea, traveling the world…

  Jeff (stops on his mark; in complete monotone) – No one has to run off and join the merchant marines to change people themselv—

  “Cut!” Peacock hopped off his seat and over to the stage. “Tristan, what’re you doing? You are supposed to follow Sienna when she walks away.”

  “Why would Tristan go after her?” Peter asked, his tone tight. “Clearly she is not receptive to him yet. He’s a merchant marine, for Christ’s sake. He would wait until her wall begins to crack before making a physical move toward her. Why does he have to follow her now?”

  “Because if you don’t, you’re not in the shot. We need you both on camera.” Peter had no argument to counter that logic, so Peacock walked back to his seat, where Alice had her forehead down in her hand to hide her suppressed laughter. “Now let’s take it from ‘It has been a long time Tristan since you went away.’ And action.”

  Jeff (in complete monotone) – It has been a long time Tristan since you went away.

  Tristan – I know. Too long.

  Jeff (in complete monotone) – I began to be afraid you would never come back again people did say you were lost at sea but I hoped I hoped it wasn’t true

  Tristan – They were right, Sienna. It’s true, I have been lost, lost in my own head. I had to find myself before I could come back to you. But now I am back.

  Jeff (turns around; in complete monotone) – A lot has happened in Valley View Bay since you went away you know Lucas is married now do you remember Damien he was in a terrible accident

  Tristan (walks toward Sienna) – A lot has happened to me as well. I want to show you that –

  “CUT!” Alice couldn’t recall Mr. Peacock ever expelling such a long exhalation of frustration as he marched back on set. Peter walked around Jeff to meet him. “What was that? Sienna hadn’t started walking away yet. You need to stay on your marker.”

  “If I have to follow her, I think it’s more natural to follow her when he says he wants to show her.”

  “It doesn’t matter what you think! You’re not the director!”

  Peter released a puff of irony and shook his head then spoke through clenched teeth. “I stayed in the shot, didn’t I?”

  “That’s not the point. The camera was focused on Sienna. Are you this difficult with all your directors?”

  “If you mean do I give them my opinion based on my study of the character, yes!”

  “No wonder you were fired from COD.”

  “I wasn’t fired – I quit. Listen, this is never going to work. I can’t do this scene with this kid. He can’t act worth a shit, he’s just reciting the lines, and he smells like onions!”

  Jeff lifted his hand to his mouth, blew on his palm, smelled it and shrugged.

  “It’s a simple scene. You start on your marker, you walk to that marker, you stand on the marker. Sometimes you talk; sometimes you listen. I would read Sienna’s lines for you, but I need to watch the monitors. So can’t you put your acting ability to work with Jeff?”

  Peter looked away from Peacock, and his gaze landed on Alice. Oh, shit. She leaped from her chair to run to her office and make her escape.

  “Miss McGillicutty.”

  Double shit. Her shoulders fell as she turned toward the set, her eyes downcast.

  “Can’t she stand in for Sienna?” he asked Mr. Peacock. “She must know the script – she wrote it.”

  “She prefers to watch in case she wants to make adjustments to the dialog.”

  “I would think she would be able to do that even better if she’s acting it out.”

  “Alice,” called out Mr. Peacock. “Would you mind standing in so we can get out of here sometime tonight?”

  She dragged herself to the set passing Jeff, who offered her the script, but she waved it away. She narrowed her eyes at Peacock giving him her best evil-eye, which he ignored, then took her mark.

  “OK, we’re going to take if from the top. You know where to start. I’ll call out the rest of the blocking.” Once back in his chair, he said, “Action.”

  Sienna (nervously, eyes averted) – It..it’s been a long time, Tristan. Since you went away.

  Tristan – I know. Too long.

  Sienna (meets his penetrating gaze) – I began to be afraid you would never come back again. Then everyone said you were lost at sea, but I hoped. I hoped it wasn’t true

  Tristan – They were right, Sienna. It’s true, I have been lost, lost in my own head. I had to find myself before I could come back to you. But now I’m here.

  Sienna (turns around, nervously fidgeting) – A lot’s happened in Valley View Bay since you went away. You know Lucas is married now. Do you remember Damien? He was in an accident and –

  Tristan – A lot has happened to me as well. I want to show you that I have changed –

  Sienna (walks away; Tristan follows) – Yes I hardly recognized you.

  Tristan – No, I want to show you that I have changed on the inside. Being at sea, traveling the world, it’s a humbling experience…

  Sienna (stops on her mark)

  “Tristan,” Peacock’s voice bellowed from the shadows, “you keep walking until you’re about a foot behind Sienna.

  Sienna (stands on her mark, Tristan walks toward her) – No one has to run off and join the Merchant Marines to change, Tristan. People themselves alter so much, there’s something new to be observed in them forever.

  Tristan – Have you changed, Sienna?

  Sienna – Of course. I’m not that naïve girl you abandoned anymore.

  Tristan – I wasn’t leaving you.

  Sienna – I was just collateral damage.

  Tristan (places his hand on her upper arm) – I never meant to hurt you. What I did was selfish and without a thought to anyone’s feelings,
how my actions affected others. I was ruled by my temper and resentment toward my father. I couldn’t forget his vices or his offenses against me.

  Sienna – But even when he died, you didn’t come back.

  Tristan (turns Sienna to face him eye to eye, grasps both her arms, pulls her closer to him; emotionally) I never claimed to be perfect. I have my faults, but I want the chance to redeem myself in your eyes. I want to prove that I have become worthy of your love.

  (He lifts his hand to her face and strokes her cheek with his thumb.)

  Sienna – (gasps! This is not in the script!)

  Tristan – (peers into her eyes) Can you give me that chance?

  Sienna (trembles under his touch) – Hu-How do I know you won’t leave again?

  Tristan – (lowers his hand to hold her neck, where he can no doubt feel her pulse racing, and rubs his thumb along her lower lip) I won’t make promises I can’t keep. But you can’t have such an attachment to this place. You couldn’t have wanted to stay in Valley View Bay forever.

  Sienna – (closes her eyes, melting from his ministrations, her breathing accelerated; raspy) I…I don’t know what you mean.

  Tristan – (places his hands on either side of her head, raising her face, waiting for her to look up at him) If I leave, I’ll want you with me.

  Sienna (wonders if he’s been sucking on a butterscotch, reminds her of butterscotch schnapps sweet in her mouth, sending a river of warmth through her and pooling below her belly; realizes he is leaning in as if…as if to kiss her! - widens her eyes; yells ) – CUT!