by Nicole Smith
"You know how Mr. Christopher can be. He seemed to be surprised by Beth, maybe her age? I'm not sure. But things didn't seem to be getting off to a good start. Then they both went upstairs and next thing I know he's shouting, and then she's shouting right back at him. I'm glad she stood up to him. It all got very quiet, but Beth didn't come downstairs during that time, so I'm assuming he didn't fire her as his assistant yet."
"Good for her," Maggie said, around another mouthful of cookie.
"She came downstairs later and went out for lunch, then he came down and looked, I don't know, kind of stunned. I wonder if he's affected by her looks," Julia said, thoughtfully. "She's really quite beautiful."
"Her looks? We weren't looking to find her a man, Julia. We just want her to enjoy working for him if that's possible, and maybe learn more about her craft. And somewhere in all that I'm going to find out what really drove her to leave L.A."
Julia tilted her head to one side and her long black hair slid across a shoulder to hang down by her face. "What do mean, what 'drove' her?"
"Listen, you can't tell me that she just randomly came out here. She wouldn't leave L.A. even to come to my wedding! Now suddenly out of the blue, she shows up. Something happened, I tell you, something not good. But we can't push her. I do know that much about my sister. We have to give her time."
Julia nodded. "Okay. You won't find me pressuring her. You know, I like Mr. Christopher. If she can help him with what he's trying to do here, well, I'm all for it. Whatever might happen beyond that..."
"Nothing will happen beyond that!" Maggie said forcefully, and then shoved another cookie in her mouth with a frown.
* * * *
Beth ate her turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce at Deb's Deli sitting by herself. She watched the crowd of people sitting at tables and standing at the counter curiously. Watching people, listening to them, was second nature to her. She stored up mannerisms, tones of voice, postures and facial expressions in her mind, to think on later or to practice. To her, acting was all about making a character believable and the way to that was to find the reality in each one.
She was finished with her sandwich and debating going to the Bakery for dessert when she witnessed a commotion near the door. Her table was close enough that she heard everything. Evidently a woman named Maelynne was in high dudgeon.
"And then he had the nerve to come over to our table and tell us to stop talking about actresses that way. As if he didn't know it was all true. Everybody knows they sleep around to get parts."
Beth froze, her glass of soda halfway to her lips. What had that woman just said?
"So Mr. Christopher actually came over to you and said something? Of all the nerve!"
Hang on, Beth thought. Mr. Christopher?
"Yes. He seemed to feel he had the right to censor our remarks. He's probably slept with tons of actresses. You know he's a director."
Beth had had enough. She stood up and walked over to face the woman.
"Excuse me. Is it, Maelynne? I'm new in town."
"Why yes, I'm Maelynne."
"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. You seem to think Mr. Christopher sleeps with actors to give them a part, is that right?"
"Well, he is a director and that new actress is from L.A. You know what that means."
Beth was aware that a circle of avidly listening people surrounded them.
"Yes, I do know what it means. You see, I am the actress from L.A. ...Beth Carter is my name. And you are insulting both Mr. Christopher and me with your ridiculous vicious gossip. What kind of an old witch are you to talk about people you don't even know? Good for Mr. Christopher for standing up to you! I'm here to tell you, Maelynne, that not every actress sleeps with a director for a role. Certainly this actress does not and never will! So keep your big mouth shut!"
Maelynne gasped as Beth swept past her and out the door. Behind her she heard everyone talking at once and a few people applauding. Beth was steaming with anger and marched back to Julia's Place muttering under her breath. When she got there she saw Julia open her mouth to talk to her and just waved at her. Racing up the stairs, she came to a stop in the office where she found Mr. Christopher pawing through the box of notes.
He looked up at her and his eyebrows rose. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
"Yes! That...that...oh, the names I could call her! That woman, Maelynne. She came into the deli and was spouting off about you and how you probably made actresses sleep with you for parts and I just blew up at her. What a hateful woman she is!"
"Interesting," he replied, his lips twitching into a smile. "I confronted her at the Lobster Shack over lunch where she was flat out saying she knew you would be sleeping with the director for a part because all actresses do that. It appears Maelynne is not having a good day."
Beth took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she began to laugh. Just a chuckle at first, then she saw his smile and they both started laughing. The more she laughed the more he did, and soon they were both holding their sides. Beth sat down at the desk and finally pulled herself together. She looked at the man across from her who had defended her honor.
"You know, it does happen in our business. It's why I'm here."
"What do you mean?" he asked with a frown.
"In L.A. I was up for a part, a really big part in a sitcom that everyone expects to take off. I went through tons of auditions. I even missed my sister Maggie's wedding because I had another call back and didn't want to miss it. I worked so hard to get that part. And then the director called me in and told me I got it. I was so happy. I just wanted to work, you know? Just wanted to act. And then he gave me the news that I had the part on the condition I slept with him, not just once but whenever he wanted."
"He what?" Mr. Christopher said, his voice quiet, yet menacing.
"Yes, you heard me correctly. I was so mortified. Here I was thinking he thought I was good at acting, and then to discover he only wanted my body."
"What did you do? What did you say?"
"I left his office kind of stunned, not really telling him anything I'm afraid. I just couldn't believe it. Then I went home and realized there was no way I could do it, even if I never got another acting job again. You see, that was part of it. Agree or be blacklisted. Really, Andy Benton is quite the slime ball."
"Benton. Andy Benton. I've heard that name. He is big out there."
"Well, I called and told him no. Then I packed up my clothes, quit my secretarial job, called my brother for money for a plane ticket and basically, got out of Dodge. I feel on the one hand like I ran away. But on the other I feel like I managed to barely escape. So I came here, uncertain if I'd ever go back. Finding out I could work in any capacity at something connected to what I love seemed like a godsend."
Mr. Christopher shook his head, still looking a bit angry. "Guys like that Benton...they stain the profession with their sins. Good for you for standing up to him."
She looked into his eyes and what she found there gave her a sense of relief inside. Something tight, in her heart, loosened at his response to her story. She had done the right thing, she'd known that, but somehow it helped her to hear him support her decision.
"You and I," she said with a small smile. "We haven't exactly hit if off today."
"No, but then, I rarely get along with people who work for me."
"Really? That must be kind of lonely."
He looked surprised. "I'm not sure I've ever considered that aspect of it."
"Are you willing to look at the tablets Julia has this afternoon?"
He sighed. "You're not going to let up on me about that are you?"
"No."
"Fine. But if it doesn't work, we go back to my way."
She nodded and glanced up and down at his clothes. "I'm assuming you'll want one in black. Is that a big city look?"
"It's just easier. I'm usually too busy to think about what I'm wearing. If it's all black, I can't go wrong."
"Hmm."
>
"What?" he said, glancing at her suspiciously.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing." She got up and led the way downstairs to Julia, thinking how smashing he'd look in a deep blue shirt and gray slacks. Perfect for his eyes.
Two hours later she took a deep breath and blew it out. "I think we need a break."
He set the tablet down. "I couldn't agree more. I guess I can see how much of a help this thing could be to me, but it seems like it's taking me a while to get the hang of it."
Beth silently agreed wholeheartedly, but said, "You're doing great."
He stood up and looked down at her. "How about we take a walk over to the playhouse? See how the work there is progressing. You haven't seen it yet have you?"
She smiled and felt energized again. "I'd love to see it. Let's go!"
He chuckled. "I think you've shown me great patience this afternoon, even if you haven't said how slow I've been."
She looked down for a second and then looked up into his eyes. "Let's go see that stage."
He laughed.
As she followed him down the stairs, she reflected on how his smile and laughter changed his face so much. It seemed scowling at everyone was his normal look, but then he would smile at her and she felt surprised by it every time. With that smile he was a handsome man. He was always charismatic, even when he was not happy about something. But without the frowns he became attractive and, yes, rather sexy.
What was it about dominant men, or rather men who could take charge and who were good at what they did, that was so appealing? She wondered about it as she walked beside him. She thought it might be that on some level they made a woman feel protected and safe. But she didn't want or need that in her life, she thought. Then she backtracked and thought that perhaps, every now and then, feeling cared for and protected and safe and loved might be a very good thing.
"Beth? Did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, no. I was thinking of something."
"I said, 'Here we are.' This is it."
She looked up at a large old building.
"We'll eventually have the outside completely restored, but for now we only worried about safety issues. The focus of the work is on the interior."
Beth liked the look of the place. It had an art deco exterior in the past, much of which was visible through the decay. They entered the building to the sound of hammers banging and raised voices.
"Ah, no, not again," Mr. Christopher said. "The carpenter and the designer have been at odds almost every day since we started. I think the two just can't get along."
"Who is usually right?" she asked.
"The carpenter. He's from Sully Point and has been doing woodworking his whole life. The designer was brought in from the city. He looks down on the local man which doesn't help anything."
They moved on through the foyer to the auditorium portion of the building. Beth gasped in delight. "It's wonderful!"
Mr. Christopher gazed around and nodded. "Yes, it's coming along. And down front there is the whole reason we're here--a brand new stage. Want to take a walk across it?"
"Can I?" Beth was excited at the thought.
He waved a hand at her. "Sure, go ahead. I'll see what the argument we're hearing is about."
She walked quickly down the room and mounted the steps. Pausing for a second, she walked slowly out onto the stage. She couldn't help herself, she had to do a speech from a play. The first monologue that came to her mind was Gypsy Rose Lee's defiant speech to her mother from Gypsy.
* * * *
Mr. Christopher was three-quarters of the way into the large open room when he heard a voice speaking from the stage. The hammering stopped and it got quiet. It was Beth and she was playing Gypsy Rose Lee to perfection. As she reached the climax of the speech, her voice was vibrant and strong with emotion.
He was completely surprised. To hear that kind of depth from someone her age was not at all what he'd expected.
Beth called out to him. "Sorry, but I had to say something since I was up here." He could see her beaming smile easily and was struck again by her beauty. He knew in an instant that the stage was right where she belonged. Often through the years he'd get a feeling and he'd just know when someone was right for a part. He immediately knew who he would cast as Corie Bratter, the newlywed wife in Barefoot in the Park, the first play they were doing in Sully Point.
He watched her walking back toward him and thought irrelevantly that the town gossips were going to have a field day with this. He turned to face the designer and carpenter. "Now, Milton, what seems to be the problem?"
"This man refuses to follow my plan!"
"Nobody is refusing anything. I'm just telling you it can't be done the way you drew it."
Beth walked up then and Mr. Christopher held up his hands. "Hold on a second. Beth, this is our designer, Milton, and our carpenter, Angelo Caronelli. Gentlemen, this is my assistant Beth Carter."
Milton nodded stiffly, while Angelo held out a hand to shake hers.
"Anyway, I think I've told you before, Milton, that we need to listen to Angelo as he's the one with the woodworking experience."
"Clearly not enough experience!"
"Excuse me, Milton?" Beth firm voice interrupted. "Obviously you aren't listening. If the man who does this for a living says it can't be done, then it can't be done. Why are you causing an uproar over something like that? Just re-work your design."
"I don't need the opinion of an assistant, thank you very much," Milton said, and folded his skinny arms across a concave chest.
"Oh this time, I think you will hear my opinion," Beth said, holding a hand out to Mr. Christopher, clearly not wanting him to interfere. "You see, I'm not just an assistant. I'm also the sister to one of the main investors. You know, the ones who sign your pay check? If you aren't capable of working with an experienced man like Mr. Caronelli here, we would have no problem in bringing in someone else to finish the project."
Milton gasped, as if he was suddenly quite short of breath. "I--I--you can't! It's going to be my masterpiece!"
"Only if you pay attention to Mr. Caronelli. Are we clear, Milton?" Beth asked with a stern look on her face.
"Quite, uh, quite clear."
She smiled in response and Milton's relief was obvious. "Mr. Christopher," she said, turning to him. "I'd love to see the backstage area."
"Certainly, Beth. Right this way," he said, struggling to keep his laughter from spilling out at the look on Milton's face.
The backstage area and dressing rooms were close to being done and they poked around there for a while. The whole time he wondered who he could get as Corie's husband in the play that might do justice to Beth's acting ability.
Finally, they were through with the tour and left the building. He glanced at her as they began the walk back to the office.
"I want you to play the lead."
"What?"
"In the first production. We're doing Barefoot in the Park. I want you to play Corie."
Beth stood still, staring at him. He faced her and continued. "I had no idea you were so talented. That monologue you just did was perfect. You have what the Corie character needs. Fire, but with vulnerability. Will you do it?"
Beth's emerald eyes were open wide with what looked like shock. "Would I...of course I would! Seriously? You really want me for the part?"
"Absolutely. I have a knack for casting. You'll be great. And...just to be clear...no strings."
She smiled at him. "Thanks, for saying that. And thank you so much for offering me the part." She started walking again beside him. Suddenly she burst out laughing.
"What? What is it?"
"Oh my word, what is Maelynne going to say about us now?"
He smiled at her. "That thought crossed my mind. But we aren't going to let a little gossip stop us, right?"
"Right!"
Once they were back at the office, he set about looking for the stack of scripts he'd ordered. Beth found the box they were in, and accepted o
ne from him and held it to her chest.
"You've made this one of the best days ever. Are we done for the day? I want to go home and read this."
He gave her an indulgent smile. "Yes, yes, go ahead. Have a good time."
"Thanks!" She grabbed her handbag and flew out of the office, clattering down the stairs. When he heard the front door close, he let himself laugh. That had felt really good. Making her smile was...not where he needed to go! He was just happy, as a director, he told himself. Happy to have found the right actress for a part. That was all.
He nodded firmly to himself. Picking up the tablet from the desk, he decided to take it home and play with it. Maybe it would start to feel more natural. It would be good to impress her tomorrow with his new skills.
* * * *
Frank Grainger called his daughter Anna, and then Maggie, to invite them over with their spouses for supper. When he tried calling Beth to invite her, he was shocked to be turned down. Politely, but definitely, he'd been given a refusal to his invitation. He immediately let Maggie know.
Beth was sitting curled up in the cream brocaded chair reading when her phone rang again. "What?" she answered absently.
"Beth! Is that any way to answer a phone?" she heard her sister say.
"Oh, hi Maggie. What's up?"
"What's up is that you refused an invitation from Frank for dinner."
"I've got something I'm doing so I figured it would be okay to pass on it."
Maggie's sigh transmitted clearly over the phone. "No, it's not okay. Honestly, Beth. What is so important that you wouldn't show up?"
"Maggie, the most wonderful thing has happened," she answered. "I've got a part! A real honest-to-God part!"
"A part? In L.A.?"
"No, no, no. Here, in Sully Point. Mr. Christopher just gave me the lead in the first play he's putting on in the new Playhouse. I've got the script right here and I was going to read it tonight."
There was silence for a minute on the phone, and then Maggie said, "Congratulations, that's great. But it's no excuse to miss dinner at the Grainger house. Now set the script down, and brush your hair and change clothes and show up. In an hour, okay? We can celebrate your news."