The Last Take

by Tabitha Bree

  “Look, we all know Damon is a dickhead,” Eric cuts in. “But this is for the greater good. We’ve already tried talking to him. He’s still too furious to even consider coming back. At this point, the only hope we have is some good old fashioned groveling, and there’s only one person he’ll want it from.”

  “You’re delusional if you think I’m going to get on my knees and beg that idiot to come back.”

  Eric and Simon share a look before Eric leans back in his seat.

  “Then you can tell that to Nolan tomorrow at the studio.”

  For the walk home, I reflect on the dismal turn of events. I’d finally come around to the film, finally found my joy in directing again, finally found someone genuine that I might’ve had a future with…

  And now look at everything.

  The film we’ve all been working on for nearly three months is circling the drain, and the girl I want isn’t interested in me.

  Not once in her entire defense did Evie say she wanted to be with me. Maybe she didn’t pursue Damon. But she also didn’t care about me enough to reject him.

  I walk up the driveway and remember another dampener on my day: I’m going to have to face up to my crew and my friends.

  Sooner than I expected.

  “You didn’t think you could avoid me forever, did you?” Dee is leaning against the side of my house, arms crossed over her chest.

  “I’m not that lucky.”

  I unlock the door and she pushes past me, marching into my house.

  “Please, come in,” I say flatly, holding my arm out.

  She takes a few steps inside before whipping around to face me.

  “Would you like to tell me what the fuck is going on?”

  “I’m assuming you heard the gist of it. Damon is out and the rest of production is on hold. Indefinitely.”

  “I don’t want the gist of it,” she barks. “I want to know what happened in that trailer. The last I knew, you were going to help Evie persuade Damon to come back, and next minute he is driving out of the lot, you disappear into thin air, and Evie looks like someone has died.”

  My stomach knots at the thought of her being upset. Because of me.

  Or maybe it was because of her guilt.

  I don’t have the energy to beat around the bush, so I just come out with it. “I saw them kissing.”

  Dee’s eyes widen. “You saw them kissing?”

  “Yes.”

  “Damon and Evie?”

  “No, Damon and the catering guy. Yes, Damon and Evie.” I throw my house keys on the counter. “In his trailer.”

  “And did you ask her what happened, or did you just fly off the handle?”

  “Of course I did. She said he kissed her. But honestly, it didn’t look like she was trying to get away. Not till she realized I was there.” I walk to my comfy chair and slump into it, rubbing my forehead.

  “That’s just your cynicism talking,” Dee says, sitting on the couch. “If Evie says there was nothing to it, there was nothing to it.”

  “Right. Because making out with one of Hollywood’s most lusted after actors was an accident.”

  Dee’s eyebrows come together. “When did you get like this?”

  “Like what?”

  “So defensive. So sure that everyone and everything is out to screw you over.”

  “It’s called life experience.”

  “No, it’s called being a bitter old man. Seriously Adam, I’ve known you for a while now, and I thought you were getting better.” She shakes her head. “It baffles me that a young man with so much opportunity can be so damn pessimistic.”

  I feel a heat swelling in my chest. Now Dee is making this my fault, too?

  “I don’t get why I’m getting the dressing down here. Evie went to great lengths to keep us separated as some noble attempt to protect her reputation. Yet she skulks around in trailers having secret make out sessions with film stars.”

  Dee’s eyes round as she watches me. “Why do you insist on seeing the worst in people?”

  I lean forward, staring at the floor.

  “Because life isn’t a fucking movie, Dee. And when someone shows you who they really are, you should pay attention.”

  Dee nods, her lips in a firm line.

  “Wow, Adam… I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, I know. It fucking sucks.”

  She stands up, folding her arms together. “No, I’m sorry because up until now, I thought your attitude was a fun quirk. But now I’m realizing it’s the only thing stopping you from being happy.”

  I inhale sharply as she walks towards the door and disappears down the driveway, leaving me with a sinking feeling in my gut, and the giant cat portrait hanging on the wall.

  29

  Evie

  “And I thought the stunt you pulled last time was bad enough. Now you’re bullying the main cast off my set??”

  I lean my ear closer to the door, careful to remain out of sight.

  “I was hardly bullying him. He was being a little bitch,” Adam retorts.

  Production is back on with scenes that don’t include Damon, but that can only last so long. Especially if he is never coming back. I snuck over to the production office when I saw Nolan and Adam go inside. Adam and I aren’t even speaking, but I need to know what’s going on.

  Like if I have a job to come to tomorrow.

  They’ve been arguing for the best part of five minutes, but so far, they are mainly shouting in circles.

  “We all know Damon is a snowflake,” Nolan says. “But as professionals, it’s our job to appease talent like that. You think you’re the first director who’s had to deal with a diva?”

  “I’ve dealt with divas. But Damon is a whole other level of entitled.”

  Adam’s voice is low, and I can’t help but draw my own parallels to his comment.

  “What’s going on here, Thorne? Do the two of you have personal beef or something?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Well there has to be something going on. Otherwise you wouldn’t be intent on destroying my film two weeks away from wrapping!”

  “He was disrespecting me!” Adam roars. “He was disrespecting the whole crew! Wasting everyone’s time! Guys like that don’t deserve to be in the limelight if they won’t do their fucking job.”

  “And your job is to work with people like him. For God’s sake, suck it up!”

  Adam growls and they go silent. I’m tempted to take a peek inside, but I can’t risk getting caught.

  I haven’t seen or spoken to Adam since we argued in Damon’s trailer. Also known as ‘the worst night of all time’. I’d thought about reaching out to him, but every time I picked up my phone, his words rang in my head.

  Maybe you’re just trying to hitch your wagon to the best horse.

  How could he even think that about me? Let alone say it. I get he was upset about Damon, but he knew me better than that.

  At least, I thought he did.

  I can’t get the vision out of my mind. That crushed shock in his eyes. The way he looked straight through me, like I was a stranger. But he wouldn’t even let me explain, wouldn’t even listen to me properly. It was like he wanted to believe I was being shady.

  “You have to go to him. You have to apologize; say whatever you have to say to make him come back,” Nolan continues.

  “Over my dead body.”

  “Does it look like I’m playing around? I swear to God, Thorne. You better make this right.”

  Nolan’s tone is cutting, sharp as glass.

  “Or what?”

  I don’t like where this is going, and I’m desperate to help. I do think that Adam overreacted, but it’s obvious now that Damon bothered him even more than I realized. And I feel bad for my part in fueling the rivalry.

  “Or I’ll blacklist you across the entire industry.” Nolan’s voice is deep and menacing. “Every production company, every studio. Nobody will touch you. You can consider your career over.”

&n
bsp; “Kiss my—”

  “Wait!”

  I come through the door, making Nolan flinch.

  “Miss, we’re in the middle of a private conversation,” he says.

  “I know. And I have an idea that could make everything better.”

  I let my eyes drift to Adam. He looks tense, like the sight of me is causing him physical pain. I take a deep breath, trying to compose myself. I will have to deal with that later—one issue at a time.

  Nolan raises his eyebrows at me. “This issue is a little above your pay grade.”

  “Let her speak,” Adam says, holding up his hand.

  I give him a weak smile before turning to Nolan.

  “Gus.”

  “My name is Nolan.”

  “I know. But the idea… it’s Gus.”

  “Who the hell is Gus??”

  “Damon’s stunt double,” Adam cuts in, frowning.

  “And he’s the spitting image. Honestly, you wouldn’t believe it,” I say quickly, worried Nolan’s going to boot me out of the office at any moment. “We’ve already shot all the scenes with dialogue. Now it’s just some actions scenes and second unit won’t be filming with Damon’s character at all. It’s perfect.”

  “Except for that stunt doubles aren’t actors,” Nolan says, sighing like I’m a little kid wasting his time.

  “Except he is! That’s the whole reason he came to LA.”

  “How do you know that?” Adam asks me.

  “He told me.”

  Nolan drags his hand over his shaved head. “We can’t just swap out actors with other actors for different parts of the film. I’m not producing a soap opera.”

  “The audience will hardly notice,” I reply. “Seriously, you need to look at this guy.”

  Adam is still frowning, but nods his head. “She’s right. We could get away with it for the final shots.”

  “Or, you could go and talk to Damon like I’m telling you to.”

  Adam exhales, burying his hands in the pockets of his shorts. “Honestly Nolan, it’s this, or it’s the end of Primal Nature.”

  Nolan glares at him, but I can tell by the way he swallows he knows it’s his best option. He turns to me and puffs out his chest.

  “Get this stunt double in here immediately. And tell him to bring his showreel.”

  In all my talking him up, it didn’t dawn on me that Gus may not actually want this. And I am realizing this now as he steps into the production office with sheer panic in his eyes.

  “This is Gus,” I say lamely, presenting him to the room. Which now includes Eric, Simon, and a woman from the casting department. Gus smiles nervously and holds his hand out to Nolan, who regards him with a crease between his eyes.

  “What did I tell you? Uncanny, right?” I look up at our executive producer with a hopeful smile.

  Nolan inhales and accepts Gus’s hand. “Well, I guess you weren’t lying.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment. Damon’s a good looking bloke,” Gus says.

  Nolan smirks. “That accent is a giveaway. It’s a good thing there’s no dialogue left to shoot.”

  “Nothing that we can’t bluff in post,” Adam says. “Did you bring your showreel?”

  Gus presents a USB with a tight smile and hands it to Adam, who plugs it into the Mac on the desk. I give Gus the double thumbs up, on account of he looks like he’s about to pass out or pee his pants. Or both.

  I just hope I haven’t made it worse for everyone. It’s only occurring to me now that maybe Gus didn’t make it for a reason—maybe acting isn’t his strong suit, and maybe we’re all about to be deeply, deeply uncomfortable.

  As his showreel plays, I slowly let the breath escape from my chest.

  There is no reason to be worried.

  Each clip is better than the next—mainly student films and tiny parts in features—but it’s easy to see the guy has talent. There’s a snippet from a short drama, a comedy, and a gritty crime pilot that never continued. When it comes to an end, the production office falls into silence. Gus looks at me through the side of his eyes, and I can tell he hasn’t breathed in several seconds.

  “Well…” Nolan says after the longest pause ever. “I don’t see why we can’t use him.”

  Adam nods. “I think it’s our best option—”

  “—if, you can stick to the current schedule.”

  Adam’s jaw twitches.

  “I mean it, Thorne. Not another day over schedule. And it’s going to be clunky, working in a replacement. So you better find a way to whip the crew into gear, and fast.”

  Nolan turns to Gus. “Good luck. You’re going to need it.”

  Gus returns his foreboding well wishes with a tight nod, and Nolan leaves the office. Eric and Simon scurry after him.

  “Let’s get you to hair and makeup. Make sure your cut is still consistent with Damon’s,” the casting director says to Gus.

  As he steps out the front door he turns and flashes me with a grin, mouthing ‘thank you’. And with that, everything is worth it. I beam as he walks to the hair trailer. But when I turn around, I’m reminded of the issue I haven’t resolved. Which is standing awkwardly, not looking me in the eye.

  So this is how it’s going to be.

  Rather than torture myself, I leave for the door.

  “Evie?”

  When I turn, Adam is finally looking at me. And dare I say, there is almost a smile on his face.

  “I just wanted to say thank you for helping with Nolan,” he says. “You didn’t have to.”

  I shrug. “It’s important to me that this film gets made. I’m happy to help where I can.”

  Adam nods, and it seems those are the only words I’m going to get out of him. I go to leave again, but stop myself.

  “Do you think we could just call a cease fire? We don’t have long to go. Can we just be civil and try to enjoy the last days of filming?”

  He has his poker face on. The one he perpetually wore when I first met him, when it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

  “Sure,” he says. “Call it a cease fire.”

  I smile on the side of my mouth and leave him in the office. I want so much more than a cease fire with Adam, but maybe this will have to do.

  The gravel crunches under my feet, and I walk across the grounds to the sound stage. It’s such a bright day, I don’t see Kylie until she is two feet away from me.

  “There are quite the rumors going around about you.”

  I frown and look back to see Adam step out of the office and look back to Kylie. “We were just watching Gus’s showreel.”

  Kylie smirks. “You and Damon?”

  Ugh. Of course. She’s talking about me and Damon in his trailer.

  I should have never gone after him.

  “That was just a misunderstanding,” I say, walking past her.

  “You don’t need to defend yourself to me. He’s a handsome Hollywood star. Any girl would like to lock lips with that.” She walks after me. “I guess I was just surprised, that’s all.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because I thought you had a thing with Adam.”

  I stop and face her.

  “Hey, you don’t need to worry. I can keep a secret.” She winks.

  “I don’t have a thing with Adam,” I say. “And I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t gossip about me.”

  She laughs, and heads toward the sound stage. “This is showbiz, honey. The sooner you accept that gossip is inevitable, the sooner you realize that your actions have consequences.”

  As I stand there squinting into the sun, I can’t shake the feeling her words aren’t pearls of wisdom.

  They are a threat.

  30

  Adam

  In all my years of directing, I’ve never felt so out of my depth.

  The crew are gathered in the sound stage, but instead of setting up for our first shot of the day, they’re waiting for me to tell them what the hell is going on. Morale is low, and yo
u can see it in everyone’s tired faces. It’s not unusual to be exhausted this far into filming. But it’s usually the light at the end of the tunnel that motivates the team for the home stretch. The promise of a great film, the chance to see your name scroll up in the credits at the first screening. Now, they have no idea what the fate of Primal Nature is.

  But I have a deadline to meet, and an angry producer’s promise that I will be blacklisted across the industry if I don’t pull this off. I need my crew in top shape. And the group in front of me look like they’ve just witnessed a puppy getting flattened by an army tank.

  I climb up to the second level of the set so I can see everyone and clear my throat.

  “I know you’re all wondering what’s going on.”

  A few grumbles roll around the room. I suspect the news about our leading man has gotten around by now, but I know I still need to make it official.

  “I’m sure a few of you have already heard, and I’m sorry to confirm the rumors are true. Damon has left Primal Nature, and he isn’t coming back.”

  Heads drop to the floor, a few people gasp, and a couple of younger female staff look like they might cry. I ignore the gnawing feeling in my stomach and move on.

  “I know this comes as a shock to the production, especially being so close to wrapping.”

  “Wasn’t he under contract?” Brian asks.

  I rub my eyebrows. “Apparently his agent found a loophole. Damon is claiming abuse on set.”

  And this is the first time I see it—the resentment for me. Whether or not they think Damon is a tool, they know it was me who set him off. They blame me for this mess. And the worst part is, I can’t even say they’re wrong. I let my anger and jealousy get the better of me, and now my crew—the people who have worked hard for me for months—are paying the price. It’s now my job to get them on board again, to ask them to have faith in me and help me pull this off. But that’s eons out of my comfort zone.

  Directing camera movements and dialogue delivery, I can do.

  But this?