Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 13908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 70(@200wpm)___ 56(@250wpm)___ 46(@300wpm)
“Yes…”
“I didn’t know he was coming. I haven’t seen him.”
“Oh never mind. I must have misunderstood him.”
“Right. Are we ready to begin the table read?” I wonder, not for the first time, what actually does for our company. I’ve got to find that out.
“Yes. I just met Stacee. She’s delightful. Such a refreshing change of pace.”
“Isn’t she?”
I follow her to a corner of the studio where craft services are set up on one side and, on the other side, a huge round table and chairs. I sit down where my place card is and open the script. I’ve memorized most of my lines but could use some practice.
Stacee comes over and sits down beside me.
“Hi,” she says, setting her glass down on the table in front of her.
“Hi,” I reply.
“I missed you,” she whispers. She wants to keep it professional in public for now, and while it grates on my nerves, I understand why she’d prefer to keep it that way. I, on the other hand, want to tell the whole fucking world that she’s mine.
“Let’s go. Scene One. Dunshire and Audrey. Interior of the manor house. That’s Stage Two; when we go to shoot,” Stella shouts. “Marsha will read all stage directions. You focus on your lines. Action!”
“Early morning. Audrey uses a large brass knocker to knock on the impressive door. After a few seconds the door swings open and a man in a dressing gown is standing there.”
“What do you want, girl? Tis far too early or far too late for a doxy to come calling.”
“No, milord. I’m here to apply for the maid position, milord.”
“Maid?”
“Your housekeeper, Mrs. Ainsley, told me you required one..”
This goes on with these two until Stacee leaves him for the Americas and right into my waiting pirate arms.
After we read the entire film, which takes about two hours, we still have daylight, so Stella wants to shoot Scene Four. The first of several scenes that are of a sexual nature between Audrey and Geoffrey. I go to my trailer, throw on my costume with the help of a wardrobe assistant and meet everyone back on set. Stella likes to get these out of the way because she uses a closed set for them. No one but the actors, the two camera people, the intimacy coordinator, and Stella are on set.
“This is Hollis. She is the intimacy coordinator. She’s going to work with you briefly on blocking this scene, unless you just want to give it a go and see what you come up with? It’s up to you guys.”
“We’ll give it a go,” Stacee and I say simultaneously.
“Awesome. I’ll be on standby,” Hollis says.
“Thanks,” Stella says.
In this scene, I am supposed to undress her and pantomime going down on her. She is against the idea of it at first, but then she likes it. I think I can handle that. Stacee turns away from me and does some kind of yoga pose, centering her chi or something, and it’s both adorable and hilarious since she is in a huge dress. When she turns back around, I almost don’t recognize her due to the fierce look in her eyes. I try to do the same but fail. That’s not really my process. I just show up and get the shit done, but for her, I want to give it my all because I know that she will.
“Places! Action!” Stella shouts. She’s always shouting.
I grab Stacee’s shoulders and bring her close to me.
“Why did you stow away on this ship?”
“Excuse me, Captain? What do you mean?”
“Why did you choose this ship?”
“It flies a British flag. I thought you were going to my homeland. I did not know it was a false flag.”
“You want to go home?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Where is home?”
“The East End of London.”
“You sound a mite too fancy for that.”
“I went to a proper finishing school.”
“How did you end up in Australia?”
“My former employer became an ambassador for his majesty. He sent him here. He brought his whole household.”
“Were you his mistress?” my character spits at her.
“No.”
“Lover?”
“Never.”
“How will you pay for your passage?”
“I have coin.”
“What if I said that coin wasn’t good enough?”
“You may as well throw me overboard. I’ll not spread my legs for you or your men.”
“Who said anything about those rotting bastards?”
“You wish me to spread my legs for you?”
“You’ll do more than that,” I say gruffly. We stare at each other until she surges forward; her lips are on mine. In seconds I have the bodice of her dress ripped down the front, her chest is heaving, and my breathing is no better. I lift her onto the desk in the captain’s office and push her skirts up to her waist. “No drawers? What a naughty kitten.” I finish the scene as best as possible without taking her for all to see. Then I move back up her body and take her lips again, ending it, but I don’t stop kissing her.