Starbright (38 page)

Beth whimpered and held him closer, as though she was dedicated to fusing their souls as well as their bodies. A honk of a horn outside made her break their kiss.

“Oh no. That’s the studio car.” She backed away from him and smoothed down her hair.

Aidan shrugged. “Tell the driver you’re getting a ride from your costar.”

Beth parted the curtains covering the foyer window and peered outside. “Yes, but then he’ll report back to Mr. Mertz. I need another excuse.”

Aidan stepped softly against her. “Mertz is gonna find out anyway after we show up at the studio together.”

Beth remained silent.

“Maybe I should just meet you at work,” he said, wishing he hadn’t put her on the spot.

Beth released the curtain. “No, please don’t. I really do want to ride with you.”

The chauffeur knocked on the door.

She sighed. “Wish me luck.”

Aidan moved aside as she opened the door, knowing their visitor wouldn’t be able to see him behind it.

“Good morning.” Beth’s greeting effectively masked her worry.

“Good morning, Miss Sutton. My name is Warren Beecham.” The chauffeur’s reply matched her enthusiasm. “I’ve come to take you to the studio for your nine o’clock script meeting.”

Aidan leaned against the wall and folded his arms over his chest. If the chauffeur gave her a hard time, he’d have to interfere.

“Mr. Beecham, I appreciate you coming here, but I actually have alternative transportation to the studio this morning—and every morning from now on. I also won’t require your services in the evenings, either.”

“But, Miss Sutton, I was told I was to be your driver for the duration of filming.”

“Well… um, I guess you didn’t get the memo. I’m terribly sorry for the mix-up.”

He cleared his throat. “How strange. I’m usually on top of these things.”

“I truly apologize.”

“All right, Miss Sutton. Have a pleasant day.”

“Thank you very much. Take care.” Beth smiled broadly as she closed the door. But after locking up, her expression became crestfallen. “Goodness, I feel terrible. What if he doesn’t get another assignment?”

Aidan wrapped his arms around her. “Mertz has tons of employees who utilize studio cars. He’ll give the guy another assignment.”

Beth frowned. “Truthfully, I’m more concerned about my performance today than anything else.”

He kissed her lips. “You’ll be fine.”

Soon Aidan and Beth were on their way to the studio, enjoying the warm sun that blanketed the open Porsche. When they pulled up to the front entrance, Aidan announced his name into the intercom. A muffled voice gave him the all clear and the gates opened.

With a rev of the engine, Aidan drove to the security hut to check in while Beth wrung her hands in her lap. He wanted to eliminate her anxiety over the read-through, but that would only happen after she got to know the cast and crew better. She was a phenomenal actress, and he had no doubt everyone else would recognize her talent quickly once they began working.

Charlie popped his head out of the window to greet them. Surprise beamed across his wrinkled face. “Good morning, Mr. Evans. Good morning, Miss Sutton.”

Aidan gave him a curt nod. “Morning.”

“Good morning, Charlie.” Beth waved enthusiastically.

“Miss Sutton, I was expecting your arrival via studio car number thirty-five.” Charlie perused the couple. “I suppose I can cross that off my clearance list for the day.”

“Yes, you can.” Beth smiled sheepishly.

“You two are costarring in
Golden Gloves
, right?” Charlie surveyed Aidan warily.

Beth tossed a nervous glance at Aidan. “Yes, and we’ve decided to rehearse as many morning and evenings as we can, outside of our time on studio grounds, to perfect our performances. So you can expect us to arrive and leave together regularly.”

Charlie offered a credulous grin. “Well, that sounds like an excellent plan. I’m sure you’ll both do a wonderful job.” He tipped his hat in farewell. “Have a great day, Miss Sutton.”

“You, too,” she replied, sounding much more relaxed.

Charlie looked at Aidan, his expression now void of suspicion. “And you as well, Mr. Evans.”

“See ya.” Aidan gave a half-hearted wave and pressed his foot to the gas pedal.

“He seemed to believe us,” Beth said when Charlie was out of earshot.

Aidan gave her hand a quick squeeze before changing gears. “You did good, baby.”

Beth’s lips eased into a proud smile as she settled back in her seat.

The open Porsche gave everyone on the lot a clear view of the couple as they drove toward the building housing the read-through, earning them more than a few double takes.
Golden Gloves
was currently the studio’s most important film in production and everyone knew the first read-through was today. However, it was clear by their shocked faces they did not expect Beth and Aidan to arrive together.

Aidan tucked his script into the back pocket of his jeans before getting out of the car and opening Beth’s door. He removed his sunglasses when they entered the building. They played their
costars only
routine in front of the elevator operator and exited at the third floor.

As the elevator doors shut behind them, Aidan looked down the corridor. He was pleased to find it vacant. Unable to resist, he snuck in a kiss.

Beth giggled against his lips. “What if someone sees us?”

Aidan kissed her again. The pleasurable moan she released implied she no longer cared if people spotted them. It was with a lingering groan that he eventually backed away and suggested they head into the read-through.

Beth tugged on his arm as he reached for the doorknob. “Can you sit beside me today?”

Her hopeful expression reawakened Aidan’s protective nature. He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.

“Absolutely, baby.”

Beth took a deep breath. When she nodded her readiness, Aidan opened the door.

“Look, everyone, it’s the talented stars of the picture.” Kazan motioned to the couple, a witty smirk reaching the corners of his lips. “Thanks for finally gracing us with your presence.”

Aidan scanned the room. It was barely large enough to accommodate a rectangular conference table and about a dozen chairs. They were the last to arrive. The rest of the principle cast sat at the table with their scripts in front of them.

“I’m sorry for our tardiness, Mr. Kazan.” A tremor accompanied Beth’s apology.

Aidan fought valiantly not to pull her into his arms again and assure her everything was all right.

Kazan flashed a grin. “Don’t worry about it, kid. I’m just teasing you. You’re actually right on time.”

Beth nodded a greeting at a young man Aidan didn’t recognize as they walked to the only available seats in the room, which thankfully were situated next to each other.

Aidan helped her remove her coat and pulled out her chair. Kazan gave an amused smile while everyone else looked shocked by the gestures.

“Beth, would you like some water?” Aidan asked, refusing to acknowledge the perplexed stares of their audience.

She gave a meek smile. “Yes, please.”

After hanging up her coat, he walked to the water cooler in the corner of the room. As he retrieved her drink, he felt all eyes still on him but put his duty of taking care of her ahead of their curiosity. He took his seat beside her, set down her cup, and tossed his sunglasses and script onto the table.

Beth took her script out of her purse and set it down beside the water cup, smoothing it out meticulously.

“Now that we’re all here, the first thing we should do is introduce ourselves. I know most of us are acquainted with each other already, but there are some new faces, and we want them to feel welcome.” Kazan cast his eyes to Aidan. “Why don’t you go first? Beth will follow, and we’ll proceed clockwise around the table.”

Aidan slouched in his chair and tapped his foot to an imaginary beat. “My name’s Aidan Evans. Most of you know me from New York and the Actors Studio. I’m playing Joe Oliver.” He lifted his shoulders in a casual shrug. “That’s pretty much it.”

All eyes in the room shifted to Beth. She provided a timid smile.

“Hello, everyone. My name is Elizabeth Sutton, but you can call me Beth if you’d like.” Her cheeks flamed red. “Um… I’m playing Mary Olivier, Aidan’s wife.”

Aidan’s heart stuttered in celebration.

“Oh, goodness! I mean, Joe’s wife.” Beth’s blush deepened with her swift correction. “I would like to add that I’m really looking forward to working with all of you. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Kazan again for choosing me to play Mary.” She looked at the director in earnest. “I will try my hardest not to let you down. Hopefully, I’ll learn about Method acting in the process, as well as make new friends.”

Aidan was delighted upon the conclusion of her introduction. Judging from the welcoming smiles across the table, she had won everyone over already.

Kazan leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers behind his head. “Well, would ya look at that?” He tossed Aidan a raffish grin. “Now, that’s how this introduction thing is supposed to go. Evans, you could learn a few things from your costar, like how to be pleasant instead of scaring the shit out of everyone all the time.”

Beth’s eyes widened, but those in the room used to Kazan’s informality laughed.

Clive Geary, the actor playing Joe’s boxing coach, followed her introduction. He talked briefly about his Method acting past and how he’d known Kazan personally since the early 1930s when they both started out in the Group Theater.

The only person Aidan didn’t recognize at the table spoke next.

“Uh, hello. My name is Wade Henley and I’m playing Sal—Joe’s best friend in the film. I’ve never worked on a film before. Uh…” He tugged at his shirt collar.

So this was the actor Beth recruited for Kazan from Schwab’s Pharmacy, huh?

If Aidan thought Beth was nervous during her introduction, she had nothing on Wade. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his hands shook as he rested them on the tabletop. He was also overdressed in a stuffy suit and tie.

Golden Gloves
might have been Wade’s first film, but Beth believed in him and Kazan hired him after one audition, which was all Aidan needed to know to give him a chance. At least he looked the part with his dark features. Now all he had to do was act the part.

Wade’s anxiety would have to go if he was going pull off his character successfully. Sal was a cocky young man with a quick wit, born and raised in the toughest and poorest neighborhood in Chicago. Aidan hoped he’d come around once he became more comfortable with his colleagues.

“Like I said, I’m playing Sal.” Wade toyed with his script, which was heavily marked with colored tabs and penciled notes. “I, too, would like to thank Mr. Kazan for this opportunity, and Marie—” He winced. “Sorry, I mean, Beth—for thinking of me for this part. And Mr. Evans, I really admire your work and hope to learn a lot from you on this film.”

Aidan couldn’t tell if Wade was sincere or just trying to butter him up. He flashed his best grin, deciding to play nice to show Beth he was making an effort to welcome her friend.

“Thanks. I’m looking forward to working with you, too. And, uh, call me Aidan.”

Beth looked pleased by his efforts.

Wade looked like he’d won an Academy Award. “Thanks, Aidan!”

“Nice to have you here, kid.” Kazan’s broad grin conveyed his confidence in the actor. “If your audition is any indication of how you’re going to perform in this film, you’re going to be great asset to all of us.”

The introductions continued with Claude Farkas, the twenty-four-year-old actor playing Joe’s opponent in the first and final dramatic bouts of the film, followed by Margaret Lowel, a seasoned Method actress playing Joe and Mary’s landlady.

Kazan introduced himself last and then launched into a speech about the picture. “This script is a damn good one, and you’re all here because I know you’re the best actors for these characters.” He stood from his chair and walked the length of the table, gesturing to no one in particular. “I teach Method acting, but I don’t force it upon people if it’s not something they’re interested in. The bottom line is you do what you have to do to get the job done right. Filming starts Tuesday on lot nine, soundstage six. I want everyone on set at six in the morning. Do
not
be late.”

Kazan stopped behind Claude. “Today’s script read-through is about getting acquainted with your character in the presence of the other performers. Memorizing your lines does not make you an actor. You gotta bounce things off your cast mates. When you read your lines, I want clear voices backed by emotion and appropriate facial gestures. Pretend you’re on set and the camera is rolling, even though we aren’t physically acting anything out today.

“Now, to effectively play your characters you need to first understand the character of Joe Oliver. This foundation will provide you with what you need to appreciate your relationship with him and what your character brings to the story.

“
Golden Gloves
is about a young man regaining his dignity, his self-esteem—in a word, regeneration. Joe is a complex, divided character. He has an inner conflict going on all the time, which isn’t resolved until the end of the film. Crucial is the fact that Joe is an orphan. As a kid, he felt homeless, unwanted, and inferior to the rest of mankind. George, his boxing trainer, adopted him in the unofficial sense and brought him to the point where he was famous.

“Fighting was Joe’s move for recognition. It was his bid for a place in the sun against a world from which he had been shut out from birth, his revenge on a society that had rejected him. When he fought, he was someone, not an orphan. George gave this to him.

“Boxing is Joe’s armor. As I’ve discussed with Aidan, Joe seems to swagger and sometimes affects jauntiness, but his eyes betray him. The swagger is a cover. When he’s not being watched or living up to the photos on the fight cards, he’s gentle and withdrawn. That’s why he can never be sure of himself or confirmed in his values—he is divided all the time.

“The great thing about this film is it has an inner story. Joe starts one way. He ends up another. When he was eighteen, he accidently killed his opponent in the ring and quit boxing. The accident, which bestowed upon him insurmountable guilt, convinced him he’s no good. Then he meets Mary, who sees the good in him. Joe’s experiences with women up until he met her were meaningless. He could never entrust himself to them. Never before Mary did he have a chance to be close to a girl and show her his tender side.