The Actor and The Actress: Episode 15 – To Be Or Not To Be

Racine: You can stand here with me if you want, but you’ll have to agree not to talk about the heat.

Matty: I’m a married woman.

Racine: Meaning what?

Matty: Meaning I’m not looking for company.

Racine: Then you should have said—‘I’m a happily married woman.’

Matty: That’s my business.

“Don’t look at him on that line, Lilly. Just look straight ahead and remain powerful and sexual. Relax your voice. Let it drop lower and control him with how you speak.” Mr. B was directing as he sat in the back of the theater watching the actors rehearse a scene from “Body Heat.” He was really pleased with the progress Lilly had made over the last few months. She was developing into a fine actress with wonderful instincts and a surprising sensuality she hadn’t revealed before.

“Mark, you have to believe you’re very sexy and clever as you talk to her. Bring a little more arrogance in the beginning.” Mark was a good actor but hadn’t tackled this kind of material before and it was challenging for him. Both Mark and Lilly had been in Mr. B’s scene study acting class for almost a year. They each liked being in an acting workshop in Los Angeles and loved the environment as well as working with the other acting students.

“Okay, let’s pick it up from here tomorrow. I have a meeting and I need to get going. Lilly, would you stay for a moment, I want to go over a couple of points with you.” He loved having time with her alone. He could tease her and make her laugh. She loved to laugh. She had become warm and open when they talked now, not as frightened as when they had met. She was still suffering from the incident then and he heard the fear in her voice when they talked on the phone and saw it in her eyes at their first meeting. The fear was gone now, replaced by an openness and an interest in everything around her. The numbness was fading.

He had shown great restraint in not getting involved with her, but he thought about her all the time. When she started class she was fragile and still going through the loss of her career as a prima ballerina. But he’d watched her relax and become more self-assured in her life and in her work. She was leaving the past behind and moving forward.

Lilly walked up to him smiling and happy from the rehearsal. “So what do you think? Are we getting closer? It felt better today.”

“Without question. You’re doing very well and I see you bringing yourself to the part which is very exciting. Be sure to warm up vocally and physically before we work. There was some tension in your voice and body and it’s holding you back.” At that moment, a man stepped into the theater and said, “I don’t mean to interrupt, I just wanted to let Lilly know I was here.”

Lilly smiled and looked surprised, as though she’d forgotten he was meeting her there. “Oh, Rick, come in. I want you to meet Mr. B. Your timing is perfect, we just finished rehearsing.”

A very attractive man walked over and shook Mr. B’s hand. It’s so nice to meet you. Lilly raves about how much you’ve helped her.” Mr. B hoped the shock he felt wasn’t visible to either one of them. “Great to meet you, too, Rick. Sorry to have to run, but I have a meeting. Lilly, we’ll talk later.” And he was gone.

On his way out of the theater, his cell phone rang. It was Katie, his assistant telling him the board members would like to start the meeting early. Shouting into his phone he said, “Well that’s too bad because I’m running late! You know my schedule, Katie, don’t call me with things like this!” He hung up, furious with her for bothering him. Katie didn’t know what had just happened. He’d never yelled at her before.

As he walked to his car, his thoughts were racing. Who was Rick? When did she meet him? Had they known each other long? He knew that he and Lilly had felt an attraction for each other even if it was unspoken. He had no right to feel jealous, but he was. When did this happen? Had he lost her? He had always thought of her as alone, not with anyone else. His heart was pounding as he started the engine. “Come With Me Now” by the Kongos was playing on the radio and he turned it up full blast as he sped away from the curb.

© 2015 Lynette McNeill Studios