Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
And once again, I walked away from Kassie Brennan.
6
OLIVER
Imet with the producer/director the next morning in Toronto. The events of the past evening still lingered in my head. I had tossed and turned more than sleeping, cursing myself for losing my temper. I should have let her remarks roll off my back, but I hated that she thought so little of me. Why I hated it, I had no idea.
Davis Todd was affable and friendly. Blunt at times but not unkind. We discussed my character, the town, and his vision. He took a long drink of coffee, then sat back, eyeing me frankly.
“You got yourself into a mess back in LA.”
“I did. Unintentionally. Vic is a friend—nothing more.”
“Even before that.”
I blew out a sigh. “I haven’t been myself.”
He nodded, crossing his ankle over his knee and signaling for more coffee. “I don’t tolerate excessive drinking or fighting on my sets. I expect you to learn your lines, show up on time, and prove yourself.” He smiled at the waitress as she refilled our cups. “Thank you.”
I began to speak, but he held up his hand. “I’ll be honest with you. You weren’t my first choice for this role—you weren’t even on my radar. Annie asked me as a personal favor.”
My shoulders slumped at his words.
“But,” he continued quietly, “I watched you in Door to Nowhere and the sequel. The movies were awful, but you were brilliant.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
“I reviewed some of your other work, and you have lots of depth. I need that for this character. The fact of the matter is, he is what holds this script together. So I’m trusting you to do him justice.”
I leaned over the table. “I won’t let you down. I’ve read the script three times already. Made tons of notes I want to talk over.”
He was silent for a moment, then nodded. “And we will. But let’s get to know each other a bit. Annie tells me you’re from Richton.”
“I grew up there.”
“If you’ve read the script, you know you’re a cowboy in the movie. You ever been on a horse?”
I laughed. “I practically lived at the Colby Ranch. Been riding since I was a kid. Worked there every summer.” I had to grimace. “I might be a little rusty, but I’m heading there tomorrow to see the Colbys. I’ll saddle up and get used to it again.”
“That’s great. Annie mentioned you might have a little experience.”
“How well do you know Annie?” I asked, curious.
He grinned. “As well as anyone can know her. She is something.”
“I know. She has to be if she talked you into giving me this role.”
“She asked, but it was your work that convinced me.”
Those words bolstered my flagging ego.
“Have you worked with Carl Rawlins or Sheri Williams before?” he asked.
“Carl once, a long time ago. He’s a decent guy. Never worked with Sheri.”
He rubbed his chin. “Carl is a great pick for the lead. His character, Ryder, is older, stable. Sheri…” He paused and took a sip of coffee. “Let’s just say you’re not the only one I’m taking a gamble on. But I think she’ll make a great Camilla.”
I had heard Sheri was hard to work with at times, but I had seen her in a few things and she was a good actress. I would wait and make my own opinion about her. I totally agreed with him on his choice for Ryder. Carl was perfect for the role.
“Any chance of getting a room with the crew?” I asked.
“I thought your accommodation was set.”
“There might be an issue. The, ah, landlady is someone I knew before, and let’s just say, she isn’t my biggest fan.”
He began to laugh. “So I suppose the old adage, you can’t go home again, is correct this time?”
I scrubbed my face. “Maybe.”
“We’ve taken up the two motels in the town and the one in the nearest town to Richton. I’m staying closer to Toronto since I need access to the studio. I can try to help.”
“I’ll figure it out,” I said, not wanting to be a bother already.
“I’m going to be in Richton day after tomorrow. Why don’t we meet for breakfast? I was there last week and had a great one at a place called Dill something…”
“Kind of a Big Dill,” I replied. “I heard it’s good as well.”
“Great. Say eight? We can talk about a few things, some of your notes, and maybe take a ride together.”
“Sounds good.”
Kassie
I watched as Oliver’s rental car pulled out of the driveway early in the morning. I sat in my favorite chair by the window where I had been since four a.m. I hadn’t slept at all, Oliver’s angry words on repeat in my head. All of his speech stayed with me, but some of the phrasing echoed constantly.
I know our past is fucked up and I made a shit-ton of mistakes.