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Sophie stands up quickly, averting her attention. I, on the other hand, rise slowly and admire her for a moment. She’s so quiet and unsure of herself, almost as if she hasn’t broken character yet. But I know she has. She’s just Elaine in her very nature.
“Sophie,” the casting director says with a straight face now. “Thank you so much for coming in today. Impressive job. We will definitely be in touch.”
Sophie nods and smiles at each of them individually. “Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.” She glances at me just briefly, as if she feels it’s a necessary formality. But she’s swift to look away before I have a chance to give her an encouraging smile. And then she’s turning and leaving the room with excessive haste.
As soon as she’s gone, the casting director turns to me with an oversized grin she’s clearly been holding in. “Oh, she was the best…” She gestures to the others. “Wasn’t she?”
They all nod in agreement, grinning just the same.
The playwright speaks. “It’s like she jumped out of my mind. A perfect portrayal.” She turns to me. “Kai, what did you think?”
My heart is beating erratically. I still haven’t left the scene and it’s hard to find the right words. The honest truth is that she is talented. I understand now why she got the call-back. I respond in the simplest way I’m capable of. “I thought she was fantastic.”
“There was a really interesting chemistry there.” She studies my reaction. “How well did you say you know her?”
I gulp. “Just barely.”
George speaks up. “This would be her first performance on Broadway. How do you think she’d cope with a project this big?”
I hardly know her, but I know well enough what she wants. Even though we’ve only spoken for a short evening, I know a project like this one is her dream, and I know she can do it. I smile at George. “I know she has an immense amount of determination.”
“And how do you think the two of you would work together?”
“Very well,” I lie.
The casting director looks at George. “I’m not even considering the other options at this point. Are you?”
I eye the door where Sophie left, feeling a strong pull toward it.
“Honestly, no. I think we really have something here; the two of them,” George responds, turning back to me. “We may have just found your Elaine.”
I take a deep, nervous breath. “I think she would be an excellent choice.”
“Well, we’ll iron out the details tomorrow, but I don’t think there’s much more to consider.” The casting director shuffles the papers in front of her.
I look at the door again, and then back at her. “Would you excuse me for a moment?”
She gazes up at me and nods. “Sure, I think we’re finished for the day anyway. We’ll be in touch, Kai.”
I smile at the group of them and then swiftly make my way to the door, through the lobby, and out onto the street. My mind is calculating a dozen outcomes and I’m desperate to know where Sophie’s thoughts are too.
When I step into the sunshine, she’s there on the sidewalk, fumbling through her bag.
“Sophie,” I call to her as I cross the distance.
Her hand freezes on her bag, and after a pause, she turns to me, defeat written all over her face.
I stop a few paces away and smile eagerly. “They really liked you in there.”
She nods and visibly swallows, trying to force a smile. But even with her talents, she can’t act her way out of the truth I can see beneath the surface.
I clear my throat. “I don’t usually like to make assumptions about things like this, but I think they might offer you the role.” I take another step toward her. “And they should. You were fantastic.”
She tilts her head and peers at me. “Should they?”
I mirror her pose. “Of course. Why shouldn’t they?”
She sucks in a long breath, steps aside so people can pass on the sidewalk, and leans against the wall of the building, crossing her arms and staring at me.
