Method Acting

Excerpt

"I'll be frank with you both." Walt leaned back in his desk chair and the springs groaned. "Gwynnie ... you're in danger of being typecast. The dumb blonde routine has gotten old. And Eric, your last three pictures bombed." He lifted a chubby hand. "But if you two can bring the same magic to this film that you had in Starlight Dreams, we'll be biting our nails at the Oscars again. I'm telling you, these roles have 'breakout' written all over them."

"Okay," Eric said. "You've got my attention. But who's the screenwriter? Why all the secrecy?" He grabbed the script from the edge of Walt's desk, flipped through it. "Hell, I don't even know how the story ends. The last fifty pages are missing."

Walt flashed a cigar-stained grin. "Don't sweat the small stuff, kid."

"I don't call an unfinished screenplay 'small stuff'," Gwyn put in.

"Who says it's unfinished?" Walt scooted forward. He plopped his forearms atop the massive antique desk. "Look, I wouldn't be producing the thing if I didn't believe in it. Trust me, this picture's gonna be huge." His grin broadened. "The special effects alone are gonna dazzle. We're using state-of-the-art CGI, and a little something extra. That's why it's so hush-hush. The studio's sparing no expense."

Gwyn didn't look convinced. She tossed her script aside. "I'm sorry, but I don't care how much money Paragon throws into it. I want to see an ending, and for the record, I'm not the desperate one here." She darted a finger in Eric's direction. "He needs this job more than me. I've got two other offers lined up."

"Yeah, and I've got two ovaries." Eric rolled his eyes. " You're a piece of work. At least I'm honest enough to admit when I— "

"You honest?" She laughed. "Now there's a joke."

"Here we go again," Walt said with a sigh.

Eric's gaze hadn't left Gwyn's. "Everybody knows your career is one flush away from going down the john.  Admit it. You need this movie as much as I do. But you're scared."

"Of what?"

"Working with me. You're still pissed I won that Oscar and you didn't."

"Don't flatter yourself. I can act circles around you. I just don't feel like stroking your ego again."

"Yeah, right. Go shovel that bullshit somewhere else." Eric rolled his script into a funnel. "FWI, babe ... I'm a professional. It's all about the work for me. The fact that we can't stand each other is irrelevant. I can deal with you or anybody else. You know why? Because I'm a damn good actor." He shot her a wink and stood. To Walt, he said, "Whether she signs on or not, I'm in. Send the contracts to my agent. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a plane to catch."