Starring Me

by Krista McGee

  Chapter 31

  I’m going to need somebody to move this couch.” Anna Grace walked around the set. “When we rehearsed, it was over there.”

  One of the crew stepped forward. “This is where we were told to place it. I’m sorry.”

  “You sure are sorry.” Anna Grace snapped her fingers in the man’s face. “Now move it back.”

  The man picked up his phone and pressed a number. “One of the girls wants us to move the couch . . .” He held the phone out to Anna Grace.

  “Hello? This is Anna Grace. Who is this? . . . Ashley. Oh, well, I was just telling this man that the couch wasn’t here when we rehearsed . . . Of course I’m flexible, but—Yes, yes, I can manage changes, but—No, don’t do that. It’s fine . . . All right.” Anna Grace handed the phone back to the man and glared at Kara.

  “What are you looking at? You know you were thinking the same thing. You just didn’t have the guts to say anything. At least Ashley knows I’ll stand up for myself.”

  Kara rolled her script in her hands. “Can we practice now?”

  “Yes,” Jillian said. “I had a little trouble remembering my lines in the middle. I’d like to run it a couple more times before the audience gets here.”

  Anna Grace walked to Jillian. “You had a little trouble? Puh-lease, you were mumbling and stammering all over the place. Good thing I know enough about acting to save your sorry behind. Fine. Let’s go. But I want some lights, folks. Too many shadows here.”

  I could strangle that girl. Kara fought down frustration at Anna Grace. At least I know if I do, Flora will write to me in prison.

  “Jillian, move,” Anna Grace yelled. Jillian got into place and Kara followed. The scene was rough. The girls were supposed to be playing best friends, but it was hard when there was so much tension. Anna Grace stopped every few minutes to give directions and Kara bit her tongue to keep from lashing out.

  “Kara, you need more energy.” Anna Grace stopped the rehearsal—again. “Ashley should have given me that part instead of making me play Shelby. I would have killed it. You’re killing it too, but in the ‘laying dead on the floor’ kind of way.”

  “Are you going to do this when the audience is here? ” Kara motioned toward the rows of empty seats.

  “Are you going to show some talent when they come? ’Cause I sure don’t see anything now.”

  Jillian stepped between the girls. “Come on now. Let’s channel our energy into this scene, not each other.” She looked up to wave at Flora, sitting in the back row.

  “Whatever.” Anna Grace walked away. “The worse you two act, the better I’ll look.”

  After a second run-through, Anna Grace announced she had to go find some solitude so she could get into character. “Not that you two would know anything about that,” she added on her way out.

  Jillian mumbled a curse word under her breath and Kara turned to her.

  “Oh.” Jillian glanced toward Flora’s seat. The woman was gone. “Sorry. She just makes me so mad.”

  “I think she does it on purpose. To try and psych us out.”

  Kara’s phone rang and Addy’s picture popped up. “Addy!”

  “Kara, I’m out front. Where are you?”

  “You made it!”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t miss a chance to see you perform live. Can you come out for a minute? They won’t let me inside.”

  “I’d love to get out of here.” Kara waved good-bye to Jillian. “Be right there.”

  Kara found the stage manager and informed him she’d be out for a few minutes, then she headed for the back door.

  “Addy?” Kara peeked her head around the corner of the building and whispered. A long line of teens was in front of the building, and Kara didn’t want to have to talk to anyone but Addy just then.

  Addy ran toward Kara and hugged her. “Your hair looks great!”

  “I know.” Kara shook her long auburn hair. “I let the stylist work her magic. Pretty impressive, isn’t it?” Hair parted in the middle, with soft curls framing her face, Kara felt like a supermodel ready for a photo shoot.

  “It is.” Addy touched one of Kara’s curls. “I’ve always loved your hair, but this is extra spectacular.”

  “I need all the help I can get.” Kara smirked. “I’m on with Jillian and Anna Grace.”

  “Oh.” Addy followed Kara to a shady spot under the awning of the building’s back entrance. “This isn’t a beauty contest, though.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You know what I mean.” Addy laughed. “You’re all beautiful.”

  “But those girls are perfect. I know.” Both of the blond bombshells could be on the cover of Glamour magazine.

  “So, are you ready for tonight?”

  “I guess.” Kara fanned herself to try to keep her makeup from melting in the Florida heat. “It’s weird. I’ve done theater, so audiences don’t scare me. But in theater, you have to be bigger, you know? You’ve got people in the back, so you have to speak louder and make your movements big enough so everyone can see and hear you. But on TV, the camera is right in your face, so you don’t have to do all that. It’s subtler. So I’m not sure what to do with the audience. Play to them or play to the camera?”

  “Don’t you have a director telling you what to do?” Addy pulled a water bottle from her backpack and handed it to Kara.

  “My prepared friend.” Kara took the water and gulped half of it down. “Thank you. Yeah, we have a director—Anna Grace.”

  “What?”

  “Ashley wants to see how we’ll do on our own. So other than some basic help, we’ve had to block and rehearse this by ourselves. We’re all doing the same scene. Three groups. One group has four people in it, so I guess they have another character. But we’re basically competing against the other groups.”

  “That’s got to be tough,” Addy said.

  “Yeah, it is. And one of the things Ashley said she’s looking for is ‘chemistry.’”

  “And you and Anna Grace are like gasoline and a lighted match.”

  “You’ve got that right.”

  “What about Jillian?”

  Kara took another sip of water. “She doesn’t cause problems. But she doesn’t really give much to work with either.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know.” Kara stretched her long arms. “She just doesn’t seem to try all that much. I don’t get her.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be great.”

  “I hope so.” Kara looked at her phone. “I’ve got to get in there. I’m so glad you came. Can you stay after?”

  “Of course, if the star can make time for a little nobody like me.” Addy laughed.

  “I don’t have time for just any nobody, but for you . . . always!” Kara took a quick bow before running back to the set for her performance.

  Contrary to Anna Grace’s opinion, Kara did take time to get into character. This time, to Kara’s relief, she got the fun part. She enjoyed adding some of her own personality and spunk to the part she was playing—Ashley. Ironic, since the Ashley I’m playing is so different from Ashley the casting director. Kara thought through her part again and walked onto the set in character, going past the “misplaced” couch to the door she’d enter from.

  Anna Grace, ignoring Kara’s “hello,” got into place and screamed for Jillian. They froze in place as the doors opened and a hundred girls and their parents filed in. The network tweeted that they were doing “market research” on a possible new show. A total lie, but they did what they thought was necessary. The executives wanted the girls to perform in front of an audience, but they didn’t want to give away the premise behind the new show.

  The stage manager walked on to tell the audience to please respond—laughing and clapping were acceptable, even encouraged. Flash photography was strictly forbidden, as was videotaping of any sort. After a final request that everyone turn their cell phones off, the stage manager exited and the lights came on. The red flashing light on th
e camera in front of Anna Grace meant that it was time to begin the performance.

  Intervention

  (A living room: couch, chair, and coffee table. Shelby and Olivia are sitting.)

  SHELBY: We’ve got to do something.

  OLIVIA: I know.

  SHELBY: This is serious.

  OLIVIA: I know it’s serious. But we have to be careful.

  SHELBY: You’re right. This is a delicate situation.

  OLIVIA: And it’s been going on for so long.

  SHELBY: I kept thinking it was just a phase, you know? Like when she was ten and the only color she would wear was purple.

  OLIVIA: Or when she was fourteen and she forced us to call her Mademoiselle.

  SHELBY: But this is so much . . . different.

  OLIVIA: I know!

  SHELBY: What do we do?

  OLIVIA: We’ve been best friends since third grade. It’s our job to confront her.

  SHELBY: Like an intervention?

  OLIVIA: Exactly.

  SHELBY: But what if she doesn’t listen? What if she won’t speak to us anymore?

  OLIVIA: Shelby, this Ashley isn’t our Ashley. We’re trying to get our Ashley back. This is the only way.

  SHELBY: You’re sure?

  OLIVIA: No, I’m not sure. But can you think of anything else?

  SHELBY: No. How do we do it?

  OLIVIA: We sit her down and tell her that she isn’t living in reality.

  SHELBY: But we’ve tried that.

  OLIVIA: This time will be different. We’ll write her letters in advance and we’ll read them to her.

  SHELBY: But what if she doesn’t believe us? She thinks she really is—

  OLIVIA: No! Don’t say it. (Getting upset) She can’t keep living like this. I can’t handle it. She has to listen to us.

  SHELBY: All right, Olivia. Calm down. Look, let’s write our letters and wait. She’ll be coming over in a little while.

  (A voice-over—with a French accent—“Thirty minutes later.”)

  SHELBY: (Looking out the window) You ready?

  OLIVIA: I guess. I’m nervous.

  SHELBY: Deep breaths. Here she comes!

  (Ashley enters wearing goggles and flippers and looking through binoculars.)

  ASHLEY: Oh, please don’t hide. Come out. I’m your friend. I’m here to help you.

  OLIVIA: (To Shelby) Oh no, it’s the “Mermaid” episode.

  SHELBY: The one where she—

  ASHLEY: (Singing very loudly and off-key) OoOoOoOo-AaAaAaAaA. Mermaids hear my song—come out and sing along. OoOoOoOo-AaAaAaAaA

  OLIVIA AND SHELBY: Stop!

  ASHLEY: What? I’m calling the mermaids. I have been swimming all day, looking for them.

  OLIVIA: Past the giant octopus’s cave.

  SHELBY: Beyond the underwater volcano, ready to erupt.

  ASHLEY: Yes, yes! How did you know?

  OLIVIA: Ashley, sit down.

  ASHLEY: Ashley? Who is Ashley? My name is Laguna.

  SHELBY: Please, sit. We need to talk to you.

  ASHLEY: I can only sit for a minute. The mermaids must be found. I have to deliver them back to their home. Their poor father is so worried about them. There’s a party tonight and—

  SHELBY: And if they don’t arrive on time, the party can’t start.

  ASHLEY: Yes, yes, that’s right! Very good!

  OLIVIA: Thanks!

  SHELBY: Olivia. Focus!

  OLIVIA: Right, sorry. Okay, Ash—Laguna. Shelby and I have something to say to you.

  ASHLEY: Listening is very important, so my ears are all yours.

  OLIVIA: Right. Thanks. Okay. Um, how about you go first, Shelby?

  SHELBY: Me?

  OLIVIA: Yes.

  ASHLEY: That’s very kind. It’s good to be kind.

  SHELBY: (Takes out her paper) Fine. Me first. “Dear Ashley . . .”

  ASHLEY: Oh dear. You weren’t listening, were you? My name is Laguna, remember?

  SHELBY: No! Your name is not Laguna. (She crumples her paper) Laguna the Spy is a television show. For four-year-olds.

  ASHLEY: Don’t be silly. TV isn’t good for your brain. You need to use your imagination. I believe in brainpower! That’s how I know the mermaids are here. I used my brain.

  SHELBY: Look around. This isn’t the ocean. It’s my living room. You’re breathing air, not water. And there are no mermaids.

  ASHLEY: I know this isn’t the ocean.

  OLIVIA: Good!

  ASHLEY: The mermaids came here to hide. They can grow legs when they’re on land. And they can breathe air. Just like us! But they’ve had enough time here. (Raising her voice) Their party is tonight, and they can’t be late. So come out, mermaids. Come out!

  SHELBY: This isn’t working.

  OLIVIA: We can’t give up.

  ASHLEY: Of course not. Never give up trying. You can do anything you set your mind to. Just like me. I’ll find those mermaids, just like I promised. I made it past the giant octopus’s cave and beyond the underwater volcano, ready to erupt. I’ll find those mermaids and get them home. I won’t give up!

  OLIVIA: (Taking Ashley’s binoculars) You are not Laguna. Your name is Ashley Chambers.

  ASHLEY: My special binoculars! You can’t take those. I need them.

  OLIVIA: No, you don’t.

  ASHLEY: I know who you are. You are working with that sneaky old Grabber Crab. Well, I know what to do with you.

  SHELBY: Oh no.

  ASHLEY: (Sings) Grabber, Grabber, Crab. You try to steal and nab. But that’s not right and that’s not fair. Now off you go to the time-out chair!

  SHELBY: (To Olivia) Say it.

  OLIVIA: No way!

  SHELBY: Say it, or she’s going to sing it again.

  OLIVIA: Aw, guppies.

  (Olivia walks to the time-out chair.)

  ASHLEY: That’s right. Off you go, you Grabber. And give me those binoculars. How am I ever going to find those mermaids without my special binoculars?

  SHELBY: Hey, Laguna. I have an idea where the mermaids might be.

  OLIVIA: (From the time-out chair) What are you doing?

  SHELBY: (Winks at Olivia) I think they might be hiding in the television.

  ASHLEY: The television? Oh dear.

  SHELBY: (Picks up the remote) I know. Let me see.

  ASHLEY: (Leans in and watches. The Laguna the Spy theme music plays) What’s this?

  SHELBY: This is a television show.

  OLIVIA: (Walking over) The Laguna the Spy show.

  ASHLEY: But I’m Laguna the Spy.

  SHELBY: No, you’re not. You’re Ashley Chambers. You’re sixteen years old.

  ASHLEY: No!

  OLIVIA: You spent a weekend babysitting twin girls. When you came back, you were Laguna. We think it was an overload of TV.

  ASHLEY: Too much TV is bad.

  SHELBY: Too much Laguna the Spy is very bad.

  ASHLEY: But that can’t be. I’ve been swimming all day. Looking for the mermaids.

  SHELBY: (Presses the remote) Listen . . .

  TV: “We have to go past the giant octopus’s cave, beyond the underwater volcano, ready to erupt, then we’ll find the mermaids!”

  ASHLEY: (Coming to her senses) Wait. Wait. I—I’m not Laguna.

  OLIVIA: No, you’re not.

  ASHLEY: I’m Ashley Chambers.

  OLIVIA: Yes!

  ASHLEY: What’s going on?

  SHELBY: Oh, Ashley. You watched too much Laguna the Spy. For the past few days, you’ve been walking around saying you’re her.

  ASHLEY: (Removes the goggles and flippers) I’m so embarrassed. It was those twins, wasn’t it?

  OLIVIA: Yep.

  ASHLEY: Thanks for saving me!

  SHELBY: That’s what best friends are for.

  ASHLEY: But let’s make a deal, all right?

  OLIVIA: What’s that?

  ASHLEY: I’m taking my mom’s advice and getting a job at the mall. Babysitting is definitely hazardous to my health!
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  Kara stepped to the front of the stage at the end of the performance. The crowd was on its feet, clapping and cheering. Oh yes. Kara took it all in. This is exactly where I belong.

  Chapter 32

  You were great!” Addy rushed backstage after the show finished.

  “What about the other groups?” Kara led Addy to a corner.

  “What other groups?” Addy smiled. “Seriously, you were so funny! Everyone was laughing so hard at you. I had tears in my eyes.”

  “Thanks, Addy.” Kara hugged her friend. “It was so much fun. You have no idea.”

  “I could tell. Was there a big fight over who’d get to play the Laguna part?”

  “Oh no.” Kara’s eyes widened. “From the beginning, we’ve been given a script with our parts highlighted. I don’t know who picks the roles, but we do not get to question which ones they are. We memorize the part we’re given. A couple of the girls have complained about that, but Ashley nips it right away.”