Immaculate Spirit c1-242

by Newbiel

  "Absolutely not! This is out of the question!" Mary reacted instantly.

  "Mary let me talk before straight out refusing us alright?" Diane pleaded.

  Mary was going to object again when she was interrupted by Karine who put a hand on her shoulder to appease her. She then nodded to her mother in a sign to go on. Diane nodded in gratitude and was about to speak out before being forestalled by her husband.

  "We know that you two are fiercely independent and that you don't need our help but we would like you to have it. The principal reason we want to give this penthouse to you is because of a few things. First, this is the closest to Columbia that we have in the city and we know that Nathaniel will go there if he scores good enough. Second, This entire building has the best security system in the world and security personnel in the lobby. What happened yesterday could not have happened here. I know the person who owned this building and this is someone trustworthy. Third and most important of all, we want you three to be safe and this is the most secure building in the city to achieve that. So before saying no think about it daughter, you are not the only one we want to be safe." Robert said matter of factly.

  Hearing the last part, Mary seemed to be deflated and she shot a worrying look at her wife and children. What her father said was right, this was not only about her but about her family too. She was still scared about what happened last night and didn't want it to happen ever again.

  "Regardless of your decision, we were going to sell it or rent it if you don't take it. We will start to move our stuff out tomorrow. This is not our only possession in the city so don't worry about us." He adds in an afterthought.

  Looking at each other, Karine and Mary seem to talk without saying anything like married couples tend to do. Seemingly reaching a decision, they turned to Nathaniel.

  "What do you think sweetie?" Ask Mary with a smile.

  "It depends. Can I keep the piano?" He asks making everyone in the room laugh and releasing a much needed pressure.

  "Of course dear." Diane said fondly.

  "Ok we will take it then." Mary said.

  After that the women gather between themselves and start talking about the logistics while Nathaniel was left with his grandfather to their own device. Making sure that they could not hear them, Nathaniel approached his grandfather.

  "You owned this entire building are you?" He asks with a smile. Robert fails to hide his surprise at his correct assumption.

  "According to the lease I don't. Why would you say that?" He asks, getting back under control quickly.

  "That was an easy one. You said you trust the owner of the building. You don't trust anyone beside yourself and grandma." Nathaniel shrugs, still smiling.

  "Smart ass grandson." He grumbled. "You will not say anything to your mothers are you?"

  "Of course not, everyone has a right to keep his secrets." Nathaniel said finally, making eye contact.

  The remark that seems to echo their previous conversation did not go unnoticed by Robert. With a nod he admitted his point, not saying anything after that.

  Chapter 37: :

  Hollywood, 25/06/2012. 9:45.

  Nathaniel had seen more than a few movies in his life but that was the first time he was seeing a movie being made. There were many construction workers busy building or tearing apart scene elements, assistants running everywhere and material being moved around. Just on their scene, he could count at least fifty people, this was crazy.

  He was being auditioned along with three more male actors and he was the only one with no movie experience before. They were all three around twenty years old and relatively good looking. Two of the guys appeared before on a big production movie while the last was a star in a successful werewolf tv series. All three of them were well known for the grand public while he was the unknown wild card.

  The three actors seem to know each other and were busy talking while glancing surreptitiously at him. They were obviously talking about him in a hush voice and believed to be stealthy about it. The three were gravely mistaken as Nathaniel could hear basically everything they were saying.

  "Which one of you knows who is blondie over there?"

  "Never seen him before."

  "I heard from my agent that he has never been in a movie before. He was brought in by a casting director that he knew personally."

  "Is that so? Then why is face so familiar to me? Did you catch his name?"

  "Yes but even my agent could not pronounce it. That sounds like nat? Something like that."

  At that point, Nathaniel stopped paying attention. While it was true that he had an atypical name, it was not that hard to pronounce it. Since they were perfectly fine talking among themselves about him instead of coming to see him, he was more than happy to stay on his own. In both of his lives, he never had a problem staying alone. On the first, he was a trained killer so people were unconsciously avoiding him even in the military. He had a chilling aura around him that acted as a deterrent. In this current life, once he was known that he had two mothers, well kids can be cruel sometimes especially in a catholic school. He was constantly bullied about it and so developed a lonely personality. Even if he never gets physical on any boy who bullies back then, things always seem to happen to them. If only they knew how smart he really was back then, a few of them could have avoided some headache back in school.

  "How are you? Anxious?" Maggie asks, coming back.

  She knew quite a few people around here and she was the one who told him where the three guys came from. She had an amazing movie knowledge which was not that all surprising considering her old job.

  "A little but I'm good."

  "Good. What's up with the boys band over there? Why didn't you join them?"

  "Too busy talking about me to talk with me." He shrugged.

  "Well that's Hollywood for you. Everyone talks about everyone, you will need to deal with it." She said blasé. "I got news for you, You will be auditioned on the ferry scene. The backstreet boys over there will go first and you will be last. This is good for you, look at what they are doing and try to learn from it. Do you need the script?"

  "No, I'm good, I already memorized it. The backstreet boys really Maggie? Moreover they were five if I recall correctly."

  "Nice. What about it? Not too late to join them you know." She said in a mocking voice. As to whoever she was mocking, Nathaniel did not have a clue but knowing her, it could be them and him.

  "I would have to decline, too young to be in a boys band. I didn't know that the boys band kind of guys were your type Maggie. Well, you're not that old yet, you could probably still hit that." He said with a nod in the direction of the three mens talking.

  He got a punch on the shoulder for that one. He could not help but rub it, she was surprisingly strong when she was pissed off. He liked to pissed her off as much as she liked insulting him. That was some weird and friendly banter between them.

  "Stop saying horrible things or I would have to call your mothers. Besides, I'm still quite young." She said with a righteous tone, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

  He got the message and chose to not say anything else. After that the director came and explained to the four of them what Maggie already said to him. As the first guy starts the scene, he spies on the corner of his eyes people sneaking on the audition. He recognized them easily as they were extremely famous. They were the stars already cast on the film. They seem to have come to spy on the audition. With a nudge, he points them to Maggie who just nods.

  "Technically, it is the director and producer's job to validate the actor but in cases like this, the actors present have as much to say as the director. As they would be close with the other actor, they need to get along with the new guy or the filming could turn bad real fast. That will certainly not happen but if one of them comes to talk to you, be nice, that could help you in the future."

  "You know that your confidence in my ability to succeed warms my heart constantly Maggie." He said bitterly.

&
nbsp; "I'm just stating the fact, don't get your hopes up. Now shush, they are starting."

  Nathaniel could see that she was right, the first one was on the platform with his script and was busy making weird head and hand movement. Frowning, Nathaniel turned to Maggie with a raised eyebrow.

  "He's 'getting' into the role." She precised simply.

  "Are you sure he's not experiencing a stroke?" He said, hiding his laughter.

  "Actors are weird and superstitious people. Not quite the level of a football player but not that far from it. Second thing is that you will have to learn to deal with it if you want to get in this profession. Now, look at him and try to learn."

  Nathaniel started doing just that. The scene of the ferry was not that hard but she was indeed wisely chosen to be on an audition. The scene starts with Jack Wilder getting on the ferry and issuing a challenge to the crowd. If they could figure it out as a trick, they would get money. The trick was simple too, you just had to pretend folding a spoon with your mind when in fact you simply have two spoons in your hand. The scene ends when the one in the audience who figured out the trick got his wallet and watch stolen from him and Jack ran out of the ferry.

  The audition would end at the moment the one in the public would expose him. The scene was wisely chosen because the actor would need to have a presence to hap the viewer on the show while moving his hand quick enough to pull off the trick. It was not by a long shot a hard move to make with the spoon but it demanded sophistication and training all the same. Nathaniel managed to perfect it in only two hours so he was not expecting the three others to fail in performing it.

  The first guy then started acting when the director told him to go. He was surprised to see the audition was filmed but thinking about it it did make sense. They needed to see how the actor was looking behind the camera. Nathaniel looked at him with attention, noting particularly his tone of voice and body posture. He was glad that he was being last as such he could observe his rivals and learn from them. The good and the bad.

  Once he finished, he got back to his position with the two others without even looking at Nathaniel. It was as if he was not treating him seriously which Nathaniel loved. He could surprise them more later. Looking at Maggie, he could see her shake her head.

  "That was okay but not good enough to pass." She said simply. Nathaniel did not know much about it but he chose to trust her opinion on the subject.

  The second guy then starts approaching the scene with a confident if not arrogant gait. He was just hoping on the stage when an assistant brought him a script that he refused with a sneer as if the simple thought that he needed help was an insult to him. That made Nathaniel frown, he really didn't have to be that odious with an assistant who was just doing his job.

  "Why do I have the envy to punch this guy all of a sudden?" Nathaniel asked.

  "Yeah, you and me both. He's kind of a dick but also very talented, something I saw a lot in Hollywood. Since he won a nomination for a role that he did as a fighter, His ego cannot pass a door. Rumors as it is that he kept his training as a boxer and used his fist to intimidate people." She said with a disgusted expression.

  "Why would they invite him if he is so despicable?"

  "This is Hollywood, if we were going to ban people who have bad rumors, we will lose 85% of all our actors and directors."

  They stopped talking after that as he was starting. Despite his view of him, Nathaniel still inspects him with as much intention as the last one. Despite his lack of knowledge in acting, he could still see that douchebag was much better than the first one. Contrary to the last one, he was competent with the trick and managed to grab the attention of everyone in the audience. He could even see the director nodding appreciatively.

  Once the scene finished, he descended the scene with even more arrogance in his step if that was possible. As much as he disliked that kind of individual, Nathaniel could not argue that he was really talented. He was not the kind of person to refuse to see the good points of people even if they were dicks.

  "And I believe we have our winner." She said bitterly.

  "Yeah, he is gifted, no arguments there. What about the third?"

  "The werewolf guy? He will not top that." Assured Maggie.

  Looking at the third guy performance, Maggie was right. He was in fact badder than the first one. He didn't even manage to do the trick correctly on his first try. Looking at his dejected face, Nathaniel could not help to feel bad for him. Looking at the people arranging the scene, Nathaniel should be scared shitless but the reality was that he was just feeling immensely excited. He loved being challenged and was doing his best under pressure. Doing his first audition under the scrutinizing eyes of some of the best actors in the planet was well into that category.

  "Okay this is showtime! Wish me luck Maggie." He said, determined.

  "Good luck!"

  Nathaniel was waiting for a scathing remark but he was surprised that it never came. She was just standing here and looking at him. Nathaniel could see in her eyes concern and support in equal measures., that made him smile a little.The same assistant came to see him and gave him the spoon needed to do the trick. Remembering the way she was treated previously he thanked her with a few words and a beautiful smile making her blush a little. He was making his way to the scene when he was stopped by the director. Nathaniel found that odd because he never stopped anyone before him.

  "Hi, I'm the director Louis Leterrier but you can call me Louis. Jillian told me that it is your first audition, are you alright?" The man told him with a heavy french accent.

  Nathaniel was surprised to learn that such a big movie was directed by a french guy. Never in the script that he was given or the information provided by Jillian was it specified. Thinking about it, that explains the number of french references in the movie.

  "Yes, I'm good, thank you. The name is Nathaniel and I'm fluent in french if you prefer talking in that language." He finished the last part in french.

  "Wow, you have a really good accent, are you french?" He said amazed.

  "No, I'm american I have just a french heritage so I have spoken the language since I was little."

  "That's great. So, do you know what you have to do?"

  "Yes, basically act and try not to make a fool of myself." He said simply, making the director laugh.

  "I see you got this, good luck." He said, leaving after giving him a tap on the shoulder.

  Getting up on the stage, he looks at the persons in front of him, the camera and the people looking at him behind it. He took a deep breath. Nathaniel didn't know it but it was at that moment, his whole life changed.

  Chapter 38: :

  A few minutes earlier.

  Since the auditions had started, Woody Harrelson, Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher and Mark Ruffalo had sneaked in to witness the individual performance. There were other stars on the cast of course but they were the only one who were curious to watch it. Despite what people thought, they had a say in who would get the role and they wanted someone good. They were all professional with a huge experience and they knew better than anyone that the film will be as good as their weakest members. It was not uncommon for a movie to be shut down by critics because of the bad performance of one actor.

  As the first guy did his audition, all of them were silents, busy analysing everything they were watching. With all of their experience combined, they could top every university education who teach acting in the country. Once the first guy finishes, they start giving their opinion on the matter.

  "It was okay I guess." Said Mark.

  "On the mediocre side of okay I would say." Correct Jesse.

  "Oh stop it Jesse, it was not that bad" Say Woody laughing.

  "I know that we are pressing for time but I hope we can find better." Said Isla.

  They knew that since the time was short they would end up with someone not that great but they still hoped to have at least one competent person in the three guys cast today. When
the second guy approached the scene, Isla's face turned into a grimace. She did not like the way the guy interacted with the young assistant. Looking at his arrogant pacing, the four other actors here did not appear particularly shocked by it. They were all arrogant in their own way albeit some much more than others.

  Looking at his performance, he was clearly much better than the first one. To the profesional gathering here it was noticed more clearly than someone new like Nathaniel. He gave an exemplary performance and in the end even Morgan gave a nod of approval.

  "That was way better, at least someone with skill." Jesse approved.

  "I agree, he is good." Mark and Woody confirmed.

  "Yes but he's kind of a dick." Isla said with hostility.

  "He's certainly that too." Say Woody laughing.

  They chatter died down when the third guy came to the scene. Looking at his performance, they could not help to shake their heads. It was sloppy and he even had to start again because he failed the trick. After finishing, the guy almost ran out of the studio.

  "Well, that was embarrassing." Say Woody, laughing.

  "You're right about that, I'm kind of sorry for him" Say Mark.

  "At least we have a good one among the batch." Said Jesse.

  "A good and really dickish one" Say Isla still does not sell on the idea.

  "Beggars can't be chooser Isla." Mark consoled.

  They were going to leave when they noticed another young man coming to the stage.

  "Wait, there is a fourth one?" Ask Mark, surprised.

  "They told me that there were only three people coming to the audition today. Where did he come from?" Demand Jesse with a frown.

  "I don't know but he looks young. I would say nineteen at the most." Woody says, looking at the blond teen walking.

  "He is hot" Said Isla almost unconsciously when she noticed him smiling at the cute assistant giving him the spoon needed for the trick.

  "Well looked at you. Do I need to remind you that you are married?" Said Woody cheekily.