Everything Leads to You(38)

I want a happy ending for Ava. I want to have that sense of peace so all the sad details of her life become just parts of a journey that ends well. Sitting here in the Marmont is a good start, even if she doesn’t know that she belongs here yet. But it can’t just be about who her grandfather was and the money she is hopefully going to get. Fame by association is the emptiest kind.

I reach into my bag and take out Yes & Yes.

“I just got a new job working on this film. It has a beautiful ending,” I say. “And this is a huge long shot, but I think you should audition for one of the parts.”

Ava’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise but she doesn’t say no. Instead, she reaches out and takes it.

“I know that acting in high school plays isn’t at all the same as acting in a movie, but you said that you really liked it, and I figured it would be worth a try. Something about the character makes me think of you.”

I don’t go on, because if I had to identify what it is about Juniper that reminds me of Ava, my answer would be that they both seem lonely, both seem a little bit lost in the world.

I can feel Charlotte watching me as I show Ava the scene she would need to read from for the audition, and I can’t tell if she approves or not. She checks her watch, tells us she’ll be right back. While she’s gone, Ava reads the scene to herself and I scoot my chair closer to read it with her, and I am struck again by how much I love this script, how proud I am of the project.

She smiles when she’s finished, green eyes bright.

She asks, “When would we do this?”

“We have to submit the audition tape soon. Like, the day after tomorrow, probably. We can film it at my brother’s apartment.”

She nods. “I have to work tonight but I have tomorrow off so I can practice during the day.”

Charlotte appears at the table.

“Are we forming a plan?” she asks, which is a relief because I know that if she disapproved she wouldn’t say anything encouraging.

“Audition two nights from now,” Ava says. “I have lots of work to do.”

“We’d better let you get started then.”

“What about the check?”

“Oh, I took care of it while I was up there. The service here is terrible. They would have kept us waiting forever and Emi and I have a meeting to get to.”

Ava pulls out her wallet. “At least let me give you a few dollars.”

“When you get your money from Clyde you can take us out to celebrate,” Charlotte tells her.

Ava hesitates. “You’re assuming the money is still waiting for me. There might not be anything left.”

“I think it’ll be there,” I say. Because how could it not be? Who else would have retrieved it?

“Can I borrow this?” Ava asks, still holding the screenplay. “I want to read the whole thing. It would help me understand Juniper better.”

I grin at her because it’s exactly what she should be doing. And I have to temper the lilt in my step, try not to smile quite so wide as we’re leaving.

Ava is in my life for at least a few more days.





Chapter Nine



An hour later, Charlotte and I are sitting on the floor of Rebecca and Theo’s living room with the rest of the crew, all of us together for the first time. There’s Charlie, the director of photography, quiet, in thick-rimmed glasses; the sound guy, Michael, with his little brother/assistant who doesn’t seem too much older than me; the stylists, Grant and Vicki, who are both decked out in feathers and fringe. All of us are doing what entire teams would do on a studio production, like Grant and Vicki, who usually only do wardrobe, will also be in charge of hair and makeup. As Rebecca hands us copies of the production schedule and I see how quickly this needs to come together, I start to realize the enormity of the job I have just accepted. Everyone is overextended on this project, but even with Charlotte’s help, I’ll be doing the jobs of at least seven people. I’m the production designer and the set decorator, the buyer and the leadman, the set dresser and the swing gang, the prop master and the PA. Charlotte’s my art director, but apart from her I’m on my own.

I’m trying to listen to what Rebecca’s telling us but the list of tasks are swirling through my brain and soon I’m feeling sick. I guess it shows because Charlotte leans over to me and whispers, “You can freak out later, but not until we’re in the car.”