Starbright (39 page)

“The accident, Joe’s courtship of Mary, and their marriage aren’t covered in the film. We start in the present day, with the memory of the accident engrained in Joe’s mind and crippling his progression to manhood. In our script, we cover this: As a result of the event that caused him to quit boxing, Joe finds that somewhere along the line he lost his dignity and self-esteem. With encouragement from Mary, he reconnects with George and heads out to regain them. And he does it the hard way, by returning to boxing and defeating his demons. That is the personal story of our film. A bum becomes a man. That’s it.

“I want you all to keep what I’ve said in mind this weekend, and throughout filming, as you reflect on your characters, in order to establish the proper emotional core for your character and execute an effective delivery—speech, behavior, mannerisms, etcetera.” Kazan sat down and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Okay, let’s get started. I’ll read all the lines belonging to the extras, since they’re not included in today’s meeting.”

The sound of shuffling paper filled the room as the cast opened their scripts to the first page. Aidan had the beginning lines of the film in the form of a monologue heard over a flashback scene, where Joe recounts accidentally killing his opponent in the ring and quitting boxing.

“I ain’t always been a loser,” Aidan read in character. “I used to be a winner. That was before I killed a guy…”

He presented the rest of his monologue with the proper amount of anguish, swagger, and vulnerability, noting the impressed faces of his colleagues as they gave him their undivided attention. It felt good to be working on a film again. He couldn’t wait until they got on set.

Upon conclusion of Joe’s speech, the film shifted to the present day.

[Scene]

INT. DOWNTOWN CHICAGO STREET — NIGHT

Joe Oliver pops the collar of his jacket to protect his face from the harsh winter wind as he walks briskly with Salvatore Lucci along a downtown Chicago street, en route to the apartment he shares with his wife, Mary Oliver.

“I got this plan that’s guaranteed to make a ton of money, Joe,” Wade said as Sal.

Aidan glanced at Kazan in surprise. Wade was no longer the nervous actor from earlier, but the personification of a confident, street-savvy young man.

Kazan gave Aidan look that said, “I told you so,” and returned his attention to Wade.

“The plan’s foolproof,” Sal continued. “A truck arrives on Mondays in the early morning to drop off goods at old man Barry’s Suit Shop. After the driver opens the back and carries the first bunch of merchandise into the store, leaving the rest out in the open like I’ve seen him do a bunch of times before, we’ll sneak in and grab as much off the truck as we can. Then we run.” His eyes brightened. “Think about the turnover on all those fine silk suits, Joe. Each week we can hit up a different store after identifying their delivery schedule. We’ll be millionaires in no time!”

A frown tugged at Joe’s lips. “Sal, I don’t know. I got a wife to think about. I can’t gamble with our future.”

[Scene]

INT. JOE AND MARY’S APARTMENT LOBBY — NIGHT

Joe and Sal
bound up the front steps and enter the walk-up that houses the apartment. The hard edges ease from their faces now that they are out of the cold.

“Like I said, it’s foolproof.” Sal’s reply sounded stubborn and determined. “Just think, Joe, no more sticking it out with that goon boss of yours at the factory. You’ll be self-employed—not to mention well-dressed because we could keep some of the suits for ourselves—and you’ll have so much money you can give your girl whatever she wants.”

Joe looked at Sal uncertainly. “What about your last so-called foolproof plan? You know, the grocer one that went bust on the first day.”

Sal rolled his eyes. “Okay, fine. That plan wasn’t the greatest, but this one is much better.” He gestured to Joe with gusto. “Come on, you gotta do something to make some scratch. The factory pays you nothing. What are you going to do when you and Mary have children? How will you support a larger family when you can barely support the two of you now?”

Joe remained silent.

“You don’t want Mary working—that ain’t right.” Sal threw his hands up in frustration. “You don’t even wear wedding rings because you can’t afford ’em. You say you wanna treat her good? Well, just think about the life you could provide for her if you were rich. You wanna give her a good life, don’t ya, Joe?”

Joe straightened his back defensively. “Of course I want that. I just don’t wanna go about it in a dishonest way and get thrown in jail. I had to bail you out after that other plan you came up with failed—the carpet hijinks I refused to be a part of. Remember?”

“I told you, my other plans had flaws. But this one is—”

“Yeah, I know. Foolproof.” Joe gave him a half-smile.

Sal grinned. “Exactly.”

[Scene]

INT. JOE AND MARY’S APARTMENT — NIGHT

Joe and Sal put their conversation on hold as they enter the apartment. Mary is setting dinner on the table.

“You’re just in time, you two,” Beth said in character.

Aidan cringed at the nervousness in her greeting.

“Beth.”

Her cheeks flushed upon Kazan’s gentle interruption.

“Please read a bit slower and
much
louder. Get a feel for your character. Mary is loving, patient, and kind.” Kazan glanced at Aidan. “Use any real life experiences you have with those emotions to effectively translate them to her.”

Beth nodded. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Kazan.”

Aidan shot Kazan a look that warned him to tread lightly.

He merely grinned in response. “Please continue, Beth. I know you’ll do fine.”

Beth delved into her character again. “I made pork tenderloin with roasted potatoes and green beans. I hope it’s to your liking.”

In a voice that gradually gained confidence, she finished the scene, performing even better than she did when rehearsing privately with Aidan. He couldn’t have felt prouder.

The cast made notes in the margins of their scripts as they read, and the group broke for lunch having completed the first half of the screenplay. Aidan was impressed with his costars; working with Wade was especially easy, erasing his initial worries over the rookie actor. He hoped things would progress as well once they began filming.

The only real issue he had was there were many emotional scenes in
Golden Gloves
that he’d purposely skimmed over during his own rehearsals. He wasn’t afraid of going over them in the read-through this afternoon, but when he acted them before the cameras, he worried about experiencing flashbacks like he did during
Spike Rollins
.

“We’ll return here at one o’clock, but before you all leave, I have a surprise to share.” A sly grin crept upon Kazan’s face. “The entire film was supposed to be shot here at the studio, which was never the ideal situation for me, and for most of you. However, I’m happy to say that Luther just increased our budget, after some persistence on my part, and the street scenes, which we’re filming near the end of our schedule, will now be shot on location in Chicago.”

As excited murmurs erupted throughout the room, Aidan struggled to break through the dread that suffocated him. He lost the battle. It was much too thick, reinforced by too many bad memories and feelings from his past he longed to forget.

Aidan felt Beth’s eyes on him, but he didn’t dare look at her. He thought he was in trouble before in having to deal with the emotional scenes in
Golden Gloves,
but his situation had just gotten much worse. If there was ever a time he needed a cigarette, it was now.

“Hey, Evans.”

Aidan shifted his turbulent eyes to his director. The constriction of his throat made words impossible.

Kazan cocked his head to the side. “I thought you’d be the happiest person in the cast. I’m sorry I couldn’t move the whole shoot to Chicago, but there wasn’t the money for that.”

Aidan put his acting talent to good use, forcing a grin through his devastation. “I’m happy, Gadg, really. Hell, it’s about time Mertz took this film more seriously.”

“That’s more like it.” Kazan stood from his chair. “All right, folks. See you in an hour.”

The group dispersed and left the room. All except two.

“Aidan?” Beth’s voice was a tender whisper. “Your father lives in Chicago, right?”

He gave a slow, painful nod.

Beth shifted toward him.

“We’re in this together.” She took his hand and didn’t speak on the topic further.

Aidan stood from his chair, purposely leaving his script on the table. During the next hour, he didn’t want any reminders of what awaited him near the end of the
Golden Gloves
shoot.

“How about we leave the studio grounds for lunch?” he said, hoping for some distance so he could clear his thoughts.

Beth’s smile inspired peace within his thundering heart. “That would be lovely.”

Aidan decided on a quaint restaurant nearby where people wouldn’t bother them. After helping Beth into her coat, he settled his hand on her back and led her out of the room. She stopped walking as they reached the hallway, her complexion taking on a ghostly pallor.

Aidan followed Beth’s terrified stare. A studio messenger approached them. Drawing himself up to full height, he stepped in front of her, his expression hard and sour.

“Excuse me, Mr. Evans.” A quiver tore through the messenger’s greeting. He kept his eyes downcast as he opened his satchel and pulled out a telegram. “This is for Miss Sutton.”

Aidan snatched the telegram and jutted his thumb down the corridor. “Get lost, kid.”

The messenger bolted toward the elevator, leaving Aidan and Beth alone in the hallway.

Aidan curled his hand around the telegram after he read it, crumpling the paper into a disgruntled ball. Mr. Mertz had summoned Beth for an urgent meeting, and he was certain it had to do with her turning away the studio car this morning and arriving with him instead.

With a vicious curse, he tossed the telegram to the floor.

“Change of plans, baby.” Rage corrupted his voice like a toxin. “I’m dropping you off at the commissary to eat with Nate and Olivia.”

Beth’s gaze rested on his face. “The telegram was addressed to me. What did it say?”

“Never mind.” He took her hand and stalked down the hallway with her in tow.

She pulled him to a stop. “What did the telegram say?”

“Mertz.” The studio boss’s name fell from Aidan’s lips with revulsion. “He wants to meet with you now. I’m gonna head over to his office and take care of it.”

Beth studied him for a moment. “If he requested me only, I should probably go alone.”

Aidan pressed his lips together in a hard line. “Not a chance.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

Aidan shook his head. “I’m going by myself.”

“If I don’t meet with him now, he’ll only find me later, and by that time, he’ll be even more cross with me. I can’t avoid him forever. Not to mention it’ll look suspicious if you show up on my behalf.”

Aidan raked his hand through his hair. “Fine, but you’re not going in there alone. Mertz can’t punish you for hanging out with a costar. No goddamn way. And I’m gonna make sure he knows it.”

“Yes, but he requested me only.”

Aidan gritted his teeth, attempting to keep his anger curbed. He was extra irritable since quitting smoking, which made the task extremely challenging.

“I don’t care what Mertz requested. If you insist on meeting with him, then we’re going in there together. I won’t do anything rash, okay? I promise.”

“But—”

Aidan quieted her with a tender kiss, taking a moment to try to calm down before leaving for Mr. Mertz’s office. He had told Beth in Las Vegas that he wouldn’t fly off the handle when dealing with her boss, and he was dedicated to following through on his vow.

As much as he wanted to tell Mr. Mertz about their relationship and demand no interference, it wasn’t about what he wanted. Protecting Beth was his priority until he could come up with a plan to free her from her contract without any negative consequences for her career.

“Come on, baby.” Aidan took her hand, sealing their united front. “Let’s get this meeting out of the way so we can enjoy a nice lunch together.”

Aidan’s expression remained impassive as he stared at the road ahead on their journey to Mr. Mertz’s office building. If Beth didn’t know better, she would have thought he was taking a leisurely drive through the countryside. But this was Aidan, the man she’d given her heart to entirely, and who entrusted her with his. The tension in his arms as he maneuvered the steering wheel and managed the gearshift was a telltale sign he was portraying a collected exterior merely for her sake. Inside, anger, resentment, and the need to assert his control over Mr. Mertz consumed him.

The cast read-through had gone well so far, aside from Aidan’s troublesome response to the news they were traveling to Chicago near the end of the shoot. Beth really didn’t want Mr. Mertz to fire her. Her only comfort came from the fact that Aidan would accompany her to the meeting. He would protect her at all costs, but a part of her was also concerned about the potential cost to him.