Not in the Script Read Free Page B

possible color, but then I imagine where they are now—useless in her closet. “Yep. And it just about killed me to return all those quarters.”
    McGregor offers an amused nod. “So if your heart’s set on business, how’d you get
here
?” He motions to his colossal glass desktop, nearly hidden by piles of folders, screenplays, set sketches, headshots, you name it. If it belonged in Hollywood, it was in this dude’s office.
    I’m the only thing out of place.
    â€œMy agent is my best friend’s sister, so she’s the one who … I guess you could say,
scouted
me.” That’s the uncomplicated answer.
    For some reason, McGregor thinks this is funny. “Ah, yes, that’s right. Liz told me she went searching for new talent in Phoenix and found you posing like a chiseled work of art in her own parents’ driveway.”
    â€œI wasn’t posing,” I say with an accidental smirk. “I was playing basketball and just happened to be shirtless, like the rest of my friends.”
    It was a Saturday afternoon during my junior year of high school, and Devin’s much older sister was visiting from New YorkCity. Liz watched me from the porch for over an hour, creeping me out a little, but I had no idea what I was really in for. She was a pretty smooth talker when she cornered me after we all went in for dinner, and the numbers she threw out for just a single day of modeling were more than a little tempting for a guy who couldn’t afford a car, let alone save for college.
    And that was before I
really
needed the money.
    McGregor scans me with appraising eyes. “All right, let’s get to the reason you’re here.” I like this guy. “Mr. Elliott, there are plenty of good actors out there, but too many of them need incessant direction, and I’m not a patient man. I want actors who don’t need to be constantly
told
how to portray their characters—it’s got to be second nature for them.”
    Okay, this is it. I just want to hear yes or no.
    â€œYour audition tapes certainly prove that you can pull off the look and arrogance of Justin,” McGregor goes on, “but deep down, can you connect with his darker side? Embrace him?
Become
him?”
    â€œWell …” Is this a trick question? “To tell you the truth, Justin seems like an irresponsible mess.”
    â€œPrecisely. Which is why I believe you’re perfect for the job.”
    Huh
? How could he have such a bad impression of me? I’ve always been prepared and on time for the auditions. And Liz said she’d told him I was her favorite talent to work with.
    McGregor slaps the desk. “Ah, blast! Got ahead of myself. What I meant to say, before I insulted you, is that I look for suppressed traits in my actors that are likely itching to be unleashed. So as I said, it’s their
second
nature I’m interested in.”
    â€œUh, right. Okay.” I’m still lost.
    He leans forward. “Wouldn’t you like to listen to that devil onyour shoulder every once in a while? Be a rebel, a menace, a villain who never thinks of anyone but himself?” He waits for my reply, so I nod. “If what I hear is true, Mr. Elliott, you might enjoy a break from the maturity you seem to have found too early in life.”
    How much had Liz told him? “Sure. Who wouldn’t?”
    â€œThen you’re about to get your chance,” he says. “You have a raw talent I haven’t seen in quite some time. Not only have I studied your audition tapes, I’ve also spent a great deal of time with your acting coach, discussing your potential and watching your impressive progression on hours of film. All I need now is to know if you’re willing to take in this ‘irresponsible mess’ as part of your soul.”
    My soul would take in a nest of hornets if it meant I could ditch modeling, make more money,
and
live in Arizona. For