Chapter 1 - AGAIN
Vanessa Reed slapped Daniel Carter across the face before he had fully planted his feet.
His head snapped sideways.
“CUT! AWFUL!”
Director Marcus Blake exploded from behind the monitors.
He pointed at Daniel like Daniel had ruined the production single-handedly.
“YOU’RE JUST AN EXTRA!”
Daniel swallowed.
He had been on the set since five in the morning.
No trailer.
No private dressing room.
No name on the call sheet beyond:
BACKGROUND HUSBAND #3.
He needed the day rate.
He needed the overtime.
Most of all, he needed the credit because someone had told him the assistant director might upgrade the role if the scene worked.
Marcus chopped his hand forward.
“AGAIN!”
Vanessa stepped into position.
No pause.
No rehearsal.
SLAP.
Second time.
Daniel’s face turned.
Marcus shouted before Daniel even looked back.
“NO! AGAIN!”
Daniel reset.
Vanessa hit him a third time.
Harder.
He stumbled one step.
Marcus did not stop.
“STILL WRONG! AGAIN!”
Vanessa raised her hand.
Daniel saw something in her expression.
Not anger.
Impatience.
Like he was a piece of equipment slowing the day.
Fourth slap.
His balance broke.
He caught the edge of a side table.
“Was that enough?!”
Marcus stood.
“NO!”
Daniel tried to straighten.
The elegant living-room set tilted.
His knees gave out.
He hit the floor.
The room froze.
Vanessa lowered her hand.
A makeup artist whispered:
“Oh my God.”
Daniel looked up.
Humiliated.
Exhausted.
Marcus walked straight toward him.
He looked down with no sympathy.
“STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH. AGAIN.”
Daniel stared.
Then someone behind the set wall said:
“No.”
Marcus turned.
The line producer, Lydia Shaw, stood at the entrance.
Her face was pale.
She held a clipboard.
“Not again.”
Marcus snapped:
“Stay out of performance.”
Lydia answered:
“This stopped being performance three takes ago.”
Daniel heard that.
So did everyone else.
Marcus glanced at the crew.
Then his voice changed.
Lower.
Controlled.
“Clear the set.”
May you like
That was the first moment Daniel understood Marcus was not angry anymore.
He was afraid.
