Autumn to summer in Penny Lane

October extra!

The audition

Waiting. That was always the worst part of anything. It was like being in limbo waiting for the minutes of your life ebbing. Boredom had taken hold of Caitlin that much that she couldn't even be bothered to go over the script. Not that it mattered. If she was lucky she might at best get four episodes. Still it meant keeping your foot in the door in a profession that Caitlin so dearly loved and that was acting.

A loud shout or more precisely the outraged, sneering fingers down the chalkboard reverberated inside the room Caitlin was waiting to go in. The voice sounded like a verbal kicking as someone stormed out in tears.

'He's a fucking arsehole!'

Caitlin looked on in surprised as she recognised the virtual reality star Dunc who won 'get me off this Island.' and had been on the football soap ninety minutes.

'Talking to me like a piece of shit!' Dunc said his lip quivering as he continued to walk past after an outraged Terry had told him not only what to do with his demands but on how hell would freeze over before he would give him a part.

'It would have been...'

The glare from Terry stopped Will in his tracks as Jilly and Bernie looked on sheepishly.

'You don't have to stay Terry,' Jilly said.  'The rest are just for minor parts, scarcely extras.'

'No, no, no.  I'll staaay!'  Terry snarled.  'Not after the last time.  Send in the next person.  Caitlin whatever.'

There was the roll of the eyes and a over the top yawn from Terry as Jilly made the introductions and tried her best to put Caitlin at ease.  Not that it really worked as Caitlin just wanted to get out.  After all she didn't need to be humiliated for a crappy soap where she barely said a word for a couple of episodes.

'Haven't I seen you from somewhere?'  Terry suddenly wheezed as Caitlin performed her audition.

'Erm, I don't know.  I've done a wee bit of television work.'

Terry sniggered as he started to whistle over the rainbow with Caitlin's face slightly reddening.  Part of her didn't know why and was starting to think that Dunc was right about Terry Silver. 

'I believe Margot has plenty of good things to say about you Thunderbird.'

Now Caitlin did go bright red as she stared at Terry and realised he must have known about her picture clubbing in her cabin crew uniform with Vanessa and Luke.

'Anyhow I want you to do this part,' Terry said to the bemusement of the rest of the panel.  'Lizzie is a rich girl who sees herself as a bit of a wag.  So a bit of a bubblehead but without any real charm.   Takes herself seriously.'

'Now Terry we've already promised that part to someone else.'

'Silence!'  'In case it hasn't escaped your notice I have the final say on everything around here so do it Ms Firth.'

Seeing that Terry was testing her ability to act from a serious student to a bubble head Caitlin performed like a youth team player being sent on as a sub.  She was sure that she nailed it and that a decent part may come here way.  Well a major part to call time on working for Rapido.   Only to feel that sunken feeling as the goalkeeper palmed her certain goal away.

'Mmm.'  Terry said.  'What do you think Will?'

'I think,' Will said snootily and a hint of panic.  'That she isn't right for the part of Lizzie.  She just doesn't capture her at all.  Jorgie is the one for me.'

Terry cackled in laughter and bent over the desk.  'That's told you hey?  Not even good enough.  Maybe a walk on part might be the best we can do.'