Infinity || Dan Smith

Thirty-Four.

1992

Aubrey sits surrounded by the producers for her new film. The young actress wants to get behind the camera for a change, so far she's finding it to be a easy job. But now comes the hard part...casting someone.

   All day she's been sitting in same spot. While most of the guys that walk in are sweet...they all seem to have big egos. Something of which the character they're meant to portray isn't. So now is the last audition. Much to Aubrey's dismay, all of the producers have agreed that if they don't cast someone...then the movie will most likely not go ahead.

   Aubrey is very picky.

   So the next guy that walks into the room is a little shy and clearly anxious. His sleeves cover his hands as he clings onto the ends for dear life...

   "I take it that you're Joe Everett?" The producer of the film says in a light welsh accent.

   "Y-y..." Joe cuts himself off before laughing. It weirds everyone in the room out, so instead of talking he nods his head. His torso sways from side to side, he simply cannot keep still.

   He just...smiles.

   "This is a question that we ask everyone before you'll act a scene out, but why do you like acting?" They make up random questions on the spot to through people off their high horse. But Joe shrugs.

   "I...I like pretending I'm anoth-another person." Joe then ecstatically nods his head up and down. Aubrey throws her eyes back, and zones out.

   Completely ignoring everything he says next...

   "That and I need the green stuff. I mean the white stuff. Not coke. You know...the paper that everyone wants. No green. Is it white? I need money. Yeah...I need lots of money." Joe states into the distance. He doesn't blink while he does so. All he can see is the face of his daughter.

   "Why do you need the money, Joe?" While a few of the team try not to crack a laugh looking at the poor boy, the producer finds it sad.

   He clearly has issues, but that doesn't define who he is.

   "I have a baby. I didn't give birth or anything, that's all on her her mum...obviously. Ha. I mean I w-want my daughter to be normal. Go and do p-p-posh things like ballet and pony riding...yeah. She'll like that. Sh-she doesn't need to be brought up with dark shit that messes up t-th-the brain. I need money to move and look after her...because I love her more than anything. I fucking really love her. And that's why I'm here...because I saw in her eyes that she wants me to be."

   "Daughter?" The welsh producer asks sounding confused.

    Joe nods his ecstatically. "Yes. My daughter. She is Charlie. I have three hundred and nineteen pictures of her...do you want to see?" He says with a smile as he continues swaying back and fourth on the spot.

   "Can you just get on with it. Whatever you're talking about sounds...great...but we're on a schedule. If you know what that means." Aubrey mumbles the last part while crossing her arms and sitting back.

   The producer then gives her a angry scolding look, but Aubrey shrugs it off. It's easy for her to be a bitch, she's fucked her way to the top and lost her dignity. "Yes. The the scene. The scene..." Joe then stops staring into nothing and ready's himself for the audition.

For ten minutes Joe comes out of his box and acts without stumbling on his words. He doesn't sway like he did before, and his nerves fade away. Instead, he looks and seems 'normal'...even when he really isn't. Joe is captivating. He makes everyone who is watching feel all of the emotions that the character is going through.

He's exceptionally brilliant.

Sadly, Aubrey redeems him not Hollywood worthy. Everyone then stands up and claps, apart from her. "Joe...that was incredible! Charlie be so proud of you."

Aubrey rolls her eyes back. She thinks they're talking about his girlfriend...she she didn't hear that he is a father.

   "Can I have the job? Role? Job...is it a job? It's probably a role. Stupid-stupid me. Sorry. I need the r-role." Joe asks after hitting himself of the head in frustration. He sometimes feels himself become a bit too 'weird' and then was definitely one of those times for him. As soon as the producer nods her head with a kind smile, Aubrey shakes her head.

"No offence, Mr Everett...but what condition do you have? Is it autism...huh?" Joe shakes his head in confusion, which is nothing new to him. He's always confused.

   "Pack it in, Aubrey." The producer mumbles under her breath.

   "I-I...don't..." Joe is speechless.

   "Joe. You haven't got the role, I'm afraid. You're mentally unpredictable and unstable. For that reason I can't see you doing press tours." Joe's eyes widen in horror, he then nods his head like he understands. But he doesn't.

   "Please..." He whispers getting agitated.

   "No." Aubrey snaps as she looks at him up and down as if he is nothing.

   "S-she...needs me to pr-provide for her." Aubrey shrugs back her shoulders and smiles.

   "The best thing you can do to this Charlie girl you speak of is let her the fuck go. It sounds like you're weighing her down." Tears immediately fall down Joe's face while Aubrey cracks a smile at him and mutters 'pathetic' under her breath.

   "Charlie will do so much better without you."

   Joe is the incredible type of talent that Aubrey doesn't deserve.

   The boy then nods his head before he leaves the room is a slow zombie like state.

   Heartbroken for him, every other person in this room then stands up and leaves Aubrey in the room by herself. What she did and said was outrageously uncalled for.

And she knows it...but she doesn't care.