La Pantera

Ch.13 New Opportunities

September 1982

Song for Chapter: you should see me in a crown by Billie Eilish

Filming for Rumblefish had finally ended and the actors had all gone their separate ways for now. Stevie was excited to have earned her first paycheck , but she wanted more opportunities. So what was her move? Go onward to California where they had many opportunities for young aspiring actresses like herself.
She stood in her motel room, sighing to herself. Is this really worth the hassle?, she thought to herself. She looked up to see her face in the mirror ; she walked towards herself slowly until she stood in front of it, really taking a look into what stared back at her. A scar near her left eye that was faintly tinted, like some women's stretch marks. A smile that wasn't pitch perfect, some teeth misaligned. A white knife scratch on her torso. Blue eyes that didn't flash for the cameras, rather they burned into your soul. Tattoos that came alive in her skin. Wild hair of dark brown that no one could tame . She glared at herself in hatred , wishing for one moment she looked how her mother had wanted her to be. "Would they really want someone like me?", she growled at what stared back at her.

"They would."

"Huh?!", she yelled looking around with wild eyes. Am I goin' crazy...or did I just hear Martin's voice?, she thought. Stevie didn't know if this was a side effect from withdrawal and being sober for 2 months now or if she was actually hearing his voice . It had been a year since Martin had passed. Why was she hearing his voice again? "Martin?", she asked in confusion. He was supposed to be dead ; the cops had shot him. Why was this happening? Her eyes welled up as she shook her head refusing to think about it. "You're fuckin' dead. Let me be.", she spat bitterly . She grabbed her leather jacket, slipping it on over her white tee shirt. She packed the rest of her small suitcase with everything else she had before leaving to catch a bus for somewhere west. She walked down the beat up sidewalk, turning her head to the motel one last time before walking towards the skies that warned of a storm.

After many bus rides and hitchhiking , Stevie had made it to Los Angeles, California . It was 6:45 AM , the sun gleaming over the horizon . Stevie got off the bus and looked around her , smiling a bit. The tall business buildings and the city lights made her feel at home. A big sign in a bus bench caught her eye. It was an ad for movie auditions! Maybe my luck is beginning to turn! I CAN be a major star!, Stevie squealed in her mind. She looked at the information before the gears turned in her head on how to get this movie on her resumé.

A few days passed with Stevie managing to find a small apartment to stay in and getting settled. Audition day was today and she was excited but nervous hoping she could find a part to scramble. The bus dropped her off on the right street , and the tomboy ran towards the Paramount lot they were holding auditions. After having had gathered the right information, she knew she wanted the main lead . Her leverage above everyone else? Her dance background. The one thing she enjoyed from her mother forcing femininity upon her was dance and gymnastics lessons. She had taken ballet , lyrical, and tap lessons as a compromise of wanting to do gymnastics. The 16 year old grinned with confidence knowing she could get this role if she worked these people right.

The director of this project Adrian Lyne and Paramount president Michael Eisner were looking at the line of actors that had arrived , particularly the women since they needed someone who could dance. Gretchen Rennel was with them as well, in charge of casting who would get what role. Her eyes landed on Stevie , noticing a little showing of the leaves from her tattoo and then a small peek of a shark on the right arm on her inner bicep . Observing her, she looked at the lean but stocky looking girl . Something told Gretchen keep an eye on Stevie as they began to call people in for a script reading one by one.

Stevie waited anxiously, her foot tapping on the floor wildly. She looked around herself for competition and noticed she was up against some tough business, recognizing Demi Moore from that soap opera show that was always on TV. Stevie was about to scream in impatience when Gretchen came out and called "Stephanie Costa!". Stevie got up and headed inside the room , noticing she hadn't come dressed a little bit nicer like everyone else. She still kept her head high as she shut the door behind her , staring at Adrian Lyne and Gretchen . "Hello Miss Costa. I am Gretchen Rennel, and this is the director of the film Adrian Lyne.", she introduced the both of them. "Nice to meet yas.", Stevie outstretched her arm and shook their hands firmly. "Nice to meet you Steph-", Adrian started. "Please, call me Stevie.", Stevie said as politely as she could muster. "Pardon?", Adrian asked. "I don't like to be called Stephanie, I go by Stevie. Nothin' 'gainst yous. It's just me.", she said. "Okay then.....do you have a resumé?", Gretchen asked . Stevie froze for a second before remembering it was in her bag she had brought. "Yeah, it's not much I only did one movie.", she said. Stevie had written all of her talents on there , remembering what her mother's tips had been despite trying not to. Adrian and Gretchen looked and saw "Rumblefish" was written. "Does this come out soon dear?", Gretchen asked. "Next year like October .", Stevie chirped. "Who was the director of this film?", Adrian asked with a smirk. "Francis Coppola ; I played Matt Dillon's girlfriend.", Stevie said smugly. As much as she didn't like Matt, she knew dropping his name would make anyone perk up since he had the little reputation around here. The two looked at each other before looking at Stevie with some interest now. "Read us Alex's lines that I have highlighted here.", Gretchen said.

Auditions droned on and on for a few weeks. Eventually it came down to 3 girls : Stevie , Demi Moore, and Leslie Wing. Stevie didn't see why it needed consideration ; clearly she was the epitome of a Pittsburgh woman being from the East Coast herself and here these two bitches were being compared to her. In her mind, Stevie felt there was no one who could top her in this . She had shown off her dance background at an audition, incorporating flexibility and tricks into it to show she was strong and agile . So right now she stood with the other women at the Paramount lot, her arms crossed over her chest. That is until she saw Michael Eisner going up to a bunch of men in the lot. "Hey fellas! Lemme ask you something! I wanna know which of these three young women you'd most wanna fuck!", he said , loud enough for the girls to hear . Stevie tensed up in shock and humiliation, as much as she hated to admit it. Who did this man think he was, practically pointing at her like she was an object?! Stevie glared hard in the men's direction, daring them to pick her. "We think the one with the devil eyes.", one spoke up , leering in her direction with a sinister smile. Stevie grew more furious as the others agreed. "Alright! Thanks gentleman.", Eisner said. Stevie watched the other two girls leave before walking away herself , fuming with anger. "Costa wait!", Eisner yelled. Stevie turned around and faced the man as he came up to her. "You got the part kiddo! I just called the other two and they said yes!", he cheered. "For what? My talent , or my tits?", Stevie snarled at him, eyes flashing with rage. "You can't be serious -.", Eisner tried. "I'm grateful for the part I truly am....but if you do that shit to meh one more fuckin' time, I'll chop your bawlls off!", she snapped before leaving . Eisner chuckled to himself as the 16 year old stalked away. "What a little panther....don't know if Hollywood could handle such a thing.", he crooned to himself before heading back to business.