Episode 27
“Yes.” Carrie’s eyes swept past Elijah without pausing, rendering him completely invisible in her world. Once Sandra gave the nod that she was ready, the director called out, “Alright, Elizabeth, you’re up first.”
Elizabeth blinked in surprise but held back any comments.
She nodded firmly, then plunged into her scene alongside Stewart.
Around thirty minutes later, Elizabeth concluded her audition to a chorus of approving nods.
Now it was Sandra’s turn.
As Sandra started her performance, both the screenwriter and Stewart furrowed their brows.
She fumbled a line early on, and her delivery began to unravel. It was unclear if it was nerves or something else, but she struggled to match Stewart’s pace from that point on.
Even the director couldn’t mask his dismay with a subtle frown.
He had intentionally had Elizabeth audition first, part of a little plot he had cooked up.
He had given the script for this second audition to Sandra well in advance, while Elizabeth had only received hers today, granting Sandra a substantial head start in preparation.
He had Elizabeth go first, hoping to pave the way for Sandra. The strategy was simple: expose any shortcomings Elizabeth might encounter, thus giving Sandra the chance to make last-minute tweaks and gain a clear edge.
However, Sandra wasn’t merely subpar—she was completely outclassed.
In every aspect—her lines, facial expressions, and on-the-spot creativity—Elizabeth was the undisputed star.
Even Elijah, whose expertise in acting was minimal at best, could discern the glaring disparity between the two performances.
The director, who had until now been preoccupied with the logistical aspects of the production, now wore a troubled expression, his brow furrowed in dismay.
Apologizing with a faltering voice, Sandra confessed, her eyes welling up as she cast a helpless glance at Elijah. “I know I let you down this time—I wasn’t at my best. Sorry about that.”
With a note of frustration tinged with empathy, the director responded, knowing Elijah was watching, “Since today seems off for you, let’s give it another shot.”
Stewart stepped up once more to perform alongside Sandra.
