FIVE
D ressed for a day of shopping in town with Devi, and my hand on the doorknob ready to go, I stopped as my name was called from behind me.
“Keely,” I said on turning to face her. “What’s up?”
“I need you on set,” she said matter-of-factly.
“To do what?”
“Script girl. Katy didn’t show up this morning.”
“Oh. Darn.” I looked at my watch. “I have so much shopping to do. There are still so many things missing. Your prop master gave me an impressively long list of very odd items to find.”
“It’s going to have to wait until tomorrow, Ayra,” Keely said. “I need you now or we can’t shoot.”
Sighing, I released the doorknob. “Okay. You’re right. I need to get my priorities in order. Give me a minute to let Devi know I won’t be going, and I’ll be right there.”
“Make it quick.” She turned on her heel and marched away with a determined step I’d rarely seen in anyone.
I was suddenly bumped hard by the opening front door as Devi burst in.
“Oh, Ayra,” he said. “Sorry, love. I didn’t know you were standing there. What are you doing? Let’s go.”
“Sorry. Turns out I can’t make it today. Keely needs me on set.”
“That is a shame. But if Keely needs you, she needs you. Tomorrow then?”
“I’ll try, but I can’t make any promises.” I headed down the hall and called over my shoulder. “I’ll let you know.”
I reached the large ballroom where Mr. Darcy was set to meet Elizabeth for the first time. The moment I arrived, Keely thrust the dog-eared script into my chest.
“Just stand right over here,” she directed me.
Glancing down at the script, I wondered if I’d be able to follow along. Notations filled the margins, portions of dialogue were underlined, and others were highlighted.
“Okay,” Keely called out. “From the top. Music ready. Dancers ready... and Mr. Darcy enters.”
Music began to play, just loud enough for the dancers to follow along. It was mesmerizing to watch as they brought to life a style of dance that had long disappeared.
Extras stood around the perimeter of the room, dressed in variations of high-waisted gowns and chatting quietly among themselves.
“Enter Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy!”
My heart stopped. There he was; my living, breathing, oh, so damned handsome Mr. Darcy. Stiff and haughty, he sauntered around the room with an air of indignation... no... disdain.
Barnaby was good. I’d had my doubts about his ability to pull off a convincing Mr. Darcy, but his tense jaw and piercing eyes were just perfect. All that remained to be seen was his ability to speak with that same haughtiness and disdain.
“Cut!” Keely shouted.
Everyone looked her way.
“I don’t like the shadow that’s falling on his face.” She glared at the lighting technician who made a quick adjustment.
“Better. Okay. Let’s do that again.”
As Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy sauntered in again, Elizabeth sat in quiet confidence beside her younger sister while she admired her beautiful and older sister dancing so merrily.
“Indeed, the most beautiful of the sisters is already spoken for,” Mr. Bingley told Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Darcy glared at him. “Then what is the point in being here at all?”
“You’re being far too pessimistic,” his friend told him. “Look. There’s one of her sisters right there. She’s quite lovely, don’t you think.”
“Lovely?” Mr. Darcy said. “She’s barely tolerable.”
Elizabeth’s face was the perfect blend of quiet indignation and stony indifference.
“She may be suitable for you,” Mr. Darcy went on. “But she is hardly handsome enough to please me.”
“But she has yet to dance,” Mr. Bingley said. “I have no doubt she would very much welcome your advances.”
Mr. Darcy chuckled without humor. “Tis now my role to give consequence to unappealing young ladies slighted by other men?”
“Of course not,” Mr. Bingley muttered.
“Then go on. Enjoy the smiles of your partner.”
Mr. Bingley left him to sulk alone, while Elizabeth’s jaw suddenly set tight with determination. Ignoring Mr. Darcy entirely, she walked past him to join a friend at the other end of the room.
Giggling and smiling, Elizabeth and her friend occasionally shot glances towards Mr. Darcy, clearly irritating the haughty aristocrat. Mustering her courage, Elizabeth returned to Mr. Darcy.
“You seem quite bored,” she said. “Perhaps you would enjoy yourself more if you danced.”
“I hardly think so,” he said, barely looking at her.
She clamped her lips tightly and turned to walk away.
“Cut!” Keely shouted. “Great work, everyone.”
“Are we good to go?” Barnaby said. “My lines were flawless.”
Indeed they were, I thought. He was such a perfect Mr. Darcy. Yet it seemed rather presumptuous of him to say so.
“You can go, Barnaby.” Keely turned to the extras and actress playing Elizabeth. “If you could all stay a moment longer. I just want to slowly close in on Elizabeth’s face as she is rejected by Darcy. Just one quick shot and we’re done for the day.”
Everyone went into place.
“Charlene, can you just touch up her cheek there.”
Charlene dutifully popped onto the set to powder Elizabeth’s cheek and popped out.
The close up was shot and we were done for the day.