“My agent has been with me for ten years, so he’s more family than strictly agent at this point. Besides, the holiday bonuses I give everyone on my team would more than cover whateveryou’dpay them through your contract.”
“Why are you offering to do this for me?” Dana asked, sensing something beneath the surface.
“Because I want you to get the part,” Samara replied. “You’re the best one I’ve read with.”
“Got to have a good Bray to get those awards, huh?”
Samara looked a little offended and said softly, “No.”
“Sorry,” Dana offered. “Want me to drop that?”
“Yes, please,” Samara requested.
“Okay,” she said, nodding. “Done.”
“So, you’ll use them if you get the role? I can call them for you when you leave and give them your information.”
“I don’t have the part yet.”
“Okay. If you’rethatsuperstitious, I’ll call them when you get it.”
Dana chuckled and replied, “Okay. Well, thanks. That would be amazing.”
“Not a problem,” Samara said and cleared her throat. “What about after this?”
“After what?”
“The movie.”
“Oh. I hope my catering job is still available. It’s not my favorite, but my boss is cool, and I get to be film-adjacent most of the time. Sometimes, there are weddings, but those aren’t a big deal.”
“You’re just going to go back to work?”
“What else would I do?”
“Get another part,” Samara said as if it were obvious.
“Where? How many actresses get into bad car accidents on the way to a New Orleans’ shoot, giving me a chance to audition for their part? Movies don’t usually get cast here. Extras and maybe a few side characters, sure, but mostly only extras. Movies just get shot here.”
“Los Angeles,” Samara said, sipping on her wine and leaning back in her chair right after. “You could audition in LA. I know you’re not a fan of New York, but there are auditions there, too. You’d film there but wouldn’t have to live there full-time. I’m sure you could handle that.”
“I’m sure I could,” Dana said, doubting herself a little. “But I live here. I’m not going to fly to LA or New York for random auditions all the time.”
“Not all the time, but for good parts. Or, you know, you could just move. You said your mom is better now.”
“She is,” Dana replied and cleared her throat. “But my whole life is here. I love New Orleans. It’s not for everyone, but it’s home.”
“And it would be here for you whenever you wanted to come back,” Samara argued.
“My sister is getting married. I can’t just leave. I’m her maid of honor.”
“Oh. When?”
“When?” Dana asked back.
“When is the wedding? Is it while we’re filming?”
“No. She hasn’t set a date yet, but her fiancée and she have been working on it. Once the planning starts, I’ll need to be here.”
