“I know that we could do this anywhere,” Ricky said, “but, whenever possible, I do like to put myself in the setting the scene is to be shot in.”
The path was wide and flat, making it easy to walk through the forest. The camera operator would have no problem following the action.
“Let’s start from here,” he said, pointing to the page.
Nodding, I stopped, took a deep breath and began the scene.
We walked slowly, stopped at poignant portions and started walking again. I was surprised by his intensity and his ability to turn up the charm just as much as he could tone it down and be sensitive, even emotional.
By the time we reached the river, we’d run through the same scene seven times. Each was different and each was good. All that remained was to see what Keely would ultimately say.
“I think we can safely say that we have taken this scene apart and put it back together in the most conclusive manner.” He looked at me with an interest he’d not yet shown me.
“What scene would you like to do next?”I said.
He stopped walking and turned to face me. He brought his hand to my cheek and leaned in closer. “I thought we might attempt the kissing scene.”
“Kissing scene? But we don’t have a kissing scene.”
He frowned, but with a crooked grin. “I’m pretty sure there is.”
“I have a kissing scene with Edmund...that is with Matthew. But not with Henry Crawford.”
“Lucky Matthew,” he said, coming closer still.
I pulled away and turned to head back to the house.
“I’ve vexed you,” he said as he came after me.
“No. Not at all,” I said. “I believe we have many other scenes to work on; scenes that are actually in the script.”
He chuckled and we began another scene as we walked back through the forest. He remained charming, polite, was warm and thoughtful, and he made no more references to any sort of kissing scene.Good.
*****
IFOUND MATTHEW INhis father’s library, an immense room with floor to ceiling shelves filled with books about history, architecture, science and more.
Seated at a table with the script open in front of him, he didn’t hear me come in.
“Matt?”I softly said.
He looked up at me, a smile instantly coming to his lips. “Darling. I heard that you were off with Henry Crawford for a good part of the afternoon.”
I shrugged. “We do have many scenes together.”
“Of course. How’d it go?”
“He certainly has the charm that a Henry Crawford requires. I’m sure moviegoers will appreciate him very much.”
He nodded.
“I don’t know if you heard about Britney’s encounter with him this afternoon as he rehearsed with Susie.”
He nodded more deeply. “Yes. Indeed, I did. But I was also witness to another encounter between the two. Britney did not hold back.”
“When has she ever?”
He shrugged, seemingly reluctant to be overly critical of his older sister.
