“And would a star of such high caliber condescend to join our cast?” asked Julia testily.
“I happen to know that he would. His agent reached out to me.”
“Whose agent?” asked Ellen warily. “Who are we talking about?”
“Wait for it.” Mitchell held up his hands as if framing a shot. “Rick Rowan!”
“What?” Julia exclaimed.
“No. Absolutely not.” Ellen shook her head emphatically. “Not if he were the last actor on earth.”
“What’s the problem?” Mitchell asked, bewildered. “Rick Rowan is a bona fide movie star.Desert Vengeanceis coming out in May. His popularity will be on the rise just as our season two is premiering.”
Julia looked to Ellen and saw her own alarm and disgust reflected in her friend’s expression. “Do you know nothing at all about the failed movie adaptation ofA Patchwork Life?” Julia asked, turning back to Mitchell. “DoesPrairie Vengeancering a bell?”
“Never heard of it.”
“It was an absolute nightmare,” Ellen said flatly. “Rowan was cast as Augustus Henderson. Test screening audiences loathed the movie so much that it went straight to video. And you want to cast him in our series?”
“Well...” Mitchell shifted in his chair, uncomfortable. “Every star has a bomb on his résumé, and Rowan is a star. Maybe appearing inPatchworkwill give him a redemption arc. That could be good publicity.”
“I won’t work with him.” Ellen crossed her arms and sat back in her chair. “We should each get one unassailable veto, and this would be mine.”
“What do you have against Nigel Crawford?” Julia asked Mitchell. “And don’t give me that ‘too British’ garbage. He speaks better American than Rick Rowan.”
“I just don’t find Crawford believable in the role, all right?” said Mitchell, raising his voice. “I mean, come on, he’s a fag.”
Julia gaped at him. “Excuse me?”
“That’s what I’ve heard.”
Ellen fixed him with a level stare. “That word is a slur, Mitchell. Don’t use it again.”
He threw his hands in the air. “Fine. Whatever. He’s a ‘homosexual.’ The point is, Ben Atherton is supposed to be a tough cattlerancher and Sadie’s love interest. How can a homosexual pull that off? Would you really want to kiss him, Julia? I mean, seriously?”
“You do realize that it’sacting, right?” Julia retorted. “Whoever we cast doesn’t actually have to be in love with me. I don’t have to be in love with him. But to your point, of course I wouldn’t object to kissing him if that’s what Ellen writes.”
“I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation,” said Ellen. “It’s the twenty-first century, Mitchell. You need to get over yourself.”
He heaved a sigh. “Okay. Fine. We won’t hire Rick Rowan if you can’t stand him. We’ll find a Rick Rowantype. Sure, Crawford had the best audition and he could probably pull off the role, but I don’t want to cast a homosexual.”
Julia shook her head, incredulous. “That is truly repugnant, Mitchell.”
“It’s also illegal,” said Ellen. “We both heard you say, clearly and unequivocally, that you intend to discriminate against him because of his sexual orientation. That’s against the law in California, in case you didn’t get the memo.”
Mitchell rolled his eyes. “How stupid do you think I am? I’m not going totell himthat’s why.”
“I can’t even—” Ellen clasped a hand to her forehead. “I don’t even know what to say. I have no words.”
“There’s no need to explain why you’re not casting Nigel Crawford in this role,” Julia said, fixing Mitchell with a steely gaze. “Because youaregoing to cast him. If you don’t, I’ll file a complaint with human resources.”
“You wouldn’t dare. My father-in-law is a vice president with the studio.”
“Father-in-law,” Julia exclaimed, slapping her palms on the table. “Sothat’sit. I thought it was an uncle who got you this job.”
“Your guess was closer than mine,” Ellen said. “I figured it was a college roommate’s dad. So who won the pool?”
“Edna from wardrobe, I think.”
