Page 13 of Persuading Penny
Like what?I wanted to say.Stripping for the camera?
“I know what you’re thinking,” she said, pointing a lazy finger at my eyes. “I see right through those pretty green eyes. You’ve seen some of those trashy movies I’ve made...or at least you’ve heard of them.Yeah. All right. I admit it. They weren’t my best work. I could have chosen something more...well...more sophisticated. But, hey, I was young, and I took whatever work came my way.”
“Bridget was eager to take on a more serious role,” Keely said. “Anne inPersuasionis the complete opposite of everything she’s done so far.”
“You better believe it,” Bridget said. “This girl is quiet, demure, self-conscious... I’m the complete opposite of that. Geez. It doesn’t get more different to the girl I am than this.”
“You want to prove you can act?”I said.
“Yeah,” she said, surprised by the question. “I guess you could put it that way.”
I looked at her as she stood there and suddenly realized how underdressed I was. After Keely told me that it was to be a casual affair, a meet and greet followed by a light dinner, I’d chosen a muted mauve skirt and soft brown blouse with a white Peter Pan collar and white cuffs on the short puff sleeves.
But Bridget wore faded blue jeans, artificially tattered at the knee, and a moss green silk shirt with tiny cap sleeves. Adding more bling to her look were her shimmering green three inch pumps, and the several delicate silver and gold chains around her neck. She was both casual and approachable, while having a touch of chic elegance.
In her early thirties, she had pretty eyes, smooth, shiny hair and a clear and healthy complexion. Of average height, she had a curvaceous figure, perfect for the movies that had relied more on her cleavage than her ability to speak eloquently. But looking at her now, there was no overt sexuality about her that one might expect considering the movies she’d been in. While not prim and proper by any stretch of the imagination, there was something tamer than I would have anticipated.
“Have you had the chance to meet the rest of the cast?”Keely asked her.
“Not all. I’ve met Nick Farley who’ll be playing Captain Frederick Wentworth; a very handsome man indeed. And I had a lovely little chat with Anthony Higgins. Truly a gentleman.”
“Good. Okay then,” Keely said. “We’ll get everyone together.”
She turned to the crowd who were busily chatting among themselves. Before my very eyes, I saw the professional producer, all business as we talked of budgets and costs, turn into the movie producer and director.
She clapped her hands loudly. “Everyone! Let’s have your attention, everyone.”
The crowd quieted with surprising speed.
“I believe there are a few of you whom I haven’t yet met, so I will introduce myself. I’m Keely Lee and I’ll be producing and directing this movie.”
All heads nodded in greeting.
“In case you don’t know how I work,” she went on, her voice clear and loud. “Once I introduce you as the character that you’ll be playing, I and the crew will subsequently refer to you by that character name. Understood?”
Everyone nodded.
Keely put her arm around Bridget’s shoulders. “The exception is this lovely actress. I’m sure you all recognize Bridget Johnson.”
“Hello, everyone,” Bridget said. “So happy to see you all here and I can’t wait to work with you.”
“But from here on in, I will refer to her as Anne Elliot, the beautiful, quiet and demure Anne Elliot.”
A young man at the back of the room snickered.
Keely’s eagle eye turned to him, her scorn clear. “If I hear so much as a whisper, an insinuation about the capabilities of this beautiful young actress, you will be sent on your way...no matter your part in this movie...no matter the consequences.”
My breath caught in my throat. That was quite the threat.
But the young man at the back of the room offered her a sheepish grin and a silent apology.
Keely cleared her throat and continued. “And I see that we have over there Toby Thomas who’ll be playing Charles Musgrove, Camilla Lane who is our Lady Russell and Clair Palance...our Louisa Musgrove.”
As Keely continued to name actors and their respective roles, they mingled together, most of them coming to get closer to Bridget. Despite her poor choice of movie roles, she’d nonetheless garnered many admirers and fans.
“Oh, my God,” a young actress called out with excitement. “I can’t believe it. A true award-winner.”
Dozens of eyes turned to the newcomer. Through the crowd I tried to get a look at him but could just barely see the top of the man’s head.
