Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, except the ones of my own creation, they belong to SVU and Dick Wolf. Neither are Mariska Hargitay and Stephanie March. I only use the characters and the personalities of these lovely and wonderful ladies.
Behind the scenes and on the screen
Prologue.
Mariska Hargitay had just left her trailer. It had been a long day. The filming didn't go as expected and it was now around 6 p.m. The brunette needed to go back to the set for a reading audition with some candidates for the role of Alexandra Cabot, the new Assistant District Attorney for the DA's office and prosecutor for the SVU Manhattan. The producers wanted to hire an actress as the female prosecutor and Michelle Hurst, who played Detective Jeffries, would leave at the end of season one in the finale. The new season, would have Mariska as the only female detective in the squad at Manhattan SVU.
Mariska had become one of the most important and well-loved characters by the producer, being that they were already filming the second half of the end of the first season. But the producer had seen how Mariska had been perfect in the role of Detective Olivia Benson. She would be an integral part of the show and they even begun including her in more of the behind the screen roles.
It was Ms. Hargitay's idea to do a reading with a number of candidates for the role of Alexandra (Alex) Cabot, as their plan was to have a permanent ADA for the SVU. And being the only female of the team it would be nice if she and the new actress could get along with each other at least for the scenes that they would play. The beautiful and strong brunette had come to set a bit early so that they could start immediately after the audition for a small doctor's role. A female doctor would be interviewed by Detective Jeffries.
When the brunette detective arrived on the set, a tall, slim blonde with beautiful blue eyes caught her attention at the same time that she had been doing her audition with Michelle. The producer Gary Martin was on the set too, watching this last audition for the role of the doctor. Mariska walked up to Gary and stood beside him, watching the audition. It didn't take long for the brunette to think that the tall blonde should be added to list of candidates for the audition of Alex Cabot. The way Stephanie spoke, her posture, and the authority she displayed would make her a good attorney, Mariska thought to herself. She turned around towards Gary.
"Gary, I think you should add her to the list of candidates auditioning with me for the role of Alex. I think she would have a really good chance of getting the role," Mariska said to him.
Gary looked for a few moments at Stephanie as Mariska's suggestion rolled around in his mind before he turned to look at the brunette.
"You know Mariska, I think you might be right. I'll add her to the list and make sure that she stays for the audition if she's interested," Gary answered.
"Good. I'm curious as to how the reading with her will go. Let me know when she's doing the audition if she accepts the offer-how many candidates will go first, I mean," Mariska said, catching her slip.
"I will. Now excuse me, I'm going to arrange for her to be added to the list and ask Ms. March when she's finished with her current reading," Gary said.
"Sure, go ahead," Mariska said. "I'm gonna read the script one more time. Oh, and send Michelle away after she's done. I don't want the others to know who's gonna perform the role of Alex yet. When we start filming it will be soon enough. You know how the guys are. And the last thing I want is to chase Ms. March away if she does what I think she'll do at the audition," Mariska answers.
"Alright, because it's you, I will do it. See you soon, Hargitay," Gary said.
Mariska nodded at Gary and turned her attention back to Stephanie and Michelle for a few moments. Then she walked to her chair and read the script one last time to get it refreshed in her head.
Gary walked to his assistant Linda and asked her to send Stephanie to him when she's done with the audition and to send Michelle away after their audition since she's finished . He also mentioned that Mariska had asked him, too. Then he walked to the writer's room to get a script for Stephanie, should she agree, and walked back to the set and stood in a corner to wait for Stephanie. When Stephanie and Michelle finished Stephanie's audition Linda walked onto the floor towards the two women.
"Michelle, your done for today. You can go on home. Get some rest," Linda said.
"Thanks, I'll go right away. I've had it for today," Michelle said.
Michelle walked away and Stephanie made an attempt to leave as well but Linda stopped her.
"Ms. March, Mr. Martin would like to speak with you, could you follow me please?" Linda asks.
"Yes, of course. Do you know why he wants to speak with me? I mean I just finished my audition a few moments ago," Stephanie asked.
"I'm sorry. He didn't say why. He just asked me to ask you to come to him when you were done," Linda said.
Stephanie nodded and the two women walked off the floor and to the corner of the set where Gary was waiting for the blonde. After introducing the two to each other Linda left.
"Ms. March, thank you for coming here to meet me. I have a proposition for you. We would like for you to do another audition, if you're interested," Gary said.
Stephanie raised one perfect sculptured eyebrow. "Another audition, Mr. Martin?" Stephanie asked surprised.
"Yes. We, Mariska Hargitay and myself, would like for you to do the reading audition with Ms. Hargitay. It's for the role of ADA Alex Cabot. Do you want to take that audition?" Gary asked.
"Is this a small role too?" Stephanie questioned.
"No, Ms. March. This is for a permanent role. Alex Cabot will added to the show in the opening episode of the next season. She will be the new ADA and will only prosecute cases for Manhattan SVU. Ms. Hargitay is very important for us and she plays the role of Detective Olivia Benson. She will get to be the only female Detective of the squad and is helping with the auditions to see with whom there will be chemistry to play the role of Alex Cabot. She came to the set early, for said auditions, and she saw you doing your audition for Dr. Melody and liked what she saw from you. So do you want to do the audition and should I add you to the list of candidates or not?" Gary asked after giving the short explanation to Stephanie.
"Yes I would like to do the audition. Do you have a script for me to read so I know what I have to do? And do I have time to read it and prepare for the audition with Ms. Hargitay?" Stephanie asked.
"I have the script here for you and you have about 20 minutes to prepare. You'll be the third candidate to do the audition," Gary answered with a small smile.
"Thank you Mr. Martin," Stephanie answered and took the script Gary was holding in front of her.
"You can sit down over there to prepare for your audition Ms. March," Gary said, pointing at a couple of chairs placed around the floor of the set.
"Thank you Mr. Martin," Stephanie answered.
The blonde walked towards the chairs and sat down and opened the script to read it. Gary walked to Linda to have her add Stephanie to the list and told her where to put her on the list. Then he walked to Mariska and told her that Stephanie will be the third candidate to do the audition with her. After that he walked away and left Mariska to prepare for a couple of minutes more before they were to start with the auditions.
The first candidate wasn't what they were looking for and there was no click at all with Mariska. The second candidate was a woman named Claudia Namuro. She would have had a chance if she didn't forget her lines twice with the script right in front of her. The third candidate was Stephanie.
"Hey. I'm glad you took the chance and do the audition," Mariska said kindly.
"Hi. Thank you for asking me," Stephanie answered.
"So Stephanie, are you ready?" Mariska asked.
"As ready as I can get. So let's start," Stephanie answered.
Both women took their positions and started when they got the signal to go on.
Knock...Knock.
"Come in," Stephanie said.
"Hi Alex. We need a search warrant for Samual Briston," Mariska said.
"On what grounds?" Stephanie asked.
"Witnesses say they think he was at the crime scene just before 911 was called, based on the sketch. And he matches the description of our victims," Mariska answered.
"Olivia that's not good enough and you know it. Based on the sketch they THINK they saw the suspect. IF they had been sure that it was him then I could get you a warrant. But it's highly unlikely that a judge would sign off on a warrant based on witnesses think they saw," Stephanie said firmly.
"So what they need to identify him in a line up? That's bull shit, Counselor. I didn't ask for an arrest warrant. I asked for a search warrant and this is enough to get it. I just know he did it," Mariska said, irritated.
"And how do you know that without enough evidence to prove it. Unless you have new evidence I don't know about, you don't have enough and it's all circumstantial. Find some evidence that is hard evidence and you'll get your warrant, Detective," Alex said sternly.
"And how do you suggest we do that without the search warrant? Alex, I just know he is our guy. If you don't get us the warrant he'll walk and will probably rape other women. Is that what you want?" Mariska asked, furious.
"You're a Detective, a good Detective. Find me some evidence and I promise you get that warrant. But tell me...how do you know it's him?" Stephanie asked.
"I just know it. My gut is saying it's him and that we will find the evidence to nail him if you get me that search warrant. You know that I'm right. Have I ever given you anything to doubt that?" Mariska asked.
Stephanie pretends that Alex needs to think for a couple of moments and then answers. "No you haven't Olivia. Alright, I trust your gut, so I'm gonna stick my neck out for you and try to get you that warrant. You better find the evidence I need to nail his ass to the wall. Or it will be the first and last time I go try to get a warrant with no hard evidence," Stephanie answered calmly, but with an stern edge in her voice.
"Thank you, Alex. I know you can get that warrant for me and I promise you we will find the evidence you need," Mariska said with determination in her voice.
"Give me half an hour, I should be back by then. You can wait here in my office, Olivia," Stephanie said softly.
"Alright I will. And thank you for sticking your neck out for me, Alex. I really do appreciate it," Mariska said softly.
Stephanie turned around to pretend to walk away and then the scene ended. Stephanie waited 5 seconds before she turned back and looked at Mariska. Both women got a big smile on their faces.
"I think that went really well, Stephanie. How about you?" Mariska asked with a smile.
"I agree. It felt good to me," Stephanie answered, also smiling.
"That makes two of us," Mariska said.
The two women were completely at ease with each other and it felt like they had known each other for years and as if they had worked together for years. Gary, Linda, and a couple of script writers were looking at each other surprised, silently asking themselves what the hell just happened. The two actresses were so in sync that you could already see that there was a definite chemistry between them. Without even talking it over, they had acted a perfect scene. Gary walked towards Mariska and Stephanie and opened his mouth but before he could actually say anything Mariska beat him to it.
"You can cancel the rest of the auditions, Gary. If it was up to me Stephanie would get the job and play the role of Alex. I know we only had three candidates, but it won't get any better than with her, if you ask me," Mariska says.
"If I didn't know any better I would've said the two of you had already worked together for a couple of years. I think it's useless to look any further, Mariska. Everyone on this set could see the chemistry between the two of you. You both brought the best out of each other. So think I can send the others away, unless you don't want the role, Ms. March. But it seems to me there's only one person who should perform the role of Alex Cabot and that is you. So again if you want it, it's yours to take," Gary said.
Stephanie looked at Mariska, who nodded and smiled broadly at the blonde. Ms. March turned back to look at Gary. "I would be more than happy to take the role." Stephanie answers.
"Well in that case, Congratulations, Ms. March. And also, thank you, Mariska," Gary said.
"Thank you," Stephanie said.
"Thank you Gary," Mariska said.
"Alright, I need some time to get the contract and other papers ready. So, meet me in my office in half an hour, Ms. March. Mariska can show you where it is, if needed. So, if you ladies will excuse me, I have things to take care of now," Gary said.
"Yes Mr. Martin. I'll be there," Stephanie said.
"Call me Gary, Ms. March. I have a feeling you'll be around here for a long time," Gary answered.
"Only if you call me Stephanie," Stephanie answered.
"Alright Stephanie, it is. Now I really have to go. See you later, Stephanie and I'll see you tomorrow, Mariska," Gary said.
The blonde and the brunette nodded at Gary and then he walked away.
"How about I wait here with you, we can have a cup of coffee together, and then I can take you to Gary's office in half an hour. Afterwards we can go to grab a drink, get to know each other a bit better, and celebrate your new role? Unless you have another appointment of course," Mariska offered.
"Sounds like a good idea to me. Lead the way, Detective," Stephanie joked.
"I sure will, Counselor. I sure will," Mariska joked back.
An hour later Stephanie and Mariska left the studio and were on their way to a bar to celebrate and to get to know each other a bit.