Jade and Sikowitz sat at a table in the middle of the room behind the Blackbox Theatre. Each had a script in front of them. They also both had clipboards to write notes on. A pitcher of water had been placed on the table. Jade nervously flipped through the pages of her script. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," said Jade.

"You look like you haven't slept enough," said Sikowitz.

"I'm fine!" said Jade.

"Alright, don't be a crabby Kathy," said Sikowitz. "This should be exciting for you."

"Yeah, I guess," said Jade.

"Well I'm sure you'll make the right call," said Sikowitz.

"Uh huh," said Jade. She looked at the clock. Auditions would start in five minutes. She took a sip of water.

"This isn't so bad," said Sikowitz.

"Auditioning people?" said Jade.

"No," said Sikowitz. "When you first showed me your script you wanted this to be a one woman show. You didn't see the need to have other people perform your vision. But now look at you. You seem to be handling it just fine."

"Sure," said Jade. She looked at the clock. Now it was four minutes until the auditions started. She could already hear people from the other side of the door chatting and making noise. They were all waiting for the audition to start. Since they were already there, Jade could probably just let them in and start auditioning them. But Sikowitz had told her she needed to wait. If this whole experience of directing the play was supposed to be a test, then this must be some kind of test. Maybe it was to test her patience. Or maybe it was to teach her the importance of keeping to a specific schedule. Either way, she would pass this test. She would wait until the exact second she said auditions would start. No sooner or later.

Tori ran through the halls of Hollywood Arts. She could still make it to the auditions. She checked a clock and could see she still had a few minutes before they started. The room wasn't too far from where she was. Tori hadn't expected to be held up this much. She just needed to talk to her science teacher about her grade on the last quiz. It was something so minor, she didn't think it would take more than five minute. But one thing lead to another and the conversation dragged on. Tori wanted to leave, but figured it would be a bad idea to blow off her teacher, especially since they had been discussing her grade. When the conversation was finally over, Tori had to rush out of the classroom just to make it to the auditions on time. She got to the Blackbox Theatre and found a hallway that lead to the backroom. There was already a line of people outside the room. She checked the clock. She had still a minute to spare.

Tori got to the back of the line. Near the front of the line was Beck. He waved to Tori when he saw her. Tori waved back. Not too far from him was Robbie. In front of Tori was a girl named Joanna. She was new to Hollywood Arts, but she already had a reputation as a talented actress. Apparently she'd gotten some minor acting credits. A few commercials and some small parts on a couple of TV shows. She had a script in hand and was flipping through the pages, no doubt doing some last minute preparation. Tori wondered if they were both trying out for the same part. Tori also wondered if she should take a queue from Joanna. She took her copy of the script from her backpack and began reading through it again, going over the lines one last time and making sure she had them memorized.

"Well, it's time to start." Sikowitz pointed to the clock.

"Let them in then," said Jade. Sikowitz got out of his chair, went over to the door, and opened it. In walked Beck. "Hey Beck."

"Hey Jade," said Beck. "I'm trying out for the role of Mr. Walton. I'll be reading the dinner scene in Act I."

"Alright," said Jade. She flipped through her script until she got to the scene he was talking about. With her free hand she uncapped her pen, preparing to jot down notes about Beck's performance. "Do you want me to read you in?"

"Sure," said Beck.

"Okay," said Jade. "Why Daddy, you seem to be in a bad mood?"

"Don't play dumb with me!" said Beck in a gruff voice.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Jade.

"You don't, do you?" said Beck. "Well I know."

"Know about what?" said Jade.

"You and the Olsen boy," said Beck. "I saw you two with my own eyes, so it's no use playing dumb with me."

"Well yes, I was with the Olsen boy," said Jade. "I won't deny it. He's a perfectly fine man."

"Ha," said Beck. "He's a scoundrel and you will not see him again! Do you hear me!"

"And what if I still see him again?" said Jade. "What are you going to do to me?"

"Oh, I won't do anything to you," said Beck. "And scene."

Jade put down her pen. "Well thanks for trying out. When you go outside, can you tell the next person in line that they can come in?"

"Sure." Beck left the room.

When the door closed behind him, Sikowitz turned to Jade. "So, what do you think?"

"I think he was perfect," said Jade. "I'm a bit surprised."

"Why?" said Sikowitz. "He's a good actor."

"Yeah," said Jade. "It's just I expected him to try out for the part of Olsen."

Robbie was the third person they auditioned. "What role will you be trying out for?"

"Brent Olsen," said Robbie. "I'll be reading Act I Scene V."

"Alright." Jade looked down at the script. "Oh Brent, it's so good I found you before Daddy did. He's furious."

"Oh don't look so worried sweetie." Robbie had completely disappeared into the role. No longer was he the awkward teen. He was Brent Olsen. Confident bad boy. "Your father doesn't scare me."

"You don't know my father like I do," said Jade. "He's tough."

"Yeah?" said Robbie. "Well he's not tougher than me. If we ever go toe to toe, I'll show him a thing or two."

"Oh Brent, you don't have to pretend for me," said Jade.

"Pretend?" said Robbie.

"Oh you always act tough," said Jade. "But I know deep down you're a sweet, innocent-"

"You think I'm soft?" said Robbie.

"No," said Jade. "But so what if you're soft? There are worse things than being soft."

"I'm not soft," said Robbie. "And I'm not acting. What you see is what I am. I pretend for no one. And scene."

"Okay, thanks for trying out," said Jade. "When you leave, tell the next person to come in."

Jade turned to Sikowitz once Robbie left. "I know we've got more people to audition, but I think he's a shoe-in for Olsen."

"You think so?" said Sikowitz.

"I'm as surprised as you," said Jade. "But he was just perfect in the role."

"If you insist," said Sikowitz.

"Thanks for auditioning," said Jade.

"Thanks for letting me audition," said Joanna.

"Well when you leave, tell the next person to come in," said Jade.

"Sure thing." Joanna left the room and in walked Tori.

"Tori," said Jade. "Let me guess, you want to audition for the role of Mrs. Walton?"

"No," said Tori. "I want to audition for the part of Janet."

Jade's face turned red. "Sure. What scene will you be reading from?"

"Act I scene IV," said Tori.

"Okay," said Jade. "Let's start."