Tori and Joanna were chatting in a corner of the Blackbox Theatre. Both of them were wearing their costumes. Joanna was wearing an elegant black dress. Meanwhile, Tori wore a bloody wedding dress. "I think I like doing toothpaste commercials the best," said Joanna. "I mean I've only done one, but it was so fun."
"I'm sure," said Tori.
"Food commercials are such a pain," said Joanna. "You don't even get to eat the food, because you have to do multiple takes. But it's not like I want to eat the food after what they do to it to make it look good."
"Well, at least you got some work," said Tori.
"Have you done any commercials?" said Joanna.
"No, not yet," said Tori.
"Oh that's too bad," said Joanna. "You know, I have a friend whose Dad does casting for a lot of these commercials. I could ask her to set you up with an audition. No promises, of course."
"Thanks," said Tori. She spotted Beck out of the corner of her eye. He was at the other end of the stage and was wearing his costume. It was a dark blue business suit. Tori walked over to him. "How's it going?"
"Same as usual," said Beck.
"That bad?" said Tori.
Beck sighed. "Jade just keeps shutting me out. I don't know what do do?"
"Have you told her how you feel?" said Tori.
"She hasn't given me the chance," said Beck.
"Listen up!" Everyone turned to see Jade standing in the middle of the auditorium. She looked more haggard than she had been over the past few days. "You've had your break. Now let's start with the last scene. Get in position."
Beck got in front of the fake fireplace, while Joanna got between him and Tori. Sinjin ran on stage and handed Tori a prop knife. "Action!"
"You've lost your mind Janet," said Beck.
"Have I?" said Tori. "I think I'm seeing things clearly for the first time."
"Don't do anything rash Janet," said Joanna. "Put the knife down before someone gets hurt."
"Someone already got hurt," said Tori. "His name was Brent Olsen and you had him killed."
"Don't go saying things you can't prove," said Beck.
"Oh, but I can prove you killed him," said Tori. She held up the knife. "I saw you do it. This is the knife you used."
Beck scoffed. "You think the police will believe you?"
"I'm not going to the police." Tori took the prop knife and jabbed Joanna in the neck. She screamed and fell to the floor.
"You killed her!" said Beck.
"That's right Daddy. Now I'm going to kill you too." She jabbed Beck in the stomach.
Beck crumpled to the floor. "You ungrateful little-"
"Go ahead Daddy," said Tori. "Let it out. It's not going to change anything."
Beck let out a dying gasp. "And cut."
Jade rubbed her temples. Rehearsal went well. She wasn't regretting her decision to cast Tori as Janet. As much as she hated to admit it, she was just perfect for the role. By now the cast and crew had already left. Now she was in the only one in the Blackbox Theatre. Well, if one excluded Beck. He'd waited for everyone to leave before he confronted Jade. She groaned as he walked over to her. "What is it?"
"I just want to talk," said Beck.
"We've already talked," said Jade.
Beck clasped his hands together. "Look, I feel like you're not present anymore."
"Yeah, because I'm busy with the play," said Jade.
"And I understand that," said Beck. "I've been trying to be as supportive as I can."
"If you want to be supportive, then leave," said Jade.
It looked like he was going to say something, but he didn't. He just walked off. Before he left the theatre he turned to Jade. "If you ever want to talk or share your feelings, I'm here."
"I won't." Beck left the theatre. Now Jade was all by herself. The set was gone. The costumes were gone. The props were gone. The only thing there was Jade.
Luther's back hurt as he bent down to pick up some trash. He was getting too old for this job. Apparently would be actors didn't think they needed to pick up after themselves. Everyday he found some litter that the students couldn't be bothered to toss in the trash can. He was convinced that they were just dropping it on the floor because they were too lazy. It got worse with the junior acting program. At least the older students didn't make messes. The young actors were always spilling things on the floor. At the moment, he was looking for a new job. It didn't have to pay better. He just had to be away from Hollywood Arts.
As he passed the Blackbox Theatre, he noticed a little girl. She was brunette and wore dark clothes. She was walking out of the theatre. It was too late for there to be students there. Was she lost? "Hey little girl."
She didn't answer. Instead she kept walking. Luther tried to catch up with her, but she turned a corner. He followed her, but when he turned the same corner, she was gone. He must be seeing things. He needed to get away from this school.
Tori found Beck by his locker. "How'd the talk with Jade go?"
Beck slammed his locker. "The same as the other talks."
"I'm sorry," said Tori.
"It's not your fault," said Beck. "She just isn't being reasonable anymore. She's completely obsessed with this play."
"Well it means a lot to her," said Tori.
"And I get that," said Beck. "But I think it's taking a toll on her and she needs to step back."
"How about this?" said Tori. "I could talk to her."
Beck shook his head. "If I can't get through to her, do you really think you could reach her?"
"You never know," said Tori. "We have a special connection. You know, when we're not fighting."
"Maybe it could work," said Beck.
"Great," said Tori. "I'll try talking to her after rehearsal."
They were back at the Blackbox Theatre again. All of them were in costume and Tori had the prop knife in hand. They all waited for Jade to return, to give the go ahead to start the scene. In the meantime, Joanna was talking with Tori. "So I talked with my friend and she says they need someone to do a commercial for a supermarket. I told them about you and they're interested in having you for the part."
"Thanks," said Tori. "You didn't have to do that."
"Don't mention it," said Joanna.
Jade returned to the stage. Today, she looked a bit better. Not great, but it seemed like she had at least gotten some rest. She groaned. "Okay, we're doing the final scene again. Everybody ready? Action!"
"You've lost your mind Janet," said Beck. His tone was less energetic than it was the other day.
"Have I?" said Tori. She was now more comfortable in the role than she had been the other day. Her trick was to picture herself as Jade. It seemed like the kind of part she would play. "I think I'm seeing things clearly for the first time."
"Don't do anything rash Janet," said Joanna. "Put the knife down before someone gets hurt."
"Someone already got hurt," said Tori. "His name was Brent Olsen and you had him killed."
"Don't go saying things you can't prove," said Beck.
"Oh, but I can prove you killed him," said Tori. She held up the knife. "I saw you do it. This is the knife you used."
Beck scoffed. "You think the police will believe you?"
"I'm not going to the police." Tori took the prop knife and jabbed Joanna in the neck, with a little bit more force than she did the other day. A stream of something hot and sticky hit Tori in the face. Joanna opened her mouth as if to scream, but only blood came out. She fell to the floor, the knife still in her neck.