Is Romance off the Air? Feud Rumors Strike By the Numbers Set.
No one saw it coming.
Just one month into filming and sources have noted the obvious antagonism between our very own Kaitlyn Jones and Link Harrison. Dreamy actor William Darcy was photographed throwing what may be a coffee cup at his brunette co-star yesterday while Lizzie Bennet (of Hamilton fame) cries in the corner. Director Ed Gardiner was witnessed trying to calm down both parties.
Speculations over the highly-anticipated project reached a fever pitch last year at the news of Austen Studios gaining the film rights for the bestselling romance series from author Charlotte Lucas. 28-year-old actor William Darcy was first attached to the project , while a nationwide search led to newcomer Lizzie Bennet playing his love interest. Fan opinion has been split over the casting choices and rumors persist that the company may re-cast for subsequent movies in the series.
Eyewitness accounts refer to the interaction between William and Lizzie as "unpredictable and unstable."
Ed Gardiner and the actors' respective agents have declined to comment.
"There is no way I am filming that with this."
His last words before his violent departure from the set are still hanging in the air when he crashes through his trailer door. He slams the door back with all the force in his arm. The fact that the handle didn't break off is a testament to how much real money Austen Studios was throwing at this disaster of a film.
Darcy braces himself against the sink counter, panting.
It's been five weeks of actual filming, each day more ambitious than the last. The camera crew and Ed handle all the tricky angles and sweeping shots, and post-production will make sure moving music makes up for any emotional gaps still unfilled.
But, for now, it's up to him and Lizzie Bennet to sell the central romance.
The banter part had been easy. He's never had a role more natural than throwing barbs at his intriguing co-star or rolling his eyes at her fumbling – fictional or otherwise.
In fact, the meet cute scene this morning had been a breeze – all glares and scoffs and passive-aggressive smirking.
It was the scene slated for twilight that's wringing everything he can out of him.
Because how is he supposed to act tender and loving when he's face to face with a scene partner who stiffens up whenever he even tries? He hovers close, and she freezes. He follows instructions and rests a hand on her shoulder – and she looks ready to run.
He knows – and he knows she knows – what the little touches and declarations are supposed to lead. He knows they're slated to shoot the big finale kiss scene today.
He's choosing to be professional about it, regardless of any mixed feelings he may be carrying towards the impossible Lizzie Bennet.
How he wishes she can be too.
"Hey, everything alright?"
Darcy turns at the voice. He smirks.
Leave it to Ed Gardiner's genius to know what one person on the planet Darcy wouldn't throw out of his trailer right now.
"Visiting day for the fiancé?" Darcy smiles.
"Yeah. The sisters are inseparable." Bingley smiles back. The trailer looks cramped with his friend and agent's chubby frame inside it. But Bingley still swings with his hands in his pocket, apparently unfazed. "Your director called her up."
Darcy ponders, for a quick moment, how Ed Gardiner really is a genius.
"Think you can manage to channel the antagonism to a more – fiery performance?" Bingley grins as Darcy slides his way over to sick down on the lone armchair. The studio's budget isn't that amazing.
Darcy sighs.
"I don't understand her," he says bluntly.
"Do you have to?"
"To a certain degree – perhaps. She can be – interesting."
"You thought she was pretty ever since the chemistry read."
"There were many pretty girls that day."
"But she was special – wasn't she?"
There's something knowing in Bingley's gaze, despite the innocent-looking grin.
Darcy sighs slowly. "You know her whole family. You tell me."
Bingley chuckles, though not unkindly.
"How about we go grab a drink?"
"Workday's not done yet, mister agent."
Now, Bingley grins. "Ed's giving you all the rest of the day off. You guys are ahead of schedule, anyway. You guys still have permits for tomorrow."
"That means no room for error. We'll have to make the scene work."
Bingley shrugs. "Then don't make any."
As much as it would pain her to admit, this huge movie franchise really is the first time Lizzie is working on film. Commercials don't count, and she's only done two television cameos before this point.
And it's very nerve-wracking to think that they're about to produce a visual version of a widely beloved story - and all they can do is just hope that the audience will love it.
That's why it's so much more important that they get this twilight shot right.
That's why she keeps repeating to herself, in her head, the many things Jane and Ms. Lucas and Ed said last night, when her own tongue had finally loosened after some wine.
It's just acting. He doesn't hate her. This will work out.
"And - action," Ed calls.
Lizzie channels her nerves into an innocent, wide-eyed, pensive look. The camera and microphone hover to her right.
"I've tried, you know? God knows I've tried," William Darcy, in full Link Harrison wall street gear, speaks softly. He walks over slowly with his hands in his pocket. Say what you will of the guy - he pulls off the charm when he needs to. "I tried to build my life without you - to reconstruct the narrative that's been written out for me ever since I was - what - five years old?"
He scoffs gently, like the script says.
She keeps staring - like the script says.
"But what used to be there - all those facets and fragments that I treasured in the hope of forming something that I wanted - " He takes her hands. She steps closer. "It was always - they were always - subconsciously, inadvertently, yet somehow absolutely indubitably - all pointing to you."
He leans over until their faces are two inches apart. The camera zooms in.
She slowly, carefully meets his eye. The depth of his gaze is bottomless.
"Please don't let my puzzle miss its biggest piece," he whispers.
Lizzie throws herself into the moment - lets her mind live through that special scene, both on the page and on set, when Kaitlyn and Link bonded over the giant jigsaw puzzle in his office. She breathes in the moments: the way Link grazed Kaitlyn's shoulder, when Kaitlyn almost slid to the floor, when Link's uncoordinated attempt to 'save' Kaitlyn landed them in an almost-embrace.
She makes sure she feels every bit of affection she can for the character in front of her, who is literally breathing on her face.
Given how broodingly handsome he is at the moment, the act is easier to pull off than she anticipated.
"Fine," she offers her line - with the gentle tranquility she tapped into every time she became Elizabeth Hamilton on stage. But there's still that bit of edge, that bit of spunky Kaitlyn-ness that makes her choose to display a soft, lop-sided smirk. She slides her hands around his neck. "I'll be your little puzzle piece."
He kisses her, pulling her close. She kisses him back with no hesitation, their bodies pressed together. It takes the loud "Cut!" from Ed a minute later to remind her that Darcy was supposed to kiss her there - that he wasn't acting in reaction to her bare-hearted confession.
"Wonderful, guys. Wonderful!" Ed exclaims, with an enthusiastic clap. "We'll do it one more time, same angles - then we'll do the aerial shot. Perfect."
Lizzie steps away from her co-star, who backs off with a polite nod.
They have to do it again - and maybe again a dozen other times after.
She'll have to live it again - the brooding, the appeal, the smirk, the embrace, and the heart-stopping kiss.
Suddenly, she's not so sure how she feels about this entire project.
The deafening squeals hit her the moment she steps on to the platform. Hundreds of fans with their phones raised in front of their faces wave with their free hands. The camera shutters click at lightning speed. The entire front row of media VIP fix their gazes on her like hungry wolves ready for their feeding.
Lizzie gulps, smiles, bows, and tries to walk to her designated seat beside Ed Gardiner as gracefully as she can.
It's San Diego Comic Con, and there's no better way to describe fandom fever than this.
Kitty's been warning her about this week for months.
She won't let her loved ones down.
Lizzie waves daintily just as she pulls up her chair. The little actions sends fans screaming yet again.
It's not quite Hall H, but to a certain degree - this very moment feels more important than her first night on Broadway.
"And, of course, the most handsome man in the house - the charmer of many a faint young heart - your very own Link Harrison - William Darcy!"
Despite the hyperbole, he announcer's enthusiasm is drowned out by the subsequent surge of earth-shattering noise - a thousand young fans losing their voices simultaneously as they welcome the man of their misguided dreams.
It takes extreme self-control and professionalism to keep Lizzie from covering her ears.
Darcy, ever the pro, walks out in his jeans and button-down, one hand held high. The squeals continue the entire way he walks to his assigned seat.
He nods at Lizzie before he lands on the seat beside her. She nods back.
It's enough to make two fans faint, apparently.
"Alright, alright - let's get into this!" The host gets everyone back on track.
For the following hour, the panel fields question after question about production updates, promised scenes that will most definitely be in the movie, potential plans for the two remaining adaptations in the series, and funny anecdotes from set.
Then, ninety minutes in, the shrewd-looking woman in the dark-grey jacket takes her turn at the mic right before the floor is opened to (God help her) fan questions.
"Multiple reports have emerged in the past months," the reporter speaks into the mic in crisp, pin-pricking words, "that our lead actors had trouble shooting certain scenes. Could Ed or Ms. Lucas address the feud rumors that have persisted regarding Mr. William Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"
For an entire minute, the room falls still.
Lizzie feels her throat clogging up.
This is it - this is where her career dies.
Then Ms. Charlotte Lucas leans into her microphone, looks sideways, smirks, and says, "Well, it's not always easy to film when you're too busy getting the hots for each other."
The words sink in slowly, amidst a sudden crescendo of brand new screams. Then Lizzie feels herself warming - maybe blushing. Memories of that series of scorching kisses ricochet repeatedly in her brain.
Slowly, she turns to her left - and meets the unfathomable gaze of one incredibly handsome William Darcy.
The camera shutters go back into overdrive.
The rest of the panel goes by in a blur.
The next morning, Kitty warns her to Google herself before walking out their hotel room door.
A/N: Let the awkwardness begin!