"I don't know how you are so familiar to me-or why it feels less like I am getting to know you more and more as though I am remembering who you are. How every smile, every whisper brings me closer to the impossible conclusion that I have known you before, I have loved you before-in another time, a different place, some other existence." -Lang Laev.
"The hard fact of it is that you just don't have the time, Daphne," Karen Jameson said, swiveling around in her chair.
Karen Jameson had been Daphne's agent since she had started her career. They had both sort of scratched each other's backs. Karen had helped book Daphne in some of the biggest films of her career while Daphne had taken an inexperienced talent agent and turned her into an industry name. Theirs was a mutually beneficial relationship.
"Between shooting in Las Vegas for 'Burnout' and doing press for it-you know how fast the turnaround is in T.V. - you'll be working literally right up to the first day of filming. I can't negotiate it any further," Karen said.
The pair had been at odds for a while about a part that Daphne had wanted to play desperately in a small independent film. However, as was often the case for her busy schedule, she didn't have time to devote to it using the filming schedule she had been provided. It just couldn't work.
Daphne sighed. "Alright, I guess I'll pull out of it."
Karen nodded and wrote something down on the legal pad in front of her. "Now, you got the Ayer script I had faxed to you this morning?"
Daphne nodded. "I've read it, Karen. But I just don't know if I'm ready for it."
"You know they won't make it without you being in it," the older woman said, looking over her half-moon glasses.
Daphne nodded. "I know. And if they've got that much of a hard-on to make it then they're going to have to find someone to replace me."
Karen nodded, taking the hint. "At least speak with David before officially declining. Hear him out."
"I plan to. I've got a phone call with him this evening. There are a few things I want to discuss with him," Daphne replied.
Karen nodded. "Good girl," she said with a smile. "You always were very involved in the creative process."
Daphne gave her a polite smile. "I mostly plan to tell him to stop asking me."
Karen paused, letting Daphne's words sink in. "Well, that's always an option. But be careful not to piss him off. Your relationship with directors is everything."
Daphne nodded. "I've been thinking," she paused. "What if I just took a bit of time off?"
Karen glanced at Kelly who shrugged in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I thought about it back when I did 'The Hobbit' films. It seemed like a good place to stop," Daphne said. "If I didn't get this Gilligan project, I probably would have stopped."
"Well, it's certainly an option. I mean you have worked really hard for a long time," Karen said. "I wouldn't blame you for taking some time off."
Karen Jameson had been able to get Daphne so many jobs by having abbreviated contracts. Many of her projects had been possible because of Karen's viciousness in negotiations. At this point, negotiations weren't so much negotiations as they were simply Daphne agreeing to something or giving stipulations for changes for things she didn't like. She literally had all the power.
"But you do have a lot of roles pouring in. Many of them are just waiting to hear if you're even interested," Karen produced a list of different projects. "Quite a few of them have very flexible start dates or haven't even gotten the green light yet for financing. Adding you to their cast list would certainly help."
Daphne nodded and stretched in her chair. The sun had set over the city and she could see the last rays of light flickering through Karen's large window. "Alright," she said, standing up. "I've got to get back to the house and make that call to David."
Karen nodded and they exchanged goodbyes as Daphne walked out of the office. As usual, there were photographers waiting outside the building as Daphne walked to the car.
"Daphne, any new projects you want to share with us?" one paparazzi asked.
She shot him a smirk. "If I told you, where would the surprise be?" With that, she got into the car and they drove off.
"I think the group is done filming there for the day," Kelly said, checking her phone's messages. "Neil told me they're done for the rest of the time you're here."
Daphne gave her a nod as she scrolled through her messages on her phone. Several new ones had popped up while she was in the meeting with Karen. One from Leo, asking how she was doing. Another from Aaron Paul, wishing her luck as shooting began for her new project. Still several more from various other celebrities. She knew more famous people than you could shake a stick at. Only to her, they weren't famous, they were simply normal people.
The car arrived back home and dropped her off. Kelly gave Daphne David's phone number and left in the car, leaving Daphne alone. She sighed as she shut the front door behind herself, amazed at the pure silence that met her. She sighed and sank down onto the stone spiral staircase next to the front door, dialing David's number. It rang twice before an answer came through.
"Hello?" a voice met her ear.
"Hey, David?" she asked into the phone casually. "It's Daphne Brando. You sent me a script earlier today."
"Daphne! Yes! Hello!" the older man stumbled across his words. She thought it was kind of cute in a nerdy way. "Thanks so much for calling me. You've read the script?"
"I have, yes," she started. He cut her off.
"That's awesome. I know you probably have a certain amount of feelings over taking this role on again, but I really feel like this is the perfect one for you," he said.
She sighed and tried to sound kind. "I understand that, but I just don't think this version of the character is the same as she was in 'Dark Knight'," she insisted.
"I know, and that's the point," he replied. "The story line for this film is focused more on Ophelia's relationship with the Joker and everything that transpires between them. Literally, everything they left out in 'Dark Knight'. I really think now is the time for you to play this role. I really think you've got what it takes now."
She paused for a minute. The script was much more mature and the story line for her character was much more developed than it had been in the past. Ophelia is drugged by the Joker and he steals the child he fathered with her upon finding out that they are both being hunted by other members of the Suicide Squad and the rest of the film focused on him trying to balance keeping her in the dark about what really happened to the child and making sure the other members find her first.
"It is much more evolved," she conceded. "But I just don't know if I could ever see anyone else as the Joker. Not after Heath."
"I know, and I understand completely," he said. "Look, I'm flying to L.A. on Wednesday. I have a few things to take care of. Could we maybe meet up and you could have a chat with some of the other people involved in the film?"
She sighed and agreed. "Sure, why not."
"I also want you to meet one of the other actors we're thinking about signing," he added. "I really think you two would get along really well."
She nodded unconsciously before realizing that David probably couldn't see her nodding. "Yeah, no problem."
With that, he hung up. Daphne realized that he had basically just played her. Classic Hollywood manipulation at its best. She laughed wryly to herself and made a mental note to keep David in her sights from then on. She sighed and hoisted herself up off the stairs before climbing them and heading for her room. It had been left untouched since she had left to go on her last big excursion. Her suitcases had been left on the floor in front of the large walk in closet. One wall was covered in photographs. The most important ones were displayed prominently in the center at eye level. Her favorite photo was one her father had taken of herself and her grandfather shortly after he began sending her to live with him. He was sitting with Daphne on his lap, holding a bongo in his hands, showing her how to play it. She smiled each time she saw it because it summed up their relationship perfectly.
Her grandfather was always teaching her, even when she wasn't exactly willing student. He would spend hours telling her stories about his marches for civil rights and all the things he worked for in his life. He had endless stories about his filming experiences as well. His repertoire was never empty or repeated. Daphne had even gotten into the habit of recording them for posterity, though she doubted anyone would ever hear them but herself. She had mostly recorded them so she had something to remind her of him when she was away filming in New Zealand for 'Lord of the Rings'. He hadn't been able to stay the entire time so he had entrusted her to Sean Astin who seemed to be the most mature of the cast members at the time, having a wife and two kids.
A shelf housed the most important awards she had: the Oscar she had won for 'Risk' in 2005, the one from 2008 for 'Pirates', her 2010 award for 'Hurt Locker', her most recent one for 'Argo' in 2013. She had many other awards on her shelves and on display from other functions, but she had a special place in her heart for the Oscars she had won. Her grandfather's two Academy awards were on either end, on display, having been left to her in his will. She glanced around the room at the familiar photos and gifts she had been given: a pair of elf ears for 'Rings', a sword from 'Pirates' sat in its scabbard, a corset from 'A Great and Terrible Beauty' hung in her closet next to the elaborate costume she'd worn when she'd done 'Risk'. As her eyes scanned the room, they landed on a guitar sitting on her bed.
She walked over, grinning slightly because she knew exactly where it had come from. She picked it up and strummed it lightly, enjoying the light sound as it echoed through the room. Guitar was just one of the instruments her grandfather had taught her how to play and had encouraged her to spend time learning. Many lazy afternoons had been spent with him listening to her play concertos on the cello or violin and doing scales on the piano. She didn't think she had a future in music, by any means, but it was a nice way to spend time together.
Daphne smiled as she dialed Neil's number. "Hey, Neil," she said quickly. "I need the contact info of the group that rented my house."
"Why? Is there damage?" he asked hurriedly.
"No nothing. It's just-one of them left something behind and I think they'll want it back," she responded, turning the guitar over in her hands.
Neil gave her the number she was looking for and she quickly called it.
"Emma Ludbrook," the female voice on the other end said.
"Hey, Emma, it's Daphne Brando," she said quickly.
"Oh-uh-hi!" she replied in surprise. "I-um-how can I-uh-help you?"
"Your guys were filming at my house earlier today and they left behind a guitar. I think Jared'll be wanting it back," Daphne said simply. "Could I have his number to let him know I've got it?"
Emma stuttered some more before giving her Jared's number. "Can I just say-I don't do this often-but I'm a huge fan of yours."
Daphne smiled in gratitude. "Thank you so much. That means a lot to me."
She ended the conversation as quickly as it began and started to dial Jared's number. She spoke immediately when he answered. "You left a guitar at my house," she said simply.
A stunned silence was on the other end of the line. "I-uh-what?"
She could hear a lot of background noise as raised her voice to compensate. He must have been at a party. "It's Daphne. You left a guitar at my house."
"How did you get my number?" he asked. The background noise dissipated and she assumed he had left the area.
"From Emma, whose number I got from Neil, who rented you guys the place," Daphne responded simply.
"Geez, I thought I'd have been a bit harder to track down than that," he said with a slight laugh.
"When you throw in my name, it usually knocks down quite a few walls," she answered with a grin. "Anyways, I just wanted to let you know I had your guitar and I could have it messengered over or whatever works best for you."
He laughed lightly. "No, I left it there on purpose. To add to your collection of beautiful things. You can keep it."
She felt a slight blush rising in her cheeks. "Are you flirting with me?" she asked playfully.
"Maybe. Come out with me sometime and we'll see," Jared replied. She could hear the smile on his voice.
She laughed. "I don't know. I'll have to think about it."
"That's better than an outright 'no'," he laughed. Now that you have my number you can call anytime you want."
"I'm sure I will," she said sweetly before hanging up.
It was the funniest thing, but she felt as though she had known Jared forever, yet had never met him. At the same time, she felt that she knew everything there was to know about him, but that they had never spoken a word. She shook her head and set the guitar on the arm chair in the corner, heading into the bathroom to clean up before bed.