Violet yawned as the landing announcement came across the speakers. As she stretched she glanced at her watch and inadvertently groaned - Lord, but it was early, and it was even earlier here in California. She knew there was a lot to get set up before those that were invited to audition arrived, but that didn’t help to wake her up much.
LAX was already bustling with Monday morning travelers but because she was only spending a day in the city and consequently just had a carry-on, Violet avoided the traffic as she spotted her ride waiting for her right away. “I’m Violet Pennington,” she told the gentleman with the sign. Barely acknowledging her, he simply turned and started away quickly. Despite her long legs, Violet had to hurry to catch up.
The traffic in the airport had obviously been foreshadowing the traffic awaiting them on the road because the town car was only able to creep toward the L.A. studios. Violet passed the time gathering her preliminary sketches for Jack and notes on both the character and the film, then reading over the dialogue each of the auditions would read. She was pleased with the selection - although she had no hand in the actual writing of the scripts and story, she felt the clips embodied the attitude that she had envisioned her character having. When all that was done she simply sat back and watched the city pass by.
Finally, nearly an hour and a half after leaving the airport the car reached its destination. “Thank you,” Violet offered as she stepped from the vehicle, receiving a brief nod in reply. With a deep breath she entered the studio, showing her pass to the guard at the door. Violet’s heart pounded as she walked the hallowed halls. She had been here on several other occasions with other animators, but this place always gave her chills and now she would be giving a character presentation here. Walt Disney had done this in this very same building years ago. It was almost too good to be true.
She asked at the desk where the presentation would be held then headed down the hall. Once she reached the room she had to take a deep breath - there were a lot more chairs set up than she had expected. She walked slowly towards the front and took her drawings from her portfolio, setting them on the easels that had already been erected. After making sure they were perfect (which took some time), she took a seat and read through her notes yet again. Just as she was starting to wonder just where everyone was a middle-aged woman strolled in, Starbucks coffee in hand. Violet immediately stood up.
“Morning ,” the woman greeted. “You the animator Orlando sent?”
“Well, yes, I’m Violet Pennington - head animator for Jack?” she offered. The woman just nodded.
“They get younger and younger every year. I’m Jan Martin, writer. You know how to do one of these?” Violet could only nod as Jan rushed on. “Good. Basically some Disney brass’ll talk first - it’s an honor to have you all here, the part of an animated character is just as important as a live action one, blah blah blah - I’ll summarize the story after that, give basics on Jack, then you pick up the slack. Sound good?”
Violet tried not to flinch at how reduced her role had been. “Yes,” she answered. Jan took a seat.
“Good,” she repeated. “Now we wait.”
And wait they did. For someone who always did her best to be prompt, it was difficult for Violet to watch everyone wander in at their own leisure. By the time all were seated things were running a good hour late - not that anyone else seemed to notice. Violet scanned the group as “Disney brass” gave their shpiel. She could already knock off half of the auditions on looks alone. It wasn’t just that they didn’t look like Jack - or Tyler - they didn’t feel right to her. After Disney roles were glorified, Jan stood and said her piece. Violet took notes then as she listened to make sure that she didn’t repeat anything when she spoke. She was a little dismayed that Jan spoke for so long, treading on many of the things that Violet had planned on saying. Finally Jan finished and it was her turn.
“Good morning,” she began, smiling, “I’m Violet Pennington and I’m head animator on Jack back at the Orlando studios. Jan’s already given you most of the basics on m- on the character-” she had almost said “my character”, and that would not have looked good - “but here you can see what he’ll actually look like, for the most part.” Violet went on to give basics on how the character moved and so forth, then - for lack of anything else (thanks to Jan), she sat back down. The auditions were led to a more comfortable lounge area. After they left Jan turned to Violet.
“Look, I’ve got a lot to get done today - do you think you can manage supervising in the recording studio alone?”
“Oh yes, sure,” Violet replied, trying not to look too eager. She was afraid Jan would lord over the studio like she had the board room, so this was perfect. Jan led her to the studio, introduced her to the technicians and left to go about her business. Just as she turned to leave, though, she paused and looked back.
“Try and remember this, though - the talent asks you for something, just get it. They don’t all tend to have a lot of respect for us, so don’t argue, just do it. Got it?”
That was a bum deal if Violet ever heard one, but she simply nodded and Jan was gone. Violet settled in and prepared to take notes, knowing that despite what she wanted she had to do a thorough job going through the motions. The first few auditions flew by, with Violet furiously jotting down impressions as they spoke. Some had voices that were too high, some too raspy. Most stumbled through, which surprised Violet, but everyone overacted - which, painful as it was to listen to, showed that at least they could act. All too soon it was lunchtime, so the studio cleared out and headed for the cafeteria. Violet stuck around and finished her notes, then left as well. Retrieving her lunch from the cafeteria, she brought it back to the auditions lounge, which she had seen was empty when she passed it. Violet didn’t mind, she preferred eating alone to eating with those she didn’t know. As she was about to take a bite of her sandwich a tall figure filled the doorway.
“Do you know if this is where the vocal auditions are at?” he asked in a deep voice, twinged with a Southern accent. Violet looked up and smiled, although she was confused. This man hadn’t been at the meeting that morning.
“Yes - are you auditioning?”
He nodded, walking in. “I was asked to.” Violet tried not to act surprised - his voice was the furthest thing from suiting her Jack. He didn’t look anything like him either - his hair was longer than Tyler’s and straighter, not to mention that he was easily bigger than him by a good three inches and at least 50 pounds of pure muscle. It wasn’t her place to tell him that he wouldn’t get the job, though, so she simply nodded.
“Well good luck.”
The man nodded at her drink. “You get that here?”
She nodded again. “In the cafeteria.”
“They have Coke?”
“I think so...”
“Great.” He sat there, staring at her with expectant green eyes. She stared back, wondering why he hadn’t moved. Finally she laughed.
“I’m sorry - it’s right down the hall to the left.”
He still didn’t move, aside from to smirk at her and raise his eyebrows. She realized then that he expected her to get it and was about to protest when a cellular phone cut through the silence. He pulled the device from his pocket. “Oh...looks like I’ve gotta get this,” he mock-apologized, then answered his call. Violet was really about to let him have it when she remembered Jan’s words. Despite all she wanted to do instead she stood and headed for the door. “Just a second - hey, honey?” she heard him say. She turned. “Easy on the ice. And if they have any more sandwiches snag one of those too.” He gave her a smile and looked away. Violet stormed from the room.
She was thinking of every way possible to give him the benefit of the doubt. He hadn’t known who she was, so maybe it was excusable that he thought she was a gofer. Fine, but how to excuse the attitude of the request? There was no way, in her mind. He hadn’t even bothered to show up for the meeting that morning, then when he did show up he had a God complex? Who was this jerk? Violet’s only consolation was that he wouldn’t ever get the part, and that alone was why she went and retrieved his lunch.
When she brought it back she had calmed considerably and managed to hand it to him with a smile. “Hope it wasn’t too much trouble,” he offered, checking his watch obviously.
“Not at all,” she answered evenly as she grabbed her lunch, walking from the room and back into the studio, seeing the technicians had already arrived. She checked the list to see who was next and started a new page of notes, titling it “Kevin Richardson”. The name wasn’t familiar so she sat back and waited for him to enter the adjoining room. When he did she groaned - of course it was him.
“Do any of you know who he is, as in why he’s famous?” she asked. Two of the men shook their heads but the third nodded.
“He’s a member of one of those pop groups - y’know, ‘N Sync or whatever? My daughter’s a fan.” He grinned at her. “A kid like you doesn’t know that?”
She shrugged. “Guess I’m not up on pop culture.” She watched as Kevin picked up the dialogue and scanned it, no emotion registering on his face.
“Whenever you’re ready, Mr. Richardson,” one of the techs told him. Kevin nodded, setting the papers down again. His microphone was turned on and recording began. The young woman who had been reading opposite began reading her part, which Violet found she had learned by heart already. Almost as soon as Kevin started she cringed.
“Is there a way we can stop this for a minute?” Violet asked quietly. Kevin was horrible - he couldn’t have read in a more dreary tone had he tried. Recording was stopped and the techs looked at her, no doubt wondering what she wanted. “Can I talk to him?” One pointed at the mike and moved so she could take a seat.
“Um, excuse me, Mr. Richardson?”
He looked up, seeming a bit surprised that he had been interrupted and even more surprised when he saw by whom. “Yeah? Oh hello there, Ms. ...?”
“Jack is supposed to sound terrified here - you know that, right?”
He nodded. “But thanks for pointing it out again.”
“Great, then let’s try that part again.” She got up, satisfied that she could make things a little more difficult for him. There was nothing wrong with making sure they got a good take, and that’s all she was doing. When he began again, though, it was his pace and not his tone that annoyed her. She tapped the tech on the shoulder and with a sigh he stood again.
“Mr. Richardson?”
He stared at her. “Yes?”
“No chance you could talk a little faster, is there?”
“No problem whatsoever.” He gave her a big grin and she fought not to roll her eyes.
“Thank you so much.” But when recording began he was talking much too fast and sounding so exaggeratedly terrified his deep voice was squeaky. After he finished the section he glanced up and smiled.
“Mind asking the boss if that one was all right, fellas?” he quipped. The techs chuckled. Violet glared.
“Tell him it was spectacular,” she muttered. ‘Good, let him screw it up,’ she thought bitterly.
“Seems it was all right,” one of them said back.
“Glad to hear it. Tell her to cheer up, we’ve only got three pages left.” He looked directly at her and winked. Violet ignored him, remaining silent the rest of the audition. What seemed like hours later he was finished. The last three auditions were hazy as Violet barely focused on them. They weren’t right, that’s all that mattered. They were certainly better than Kevin, though. She shivered with anger as his condescending smile burned behind her eyes. Who let people’s egos get so out of control like that? He only embarrassed himself...and yet, it was she who was so disturbed even hours later.
After it was all over Violet gathered her things and slowly headed down the hall towards the doors she had come in that morning. She walked as she always did - head held high but mind in the clouds. She was daydreaming about nothing in particular when she made direct contact with a force like a Mack truck. She stumbled into the wall.
“Excuse me, I...” She stopped and sighed.
“Well well, pardon me sweetheart, you all right?” Kevin’s eyes danced as he tried to look the model of concern.
“Fine,” she spat, regaining her composure. “What are you still doing here?”
“Forgot my shirt,” he replied, holding it up. “Just who are you?”
“You don’t really care.”
“Oh, but I do.” He clasped his ands behind his back. She rolled her eyes.
“My name’s Violet.”
“What do you do, Vi?”
She cringed - she hated that name. “It’s Violet.”
“I like Vi, though.”
“I don’t.”
Kevin shrugged. “I think it’s cute.”
“I don’t care.”
“You don’t like my pet name for you?”
“No.”
He pouted. “I’m hurt. Come on, Vi, you’re obviously important here, I’m just asking what you do.”
“I’m head animator on Jack,” Violet told him. His eyebrows raised.
“That right?” he marvelled.
“That’s right.”
“I’m honored to know you, then,” he teased.
She wanted to say something clever but she was so annoyed nothing came. “What do you really want, Mr. Richardson?” she demanded.
“You?”
Her jaw dropped. “What?!”
He smiled. “Well wasn’t that what you were expecting to hear?”
“I-I wasn’t expecting anything!”
He stepped closer to her - he was impossibly close - and suddenly he surrounded her. “Just hoping, maybe?” he murmured, his tone sultry. She glared at him but couldn’t speak. Her senses were on overload. “I’m flattered, Vi, but I’m a married man.” He didn’t step back and Violet felt trapped. Finally she found her voice again.
“You’re flattered only by yourself, Mr. Richardson,” she stated, quietly but firmly, “now if you’ll excuse me.”
“Of course.” He stepped back slowly. “But please, call me Kevin.”
“I’d rather choke,” she let slip. She was surprised to hear him laugh.
“My, someone’s worked up. Relax, Vi - you’re far too tense. Besides, I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other again. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a wife and dinner to get home to.”
Violet watched in stunned silence as he headed off in the opposite direction, whistling. When had she lost complete control of that scene, and how had he turned it around her so fully? When Kevin disappeared she managed to make it out the door to where her ride was waiting.
Her day had been bizarre and frustrating. It was as if Kevin were sent just to make life a pain for her. But it hadn’t been just Kevin, it had been everyone, in their own little ways. It would be good to be home again, where she could at least count on things. As she tried to raise her spirits with thoughts of being back, though, she found that Kevin’s arrogance still seeped into her thoughts. Why was it the worst parts of the day always stuck with you so much more strongly than the rest? The harder she tried to rid herself of thoughts of him the more she replayed those scenes. By the time she was delivered to her door back in Orlando she was frazzled and exhausted. It was midnight - ‘too late to call Tyler,’ she ruled. Only bothering to change into pajamas, Violet fell into bed with a grateful sigh. She turned on the soundtrack to Tyler’s show but was fast asleep before Track 2 even began.
Chapter 3
