Yes

I ran down Marble Ave out of breath and with a cup of coffee in my hands.

I was late and on my way to go see this friend of Norman’s; director Troy Duffy. And I didn’t know shit about the guy…

Before a job interview or a casting I would always do a research on the interviewer or the production I was about to apply for. But this time, I only knew the little facts Norman had told me about it:

“It’s already part of a big franchise” and that Mr. Duffy had said: “She could look like an angel… Bring her in!” about me… Norman had also said: “He only wants committed actors, okay?”

I was getting nervous.

Whoever this guy was, he sounded really serious. I guess all directors are really passionate about their work, so why wouldn’t they be wanting actors who could live up to that?

I breathed out heavily as I turned down another street.

There it was.

“The Viper Room.”

It looked like a really fancy place, big glass doors printed with a cool font. I lit a cigarette before entering. I needed to dull my nerves, and the coffee I’d bought was only making me more anxious and hyper.

What was I going to say?

'Hi, I’m the girl Norman talked about. I don’t know anything about nothing, hire me please!?'

I shrugged my shoulders lightly. This wasn’t going to turn out well. I was going to suck, Mr. Duffy would turn me down and Norman would be annoyed of me for not appreciating his help enough.

I stared at my reflection in the big darkened windows. My white curls were crazier than normal and I was wearing an oversize white tank top, hanging over it a loose black blazer and washed jeans. And black pumps.

I looked good, though, a bit rock and roll.

As if that’s gonna save you… I thought to myself and threw my cigarette butt on the ground, smearing it out with my shoe. I entered the place with trembling legs. Here goes nothing…

............................................................................

“We’ll just have… Hey, what would you like? Wine, water?” Mr. Duffy asked from over the wooden table where we were sitting.

I smiled innocently: “A beer would be nice?”

Duffy laughed out and ordered two beers.

“I like you already,” he told me, “A girl drinking beers, that’s not exactly common here in New York anymore. They all want that fancy color shit.”

I chuckled while trying to hide my nervousness. I couldn’t wait for that beer to come.

“So tell me about yourself. What’s your experience in acting?”

Duffy was a straight forward type of guy. He struck me of the type that doesn't take shit from nobody. His face was round and big, only a little hair growing on the top and a brown thick beard framing his mouth. He wore dark clothes, a t-shirt with a band I didn’t know and black jeans that were maybe a bit too relaxed for a place like this.

It kind of made him less intimidating in a way.

“I haven’t really got much experience to be honest. I’m from Denmark and was in a movie there called “Nordkraft” which I guess you’ve never heard of. And then I starred in a soap opera here in the States. Nothing big. I love acting, though.”

Yeah, good answer, like he cares…

He was nodding at me, eyeing me intently.

“What do you know about me?” he asked.

Ah motherfucker, I thought to myself, dirthead, fuckface, cock smoking motherfucking asshole…

I wanted to shoot myself: why was it that the only interview I ever did where I wasn’t prepared was with a guy that really did want me to tell what I knew about him? Someone really didn’t want me to get this job.

“I’m sorry sir, but I don’t really know anything about you. I don’t know what you’ve done in the past and I don’t know anything about this production. I’m really not prepared, I’m sorry,” I stumbled out.

I got up on my feet just as our beers came. I had to leave; this was going nowhere.

“Hey hey, now just sit your ass down, girl,” he said with a loud and firm voice.

His eyes were boring into mine. They were a dark green and made me calm down a bit. I did as he ordered and sat back down in the soft chair.

“I like your honesty. Not many actors like to tell others if they’re not successful. Especially not to directors. And not at castings…” he winked.

I felt my cheeks redden.

“But I like that, and to be honest myself; your looks are exactly what I’m looking for. You say you’re from Denmark, right? Are you familiar with the Irish accent?”

I shook my head lightly: “No, I mean, I’ve been to Ireland before so I can probably do it, but not naturally. I would have to get into it, if… you know.”

He smiled: “If I give you the part?”

I nodded and gulped down some beer but wrinkled my brows as I did so. The beer seemed lazy and had a funky taste. I looked at the etiquette: Guinness.

That explains it.

Did this guy have some Irish obsession or something?

He hadn’t brought anything for the casting: no manuscripts I could read from or no contracts. And he was so down-to-earth. Not like other persons I had been interviewed by; they all seemed to overdo everything; writing down everything I said, making me read twenty pages for them, recording it… A casting with Mr. Duffy was just like having a normal conversation.

“So…” he eyed me intently, “Have you ever heard about the Boondock Saints?”

I searched my mind. But when I didn’t recognize it, I shook my head. “No, sir, sorry.”

He waved a hand at me.

“Please, just call me Troy. Okay, so here goes, Boondock Saints is a movie done by me, well there’s actually two of them; the Boondock Saints and All Saints day. And we’re making a third one. And we have a female role as the main character’s guardian angel. You know; Virgin Mary or whatever. That would be you.”

I swallowed hard as his words sunk in.

Okay, so that was what he meant when he said I could look like an angel…

“Boondock has a really… What do you say, passionate fan base, which is actually the only reason I’m making a third one. But I can understand you know Norman, so he probably told you what you’re getting yourself into.”

I furrowed my brows, saying: “No, Norman wouldn’t tell me anything about it. He told me that it was up to you telling me.”

Troy ran a hand over his face and sighed.

“Sounds like him… Well, all I can say is that your part is rather small but really important to the plot. And you’re gonna have to be naked.”

Wait, what?

I kept my face calm even though I panicked on the inside. I had never really considered doing a job where I had to be naked.

Straight face, come on, you can do it.

“Okay,” I said, surprised by the calmness of my voice.

I seriously needed to stop eating pizza that often.

“Do you have any tattoos?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“Good. You will have for the movie, though. Up your leg or something, I haven’t really decided yet. It’ll be the prayer Sean and Norm always say before they kill a guy, you know?”

My eyes widened.

“Oh shit, keep forgetting you haven’t watched it. I strongly recommend you to.”

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

What the fuck did he just say?

“I’m sorry, but did you just say Norm? You mean, as in Norman? Norman Reedus?”

He sent me suspicious eyes, saying: “Uh, yeah?”

I gulped.

Breathing somehow seemed impossible right now and I looked down my hands. My heart was beating faster.

“Hey, didn’t he tell you he was a main character in it? Fuck… That dude? He’s something else, I tell you…”

Yeah he is.

I could feel my blood starting to boil. Why would he not tell me that?

I breathed in hard; I had to keep my focus on Troy and not at getting pissed at Norman right now.

That would have to wait.

“You’re still up for it?” Troy asked, taking a sip from his beer.

“Of course! That would be an honor,” I answered quickly. He held his eyes on me a little too long, making me feel a bit uncomfortable.

“I like you. I think the fans are gonna be crazy about you too… You’re in!”

I think my insides just exploded.