Dim the Fluorescents Page #7

[cell phone rings]

[groans]

Hello?

[June] I'm sorry.

I didn't wake you, did I?

Nah... Um...

[clears throat] Hey, June.

[stammers]

No, what's going on?

Did you still

wanna do lunch today?

Oh, um...

Sure. Where?

[doorbell buzzing]

[indistinct chatter]

Good afternoon.

Can I help you?

Oh, um, I'm here to see June.

Do you have an appointment?

We're supposed to have lunch.

Um, I'm not sure if it's...

Uh, there's an audition

in progress.

If you'd like to have a seat,

she'd just be a moment.

Okay, thanks.

- Is there a name I can give?

- Lillian.

- Sorry?

- Lillian.

Perfect.

She'll just be a moment.

[Lillian] Thank you.

[indistinct murmuring]

[Marcus]

Would you like a tea?

Or a coffee? Juice?

Anything like that?

[clears throat] Uh, no, thanks.

She'll just be a moment.

Understood.

[June] Not quite what I heard,

but close enough.

We should be able to let you know

within the next two weeks or so.

- Great, thanks.

- Thank you, Darryl.

Speak to you soon.

Lillian, hey!

Lillian, these are my

producers, Gil and Nuala.

Lillian's a playwright.

She's unbelievable.

- We went to school together.

- Oh, great.

- Hi.

- Nice to meet you.

I'll catch up with you guys later.

Ask about the Thursday.

- If you don't mind.

- [Nuala] That's good.

- Nice to meet you.

- You, too.

Sorry, we're running a bit behind.

Do you mind if we order in?

No, that's fine.

I swear, I can't escape.

Marcus, could you get us a couple of menus

from that Persian place downstairs?

You bet.

Okay, so that's that.

Wow. This is

quite the operation.

She said glowingly.

Yeah, it's crazy.

I'm glad you remembered today.

But if anybody's

gonna remember...

Sorry, I feel so ignorant.

What's all this for?

This thing about the romantic

lives of scientists.

Have I told you?

No.

Really? That's unbelievable.

I'm sorry.

We're still just casting.

You are so prolific lately.

Well, you, too.

Listen, I have something

I wanna ask you.

It's not easy for me.

Do you need some money?

No! No, nothing like that.

Wow, this is

always so hard. Uh...

I value your opinion a lot.

As you know.

What is it?

I finished a new draft

of this thing, this...

Conference thing,

and I would love it

if you'd maybe give it a read?

[stuttering] If you want,

if you have time.

I'd be honored!

You never

send me anything anymore.

My stuff is nothing

compared to what you do.

Don't even start with that.

I should be more pragmatic,

if we're being honest.

Is this all of it?

There's a seven-minute cap.

Anyway, uh, take a look at it

when you have a minute,

and let me know what you think.

Why don't I just read it

right now?

That's really not necessary.

Don't be silly.

It'll take a few minutes.

It's gotta happen

sometime, right?

Okay.

[clears throat]

[pages rustling]

Hmm.

Okay, let me just...

In the broadest

possible strokes, okay?

Are you absolutely locked

into this duration?

Seven minutes just doesn't really seem

like enough time to turn a drunk around.

Does it?

I don't dislike it,

if that's what's coming across.

Considering the constraints,

I think it's pretty good.

I like how earnest it is.

Has she come in yet?

Oh.

Audrey. This morning, actually.

She didn't tell you?

How was she?

She was fantastic.

She didn't tell you?

I think you guys'll

work well together.

Well, we still have a couple

more days of auditions, so...

[knocking on door]

[Marcus] June,

sorry to interrupt.

It's five to 2:
00.

Thanks, Marcus.

I really like it.

["90 Yr Old Girl" playing]

So many sisters

So many sisters die

Tell each other

Control yourselves

Control yourselves

Control yourselves

Relax

Take charge

Yeah!

So many sisters

So many sisters die

Tell each other

Control yourselves

Half you'll be

Half you'll be

So many sisters

So many sisters die

Tell each other to relax

Yeah, half you'll be

Half you'll be

Control yourselves

Relax, relax

Relax, relax, yeah

[music stops]

[breathes deeply]

[sighs]

"Behold, God's son is come

unto this land of Thebes.

Even I, Dionysus,

whom the brand of heaven's

hot splendor lit to life..."

What are you doing here?

Hi, Lillian.

Any word from Audrey?

Do you still wanna rehearse?

You have one line.

Well, I still think

it could be useful.

I brought wine.

Honestly, I don't even know

why I'm surprised anymore.

I'm under

so much pressure, right?

I'm so supportive of her.

She wants to change

every little anything.

- But I don't complain. Do you see me complain?

- No.

I spent a ton of time

on this... Writing this sh*t,

and still I don't complain,

because the most important

thing is that she's happy.

- Yes.

- And I'm sorry

if I'm not who

she wants me to be.

I'm sorry if certain realities

impinge on the art of the thing.

- But that's why reality's reality enough.

- Uh-huh.

- Are you sure you should...

- My thing is this.

Regardless of how believable

it is on the page,

you make it work.

If a person has agreed

to take a role,

- then is it not reasonable to expect that...

- Lillian!

I think we should discuss

a plan of action,

in the event that Audrey...

- Doesn't show.

- I'm not talking about this with you.

Lillian, this isn't about

you and me right now, okay?

- This is our job.

- Are you accusing me of being unprofessional?

- I'm just saying-

- You are a minor child.

- I'm just saying a back-up plan...

- There is no back-up plan!

Do you understand?

She's it. She's all we have.

If she doesn't show,

the plan is we're f***ed.

End of story,

end of discussion.

End of career.

Not necessarily.

Oh?

I've been practicing this thing

for nearly a week now,

- and I know every word of it.

- Oh, my God.

- Every word.

- No.

Face it, Lil. Audrey never

understood this thing.

She never appreciated

your writing.

She took off on you, okay?

She left.

But I'm here.

If you take this chance on me,

I swear, I'll do you justice.

You don't have

a lot of options.

- Are you okay?

- You should go.

You have to go.

I'm asking you to go.

I care about you.

Go.

I like you.

I'm telling you.

I really like you.

A lot.

You don't wanna say this.

What do you do

when you feel like this?

Well, this is tragic, isn't it?

[indistinct chatter]

- You guys good? Can I get you something?

- No. Thanks, Gary.

Where's Audrey?

Gary, you're up in five.

Okay, gotcha.

Where's Audrey?

[Gary] Where is Audrey?

Hey, a**hole,

we have an obligation.

- This is a job!

- I quit.

[Lillian] I need you.

[sniffles]

[Lillian] Get the f*** off me.

[sobbing]

Is there skiing at this thing?

Do we know?

[phone ringing]

It's Bradley.

[woman over phone] Bradley, there's

an Audrey here to see you.

Send her up.

Who's Audrey?

[phone ringing]

Who's Audrey?

[indistinct chatter]

[colleague 1] Who's Audrey?

Who's Audrey?

[indistinct chatter continues]

- Hi.

- [Bradley] Hey.

How are you?

Uh...

Gosh, um...

You going somewhere?

Yeah, um...

- Let's talk in here.

- [Audrey] That sounds nice.

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