It was six in the evening, and everyone was utterly exhausted. Captain Wallace had been particularly ruthless today, especially unpleasant. Jack Sauce had given up halfway through the day to catch his breath, while Kate Bosworth hadn't quit, but in the end, she too had to pause for some air. The exercises seemed designed to torment Billy.
-I think you owe me five dollars, David, - Billy remarked to the soldier, utterly discouraged. Though young, these soldiers were four years older than Billy and were undergoing practical courses. In some way, this camaraderie was their way of bonding. Billy had bet he could keep up with the soldiers for the entire training, while they bet against him, predicting he'd fail. His friend Sauce was proof of the challenge, and the physical exercise had been grueling, but that was the thrill of it.
-I'll pay you later. And it's pounds, you idiot, - David replied with a laugh.
-Hahaha, you better. I think some of you can't stand the fact that a 'star' outruns all of you, - the boy sighed, his hands on his knees, completely exhausted. But this wasn't anything that bothered him—he had trained under the Arizona heat in juvenile detention, running to accompany the thoughts of his new life. A life he hadn't asked for, but one he was grateful for as time went on.
-You're a total disappointment, - David responded. - Stars are supposed to be different; it's not fair. -
David was crouched down, the exercise had been intense, and exhausting, and they had no idea why. It was supposed to be a simple parachuting lesson, but with all the prior physical training, they were only supposed to learn the Gray technique here. Gray had spoken to Captain Wallace and found out two things: they were being tested, and second, he had no right to question it. The exercises would be as many as Wallace wanted them to be.
-What are you doing this weekend? - Billy asked.
-Heading to the hotel, we'll have a few drinks. Jack and Thomas live three hours away, so they'll be with their families. Maybe we'll find something interesting in the small village—a lady to love us, - David commented, giving Billy a playful hug. They had grown closer, something that couldn't have been predicted. David, the son of farmers, had lived on a ranch, and due to his good grades and excellence, he had managed to join the U.S. military.
I got it. I hope everything goes as you expect... see you Monday, - Billy replied, sounding both tired and busy.
-What about you, superstar? - David asked.
-I have an audition for the Narnia series, and, well, a friend's arriving unexpectedly in London. We'll probably go out to eat, and visit some places. I'm sure the press will have a field day with it. All the newspapers are obsessed with me and my place in the world, - Billy commented.
Yawning, he was greeted by a car waiting for him outside. Jack Sauce had arranged to meet up with Kate Bosworth, which was typical for him. Between Billy and Sauce, they were the rebellious ones—both acting on impulse, always following their gut. Thanking the driver, Billy wiped the mud from his hair as he headed to his hotel in London. Narnia would be filmed partially at a production studio in England.
***
In front of the studio, after a long development process, Andrew Adamson was the director. Mark Johnson was conducting a serious interview, and Philip Steuer, part of the production team, was also present. Despite their professionalism, the audition process was tough. So far, no one had been worth considering—they were either too old for the role or too nervous to handle even the simplest interviews. For these reasons and more, the pool of candidates was slim.
-You've got to wear the suit and smile, but beyond that, your gaze needs to be fierce—don't doubt it, a fierce look, - Billy's agent, Michael Ocklars, advised him. Michael supported Billy's acting career, unlike Jerry, who believed it could be beneficial for Billy in the future. Billy's musical talent was remarkable, but he needed freedom, the chance to experience failure.
-Thanks, Michael, but everything will go just fine, - Billy said as he entered the private hallway, keeping a low profile to avoid unnecessary attention. He had been scheduled an hour earlier to prevent any leaks for the sake of the production. The press would pounce on the child actors, and the director, and scrutinize every step, caring little for the actual issues at hand.
Adjusting the armor and fully fitting into his knight's suit, the first scene was simple—just wearing the clothes, giving the right profile, and delivering a few lines in armor. Nothing impressive, but it was done. His main competitor would be William Moseley, the previous actor. His long hair suited the period, but it would need to be trimmed slightly to match the style and year, 1915. His features were those of a teenager.
During the audition, no one made much of a reaction when they saw him in armor. They took a few photos while asking him to move around in the suit, delivering a few lines. He followed the advice given to him by a future vampire, Robert Pattinson: confidence was key, and he had plenty of that.
-Could you repeat the following lines? - Mark Johnson asked, visualizing a camera idea in his head. The script he held was thick, with some notes and cross-outs, requiring Billy to imitate the British accent as closely as possible. He trained his mouth to the best of his ability.
-Read page 15. You've got five lines marked under the name Peter, - Mark instructed.
The script was unusual and different—only his lines were visible, the others completely blacked out and crossed through.
-But how can it be true, sir? - Peter/Billy said, reading the lines with his best British accent, adding a touch of expression, but not too much.
No one responded, so he continued his performance.
-Why do you say that? -
-Well, for one thing—first of all, - Peter responded, - if that story were real, why don't we find that country every time we open the wardrobe? There was nothing there when we all went to see. Even Lucy admitted there was nothing. -
-How can you agree with such unusual magic as you speak of? It fascinates me that you accept those words as truth, - Peter remarked.
-No, sir, it's the opposite. -
-It's always been that way. -
...
-Thank you, you can go, - the producer said.
That's how these things went, Robert had told him once. Don't panic—it's better to smile and avoid looking too eager because if you seem too anxious, it leaves a bad impression.
With his head held high, Billy left the studio, his thoughts still restless and his mind already turning toward plans for the weekend. Many of his songs would be released amidst a fervor of discontent and some planning, which he considered nothing more than a trivial task.
-I think it went well, but I can't confirm anything, - he whispered to Michael Ocklars.
A loud sigh followed.
-The next meeting is the day after tomorrow. You'll have to be up early and back at the barracks as soon as possible, but you did well. Two more weeks, and I think Jerry and Nike will consider you ready, - Michael remarked.
Captain Wallace's motto was to do everything at least a thousand times, something he had diligently followed. Repeating jumps a thousand times might be an exaggeration, but it was for his good. His biggest fear was that the parachute wouldn't open, but they had several safety measures in place, including the reassurance Nike had already provided by bringing two professionals into the mix.
...