This screenplay hits all the points I love in a great movie, but when we sit down to go through it again as a group at the table read, I’m blown away all over again. Even some of Holt’s surliness has disappeared.

“Fantastic reading, Midnight. With a little bit of honing, you’re going to kill this script,” Danny says.

I beam. “Wow, I don’t know what to say. I hope to make you proud, Danny.”

“Just thank the man, for God’s sake. Can’t you recognize a flirt when you see one?” Holt stands behind Danny’s shoulder bearing a sour expression. I don’t know why he has to act like an ass and spoil the fun.

“Oh, come on, Holt. One, I’m not flirting. I was just complimenting her on the great job she did today,” Danny says.

“Whatever.” Holt walks away.

“Ignore his rude ass. I meant what I said. You’re going to shine on screen.”

“Thanks and I promise to work hard.”

“Good. So, we’ll see you in two weeks then. If you need anything, give me a call.”

“Thanks, Danny.”

I’m standing next to the table when Holt walks by to grab his stuff. “Hey, Holt. I was going to tell you earlier, this script is incredible, and with your talent you may end up with an Oscar next year.”

Instead of a show of gratitude, he sneers. “Oh? And exactly what would you know about that?”

I’m so shocked, my tongue ends up trapped inside my mouth.

“Yeah, not much, huh?” He grabs his stuff and stomps off.

This is going to be one long haul working with that offensive prick. Why does anyone have to be such a dick? What happened to being kind to one another?

I pick up my things and go home, pushing those thoughts of Holt Ward aside.

My phone rings. “Hello.”

“Hey, it’s Harrison. How’d it go?”

“Ah, other than asshole Holt, it was awesome.” I explain what happened. “I’ll be up to my eyeballs studying, so don’t think I’m ignoring you.”

“Not a problem. Call if you need me. And Midnight?”

“Yeah?”

“Good luck. I’m pulling for you.”

For the next two weeks, I dive into studying my lines. I’m going to memorize every letter of this story, making Holt look like an amateur in comparison. Okay, that’s a stretch, but that’s what I’m telling myself anyway.

My arrival time for Monday morning on my call sheet was 0600. I arrive around the same time the makeup crew shows up. We’re filming several scenes today on the same set. After my makeup is finished, I arrive on set to find the lighting crew working their magic. They need to ensure the actors are lit properly on every shot. The director positions Holt and me in different spots where the scene will be taking place so the cameraman can tweak his shots. They’ll film from my angle, then Holt’s. It’s very time intensive. We’re finally ready to begin. We do a run-through to rehearse, and then it’s showtime.

In the scene we’re working on right now, Holt’s character, Finn, and I are having marital issues because of our financial state. He’s lost his job and can’t find a new one. I’m working but it’s not enough to support us.

Finn is overbearing and frustrated, and I’m stressed out with mounting overdue bills and a young daughter to care for. We have an argument and he storms out. Our daughter wakes up and comes into the room crying. It’s a very emotional moment for me.

I’m shaken by the scene, but not because I’m acting. This isn’t very far from the life I grew up in, only my mother wasn’t married to the men she sometimes argued with. I wrap the young actor in my arms, soothing her, telling her it’s going to be fine and that Daddy will be home soon.

The director cuts and I lean away from Sammie, the little girl I’m hugging, giving her a big smile. “You were awesomesauce, dude.” We high-five. She’s so cute. At four years old, I want to steal her away. She’s blond with long braids and green eyes, much like Holt’s.

“Thanks, Ms. Drake. You were awesomesauce too.”

Holt pops back on the set and gives me a slight nod. I’ll take it. That’s better than some scathing insult. The assistant director escorts Sammie off the set to her mother, who has been hanging out nearby. I wish my mom would’ve been around like that instead of shooting up heroin.

I wander over to the area where snacks and drinks are located and grab something as the crew prepares for the next scene. Then I take a seat in my personal chair and scan my sides (a small version of the scenes we’re filming today).

The director calls for the actors so we begin the next scene, where I try to smooth things over with Holt/Finn by seducing him. I change into sexy lingerie so when he comes home, I’m ready for a little bedroom fun. Our daughter is asleep when I hear the door opening. I walk into the living room, and he has no idea what’s underneath the robe I’m wearing. With all the stress in our marriage, our sex life has suffered.

I casually walk up behind him and grab his hand. “Hey. You’ve been gone awhile.”

He doesn’t look me in the eye. “Yeah. Had to clear my head.”

“Why don’t you come to bed?”

He shrugs my hand off. “Not tired.” Then he walks to the kitchen and returns with a (fake) beer, pops the top off, and takes a long gulp.

I don’t give up because my character, Christine, is a very determined woman. I turn him to face me and brush his hair off his forehead, massage the creases there, then say, “Come on, baby. I can make you feel a whole lot better than that bottle can.”

He finally connects and notices me for the first time.

He knocks my hand away. “Christ, Christine. Leave me alone.” He heads for the couch.

His ass plops down on it and he spreads his long, muscular legs out. But he doesn’t count on me sinking to my knees between them.

“What the hell’s up with you tonight?”

“I just want to be with you, baby.” I rub my cheek on his thigh as I go for the button on his jeans.

He shoves my hands aside. “I’m not in the mood.” His voice carries a hard edge of frustration.

“If you give me a few, I can get you in the mood.”

“Oh yeah? How?”

I stand and drop the robe. His lids open slightly only he’s not acting now. It’s a visceral reaction.

“You think that’s gonna work on me?”

I offer him my hand and smile. “Why don’t we find out?”

He takes my hand and gives me a hard yank. I land on top of him and he kisses me ferociously. Then pushes me aside.

“You’ve been keeping this from me. Why?”

“I—I haven’t. Things have been ...”

He gets up and drags me toward the bedroom.

“Cut,” Greg calls out. “I can’t wait to see the dailies on this.”

I’ll admit it was hot. Hotter than I expected from Holt.

“Nice work,” Holt says.

“Thanks.” It’s kind of weird. He never compliments me. I wonder how tomorrow will go. That’s when we do the bedroom scene.

0700 I show up for makeup. I wear the sexy lingerie again and I’m ready for the bedroom scene. The lighting is a pain. It takes forever to get it right today.

“His face looks too drawn,” one of the crew complains.

“It’s supposed to. He’s stressed,” Greg says.

They argue back and forth and it ends up taking until lunch before they get ready for us. They do several test shots and we’re finally ready.

“Hey, let’s take a short break for lunch and then run straight through,” Greg says.

Sounds good to me because I’m starving. We go outside to where the catering food is and eat.

Back inside, we take our positions, and action is called.

Holt pulls off his shirt to reveal sculpted abs. I’m sure he’s been preparing for this by spending time in the gym. Who wants themselves to be seen by millions of adoring fans without being in the best shape possible?

Then he lifts me up and we’re in the bed, his hands roaming all over me, frantically, as though he can’t possibly get enough. The camera closes in, though I’m not sure what it’s getting. And then the director yells, “Cut.” I want to laugh because I’m so used to porn and this is lily-white in comparison.

“That was hot,” Greg, the director, says. “Now I need you naked from the waist up and under the covers, Midnight. We need the after-sex scene.”

“Right.” I strip off my bra, because I’m not exactly shy having had my boobs exposed for all to see so many times before. Holt tries to hold up his shirt to shield me. My contract stated it would include nudity from the waist up, but I guess Holt isn’t aware of that.

“Hey, it’s fine. They’ll all see in a second, anyway. Besides, it’s in my contract.”

He lets out an awkward laugh. “Right.”

We scoot under the covers and he asks if I’m comfortable. I’m more than a bit surprised he’s being so considerate. Shooting begins again and we film the afterglow of our sexy time. He plays with my nipple, tickles me, and then goes in for the heated kiss, which are all actually scripted. Nevertheless, it takes me by surprise, zipping the lines from my head. My emotions are hopping all over the place, my stomach in knots.

I can’t screw this up so I improvise, but the passion and tension between us produces a quality that has the scene turning out better than what was originally planned. It’s gutsy, yet sweet, with Finn softening toward Christine, and Christine letting her love for him shine through her eyes.

It ends with Finn touching Christine’s lips with his and Greg yelling, “Cut!” I sit up, holding the sheet against me, to see a gigantic smile spreading across Holt’s face.

“That was amazing,” he says.

I don’t quite know what to say to that, other than, “Yeah, I think we did great.”

When I get out of the bed and away from the lighting, I look across the set to see Harrison standing there, a serious expression on his face. He nods once and then walks out through the doors in the back of the studio.