“Excuse me.”
The very distinct, soft voice interrupted my concentration on the novel I was reading, and I stared for a brief moment at the black print, confused. Then I looked up at the man standing in the aisle next to my seat. He was not tall, probably around five feet six inches, and he was dressed casually in a black turtleneck and khakis slacks. A small leather bag was slung over his right shoulder, and his boarding ticket and passport were still in his left hand. I noticed almost immediately his simple yet striking smile and soft gray eyes.
“I don’t mean to bother you,” he continued once he had my attention. He indicated the empty seat by the window. “I hope you don’t mind if I sit here. The man who originally had that seat asked if I would switch with him so he could be with his wife and son.”
I smiled. “I do not mind at all.”
“Thanks,” he said with a grin that caused a dimple to appear in his left cheek. He placed his bag in the overhead compartment. I stood and picked up the case that held my laptop computer to allow him to slip by me. It was tight and we brushed against each other as we moved. I set the case back down and quickly regained in my seat. He made himself comfortable and had a large bound book on his lap. After we were both were situated, I turned to him.
“I’m Heidi Summers, by the way,” I introduced myself.
“Please to meet you,” the stranger said quietly. He gave a sudden humorous sigh. “I guess there is no harm in introducing myself, the plane is too noisy for anyone else to hear. I am Elian Adams.”
I smiled, feeling my heart rate increase dramatically at the confirmation. I had suspected that the dazzling stranger was the famous actor, but I did not want to say anything aloud in case he had been a look-alike or incognito. Now that Elian Adams was real, and really sitting next to me for a six hour flight to London, I could hardly keep myself from hysterics. I calmed my excitement quickly and merely nodded.
“I know,” I simply replied. Adams wrinkled his brow in surprise.
“And you did not say anything?” He demanded. “Why?”
I shrugged, mesmerized by his cloudy eyes. “Actors are people too. I wasn’t going to say anything until you did. Anyway, that was nice of you to change seats with that man.”
Adams leaned back against the side of the plane. “I am glad that some people are considerate. Most of the time I am mobbed by teenage girls who want my autograph and picture. There is a lot of screaming and Oh-my-God’s; overall, it is very embarrassing.”
“I could see that,” I commented with a laugh at his high-pitched impersonations.
Just then a flight attendant took the speakerphone off the receiver and, flashing a dazzling smile, began the flight announcements. The safety procedures were reviewed orally as an animated film played on the large screen. She pointed out the magazines at every seat for the entertainment of the passengers, as well as broadcasting the titles of the in-flight movies that would be playing. She ended with saying that the flight attendants were there to make the flight more comfortable and meals would be served halfway into the flight.
“Very fascinating,” Adams said dryly. “I have flown a hundred times and their little speeches never change. Is this your first time flying?”
I shook my head. “No, when my family lived on Okinawa, Japan, we flew back to the United States for a two month vacation. I have been on planes about a dozen times since.”
“You lived in Japan?” Adams said curiously.
“Yes, my father was in the Marine Corps, and we moved there for six years. I was little but I still have a few fond memories. How about you? Have you lived anywhere besides the USA?”
Adams shrugged. “I have been many places for filming, but my home is in California. I am going to Europe to start filming for a new movie.”
I could not help but to ask. “Is it a drama or action?”
“Action, why?”
“I am not into dramas. I know most of your movies have been in the drama genre, but I really don’t care for it.”
“Ah, so you are an action person. I would never have guessed,” he commented with a grin. “How did you recognize me if you haven’t seen many of my movies?”
“Well, I saw a few of them,” I corrected. “But only the ones that were packed with action. I have a good memory for faces, though names escape me. I watch a lot of movies.”
“And you read too.”
I had forgotten completely about my novel, which a few minutes before had had my complete attention. I looked down and folded the corner of the page to mark my spot in the book.
“I read all the time. Though my favorite genres are fantasy and classics, I read everything except horror. I hate horror.”
“So do I. I refuse every offer to act in a horror film,” Adams exclaimed. “Except one of the films, it was about as close to horror as you can get, but I prefer to call it a science fiction movie. But you probably already know that; everything leaks out to the press, not that I am concerned. I really don’t care for all the glitter and snaz of Hollywood; I just enjoy acting.”
I would have replied but the plane starting taxing down the runway. The seats began to bounce and jerk as the plane gained speed. My hands found a firm grip on the armrests as the nose left the ground. I gritted my teeth as we quickly gained altitude, and I did not relax until the plane had leveled off. Adams gave an amused chuckle from beside me.
“I can see you hate takeoffs,” he remarked with a grin.
“Yes, but I love landings.” I replied quickly with a smile of my own.
“Why is that?”
“Because I know I will be getting off of the plane very soon after.”
We both broke out into laughter that lasted a few minutes. When we managed to quiet ourselves (the other passengers began to stare), Adams leaned back and gazed at me. I felt…nervous under his sparkling eyes and I could feel my cheeks heat up. It was not everyday an average person was able to sit next to one of their favorite actors and have a real conversation. Perhaps I was more than nervous.
“What is it?” I asked finally.
He shook his head. “Nothing. Is your novel interesting?” I glanced down at the book on my lap as he continued. “May I see it?” And I handed it to him. Adam scanned the cover and then turned it over to read the information on the back. As he read, he spoke to me. “Is this your first time reading Dennis L. McKiernan’s The Iron Tower?”
“No. I have read the trilogy many, many times before. He is my favorite fantasy author, with Terry Brooks second and Tolkien third.”
“Who is your favorite character?” His eyes were still on the back of the novel, though his eyes did not move back and forth like they would if he were reading.
“King Galen is a very good character, strong willed and kind hearted, and Lord Gildor is a mysterious elf with amazing swordfighting skills; however, I prefer Tuck, the Warrow, to all the other characters.”
“I wonder if I should be happy or sad,” Adam commented with a smile. He finally looked up from the book. “I am going to Switzerland to begin filming The Iron Tower.”
“You are? They are making a movie?” I gasped in astonishment and then fell silent. I did not know what to think or to say.
“There will be three movies in all,” Adams continued. “One for each part of the trilogy: The Dark Tide, Shadows of Doom, and The Darkest Day. Of course, the filming is a secret; our director has not even told the press about it yet.”
I wrinkled my brow. “Who will you be playing?”
Adam grinned. “Why, I am the hero of the story! I play the part of Tuckerby Underbank, Thornwalker and world-saver.” He laughed at the shock on my face. “Most of the roles have been cast, King Galen, Lord Gildor, Bregga, Tuckerby, Danner, Modru and the many others. However, there are still a few places open. We do not have many Warrows yet because they want people shorter than Chris Matthews, who plays Danner, since he is the tallest Warrow.
“Anyway, enough about me and acting. What do you do?”
“I just graduated from college with dual masters in International Relations and Computer Programming,” I replied. I laughed at Adam’s shocked facial expression. “I do not have any job offers yet, though I have an interview with a company out of London. That is where I am heading to today. In school my best friend was a foreign exchange student from England whose father works for the same company. She invited me to stay with her.”
“I hope you get the job,” Adams said sincerely. “You must enjoy computers a lot to become a programmer. I know how to work them and send email, but that is the extend of my knowledge.”
“I love creating things,” I replied simply. I tucked a loose lock of blond behind my ear. “It started before high school when I got my first webpage on the Internet. I taught myself all the codes and neat techniques to use until I was webmaster of nearly six sites. I still have one running now.”
“Why did you choose International Relations as your other master?”
“I love languages and other cultures,” I answered. “That is about all I can tell you without lapsing in a long, drawn out explanation.”
A flight attendant paused by my seat pushing a large rectangular cart. “Would you like a refreshment?” She asked politely with her perfect smile.
“I will take a coke,” Adams ordered.
“And one Diet Sprite, please,” I added.
She took out two small plastic cups, filled each with cubed ice, and then searched the cooler for our sodas. She opened both cans and poured the sodas into the cups. She handed Adams his cup and can, then did the same with mine. She smiled again, adding an “Enjoy!” before moving on to the people seated behind us. We sipped our drinks for a while then began chatting about everything under the sun. We talked about our favorite music, movies, books, colors, and animals. We spoke about our families, friends, and lives thus far (His life was obvious more exiting than mine, though Adams thought otherwise.). We shared our likes and dislikes, and we hammered the press numerous times. Then we turned to long term goals and what we wanted to do with our lives eventually. To our surprise, we both wanted to become writers with bestselling novels later in life.
Though the transatlantic flight was long, it seemed all too soon to me when the captain got onto the overcom system and announced our approach to the airport. I then noticed that my book and his script had been left untouched on our laps the entire flight, and neither of us watched the in-flight movies, though one was a film Adams had starred in. The seatbelt sign flashed above us, and the flight attendants went by to make sure that all the trays and seats were “in the upright position.” Then the plane dipped to the left in a wide, lazy circle before lining up with the runway below.
The plane descended quickly and before I knew it, we bounced down the runway until the plane had slowed. It taxied towards the terminal; the engines of our plane and others made it too loud to continue our conversation. We waited through the captain’s farewell speech as the boarding ramp moved out towards the plane’s front exit. Then the passengers stood and began shoving their way up the aisles to get off the plane. Adams and I stood and had to wait for the mass to clear before I could move into the aisle. I reached up to the overhead compartment for my carry-on bag but during the flight it had been pushed to the back. I stood on my toes trying unsuccessfully to grab it.
“Would you like some help?” Adams asked. Though he was taller than me by only a few inches, he was able to grab my bag with ease and handed it to me.
“Thank you,” I said as I shouldered the bag. I put my book into the bag and took my laptop case from my seat.
“How tall are you?” Adams asked with a wrinkled brow. I looked up at him, startled. He shrugged. “Just curious.”
“I am five-four,” I replied.
We moved to the front of the plane, Adams leading, and passed by the smiling flight attendant. She nodded to us and said, “Thank you for choosing TransAtlantic Air. Have a nice day.” Together we walked down the boarding ramp and into the gate lobby. Most of the crowd had left to go the baggage carousel. We followed quietly and then stood around searching for my luggage; Adams’ was being moved to another plane for the next leg of his trip. His flight to Switzerland left in two hours.
“I see it!” I exclaimed as I caught sight of my dark suitcase tumbling down on to the carousel. “The navy blue one with the tan trim.”
Adams pushed his way towards the carousel and pulled the suitcase from the jumble of other bags. He carried it over to me, and I immediately checked it over. The tags had my name and address on them, and I smiled gratefully.
“Thank you, Mr. Adams,” I said.
“We have known each other for six hours,” he laughed. “You can call me Elian.”
I grinned. “Thank you, Elian.”
“I will walk you to Customs,” Adams offered. “And I will carry your suitcase.”
“You don’t have to,” I protested.
“I know, but I have nothing else to do for two hours.”
The lines at Customs were extremely long and quite a few people were fanning themselves with their passports and complaining loudly in multiple languages. The airport security looked grim as they opened suitcases and searched for any illegal items while others had to ask questions and verify passports. Adams and I talked as I slowly moved up in line.
“I have been to London,” Adams stated. “You must see the Changing of the Guard and tour the Tower of London.”
“I will be here for three weeks, so I am sure I can fit them into my busy sight-seeing schedule,” I said jokingly in a monotone voice. Adams laughed, and we moved closer to the security.
“Well, I better get going or else they will start questioning me on my business in England,” Adams said with a sparkle in his eyes. “It was great to meet you, Heidi Summers.”
“Call me Heidi,” I corrected with a smile.
“Heidi. I was wondering if I could have the phone number and address to where you will be staying. You know, in case I want to talk to someone who treats famous actors like normal people.”
I blushed at his comment. After the initial shock of talking to an actor, I had almost forgotten that he was Elian Adams, the famous actor and teenage heartthrob. I looked inside my bag for pen and paper, and found them quickly. I scribbled the phone number and address down quickly and handed it to him.
“Thanks.” He pocketed the paper. “Good luck with your interview, Heidi. I hope that you get the job.”
“Bye, Elian,” was all I could think to say in response.
He smiled and began to turn away, then paused. “One more thing. I would appreciate it if you did not tell anyone about the movie. Gresham would be extremely upset.”
“I promise.”
Elian Adams turned away. I watched as the crowd swallowed him up; most of the people were taller than he was. I stared after him, unsure if the entire flight had been real or a dream. All I could see was his cropped brown hair with small sideburns, bright smile, and intense grey eyes. Suddenly, I heard someone clear their throat and realized that it was my turn at Customs. I handed the security man my suitcase and turned to his partner with my passport in hand.
“What is the purpose of your visit, Ms. Heidi Summers?” He asked in a heavy British accent. “Business or pleasure?”
“Business,” I replied, and I answered the rest of the series of questions. Nothing illegal was found in my suitcase or my laptop bag, and I was free to pass. I weaved my way through security checks and down elevators towards the taxi and rental car areas. I had just reached the taxi center when my name was called in a thick accent.
“Heidi! Heidi Summers!”
Emily Patterson smiled as she reached me. Her dark brown hair was done in a braid, and she was dressed in a tan suit with matching pumps and purse. She looked just as beautiful and tall as the day she had left for home, four months ago. Her five-foot nine-inch frame looked almost six feet in the high-heeled shoes, and she towered over me. We hugged.
“It is good to see you, Emily!” I said with a laugh.
“And you, Heidi! I drove my own car. Am I late?”
I shook my head. “No, my flight was a bit early.” I followed Emily out of the terminal and to the parking lot.
“How was your flight anyway?” Emily questioned offhandedly.
“It was nice,” I commented with a smile.
“Daddy has scheduled your interview for next week, which gives us plenty of time for shopping and sight-seeing.” Emily continued excitedly. “Oh, I am so glad that you are here in England! We are going to have a great time. I will take you to a few clubs and let you meet a few British guys. If you get the job then you will be living here, so you might as well get to know some of the people.”
I shook my head and smiled. Emily was the exact same as she had been—my complete opposite. We reached her car, and I put my suitcase and laptop into her trunk. She continued to list different places she would take me and the people I had to meet. I sat in the passenger side (which is on the left side of the car instead of the right). Within minutes we had left the airport behind as Emily drove us through London to her family home.
* * * * *
The telephone rang somewhere in the hall. I finished buttoning my new blouse as it rang for the second time. I heard Emily’s bedroom door open, and her footsteps as she went to answer it. I took my brush, mouse, and hairspray from my travelling bag and began to fix my hair. Today was my interview at the computer software company. Mr. Patterson, Emily’s father, was one of the interviewers, and he was a very nice gentleman. I had liked him from the first day I arrived in England, and he seemed to like me too.
“Just a second,” Emily said into the phone. She tapped softly on my partially open door and poked her head into the guestroom. “You have a call, Heidi.”
I set down the brush and walked over to take the receiver. Emily had a puzzled look on her face as she handed over the phone. I put it up to my ear.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Heidi, do you like Merrilee?”
I stood silently for a second, startled at the question. I had been expecting my mother or father’s voice wishing me good luck. Instead, the voice on the other end of the line was a young, masculine voice. I recognized it after a moment and grinned broadly. Emily’s brow ceased in bewilderment and she mouthed ‘Who is it?’ I turned away from her.
“Of course I like Merrilee…”
“Have you gone to the interview yet?”
“No, the interview is in three hours,” I replied.
“Wonderful!”
“Elian, what is this all about?” I demanded, my voice betraying my confusion.
“Go to a front window,” Adams ordered over the phone.
Since he was talking in riddles, I decided to play along. “All right.” The guest bedroom I was in faced the front of the Patterson’s house. I walked around the bed and to the window with Emily following quietly. With one hand I pulled back the curtain and looked down at the street. In front of a parked limousine a familiar figure stood waving with a satellite phone to one ear.
“Hello! May I come in?” Elian Adams asked into the phone.
I dropped the receiver and raced passed Emily. I went down the stairs quickly and threw open the front door. Adams was walking casually up the sidewalk and waved. I rushed down to meet him but pulled up short, unsure how I should greet him. We had only met once, but Elian Adams had been the only guy on my mind all week. Impulsively, I threw my arms around him in an embrace.
“It is good to see you too!” He laughed. I pulled away blushing.
“Sorry about that,” I apologized. “What are you doing here? I thought you were in Switzerland filming.”
“I came to see you,” Adams replied. He nodded to the front door where Emily and her parents stood, and Emily’s face went slack in amazement. “You should introduce me.”
“Sorry,” I grimaced. We walked over to the Pattersons. “Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, Emily, I would like you to meet Elian Adams…”
“Please to meet you,” Adams said to the family. He shook hands with Mr. Patterson, then his wife, and last of all with Emily.
“Would you like to come in?” Mrs. Patterson offered.
“That would be great,” Adams replied.
He followed the Pattersons inside the house. Emily came up to my side, wide eyes following the actor.
“The Elian Adams?” Emily gasped lowly in my ear. “You know the Elian Adams, and you never told me?”
I rolled my eyes playfully and shut the door behind us. Mrs. Patterson settled everyone down in the parlor and offered tea and coffee, which Adams declined both. When the entire group was settled, Adams cleared his throat and glanced at me. He had sat down in an armchair next to the couch, where Emily and I sat.
“I do not mean to intrude,” he began, addressing the Pattersons. “Heidi and I met on the flight from New York to London last week; we sat next to each other and talked the entire flight.” He turned to Mr. Patterson. “I hope that you and your company will agree to postpone Heidi’s job interview.”
“What for reason?” Mr. Patterson questioned. I stared at Adams, curious beyond words at his strange appearance in London when he should have been in Switzerland.
“Well, if Heidi agrees, she has a two and a half year contract with Universal Home Studios,” Adams stated calmly.
“What?!” I gasped, nearly falling off of the couch. Adams turned to face me with a broad smile.
“When I arrived in Switzerland, Gresham called a meeting with all the directors and principle actors to talk about the empty roles. We needed an actress to play the Warrow girl Merrilee and only you came to mind. So I brought it up and we discussed it. Gresham sent me back to England to retrieve you; he wants a screen test done tomorrow. If you do well, you have the part.”
I sat silently, unable to think of anything intelligent to say. It seemed as if my mind had overloaded. One moment I was an average person flying out for a job interview, the next I was being asked to audition for a leading role in a Blockbuster Movie directed by the famous Thomas Gresham and starring Elian Adams. The Pattersons seemed just as stunned as I was.
“But I have only been in a few plays in college,” I protested mindlessly.
“You told me that already, but I know you will be great for the part.”
“But, Elian, I have blond hair, not black.”
Adams chuckled. “So they will either dye your hair black or you will wear a wig; I will be. Tuck’s shoulder length hair is supposed to be black as well.” He indicated his closely cropped brown hair. “I have plane tickets if you say yes.”
I blinked slowly and stood up. In a daze, I said: “I must call my parents…” Somehow I found the phone in the hall and dialed the international code for the United States. I could hear the Pattersons and Adams talking in the parlor, but I could not make out the words. The phone on the other end rang. It rang again.
“Hello?” I heard my mother’s voice ask.
“Mom, it is me,” I said slowly.
“Hi, Heidi. We were just about to call and wish you good luck on the interview.”
I swallowed, barely containing the sudden excitement that rushed over me. “I won’t be needing it. Mom, is Dad and Sarah around?”
“Yes, they are watching the television. Is something wrong? You sound…strange.”
“Call them over and put it on the speaker, please. I have something important to tell you guys,” I ordered. I heard her speak to my father and younger sister. A button was pushed and suddenly I could hear almost everything that was happening in my house on the other side of the Atlantic.
“We are here, Heidi,” my mother said into the speaker.
“I am going to Switzerland,” I burst out with excitement.
“What for?” I heard my father ask at the same time my mother exclaimed: “What about the job interview?”
“I am going to take a screen test for a part in The Iron Tower movies directed by Thomas Gresham!” I exclaimed quickly. “Elian Adams is sitting in the Pattersons’ parlor right now talking to them about it. We met on the plane, and then he talked to the director of the movie because they needed someone to play the part of Merrilee in the movies. They want me to play the part!”
“Are you serious?” My father asked.
“Yes! If I do well in the screen test, Thomas Gresham wants me to sign a two and a half year contract with Universal Home Studios!” I paused, listening to their exclamations. They did not know if I was pulling a prank or if what I said was true. I smiled. “I am going to ask Elian to speak with you. Hold on one second.”
I put the phone down on the end table and walked back to the parlor. Adams looked up from his conversation with Mr. Patterson. Emily was curled up on the couch staring at Adams with wide eyes. I smiled and gestured in the general direction of the phone.
“My parents do not believe me,” I said. “Could you talk with them?”
Adams laughed and stood up. “No problem.”
I led him to the phone and put it back to my ear. “Mom, Dad, I want you to talk with Elian Adams.” I handed him the phone and stepped back.
“Hello? Mr. and Mrs. Summers? I am Elian Adams. Heidi and I sat next to each other on the flight to London last week...” He continued, explaining in detail about the meeting with Gresham and the other directors. He told my parents what had been said at the meeting, and then clarified about the screen testing and the contracts. I leaned again the wall, stunned: almost every little kid and teenager dreams of becoming a movie star, but few actually do. I used to wish I would play a part in a movie, even a small part, but I never dreamed that it would actually happen. Now that chance was right before my eyes.
“I have tickets to Switzerland for a flight that leaves at three in the afternoon, today,” Adams said into the phone. He paused, listening. “The tickets are paid for by Universal, as will her hotel room. That is right…I am not sure. It was great to talk with you….I have a feeling that Heidi will get the part.”
Adams handed the phone back to me. “I am here,” I said into the mouthpiece.
“Are you going to do it?” My father asked.
“Of course,” I replied.
“That really was Elian Adams,” commented her younger sister Sarah. “I recognized his voice. You are so lucky!”
“I have to go now,” I said smiling. “I love you all so much.”
“Be careful, Heidi. We love you,” my mother said.
“Do your best,” my father ordered.
“Bye!”
I heard the click as the hung up their phone, and I replaced the receiver on the cradle. I jumped happily and clapped my hands. I was so excited that this was happening that I could not contain it. I heard Adams laugh and remembered that he was standing next to me.
“Someone is happy,” he commented with a grin. His gray eyes sparkled and his dimple appeared.
“I cannot believe this is happening,” I replied. “When do we leave?”
“As soon as you are packed,” he answered. “I spoke with Mr. Patterson: he said that you will have an interview in two and a half years if you wish for it.”
“I will go pack right now!”
I raced up the stairs two at a time and ran down the hall to the guest bedroom. Emily was sitting on the bed and stood when I came in. She had gotten my suitcase from the closet for me and had it lying open on the bed. We both gave low screams and she grabbed me in a big hug.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Emily demanded. “This is beyond cool! This is absolutely wicked! You will be an actress in a movie with Elian Adams! The Elian Adams!”
“He told me not to tell,” I exclaimed.
I grabbed my clothes from the hangers and began to fold it neatly. I put jeans, shirts, slacks, and blouses into the suitcase along with socks and undergarments. I threw all of my cosmetics into my travelling bag as quickly as I could and tossed that into the suitcase. I put the soft blue jacket on and looked into the full-length mirror. I had bought the soft blue pantsuit, white blouse, white pumps, and matching purse the day before when Emily had taken me shopping. It was meant for the job interview, but now I was going to wear it to the screen test in Switzerland.
“Your hair is still not done,” Emily said. She grabbed my things from the suitcase and began working with my shoulder length blond hair. She styled it quickly with mouse and then sprayed it lightly. “There, it looks fine. You are so bloody lucky, Heidi. You have to tell me everything! This is so much better than sight-seeing England.”
I zipped up the suitcase and checked my handbag for my passport, wallet, and other things. Emily took the suitcase and together, short and tall, we left the guest bedroom to return downstairs. Adams was talking quietly with the Pattersons in the foyer, waiting for me. He saw us at the bottom of the stairs and immediately walked over to take the suitcase from Emily, even though she towered three inches over him. With heels, I noticed that I was of equal height as Adams.
“Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, thank you so much for your hospitality. I am sorry to cut my visit short…”
“Nonsense, Heidi. It is not everyday you can be in a film,” Mr. Patterson interrupted.
“We loved having you here,” Mrs. Patterson said afterwards. “You are welcome any time.”
I hugged each of them and then turned to Emily. We hugged silently while Adams shook hands with Mr. Patterson. Then I was following Elian Adams out of the door, down the sidewalk, and to the limousine. The driver took my suitcase from Adams and placed it into the trunk. I waved farewell to the Pattersons before ducking into the black car.
* * * * *
“Do not worry, Heidi. They will give you a small segment of the script and then leave you alone in the room. It will be just you and the cameras. All you have to do is read the lines and be yourself.”
Elian Adams and I were walking towards the building as he coached me. I was so nervous that my hands were beginning to shake—something they had not done since tenth grade. The doors opened and a tall dark haired gentleman in casual jeans and sweatshirt stepped out to greet them. Adams squeezed my arm.
“Welcome back, Elian,” the man greeted with a smile. He turned to me and offered his hand. “You must be Heidi Summers. I am Thomas Gresham, director.”
“Please to meet you, sir,” I said as I shook his hand.
“Let’s go inside, shall we? Even though we are at the bottom of the mountains, the wind can get chilly.”
Gresham led them inside the building and down the hall. They passed numerous people, mostly the crew from the film, and Gresham greeted each one with a cheerful hello and head nod. Suddenly he turned down another hall and disappeared into a room. Adams and I followed. The room was bare besides a microphone in the center and cameras in the corners. One entire wall appeared to be a mirror and I realized that it was a one-way window. Gresham took a thin leaflet of paper and headset from an empty chair.
“Here are two different scenes. The first one you will do by yourself, and the second one Elian will do with you,” Gresham said. I took both the leaflet and the headset. “You can hear yourself with the headset. I, with a few others, with be in the next room watching and listening. If you mess up, don’t worry. Just keep going. Good luck.”
Gresham left the room. Adams grinned. “You will do just fine. Be yourself.” Adams sat down in the empty chair by the door.
I put the headset on and walked over to the microphone. I glanced over the pages, reading the words and the key notes in parenthesis. I remembered from the books what was going on when Merrilee had said each of those lines. I took a deep breath.
“When can I start?” I asked into the microphone.
“We are all in place, Ms. Summers,” came Gresham’s voice in the headset. “Start whenever you feel comfortable.”
I rolled my head around and took another deep breath. Then I looked over the first scene and prepared to read. I wanted to get the part, to play Merrilee in the movie. I bit my lip and silently prayed. Afterwards, I knew that all I could do was my best. I clear my throat and began in a humble yet firm tone. Without meaning to, I spoke with a very slight British accent, a habit I had picked up from Emily during the passed week.
“I know little of War strategies, tactics, and battle. (slight pause) I do know how to use a bow and arrow, and I know much about ponies. (Tone changed to thoughtful) Yet something you said, Patrel, caused me to think. You said ‘the Ghûls won’t be sitting targets.’ But what if they were? (slight pause and then, as if an afterthought) Sitting targets, that is. Our task would be immeasurably eased. (Long pause; voice is bolder) These, then, are my thoughts: Let us lure the Ghûls into a high-walled trap and shut the door behind them. (Voice changes to aggressive) Then slay them in their pen!" 1
“That was great!” Gresham said. “Now I want you and Elian to run through the other scene.”
Adams stood up and walked over to the microphone. I moved the paper so he could see it better and we scanned it quietly. This was the first scene with Merrilee in the entire movie (and books); she was young and naïve then. I took a deep breath and nodded at Adams.
“You know that I’ll not be here for your age-name birthday,” he said in his soft, gentle voice with a sadness in his tone.
“I will miss you, too, Tuck,” I continued softly and as sadly as I could.
“Well, be that as it may, here, I’ve a present for you. Early it is, yet I’ll still be at the Spindle Ford when you pass from your maiden years.”
I paused and then exclaimed, “Oh Tuck, what a wonderful gift! Why, I’ll think of you every day—every time I use it.” I paused again and then asked softly. “What are you thinking, Tuck?”
Adams gave a sigh and gestured. “Oh, just that some people go through life like those bubbles down there, caught in a rush of events that push them thither and yon, never able to break free to choose what they would. (Pause) I was also thinking that many of us are blind until we’ve but a short time left to see.” 2
“Wonderful! Move to the last part,” directed Gresham from the other room. I turned the last page and we scanned it. It was a very small part, just a few lines for me to do. I attempted to make my voice sound shy as I said: “Would you wear my—favor?” I leaned closer to Adams. “Take care, my buccaran,” I whispered. 3
“Great!”
“Is that all?” I asked.
“That is all, Ms. Summers,” Gresham said.
I removed the headset, and Adams smiled happily. The door to the room opened and Gresham walked in, a smile on his face. “You did wonderful, Ms. Summers. Elian, will you take Ms. Summers to the lounge while we discuss the test? Thank you.”
Adams led me from the room into another down the hall. It was casually decorated with a large couch, television, table, and refrigerator. I sat down on the couch while Adams got sodas from the refrigerator. He sat down next to me and handed me a Sprite. I opened the can and took a sip.
“I think you did fine,” Adams told me.
We waited quietly for a long time. My mind began doubting myself. What if I wasn’t what they wanted? What if I said something wrong? What if I did not have any acting skill? Finally, Gresham opened the door to the lounge. I stood up, as did Adams, and looked at him inquiringly. Gresham broke out into a friendly grin.
“Welcome to the cast of The Iron Tower!” Gresham exclaimed. I shouted out and took his hand gladly. Then I turned to Elian Adams, and he gave me a hug.
“I knew you could do it!” He said with a grin.
“Now we must discuss the contract,” Gresham interrupted.
The crowd outside the World Premier of the first installment of The Iron Tower trilogy, The Dark Tide, was in the thousands. It had been three months exactly since the first teaser trailer for the film aired in movie theaters across the United States and other countries and on twenty different television networks. The fans of the cast had gathered outside the Premier to watch them walk the red carpet into the tall, gigantic theater, and then, after the viewing, wait in lines for autographs and pictures. Cameras flashed and videos were shot as famous actors, actresses, directors, producers, politicians, and others entered the Premier with style.
Then the crowd went silent. The first of the black limousines bringing the movie’s cast, director, and producer pulled up to the red carpet. An uniformed man stepped forward and opened the side door. Elian Adams stepped out of the limousine. He was dressed in a new navy blue suit and tie, and his reddish brown hair was cropped short with small sideburns. He smiled charmingly and waved to the crowd as flashes from cameras went off. Then he reached inside the car and helped Heidi Summers from the limousine. The new actress was dressed in a simple soft blue pantsuit with a white blouse. Her long ebony hair was done up with curls hanging down around her face. She smiled and waved to the crowd.
“Elian Adams plays the hero in The Dark Tide, young Tuckerby Underbank. And with him tonight is Heidi Summers who is Merrilee Holt, Tuck’s love. Both Adams and Summers will be signing autographs later this evening after the Premier.” Together, Adams and Summers walked up the red carpet and disappeared into the building. Reporters for magazines and other networks quickly spoke into hand held recorders. They described the stars’ outfits, mannerisms, acting talent, and (most of all) the rumors surrounding the Elian Adams—Heidi Summers love mystery. The second limousine then drew the crowds’ attention…especial when tall and handsome Simon Gibson exited the car, followed closely by striking Lauren Hunt. Gibson was dressed in a black suit and Hunt wore a white dress that shimmered as she moved.
“Just arriving, Simon Gibson is the movie’s brave King Galen and at his side this evening is Lauren Hunt, who plays the gorgeous Lady Laurelin…”
And thus each leading actor/actress from The Dark Tide was introduced as they arrived. Inside the building, they congregated in the lobby just outside the theater politely conversing with invited guests. Elian Adams and Heidi Summers sought out their families and friends and greeted them.
After everyone had arrived, the mass moved through the doors into the theater. The cast was taken to an upstairs balcony while the rest of the guests found seats in the main part of the theater. On the balcony Elian Adams and Heidi Summers sat in the center of the front row. The gigantic screen loomed in front of them and the lights dimmed. The movie began to roll, and they sat back to watch the entire film for the first time in its correct sequences with the music and the special effects added. In the darkness, Adams took Summer’s hand in his own and slipped a single diamond ring onto her finger.
Mention of Dennis L. McKeirnan's trilogy, The Iron Tower, was used without permission. The three quotes from the book and the mention of the book's characters are also used without permission. Everything that has to do with The Iron Tower belongs to Dennis L. McKeirnan. i am giving proper credit, so please do not sue me.
1 Quote: Dennis L. McKiernan’s The Iron Tower (First Roc Printing, December 2000) pg. 328. It is mostly a direct quote, though parts were changed and words left out to make it seem more like a part from a movie.
2 Quote: Dennis L. McKiernan’s The Iron Tower (First Roc Printing, December 2000) pg. 14,15. Directly quoted from the exchange between Tuckerby Underbank and Merrilee Holt.
