Noticing the reaction from the camera crew, Peyota kicked her legs up on the table and said, knowingly:
This shit's It's called - Bruce Banner, chicas. No downsides, all gamma rage. I only just started smokin' this sativa and it goes hard, swear to god.
Flora gently reminded her:
So maybe tell us a bit about yourself?
While Peyota mentally prepped her confession, Copy scrunched her nose in disgust and got off the tabletop, backing away toward the wall with theatrical disdain:
Why didn't you bring champagne? So I could inhale something truly noble instead of these disgusting - incenses- ? - Flora thought.
Instead of responding, the Latina girl launched into her monologue:
Basically, I'm a And if you don't believe that, slash my skin and watch the freakin' blood pour out. Red — just like yours. — From her pocket, almost magically, a butterfly knife appeared, which she tried to hand to Flora.
No, no! I believe you!
Who am I? I'm a walking, talkin' pain in the ass — for I live for the buzz and I'll die like I'm being born again. I chase highs and hunt hype, so my new career starts right here, right
now. 'Cause I'm done with the hormone therapy, the endless boob jobs, the orchiectomies, the voice surgeries — I'm done! But for the Me inside me? I'll do anything. Still, I'd rather cut someone else than keep letting doctors cut me, feel me?
Am Real! I'm flesh of da flesh of dis world! Non sum qualis eram (I am not the same as I used to be). Feel me?!
The joint hovered inches from Flora's face like an accusatory finger.
I get it… — she mumbled, for some
Nah, you don't get jack shit! — The girl snapped. — Don't try to butter me up, señorita. I see those hollow eyes of yours — no thoughts behind them, just static. That other chick, though? She's got the vibe. Knows how to work her words. Fist bump, Ser la Leche Doña.
Evelyn extended her palm, sealing the gesture with a solid handshake. But even after that peace offering, Peyota didn't dial down her fire:
Damn, you're cool. I'm into this! So what were we talking about again? Ah, right — who I am. I'm a whole new bitch in this messed- up society. Used to be someone else entirely. Got sick of my old self — my habits, my vibe — and now I'm flipping the whole Not just the inside, you feel me? I wanna be an Actress with a capital A. Ars longa, vita brevis (Art is long lasting, but life is short).
Wait, so you mean… your name used to be different or something? Lemme guess…— Evelyn started, ignoring Flora's warning side- eyes and frantic shushing.
The air snapped like a rubber band.
Out of nowhere, Peyota whipped out a gun from under her oversized flannel and aimed it directly at the camera.
Don't even try it, Perra! Don't you dare deadname me! My past is buried, and you better leave it the hell there!
Flora turned ghost- pale, dabbing at beads of sweat with trembling fingers. But her aunt? Cool as ice.
Put your toy away, baby. You'll hurt yourself. If I offended you, then fine — I'm But don't you dare threaten me. You see I'm filming this, right? What if this footage ends up with the cops? I don't give two shits about pigs! — The girl shouted, exhaling smoke like a dragon — and even if they come, I'll snatch the file and smash it to hell before you can even blink!
For a moment, the two women locked eyes, heat radiating like a microwave showdown. Tension thick as old diner gravy.
Flora flung her arms out like an underpaid traffic cop:
Can we not fight, please? Miss Peyota, you're
Copy just about jumped out of her seat yelling, - Are you outta your mind?- but then added, - On second thought — she's a walking wildcard. Might be useful.-
Flora, after stopping the current recording, avoided everyone's eyes and muttered a line she'd clearly stolen from Copy earlier:
Auntie, don't It's just… she's magnificent. In her rage. And in her fire. To everyone's surprise, Evelyn didn't shout. She just gently agreed: There's truth in what you say. And you're right — it's your project. You can cast whoever the hell you All I ask is one thing: that you do it because you want to, not because you feel scared or pressured. No power moves from me, baby. Just a tiny piece of advice. Take it or leave it. I know, But she really is amazing. And I stand by what I said. — This time, Flora meant it — every word — and she caught the warm look her aunt shot her way.
With that emotional resolution, they hit play on the next audition.
The same familiar foreground: the infamous garage draped in flags, the table, and two women. Now they were joined by a man with a fairly official appearance.
He wore Levi's jeans, a gray business shirt unbuttoned at the collar, and classic dress shoes. His build was solid, broad- shouldered, and strong. He had long hair with a few gray strands, neatly brushed, clearly well- groomed.
The new guest stood frozen near the gate, politely smiling from within the shadow cast by a nearby tool cabinet. Evelyn exclaimed in surprise at the sight of him:
No way! Did someone from The Office just walk in? The Copy glanced at her and nodded. Yeah, that's actually Did your half- ass casting call really attract someone who doesn't throw poop at people? Although… he looks kinda boring. Enough! — Flora shouted, and everyone in the room turned to her in — We need interesting personalities and actors, not just background cutouts. Shame on you for saying that! I can confirm every part of what you said — except the acting experience. — The contestant's voice, despite his strong and toned physique, came out rather squeaky and unmusical, as if he had swapped voices with Campus. That guy should've had this voice, no doubt about it! — I chatted with a few of the other candidates and realized that most of them are amateurs, just like me.
As for me, I'm not an actor at all, but… well, never mind. As far as my identifiers go, I'm just a regular person, since I'm Māori — and in our language, that literally means - normal.- And yes, you nailed it about the whiteness of my skin.
He finally stepped out of the shadows he'd been hiding in all this time — and Evelyn leapt from her seat with a shriek:
Vampire! Oh, you bloodsucker, how'd you get in here in daylight?!
The man continued to smile kindly and stood still, while a visibly paler Flora, who'd clearly been startled herself, began to realize her aunt wasn't yelling at him, but at another contestant who had slipped through a crack in the garage door. This one had applied pale makeup, fitted himself with fangs, and popped in red contact lenses.
While the aunt was busy shooing away the vampire- wannabe — who, naturally, couldn't cross the garage threshold — the Copy was already admiring the newest arrival:
At least he's got proper That's… something, I guess. Sad that's the gold standard today, but hey, we work with what we've got.
Backing up her words, the contestant said:
I've seen a lot of reactions to my appearance, but never quite one like I appreciate that you don't seem bound by prejudice — I've grown used to intense reactions to my presence, though I wouldn't say I enjoy them. My name is Manu, and as you may have noticed, I'm an albino.
Although, I don't have snow- white hair — it's dark, due to my type of albinism. But my skin is, as you can see, marble- white. I also have red eyes, just like that vampire guy. Or like someone constantly getting high. By the way, the last young lady who bolted out of your garage after shoving me aside — she had eyes just like that.
Evelyn coughed awkwardly.
I was starting to think he was talking about ..
Her niece calmly began her speech, having patiently listened to their guest:
You don't have to explain anything to us. Just be yourself — who you always And also, I really need to apologize to that vampire guy on behalf of my unbearable aunt. She didn't mean to offend him. Sometimes she just talks before thinking. Right, Evelyn?
The woman was at that moment making the sign of the cross at the garage doors and froze when she saw Flora glaring.
Um, yeah, of I'll apologize to him. — Then she quietly whispered to the director, — So… should we sprinkle some salt by the entrance or what?
The actor, evidently possessing sharp hearing, shook his head:
I assure you, ghouls don't have such specific dietary habits — mostly because they probably don't exist. May I sit down?
Yes, of course! — The casting manager hurried to say, trying to ignore her aunt's muttering: - Sure would be nice to have Peyota's knife right about now, see if that ghoul's blood is even -
As soon as the man settled into the chair, the Copy returned to her perch on the tabletop and asked him:
So?
Manu of the Māori replied with a question of his own:
Tell me, madam…
Just Flora. I'm the director of this film. And this is the cinematographer, Evelyn.
A pleasure! — The man bowed politely. — May I ask, what's the format of the audition? I prepared a monologue from a character played by my fellow countryman, Taika Waititi, in the film What We Do in the Shadows. Quite ironic, given the situation, wouldn't you say?
Everyone chuckled. Manu definitely had a likable vibe, and even Copy seemed pleased with his gentlemanly manners. Evelyn said it out loud:
You're the most reasonable person we've seen today, I swear!
The others were just as decent, auntie! Stop badmouthing people — Flora protested, and seeing her aunt nod in agreement, she immediately turned to the actor: I don't doubt you'll perform your memorized monologue perfectly, but unfortunately, we're making an improv film, and I'd really love to hear about you, about your life.
The smile slipped from the dandy's face, and he grew somber:
Let's not touch on personal matters and focus on the professional side, please. I can tell you this, as I mentioned earlier — I try to help myself become a bit more informed and well- rounded. I've long accepted the fact that I truly - know that I know nothing,- and I'm doing my best to study what little I can in this short human life.
What kind of research are you doing? — Flora asked with curiosity, only to hear Copy's voice cut in:
Oh, who cares! Are we writing an autobiography or casting a movie here? The actor seemed to agree, now speaking without his usual smirk: My research is Now I'm stepping into a new era of my life, so if you don't mind, ladies — may I read the script?
The file was promptly placed in the – Accepted - folder. There was no room for confusion here — Flora and Evelyn approved him on the spot, without even needing to talk it over. Although Evelyn mumbled: - I like his old- school charm.-
And the director just exclaimed:
Why do they all insist on reading the script? Can't we do without it?
Even though I'm no expert in film production, I still think it makes sense when someone wants to understand what they're getting into and how to act accordingly. Especially since we're casting
people from other professions who don't even know what they're doing and are just as scared as you. Well, maybe not all of them, but most for sure.- — All this flashed through her mind, but her train of thought got derailed by her companions' remarks:
They just want to read the script to remember the alphabet — most of them are clearly Copy
Even though I'm no expert in film production, I still think it makes sense when someone wants to understand what they're getting into and how to act accordingly. — Evelyn explained. Flora flinched — that wasn't at all what her aunt had said earlier. Films vary, just like the way they're If the director insists on doing it this way — then so be it. If you don't want to give out the script, that's your right.
But that could lead to a dictatorship, right, Auntie? — Flora asked
You're not likely to manage You're too young, and you don't have that backbone that real tyrants have. I'd actually like for you to grow a pair... well, not literally, but if you did, I sure
wouldn't judge. Anyway! Point is — you should be a bit more decisive, and this kind of thing makes you stronger.
The director gave a sheepish smile:
Thanks, That's really nice to hear. The moved woman waved it off: Oh, cut it out! All this warmth is about to get washed away by a tidal wave of nightmare — you see what file's up next?
Flora shivered, as if it were winter outside instead of summer, and muttered:
I .. now it's - The Costume's turn.