The Act

This is one of my 'slow burn' stories, where the sex doesn't happen until three quarters of the way in. So if that doesn't set right with you, there's plenty of other 'fisting' stories on here for you.

When I first met her, I didn't particularly like her. She seemed like many of the other stuck up ass actresses I had met, who somehow managed to have a 'simulated' liking/loving with the actor they were working with on screen or on stage, but once the curtain fell or the director yelled "Cut!" would then revert to the nasty person that lived behind the previous persona.

Anna Maria Hendricks was just such an 'actress' as this. I'd seen or read of her being interviewed, where she was a real bitchy wonder with a quick wit when she needed to be. In the Trades I read where she was really difficult to work with. She was 'not a nice person' in person, when she wasn't playing the femme fatale or the somewhat submissive damsel in distress right before her character had an epiphany and became the aggressor and Took Over.

So it was with a lot of trepidation that when my agent called, she informed me that I had an audition to perform in a play with this very difficult diva. And the worse part of it was. we (our characters) were supposed to "fall in love" and even in the last act, have "simulated sex" on stage. In a near dark level of lighting.

Great

, I thought.

Well, this is what's called "acting" I guess

. No matter what the public thinks, there isn't always an "on set" romance that develops into something 'real.' Often when two actors hear "That's a Wrap!," they part company and only really ever see each other again when they need to to do interviews for promotional purposes. And then, sometimes, the Powers that Be want them to act like 'everything on the set was just wonderful!' Even when it wasn't.

====================

Anna Maria was a (seemingly natural) blond bimbo with attitude. She seemed to have a nice body from what I'd seen in some of her more riské productions, but her whole uber diva attitude had me put off from admiring that body. It was her head that overrode whatever niceness her body offered that put me off.

I, of course, had just come off of being in an Indie Romance pic, where I

did

fall in love with my then co-star. And we became media darlings for a while out of that -- another Branjolena type thing. That is, until it all fell quite dramatically apart with a lot of histrionic fits from my 'love' afterwards.

But that "upped my cred" as they say, and

that

was why I was being offered this role. Perhaps the Backers were hoping that the same thing would happen here, and

that

would become the draw to pop the Box Office.

Oh, and that and Anna Maria and I had to be nude for part of that last act. We were doing a 'Nicole Kidman,' whose big draw in one of her Off Broadway plays was when she went nude on stage for the first time. Only this time they were amping that up a notch with the simulated sex on stage. Plus the Nudity. Whatever.

We were to meet for the first time at a press 'meet and greet' to promote the play, and I was told that we had to "make nice" for the press, whether I felt that way or not. "You know," Karen, my agent told me. "You're the Actor. Sell it." I'd already told her about my doubts about this in the first place.

I came in to the 'polite' applause and sat in my 'directors chair' with my name on it, and we waited for the Actress to arrive. I noticed her off in the wings before she did, quietly arguing with the man that I assumed was either her agent or her PR person. We waited in collective silence for her to turn and prance across the stage for her part.

I watched as she crossed her arms and pouted, and then turned and "magically transformed" into The Actress. Who then glided gracefully across the stage, passing me to upstage me, and sat in her chair. She flashed her most 'brilliant smile' to the press, and settled in for the questions.

One of the female Reporters rose and went to the platform in the front and asked, "So, Miss Hendricks..." came the first question. "How do you feel working with Dylan Thompson?? Are you looking forward to this play?"

I was looking at her and I saw her face twitch for a split second that I'm sure was not visible from The Audience.

Great

, I thought.

Don't fuck it up from the get go

.

But then I saw The Actress kick in. Amazing. "Oh, I'm looking forward to it!" she grinned, and gave me a side look that I could see was so pasted on to her face as to be ridiculous. "I loved his work in 'The Afternoon,' and I saw such potential for Ragged Remembrance--" (Oh yeah. That was the title of this play. Ragged Remembrance. Gag.) to be such a wonderful opportunity for me!"

'Potential.' Really. Such a wonderful subtle jab in my gut to hear I had 'potential.'

"And you, Dylan? Are you also looking forward to this? I know it's your first play with a certified Star attached." Yes. Of course. Rank me below her, why don't you? I mean, I'm just the 'flavor' of the month. Right?

"Yes," I answered, without the chasm of doubt I was feeling showing through. "I'm looking forward to working with Miss Hendricks for the first time. and I hope it won't be the last!" Ok. I nailed that one.

And of course, it all went on from there. I couldn't tell you after the fact, just what I'd said during the remainder.

I'll read what I said when it comes out tomorrow

, I thought.

And with the light and polite applause at the end, it was over. I dutifully turned to 'Miss Hendricks' and shook her hand, and walked off-stage. This is going to be quite the shitshow. I had a lighthearted thought after that, that maybe I should fire

Karen after it ends.

And I went out to eat at the 'guest buffet' to talk further for any "One on One's" with any reporters or reviewers that my contract stipulated for. Breathing a sigh of relief as I watched them all gather around the "Star" of the production, I quietly "exited stage right."

=============

" I know I need to do this production," I told my best friend Rafe afterwards, "But I'm not sure I can really work with this class-A bitch."

"Dude. It's only for what? Four weeks? And it's not even going to last that long if you don't being your A-game to faking it. I mean, after all, ride on her coat tails for a little while, and maybe the next Play you get will be a real one."

I knew he was right. It was all about the "cred" game. Build it or loose it. I sighed deeply, and shook my head 'Yes.' "Yeah. But if it bombs, it'll be on my 'inexperienced' head and not hers. This is a big chance I'm taking, bro."

Gotta Step Up and do the breakers. Maybe you'll actually find someone who's not the Uber Bitch to work with next time. Maybe," he moved in and threw his arm around me, "This one will get you the next Babe for your eye candy. Ya know?"

Oh, if I could only be as simple minded as Rafe. Maybe then I'd be happy. He was, after all, my oldest friend. I had met him when were were going to school together at Hollywood High (and yes, that is a real high school -- in Hollywood. Right on Santa Monica Blvd. in the midst of... Hollywood. Many of the latest actors had gone there, and I was still friends with many of them. But after You got roles and They didn't, that quickly diminished over time.

We kept on talking though lunch about more mundane things. And even though we were eating in a little cafe off of the main Hollywood Blvd/SM drag, I was still approached too often by young girls who obviously had a crush on me, wanting me to sign autographs for them. I signed those, but not the obvious Autograph Hounds, that would then turn around and sell them on eBay for obscene amounts. "Part of the Game," Rafe had said at one point.

"Yeah. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. Or play their game."

============

I caught a Lyft back home, and decided while I had some free time, I'd go driving.

I hopped into my 80's somewhat shabby Corvette to take it for a drive. Not to head anywhere in particular... Just a drive. You know? While I could? Before my career took over my life? I'd heard stories like that, and I still wanted a little freedom while I could.

So I hopped on The 101, but then got off on the exit for Mulholland Drive. to get some perspective.

===========

The first thing that she said to me when we arrived at the stage was, "You know this is just a play. Yes? Simulated sex means just that. Simulated. Don't get your hopes or your slimy prick up with any expectations for anything else."

"Right," I told her quite curtly. "This is just a job, and we're just going to have to work at the acting thing. I knew this as soon as I signed." Ok. Got that out of the way.

"Right," she repeated, jaw up and chin out. The sweatpants and baggy tee shirt she was wearing for the first day of rehearsal had already told me as much.

We ran though the entire play that first afternoon, and had a few stumbles, but both of us were already largely "off book." Meaning that we had the play and our parts memorized. At least we didn't have to 'duke it out' about that (like I had with my former co-star and briefly lover in the Indie before this).

Workman-like was how we ran it. The emotions would come later, after the "blocking" (how we were supposed to move on stage) was laid out and walked out.

Then

we'd get into the 'nitty gritty' of the raw emotions that Henry Cahill, our Director, wanted for us to flail into.

We shook hands after each rehearsal, as the Director like for all of his Actors to do. Then we individually left. No schmoozing after the rehearsal on this one. I merely went home, or out with Rafe and our circle of friends. I couldn't even go out and work on finding my next girlfriend, as that would 'contradict' the 'possibility' that Anna (as she told me to call her... if I needed to) and I would 'fall in love' and provide further interest in our little play.

Of course that was inherently dangerous. Even if we did start 'falling in love,' any arguments that might start might very well make the rest of the play very hard to work through. Luckily for me, Andrea (my former co-star) and I didn't really start having our knock down drag out falling out fights until after we had already wrapped "Afternoon" and finished the After Opening Promotions.

Anna and I kept it cordial, if frosty. We went through our 'emotions' for the play, and then would slump in our chairs for any breaks.

I have to say however, that I was beginning to get a better opinion of Anna's abilities, now that we were deeper in. She did seem to have some '"chops" when it came to her acting, and I was even starting to feel like she had a little more respect for me during rehearsal.

Until it came time for us to "block out" the sex scenes however. Then everything in the theater became quite chilly, with the emotional temperature seeming to drop into the freezing feeling.

I read one day while we were waiting to start rehearsing, that she had just broken up with her latest boy-toy. Something about how he didn't like that she was going to be doing, even a simulated sex scene with another guy. Apparently, he just didn't have the idea of what Acting might be like with her. "She didn't have to take this!" he had reportedly been said to explode one day.

She dropped him in a heartbeat at that. I could see it affecting how she reacted to me. Her 'game' was off, and Henry at one point told her, "Get your shit together, Darling. You're being a Diva, and not being a professional."

Moving over to clap his hand on my shoulder, he whispered, "Go take off. I need to have a conversation with Miss Priss."

I just shook my head and left. Well, another drive to get

my

head out of this pit.

When I came in the next day, all of her diva attitude had obviously been shouted down. Her head down, her haughtiness up, we 'worked' for a good four hours before Henry called it quits for the day.

The Next Day was "Closed Set Time." It was just me, Anna and Henry. he had locked the doors, and it was time to "take the ropes off." Meaning it was time for us to get used to being nude around each other. "Let that magnificent Prick of yours rise up and get it over with," he told me, his head looking down and his own longing up. Did I mention that Henry was a Flaming Gay Man?

She reluctantly shed both her clothes as well as her inhibitions. I had my clothes off. This was where the Acting really had to happen, so we could get our 'stage emotions' up, but keep our real emotions in check. "This is where the fluid hit the road," he laughed.

"Hug her," he commanded. "Let her feel what a real man feels like. Then get over your feelings and get into your profession."

"Don't I get a Cup for... You know? My privates? Shouldn't we have an intimacy coordinator on hand?" Anna asked. "And him, especially," she growled. "He should at least have a jockey strap on."

Henry leaned in and stage whispered into her ear loud enough for me to hear it as well. "You're not going to have sex, Darling," he smirked. "We're going to desensitize you to the sex. You're both going to be nude before the final act. You need to get used to it."

I couldn't tell whether she was huffing because she was angry... or whether she was experiencing other emotions she was having a hard time dealing with.

For my part, I was at half mast, my being able to control my erection from getting too out of control. Would it stay that way if I was forced to hold her or caress her like he wanted? Well...

"You did read this script before Emilie had you sign the contract for it, did you not?" Henry prodded. "It was there clearly in black and white that your 'intimacy' was going to be before we turn off the main lights for your final 'frisson'."

He was clearly provoking her to come from the deepest level of desire she could for this part. We had to look like we were a loving couple, and yes, it was there in the script. The passionate "black and white" of it in the cold print. This part -- our naked coming together -- was the final part where the lights would be on. She had to be comfortable with it, or else...

I took a deep breathe in order for me to prepare for the touch of skin on skin. I couldn't 'rise' to the occasion for the crowd, no matter how many in the audience would be almost waiting with bated breath to see if it would happen. Of course after the first reviews, that would no longer be in doubt. But this play was taking quite the bold move in doing even this.

And then when we got into the sheets, we'd be in even closer proximity (unless we had the "cups" waiting for us.

I moved in Anna's direction, and she moved hesitantly in mine. Once we were both within that hugging distance, her arms rose up to meet mine and we did the full embrace "au natural."

I have to say that I didn't maintain my 'professional distance,' and I could feel myself rising up to meet her intimately. She flinched when she felt my erection touch her clit, but kept on holding me.

Then I felt what I hadn't expected to happen. I felt her body more fully melt into mine, and fully embrace our "embrace." I even felt her legs move just a tad more open, and when I did, I felt my now fully erect member rise up to meet her wet (pussy's) embrace. We stood there just taking it in, unaware of Henry standing just off the the side. I even felt her head lower to lay on my shoulder and her hands really grab at my back. This was real.

Of course it was broken by Henry chuffing to get our attention.

We separated slowly, and let go of each other. she looked down at my still quite erect dick, and I looked down to see a string of liquid still connecting where we had just been connected intimately.

Her attitude had evaporate entirely, and I looked into the eyes of a little girl in very much of a woman's body. "Umm," she sighed ever so slightly. Was that a whimper? Or a release of passion at the sudden loss of contact?

She looked up fully and completely into my eyes, and I saw... A breath of...

"Anna. what are you feeling?" Henry asked her rather clinically.

"I... um... I..."

"Are you fully in your emotions now?" he asked her a little more compassionately.

"I..." she said and then started to cry. Her hands rose up to cup her face and I moved in to embrace her again. She sobbed onto my shoulder, and her shoulders began heaving with each ragged breath in. I just let her keep on crying for as long as she needed to.

When her tears began drying up. I looked up to see that we were alone. Henry had left the room, and the perimeter lights of the stage had been dimmed. I reached up and began wiping away her tears. She looked up at me with the most open expression I'd seen her give to me. She hiccuped, and then her smile began to open to me.

Her lips were trembling, and she looked on the verge of crying again, when I took her fully into my arms and let her. We must have stood like that for ten or so minutes, but it felt to me like hours.

Then she sighed a deep wracking sigh, and without moving more, muttered "Thank you" into my shoulder. "I really needed that."

I wanted to say, 'You mean the Ice Queen has real feelings?' But I didn't. I only held her until she was ready to let go of me.

It was then that I realized that my erection had softened. I was holding her as a woman that was hurting, and not a woman who was ready for sex. I felt as if we had passed into a moment of real intimacy that we could then draw from to craft this play into what could become a long running show of theatrical acclaim.

"Shall we get dressed?"

With a sniffle and then a chortle, she nodded a 'Yes' and laughed lightly. Another big sigh, and she looked up at me with something approaching the recognition of love.

================

It was that last scene again. We were already three weeks into the original four week run, and the reviews were ecstatic. We had apparently pulled off what had once been thought of as a mere 'curiosity.' Two nude bodies on stage, ending in that simulated sex that was so raved about.

Anna and I, although not a couple as of yet, were nonetheless asked about it in every interview we did. "Why aren't you?" was always asked at the end.

We had gone from the frosty beginnings to having a warm if not fully loving working relationship. "I just need to be by myself for right now," was her standard response for "Why not?"

But this time was different. She leaned int to whisper into my ear, once we were under the covers, "I'm ready."

"For what?" I whispered back, and then uttered the scripted line, "Oh, my God, Caroline," for the audience to hear.

"Give them what they came for," she whispered, and then nibbled on my ear lobe. Reaching up for my hand holding her shoulder, she guided it down to her nether region and placed it firmly on her mons. Her finger guided my middle finger in and she hissed "Oh my God!" loud enough for the audience to guess what was happening. "Eat me," she hissed.

So I began moving 'south' in that direction, accompanied by hissed "Oh, my God's," and "Their really going to do it!" quietly shouted from the audience. The further I moved towards my intended 'destination,' the quieter it got in the theater.

I placed myself between her legs, knowing my legs were sticking out of the end of the blanket, and began stroking my tongue up her very wet crevice. she began to moan, at first softly, and then increasing her volume to pitch it to0wards the audience.

After a few moments of this, she almost shouted, "I want you inside of me!" followed by a collective (sharp) hissing intake of breath of some 100 people.

I moved up to face her and whispered, "Are you really sure you want to do this?" and she grabbed my head and kissed me. "Yes. Take me. Now."