The Luster of Stars in Moscow
⁇ 54
"Since the script does not exist, you will only need to read one of the dialogues on the paper that has been shared. The called participant will be standing here. Okay, we start with sequence number one."
At the very least, I came to the right place, Cheri thought. As the most important person in this theater, Vladimir Vallensky should be here as a tester.
Where is he? Cheri glanced across the room, at the row of judges' benches.
Vladimir sat bowing on the second bench, leaning to the side, talking to someone while laughing, while the participants were trying to read the dialogue in earnest, trying their best.
But the man was instead engrossed in chatting without caring about them at all. The look on his face showed that he felt like he was wasting his time listening to something that was not worth hearing.
He really did not care about any of those participants, Cheri thought cynically.
And I hate you like that, Vladimir Valensky!
All right, said Cheri in his heart. Since you didn't consider this audition important, then I won't be disinclined.
Then when the committee called out the thirteenth sequence number, Cheri broke through the queue and stepped forward without a care around.
"Hei—" a girl shouted furiously. "I'm number thirteen!" his protest.
Cheri didn't rub it.
So did the organizer of the event, the most important person in the theater, Vladimir Vallensky.
The man was still busy saying nonsense that clearly looked just a diversion from.
The entire room stared wide-eyed at Cheri, while the girl who felt her place was being dragged still tried to break through to the center of the room. Two male organizers held him down while staring riled at Vladimir.
The man did not turn his head, not yet realizing what was happening.
The host stuttered for a moment before finally clearing his throat and continued, "Random dialogue B," his instructions to Cheri.
Cheri didn't rub it. Remain unmoved with both hands folded behind his body, staring coldly at Vladimir. Who would read a silly dialogue from a cheap manuscript of the Vallensky bastard? inner scoffed.
Silence swept through the room.
All eyes stared intently between cynics and felt strange.
"Dialog B," the host began to get impatient.
Cherry did not react.
Till…
Vladimir finally reacted. The man turned his head to the center of the room, feeling strange about the situation around him.
Finally.conscious too, thought the cynical Cheri.
The man's eyes widened behind his glasses, the corners of his lips curving into the hungry smile of a savage beast finding its prey. Immediately the man got up from his seat and lunged into the middle of the room, making the whole room squeal and hold its breath.
"Phone of Rafael," Vladimir murmured among his vexing smile. He stood in front of Cheri while cross-sectioned, watching him from head to toe with his eyes squashed, acting as if the girl was an antique thing he was going to buy.
Cheri glared thinly and smiled cynically. But don't say anything.
"Have you lost your temper, sweetie?" said mesra. Now she's acting as if Cheri was her longtime secret lover not picked up on a date.
Cheri remained unmoved.
"What a pity," Vladimir let out a short sigh. "When I wanted you to work even longer" he whispered cunningly. "Minimal.. until the planning of MoscovArt is completely mature."
Cheri finally reacted, but still did not say anything. Just looked up at the man with round eyes and mouth.
"But yes, you have" Vladimir put his palm on Cheri's shoulder, twisted the girl's body and put her arm together. "The result will be the same."
What outcome? thought Cheri was suspicious.
"Let me introduce you to everyone" Vladimir raised his voice. "Friends, here's the female lead on the May stage!" He announced.
The entire room was dumbfounded and sounded groaning like the buzzing of an agitated bee.
"Cheri Dutchskova, from now on will be a member of Tsar Dramy!" Vladimir smirked at Cheri. Then look around the room. "Some of you must have seen it before, right?"
Of course, Cheri thought cynically. If their memory is good, they should not forget the embarrassing incident at the end of the Marionette stage some time ago.
"She played the role of The Beautiful in the drama 'The Beautiful and the Ugly Bad' hosted by the MoscovArt theater, '" Vladimir continued. "Then about the drama we're going to play in May." Vladimir hung up his sentence and glanced behind Cheri's shoulder.
Cheri gulped and inched, looking at the man suspiciously, and before the girl realized what was happening, the man had already snatched the manuscript that was sticking out of his backpack.
"Aah!" vladimir exclaimed, and with no idea of his shame the man then brandished the script and kept it out of the reach of Cheri. "This is it" he said.
"What are you doing?" cheri's protest, taking the man's sleeve, attempted to seize Rafael's precious, but futile manuscript.
"This is the script!" Vladimir announced with pride.
"Just take the eleven from my backpack" Cheri cried furiously. He then walked towards Vladimir.
"In May, Tsar Dramy will stage Rafael Moscovich's 'Joan d'Arc' with Cheri Dutchkova as Joan!"
Like being struck by lightning, Cheri gasped and paled. Cold sweat rolled on his temples. His lungs seemed to explode and instantly his chest felt tight. His knees felt shaky.
Vladimir glanced at him while grinning. His smile scoffed and the look on his face seemed to say, "This way, you will never be able to return to the MoscovArt Theatre!"
And Cheri is really wretched!
Even if Rafael returns, he cannot return to the MoscovArt Theatre.
Their friends will hate him, hate Cheri who has the heart to betray them.
He still remembers how the MoscovArt members doubted him the first time he came. It's bad enough they think of him as a strange creature with the label of Rafael's doll, and he's been trying desperately to prove to them that he's not just a golden boy.
They doubted it from the beginning.
Really am!
They will not accept it a second time.
You and Rafael will never be able to create a drama together, Cheri! Cherry warned herself.
Unless Rafael is willing to dump his friends. And he wouldn't do it.
It will never!
Cheri inched backwards with a shaken face. I'm really done, he thought stunned.
This the plan? inner Cheri frustrated.
Is this what Vladimir Valensky is planning?
I really am picking up my death!
How could he play around with all this mess and woo a disaster like this?
Cheri looked around with giddy eyes, hoping to find a miracle among the crowd, finding someone who could save him from this situation.
Then he saw Demian!
Instantly the man's words were shrill in Cheri's mind.
"The stage is a small universe that has been bewitched!"
But even Demian looked helpless. Just as powerless as he is. The man just looked at her sadly.
Help will not come! Cheri realized.
Miracles will never happen.