Chapter 33: Kerry Mulligan

"What?" Kerry Mulligan didn't expect Murphy to ask such a question. Surprise flashed across her face, quickly followed by excitement, as if she had won a lottery. "I'd definitely tease him, torture him..."

She completely ignored everything else, just reveling in the innocent and imaginative thoughts typical of her age. Touching her cheek, she said, "I'll make him fall head over heels for me, and then kick him in the..."

Kerry Mulligan suddenly covered her mouth, realizing that this wasn't the place for her uninhibited behavior; it was a film audition, not her playground. After removing her hand, she playfully stuck out her tongue, giving an embarrassed smile.

"Sorry..." Her voice was low, sounding much like a British young lady.

From her performance after entering the warehouse, Murphy roughly understood this girl named Kerry Mulligan. Behind her delicate and cute appearance, she concealed a rebellious and lively heart. Due to her age, she also had a touch of innocence.

Seeing Murphy suddenly silent, Kerry Mulligan blinked, tentatively asking, "Did I do something wrong?"

Unconsciously standing up, she came to Murphy's makeshift desk again, pleading with a clear and clean voice, "I just joined the actors' union this week, and I really want to be a real actress. Can you give me another chance? I think the story you told is really cool!"

Murphy looked at her, realizing that the girl's bright eyes were beginning to mist up, as if she was about to cry.

He pushed his notebook and pen towards her. "Leave me your contact information."

The girl immediately suppressed the almost-teary expression, replacing it with a cute smile. She grabbed the pen and quickly wrote down her name and a string of numbers, continuously reminding, "Make sure to call this number, don't call any other number. If anyone finds out I sneaked out for an audition, I'm doomed."

After muttering, she looked back at Murphy, her face full of pleading. "Can I see the script? I'm so curious about how the female lead kills the pedophile."

It was obvious that she was very smart and had guessed some of the content of the script from Murphy's questions.

"Sorry..." Murphy started, but before he could finish, the doll-like face of the girl fell. However, he didn't buy into it and continued, "Only actors who have signed contracts with me can see the full script."

"A contract?" The girl anxiously said, "I can sign a contract with you."

"But we can't sign with you." Murphy pointed to the chair opposite, "You're not yet sixteen."

He could tell that this talented and well-shaped girl had snuck out on her own for the audition. Even if she signed the contract provided by the crew, without the consent of a guardian, it would have no legal effect.

Kerry Mulligan sat back in her chair, feeling regretful about her age. Just as she had said, her emotions were completely externalized, perhaps also an effect of acting.

This girl had come alone without an agent or guardian, which was indeed troublesome. By most people's standards, she would be persuaded to go back and focus on her studies.

But Murphy had interviewed so many candidates, and finally encountered someone so suitable. For the sake of time and money, he wouldn't easily let her go.

Moreover, he could tell that Kerry Mulligan was very interested in this Lolita avenging the creepy uncle game... No, the story.

How to deceive such a naive, cute, and rebellious girl into joining the crew?

Since she appeared in front of him, how could he let her slip away easily? Murphy's mind was working fast, calmly saying, "Miss Mulligan..."

"Kerry!" The girl corrected, "Call me Kerry."

Murphy smiled at her, "Kerry, you're the most talented girl I've ever seen, and your audition performance is the best among all the female actors."

Hearing this, Kerry Mulligan smiled with her eyes crinkled up.

But then her face fell again, because of Murphy's next words, "But you're not yet sixteen, so I can't make any promises to you. Without a guardian present, we can't sign any contracts with you."

"Damn it!" The girl grumbled, "How could those control freaks and old stubborn heads let me join the crew?"

Murphy understood everything she said clearly; things were obviously more troublesome than he had anticipated. He frowned and thought for a moment, then took out a scene script from the drawer of his makeshift desk and pushed it to the other side.

"I can't show you the entire script, but your performance really touched me." He seemed genuinely impressed by her talent, "Here's a scene script for you to take a look at."

The girl widened her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering. "Can I really have it?"

Although she said so, she couldn't help but flash over, grabbing the script and reading it aloud in a soft voice, "Hailey pours Jeff a glass of wine. Jeff, with his back to Hailey, opens the fridge to look for other drinks. Hailey takes out a small plastic bag from her pocket and sprinkles white powder into the wine glass..."

"Is that a sedative?" Kerry Mulligan asked excitedly, "Is she going to knock out the bad guy and then torture him?"

Murphy didn't say anything, just spread his hands.

"...Jeff regains consciousness, finding himself tied to a chair..."

The short script ended there. The girl looked up at Murphy, "Is there more? Is there more?"

How could this naive and rebellious girl be a match for Murphy's cunning fox-like mind? Someone experienced would just chuckle at such a script, but Murphy had tapped into her curiosity and interest successfully.

"Sorry," Murphy shook his head, "I can only show you these. If you want to see more, you'll have to wait until the film production is finished."

"How do I torture that bad guy? How do I torture that bad guy later?" Kerry Mulligan unconsciously placed herself into the role of Hailey, tapping her little head, "What should I do?"

She raised her head, staring at Murphy with a seriousness never seen before on her delicate doll-like face, "How can I get this role?"

There was a hint of frustration in her voice.

Murphy calmly replied, "Your guardian must agree."

Kerry Mulligan extended a white, delicate hand, "Your contact information."

Taking out a business card, Murphy handed it to her. Kerry Mulligan glanced at it, solemnly storing it away, "You must wait for me for a while. I'll contact you again."

She picked up the scene script, "Can I take this with me?"

Seeing Murphy nod, she returned to her chair, grabbed her backpack, and hurriedly ran out of the warehouse.

A slight curve appeared at the corner of Murphy's mouth. Girls of this age always had innocent imaginations about the future and often rebelliously refused to listen to any opposing views.

Lynch watched all this and sighed inwardly that Murphy was even more cunning and despicable than he had imagined.

He couldn't help but be glad that he hadn't let his daughter participate in the audition; otherwise, he'd be in trouble even if he sold her out and would be the one counting the money for Murphy.

"I'm

going back to the coffee shop," Lynch left the warehouse first.

"Will her parents agree to her playing such a role?"

Looking at the closed warehouse door, Jessica Chastain felt that this wasn't very good, "Are you sure about this?"

"Sure about what?" Murphy turned to look at her. Jessica Chastain swallowed the rest of her sentence, looking at her boss's stern expression, and could only reluctantly say, "I'm worried that her parents or guardian won't agree."

"Nothing is certain." Murphy said, "We can make it happen."

After lunch, the mystery was unraveled when the famous Franco, younger and less known version, appeared in the warehouse-turned-audition room. Sitting in the chair opposite Murphy's desk, James Franco sported a mop of naturally curly hair and a smile that was both charming and mischievous. Though lacking the charisma accumulated over time, he was undeniably handsome.

He wasn't a newcomer to the film industry, and his acting skills were passable for such a role. The only issue was his age, which could be adjusted with makeup. Most importantly, Murphy knew he was a maverick who would take on seemingly bizarre roles.

Putting down the scene script he was holding, James Franco glanced at Murphy, "Interesting role. Is it based on yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Murphy almost sprayed the coffee he was drinking out of his mouth. He quickly put down the coffee cup, "Of course not."

James Franco's temperament was as eccentric as the rumors suggested. Shrugging, he took out a business card and placed it on the table, "I'm interested in this role. Have your people contact my agent."

Murphy hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Given equal conditions, he would prefer someone with security. Taking the business card, Murphy handed it to Jessica Chastain beside him, instructing, "Contact him as soon as possible."

With one hand resting on the table and the other lightly tapping the surface, James Franco's eyes were fixed on the pen in front of Murphy, asking, "Did the girl with the golden short hair who auditioned this morning pass?"