Audition II

In the New Amsterdam Theatre, Lucas stood center stage, with the directors, writers, and producers of Modern Family fixed on him, and the audience equally captivated by his flawless portrayal of 'Dylan Marshal.' The camera and the Modern Family production team supporting the attendees all focused on Lucas Knight as he took his place on the stage.

As the audition began, the female script reader, assisting Lucas Knight in his role as 'Dylan Marshal,' approached him and cordially said, "Hello, you must be Dylan."

Lucas Knight, embodying 'Dylan Marshal,' stood before her, extending his hand for a handshake, and replied, "Hey, Dylan, yeah..." His voice remained composed, but his eyes conveyed a sense of uncertainty.

The female audition reader took on the role of 'Claire' as she shook hands with Lucas Knight and delivered her lines from the script, "I'm Haley's mother."

Next, another male script reader, who would support Lucas Knight during his audition, stepped forward. He initiated the action by gently gripping Lucas Knight's forearm while assuming the role of 'Haley' and encouraged, "Hey, come on, let's go," directing his words towards Lucas Knight.

Lucas, playing 'Dylan Marshal,' nodded in agreement and followed the male reader.

Suddenly, the female reader interjected with a hint of surprise, exclaiming, "Okay, hang on, one second. Woah." She halted the male reader and Lucas, firmly gripping Lucas's forearm, causing him to look at her with uncertainty.

The female reader continued to follow the script, asking with doubt, "Dylan, you're still in high school?"

Lucas nodded and responded in a deep, relaxed voice, "Yeah, I'm a senior."

The female reader acknowledged with a nod, saying, "A senior. Okay. Cool."

Another male script reader, who was part of the audition process, approached. The female reader noticed and exclaimed, "Hey, Phil. Sweetie. Honey." She added, "He is Dylan, and he is a senior," before announcing aloud, "You need to scare him."

The male reader then delivered his lines, saying, "Let me meet this player," as he glanced at Lucas.

"Phil Dunphy, yo!" the male reader, portraying 'Phil,' exclaimed, adding with a playful tone, "Yo."

Lucas, embodying 'Dylan,' responded while looking at the male reader, saying, "Yo."

"Okay, I see you guys..." the male reader, taking on the role of 'Haley,' acknowledged as the other male reader, who portrayed 'Phil,' supported Lucas in the audition performance.

The audition continued, with the participants and the Modern Family production team watching closely. The directors and writers of Modern Family keenly observed Lucas Knight's performance, and he delivered exceptionally well.

In fact, Steven Levitan noted that Lucas Knight seemed to capture the essence of 'Dylan' even better than Reid Ewing.

Upon completing the audition, the directors and writers of Modern Family held varying opinions. Steven Levitan nodded at Lucas Knight and complimented him, saying, "You gave a very impressive performance."

Lucas Knight reciprocated with gratitude, saying, "Thank you."

After some time, Christian Lloyd also shared his thoughts, and the directors, such as James Winer and Jeff Greenberg, expressed their approval with nods.

After a while, as Lucas Knight expressed his gratitude, the writer Steven Levitan, idly playing with his pen, jotted a note and said, "Very well. We'll contact you if you're selected by the team." He paused, adding, "If you're not chosen, we'll still reach out to inform you that we regrettably didn't pick you. Expect a call in about a week when the shooting for the 'Pilot' is set to begin."

Lucas Knight anticipated this and nodded, replying, "Thank you," before stepping off the stage to make way for another auditionee.

The new individual was trying out for an extra role in the plane scene, and Lucas watched curiously, his own audition now concluded. He exited the theater and rubbed his hands together, hoping he would be selected. If not, he faced the daunting prospect of struggling to cover his rent unless he could persuade a friend or roommate to assist.

Lucas flagged down a taxi, returned to his apartment, and pondered the events that had unfolded since he arrived in this unfamiliar world.

He had the opportunity to meet Julie Bowen, a celebrity he had only watched on screens before. Surprisingly, she was pregnant, a fact he hadn't known in his previous life. Lucas couldn't help but smile, reflecting on Julie portraying 'Claire Dunphy' in the pilot with her bulging stomach. It baffled him that he hadn't noticed this detail while watching the 'Pilot' in his past life.

As for his current situation, whether Lucas would be selected for the role of 'Dylan Marshal' remained uncertain. After all, Reid Ewing had originally played the part in his previous life. Lucas was unsure if he'd be chosen or if Reid Ewing would once again secure the role.

With no guarantees, Lucas couldn't solely rely on the possibility of being chosen. He needed to secure some form of employment. With this in mind, he picked up his diary and recorded the events of the New Amsterdam Theatre auditions before setting out to search for job opportunities.

Lucas vowed that if he wasn't selected for the role of 'Dylan Marshal,' he would explore other possibilities. Perhaps he would even consider auditioning for 'America's Got Talent' the following year, although this was his final option if he couldn't secure any opportunities in the entertainment industry.

To pave his way into the entertainment industry as a newcomer, he knew that joining the 'Screen Actors Guild' was crucial, but doing so required fees. He contemplated either borrowing money once more from his roommate or embarking on an intensive job search to cover the expenses.

Lucas diligently scoured the area for job opportunities when he noticed a restaurant with a sign that read 'Wanted: Waiter.' In an instant, Lucas smoothed down his blonde hair and straightened his sleeves.

It seemed that the restaurant had just put up the 'Wanted' sign, as Lucas hadn't noticed it earlier when he passed by on his way to a fast food restaurant.

Upon entering the restaurant and expressing his interest in applying at the counter, he was greeted by the restaurant's manager, who was also the employer.

The young and beautiful female manager didn't inquire about Lucas's educational background; she simply asked about his work experience and assessed his communication skills, which were satisfactory. She also inquired about his record, and after a background check, the female manager named Liza examined Lucas's face and physique before nodding in approval. She said, "Alright, you look pretty good," pausing before adding, "You're hired. Your hourly wage here will be $12. Is that acceptable to you?"

Lucas quickly nodded and replied, "That's perfectly fine!" After expressing his gratitude and discussing the details for a while, he exited the restaurant.

Liza smiled as she watched Lucas depart. To be honest, she was quite intrigued because a man employed by Myla, a woman, had offered her a thousand dollars not to hire an individual by the name of 'Lucas Knight.' Similar offers had been made by other men, who worked for Myla, to Liza's friends, all of whom owned businesses in New York. However, Liza was not particularly swayed by the promise of a thousand dollars and opted to hire Lucas regardless, partly due to her finding him exceptionally charming and handsome.