keep working.

june 1.

The scene continued this time, with a long scene of Billy playing with all the March sisters. Looks of devotion escaped from Billy/Laurie, towards Winona/Jo. Despite Winona's attempts to conceal it, these looks were only noticed by the director, who nodded approvingly at Billy's profound acting. Winona's expression, seemingly devoid of understanding, created a mix of confusion between devotion and performance, or maybe it escaped her altogether.

-No one is that good at acting at such an early age, - Winona thought.

[Three points of appreciation]

-Cut. - said Gilliam, captivated by the scene, eager to shoot more, but time was limited.

-Billy, carry me to the chair. - said a little Lolita Kirsten Dunst, raising her arms towards Billy. She used to be a spoiled, pampered child, but upon seeing Billy and his pragmatic upbringing, she decided to use him as the target for all her whims.

Billy could only sigh, already familiar with the capricious gestures of a spoiled girl. -Up. - said Billy, lifting her into his arms towards the chair, despite the objections from the March sisters. On the side, Kirsten's mother swallowed all her accumulated anger at her daughter's improper behavior.

-Take me to the hotel. - said Kirsten.

-Until here, miss. I have a call to attend to, but later, we can have ice cream at the hotel restaurant. - said Billy.

Kirsten Dunst's pout amused Trini and Claire. Their laughter was directed at Billy, and Claire was starting to develop a slight infatuation. This was noticed by both Winona and Trini, but they both discreetly teased Claire with silent jokes during their girls' evenings.

-What do you like about him? - they asked Claire. Mature for her age, she responded.

-His willingness to listen. - said Claire, with that slight tingling every time she thought of Billy, something that both Winona and Trini noticed but pretended not to.

Billy walked away, oblivious to the gossip on the set. The perfect role of Laurie earned him another validation from Nigel. Always quiet and studious, if you ask ten directors what the secret to his success is, they will all say it's his hard work, communication with actors, the script, good production, or perhaps the new superstar who unveiled the role with ease. However, if you ask experienced producers who have made thousands of films, they will say that organization is the strong point of a good movie. If everything falls into place without having to ask for it, willingness is crucial, something only the experienced knows.

Billy walked to the small care room shared with other actors and called his agent with something weighing on his heart.

-Jim speaking. - said Jim Waitt.

-Jim, it's Billy. I have something I need to tell you. - said Billy.

-You don't have to ask; you're my partner. You can tell me how I can help you. - said Jim.

-I don't want a third romantic story. Romances are fine, but I feel like I could pigeonhole myself by acting in two romances back-to-back. - said Billy, expressing the conversation he had with Nigel some time ago.

-You're asking for something complex, kid, but we'll see. Sometimes dramas and movies just come. Consider yourself fortunate to have gained ground in the movies; many would dream of your opportunity. However, we can choose our next scripts more carefully. - said Jim Waitt.

-I know, I've been mentioning concerns in my heart. - said Billy.

-Don't worry, I'll send you some scripts again. There are many offers, but you've been lucky, and the competition is fierce for everyone. Besides, Michael Ovitz has been acting strange lately, and it's not safe that he's planning something against me. - said Jim.

-Thanks, Jim. By the way, I'll attend the Fashion Week in September as soon as possible. Maybe I'll go with a companion, so schedule me with Canelo. I might also go to Milan. - said Billy, giving in to Winona's insistence.

Jim wanted to ask but decided to remain silent until time gave him answers. -Alright, I'll schedule you for September and notify you that your participation in Milan in August is probable. However, I've been hearing here and there, that Philip Knight asserts that he wants to bet on you as a Nike clothing brand. Of course, for next year, depending on your visibility. Although they are almost convinced, just like Caneli, this brand has more representation in the market. - said Jim Waitt.

Billy just adjusted his shirt; the vintage fashion was curious with wide sleeves, long to the knees, so that the double of the shirt wouldn't be uncomfortable. But for Billy, the clothes only caused discomfort.

-Laurie. - said Claire from the other side, calling Billy for lunch, all together in a separate café. Although some didn't eat, Claire usually had lunch with Trini and Billy. On the other hand, Winona disliked the greasiness of the food and preferred to eat elsewhere. She only joined them for lunch when she considered it necessary. Kirsten, her mother, took her to have a special meal if she behaved well during the shooting, and Kirsten only ate with them when forced.

Unfortunately for Billy, all five women were together for lunch, even Nigel, who sometimes accompanied Billy, fled to the other side with total disdain for the childish behavior of all the girls. Winona, who acted reserved, distracted, and seemingly outside of common formality, was the complete opposite - feminine, sweet, and sensitive. This occasionally slipped into her performance, as Billy's portrayal of Laurie was somewhat silly, but different due to the characteristic brightness, very different from a shy young man - rather, outgoing, clumsy, and humorous.

This amused the girls.

-Well, I told myself, you eat here in the cafeteria every day, I have to follow you occasionally. Besides, today is potato salad day, I like potato salad. However, you'll take us for ice cream in the afternoon, Billy. - said Winona.

-Sure, I'll take you, as long as Winona eats all the potato salad! - said Billy.

-Oh, you're cruel. - said Winona, pouting, as she never finished her food unless it was her parents' food, as she often stated.

-Nothing is free; work deserves a reward. - said Billy.

-Ishhhhh, I'll eat all the potato salad, but when I get sick, you'll have to bring me ice cream to bed every day. - said Winona, holding a cat on her shoulders. The cat was asleep, and she was stroking it carefully. It was brownish-gray, only a few months old, and Winona slept with the cat every day.

-I'll bring you the best ice creams if you get sick, a different one every day. - said Billy, playing along.

-It's not fair. You're supposed to argue with me. - said Winona.

-Hahaha. - Billy couldn't help but laugh. - Eric, have lunch with us. - said Billy.

He was the one in love with Trini in the novel, but being much older, seriousness prevented him from playing as the others did most of the time. But occasionally, he laughed with them when the five of them weren't together, which was often teasing.

-My scenes are done for today, Bill. See you. - said Eric, escaping. His fiery red hair was exposed, and shiny, and although it might not seem like it from his appearance, he was a true Californian.

-Now comes the dance session. - said Gilliam, who followed them from behind. - I hope you've practiced. - said the director; they would shoot four scenes in one.

-With pleasure, I'm an expert. But I'm sure Billy is a better dancer. - said Winona, imitating the comical dance that Jo March used to do every time she danced.

-What news? - said Billy, who, although he had practiced, didn't dance as much as portrayed in the novel.

-You'll have to cut your hair. - said Claire.

-Nothing a good hairdresser can't fix. - said Winona.

Sad moments continued in the lives of the women, the Little Women. In everything, it began to unfold, from the ways events unfolded to the problems of the plot.

They entered the cafeteria, and even little Kirsten Duntz was joyful, looking forward to the promise of having ice cream at night with Billy and the girls. "You have to eat all the potatoes!" Kirsten said to Winona, who was whispering something with Trini Alvarado. Winona nodded from a distance.

The crew sat down to eat with a sudden calmness. The calm state was just a hint of how everyone behaved because they would start shooting the time jump scenes from tomorrow, repeating some short dance scenes and a few others at night. The point is that it would be Kirsten's last few days on the crew due to the role change.

The girls hurried while Billy lagged, which was taken advantage of by Gillian, who wanted to get to know this new guy who had been acting for some time and was quite talented.

-Are you sure about inviting them for ice cream? I've heard you've been inviting them for ice cream for a long time. - Gilliam asked, testing Billy.

-No problem, besides, it's Kirsten's last day. - said Billy.

-I understand, but these girls are taking advantage of your good manners. - said Gilliam.

Billy smiled at her. -It's okay; I wouldn't do it if I couldn't commit to it. -

-What do you think of your role as Laurie? - Gilliam asked.

-A very polite young man, but tied to love, he wants to find someone who loves him, and although he tries, he doesn't find it. Of course, I'm a supporting character who only fits in certain parts and not in all. Although... I think he gave up on Jo. She just needed a push, an extra mile, but he faltered and gave up halfway. - said Billy.

-Do you believe that? - Gilliam asked.

-Well, I believe it to some extent, but I don't delude myself into saying that his fate was different. After the sorrow, he needed a path, needed to find the right path lost after his heart shattered into a thousand pieces. But it was a different era, and he found his way. - said Billy.

Opening the cafeteria door, while holding it open for her.

-How sweet. - said Gilliam, passing through.

-Billy, we want a special one with a double portion of potatoes! - Winona said, laughing.

Gilliam smiled, strongly and went to the special table, separate, not accompanied by anyone, and sometimes only read the newspaper at the table, with a cup of coffee or tea. But she was always exactly one hour in the cafeteria, taking a break from her editing work.

...