Chapter 156 - On The Set

There was a several seconds of silence.

"No," came a barely audible reply at last. "Not at the moment."

"Is working in this business really that important?" Dominik asked.

"For many, yes, it is very important. People come here from all over the country hoping to catch the eye of the producer or director. They put the entire future on this one chance. So this price does not seem high compared to the benefits flowing from it. Only one in ten thousand makes it. Some people have been selling their bodies for years and getting none of it."

The bad taste in Dominik's mouth grew. He was the last person willing to judge the way of life of others, but there was something cruel about such a system. Of course, it was the same all over the world. In fact, many could say that in his case as well, that his career also took place through the bed. He would be wrong, of course. It was Marczak who came to him and seduced a 17-year-old boy whom he discovered in a small town. He paid him compliments, bought gifts, took him to beautiful places. Dominik fell in love with Marek, so the actor did not sleep with him for profit, but for pure, inexperienced love. The roles came one after the other and their romance flourished. It was not Dominik who asked for further engagements, Marek himself endured his offers and managed his career. Śliwiński believed then that he was loved. He had evidence of it, after all. He could see them so clearly. The only things he did not notice were that he was also being used.

All these young people are also abused.

"I understand," he said. "But I don't think so. I mean, I know it's a matter of individual approach, but I don't think I can understand how many people make such compromises, knowing how few actually do."

"The hardest thing for a man is to take away his hope."

"Okay, guys, come to the set!" The conversation was interrupted by the director's voice.

"I'm sorry" said Śliwiński rising from his seat. Although not tall, in the elegant uniform of a British officer, shiny officers and a hair oil in his hair, he presented himself perfectly. With a brisk, sweeping step peculiar to the military profession, he marched onto the set. At the same time, he was influenced by Scarlett wearing a beautiful ivory party dress.

"You look wonderful," he announced in a whisper as soon as she shook his hand.

"Thank you," she replied just as softly. "And you ... If I hadn't kissed you then, in Warsaw, I would have hit on you now."

She might be joking, but she seemed to be honest. Her eyes were full of light, enchanted, as if he had seduced her with his mere presence.

Although, she might as well just be well-prepared for the romantic scene they were about to play.

"Attention, attention, silence on the set! Let's start!"

***

Immediately after the applause of thanks for a good job had died down, Scarlett Yang couldn't stand it and brought her mouth to Dominik's ear again.

"Well, I don't believe it, look who came to our test shots!"

Śliwiński discreetly looked in the indicated direction and saw Brand Kitt talking freely with the director and glancing at the set. As soon as his and Dominik's eyes met, Brand raised his hand in a friendly greeting.

"Dominik, do you have anything in common with Brand Kitt?

"I don't know what you mean," he replied innocently.

"Dominik!"

The actor laughed.

"Of course not. You know who my heart belongs to. We are only colleagues. Neither he leaning towards me nor I towards him."

While they were talking, Kitt approached them with his hands in his pockets. Despite his fifty years, he still looked very handsome.

"Scarlett, Dominik, congratulations, you are looking beautiful together. I couldn't take my eyes off you."

"Thank you," Dominik nodded politely. The grace of the British gentleman and officer was still evident in his movements.

"I'm looking forward to the premiere. Hope to get an invitation. Listen, Dominik" suddenly he put his hand intimately on Śliwiński's collarbone "as for what we talked about at the party, the matter is almost settled. Are you free tonight?"

"Yes."

"Cool! Come to me and we'll talk. Or no, you don't know the city, so maybe I'll come pick you up and have a drink. It won't be too early at eight?"

Dominik looked at his watch.

"It will be just right," he replied.

"It's until eight." Kitt gave him another friendly pat on the shoulder.

Scarlett did not take her surprised look from Dominik. Even her lips parted in the same expression.

"You're kidding," she murmured.

Śliwiński looked at her surprised.

"I do not understand what you mean."

"Since when are you a BFF with one of the biggest stars of modern cinema?"

"I wouldn't put it that way. Anyway, I really don't understand what you mean. You act with him as if he was God knows what, and yet he's an actor, just like you and me."

"Not the same. Don't you understand he's a first-class star? A guy who gets three times what you pay for an entire movie for one shooting day?"

"For me, money is not a measure of a person's worth."

"The three Oscars aren't either?"

"I remind you that you also have a statuette. And yes, three Oscars are also not. Even ten. Each award is based on individual tastes, so no, I don't think that someone should be worshiped and kissed on the feet just because they have more money or rewards."

"You say that because you don't know what's at stake yet."

"Oh, I know very well. I just refuse to participate."

They did not even notice that their argument had attracted general attention. Even the director had to react to prevent something more serious from happening.

"Take it easy, take it easy," he said confidently. "Don't make a scene. Scarlett, I know how much you care to get one step higher, Dominik, I know your attitude towards acting and your own career is ambivalent at this point, but try not to smash my movie before I announce my first slap."

Śliwiński felt like a schoolboy with his head washed off. He politely apologized and headed to the wardrobe to change into his normal clothes. He was literally at her door when Scarlett caught up with him.

"I'm glad," she said with a smile.

"Yes? Of which?"

"You're very lively. Full of energy and enthusiasm. I know you didn't take the role entirely voluntarily, so I expected you to be depressed. Especially after the last one ... But you are doing great."

"Thank you. I'm a bit surprised by this myself, but I guess it's because I don't care anymore."

"How's that?"

"If you care about something very much, you put your heart and enormous effort into it. You are stressed that it will fail and you are afraid of failure. When you don't care, you can be relaxed about everything. Don't you think?"

"I suppose so," she admitted. "But I'm glad anyway, even if you don't care about the movie."

He wanted to deny it, say he cared after all, but it struck him as he knew he was lying. He took this role because he was persuaded to do so by two important people of his life - Marek Marczak, who was his manager and lover for seven years and, like no one else, was able to take care of his career, and Andrzej Nowicki, the current partner who liked this script and in this film wanted to see Dominik. The actor himself was not enthusiastic about the project from the very beginning. He will play it in full swing, but it was just a job without any flash of excitement.

"I think it will be a good experience for me."

He really did. Knowing himself, he didn't think he would ever go to the other side of the world on his own initiative, just for fun. He was a determined homebody who loved to spend his time cooking for the man he loves. He even left his Wola Grzybowska only in situations related to work or in someone else's company. Now he was thousands of miles from home and he had to deal with it. In fact, he was even doing quite well. He knew that it was all thanks to Andrzej, whose self-confidence in him also raised his, strongly underestimated self-esteem.

After all, everything seems simpler when there is someone who believes in you. It's actually little, and it helps to move mountains, or at least to appear on the set of a Hollywood blockbuster without any complexes.

"Thank you, Scarlett," he added. "You are a real friend."

"Thanks," she kissed his cheek. There was absolutely no erotic subtext in this kiss and Dominik, who would not allow any physical contact to anyone other than Andrzej, did not feel unpleasant at all. It was actually a kiss from a friend or even a sister.