Chapter 50: Audition

This outstanding performance not only demonstrated the opponent’s strength but also ignited his infinite expectations for the future direction of this work. Regardless of what others said, Clara Bennett was not shaken in the slightest and promptly began her performance. This play belongs to the espionage genre, telling the story of her being a singer and dancer on the surface, while secretly being an underground worker tirelessly fighting for national security. In a bustling and complex city like Losangle, the protagonist skillfully navigates among leaders of various factions, constantly conveying critical intelligence with her wits. Eventually, she becomes a formidable female leader who instills fear at the mere mention of her name. Everyone thinks of her as a woman with a strong hand, cold and ruthless, but in reality, only a few know that it is thanks to her courageous spirit and extraordinary wisdom that many people in crisis are lucky enough to be rescued and regain their freedom. Living in a world so full of shadows and unknown dangers, she still longs for light and true freedom deep in her heart. Even when her identity was exposed, she remained unyielding, and even in the face of life and death threats, she showed no retreat or fear. At that most critical moment, her faith was firmer than ever. In the end, she heroically sacrificed for her ideals, facing the end of her life in a manner that commands respect. Only the male protagonist knows the truth of all this. Despite having deep and inseparable feelings for her in his heart, when faced with the cruel test of reality, he also understands that some decisions must be made. Even though these choices would burden him with a heavy mental load, in the revolution between career and personal feelings, he still chose the former. Such a choice, though painful, meant he had to personally end her life, exchanging it for a brighter future for many. This tragic love story and the profound patriotism behind it garnered widespread acclaim and high popularity for the film, helping director Nell Sue quickly rise to fame and establish an unshakable position in the film industry. Clara Bennett’s audition was a scene where the female protagonist carries out an assassination mission. In the night, this Losangle diva, shedding her glamorous cheongsam and gentle image, donned clothing suitable for action and engaged in fierce combat with the enemy in the dark. She was no longer a woman who could only survive under a man’s protection but had become a warrior capable of independently completing her mission in a crisis-laden environment. This scene aimed to showcase the character’s agility and quick reflexes! If the performer has some dance background or martial arts skills, it would certainly make the actions look smoother and more natural. Clara took off the clothes that were not conducive to combat, revealing a tight-fitting and lightweight black vest, displaying the unique flexible curves of a woman. Holding a self-defense tool in her hand, she cleverly hid the weapon when making kicking and elbowing moves to avoid alerting the enemy. When the opportunity arose to deliver a fatal blow to the target, she could quickly and accurately change direction to launch an attack. Every strike was extremely fierce and powerful, as if each punch and kick could cause substantial harm. Even in this rehearsal room, empty except for props and scenery, the simulated virtual combat scenario still allowed onlookers to feel the oppressive tension and the sparks ignited by the clash of blades. Compared to the storyboard sketches director Ethan Smith initially designed and presented to everyone, the actions Clara showcased during the actual rehearsal were noticeably swifter and more decisive. Observers could clearly perceive this from their perspectives. Instead of directly driving a knife into the opponent’s heart to cause immediate death, Clara seemed to favor a relatively special yet more visually impactful method to achieve her goal. That is, precisely severing the target’s fragile and sensitive main artery, causing them to instantly lose resistance until they bled out and died from shock. Director Ethan Smith’s breathing became rapid, unable to stop a vivid and brutal scene from flashing through his mind. On a rainy night sweeping over the entire city, the female protagonist launched a ferocious assault on the hostile forces, rainwater mixed with crimson blood flowing down narrow streets. Raindrops slipped incessantly down Clara Bennett’s face, cold as iron and devoid of any warmth. Her beauty starkly contrasted with this cruel environment, like a classic interpretation of aesthetic violence. This was not just an external contrast but a profound visual impact that left everyone present in shock. Finally, Clara slowly tucked the exquisite and sharp dagger into her trouser leg, gently patting the corner of her clothes as if putting the final touch on a perfect performance. Then she calmly said to the people around her, "My first scene is over." Screenwriter Willow felt a bit embarrassed, lowered her head, and carefully tugged at the corner of Ethan Smith’s shirt standing beside her, whispering in a voice almost only the two could hear: "She fits this role perfectly! She’s amazing, please make sure to choose her!" The tone was filled with sincerity and urgency, hoping to make the other person feel her uncontrollable excitement. Ethan Smith gently reminded, "You should present yourself a bit more maturely now!" Implying he didn’t wish for the other to too openly reveal their inner joy. Then, he purposefully cleared his throat, trying to appear serious and professional as he said, "This performance was pretty good overall. Next, let’s see how you handle the emotional aspects." Clara nodded in agreement and responded, "Okay, I’m not sure if there are others to coordinate with in the next part of the performance? If not, I can also complete the entire act alone." Though she expected to feel extremely nervous upon stepping to the center stage, she unexpectedly found herself exceptionally calm at that moment, with no fear or anxiety arising. She vaguely sensed that after experiencing that extraordinary turning point in life, she seemed to have awakened some unprecedented abilities. Though not clear on what exactly, there was always a voice deep inside her telling her that she had already known how to act, and indeed, this proved to be true. One could only say that it was a new talent granted by death, that rebirth gave her the opportunity to discover and exhibit this potential power. Initially, there was no prepared supporting actor for the emotional scenes, but just then, a phone rang, and after taking the call, a hint of surprise flashed across Ethan Smith’s face as he turned to Clara and said, "A partner will be arriving on site soon, just have to wait a little while longer." His words carried a hint of apology as well as an indescribable sense of expectation.