182 a casting, out of the ordinary.

Billy was once again preparing to audition for another casting that would surely change his life as an actor. 'Little Women' is a film directed by an acclaimed director who tends to portray female characters authentically in her films. Louisa May Alcott's novel is a fantastic story that humorously captures the lives of four women (sisters) and their sorrows, dislikes, and emblems.

-Goodbye, Alice, - Billy said. Farewells at airports are undoubtedly one of the saddest things for young Alice, who watches her boyfriend succeed so quickly, seemingly unattainable to her. - Talk to Connor; they will fix the car and replace the suspension. Don't worry about money; I took care of it. Make sure to call me if you have any discomfort. Talk to Raimon, and you can have a free meal at the pizzeria; just call Raimon, and he will arrange it, - said Billy, embracing Alice, the petite Alice, who might eat two slices and be completely satisfied.

-Thank you, -Alice said, embracing Billy.

************************************************************************

The Columbia Pictures studios were a cherished place for Billy. Jim Waitt, in his infinite wisdom, managed some networking to give him an idea about the characters in the script. The portrayal of the young Laurie, somewhat entangled in the lives of the March women, was what he remembered. The movie's producers were Denise Di Novi and Robin Swicord.

'Good afternoon,' Billy said in his apartment, where the 'Little Women' novel was completely read and highlighted, with various details. An impression of Laurie that Billy had in his mind: a sensitive and cheerful boy remembered with some fondness for his calm demeanor back then.

Billy reviewed the casting; there was the young Christian Bale, different from the one now. Billy's blonde hair was there; he was the only one with blonde hair. Next to him was a guy named Val Kilmer, not famous at this time but somewhat known for appearing in movies like 'The Doors,' 'Willow,' and having supporting roles in 'Top Gun,' 'Tombstone,' and 'Heat.'

-Good afternoon, - greeted Val Kilmer. In return, Christian Bale was sitting, relaxed, with a gaze lost on the blue wall in front of him, his long hair almost falling on his forehead with curls.

Unlike Val Kilmer, with his short blonde hair and a felt hat more like what one would expect from a military man, Billy had nothing else to think about than acting as someone elegant, by the customs of the time, with certain airs of a lively boy playing the cheerful and innocent Laurie of that era with correct postures.

Suddenly, Ben Affleck arrived with his young and present face. Matt Damon was next to him; both laughed and whispered obscenities to each other, but the atmosphere was interrupted by these two cheerful young men. Seeing Damon's disheveled state, it was logical to assume that the present for the role was Affleck.

-Wait, wait, I need to concentrate, - said Affleck.

Matt Damon whispered something that made Affleck and Damon burst into laughter with apparent joy, almost as if they were madly drunk. It was the first time Christian Bale lost concentration in his twenty minutes of silence. Billy kept thinking about the delay.

-Ben Affleck, my boy, come in; you have to audition - they said in a distant sound.

-Wish me luck, - said Affleck.

-Break a leg, - said Damon.

In the next ten minutes, he came out with a smile from ear to ear, completely devoid of what we call rejection. His confidence unsettled Val Kilmer, and once again, Bale undid all the sounds, focusing on what was in front of him. The silence continued slowly, and Billy waited for them to call the next one, who was Bale, who adopted a silly smile, characteristic of Laurie. Oh, something Billy thought was a similar degree.

Twenty minutes.

Billy Carson. -

In a somewhat small office were Denise Di Novi, Robin Swicord, and Gillian Armstrong, in that order, indicated by a small white card with the names of the three people. Denise, is a woman with short hair, exposing her broad forehead, and a sturdy build as reflected by her round cheeks.

Robin Swicord, acting as the screenwriter, was a typical American with white skin contrasting with a rosy hue and slightly droopy deer-like eyes. - Billy thought. - She radiated warmth over the strict aspects of the other two members conducting the auditions. Billy received the script, mentally preparing for a journey into the past. His memory was short about these portrayals of a young person from another era, and he didn't have a stable reference point for the role he was going to play.

This time, it was ten stapled pages, white with what seemed to be a part of the script.

Alright, let's begin the audition for the young Billiam Darwin. -

Start.

-Woe is me! I didn't know there was someone here, - stammered Jo March. The rest of Billy's reading was crossed out, perhaps an idea not to compromise the role, or maybe they were seeking a naturalness that couldn't be found just anywhere.

The boy laughed - the script said.

Billy smiled at Gillian, who was reading the script along with him, three meters away. In Billy's mind, he transformed this distance into an inappropriate closeness for that era, inappropriate due to the limited space between them.

He adjusted his posture by leaning forward, very carefully, a slight movement so that his gaze wouldn't be too suspended from Gillian's.

-Don't worry about me; stay if you want. Will I be in your way? - said Billy, getting into the role of a young man.

-Not in the least; I don't know anyone here, and it's uncomfortable, you know? -

-Me too. Don't go, please, unless you prefer it. -

-I think I haven't had the pleasure of seeing you before. Do you live near us, right? -

-In the house next to yours, - Billy said, laughing, with courtesy.

The system took effect, and the considered skill of a professional made the laughter seem so natural that the producers were somewhat captivated by the charm of the young man.

-We enjoyed your Christmas present. -

-My grandfather sent it, - said Billy, in memory, losing his gaze from Gillian for the first time. It is said that when a person remembers something, they look down, and when they dream or plan something, they look up. The casual gesture of remembering continued to add points for the naturalness with which Billy performed, taking a step forward, much closer to the judges evaluating his work.

-But you gave him the idea to send it. Didn't you? -

-How is your cat, Miss March? - Billy asked, trying to confront seriousness, which clashed with the escaping smile, opening his eyes, which, with the reflection of light, looked green.

-Cut. -

The atmosphere transformed again into an audition living room, not an old house with large windows.

-It was fantastic, - Gillian said, breaking the protocol of not revealing how the actor's performance went.

-Good day, young man, - Denise said.

Billy nodded and walked out the door. Heading to the parking lot, he bought a used car, which was now parked in front of his ground-floor apartment.

-Hello, Jim. It's me, Billy, - he said.

-Billy, I was just thinking about you, - Jim said. -So, how did everything go? - he questioned.

-Very well, I met the standards promised to me. I think I have time to see Nigel, something about behind-the-scenes interviews, - Billy said.

-I don't have knowledge, but I'll call him, give me half an hour, - Jim Waitt said

...