Starcaster #1

"All I ever wanted was to be a star...I couldn't even have begun to imagine that I'd become so much more..."

Southampton. July 2010.

"Can I at least get an explanation?"

Marion Gold stood there in the audition room. The three people judging the potential cast members looked at her. The producer removes his glasses and sighs.

"I'm sorry, Miss Gold, but you're just not what we're looking for!"

"But I was invited here. I was told that I would probably get a part because I was invited!"

"I don't know who told you that but that isn't how it works! Everyone comes in here with a fair chance of being cast".

"Bollocks! I bet you've already cast everyone haven't you. You cast them before this process started. You're just doing this as a formality".

"I don't appreciate your tone, Miss Gold".

"And I don't appreciate my time being wasted!"

The man sighs. He puts his glasses back on.

"I'm sorry that you're upset, Miss Gold. I truly am. But I think it's time you left. I do hope you come and see the performance though. It should be good!"

"You can shove your production up your arse".

Marion throws her script on the floor and storms out of the studio. The man calls in the next candidate.

Marion walks out of the main doors and carries on down the street. She comes to an alleyway and breaks off to catch her breath. She leans against the wall and slumps down onto the floor. She cries. She takes a few moments to sob before regaining composure. She stands up and leaves the alleyway.

She walks into a supermarket car-park where her Dad is waiting by a car. He sees her and waves. Marion doesn't wave back and it's this reaction that leads her Dad to come to the conclusion it didn't go well.

"How'd it go, kiddo?"

Marion walks up to him, hugs him and cries once more. Her Dad's suspicions are confirmed.

Marion and her Dad get into the car as Marion wipes away the tears.

"Did they give a reason this time?"

"What do you think?"

Her Dad looks annoyed.

"Well, it's their loss hun. You'd have made them a lot of money".

"But I didn't, Dad. I didn't. And it's not their loss. They made the decision based on what they required and I didn't fit that requirement!"

"Well, you'll meet the requirements of the next one!"

"This is the 7th production I've been turned away from. You've said that every single time. It got a little boring after number 4!"

Her Dad remains quiet for a moment. Marion looks up and stares out of the windscreen.

"I'm just not good enough, Dad. I never was. Maybe this is God telling me that I'm not supposed to do this!"

"No. You ARE good enough!"

"Then why can't I catch a break!? Why am I always second best to the gorgeous, talented, stuck up people who can get a part whenever they want!?"

"Because they have an outgoing personality. They have that dickish personality that people who cast these stupid things like. And those people who go for the roles don't care for them. They're just doing it to get more shit on their CV. But you're genuinely passionate about drama and making people happy. You love making people smile and you love brightening up the room. You do it because you love it. These other numb-nuts just do it in the hope they get recognised. You're sincere. That's something you've got that they don't have. Sincerity".

"Is that why you gave me that nickname?"

"That's exactly why I gave you that nickname".

"Well, stars run on energy. And, to be honest Dad, I think I'm all out of energy. I just don't know what to do anymore...I don't deserve to be called that..."

Marion opens the door, slams it and runs away from the car, crying once again. Dad gets out of the car and calls after her but she doesn't respond.

After running for a short time, and with the day becoming night, Marion ends up on the banks of the River Itchen. She walks along the river bank and looks into the water. She makes her way up to the bridge and looks over the side. The water is dark along with the sky and looks as murky as ever. She looks ahead and sees it flowing into the Solent peacefully. The river doesn't have to put up with what she has to. She's jealous of the river.

"I wish I could be that peaceful..."

She thinks for a moment before coming to a decision. She stares at the water like she's possessed. And, almost without hesitating, she steps onto the barrier of the bridge. She stands atop it and looks down at the river once again as it flows and flows and flows peacefully. She's dying to be as peaceful as that water and now she's found a way she can be. She thinks back over all the rejections she's had.

"You haven't got quite the right voice for Cosette..."

"You've got the wrong build for this character. I'm sorry but you need to be thinner..."

"Your hair isn't blonde enough!"

"You're the wrong height!"

"Your voice isn't strong enough for this part. You can't project enough..."

And then she thinks about other rejections she's had.

"I don't think you're quite right for this Drama school. You don't really have the right kind of confidence that we're looking for. It'd be more advantageous to work on that".

"I like you, Marion, but not like that. I'm sorry but you're more like a sister to me than anything else..."

"You're not pretty enough to be our friend, you skank!"

"Why would we want to hang out with you?"

The voices went on and on in her head. Even when she tried to do good things for people...

"I don't want your charity! Do I look like a fucking charity case!? Piss off you little bitch and leave me alone!"

"It's very sweet of you to volunteer to go out to that area to help but you're too young. And many girls your age who go out there don't come back. They get abducted..."

"I can do it myself! I don't need a girl to help me out! Piss off!"

So much rejection. It wasn't difficult to see why she was on the edge of a bridge about to jump. She'd had a rough time. And, sadly, her life didn't seem to have many redeeming features. Everything she did was wrong to everyone else, even when she tried to help people purely altruistically. She was genuinely selfless and all she wanted to do was make people smile. To brighten up their day and bring light back into people's lives. She remembers a conversation with her Dad when she was a child.

"When I grow up, Daddy, I want to be an actress so people can come to my shows when they're upset and I can cheer them up and make them happy!"

"You already make people happy, sweetie!"

"Like who?"

"Like me, silly!"

"Even though Mummy's gone?"

"Even though Mummy's gone. Marion Johanna Gold, you are the light of my life and, one day, you'll be the light of everyone's lives. And, even though I don't want to, I'll have to share you with the rest of the world!"

"But I want to help the rest of the world!"

"And that's why you're my little Starcaster...bringing light to people's lives, brightening them all day, every day!"

She cries as she remembers that conversation. She thinks about her Dad for a moment but remains resolved in her endeavour. She gets out her phone and sends a message.

I'm so sorry, Daddy...please forgive me...xoxo

She puts the phone back in her pocket and puts her arm out like an angel. She takes a deep breath before leaning forward. She goes head first off the bridge, the wind rushing past her before everything goes black...

****

The light breached her eyelids as she regained consciousness. The light was so bright that it took a minute for her eyes to adjust. She stared up at a white ceiling with a strip light across it. She took a minute to adjust to everything and to get her bearings. 

"Where...where am I?"

A few moments after this, a face appears. It's not like anything she's seen before. The face of the creature was ovular, blue and weird looking. It smiled.

"Finally! You're awake!"

Marion screamed as the shock of seeing this strange creature sank it. She immediately got up off the bed she was laying on and looked around. The room was full of these creatures in what appeared to be some kind of hospital get-up.

"WHERE AM I!?"

"Please, Miss Gold, you need to stay calm!"

"TELL ME WHERE THE FUCK I AM RIGHT NOW!"

"You're in this hospital!"

"I DON'T REMEMBER THE BLUE MAN GROUP RUNNING THE NHS!"

"Please, you've been in a coma for some time. All of this might seem a little bit weird but you need to remain calm..."

"COMA!? I'VE BEEN IN A COMA!? FOR HOW LONG!?"

The creature takes a few steps towards Marion but she holds out her hand. As she does, a charge of light appears from her palm. The creature moves out of the way just in time so that the light hit a box on the other end of the room. Marion looks shocked and looks at her hand.

"WHAT THE...HOW DID I DO THAT!?"

"Please, please just calm down. We'll give you the answers you require but you need to calm down..."

"I SHOT LIGHT OUT OF MY HAND! HOW THE HELL DID I DO THAT!?"

As she finished this, the doors to the room opened. Another blue creature in very regal regalia entered and looked at Marion, then at the flaming box she shot, and then back at Marion.

"Marion Gold. I'm glad to see you awake. It's been a long time!"

Marion doesn't know what to think.

"And who the hell are you!?"

"My name is Regan Khan. President of the Ashatar Confederacy".

Marion looks confused.

"The Ashawhatnow?"

Before Regan can answer, she pushes the nurse out of the way and runs towards the door. She runs past Regan and out of the room. Regan's body guards raise their weapons to train them on her but Regan stops them.

"It's ok. She's not a threat".

Marion runs around trying to find something look out of. She's struggling to deal with what's going on but she's desperate to find answers. She finds an open door and runs into it. She runs into the room but eventually stops when she runs into a window. She hits it with some force and falls to the floor. She gets up and shakes herself off before looking out the window in question. She stares out of it and can't believe her eyes.

She looks out and sees a series of galaxies in a cluster. She recognises the Milky Way galaxy right ahead of her and looks confused.

"That's...that's..."

"Your home".

Marion turns around with a start and sees Regan Khan once again. He walks up to her and stands next to her, looking out the window with her.

"It's beautiful isn't it!"

"It is...but...that's the Milky Way galaxy. How can I be outside of it? I was in Southampton...I was..."

"About to die".

Marion remembers. She looks ashamed.

"Yes..."

Regan laughs.

"I know you have many questions, Marion Gold of...Southampton? I've never heard of the Planet of Southampton. I was told we picked you up from Earth but never mind. I know you have a lot of questions, Marion Gold. And we will answer any question you require an answer to, But you must rest for a moment. You've been through a lot and there's much you will not understand. You must regain your strength in order to process what's happened to you. It will be tough but I have every faith that you will be ok".

Marion looks up at Regan.

"Is this a dream?"

"No".

"Damn".

Regan looks confused.

"Why?"

Marion looks out the window again.

"I was rather hoping this was all Morphine and I was in Southampton General. But I'm actually in space aren't I".

"Yes".

Marion breathes a sigh of acceptance.

"Ok. I think it's time you started explaining what the hell is going on here..."

Regan smiles.

"Come with me..."

Regan offers his hand, which Marion takes. They walk out of the room and towards another. Marion has no idea what's going on. And, after everything's explained, she may regret asking...



End.

Very special thanks to Emily Chick for proof-reading this and making sure it's all shiny and nice to present to you all :)