Billy took a breath. The first scene he had to tackle was crafted to test all his acting skills from start to finish. Immersed in his role, he needed to embody arrogance tinged with naivety and love—a blend of his mother and father, transforming completely whenever he stepped into the lawyer's persona.
—Then do it.— Billy said, his tone sharper. He was slipping deeper into character, his reactions growing more rigid, his focus narrowing into the essence of the role.
—What are you doing?—
—Reviewing some papers. Nothing important.— He replied with dignity as if it were the day's most critical task. His eyes flickered with an undercurrent of that signature arrogance, a performative intensity that defined him. Any sin that crossed his path would crumble.
Charlize studied him but found nothing noteworthy—perhaps he's bipolar, she mused privately, amused by the stark contrast in his demeanor.
—Let's grab breakfast. We start filming at ten, and time's tight.— Billy said, sporting a tortoiseshell watch with a gold frame and leather strap. His impeccable suit spoke volumes, his hair neatly parted to one side—simple yet meticulously styled. He trimmed it weekly to maintain its polished edge.
—Sure. I'm starving too.— Charlize replied.
—Everything okay? You seem worried.— He stepped closer, his touch gentle, almost tender, weakening her knees. She blushed but nodded. Another contrast between Billy and Kevin Lomax: both treated women with reverence. Mary Ann Lomax and his mother were the lights of his life, the only ones he allowed to see his affectionate side.
—It's nothing.— She masked her vulnerability with a fiery smile, all surface in moments like these. Recovering quickly, she flashed a bright grin and tossed her hair back, her piercing blue eyes teasing.
I'm just… thinking about a few things.— Charlize murmured, resting a finger on his chest. She noticed the morning workouts were paying off.
—You've gotten more toned.—
—Planning to push further. I've got action scenes coming up for another film.— Billy said, now dedicating an hour each morning to a rigorous routine, soon doubling it to two hours, morning and night.
…
—Scene 1, Take 4.—
FADE IN: 1 INT. FLORIDA COURTROOM – DAY 1
North Florida swelters in a heatwave. The AC struggles. The gallery is packed. The JUDGE is a stern veteran. The PROSECUTOR is a sharp man with a strong case. The witness, BARBARA, 13 years old, testifies in a criminal trial. Her testimony has been meticulously rehearsed. Barbara… we return to our classroom to say goodbye unless you have a pass for sports or something.
PROSECUTOR (O.S.): And that's what you did on the day in question?
BARBARA: No. Mr. Gettys asked me to stay after class.
PROSECUTOR: What happened next, Barbara?
BARBARA: Mr. Gettys closed the door.
PROSECUTOR: Was everyone else gone?
BARBARA: Yes. He told me to sit in the chair by his desk.
MR. GETTYS, the defendant, 50, epitomizes respectability. His picture-perfect wife and son endure the testimony stoically.
PROSECUTOR: In your own words, Barbara, can you tell us exactly what happened in the following minutes?
KEVIN LOMAX: Defense attorney. Absorbing every detail.
BARBARA (O.S.): I told him I was scared of missing the bus. He promised I'd make it if I helped him with something… Kevin—his eyes scanning the courtroom, taking stoc, —assessing the damage—
BARBARA (O.S.): Then he… slid his hand inside my blouse…
—Before she could speak—Kevin—studying the jury and—
BARBARA (O.S.): I was too scared to move. I thought if I stayed quiet, it'd be okay… Kevin, locking eyes with Gettysspotsng something that halts him—
BARBARA (O.S.): Then his other hand crept under—inside my skirt… Getty's hand—hidden beneath the table—down where only Kevin could see—
—Getty's fingers subtly tracing the leg of his chair—
BARBARA (O.S.): …then his hand started moving back and forth—deeper into my skirt…
—Kevin, glancing around—no one else notices—
BARBARA (O.S.): …he said he was testing if I had "special feelings," that he wanted to figure out what kind I had…
Kevin's stern face, etched with malice utterly foreign to him, falters as he tracks Getty's movements. He raises an eyebrow, adjusts his tie as if itching, and inhales sharply, never breaking eye contact with the jury.
Getty's hand, now aroused, distractedly strokes the chair leg—unmistakably, involuntarily sexual—
BARBARA (O.S.): …I didn't know what to say. I tried to think, but I was confused, and he just kept moving his hand higher under my dress… Kevin swayed slightly. Struggling to stay composed.
BARBARA (O.S.): …then—I-I begged him to stop, but it was like he couldn't hear—he just kept—Suddenly, Gettys' hand freezes—
BARBARA (O.S.): —and then I screamed…
Kevin looks up to find Getty's eyes waiting. Gettys swiftly withdraws his hand to his lap. Caught… staring. Kevin turns away—his facade cracked into a subtle lip tic—silent but telling.
BARBARA: …then—he got angry and said we'd have to try again another time.
PROSECUTOR: And did he try again?
BARBARA: Not with me.
PROSECUTOR: With friends of yours?
BARBARA: Yes.
PROSECUTOR: And when you told them what he'd done, they told you what he'd done to them, correct?
BARBARA: Yes.
PROSECUTOR: Nothing further.
JUDGE: (to Kevin) Your witness, Mr. Lomax.
KEVIN: Any chance of a brief recess, Your Honor?
—CUT.—
The judge nods, and the room exhales collectively. Billy's flawless performance earns a nod from the director. Taylor Hackford watched intently, absorbing every nuance of Billy's craft.
—Back to positions. We're rolling immediately.— Taylor Hackford called.
Billy stayed locked into his role—methodical, immersive. Becoming the character was his pathway to authenticity. Not easy, but possible with deep breaths and relentless focus. How fascinating, he thought, to act under such pressure, molding performance through the strain of becoming someone else.—
....