Fill Me (Rouse Me 3)

"Yeah." We met once during production and had a thirty-minute conversation, mostly about the weather. He was nice enough, but it didn't seem like I made an impression.

"He's got some sort of family connection and he's in charge of a revival of A Streetcar Named Desire."

"If you're fucking with me, I swear."

"Never," Corine says. "He wants you to play Blanche."

My heart catches in my chest. Blanche DuBois. He wants me to play Blanche DuBois. One of the best fucking characters in American theater. He wants me to play Blanche DuBois in a Broadway revival of A Streetcar Named Desire.

There's no way this is real.

"Corine, I swear. If you are fucking with me."

"I have the contract right here."

"What?"

"Well, Mr. Lee is lacking in the organizational department. He wants you in New York as soon as you're done with Model Citizen."

"But that's in eight days."

"I know, it's sudden, but it's Tennessee Williams, Alyssa. You won't get this chance again."

"Did his first choice drop out?" I ask.

"He fired his Blanche this afternoon. You're his first choice for a replacement."

"What happened?"

"Artistic difference, drug addiction. Who cares? You're a TV actor. You're not getting another chance to appear on Broadway unless you learn to sing and dance."

Corine is always so supportive.

"I want to," I say.

"Don't tell me--your boyfriend wouldn't like it?"

"You know I'm not with Ryan anymore," I say.

"Yes. I found out through the gossip blogs. You're a stronger woman than this. You shouldn't let men run your life."

"I'm not," I say. "I want to spend time with him. He'd beg me to take it. In fact, he'll be upset if he finds out I turned it down."

"Really?" Her voice hums with delight. Another angle she can use to try to convince me to agree.

"Don't even think about it. I want to do it, but I've barely seen him for the last two months. We've been so busy. I need a few weeks off. We have a trip planned..."

"So come to New York instead. It's only a six-month engagement."

That's quite a run for a revival play. And it's too long to be away from Luke.

"I can't," I say. "I'll miss him too much."

"I'll tell them you're considering it."

"Corine, no. Not this time."

"Darling. It's Wednesday. I'll promise them an answer by Friday evening."