(Subplot) The Role of a Lifetime

Madison Carter took a deep breath and steadied her nerves as she prepared for her latest audition, completely unaware she had already landed the part. She had not been in Los Angeles long, having arrived from her home town of Eugene, Oregon a few months back to take her shot at stardom. She had given herself two years to catch a break in the industry or else she was heading home and getting herself a proper job.

It had been a slow start. The catwalk model looks that really made her stand out back home weren't such a novelty here, where it seemed everyone was beautiful. She'd managed to get work sporadically - dancing in the background in a couple of music videos, a line or two in the occasional commercial, but things weren't really progressing in the way she had hoped. However, she had unknowingly caught the eye of an extremely powerful man.

Walking into the room, Madison was a little unnerved to find there would be only one person auditioning her, an ageing guy who she couldn't even see that well since the lighting in the room was all on where she had been instructed to stand while he was practically shrouded in darkness. She had obviously heard the horror stories of the casting couch, and something instinctively felt a little off here. Nonetheless, he kept a safe distance from her.

"Hello Miss Carter. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am the Director"

"Oh, hello!" she responded politely, a little surprised he greeted himself by his job title and not his name "I'm sorry, the director of which show?"

"Naked Mansion"

The words made her jolt. That was one of the biggest and hottest shows on TV, but seemed to require everyone on it to be fully naked at all times. She had been warned that, with her looks, she would have to be open to nude scenes if she planned on getting very far, but this really would be jumping in at the deep end.

"I'm a big fan of the show. So are you auditioning for more glitches?" she enquired.

"No, we have a full compliment" the Director replied "But you would have just as big a role as any of them. The part I have in mind for you is their butler, Jeeves"

"Oh wow, that sounds awesome!" she answered, before tentatively adding "Would I be naked?"

"We'd give you a bow tie and gloves" the Director responded matter of factly "Will that be a problem?"

"No sir" Madison decided. This was just too good an opportunity to turn down.

"Can you do a British accent?" the Director asked.

Madison took a minute to compose herself, hoping this wouldn't be a deal breaker. Accents weren't her strong point.

"This is my British accent, but I can certainly do my very best to improve it!"

"Please do that" the Director nodded "But it's good enough for now. The part is yours"

He pressed a button on his intercom and, without him even needing to say a word, his very glamorous looking secretary entered the room, placed a contract in front of Madison and handed her a pen.

"Should I get someone to look at this first?" the budding actress wondered.

"A very sensible thought Miss Carter, but I'm afraid we don't have time. The show starts tomorrow and we need you in the mansion on opening night. You'll just have to trust me - it's virtually the same as the contract the glitches all signed. The same money too"

"Which is?"

"Five million dollars for a six month run"

Madison felt like passing out. She was being offered fame and fortune at the stroke of a pen. She only had one option here. She signed her name on the dotted line.