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During an outdoor shoot.
A scene by the river where the male lead confronts the female supporting character (Bella) over the female lead.
Bella just couldn’t get into character.
Her acting felt forced, exaggerated – it looked fake.
They shot it over a dozen times.
Never got the right take.
The crew had been baking in the sun for hours.
Mutterings of complaint started.
"Only got the part 'cause she’s sleeping with someone! Talentless!"
"God, is anyone allowed to act these days? Tell her to go back to drama school! She’s holding everyone up!"
"Seriously, even Alex’s agent could do better! Evelyn Yates is way prettier and way more suited to this role. Bella’s like a clueless rookie."
Bella heard.
Her face darkened instantly.
Then an idea seemed to strike her. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
She walked over to the director, smiling brightly. "Director, why not have Evelyn do the scene? She’s the best agent, knows scripts inside out. She must understand the character perfectly. If I watch her do it, maybe it’ll click for me?"
The director pondered. "Not a bad idea, Evelyn. Mind giving it a go so Bella can observe?"
The crew eagerly agreed.
And Alexander.
He’d been visibly more frustrated than Bella with each failed take.
He’d even coached her himself, reassuring her repeatedly.
To no avail.
Bella still bombed.
He immediately chimed in. "We’ve been stuck on this scene forever. Do us a favor? Look how beat the crew is."
Making it sound like…
If I refused, I was responsible for the crew’s exhaustion.
He was guilt-tripping me. For Bella.
But seeing the crew drenched in sweat, utterly drained, I caved.
Actors work hard, but the crew often works harder, longer, for less pay.
Just before the director called action.
Bella added sweetly, "Thanks so much, Evelyn."
Originally, I’d be acting opposite the male lead.
But she volunteered to stand in as the male lead opposite me, "to better understand the female supporting role’s perspective."
She couldn’t pull off the male lead either.
Her acting was too green, too many unnecessary twitches. She delivered her line: "I told you to stay away from Vivian!"
"Vivian, Vivian! Why do you say her name like that? I’m the one who’s always been by your side!" I poured the female supporting character’s fear into my voice, trying to amplify the male lead’s intimidating presence.
Bella gripped my shoulder hard, her other hand pinching my chin. "What makes you think you can compare to her? You’re nothing!"
The intensity made the watching crew hold their breath.
But in the next instant, a hidden force shoved me violently.
Straight into the river!
Water engulfed me.
As the icy water invaded every pore, terrifying memories surged.
I thrashed desperately.
Gasping, "Help…!"
Just as someone moved to jump in.
Bella stopped them. "It's probably improv! Look, the female supporting character getting her comeuppance, falling in the river? Perfect payoff! No wonder Evelyn’s a top agent. Wow, she could totally be an actress."
The crew instinctively looked to Alexander.
I was his wife. He should know best.
He should remember that time he nearly drowned, and I jumped in without thought. But a drowning person panics, clinging like a death grip.
I had to push him up from underwater.
Slowly, painfully, getting him to safety.
But I was exhausted, sinking.
That was the closest I’d come to death.
Water crushed my lungs. I couldn’t breathe, watching it steal my last oxygen.
Terror consumed me.
But I never regretted saving Alexander.
Luckily, someone onshore pulled me out.
Ever since, I’ve been terrified of water. Terrified of rivers, lakes, the ocean.
I thought Alexander would remember.
But I was wrong.
Because when the crew looked to him, silently asking if Bella was right – if I could swim and was just improvising…
He nodded.
Only unimportant things get forgotten.
The freezing river water leached the life from me.
I felt death close in again.
That suffocating terror… I never thought I’d feel it twice.
Everything went dark.
Slowly, my strength to struggle faded.
Death was near.
Suddenly, someone screamed.
"Can Ms. Yates even swim?! She’s not moving!"
Bella tried blocking rescuers again. "Nonsense! She’s just holding her breath!"
Until someone yelled, "If she dies, is it YOUR fault?!"
She finally shut up.
When they pulled me out.
I was unconscious.
Luckily, someone on set knew CPR.
They wrestled me back from the edge.
