Unscripted

A new day… a new rehearsal. But this time, Marta thought about focusing on another type of scene… Before that, she went straight to the food area to make some coffee and smoke her cigarette in peace on the terrace… The smell of coffee lingered in the air, rich and warm, but the atmosphere was anything but. Marta stood by the espresso machine, waiting for the slow drip of her coffee… she was preparing a Cappuccino and while she was frothing the milk, she slightly heard someone speaking behind her but didn’t bother to turn around as she thought the person wasn’t talking to her and the sound from the machine was too loud. When she finished preparing the coffee and turned around, she was shocked to see Fina standing there with her arms crossed. They were close enough so they can feel each other’s body warmth radiating through the clothes.

‘Is ignoring people your second job?’ Asked Fina with an irony in her voice.
Marta rolled her eyes…
‘Good morning to you, too.’ Marta played the same irony card, making the brunette chuckle annoyed.
‘Excuse me? I did say Good morning but you were too focused on your coffee so…’ Fina sounded very frustrated and at the same time tried very hard to hide her smile at the sight of Marta.
‘Alright… I am sorry. Let’s start over, okay?’ Marta paused for a second, then looked Fina in the eyes and spoke, smiling in irony. ‘Good morning, Fina! How’s it going?’
Fina shook her head and allowed herself to naturally smile now.
‘Good morning, director.’ Fina said on a confident tone, her gaze dropping to Marta’s lips for a second, gesture that got noticed by Marta. She felt her breathing became a little unsteady so she decided to step away from Fina slightly.. making way for her to prepare her drink.
Fina looked at her with a smirk on her face, while she started to prepare the coffee.
‘So… today we’re having another rehearsal as I have heard. You picked quite a scene…’ Asked Fina on a curious tone.
‘Yeah, a more intimate scene to show your character’s vulnerability and for me to observe more your chemistry with Paul.’ Marta said it as if that was the only reason.
‘Hmm, interesting. We do have a lot of chemistry. It’s gonna be easy. Even though I wasn’t expecting to rehearse an intimate scene this early but okay…’ Fina looked over her shoulder to see Marta’s reaction and smiled.
Marta took a sip of coffee and looked Fina into her eyes as she turned around to face Marta now… Fina leaned onto the counter with her back, looking at Marta.
‘Well, as I told you, we need to analyze more details.’ Said Marta trying to keep the professional tone and not get distracted by Fina’s parted lips.
‘We?’ Asked Fina.
‘What do you mean?’ Marta asked confused but also startled.
‘You said that we need to analyze details… but something tells me it’s YOU who wants to see more… to maybe see me being pinned against a wall and to moan into my partner’s mouth.’ Fina didn’t hold back.

Marta exhaled sharply while she was burning in shock inside from Fina’s boldness. ‘It’s an emotional scene, Fina.’
‘Oh, definitely…’ Fina said, tapping her spoon against the rim of her cup. ‘Lots of… deep emotion. Physical, even...’
Marta turned to her then, eyes narrowed. ‘Do you always do this?’
Fina raised an eyebrow. ‘Do what?’
‘Push.’ Marta’s voice was steady, but there was something else behind it. ‘Tease.’
Fina took a slow sip of her coffee, eyes never leaving Marta’s. ‘Only when someone gives me something interesting to play with.’
Marta scoffed, shaking her head. ‘It’s a scene, Fina. A script. A job.’

Fina tilted her head. ‘Then why do you look like you’re already regretting choosing it?’
‘I never have regrets. I know exactly what I want from this film and today I want you to do that scene as I tell you to. Understood?’ Marta raised her tone a little bit.
Fina nodded and set her cup down, stepping closer. ‘Tell me something, Marta. When you wrote this scene, did you picture me?’
Marta’s breath hitched, but she masked it quickly, her expression unreadable. ‘I pictured what would serve the story best.’
Fina hummed, unconvinced. ‘And yet, you made sure it was me rehearsing it today.’ She paused, letting the silence do its work before adding, ‘With him…’
Marta’s jaw clenched. ‘Because you are the leading actress and he will be your lover.’ Marta said each word with more and more pressure on it.
Fina leaned in just enough to lower her voice. ‘No worries… I’ll make it good, you know. Believable.’ She let the word linger, loaded with promise. Then she winked at Marta while heading towards the studio. Marta was left standing, she clenched her jaw and the fire she felt inside was building up faster than ever. What the hell was happening to her? This woman will be the death of her if she keeps being such a brat.

The studio was cloaked in a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of paper as Marta flipped through the script one last time. The scene she had chosen was deliberate… intimate, vulnerable. It was meant to strip Fina down, metaphorically and quite literally. But as she stood behind the camera, watching Fina roll her shoulders, breathing in slow, measured counts, Marta felt something creeping under her skin.
Fina looked… exquisite.
She wore a satin slip dress, thin straps barely clinging to her shoulders, the fabric dipping low enough to tease the curve of her breasts. It clung to her frame, hugging every movement as she shifted, exposing long stretches of bare skin. The slit along her thigh promised even more, should she move just the right way.
Marta knew she had chosen this look. She had approved the wardrobe. And yet, standing here now, watching Fina like this… so effortlessly sensual… it felt like she had made a mistake.
‘Ready?’ Marta’s voice was even, but her grip on the edge of the camera stand was too tight.
Fina’s gaze flickered to her. Then, without a word, she turned to her co-star.
Paul was tall, handsome, striking in his own way, and competent… too competent. He knew how to move, how to touch, how to play his role convincingly. That was the problem… Marta needed him to fail, to fall flat, to make it obvious that something was missing.
But when he stepped into Fina’s space, his hands finding her waist, Marta felt a prickle of unease. Fina let him.

‘Action.’
The air shifted.
Fina’s body softened as she leaned into him, her hands sliding up his chest, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw before tilting his chin downward. A calculated move… A seduction.
And then she kissed him. Not a press of lips, not a performance… no, it was deeper, slow but sensual. A slow exploration of mouths and breaths, of teasing and taking. Her hands tangled in his hair as his fingers tightened on her hips, pulling her flush against him. The silk of her dress bunched beneath his palms.
Marta's nails dug into her palm. She told herself this was fine. This was necessary. She needed to see it… to prove something to herself.
Then, Fina let out a sound. A low, breathy moan against his lips.
Marta’s stomach clenched.
The male lead took it as permission. He kissed her harder, lips dragging down her jaw, down the slope of her neck, his fingers slipping beneath the delicate straps of her dress. One strap slid down, exposing the bare skin of her shoulder. His palm skimmed the length of her thigh, fingers teasing the slit of her dress, inching it higher…
Marta’s breath came too fast, making her hyperventilate.
Then he moaned, deep and wanting… and as he pulled Fina closer, she lifted her leg up, his hands on her thigh going up with hunger, and as he almost reached her ass….
“Stop. Cut… ”
The words sliced through the tension, sharp and cold.
Fina’s eyes snapped open. The male actor froze, his lips still hovering over her collarbone.
Marta didn’t wait for anyone to question her. She was already moving towards them, flipping the script open with shaking fingers, striking a bold, brutal line through the male lead’s role in this scene.
‘This isn’t working.’ Her voice was steel now, her decision final.
The actor took a step back, confused. ‘What? Marta, I…’
‘You’re out… I am sorry. There is no chemistry, no tension.. nothing.’ she said, her gaze locked on Fina. She wasn’t looking at him.
‘From now on, your love interest? It’s not going to be a man.”
Fina’s chest was rising and falling too quickly, her lips still slightly parted. There was something in her eyes… an understanding, an acknowledgment.
And then, slowly, she smiled, raising her eyebrows. Marta’s pulse thundered.
‘Finally…’ Fina murmured, voice barely above a whisper.
Marta turned away before she could let herself drown in what she had just done. But it was too late. She had already changed everything. As she walking through the crew, while everyone was following her in shock, she yelled: ‘Find me an actress asap, please! We’re changing the script.’
She went straight on the terrace and lit up a cigarette faster than ever… that terrace has always been her refuge from stress.. the place where she puts her thoughts in order… the place where she disconnects even for a couple of minutes from the craziness.

Marta exhaled a long stream of smoke, gripping the railing of the terrace like it could anchor her against the storm inside her chest.
The door creaked open behind her.
She turned around and saw it was Fina…
‘That was quite the power move…’ Fina's voice was smooth, threaded with amusement. ‘Bold. Dramatic. Very you… Even though I did not expect it at all. Some colleagues are really pissed.’
Marta stiffened, taking another drag, her fingers tightening around the cigarette. "Shouldn’t you be celebrating your newfound creative freedom?"
Fina chuckled. ‘Oh, I am. But I couldn’t help noticing something… interesting.’
Marta turned slightly, just enough to glare at her. ‘Spare me the theatrics, Fina. I did what was best for the film.’
Fina took a slow step forward, tilting her head. ‘Best for the film, huh? Not best for you maybe?’
Marta scoffed, turning away, her jaw tight. ‘For me? Why would I do it for me? The scene wasn’t working. No tension, no chemistry. He wasn’t the best choice from the start… I should have looked more… I made the right call.’
‘No chemistry?’ Fina’s voice was laced with amusement. ‘Funny, because I felt plenty of it. Please, Paul and I really had chemistry and you know it very well. The guy was amazing and he was doing a great job.’
None of them said a word for a minute or so and it was becoming too annoying so Marta spoke:
‘If you have something more to say, just say it!’ Marta muttered, flicking ash.
Fina tilted her head, eyes glinting with something dangerous. ‘You couldn't stand watching him touch me, could you?’
Marta's stomach clenched. ‘That’s ridiculous.’
‘Is it?’ Fina was closer now, near enough that Marta could smell the lingering traces of perfume and stage makeup.
‘You didn’t cut the scene. You didn’t rewrite it. You simply erased him.’ She let the words settle, watching Marta with something almost triumphant in her gaze. "That’s not a directorial choice, Marta. That’s personal.’
Marta clenched her jaw, trying her best not to explode.
‘Fina…’ She shook her head. ‘Be. Careful. This is your second warning.’
‘Or what? You’ll replace me? That story is old now.’
She leaned in, her breath warm against Marta’s cheek. ‘I think we both know the real problem here.’
Marta’s pulse roared in her ears. Fina was toying with her, and worst of all… she was right.
‘You think you know everything, don’t you?’ Marta forced out, but her voice lacked its usual steel.
Fina chuckled, a low, knowing sound. ‘I know enough.’ She reached out, plucking the cigarette from Marta’s fingers and taking a slow drag before exhaling, her lips curling.
‘And I know you’re not going to replace me.’ She handed the cigarette back, their fingers brushing, a touch so brief but searing.
Marta clenched her jaw, but she didn’t pull away. She couldn’t.
‘And you know why?’ Continued Fina on a whispery tone. ‘Cause I’m too good. And you love it.’
With that, Fina stepped away from Marta and was headed towards the door while speaking louder. ‘See you on set… director.’
Marta didn’t move as Fina walked away, her pulse roaring…
When the door clicked shut, Marta let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She pressed a hand to her forehead, cursing under her breath. The cigarette trembled between her fingers, the ember flaring too bright, too hot… just like everything else.
She turned back to the railing, staring out at the city skyline, willing the air to cool her, to clear her head. But Fina’s voice still lingered, curling around her thoughts like smoke.
She exhaled, slow and steady, willing herself to believe it. You are married. You love your husband. This is not real…
But as she pushed open the terrace door to head back inside, she knew she was probably lying to herself.