Chapter 1
It’s really happening.
The phrase was on repeat in Kathryn’s head the whole morning: As she approached the studio; As she sat in the makeup chair; As she happily danced around and giggled with the production team who had made her the sweetest welcome display ever on her dressing room mirror.
She still couldn’t believe she was getting to be the lead on a Marvel TV show. Playing Agatha had been one of the most fun experiences for her as an actor. The character was so indulgent and Wandavision allowed her to play in so many genres. Even after Agatha’s big reveal, she found herself constantly bouncing between personalities.
There was no question that the character was a master manipulator, but her motives behind her arrival in Westview could be left up to interpretation. Was she looking for a challenge? Was she plain cruel and power-hungry? Was she just curious about what the other witch could do? Kathryn thought the answer could be all of the above and that’s what she loved.
To delve deeper into the purple witch excited her beyond belief. Not to mention the cast she was going to get to do it with! She had the chance to meet everyone before filming started and she knew it was going to be a blast. She couldn’t have asked for a better coven. Or a better nemesis.
Of course Agatha Harkness’ antagonist was Death herself. It only made sense. But Kathryn could not have imagined a better actor to portray her.
She had been friends with Aubrey for a long time, since her guest appearances on Parks and Rec. They never really got any scenes together on the show but off set they hung out and got along very well. Over the years they’d been supportive of eachothers’ projects and Kathryn genuinely enjoyed her as a human. So when she was presented Agatha as a project and learned about the part of Death, Aubrey was the first person who came to mind.
When she found out Aubrey said yes to the job, she was elated, more so than she’d already been getting to reprise her role in the MCU. It’s always so fun working with friends and Aubrey’s energy was so great, she knew it was going to enhance the project.
“Kathryn, they’re ready for you on set.”
Here we go!
Kathryn was grateful that her first scenes had her in a low-maintenance look. She knew that the upcoming outfits were extremely intricate and there would be a lot of time spent in the hair and makeup chair. For her to be mostly fresh-faced and in baggy clothes was a nice way to slowly get back into her character.
She loved the crime drama vibe of her first scenes. She had so much fun being crass as Agatha, belittling the citizens of Westview even when she still thinks she’s Agnes. It was fun thinking that it couldn’t be helped for Agatha’s superiority complex to come forward, even under a spell.
The first days of filming went off without a hitch. Working with Jac again, it felt like they had just stepped off the Wandavision set. It was seamless.
Today was her first scene with Aubrey. Still under the guise of Agnes, Rio was entering the picture, playing the role of her nemesis even in Agatha’s delusion. She had seen Aubrey that morning, glowing as always. They hugged and expressed their excitement about sharing their first scene together. It was quite an entrance for Rio’s character and she couldn’t wait to see how Aubrey made it her own.
Kathryn was sitting on set in her flannel and her low ponytail when Aubrey walked in and all of a sudden, she felt highly underdressed. The raven-haired actress walked in with a swagger, playing with a pair of sunglasses in her hands. Her suit was perfectly tailored to her body. Her makeup simple but dark and striking. She looked incredible. Agatha was supposed to be overwhelmed with Rio’s entrance and how could she not be?
They locked eyes and Kathryn decided to set the scene before they started filming. “Looking good Agent Vidal.” She approaches the younger woman. She sauntered slowly, hands in her pockets, Agatha’s mannerisms slowly kicking in.
Aubrey raised an eyebrow. She hangs the sunglasses on the front of her dress shirt. “Well, you know I like to dress to impress” she says, casually looking around the room before looking at her costar in the eyes again. She could tell this was the start of a game and Aubrey was never one to back down.
Oh, this is going to be so much fun.
Teasingly, Kathryn sizes up her co-star, looking her up and down “I’d say that’s an understatement.” Aubrey had her tongue pressed to her cheek in her classic way, looking mischievous.
“What do you mean? I’m just dropping by to see my favorite detective” she coos, taking a step forward, closing the gap between the two actresses so they were about a foot away from each other. She smiled and tilted her head awaiting the brunette’s retort.
This was part of the characters’ dynamic, the constant undercurrent of flirtation. They had done table reads, they had asked their questions. Fleshed out some of the details of Agatha and Rio’s complicated history. Their messy love story. But now, both of them in costume, so close, it all felt very real and where Agatha was supposed to be fighting for dominance in it all, Kathryn felt like she was cornered while standing in the middle of a huge set.
Suddenly, her eyes dart to the floor, letting out a soft chuckle, breaking the heightened energy their game had created.
She quickly recovers. “Oh come on. The dynamic is totally unbalanced!” More of Kathryn coming through now. “You get to walk around looking sexy in this suit and I'm frumpy in flannel” she giggles, a small snort punctuating her amusement, dropping the act completely.
Aubrey, a little disappointed at their banter’s sudden end, but flattered at the compliment, scatched the back of her neck. “Hey, listen, don't underestimate the power of a flannel. You're pulling off the butch detective thing very well.” Her eyes slowly moved up to meet her co-star’s. “It's definitely hitting a demographic” she says with a cheeky smile. She meant it. Kathryn was really pulling off the look, not that she was surprised. She was working with a chameleon who could pull anything off.
Kathryn flipped her ponytail in an exaggerated way, rolling her eyes playfully. “Yeah, yeah. Enjoy it while it lasts Plaza because I've got some pretty killer looks coming from the costume department. I hope you're ready.”
The younger actress grins. “Looking forward to it, Hahn.”
__________
It was time to film their first scene: Agatha in what she thought was her office having her authority challenged by some hotshot FBI agent.
It was easy to fall back into character, especially after the exchange between the actresses earlier. Kathryn could imagine Agatha being hot around the collar due to Rio’s entrance.
She made her way onto the office set, acting like she was in her realm, totally at ease. This was Agnes’ comfort zone, working a case. The chief of police walks in and introduces her nemesis.
When Aubrey walked through the door it was like a fan was blowing in her direction. She was striking. Kathryn wiggled in her chair, averting the other woman’s gaze. Pretending to be shaken by her mere presence.
The man between them blathered on about teamwork and the case.
“EAT MY ASS CHIEF” Kathryn delivered dry and straight-faced.
Aubrey tried to hold back a laugh by pushing her tongue harder into her cheek. Rio was supposed to be amused but still playing along. But Kathryn was so funny, it was hard not to break. She couldn't help the quick exhale of breath and muffled chuckle she let out. No one yelled “cut” so she figured it wasn’t too bad and pushed on with the scene.
Aubrey walked over to the couch in the office, catching crystal blue eyes intently following her every step in her peripheral vision. She laid back casually, exuding confidence. Arm gently laid over the back of the couch, legs crossed.
She delivered her lines calmly. Rio is completely unshaken here. Slithering her way into Agatha’s consciousness, pulling her towards the truth.
Kathryn squints at her “You wanna take control of my investigation.”
Aubrey takes in her scene partner’s delivery and decides to shake things up.
“No…” she takes a long breath, her chest moving forward slightly.
Blue eyes widen and continue to stare.
“If you wanna be in control” sucking in air through her teeth “You can be…” she says with parted lips.
Kathryn feels brown eyes searching her face. She’s impressed by the choices her co-star was making. This was the intensity of Aubrey’s approach. She knew they were going to keep each other on their toes and here she was, right off the bat. The tension was building, she could feel it. And that last line delivery…
Did she have that many buttons undone earlier?
Kathryn bit her lip, getting back into the scene, delivering her lines as if she’s flustered. Because Agatha would be flustered.
They continue their back and forth about “the case” and “the body.” A tension growing between them, the unspoken history growing clearer with every word. As Aubrey approached the desk and sat on the edge, Kathryn focused on the file dropped in front of her, very interested in the evidence being presented.
She explains her character’s theory, her tone growing more intense and she feels herself leaning forward in her chair with each word.
“That’s where the answers lie” she said, lifting her eyebrows in a faint challenge.
Aubrey swallowed hard. She averted her gaze for the first time. She acts overwhelmed. Because Rio would be overwhelmed.
But Rio has the upper hand, she knows the truth. Aubrey pressed on, challenging the detective’s understanding of her reality with each line she delivered. A hint of sarcasm dripping through each word.
“Isn’t that true? Agnes” she punctuated, widening her hooded eyes for a moment. The tiniest hint of a smile on her lips.
She watched as the woman in front of her’s faint smile turned into an almost menacing grin. This was part of the dynamic. When Rio thought she had the upper hand, Agatha was the one who held the power. Even behind the walls of this delusion, Agatha’s grip on her came through and Kathryn displayed it so beautifully with that look .
And just as quickly as the energy shifted, it snapped and Kathryn shot up from her chair, walking toward the door of the office. Aubrey felt the familiar disappointment of banter that had prematurely ended.
Kathryn gripped the doorknob behind her with both hands.
“I don’t want you here.”
She watched the raven-haired woman casually dust herself off, get off the desk, and walk towards her. Kathryn held her breath and her body stiffened as the woman passed her.
Seriously is there a fan I’m not seeing?
“Te veo” Aubrey said as she strolled out of the office.
Kathryn allowed her character a moment to marinate. She furrowed her brow, confused. Because Agatha would be confused about her feelings right now. She slammed the door and shook it off.
“CUT.”
___________
After their first scene, Kathryn was even happier that Aubrey had taken the part. The energy between them was so charged and she felt like she was being thrown off balance in the best way. Based on how production was talking about the scene, it had definitely translated on camera. She knew her friend was intense and unfiltered but getting to see it and react to it on camera was more fun than she imagined.
The content of their scenes together was only going to get deeper. They had just scratched the surface and the chemistry was undeniable already.
Kathryn smiled to herself in her trailer, buzzing with excitement for the things to come. She decided to do some reading to ground herself, she still had some scenes left to shoot today after all.
Upon opening the collection of poems she had brought with her, one by Mary Oliver titled “To Begin With, the Sweet Grass” stood out. The words leaped off the page and seemed oddly appropriate for what she was feeling at this moment in her life. She got goosebumps up her arms. And one particular section peaked her interest.
How weird.
She quickly grabbed her phone and took a picture of the page. She texted the picture to Aubrey with the message:
How crazy is it that I opened my book to this poem? There’s something witchy going on here don’t you think? ;)