Chapter 33

"Really?" Kerry-Mulligan was taken aback by Murphy's question, a look of surprise flashing across her face before it turned to excitement, as if she had just won a grand prize. "I will definitely tease him and torment him..."

She ignored everything else, indulging in the innocent and beautiful imagination typical of a girl her age, touching her cheek and saying, "I'll make him fall head over heels for me, and then kick his..."

Kerry-Mulligan suddenly covered her mouth, realizing that this was not her school where she could act freely, but a casting for a film. Lowering her hand, she stuck out her tongue playfully and gave an apologetic smile.

"Sorry..." Her voice was low, and she looked like a proper little English lady.

From her behavior since entering the warehouse, Murphy had a good sense of this girl named Kerry-Mulligan. Behind her delicate and adorable appearance lay a rebellious and lively heart, still tinged with a touch of innocence due to her age.

Seeing Murphy suddenly fall silent, Kerry-Mulligan blinked and asked tentatively, "Did I do something wrong?"

She stood up unconsciously and moved to the other side of Murphy's makeshift desk, pleading with a clear and pure voice, "I just joined the actors' union this week, and I really want to be a real actress. Can you give me another chance? I think the story you told is really cool!"

Murphy looked at her, and the girl's bright eyes began to well up with tears, as if she was about to cry.

He pushed his notebook and pen towards her, "Leave your contact information."

The girl immediately put on a cute smile, grabbed the pen, and quickly wrote down her name and a string of numbers, all the while insisting, "Make sure to call this number, not any other. If anyone finds out I snuck out for an audition, I'm dead."

After finishing, she looked at Murphy again, her face full of pleading, "Can I see the script? I'm so curious, how does the heroine get rid of the pedophile?"

Clearly, she was very smart and had already guessed some of the script's content from Murphy's questions.

"Sorry..."

As soon as Murphy said this, the girl's doll-like face fell, but he wasn't swayed by her reaction. He continued, "The script can only be seen by actors who have signed a contract with me."

"Contract?" the girl said hurriedly, "I can sign a contract with you."

"But we can't sign with you," Murphy pointed to the chair opposite, "You haven't reached the age of majority."

He could tell that this talented and good-looking girl had sneaked out to attend the audition. Even if she signed the contract provided by the production team, it would have no legal effect without the consent of her guardian.

Kerry-Mulligan sat back down, her face showing frustration as she thought about her age. Her emotions were completely on display, perhaps a side effect of her acting.

This girl had come alone without an agent or guardian, which was indeed a problem. By most standards, she would be advised to go back and focus on her studies. But Murphy had interviewed so many candidates and finally found one who fit the role. For the sake of time and money, he wouldn't let her go easily.

Moreover, he could see that Kerry-Mulligan was very interested in the story of a young girl outsmarting a perverted old man.

How could he convince such an innocent, cute, and rebellious girl to join the production?

Since she was right in front of him, he wasn't about to let her go easily. Murphy's mind worked quickly, and he said calmly, "Miss Mulligan..."

"Kerry!" the girl corrected, "Call me Kerry."

Murphy smiled at her, "Kerry, you are the most talented actress I've seen, and the best performer in this audition."

Hearing this, Kerry-Mulligan's eyes crinkled with a smile.

But her face fell again when Murphy continued, "But you're not yet sixteen, and I can't make any promises or sign any contracts with you without a guardian present."

"Damn!" the girl muttered, "Those control freaks and old sticks-in-the-mud would never let me join the production."

Murphy heard her clearly, and the situation was more complicated than he had anticipated. He frowned and thought for a moment, then took a scene script from the drawer of his makeshift desk and pushed it across.

"I can't show you the entire script, but your performance was really moving," he seemed impressed by her talent, "Here's a scene script for you to look at."

The girl's eyes widened, her lashes fluttering, "Really?"

Even as she said this, she moved over and grabbed the script, reading it softly, "Haley pours a drink for Jeff. Jeff, with his back to Haley, opens the fridge to look for another drink. Haley takes a small plastic bag from her pocket and sprinkles white powder into the glass..."

Kerry-Mulligan's face was full of excitement, "Is that a sedative? Is she going to knock out the bad guy and then torture him?"

Murphy said nothing, just spreading his hands.

"...Jeff wakes up, finding himself tied to a chair..."

The short page of the script ended there. The girl looked up at Murphy, "More? More?"

This innocent and rebellious girl was no match for Murphy's cunning. An experienced person would have laughed at such a script, but Murphy had successfully piqued her curiosity and interest by appealing to her psychology.

"Sorry," Murphy shook his head, "That's all I can show you. If you want to see more, you'll have to wait until the movie is finished."

"How do I torture the bad guy? How do I torture the bad guy?" Kerry-Mulligan subconsciously put herself in Haley's role, tapping her head, "How do I do it?"

She looked up at Murphy, her doll-like face serious, "How can I get this role?"

Her voice was tinged with desperation.

Murphy said calmly, "Your guardian must agree."

Kerry-Mulligan extended a small, pale hand, "Your contact information."

Taking out a business card, Murphy handed it to her. Kerry-Mulligan looked at it and carefully put it away, "You have to wait for me. I'll contact you again."

She grabbed the scene script, "Can I take this with me?"

Seeing Murphy nod, she walked back to her chair, grabbed her backpack, and hurriedly ran out of the warehouse.

Murphy's lips curved into a slight smile. Girls her age were always filled with innocent imagination about the future and often rebelled against any opposing advice.

Old Lynch watched all this and inwardly sighed that Murphy was even more cunning and despicable than he had imagined.

He secretly rejoiced that he hadn't let his daughter attend the audition, or she might have been taken advantage of.

"I'll head back to the café first," Old Lynch left the warehouse.

"Will her parents agree to her playing such a role?"

Looking at the closed warehouse door, Jessica Chastain felt uneasy, "Is what you're doing..."

"What?" Murphy turned to her, and Jessica Chastain swallowed the rest of her words, seeing her boss's stern expression. She reluctantly said, "I'm worried her parents or guardian won't agree."

"Things can be arranged," Murphy said, looking at his watch, "That's it for the morning. What's the plan for the afternoon?"

Jessica Chastain checked her work log, "There's another male actor's audition this afternoon."

Murphy nodded, stood up, and prepared to go to the café, which was fast becoming the office for the "Hard Candy" project.

"This is a very experienced male actor," Jessica Chastain reminded Murphy, "He has already played major roles in some films and TV series."

Before Murphy could ask, she added, "His name is James Franco, and he's a bit younger."

"James Franco?" Murphy murmured to himself.

After lunch, his doubts were resolved. The person who appeared in the warehouse and audition room was indeed the future famous James Franco, though in a younger version.

Sitting across from Murphy's desk, James Franco had wavy, natural curls and a faint smile on his face, looking handsome and a bit mischievous. Though he lacked the charm that would come with age, he was undeniably a good-looking man.

He wasn't a newcomer to the film industry, and his acting was suitable for the role. The only issue was his age, which could be adjusted with makeup. Most importantly, Murphy knew he was a talented and versatile actor who was willing to take on unusual roles.

Putting down the scene script, James Franco looked at Murphy, "An interesting character. Was it written based on you?"

Hearing this, Murphy almost spat out his coffee, quickly putting down his cup, "Of course not."

James Franco's personality was as quirky as rumored. He shrugged and placed a business card on the table, "I'm very interested in this role. Have your people contact my agent."

Murphy hadn't expected it to be so easy. Under the same conditions, he would definitely prefer a reliable person.

Formerly famous stars undoubtedly had a psychological advantage, and they were such people.

Taking the business card, Murphy handed it to Jessica Chastain, instructing, "Contact him as soon as possible."

James Franco propped one hand on the table and lightly tapped the surface with the other, his eyes fixed on Murphy's pen a short distance away. "Did the little girl with the golden short hair pass the morning audition?"