Angelo's Audition: A Heart-Stopping Turn of Events

"Angelo, you are up next, and they are deciding today – no callbacks," said the casting assistant, as she poked her head out of the audition room before quickly ducking back inside.
\nAngelo always felt some degree of nervousness when he went to any audition, but this one had him feeling extra anxious. If he booked this job, it would mean that he would be working with one of his favourite directors on a solid show. In fact, the television role for which Angelo was auditioning was recurring, and since the show had already been renewed for three seasons, it would mean that he would have steady work for a while.
\nAngelo knew he had about ten minutes before he was called in because there were three scenes that each actor had to perform for the casting panel, and each one was roughly three minutes in length. He had worked with his acting coach to prepare, and she told him that he had mastered the material. Even so, he took the sides out of his backpack to read through his lines a final time. Angelo was more than a little concerned that his agent was becoming increasingly frustrated with him. He had only booked one commercial over the past year, and although he came close to one feature film role, he could not help but begin to doubt his career choice.
\nAfter ten minutes had passed, Angelo started to worry. The longer an actor was in the audition room, the greater the chance that the panel was interested. Angelo knew the actor who went in ahead of him – Vince. In fact, the two had auditioned for the same roles so many times, Angelo had lost count.
\n"Hey, Angelo, I had a feeling that I would see you here," Vince said as he exited the audition room, his arms outstretched to embrace Angelo. "It looks like you are the last actor to go."
\n"How did it go?" asked Angelo, as he patted Vince on the back, but before Vince could respond, the casting assistant called Angelo into the audition room.
\n"Break a leg," Vince wished Angelo.
\n"Same to you," offered Angelo in return.
\nAngelo entered the audition room and took inventory of the casting panel. He almost audibly gasped when he saw the director of the television show sitting across the room. This was not typical at an audition. Generally, the casting director and assistants selected their top picks for a role and sent their audition tapes to the director and producer of a show or film.
\n"When you're ready," the casting director prompted with an encouraging smile.
\nAfter Angelo finished the first scene, he was mentally preparing to perform the next when the director held up his hand and said, "Thanks, Angelo. I think we have seen enough."
\nAngelo felt his heart sink. He muttered his appreciation for the opportunity and exited the room as quickly as possible. He felt like such a complete failure, and as he scribbled his initials on the sign-out sheet, he mentally vowed that he would never again attend another audition. Acting, he realized, was not for him, despite it being his dream for as long as he could remember.
\nAs Angelo briskly walked toward the studio exit doors, he heard his name being called.
\n"Angelo, where are you going?" the casting assistant asked, out of breath from chasing after Angelo. "You aren’t finished yet."
\nConfused, Angelo replied, "They didn't want to see the other two scenes."
\n"Yes, because they had seen enough," the casting assistant confirmed with a wink.
\n"I don’t know if I understand," Angelo quietly stated.
\n"Come back inside the audition room with me, and we will clarify things once the team has finished confirming your filming availability with your agent," the casting agent explained.
\nAngelo's heart began to race, and in that instant, he knew that after years of acting lessons, auditions, callbacks, and rejections, he was precisely where he was meant to be.