Chapter 2 Summary

Stella is out of the cab and into the theater almost instantly. She announces herself rather grandly to the doorman. Two men appear and are almost out of the door when the doorman calls them back. One of them is Meredith Potter, who protests that he's just on his way to tea. "I'm exactly on time," Stella points out. Reluctantly, the men turn back and take Stella to the prop room. The other man is Bunny, the stage manager, who settles in near Meredith.

Both men seem distracted as Stella tells them proudly about her limited experience in the theater. Stella launches into her audition piece and continues confidently even when she notices that Meredith seems bored and distracted. As she recites her lines, he takes out his pocket watch to show Bunny the time. Meredith interrupts Stella. It's tea time, and he...