The Final Cut

The idea of casting someone as young as Elie was frowned upon, but I went ahead with it anyway. Elie had previously acted in one of our lesser-known productions and had won hearts over. I held onto that same hope when I made the decision: "Elie will win hearts over once again." However, unlike last time, this was a big-house production with a lot of money riding on it. The skepticism was justified, and I took it upon myself to pacify the producers' jittery nerves. "Elie will win them over, don't worry," I would say. "You won't regret casting Elie."

Elie’s parents were contacted and the necessary permissions obtained. Money exchanged hands. Elie was brought to the production house accompanied by the mother; it was a strict rule to have a parent around when casting young children. Both were briefed on their roles, and the scripts were finalized, with lines altered so Elie could deliver them naturally. Rehearsals followed, and everyone prepared for the big debut.

The protagonist of the story entered the stage and delivered his lines—pain and angst wrapped in a single burst of verbal diarrhea. He paused, his glance shifting to the distance as grief surfaced on his face. This scene had the entire audience in tears as the protagonist narrated a story of ill-gotten fate: a sickness-ridden family and a child close to the deathbed. Elie entered the scene—coughing, limping, crawling. Elie delivered the rehearsed line. Tears swelled in the protagonist’s eyes as he leaned forward to hug the dying child.

The scene concluded with the Godman entering the stage and consoling the protagonist while holding Elie’s limp body. The Godman mumbled a prayer under his breath, and then the miracle happened. Elie, who was "dead," was brought back to life. There was a cough, then a sigh, and finally a smile. The crowd cheered, the lights dimmed, and the music surged as the audience danced and praised the Godman.

"Today was a good day; we have fourteen new believers joining the Eye-of-God. Elie did great," the Godman congratulated Elie’s mother. Behind them, the crew moved with practiced efficiency, packing the freshly harvested human hearts into ice.