Dead Famous

DAY NINE. 12.20 p.m.

Kelly, Jazz and David were in the hot tub together. As usual, David was talking.

“It’s interesting what you said yesterday about wanting to be an actress, Kelly. Because actually everybody in here is acting. You know that, don’t you? This house is a stage and all the men and women merely players.”

“Not true,” Jazz replied, with his customary abundance of self-confidence. “I’m being my true self, guy. What you see is what you get, because everything I got is too good to hide.”

“Oh, what nonsense. Nobody is ever truly themself.”

“And how do you know that, Mr Clever Arse Mind Games?”

“Because we don’t completely know ourselves.”

“That’s rubbish, that is.”

“Well, admit it, Jason.”

“Jazz.”

“Whatever. Haven’t you ever surprised yourself, spotted some new and different personal angle that you’ve never seen before?”

“Well, I once squatted over a mirror. That was a bit of a shock, I can tell you,” said Jazz, and Kelly laughed loudly, a big, brash, irritating laugh.

Irritating to David, anyway.

“I was staring straight up my arse, man,” Jazz continued, grinning broadly, “and even I was having trouble loving it!”

David was suddenly angry. He took himself very seriously and liked others to do the same.

“I can assure you, Jason, that we are all actors in life, presenting ourselves as we wish others to see us. That is why those of us who actually are actors, like myself, understand our world and the people in it more fully than ordinary folk do. We know the tricks, we read the signs. We recognize that we live in a world full of performers. Some of us are subtle, some are hams, but every one of us is acting. Seeing through your performance, Jazz, is my bread and butter.”

Jazz didn’t reply for a moment. “That’s bollocks,” he said finally, which was sadly well below his usual natural wit.

David smiled.

Then Kelly leaned forward and whispered something in David’s ear. It was hard to catch, but there was no doubt about what she said. What Kelly said to David was: “I know you.”

Then she leaned back against the side of the tub and looked straight into David’s eyes.

David returned her stare, his superior smirk undaunted. He seemed unruffled.

He was about to be ruffled. Very.

For Kelly leaned forward once more and whispered something else into David’s ear.