Take Two

CHAPTER 28

Wednesday was an early start. Carolyn had to be in make-up by six and in front of the camera by seven. There were three scenes to be done by lunchtime and Carolyn could see from Harrington’s face that he was under pressure.

The first scene was a three-hander with Jaymee and an actor who was a semi-regular on the show. Jaymee had really lifted her game and they wrapped up the first scene on the third take.

The second scene was an exterior, a quick conversation between Carolyn and Andrea in the car park. Exteriors were always a problem sound-wise because they were on the flight path to Heathrow and if the wind was in the wrong direction, the engine noise could ruin a take. Luck was on their side and the only time a plane flew overhead was when they were setting up for Carolyn’s close-up.

When Harrington finally announced they could break for lunch, Carolyn hurried along to Seb’s dressing room and knocked on the door. ‘Enter!’ he shouted theatrically, then grinned when he saw who it was. ‘Darling, fancy a few hands of cribbage?’

‘I’d love to,’ she lied. ‘But I’m back on the set in fifteen minutes. I’ve another scene with Jaymee.’

‘She’s lovely isn’t she?’

‘Very pretty.’

‘You know she’s a protege of that little prick, Waites?’

‘No, I didn’t.’

‘Well, word on the street is that she didn’t get the part because of her acting ability, if you get my drift.’ He wiggled his eyebrow suggestively.

‘Poor girl,’ said Carolyn.

‘My thoughts exactly,’ said Seb. He picked up a glass of wine. ‘Drinky-poo?’

Carolyn shook her head. ‘No thanks,’ she said. ‘I just wanted to see if you’d heard anything about the writers’ meeting?’

‘Not a peep, darling. But my agent is prepared to come out swinging if they start fucking around with my part.’

‘Why would they do that?’

Seb laughed. ‘That shit Waites wants my character to come out. On the show.’

‘He what?’

‘I kid you not, darling. He cornered me in the loo and asked me how I felt about making my character gay. I said it would be over my dead body. He said he didn’t understand why I was so anti considering I am gay and I told him being gay and playing gay were too different things and if I started camping it up, I’d pretty much lose my entire fan base. He just didn’t get it. But then, why would he, he’s barely out of nappies.’

‘He’s an idiot,’ said Carolyn.

‘How did the lift home go, by the way? Did he try anything on?’

Carolyn forced a smile. ‘Of course not. It’s young flesh he’s after.’

‘You’re such a lousy actress, darling,’ said Seb.

‘I have a lifetime achievement award that says different.’

‘I work with you, darling. I know everything you have in your little bag of tricks and I know when you’re lying. What did he do? Put his hand up your skirt?’

‘Nothing I couldn’t handle,’ said Carolyn.

‘Well just watch the little shit,’ said Seb. ‘He’s got the ear of Sally and Lisa and they’ve got him on a very loose rein. That’s how he got Little Miss Chocolate Drop on the show.’

‘Seb, you can’t say that!’

He raised his wine glass to her. ‘Darling, I can say what the hell I want. There’s only you and me here and, besides… I think she’s lovely. If I wasn’t gay, I’d be up her like a rat up a drainpipe.’

‘You’re incorrigible.’

He wagged a finger at her. ‘I knew there was something I had to tell you. Are you free on Friday?’

‘What have you got in mind?’

‘I’ve been invited to a charity do, making wishes come true for kids with terminal illnesses. We’ve got a table and they want to offer an auction prize of lunch with the stars. I thought you and I could do it.’

‘Lunch with a stranger? Oh come on, Seb. We might get stuck with stalkers.’

‘It’ll be all tightly controlled. And the guy I spoke to says they expect the prizes to go for thousands so that’ll weed out the nutters. Come on darling, I already said you’d do it. There’s a group from Les Mis doing a few numbers and the champagne’s going to be flowing like, well, like champagne.’

‘Seb…’

‘Pretty please?’ He pouted.

‘Okay, but your driver takes me from here and takes me home afterwards.’

‘Young Martin can drive you back.’

Carolyn’s jaw dropped. ‘He’s not going, is he?’

Seb laughed. ‘Your face,’ he said, ‘Of course not. It’s the stars they want, not the bloody network leeches. Yes, we’ll take you there and we’ll drop you home afterwards. And wear something sexy, we’ll see if we can get your price up.’

There was a knock on the door and a female runner appeared with Seb’s lunch, a plate of smoked salmon and a salad. Carolyn left Seb to his food.