Take Two

CHAPTER 70

Paul Day pushed open the door to the props department. ‘Terry? Are you there?’ One of Terry’s assistants, a pretty black girl called Sue, looked up from a computer. ‘He’s on the set, Paul.’

‘Thanks darling,’ said Day. He walked down the corridor to the main set area. The red light above the door was off, there was no filming planned for that day. He pushed the double doors open. ‘Terry?’

‘Over here,’ shouted Terry. He was in the main office, sitting at Diana’s desk and arranging a spreadsheet on her computer for a close-up that would be shot the next day.

‘Do you know a Jenny Hall?’ asked Day. ‘She’s at reception with some cock and bull story about being Carolyn’s sister.’

Terry looked up from the spreadsheet. ‘Sure. But she’s in Australia.’

‘Apparently not,’ said Day. ‘Okay, I’ll have her in. Any sign of Carolyn?’

‘No, and her phone’s still off.’

‘Is she upset about something?’ asked Day.

‘I don’t think so.’

‘She was asking me about storylines and I think she’s worried we might be writing her out.’

Terry shrugged. ‘You know how paranoid actors are.’

‘No arguments there,’ said Day. ‘I just hope she’s not gone AWOL just to teach me a lesson.’

Terry looked at his watch. ‘Aren’t we supposed to be doing the read-through?’

‘The network just called, Sally’s been delayed and we’re not to start without her.’

‘Because God forbid we should try to do our jobs without the network’s nanny watching over us,’ said Terry. ‘Still, it means I can have another coffee and get my caffeine levels up.’

Day went back to his office and asked Laura to phone security. Five minutes later, Laura showed Jenny Hall in. She was the spitting image of Carolyn, though her hair was shorter and fairer and in her baggy cargo pants and denim jacket she looked a few pounds heavier.

‘Paul, I’m so happy to meet you, Carolyn’s always talking about you,’ said Jenny, offering her hand. The Australian accent caught Day by surprise, as did her firm handshake. Carolyn always greeted him with a kiss on both cheeks.

He waved her to a seat and sat down himself. ‘So where is the lovely Carolyn?’ he asked.

‘I was hoping you’d tell me,’ she said. ‘She was supposed to meet me at the airport and there’s no sign of her at her house. She’s not answering her phone. I thought she might be here.’

Day shook his head. ‘She hasn’t turned up,’ he said. ‘But we only have a read-through today and we have a second unit filming on location and she’s not in any of those scenes.’

‘So you weren’t expecting her?’

Day shook his head. ‘No, she was supposed to be here, but it’s not the end of the world that she hasn’t turned up. If she’s not here tomorrow, though, we’re going to have problems.’

‘Why’s that?’

‘Because we’re shooting and we’re on a tight schedule. Look, if she does call you, tell her to call me straight away, would you, please?’

‘Of course,’ said Jenny.

The door opened and Laura apologised for interrupting. ‘The network people are here and being shown into the read-through room,’ she said.

‘Thanks. Can you round everyone up? And tell Phillippa. I think she’s in Editing.’

Laura left and Day sighed. ‘No rest for the wicked,’ he said.

‘Do you mind if I pop along and see Terry while I’m here?’

‘He’ll be at the read-through, why don’t you sit in?’ He pushed himself out of his chair with a grunt. ‘You can see what it’s like at the sharp-end of television production.’

‘I’d love to,’ said Jenny. ‘It’d be nice to see how Carolyn earns a crust.’