Take Two

CHAPTER 74

Day waved at Sally from his office window as she climbed into her 7 Series BMW. Lisa got into the front passenger seat. ‘Is it just me or do you get the feeling we’re in the middle of a coup d’etat here?’ he asked Laura, who was standing behind him. Martin Waites was standing by his Porsche 911, his face pale and his hands trembling. He seemed to be close to tears. Sally edged out of the car park as if she was unsure how to handle the large car.

‘She did seem a bit forceful,’ admitted Laura.

‘She damn near told me how to run my show,’ said Day. ‘These bloody women, they join as trainees and before they’ve even lost their milk teeth they’re running shows. What has that silly woman ever done? There isn’t a creative bone in her body. But she watches Lisa’s back and Lisa watches hers and together they’ve climbed the greasy pole.’ He shook his head. ‘It’s not the business it was, Laura.’

‘That’s for sure.’

‘We might have to start looking for another show. Something with the BBC, maybe. Or Sky. They’ve still got that maverick mentality over at Sky.’ He turned away from the window and sighed. ‘This is my bloody show, where the hell does she get off sticking her oar in?’

‘She’s speaking for the network, that’s what it is. And the network is run by accountants. It’s all about the money.’

‘They’ve got enough to give her a 7 Series,’ said Day. ‘I was forty before I could afford a car like that, and what’s she, thirty-one, thirty-two?’

‘Twenty-nine, I think,’ said Laura.

‘Bitch.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Is Jenny still around or has she pushed off?’

‘She’s with Terry in props.’

Day nodded. ‘What do you think about Jenny?’

‘To play Diana, you mean?’ Laura pursed her lips as she considered her answer. ‘Yes, I think she could do it. She’s a bit heavier than her sister, don’t you think? Might have to put her in baggier clothes.’

‘Or we could put her on a diet.’

Laura frowned and then she realised he was joking. ‘Ha ha,’ she said.

‘But do you think she can act?’

‘Probably not, but this is a soap, not the Old Vic. If she screws up, Phillippa can reshoot. If necessary, we can lose most of the dialogue and she can just nod and smile. But I think she’ll be fine.’

‘Yes, you’re right,’ said Day. ‘And I like the way she stood up to that little shit Waites. He had it coming to him. ‘ He nodded. ‘All right, then, I’ll go and talk to her.’

Day left the office and headed for the Props Department. He pushed open the door and Jenny and Terry looked up, startled as if he’d interrupted them in the middle of something. Terry was sitting in front of his computer and Jenny was leaning against his desk, her legs crossed at the ankles. ‘Hi, Paul, yes, something you want?’ asked Terry.

‘A chat with Jenny, actually,’ said Day.

‘Has Carolyn been in touch?’ asked Jenny.

‘No, sorry,’ said Day. He thought about asking her to go back to his office but realised there was nothing to stop him asking her in front of Terry. Terry headed the Property Department but he worked closely with Wardrobe and he’d be helping to turn Jenny into Diana. ‘This might seem a strange request, but we were wondering if you could possibly help us out?’

‘Sure,’ said Jenny.

‘Well, you’d best wait to hear what we want before you go agreeing to anything,’ said Day. ‘We’re shooting some scenes tomorrow and we’d like you to play the part of Diana.’

Jenny frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘We really need to shoot the scenes and you’re Carolyn’s twin. You’re probably the only person that can take her place.’

Jenny laughed. ‘But I’m not an actress.’

‘We can work around that,’ said Day. ‘We can keep your lines short, cut back on close-ups, you’ll be surrounded by some of the best actors in the business and they’ll watch your back.’

Jenny folded her arms. ‘I don’t think I can,’ she said. ‘Carolyn was always the actress. I was the nerd.’

‘A nerd?’ said Terry. ‘You were a nerd?’

‘I always had my nose buried in a book,’ said Jenny. ‘We were twins but personality-wise we’re chalk and cheese. I can’t pretend to be someone I’m not.’

‘You did a great job reading the lines in there,’ said Day.

‘That’s true,’ said Terry. ‘There were times when you sounded just like her.’

‘And acting is just moving around while you say the lines,’ said Day.

‘God, don’t let the cast hear you say that,’ said Terry. ‘You’ll have a mutiny on your hands.’

‘You know what I mean,’ said Day. ‘In the right clothes, with the right hair, the right props, you could do it. And it wouldn’t be for long, just until Carolyn comes back.’

Jenny looked pained. ‘I just don’t think I can do it.’

Day walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. ‘I think you can, Jenny,’ he said. ‘In fact, I’m sure of it.’ He looked into her eyes, exuding confidence. ‘Just try it, that’s all I can ask of you. Give it a go and let’s see how you get on. Just try, please.’

She nodded slowly. ‘Okay, I’ll give it a go,’ she said.

Day kissed her softly on the forehead. ‘You’re a lifesaver,’ he said.

‘Wait until you see how I do,’ she said. ‘You might not be thanking me tomorrow.’

Day released his grip on her shoulders. ‘Where are you staying? I’ll get a car to pick you up.’

‘I’m at Carolyn’s house.’

‘Okay, I’ll sort that out. Now, we start shooting at eight-thirty but we’ll need you in make-up by seven so the car will pick you up at six.’

‘Wow, you believe in the early bird, don’t you?’

‘We work long days,’ said Day. ‘It’s the nature of the beast.’ He turned to look at Terry. ‘Can you work with Jenny this afternoon?’ he said. ‘Go through wardrobe with her and get her sorted. Watches, jewellery, bags, shoes, get her fixed up for the week. And we need to get her hair colour closer to Carolyn’s. We can’t do anything about the length but I’ll talk to the writers and see if we can get a scene in the hairdressers.’

‘I’m on it, Paul,’ said Terry.

‘I’ve got to dye my hair?’ asked Jenny.

‘Just a bit,’ said Terry. ‘It won’t be permanent.’

‘If I’m in the hairdressers, why can’t I keep the colour the same? Diana might have dyed her hair.’

Terry looked at Day. ‘Okay with you?’

Day nodded. ‘Sure, why not. But let’s tidy it up a bit, give it the Rags To Riches look.’

Terry winked at Jenny. ‘It’ll be a hoot,’ he said.