Stephen Leather: Take Two

She turned to look at the table where the network executives were sitting and she raised the statuette to them. ‘First, the network, who have been behind the show from Day One. It’s great to have such a supportive team behind us, so thank you from the bottom of my heart to Sally, Lisa, Nick, Francesca, Karen and Martin. I love you all.’ More applause. Actually she didn’t love them at all, they were a talentless bunch of bean-counters who cared nothing about the quality of the show and she would quite happily have nothing to do with any of them ever again, given the choice. But, unfortunately, the network executives had the money and the power, so she had no other choice than to bow down before them. They applauded her and she just hoped her smile didn’t look as fake as theirs.

When the applause had subsided, she looked over at the Rags To Riches table. She caught Harrington’s eye and he winked at her. She blew him a kiss. ‘I want to thank Paul Day, of course, for creating and producing such a wonderful show. And all the great directors who have worked on the show over the years. That’s Jake, and Phillippa, and Raj. And Frank, who has been DP on the show since I started. The crew is more like a family to me than anything. Heaven knows, I spend more time with them than I do with my own relatives.’

More laughter, though this time with a harder edge because most of the men and women in the room knew the long hours they worked were no laughing matter. The divorce rate in the television industry was beaten only by that of doctors and police officers.

‘But, seriously,’ said Carolyn, lowering her voice and speaking slowly and clearly. ‘There are two people I have to thank from the bottom of my heart, two people without whom I would never have had the success that I have been so fortunate to enjoy.’ She waited a couple of beats until she had everyone in the room hanging on her words. ‘My mum and dad, God bless them. I know they would be so proud if they were here today but, sadly, that’s not to be.’ She swallowed, and smiled bravely as she held the statuette up towards the ceiling. ‘This is for you mum and dad. I love you and miss you so much.’ Right on cue a single tear rolled down her cheek. She moved her head slightly, knowing it would glisten under the lights. The audience erupted with applause and one by one they got to their feet and stood clapping and cheering for a full minute. They were still clapping as she left the stage and went back to her table, stopping to exchange air kisses with half a dozen well-wishers on the way.

Carolyn waved the statuette in the air for a final time as she went to sit down next to Harrington. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. ‘How do you do that?’

‘Do what?’

‘Cry on command.’

She grinned and waggled the statuette at him. ‘A lifetime of experience, darling,’ she said.

Paul Day poured more red wine in her glass. ‘That was one hell of a performance, Carolyn,’ he said.

‘Don’t tell me, you want me to do it again for my close-up,’ she said. She picked up her glass and clinked it against his.

‘Seriously, you had them in the palm of your hand,’ said Harrington. ‘Have you done any theatre work?’

‘Panto,’ interrupted Day. ‘She’s plays a mean wicked stepmother.’

‘Oh, no, I don’t!’ said Carolyn.

‘Oh, yes, you do!’ chorused Day and Harrington. All three burst into laughter. Day waved at a passing waiter and pointed at the bottle of red wine. ‘One more,’ he mouthed and the waiter hurried off.

‘I’m not just saying this, Carolyn, but you really do have a stage presence. I know how good you work a camera, but that’s the first time I’ve seen you up on a stage and, really, there’s magic there. Every single person here was totally focused on you.’

Carolyn smiled and stroked his cheek. ‘I bet you say that to all the girls,’ she said.

‘Trust me, I don’t. You should talk to your agent, get him to get you some stage work.’

Carolyn shook her head. ‘The theatre doesn’t pay, you know that. Not unless you’re in a West End hit and even then it’s got to be Shrek or Les Mis.’

‘You could play Shrek, darling,’ said Day.

‘And you’d make a great donkey,’ said Carolyn.

The MC was bringing the show to a close, thanking the sponsors one by one. Once he’d finished, there was more applause, then the doors behind them were opened. Carolyn felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to look up at Martin Waites. Waites was in his late twenties but looked as if he was barely out of his teens, with gelled blonde hair and a girl’s cheekbones. He was wearing a black Armani suit and a grey shirt, buttoned up and tie-less. ‘You were fantastic, Carolyn,’ he said. ‘And never was an honour more well-deserved.’ He flashed her a beaming smile and she caught his eyes flicking down to her cleavage and back to her face.

‘Why thank you, kind sir,’ she said.

‘And I can tell you that everyone at our table was chuffed to bits that you mentioned us all by name. That was a nice touch.’

‘I meant what I said. The show would be nothing without the network.’

‘I wish everyone on the show felt the same,’ said Waites. He smiled at Day. ‘There are those who think we’re the enemy.’

‘We have different expectations of what a show should be,’ said Day, rising to the bait. ‘We want to make the best show we can, you want to sell as much advertising as you can with the minimum up-front expenditure.’

‘Paul, you know full well your budget is way above that of EastEnders, Corrie, even Holby. They look at your location budget and salivate.’

‘And the money we spend shows on the screen,’ said Day. ‘That’s why we get the viewers. Because we have a quality product.’

‘And the best stars,’ said Waites. He’d moved to stand behind Carolyn and he reached down and began massaging Carolyn’s shoulders. ‘We wiped the floor tonight. That demonstrated how much the fans love the show.’ He patted Carolyn’s arms. ‘Now a Bafta or two, that would be nice.’

Carolyn looked up at him. She wanted to ask him to stop touching her shoulders but she didn’t want to sound over-sensitive. He looked down at her and winked. She smiled tightly.

Day waved at an empty seat. ‘Sit yourself down, Martin. You need to spend some time with the troops.’

Waites laughed and sat down between Andrea’s boyfriend and Phillippa. Carolyn smiled at Day and he winked at her. She realised he’d noticed her discomfort and done something about it. She raised her glass and mouthed ‘thank you’.

Carolyn finished her wine and looked at her watch. It was just before eleven. She looked over at Harrington and caught his eye. ‘What time are you heading back to London?’ she asked him.

‘Sorry, didn’t I say? I’m booked in for the night.’

‘You’re staying here?’

‘I thought it best. I haven’t had a boozy night for months. Figured I’d nurse my hangover in style. Frank’s staying over, too.’

‘Are you looking for a lift, Carolyn?’ asked Waites from across the table. ‘I’m ready to push off.’

Carolyn hesitated. She wasn’t sure she wanted to be stuck with the network executive for the hour or so it would take to drive home.

Waites held up a glass of iced water. ‘I haven’t been drinking,’ he said. ‘Where do you live?’

‘Notting Hill Gate.’

He grinned. ‘I’m just down the road from you,’ he said. ‘More than happy to drop you off, and I’d much rather have someone in the car with me.’

‘Okay, thank you,’ said Carolyn. She bent down and picked up her bag, and put the statuette in it. She took out her phone. Eddie hadn’t called or sent a text message. She put the phone back in the bag and smiled brightly. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Ready when you are.’