Stephen Leather - Take Two

‘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.’

Four long tables had been pushed together in a line down the middle of the meeting room with twelve chairs along either side and two at each end. There were another dozen or so chairs around the edge of the room. Sitting at the table were the sixteen actors who would be in the two episodes that were being read, Phillippa Lansdale who was directing them and her sound man, cameraman and Brian Cooper who would be editing the show. Sally Shaw, the network’s deputy head of drama was sitting at the end furthest from the door, next to Martin Waites. Lisa, Sally’s deputy, was sitting next to Phillippa. They all had scripts in front of them.

Three of the show’s writers were sitting with their backs to the wall while the head writer, Simon Hastings, was sitting at the table next to Seb.

Day walked in with Jenny and heads turned. ‘Carolyn!’ said Phillippa, standing up. ‘I’ve been looking for you everywhere.’

‘This isn’t Carolyn,’ said Day. ‘It’s her sister, Jenny.’

Phillippa frowned in confusion. ‘Her sister?’

‘Twin sister,’ said Day. ‘Hot off the plane from Australia.’ Laura followed him into the room and closed the door. Day pointed at an empty chair next to the writers. ‘Jenny, why don’t you sit yourself down over there?’

Jenny thanked him and walked around the table. Terry got up and went over to her. ‘Terry,’ she said, and hugged him.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ he asked.

‘Didn’t Carolyn tell you I was coming over?’

Terry shook his head. ‘Not a word,’ he said. ‘But you know what she’s like.’ He held up his script. ‘Come on, I’ll sit next to you and you can read over my shoulder.’

‘Paul, do we have any idea where Carolyn is?’ asked Phillippa. ‘There are some things I really need to go through with her before tomorrow.’

‘Soon as I know, you’ll know, darling,’ said Day, dropping down onto his chair and picking up the script. Laura sat down next to him.

Phillippa sighed and sat down, muttering to herself.

‘Right. We’re looking at shooting two episodes together,’ said Day. ‘We start tomorrow and we’re looking at eighteen days shooting in all so it’s very tight. We’ve got how many location days, Phillippa?’

‘Four in all,’ said Phillippa. ‘We’re at the football stadium for a night shoot, two days at the stud farm and various house shots, coming and going.’

‘Rick, we’re still okay for Brentford?’

Rick Townsend, the location manager, nodded. ‘They’re going to be billing us for the cost of the floodlighting and they’re insisting on six security guards that we’ll have to pay for but, yes, it’s ours from seven o’clock in the evening until seven the next day.’

‘Bloody writers,’ said Day. ‘Why couldn’t they make Seb a darts fan.’ He grinned over at the three writers. ‘Only joking, darlings, you know I love you.’ He looked around the table. ‘Everyone ready? We’ll do the first episode and then break for refreshments and smokes for those of you who can’t live without nicotine.’ Day had once been a heavy smoker but had given it up five years earlier.

Lisa raised a hand. ‘Paul?’

‘Yes, Lisa?’

‘I’m just wondering who’s going to read the part of Diana?’

‘Are you offering, darling? Are you hoping to be discovered?’

There was laughter from around the table and Lisa’s cheeks flushed. ‘I’m not sure I could take the drop in salary, darling,’ she said. Her chin jutted up and her voice had a shrill quality to it that had been missing before. ‘I just wanted to make sure we heard the dialogue as it was meant to be heard. That’s why we’re here…darling.’

Day’s smile hardened as he stared back at Lisa, and he nodded slowly. ‘Absolutely,’ he said. He looked around the table. ‘Any volunteers?’

‘What about Jenny?’ said Sally.

‘Oh, I’m not an actress,’ said Jenny. ‘I couldn’t.’

‘It’s easy,’ said Terry. ‘You just have to say the words. It’s not acting.’

‘You’d be doing us a great favour,’ said Sally. ‘It’s so much easier to picture the scene if someone appropriate is reading it. And you are the spitting image of Carolyn.’

‘That’s the thing about twins,’ said Jenny. She laughed and stood up. ‘What the hell, I’ll give it a go.’

‘There’s a seat next to Fiona,’ said Phillippa. ‘Andrea plays Fiona.’

‘Who has just slept with your husband,’ said Terry.

‘Bitch!’ joked Jenny. She walked around the table and sat down next to Andrea. ‘I never really loved him,’ said Jenny, patting Andrea on the arm.

‘Actually you did,’ said Phillippa. ‘Back when you first founded the company. But the relationship has cooled over the last couple of years. In fact it’s the ups and downs of the relationship that have been driving the storyline recently.’