Stephen Leather: Take Two

‘Perfect,’ she said. ‘I don’t suppose you could get me one that fires real bullets?’

Danny grinned. ‘I think you could probably get one for five hundred in most pubs in South London,’ he said. ‘You got people you want to shoot?’

‘Just the one,’ said Carolyn.

Danny winked at her and stepped out of the shot.

Harrington was back in his seat with his headphones on. The microphone boom swept over her head and then stabilized. ‘Sound okay?’ he shouted.

‘Rolling,’ called back Dougie.

‘Okay,’ said Harrington. ‘And action!’

Andrea was already in character, wide-eyed and scared on the bed. Seb was still grinning over at one of the grips but as soon as Harrington shouted he grabbed the duvet as he had done last time they had shot the scene.

Andrea hesitated for two beats, then started to speak, her voice shaking. ‘Please, Diana, I just want to go home.’

‘Of course you do, babe. Just let me shoot my lying, scheming bastard husband and then you can be on your way.’ A mobile phone burst into life somewhere behind her. A Lady Gaga song.

‘For fuck’s sake, who’s left their bloody mobile on?’ screamed Dougie.

‘Cut!’ shouted Harrington.

‘Sorry, sorry, sorry,’ said a red-faced man with shoulder-length hair who was standing at the far side of the set by the refreshments table. He fumbled in his leather jacket and pulled out his phone.

‘I might have known,’ shouted Dougie. ‘A fucking writer. Why do we allow them on set?’

‘Really, I thought I’d switched it off,’ said the writer. His name was Jeff Thompson and he was a recent addition to the writing staff, a veteran of Coronation Street and Holby City. Carolyn had chatted to him during the last read-through and he was a nice enough guy, though he had a habit of looking down at her breasts which she found a little disconcerting.

Harrington stood up. ‘Well, make sure it’s off now,’ he said. ‘Okay, everyone, let’s start again. And if anyone else has a phone, for God’s sake make sure it’s off.’ He sat down again. ‘Ready. Action!”

Andrea stared at Carolyn, steadied herself, and launched into her line. ‘Please, Diana, I just want to go home.’

‘Of course you do, babe. Just let me shoot my lying, scheming bastard husband and then you can be on your way.’ Carolyn swung the gun towards Seb who did a great job of registering surprise even though the camera wasn’t on him. Carolyn tightened her eyes, braced herself for the explosion, forced a smile, and pulled the trigger.

Seb pulled out his tongue and crossed his eyes but Carolyn blocked out his antics and focused her attention on delivering her line. ‘Happy now, darling?’

Seb stuck his finger in his ear and wiggled it in and out. Carolyn waited a few beats, still focused on Seb even though she knew the moment would be cut in the edit and it would be Seb’s reaction on screen. Then she wagged the gun and delivered the last line of the scene.

‘See darling, there was nothing to worry about,’ she said. ‘I’m firing blanks, just like you.’ She flashed a tight smile and held it, knowing this was the close-up that would end the scene, only relaxing when Harrington shouted ‘cut!’.

Danny hurried over and took the gun from her and then she walked over to Harrington, who was watching the playback on his black and white monitor. He grinned and, when it had finished, he flashed her a thumbs-up. ‘That’s a wrap,’ he said. ‘Well done everyone.’

Seb came over, fastening the belt of his robe. ‘You are such a professional, darling,’ he said. ‘I am in awe of your talent.’

‘You are such a bitch,’ said Carolyn. She laughed and put her arm around him. ‘I’ll get you back this afternoon. Trust me.’

The director stood up, smiling broadly. ‘That was brilliant,’ he said. ‘Just what we needed.’ He rubbed his hands together. ‘I never thought we’d get that in the first take. We’re actually ahead of the game for once.’ He clapped his hands loudly to get everyone’s attention. ‘Right, on to the boardroom scene,’ he shouted.

The crew burst into action, moving equipment and lights. Dougie began disconnecting wires and Terry started gathering up props.

‘Fancy a game of whist while we wait, darling?’ asked Seb.

Carolyn shook her head. ‘Rain check,’ she said. ‘I want to go through some lines.’ She walked back to her dressing room. She took her phone out of her bag and checked the screen, wondering if Eddie had called. There had been half a dozen calls while she’d been on the set and she scrolled through them, her heart in her mouth until she realised none was from him. She felt tears prick her eyes and she swore under her breath. She put the phone down onto the table, poured a mineral water and dropped in a slice of lemon. Her phone rang and she grabbed for it. It was her son, Robbie. She took a deep breath and took the call. ‘Darling, this is a nice surprise. Aren’t you in class?’ Robbie was boarding at a school in Cumbria and it had been a month since she’d last seen him.

‘I’ve got maths in five minutes but I wanted to ask you a favour.’

Carolyn sighed. ‘How much?’

‘Fifty.’

‘Fifty pounds? Please tell me it’s not for drugs.’

‘Very funny, mum. We’ve got a trip to Windermere at the weekend and I need some spending money.’

‘But fifty quid. What are you planning on buying?’

‘If you can’t, I can call dad.’

Carolyn bit down on her lower lip. Robbie was a master at playing her off against her ex-husband.

‘Please, mum. Everyone else is going to have fifty to spend and I don’t want to be the odd one out.’

‘Okay. I’ll put it in your account today.’

‘You’re a lifesaver, mum. Love you.’

‘Wait a minute, Robbie. How are you? How’s school?’

‘School’s school,’ he said. ‘Look mum, I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? And don’t forget the money.’

‘I won’t,’ she said, but the line had already gone dead. Tears were brimming in her eyes and she blinked them away. She scrolled through to Eddie’s number and called it but it went straight through to his voicemail. She didn’t leave a message.

They filmed three more scenes before lunch, then Carolyn went through to the canteen where she picked up a smoked salmon salad and went to join Terry at a table by the window. He was tucking into a Shepherd’s pie and chips. ‘How’s the diet going, darling?’ she asked as she sat down opposite him.

‘Bitch,’ Terry said and laughed. ‘I’m in the gym with Gabe tonight, I’ll burn it off.’

‘You’re not going to the awards?’

Terry laughed. ‘I’m a prop master,’ he said. ‘One of the backroom boys. Out of sight, out of mind.’

‘Come with me,’ said Carolyn. ‘You can be my plus one.’

‘And sit with a load of prima donnas and network suits? I’d rather crawl naked across broken glass.’

‘I’m getting a lifetime achievement award.’

Terry grinned. ‘Well done, you.’

‘I’m not sure it’s a good thing,’ she said. ‘Doesn’t it mean that the best is over?’

‘It means you’re being appreciated,’ said Terry. He frowned. ‘Plus one? Where’s Eddie?’

‘Fucking some trollop,’ she said bitterly.

‘Are you serious?’

‘I found him in bed with a Barbie lookalike last night. ’

Terry put down his fork. ‘God, I’m sorry.’

‘Yeah. Me, too.’

‘And you never suspected anything was going on?’

Carolyn sighed. ‘I was too bloody busy.’

‘That doesn’t make it your fault.’

She nodded and prodded her salad. ‘I know.’

‘Do you know who the girl was?’