Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Harriet greeted her in the car park, climbing down from the Range Rover. Today was their final session.
‘Hey, Bets. Ready for today?’
‘Yes, I am,’ said Bets with a massive grin for the woman in front of her, who was unrecognisable from the eccentric woman she’d first met all those weeks ago.
In smart black trousers, a sparkly, red top with matching very bold lipstick and her dark hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun, she looked years younger and there was a defiant twinkle in her eyes.
Bets could see she was ready to face the world and hit it right on the chin, rather than wanting to run away and hide beneath a blanket.
‘Not nervous?’ asked Harriet, locking the big car with a decisive click on the fob and then patting the engine, which made Bets grin even more. The Black Prince, as the car had become known, was a key character in Harriet’s stand-up routine.
‘No, I’m … excited,’ said Bets and realised she was.
She was confident in her material, which had been polished during the six-week course.
Even the way she’d dressed was different.
She’d spent a lot of time thinking about how she presented herself to the world.
That in itself had been a revelation. It had taken her all these years to realise that her uniform of nondescript jeans and baggy sweatshirts had been designed to avoid drawing attention to herself, so that no one had cause again to accuse her of being no better than she should be, once she’d started seeing Jack. Well, goodbye to all that.
Today her new black jeans, a crisp white shirt and high-heeled gold ankle boots (another Vinted purchase) made a statement, along with the Paul Smith silk scarf that she’d tied Alice-band style in her hair. She was ready to kick ass and face the world, too.
Who knew clothes could make you feel more confident? She’d definitely be wearing the high-heeled boots for her date with Jamie tomorrow.
Together, she and Harriet walked into the foyer and straight through into the theatre to a chorus of hellos. Everyone was gathered around in a huddle just in front of the stage, which was already set up with a solitary microphone.
‘Morning, ladies,’ called Frank as they joined the group.
‘You’re both looking rather lovely, if I may say so without being offensive,’ he continued with exaggerated politeness.
‘I can comfortably predict you’re going to have the audience eating out of the palms of your hands.
’ One of the early lessons had been that he needed to either be full-out angry and aggressive in his act, or temper the irate tirades with spells of excruciating politeness, taking the mickey out of his previous verging-on-sexist attitude.
They both laughed along with everyone else. The convivial team spirit was a far cry from the dynamic of the group six weeks ago, and Frank was the most changed. He’d lost his initial boorish, competitive loud-mouth facade and become one of the most supportive and collaborative in the group.
‘Thanks, Frank. And how are you feeling today?’
‘Today I’m fine. Next week’s another story. I’m bricking it. My wife’s coming.’ Over the last month and a half, he’d revealed that she’d been on the verge of kicking him out because he spent so much time in the pub. Trying stand-up had been his way of finding a hobby.
There was a hushed silence, an almost collective intake of breath.
‘Bloody Norah,’ said Will.
‘I know!’ replied Frank and then his face broke into a broad, proud smile. ‘She wants to come. Wants to see how the material pans out.’
‘That’s brilliant, Frank,’ said Harriet and gave him a kiss on the cheek, leaving a big red lip print. ‘And that’ll give her something to think about,’ she added with a wink.
‘Cheeky,’ said Frank.
She gave him an insouciant pat on the face and winked again. She’d definitely got her mojo back and revelled in her on-stage persona.
Harry hurried into the theatre, late as always, but that was because he was the sort of person who was always trying to cram so much into life. He had the energy of ten.
‘Hello, hello. Let’s get this show on the road.’ He held up a hat and shook it. ‘I’ve put all your names in here. This will be the running order.’
He held out the hat to the nearest person, who happened to be Will.
The young man who’d seemed so lost and fearful had probably blossomed the most during the course.
He’d turned into a lion, filled out, put on a little weight and acquired a bit of shine, all of which was reflected in his act, which centred on standing up to bullies.
‘Oooh, the power,’ he said, his hand delving into the hat. He pulled out a folded piece of paper and sniffed it. ‘I smell … an opening routine.’
Everyone waited.
‘Just get on with it, mate,’ said Frank.
Will smirked. ‘All in good time.’
‘Enough of the performance, Will, dear. We haven’t got all day,’ said Harriet.
‘And the name is … drum roll … Frank.’
Everyone clapped. It was rather fitting that their unacknowledged leader would go first.
Frank bowed. ‘Now I really am shitting myself. But at least I get it over with and can sit and watch you losers.’
‘Aaand next up is … Bets.’
Bets nodded, her pulse speeding up with a sudden burst of protective adrenaline.
The final lineup was Frank, Bets, Will, Harriet, Minzi and Kevin.
‘Bad luck, Kevin,’ said Harry. ‘It’s always difficult waiting your turn. Just keep breathing.’ He winked.
‘I will,’ said Kevin. ‘As long as I don’t have another heart attack.’
His act was based on his near-death experience when he’d had a heart attack while cooking a romantic dinner for his wife.
‘Right, shall we do some work? Today’s your dress rehearsal. Let’s take our seats. I’ll pick you at random.’
A frisson of excitement ran through the theatre as they took their seats on the front row.
Harriet was first to go. Her routine was bold, sassy and rebellious.
If revenge was a dish best eaten cold, then she was freezing it to death.
Her soon to be ex-husband featured heavily, especially the story of his pride-and-joy car, which she now drove with great panache, or so she told the audience.
Even though they’d all heard the material before, everyone in the group roared with laughter.
Bets sat in the dark theatre watching her new friend on stage and listening to the others enjoying the act.
She loved this little group like a family.
They’d come together and helped each other in different ways.
For her, they’d given her a sense of self and reminded her of who she really was, and for that she’d be eternally grateful.
She wondered what everyone in the audience next week would think of her act and whether it would change their view of her.
One by one they performed their acts.
‘You have all come so far,’ said Harry. ‘Easily one of the best groups I’ve ever taught.
You’ve worked so well together as a team and it really shows that you all wanted the best for each other.
I’m so—’ His voice cracked. ‘I’m so proud of you all.
You’ve all been brilliant. I don’t know if this is the start of something for you, or just something you felt you needed to do, but you’ve smashed it. You’ve got this, guys.’
They gathered their things and turned to leave, chatting happily away together, when Harry said, ‘Bets, could I have a word?’
‘Sure.’ She hung back in the theatre as the others went ahead into the bar area.
‘Not sure if you’re interested but a friend of mine works in casting. They’re looking for someone with experience with animals for a very small part in a TV series about a vet’s practice in the 1960s. I hope you don’t mind but I showed her one of your tapes.’
‘Oh,’ said Bets, not quite sure she believed what he’d just said.
‘Come on, Bets. Don’t be modest. You’ve got some acting talent. She was really impressed. She’d like to meet you and fix up an audition. She’s going to come to the show.’
‘Seriously?’ Bets stared at him.
‘Interested?’
Bets considered for all of three seconds.
‘Yes,’ she said, the decisive tone surprising her.
Could something like this really have fallen into her lap?
It didn’t seem possible. ‘Yes, I am. It sounds like … an adventure.’ It probably wouldn’t come to anything.
Things like this didn’t happen to people like her.
But what if it did? This was what she’d wanted, someone seeing her from a completely different perspective. Someone who saw possibilities in her.
‘I don’t know about adventure. It will be different, that’s for sure. There’s no guarantee but she wanted me to sound you out.’
Bets’ mind leapt ahead. She was owed holiday, lots of holiday. Could she persuade Geoffrey and Devon to let her take unpaid leave? Surely neither of them would deny her an opportunity. She’d done plenty of hours of overtime over the years. And now she was getting ahead of herself.
‘Can you tell me any more about it?’ she asked, trying to sound professional, reminding herself it might not happen, trying to sit on the excited two-year-old bouncing around inside her head, squealing with excitement.
‘Yes. It’s going into production in a few weeks’ time.
Jenny pitched it as Call the Midwife meets All Creatures Great and Small.
It’s a very small part but they were looking for someone who was good with animals.
When I mentioned that you were a qualified veterinary nurse, she almost bit my hand off.
They’ve got a veterinary adviser but he won’t be on set the whole time. ’
‘What about the part?’ she asked, with a little thrill. Get her, sounding all professional and in the know.
‘It’s very small but features regularly. Like someone who’s in every episode but only in the background. Minimal lines. I think she said it’ll be about six weeks filming on location. I thought of you immediately.’