Chapter 37 #2
Using the handwipes in wardrobe, she cleaned her sticky figures and went to collect her costume.
* * *
‘Hello, there. It’s Bets, isn’t it? Sorry, it always takes me a week or two to work out who everyone is.
You’ll be glad to know they’re filming a different scene today.
You can dispense with the cardigan. Won’t be so hot,’ said the younger of the two wardrobe ladies, who were both in their forties.
‘I’ve given you a cotton shirt, so that should be cooler. ’
‘Thanks,’ said Bets, cheered by seeing another friendly face. ‘I don’t think I got your name last week. It was all a bit of a blur.’
The woman laughed. ‘Easy to remember us, I’m Mary W.’
‘And I’m Mary B,’ piped up the other woman. ‘Now, it’s going to be in the twenties today. Make sure you drink lots of water. We don’t want any fainting on set.’
‘Will do,’ said Bets and bid her goodbyes. The Marys’ pleasantries tided her over as she crossed the yard to the make-up trailer to face Aimee/Morticia.
Today, however, there was a different woman in the trailer.
‘Hi, there, and who are you? I’m trying to catch up with everyone’s names. I’m Stacey, by the way. And I will be your make-up artist for the day, actually the rest of the shoot.’
‘Hi,’ said Bets, immediately disarmed by the friendly welcome. ‘I’m Bets – I mean, Lynda Jane.’
‘Ah, the lady who’s a whizz with animals. I’ve heard about you.’
‘You have?’ Anxiety made her frown.
‘All good. Jeremy told me how much easier you make things for the cast.’
‘Really? Apart from when he’s saying lines, he barely acknowledges me.’
‘Oh that’s typical Jeremy, don’t take it personally. He’s always like that, he doesn’t like his concentration broken when he’s on set, but he’s a sweetheart, really.’
‘I’ll take your word for it,’ said Bets a little dubiously. ‘What happened to Morticia— I mean Aimee?’
‘Morticia?’ Stacey let out a peal of laughter.
‘Aimee was covering for me, because I had another shoot and Ronnie wanted moi, so was prepared to wait until I could get here. I hope she was all right with you. She’s very pissed off that you got the part and her sister didn’t, even though her sister is allergic to cats, for Pete’s sake. ’
‘Oh,’ said Bets. ‘I wondered why she wasn’t very friendly.’
‘Sorry, that probably was a bit unprofessional. She’s a bit of a madam but unfortunately she’s the producer’s niece.’
‘I’d have thought that would have ensured her sister got the part.’
‘Ronnie has final say on the talent. Now let’s have a look at you.’
Stacey, comb in hand, was already working on her hair and, quickly and far more gently than Aimee would have done, put it up in a simple ponytail.
‘You have the most gorgeous skin. I really don’t have to do too much with you.’
‘Thank you. I wish you’d been here before, I was a nervous wreck and Aimee didn’t help.’
‘Oh no, poor you. Everyone’s always a bit apprehensive and edgy at the start of a shoot, but she could have made an effort. It’s part of my job to help you chill before you go on set.’
‘Well, you’ve certainly succeeded this morning.’ Bets grinned at her. ‘I feel so much better, although it helps knowing what’s expected.’
‘Right, you’re all done. Have a good day.’
‘You, too.’
* * *
There was another long break before her next scene and Bets sank onto a handily placed chair in the shade of one of the trees in front of the farmhouse where they were filming.
‘Hi, there.’
‘Hi,’ squeaked Bets in surprise as Jeremy sat down in the neighbouring chair.
‘Good job with that cat this morning.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I’ve been told off, so I thought I’d come and make my apologies.’ His eyes twinkled at her and suddenly, without his usual severe expression, she could see why he was such a heartthrob.
‘Told off?’
‘My girlfriend gave me a bollocking for frightening the new girl.’ At Bets’ blank look he added, ‘Stacey.’
‘Oh, no.’ Bets slapped a hand over her face.
‘It’s all right. My ego’s been given a thorough dressing-down.
I’m to show you that I’m not really a grumpy bastard.
To be honest I had no idea you’d never worked on a set before.
It certainly didn’t show. You were very professional and so good with the animals.
That’s always tricky. I mean, they’re trained for this kind of work but they can be unpredictable.
You seemed to have the measure of them. You’d think you worked with animals all the time. ’
Bets laughed at him. ‘I do. I’m a veterinary nurse. That’s how I got the job.’ He laughed along with her.
‘That would explain it.’ Then he brightened. ‘Can I ask you a few questions? I’ve never played a vet before.’
Half an hour later, Jeremy had thoroughly and charmingly picked her brains before they both had to go back on set.
When he got up to leave to go back for his next scene, Bets sent Ella a picture of her and Jeremy.
‘Just hanging out with my new best friend.’ As she typed the words, she wondered what Jack was doing.
He’d been her best friend for so long, she couldn’t imagine what it would be like, him not being around anymore.
Even when he’d been away in Bristol, she’d always known he’d be back.
* * *
Despite them replacing her wool cardi with a cotton shirt that morning, Bets couldn’t wait to peel it off and hand it back to the wardrobe ladies and don her own loose cotton dress.
It felt as if the make-up on her face was melting, though it had been touched up several times that day.
As soon as she walked into make-up, Stacey handed Bets a cleansing wipe and then a second one to Jeremy who was following close behind her.
‘I am so ready for a cold beer,’ he said.
‘You and everyone else on the crew,’ said Stacey, a little crochety, her fringe plastered to her forehead. ‘I’ve been stuck in a tin can on the hottest day of the year. Or running after you lot with a powder puff. It would be helpful if you could sweat a little less.’
Jeremy gave her a quick kiss. ‘Would it help if I took you for a drink, my grumpy one?’
‘Yes,’ said Stacey. ‘As soon as I can get out of here and lock up for the night.’
‘How about you, Bets?’
‘Me?’ she said. Bets looked at Stacey. Although the woman had been so nice to her today, her spirit felt so deflated, she wasn’t sure she could stand any company.
‘Yes, you. Go, go the pair of you. Don’t think about poor old Cinders here.’ She mopped her sweaty brow.
Realising that she could either be a total wet blanket and mope, or try and make the best of things while she was still on the shoot, Bets made up her mind quickly.
‘We can wait,’ said Bets.
‘No, we can’t,’ teased Jeremy. ‘Some of us have been sweating our bits off, under the lights. I could faint from dehydration. It’s a health-and-safety issue.’
Stacey rolled her eyes. ‘Go. Mine’s a half of lager and lime. I’ll see you in about ten minutes.’
‘Sure?’ asked Bets.
‘Yes. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for Jer here fainting.’
‘I knew I liked you for a reason,’ said Jeremy. ‘Let’s go, Bets.’
Half an hour later, Bets was sitting at a table surrounded by members of the crew and cast.
She ummed and ahhed for a full minute before she finally sent a picture to Jack of her in the beer garden at the table sandwiched between Jeremy and the assistant director, Molly, along with a deliberately jolly caption: ‘What a difference a day makes! I’m not Billy no mates anymore, people are speaking to me.
Thanks for this weekend. It was so good to see you. How’s Tiggy?’
She wanted him to know that she was going to be happy without him.
That she was going to be okay. And she would be, eventually, now she’d glimpsed the world beyond Wilsgrave.
She had no idea what the future held and where she might end up, but there were options, and that was something she’d never had before.
Yes, Jack needed to know she was going to be just fine, even if it might take a while.