Chapter 25
25
When Vi joined Leo in the cafeteria half an hour later, she felt so shaken she had to sit down to catch her breath for a moment before she could speak.
Leo looked at her with concern. ‘You’re as white as a sheet. What happened?’
Vi met his gaze, knowing she should tell him what she had just learned, but no words came out. Then it felt wrong to tell him; he shouldn’t be the one who heard the news first. ‘I can’t tell you yet,’ she said. ‘I have to talk to Jack first. And the rest of the production team. The story, the script has to be changed. If they agree to do that, this movie will be so much better, the plot more dramatic and the whole story a lot deeper and more true to the real Kathleen and her relationship with Don.’ She drew breath and put her hand on Leo’s arm. ‘Please don’t be upset, it has nothing to do with you.’
‘Only with the fact that I’m just the makeup artist,’ he said with a touch of bitterness. ‘I get it.’
‘It’s not like that,’ Vi protested. ‘I really appreciate our friendship and that you came with me. But this is about the movie and how to handle what I’ve just found out. It has to be dealt with sympathetically and be a big part of the love story in the movie. Then that “happily ever after” ending will be even more touching than what’s in the script right now. It will be real instead of some cheesy Hollywood ending.’ Vi stopped, feeling exhausted. ‘I’m sorry if I upset you.’
Leo smiled. ‘It’s okay. I’m not insulted. I understand that it’s important to you and that you can’t talk about it until you’ve spoken to the producers. And I’m glad if I could help in any way.’ He got up and held out his hand. ‘Come on. Let’s get out of this mausoleum and grab a bite to eat and a pint of the black stuff. On me.’
Vi took his hand, grateful that he was so supportive and not too hurt by the fact that she hadn’t told him what she had found out. He seemed to understand that it had to be kept under wraps until she could speak to the producers of the movie.
They walked out of the nursing home and down the street until they found a small, cosy pub where they had a cheese sandwich and a pint of Guinness. Vi decided to contact Jack later that evening, when she was back in the flat and could talk to him in private. After an hour in the pub, they parted company, Leo to go into town and Vi to catch the bus back to Stillorgan. She hugged Leo goodbye and promised to call the next day so they could meet up for lunch before they both took the bus to the airport and got on the flight to London.
‘Thanks a million again,’ she said as she pulled away. ‘You’ve been such a brick.’
‘Glad to have helped,’ he said, his deep blue eyes warm and empathic. ‘I know it took it out of you. Feeling better?’
‘Yes, much better,’ Vi said, smiling. ‘Thanks for the sandwich and the pint. That helped a lot too.’
‘Nothing more cheering than some Guinness,’ Leo remarked. ‘But I see the bus coming down the street. You’d better get going or you’ll miss it.’
Vi turned and started to run towards the bus stop. ‘See you tomorrow,’ she shouted over her shoulder before she jumped onto the bus. She waved at him through the grimy window before she sat down. She saw that he waved back. Good old Leo. What a friend in need he had turned out to be. It felt good to know he’d be there all through the filming, like a solid wall to lean on.
Then Vi’s thoughts turned to Jack and what she was going to tell him. How would he react when he learned the truth? She hoped he wouldn’t let what had happened between them cloud his judgement and that he would see that the script had to be changed and that it would make the movie into something more than just a clichéd love story. She would have to call him as soon as possible and set up a meeting with him – and Liz. Not a prospect she liked but it was necessary. Jack and Liz… were they still in some kind of relationship? That photo was an old one but the attraction between them had been obvious. If they had been in love then, there had to be something still there, whatever it was. If Liz didn’t agree to change the script, there would be a real problem if Jack took sides with her.
Vi knew she was going to have to fight for what she wanted to achieve but it would be worth it. It might seem unfair to Kathleen’s memory, but Vi believed it would show her to have been a strong woman who’d had to hide who she really was in order to make it in the world of show business in the 1950s. It might seem crass to have lived this lie, but Vi felt in her bones that it had been necessary in order for Kathleen to succeed. If only Jack would understand and agree to make this movie what it should be – a woman’s struggle to survive.
Just as Vi let herself into the little apartment, her phone rang. She fished it out of her pocket, her mind so full of thoughts of Jack she imagined for an instant it was him. But it was her mother, calling from Donegal.
‘Hello,’ Patricia Fleury said. ‘How are you managing in the flat? Everything okay? Is the heating working and did you find the clean sheets and a warm duvet?’
‘Yes, Mum,’ Vi replied. ‘Everything is fine and working. Don’t worry about me. And I’ll turn off the water before I leave and put the sheets in the linen basket and switch off all the lights and lock up properly.’
Patricia laughed. ‘Sorry. I’m such a control freak. I wish I could be there with you. It would be fun to have an evening together. But I couldn’t get away. I have to organise the sale of the farm before I can think of doing anything else.’
‘I know. It must be hard.’ Vi felt a dart of pity for her mother, who had to cope with the sale of the farm and everything to do with her old life with her late husband before she could move on and think of herself. ‘It’s been two years,’ she said. ‘And you’re still trying to sort out all the probate stuff.’
‘Yes, and I’m an accountant,’ her mother remarked. ‘Imagine what it must be like for people who’re not trained to deal with this kind of stuff. But never mind me. How are you getting on with the preparations for the movie?’
‘Fine,’ Vi said. ‘I’m going to London for rehearsals and costume fittings and then I’ll get back to Kerry and we’ll start shooting in March.’
‘Sounds exciting,’ Patricia said. ‘How do you like the flat?’
‘It’s very nice.’ Vi looked around the small but cosy living room. ‘Great to have a crash pad in Dublin.’
‘Yes, that’s what I thought. Handy for us all. Anyway,’ Patricia said, sounding tired, ‘I just called to see if all was well with you. I’ll pop down to Kerry when you’re back there. I want to see the grandkids. They must have grown since the last time I saw them.’
‘Oh yes, they’re all growing and thriving.’ Vi smiled as she thought of her nieces and little nephew. ‘It’s very busy down there now. I hope you can sort everything and leave all the sorrow behind soon, Mum. It’s been a tough time for you.’
‘It has indeed,’ Patricia agreed. ‘Can’t wait to start living again. Good luck with everything. I’ll see you soon.’
‘Bye, Mum.’ Vi hung up, happy that her mother seemed a little brighter. She had been very distant while her husband was ill and then, after his death, all the financial affairs had to be sorted out. Lily and Rose had been too busy with their children to help their mother, so Vi had stepped in and tried her best to be supportive. But then lately, with the movie and everything else associated with it, she had forgotten to call as often as she used to.
Oh the movie , she thought, the memory of what Fidelma had told her flooding back into her mind. I have to call Jack. Vi picked up her phone again and dialled Jack’s number. He answered straight away.
‘Violet?’
‘Yes. It’s me. Look, I’m sorry if I was rude to you the other day. I know what happened and I’m?—’
‘Please stop,’ Jack said. ‘Let’s not go into all that. Sylvia explained it all and said she’d talk to you, which I assume she did. So let’s move forward.’
‘Okay,’ Vi said, slightly taken aback by his brisk tone. Apparently his feelings for her had cooled too. ‘I didn’t call to talk about the photo of you and Liz. That’s none of my business, really.’
‘No, it isn’t,’ Jack said drily. ‘You jumped to the obvious conclusions, I assume.’
‘Maybe,’ Vi said, feeling a lump in her throat as he hadn’t denied that there was some truth in the rumours. ‘But there is something else I need to discuss with you. It’s about the movie and the script and Kathleen…’ She stopped, trying to pull her thoughts together. She hadn’t planned what she was going to say and now his deep voice confused her. ‘I have just found out something about Kathleen,’ she started. ‘Something that has to be included in the script. In fact, it could change the whole plot and make it much more dramatic.’
‘Really? That sounds interesting.’ Jack sounded intrigued. ‘Could this insert even more spice into the mix?’
‘Absolutely,’ Vi agreed. ‘But I can’t talk about it over the phone like this. If you’re in London, maybe we could meet? I’ll be there tomorrow evening.’
‘Yes, that would be great. Can you come straight to our office? I’ll get Liz to come too. I’ll contact the script writers and see if they can join by video link from LA. This sounds serious.’
‘It is,’ Vi said, feeling a jolt of disappointment that she wouldn’t be seeing Jack in private. But this wasn’t about them and their feelings for each other, it was about Kathleen and the movie depicting the most important part of her life. ‘I could have kept this to myself,’ she added. ‘But I felt that the script needed more than just your ordinary love story.’
‘It certainly does,’ Jack agreed. ‘I’m really grateful to you for taking the trouble to find out whatever it is. I’m looking forward to hearing it. And…’ He stopped.
‘Yes?’ Vi asked, her throat suddenly dry.
‘I’d like to have a chat with you on our own too. We could have dinner after the meeting. Would that be okay?’
‘Yes,’ she said again, nervously. Why would he want to do that?
‘Great. I’ll text you about the meeting with the team. Bye for now, Violet.’
‘Bye, Jack,’ she whispered, although he had already hung up.
Vi sat on the chair, holding the phone to her chest, going over the conversation. He had seemed anxious to hear what she had found out. He also seemed open to rewriting the script in order to improve the plotline. But not only that, he wanted to see her in private, and it made her heart sing.