The Silent Appeal #12
Message exchange between Kevin and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on January 29, 2025:
11:23 p.m. Kevin wrote:
Ta-da! We are fully cast.
11:26 p.m. Kevin wrote:
Well? Aren’t congratulations in order?
11:27 p.m. Kevin wrote:
At least a little “you were right, just this once, Kevin.”
11:30 p.m. Kevin wrote:
Something, please!
11:31 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Too busy partying with my misgivings to answer. Congratulations.
To: Fran Elroy-Jones
From: Isabel Beck
Date: January 30, 2025
Subject: Who done it?
Hiya Fran!
You’ll never guess my latest news… don’t look at the next line—try to guess!
Kevin MacDonald emailed me with a part in the next Fairways play!
Apparently, it was Sarah-Jane who insisted he get in touch.
I had such a lovely time at Fairways a few years ago.
There’s nothing like being onstage, knowing all your words and every move.
Nothing left to chance or other people’s strange and selfish behavior.
My part is Gerda Cristow, the doctor’s wife.
I’ve already formed an opinion of her and the script hasn’t even arrived yet.
We used to call them White Coat Chasers at St. Ann’s: nurses who were determined to marry an MD.
If they had their sights set on a surgeon, we called them Scrub Snipers.
There’s no equivalent in ophthalmology. Maybe that’s why I enjoy it so much.
I’m working at Specsavers just outside Fowey.
The locals call it Little Fowey, but I’ve never seen that on any signs.
Most of my patients (sorry, “customers”) are lovely but there are times I miss the bustle of the hospital ward and a job where every day is different.
That’s why I’m thrilled to be back at Fairways.
Do you have anyone to learn lines with? I’ll need to catch up in the next couple of weeks, although books-down won’t be for another month or two yet from my memories of Blithe Spirit.
They say you should never go back, even if fate opens up a door giving you a chance to retrace your steps—it’s not really a door, it’s a trap.
I disagree. If a door opens up and you’re invited to go through it, there’s a reason you should say a big fat YES! There’s something there you didn’t learn last time, or someone who will appreciate your return…
I really, really hope that’s you! See you Monday. Love Issy xxx
To: Isabel Beck
From: Fran Elroy-Jones
Date: January 30, 2025
Subject: Re: Who done it?
[Mail delivery system: message could not be delivered]
Message exchange between Sarah-Jane MacDonald and Carol Dearing on January 31, 2025:
9:06 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Mum. I know we’re not talking, but I’m trying to locate a spreadsheet of invitees for a media briefing. I was working on it at the same time as Kevin’s party. It must be on your laptop.
9:06 a.m. Carol wrote:
Lucky me.
9:07 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Harley is looking after Sammy on rehearsal nights.
9:10 a.m. Carol wrote:
Wonderful.
9:18 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Kevin has promised him driving lessons in return.
9:20 a.m. Carol wrote:
More fool him.
10:15 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
How is Nicky-Rose?
10:16 a.m. Carol wrote:
She’s YOUR sister. You tell me.
10:17 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
She’s living with you and isn’t a big texter. What’s she up to?
10:21 a.m. Carol wrote:
It’s a joy to talk with her over our morning coffees—which she happily does so long as the subject is anything other than why she’s back here, as then she will clam up immediately. Goes out on random days at random times, dressed either casually or very smart.
10:23 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Where does she go?
10:25 a.m. Carol wrote:
She tells me what she wants me to know and until then I must accept she is an adult who does not owe me information about her life.
10:26 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Does she take the bus or the train? Are you not curious where she’s going?
10:28 a.m. Carol wrote:
Of course I’m curious! Can you imagine how YOU’D feel if Harley went abroad after his A levels?
10:30 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
If he was offered a place at one of the world’s most prestigious dance schools like Nicky-Rose was, then I would swallow my devastation and pretend I was delighted.
10:34 a.m. Carol wrote:
Exactly. Now imagine twenty years pass by. Harley has built a life elsewhere without you. Then returns out of the blue. I can tell you now, you would be struck by how much of a stranger he is.
10:35 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
DO NOT patronize me.
10:49 a.m. Carol wrote:
And you would be terrified to ask him anything in case it drove him away again.
Message exchange between Sarah-Jane MacDonald and Nicky-Rose Dearing on January 31, 2025:
11:59 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Do you need a car?
12:27 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
There’s a Honda Civic rotting in our garage.
12:40 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Kevin will clean it up for you.
12:47 p.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
That would be good. Thanks.
12:48 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Don’t thank me. Come to rehearsal on Monday.
12:56 p.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
Need to think about it a bit more.
12:57 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
The following Monday then. February 10th. I’ll pick you up once Mum’s gone to Mendhams.
Message exchange between Kevin and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on January 31, 2025:
1:33 p.m. Kevin wrote:
NOT THE HONDA CIVIC
1:33 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
When did you last drive it?
1:34 p.m. Kevin wrote:
It was my first car! It smells of youth and optimism.
1:35 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Well, Nicky-Rose is a beggar not a chooser.
1:40 p.m. Kevin wrote:
I hit all of life’s milestones in that trusty steed. I was going to get it back on the road for Harley in the autumn. A father-and-son bonding project.
1:44 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Harley does not want a car that’s pushing thirty and hasn’t been driven in fifteen years. I’ve no idea why you kept it.
2:05 p.m. Kevin wrote:
I put those bucket seats in myself!
2:06 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
Nicky-Rose knows it’s to borrow not to keep. She needs a car to get around.
2:06 p.m. Kevin wrote:
Is she working?
2:07 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:
From what Mum says it sounds like she’s having interviews.
To: Nicky-Rose Dearing
From: Johan Pelon
Date: February 2, 2025
Subject: Payment?
Ms. Dearing,
I’m acting on behalf of several creditors who are owed money by Twin Star. I know Voyages Paradiso, Royal Mares, and Regalle have all paid you, so there’s no reason for you to withhold payment from my clients.
I hear you’ve moved back to the UK. If cash flow has been an issue, then everyone understands.
So if the debts are paid within the next five days, no further action will be taken.
If they aren’t settled in that time, then I can’t guarantee no one will come looking for an explanation in person. Wherever you are in the world.
Johan Pelon
Pelon Debt Recovery Agents (Barbados) Ltd.
Message exchange between Nicky-Rose Dearing and Trina Neale on February 2, 2025:
10:12 a.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
What the fuck are you playing at? Giving YOUR creditors my email address?
2:48 p.m. Trina wrote:
Send back what you stole or evidence it’s been totally destroyed.
2:49 p.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
Pay back what you stole from ME.
2:49 p.m. Trina wrote:
I didn’t steal anything from you.
2:50 p.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
You stole EVERYTHING and more. You told me I was your business partner, that I was a director and had shares in the company, health insurance, and a pension. You knew I wouldn’t question it because we’d been friends for so long.
2:52 p.m. Trina wrote:
Any time in the last ten years, you could’ve done a basic search and found out you had none of those things. But you didn’t and that’s on you.
2:53 p.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
I TRUSTED YOU. You’re now telling me I was WRONG to do that—that I have NOTHING to show for a decade of my life and it’s MY fault?
2:53 p.m. Trina wrote:
You said it.
2:53 p.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
But that’s not the whole story, is it? It’s not even the worst thing you’ve done.
2:54 p.m. Trina wrote:
Send back what you have, and everything will be ok.
To: Stuart Kinsella
From: Nicky-Rose Dearing
Date: February 2, 2025
Subject: Re: Hi
I understand you don’t want to get involved in my shit, but you KNOW I would never have signed away my HOUSE against company debt. I told you the business was losing money.
Wasn’t going to email again, but can’t talk to anyone here.
The Trina thing isn’t going away and it could explode at any time.
Yes, worse than signatures on loans. A LOT of stuff happened after you left—some of it had been going on for years and the rest was a live-action shitstorm.
Literally everything in my life fell apart all at once.
Anyway, my sister has finally talked me into going to her amateur drama rehearsals. DO NOT want to get roped into a play, but she’s also lending me a car and is generally being ok so I have to. Mum is great considering, but FFS I’m thirty-nine and back in my old bedroom. Nix x
To: Kevin MacDonald
From: Celia Halliday
Date: February 2, 2025
Subject: Charity suggestion
Beth has heard that Isabel Beck got the part of Gerda.
Is this true? More to the point, is it wise?
I recall her antics during Blithe Spirit, when she forgot to pick up a tea tray center stage, so edged on from the wings in the next scene to collect it, improvising an apology.
Only that scene was meant to be “a week later.”
Then there was All My Sons.
We should choose a charity for The Hollow. I suggest St. Mark’s Hospice. I’ll let them know and get a logo for the program. Celia
To: Celia Halliday
From: Kevin MacDonald
Date: February 2, 2025
Subject: Re: Charity suggestion
No! I want to discuss our next charity event with the committee. I’d like to do something different. Please don’t contact the hospice yet. We donate to them at least every other play and it’s good to spread the love a little wider, don’t you think?