The Silent Appeal
Ok babe?
morning sickness early lol
four cheese pizza?
Yeh yuk love you babe you at hall still?
12:26 a.m. Barry wrote:
No don’t tell no one but doing something for Lucas
12:27 a.m. Myra wrote:
Be careful babe don’t get in trouble
12:28 a.m. Barry wrote:
No trouble just making
12:28 a.m. Myra wrote:
Love you babe lol
12:29 a.m. Barry wrote:
Love you babe, always.
To: Stuart Kinsella
From: Nicky-Rose Dearing
Date: April 27, 2025
Subject: Re: Hi
Just when everything was going ok the monster stirs. Thought I could leave her in the past and count on karma to do its thing. Too late—I have to.
Fuck! Why didn’t I pack it all in and go to Jakarta with you when I had the chance? Don’t answer that. Don’t bother replying, there’s nothing you can say or do, I just need to rant. And make a plan, and a plan B, and knowing my luck lately, a fucking plan C too. Nix x
To: Dustin Perez
From: Carol Dearing
Date: April 27, 2025
Subject: Tomorrow
Dear Dustin,
At the sleep out a light fell from the rig onto one of the new girls. There was a mad dash to the hospital, and now her part in the play is hanging in the balance.
At one time I might have been disappointed to miss out on the gossip, but I’m thanking my lucky stars I decided to go home last night. I need my beauty sleep!
Anyway, would you like a lift to Mendhams tomorrow, or is it the week you said you’d be working? I can fill you in on everything that happened, which included the vicar telling a ghost story and scaring the children. Line learning for me today! Carol
To: Carol Dearing
From: Dustin Perez
Date: April 27, 2025
Subject: Re: Tomorrow
Dear Carol,
For all the shut-eye I had this weekend I might as well have been at the sleep out myself. Who’d join the police, eh?
Things are hectic at the nick and we’re all under pressure.
There’s been a significant rise in drug dealing and related antisocial behavior in Lockwood and the surrounding area, which won’t be news to you I’m sure, our crime stats were on the news just last week.
My team has to make a dent in the supply chain and identify county lines players, all with a severely reduced workforce.
We’re already prioritizing targets: “overlooking” menial runners and going for the higher-ups, but we’re hampered by the rising trend for hallucinogens—LSD infused into blotting paper in perforated sheets like stamps, often printed with colorful designs so the supplier knows which batch is theirs.
They can move ￡10k of product in a greeting card envelope through the post and sell it in an hour on a Saturday night.
Even find myself longing for the days when it was all shifty geezers on street corners flogging weed and coke, not least because we’ve had so many incidents of kids taking a tab without knowing what it is or how high it’ll make them.
LSD-related hospitalizations due to accidents or psychosis are through the roof. Sorry, inadvertent pun there.
Anyway, I got in at 5 a.m. and if I’d remembered there was a fried breakfast at the church hall, I’d have been tempted to smother my woes with a bacon sandwich.
To answer your question, yes please, I would like a lift to rehearsal tomorrow.
All the best, Dustin
Message exchange between Nicky-Rose Dearing and Kevin MacDonald on April 27, 2025:
9:10 a.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
Meet today?
9:11 a.m. Kevin wrote:
Want to but lots going on.
9:12 a.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
Let me know.
Message exchange between Isabel Beck and Nicky-Rose Dearing on April 27, 2025:
9:55 a.m. Issy wrote:
Hi there! Have you unpacked your bag yet?
9:58 a.m. Issy wrote:
When you do, you’ll find something unexpected!
9:59 a.m. Issy wrote:
A little pressie I made for you
10:03 a.m. Issy wrote:
I’ve got one, too, and I’m wearing it now.
10:18 a.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
Nothing in there.
10:19 a.m. Issy wrote:
It’s quite small. Check in every nook and cranny, I definitely put it in.
10:24 a.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:
Emptied whole bag out. Nothing.
10:24 a.m. Issy wrote:
Undated page from a decorative journal belonging to Isabel Beck:
TODAY
Drinking an iced coffee at my kitchen table and I’m super upset. This is why:
The bus was stuck at temporary traffic lights for ages.
I missed the yoga.
I was too late for breakfast and clearing up, so stayed on the bus and went straight home.
The friendship bracelet I put in Nicky-Rose’s bag has gone missing.
I’m wearing mine now, but it doesn’t work if Nicky-Rose doesn’t have hers on.
I can’t understand what happened. I made sure it was in the bottom of the bag because I didn’t want it to fall out, even though I knew I’d have to text her to make sure she looked for it.
That’s so upsetting! I’m also super tired, which is why I’m more upset than I’d usually be.
Did someone steal the bracelet?
Are they jealous of my friendship with Nicky-Rose and want to split us up?
It’s been years since I’ve worked shifts and been awake all night so can’t be sure I’m not paranoid. The caffeine in this iced coffee probably doesn’t help as much as I thought it would.
When I think of all the little beads I had to thread and the letters I had to find—even a hyphen! Nicky-Rose might think I’m lying about it. I wouldn’t blame her because I’d think the same if the tables were turned.
And that’s not all that’s playing on my mind. What do I say about Fran and Father Josh? I’m bursting to tell someone because they’ll know what to do.
Today is a really horrible day.
Message exchange between Fran Elroy-Jones and Amelia Stibson on April 27, 2025:
11:09 a.m. Fran wrote:
Sorry to keep messaging but how are you? So worried, Ams. Is Lucas there? Shall I come to the hospital?
11:14 a.m. Amelia wrote:
Feel shaky but ok. It doesn’t hurt.
11:14 a.m. Fran wrote:
Can only imagine how awful it must’ve been. Is Lucas there?
11:15 a.m. Amelia wrote:
He went to let G into the flat hours ago and hasn’t come back yet.
11:16 a.m. Amelia wrote:
Why did the stupid fucking light have to fall on ME? So fucking unfair!
11:20 a.m. Fran wrote:
Will they send you home today?
11:22 a.m. Amelia wrote:
A nurse said the doctor will look at me, but that was ages ago. Feel really hyper and jittery.
11:25 a.m. Fran wrote:
That’s the anesthetic wearing off. So relieved you’re ok. Get some rest now, Ams.
11:34 a.m. Amelia wrote:
In this corridor on my own, can you take my mind off it, please, Fran? What happened at the sleep out, did everyone go home?
11:38 a.m. Fran wrote:
No, but I hardly got any sleep after what happened to you. Some people were snoring again within minutes of lights out.
11:39 a.m. Amelia wrote:
What else?
11:41 a.m. Fran wrote:
The yoga was ok.
11:42 a.m. Fran wrote:
Breakfast was greasy, and the frying pan looked disgusting, so I just had a bagel.
11:52 a.m. Amelia wrote:
What else?
11:59 a.m. Amelia wrote:
Fran?
12:02 p.m. Fran wrote:
Sorry, just found something in my bag.
12:02 p.m. Amelia wrote:
What?
12:07 p.m. Fran wrote:
It was stuffed at the back of the stage with everyone else’s all night. I thought it would be safe, but someone put something in it. Just annoying. I’ll have to do something now. Sorry, I’m thinking aloud.
12:18 p.m. Amelia wrote:
Nurse just said I’m next to see the doctor
* * *
12:30 p.m. Amelia wrote:
I can go home so long as someone drives me and I’m not alone in the flat. Fat fucking chance of that but yay.
12:31 p.m. Fran wrote:
That’s great news. I’m so pleased.
12:44 p.m. Amelia wrote:
Lucas doesn’t reply to my texts and he’s turned his Find My Friend off
12:45 p.m. Fran wrote:
I’ll bring you home. On my way as soon as the washing machine finishes.
To: Kevin MacDonald
From: Karen Payne
Date: April 27, 2025
Subject: Henrietta
Hi Kevin,
Just wanted to let you know that if Amelia can’t do the part of Henrietta, I’m very happy to step in and learn it in double-quick time. I love the character and I’m sure Marianne can alter the costumes to fit me. Love Karen
To: Karen Payne
From: Kevin MacDonald
Date: April 27, 2025
Subject: Re: Henrietta
That’s a very kind offer. Your Mark has already suggested you!
I have no idea where we are or what we’re doing about the play. Like Jay-Z, I have 99 problems, but at least an actor ready and willing to play Henrietta is not one of them. Kevin
Message exchange between Kevin MacDonald and Amelia Stibson on April 27, 2025:
1:26 p.m. Kevin wrote:
Hello! How’s the Fairways’ trouper?
1:26 p.m. Amelia wrote:
What’s that?
1:27 p.m. Kevin wrote:
You. Everyone is thinking of you and hoping against hope the injury isn’t too bad.
1:28 p.m. Amelia wrote:
On morphine. Leg in a boot. Waiting for Fran.
1:29 p.m. Kevin wrote:
Top stuff. Sounds as if you’re on the mend.
1:36 p.m. Amelia wrote:
They said I shouldn’t put weight on it for at least a week.
1:38 p.m. Kevin wrote:
A week? Well, that’s wonderful! The play’s not for six weeks! Thanks, Amelia, you’ve made my day and Sarah-Jane’s, who sends her best regards.
1:43 p.m. Amelia wrote:
How will I get up the stairs to the flat? Hadn’t even thought about the play. If you see Lucas, tell him to call me?
To: The Fairway Players mailing list
From: Kevin MacDonald
Date: April 27, 2025
Subject: Thank you
Dear all,
Well done and congratulations to everyone who turned up, tuned in, and slept out last night.
If you feel as lethargic and bleary-eyed as I do, then our mission is accomplished!
We’ve had a small taste of what it’s like to be genuinely homeless, and to try and sleep with all manner of irritating disturbances all night long.
Speaking of disturbances, some of you may be wondering how Amelia is.
To cut a long story short, Amelia hurt her leg and as a precaution was whisked away to the hospital.
Well, the good news is, she’s been thoroughly patched up and will be back on her feet very soon, which is excellent news for the play.