Dramatic Affairs

by Fredrica Alleyn

  When the romantic interlude was interrupted by the entrance of Mary Fuller as Mrs Conway both Christopher and Rosie looked highly relieved, as though they welcomed this, although they were meant to look decidedly put out.

  Off stage, Damon stood and watched, his face devoid of expression. Looking at him, Esther realised that no one would know how delighted he was feeling; no one but her.

  After that, almost all of the cast struggled, with the exception of Esther and Damon. They continued to give the performances of their lives and the very end, a part that Esther had never really managed to master, went like a dream.

  ‘I think we’ll take our bow in unison,’ Christopher said hastily as they started to assemble in the wings.

  ‘Why?’ demanded Damon.

  ‘Well the light’s beginning to go. It’ll speed things up.’

  ‘Don’t be so bloody ridiculous,’ snapped Damon. ‘Everyone should have a chance to go out there and take an individual bow. You know perfectly well the audience is full of agents and scouts. You can’t alter things now just because you gave a rotten performance.’

  ‘A rotten performance?’ snarled Christopher.

  The rest of the company held their breath. No one dared look at anyone else and, instead, they shuffled their feet uneasily. ‘Did you think it was all right then?’ asked Damon.

  ‘Oh, for God’s sake let’s just get it over with,’ replied Christopher and he pushed Michael out front to take his bow as Gerald.

  The audience made their feelings very clear. For Esther the applause was tremendous and as she stood there looking out over the park she finally felt that she was free of Marcus. She’d succeeded beyond her wildest expectations and the audience had loved her. This was what it was all about; this was what every actor and actress aspired to and she knew that, whatever happened in the future, this was a moment that would live in her memory for ever.

  If anything, Damon’s applause was even better. There were a few ‘Bravos’ and ‘Hurrahs’ and cameras were going off all around him as he smiled briefly. Unlike Christopher he didn’t attempt the ‘you’re too kind, I don’t really deserve this’ approach. Instead he remained withdrawn and dignified but Esther knew that he was fighting to contain his intense emotions.

  Wonderful as the applause had been, even better things were to come, for when Christopher strode out to take his bow, head erect, shoulders back and smiling his usual charming smile, the applause dipped horrendously and somewhere a brave soul uttered a quiet ‘boo’ that carried on the night air so that the entire cast heard it. Christopher’s smile wavered for a moment and as the cast took an ensemble bow everyone could see that he was shaking with fury.

  Afterwards it was pandemonium. Christopher made it clear that he didn’t want to talk to any of the cast. Unfortunately for him the important people in the audience also made it clear that they weren’t interested in Christopher. Instead, both Esther and Damon found themselves surrounded by representatives from theatre companies and even – to Esther’s incredulous joy – scouts from Hollywood.

  Now and again as Esther listened, smiling and nodding in the right places and hugging her delight to herself, she managed to glance over to where Damon was also holding court. For a brief moment the pair of them exchanged a secret smile: a smile of joy and physical longing. Esther wanted the evening to go on for ever. Needless to say, Christopher did not.

  ‘How could you?’ shouted Christopher, pacing around the suite of his London hotel. It was a very expensive suite because he’d been expecting to entertain the Hollywood scouts there. Unfortunately for him, and also for Rebecca, they weren’t there. Not only weren’t they there, there was no indication that they ever would be.

  ‘How could I what?’ asked Rebecca.

  ‘Ruin the whole play!’ shouted Christopher.

  ‘I didn’t.’

  ‘Oh? You mean it wasn’t you playing Hazel tonight?’

  Rebecca’s cheeks flushed with anger. ‘I know I messed up but I wasn’t the only one.’

  ‘Meaning what?’ asked Christopher.

  ‘You don’t have to be a genius to work that one out,’ snapped Rebecca. ‘I’d have thought the audience reaction would have told you enough.’

  ‘But it was your fault,’ Christopher reiterated. ‘I could tell you were in a state and I tried too hard to over-compensate.’

  ‘And I suppose I’m the one who forced you to make the audience laugh during your big romantic scene, even though I wasn’t involved?’ asked Rebecca.

  ‘It didn’t matter if you were there or not by then. You’d already done the damage.’

  ‘God you’re self-centred,’ exclaimed Rebecca. ‘Can’t you ever take any blame for yourself. I was bad and so were you. That’s all there is to it.’

  ‘It’s that bastard Damon’s fault,’ hissed Christopher. ‘I don’t know what came over him. He’s never been like that before.’

  ‘He was certainly good,’ said Rebecca, unable to keep the admiration out of her voice.

  ‘I’m surprised you’re not hanging round him, then,’ said Christopher, petulantly.

  ‘He isn’t my type,’ said Rebecca, ‘otherwise I probably would be.’

  ‘Why did you lose it?’ Christopher demanded. ‘You’ve made me look such a bloody fool. I’ve been telling everyone how good you were; I even likened you to the next Vanessa Redgrave. Nobody’s going to listen to me after this.’

  ‘You just want to hope somebody employs you after this,’ said Rebecca.

  ‘You might be interested to know that the RSC have already asked me back,’ said Christopher, his tone suddenly silky.

  ‘Really? As what? Second sword carrier?’ Rebecca laughed.

  ‘They’re staging a really innovative Hamlet. It’s going to be completely different from anything anyone’s ever done before. It’s going to be linked in with what they’ve discovered about the effects of child abuse and Polonius is going to be played as a kind of therapist.’

  ‘You hate all that pretentious nonsense,’ said Rebecca in astonishment. ‘That’s why you formed this company; to do plays in traditional style.’

  ‘It’s a good director,’ said Christopher defensively. ‘Apparently they’re confident it’ll be a sellout, both at Stratford and the Barbican. I can’t fail.’

  ‘You said that about Time and the Conways,’ Rebecca pointed out to him, ‘but you seem to have cocked it up pretty thoroughly. Well, do what you like. I always thought this company was really formed for your benefit. Now I know I was right.’

  ‘God, I hadn’t realised what a bitch you were,’ said Christopher.

  ‘Takes one to know one,’ replied Rebecca.

  Just then there was a light tap at the door. ‘Come in,’ called Christopher.

  The door opened and Theresa entered. She was smiling, but when she saw Rebecca the smile disappeared and she glanced uneasily at Christopher.

  ‘Don’t mind her,’ said Christopher. ‘You were wonderful tonight, darling, really wonderful.’

  ‘Do you mean that?’ asked Theresa.

  ‘Of course he means it,’ said Rebecca. ‘At least you didn’t show him up or even let him trip you up, which was quite an achievement the way he was carrying on tonight.’

  Theresa stood uncertainly by the door. ‘Perhaps I should come back another time,’ she suggested.

  ‘No, I’d like your company now,’ said Christopher and, as Rebecca watched, he walked across the room, took Theresa’s face between his hands and then started to kiss her – softly at first but with gradually increasing passion.

  Rebecca waited. There was something she had to say but she wanted to choose her moment carefully, so she watched as Christopher gradually manoeuvred Theresa against the wall before unbuttoning her blouse and burying his head between her incredible breasts. After about five minutes the pair of them seemed lost in their own world as their excitement mounted. Rebecca waited until Christopher had let his trousers slide round his ankles and was about to thrust
himself into the red-haired girl before she spoke.

  ‘There’s something you ought to know,’ she said, in a clear voice.

  Startled by the interruption Christopher turned and looked over his shoulder at Rebecca. ‘I’m sure it can wait,’ he said hoarsely as Theresa moaned slightly, thrusting her hips towards him.

  ‘As a matter of fact it can’t,’ said Rebecca, icily. ‘I’m leaving you.’

  Immediately Christopher released Theresa, pulled up his trousers and turned to face her. ‘No one ever leaves me,’ he said.

  ‘This seems to be a night for firsts, doesn’t it?’ laughed Rebecca. ‘I’m afraid I am. I’m just going to pack a few things and that’s it.’

  ‘Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’ve been offered a job. Not after tonight’s fiasco.’

  ‘I’m going away with Nick,’ said Rebecca, and at the expression of pained astonishment on his face she smiled.

  ‘Nicholas?’ This was no act. Christopher was stunned.

  ‘Yes, we’ve been having an affair right under your nose most of the tour,’ Rebecca continued with relish. ‘Tonight he was approached for a lead role in a new TV soap. Obviously it isn’t something he can turn down and, as we want to be together, I shall have to leave you. Still, think of it this way, at least no one found out you were being two-timed with a potential TV soap star involved.’

  ‘I can’t believe this,’ said Christopher. ‘What about your own career?’

  ‘My agent thinks it will do me good to get away from you,’ said Rebecca.

  ‘But Nick can’t act!’ exclaimed Christopher.

  ‘Nor could you tonight,’ said Rebecca and she glanced at the red-haired girl. ‘I hope I haven’t ruined the evening for you but he probably won’t be able to manage it for about half an hour, and even then you’ll have to dress up in the leather gear before he really gets going.’

  ‘I don’t mind,’ said Theresa.

  ‘Really? I thought you and Mary Fuller were very close,’ said Rebecca maliciously.

  ‘Is that true?’ asked Christopher.

  Theresa looked uncomfortable. ‘We have been close,’ she admitted, ‘but I was lonely. You lost interest in me and I didn’t have anyone else.’

  Christopher’s expression softened. ‘Poor little thing,’ he said stroking her hair. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you from now on.’

  ‘He certainly will,’ said Rebecca. ‘I think you’ll be quite safe. There isn’t much chance you’ll ever out-shine him, on stage or off.’

  ‘Just go if you’re going,’ shouted Christopher.

  As Rebecca left, Theresa was peeling off her clothes to change into the black-leather boots and Christopher was busy finding the riding crop. Rebecca hoped they’d be happy together; she was simply grateful to be free of him and wondered how he’d managed to hold her in his spell for so long.

  As Rebecca left the hotel to join Nick, who’d been waiting outside, she saw Esther and Damon walking hand in hand down the street and suddenly Esther turned and gave the other girl a wave. Rebecca waved back. It wasn’t likely that their paths would cross again and, in any case, she no longer felt any animosity towards Esther.

  For her part Esther was walking on air. She still couldn’t believe that it had gone so well. ‘I think you’d better pinch me,’ she said to Damon as they took the lift to his room. He pinched her very lightly on her buttocks and then smiled at the expression on her face. ‘Didn’t you think I’d do it?’

  ‘Yes, but not there,’ laughed Esther. ‘We really did manage it, didn’t we, Damon?’

  ‘And then some,’ he said with feeling. ‘I just wish Suzie could have been there.’

  ‘She probably wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as you did,’ Esther pointed out. ‘If she’s still in love with Christopher she wouldn’t have relished seeing him make such a fool of himself.’

  ‘I suppose you’re right,’ conceded Damon. ‘Do you think she’ll ever get over him?’

  ‘I should think she will. Especially after the reviews for this. He isn’t going to keep hogging the headlines now and she’ll have the chance to forget. If she’s as good as you say she is then I’m sure she’ll soon get back on her feet and parts shouldn’t be difficult to come by. Let’s be honest, Christopher isn’t going to have the influence he used to have.’

  The pair talked long into the night discussing the various offers they’d been made and what each of them wanted to do. Esther was dismayed to realise that Damon was talking as though they would now be separating – each following a different career path. Then, when they got into bed, he started to make love to her again and her fears were briefly forgotten as he slowly aroused her already sensitive body to orgasm and continued to make love to her late into the night as she responded with ever-increasing ardour.

  They slept briefly but when Esther awoke around dawn she couldn’t resist reaching out and running a hand down his stomach and into his crisp pubic hair, lightly fondling his sleeping penis until it started to stir. Then she slid down the bed and took it into her mouth, gently licking and sucking until it grew hard. At that moment Damon awoke with a sigh of contentment.

  Esther wanted him to come in her mouth but Damon had other ideas. He pulled her up over his body before rolling over so that she was beneath him. Then he lifted her legs so that they were resting on his shoulders and thrust deeply into her, all the time gazing into her blue eyes.

  ‘Touch yourself while I’m inside you,’ he said.

  Swiftly Esther obeyed and as her fingers found her favourite rhythm her breathing grew ragged. Suddenly she was soaring again and her body grew damp with perspiration as the darts of arousal strengthened and grew. She could feel the heavy throb of her impending climax. Damon’s hips moved even faster and now the pair of them were rapidly approaching orgasm. Suddenly they tumbled into the abyss together, groaning their pleasure before Damon collapsed on top of her, wrapping her in his arms and holding her close against the long, lean length of him.

  ‘What are we going to do?’ asked Esther when her breathing was even again.

  ‘Do?’ queried Damon.

  ‘About work,’ explained Esther.

  ‘I thought we sorted that out last night,’ said Damon in apparent surprise. ‘You want to go to America, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes,’ admitted Esther.

  ‘You don’t sound too sure,’ said Damon.

  ‘It’s just that suddenly I don’t want to leave you,’ Esther confessed awkwardly.

  ‘Why on earth should you leave me?’ asked Damon. ‘You don’t think I’d let you go off there without me at your side, do you? We’ve both had offers. We’ll fly out together. Who’s to say we can’t become Hollywood’s golden couple?’

  ‘But that’s not you,’ exclaimed Esther. ‘You don’t like the limelight; you’re only interested in acting.’

  ‘Acting and you,’ Damon corrected her. ‘Anyway, I’ve been offered the starring role in a film of Richard II. God knows what the Americans are going to do with that but I’ve told them I’ll only sign on condition I’m consulted over any cuts so it shouldn’t be too awful.’

  ‘I wonder if we’ll meet Marcus?’ Esther asked him.

  ‘It doesn’t bother me one way or the other,’ said Damon, ‘but no doubt it would be the perfect ending for you.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know,’ said Esther. ‘Marcus seems a long time ago now. It was never like this with Marcus,’ she added, and Damon’s eyes darkened with rekindling desire. As he started to caress her body again, Esther wondered if it would always be like this. She hoped so. The prospect of an exciting career in America with Damon as her lover seemed too good to be true, and yet it really was going to happen.

  Two months later, when all the fuss and commotion about Esther and Damon’s success in Time and the Conways had finally died away, and contracts had been signed, Esther was packing to leave for America. Suddenly the phone rang.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Esther? It’s
Rosie here.’

  ‘Rosie, hi, great to hear from you. What are you up to at the moment?’

  She heard Rosie’s familiar giggle. ‘Do you mean that literally?’

  ‘No I don’t,’ laughed Esther. ‘What are you doing professionally?’

  ‘It’s like I told you before. I’m off abroad with this touring company and Noel and Michael are coming too. Theresa dropped out at the last moment. I think she’s probably involved with Christopher although she won’t admit it.’

  ‘What about all the others?’

  ‘Well no one’s had the same success as you and Damon but everyone’s about to work again and that’s something in our profession. I expect you heard Chris is going back to the RSC to play Hamlet, and Rebecca and Nick are living together in Kensington because he’s filming a new TV soap, while Mary Fuller’s been offered loads of work.’

  ‘That’s great,’ said Esther. ‘How about George and Ellie?’

  ‘It’s funny you should mention them in the same breath because Noel saw them together only last week. He said George looked really tired, which isn’t surprising.’

  Esther laughed. ‘You mean Ellie’s living with George?’

  ‘She may not be living with him but she’s certainly sleeping with him and he’s got a lot more work than he’s had for ages; probably because of his Lear.’

  ‘I thought Ellie had plans for a musical in the West End,’ said Esther.

  ‘Oh, she’s still got plans for that but the director’s abroad and won’t be back until Christmas, so I think she’s making do with George in the meantime. She’s probably using him as practice for living with an older man. I don’t think she’s working herself, but she’s taking singing and dancing lessons so no doubt she’ll get that part in the musical.’

  ‘She’s determined enough,’ conceded Esther.

  ‘But what about you?’ asked Rosie. ‘When are you off?’

  ‘Tonight,’ exclaimed Esther. ‘I still can’t believe it’s all happening and neither can Damon, really.’

  ‘Have you heard anything from Marcus?’ asked Rosie.

  Esther was silent for a moment. ‘No,’ she said slowly, ‘and I don’t suppose I ever will but I honestly don’t care. He must have heard what happened in Regent’s Park and I should think by now he knows about Damon and me too. That’s all I ever wanted – that and success.’