Back After the Break

by Anita Notaro

  ‘Well, I hope you’ll be proud of us when you see it.’ Lindsay knew he was delighted with the line-up. ‘Gotta go, I see Tom arriving.’

  ‘Well, what disasters have befallen us?’ Tom Watts greeted them as he entered the studio.

  ‘None, so far.’ Lindsay searched for wood to touch.

  ‘Has Colin Quinn arrived in the country?’

  ‘We haven’t heard, all their mobiles are off. But, no news is good news.’

  ‘What’s our plan if he’s delayed?’

  ‘I’ve a discussion item standing by, notes are on your desk along with a new running order, just in case. But I don’t expect we’ll need it. We’d have heard by now if he hadn’t made his flight from the States and all flights from London are on time, so he should be here around seven-thirty.’

  ‘I hope you’re right.’ He walked off towards his dressing room, leaving Lindsay saying a mental prayer.

  Mr and Mrs Quinn and friends arrived shortly before eight and Lindsay greeted them warmly and showed them to the hospitality suite.

  ‘Has our son arrived yet?’ Mr Quinn enquired.

  ‘Not yet,’ Lindsay said a touch too brightly.

  ‘Is Tom Watts here?’ Mrs Quinn wanted to know.

  ‘Yes, he’s in studio rehearsing, but he’s looking forward to meeting you after the show.’ Lindsay knew Tom Watts would not want to be bothered with any of this now. Afterwards, if it all went smoothly, he’d be utterly charming.

  They went on air without Colin Quinn, which was not unusual, given that he was the last item in the show and wouldn’t be needed until around ten-thirty, but still, Alice was panicking and Lindsay wasn’t too far behind, although she tried to look calm.

  ‘Give it another fifteen minutes, then we call the stand-by guests. God damn them, why don’t they turn on their mobile phones?’ Lindsay wondered in frustration. ‘You keep trying to make contact and I’ll hover between studio and TV reception.’

  They opened with the Latin lothario and he went down a bomb. In the audience, women of all ages went wild at his act and practically mobbed him when he finished, which nearly caused a major problem for security, not to mention the camera crew, who had difficulty getting shots. Luckily Tom calmed things down and insisted that unless they all returned to their seats he wouldn’t be able to chat to the object of their desire.

  He was absolutely charming and spoke in a broken English accent that merely added to his appeal, although Alice told her his accent had been nothing like it was now when she’d first spoken to him.

  ‘Hell, he’s probably from Blackpool originally,’ Lindsay laughed in delight.

  The interview was terrific, punctuated by screams from the fans each time he spoke. His answers became more and more double-meaning and he worked the audience into a frenzy.

  ‘They’re here.’ Alice was suddenly beside her. ‘They’re just getting out of the limo. I have to stay here to make sure Romeo gets off safely. Could you meet them?’

  ‘Sure, just page me if there’s any problem. I normally wouldn’t leave studio but I won’t rest until I see this guy for myself.’

  Lindsay dashed out to reception where their hostess was already taking coats. She couldn’t see their star anywhere, which was a bit worrying. A tall blond lady seemed to be in charge and there were seven or eight of them, doing what she had absolutely no idea.

  ‘Hello, I’m Lindsay Davidson. I’m in charge of the show tonight.’ She held out her hand to the blond woman.

  ‘Hi, Lindsay, nice to meet you. I’m Shirley. I told you it would be tight but we got here.’

  ‘Great.’ Where the hell was he? Lindsay looked around the group and smiled, still not seeing him.

  ‘We’ll go straight to the dressing room for a few minutes so that Colin can relax.’

  ‘Sure.’ She couldn’t think of anything else to say and led the way silently. As she held open the security door to let them through she noticed someone who looked vaguely like him, hovering uncomfortably on the edge of the group.

  No, it couldn’t be, she decided as he gestured for her to go through before him.

  It had to be him. There was no one else.

  Lindsay couldn’t believe it. On screen he looked taller, broader and had a huge presence. In the flesh he was smaller, only a couple of inches taller than she was and he was thinner. His blond hair was cropped very tight and the only thing that resembled his movie-star image was his eyes.

  No, it wasn’t him, she decided.

  He grinned at her shyly, as she stood back and waited for him to come through to the next security checkpoint. ‘Thanks’, as she held the door.

  ‘You’re welcome.’ She still wasn’t sure.

  ‘Actually, Shirley, I think I’ll go straight to make-up, then I can change and relax.’ Even his voice sounded different, quieter. But it had to be him, there was no one else.

  ‘I’ll show you the way.’ Lindsay was still convinced she had the wrong guy, until she got to make-up.

  ‘Colin, hi. Nice to see you again.’ Sara, the chief make-up artist, was over in a flash, closely followed by a couple of the juniors.

  ‘How’ya, Sara, you’re looking great.’ So he even remembered names. Lindsay was impressed. He grinned and gave Sara a hug and Lindsay watched in amazement as six fully grown women attempted to make up one man’s face. His two minders watched helplessly. Lindsay dashed back to studio, almost colliding with Alice.

  ‘All OK?’

  ‘Yes, we’re just on a break and Romeo is skulling beers in the green room and looking for “hot-blooded Irish pussy”.’ The two girls collapsed.

  ‘Well, you ain’t seen nothing yet. I’ve just left Colin Quinn in make-up and the only way you’ll recognize him is by the amount of women fussing around him. He looks completely different, not at all the heart-throb he appears on screen. He’s tiny and skinny. No, that’s unfair. He’s small and slim.’

  Alice guffawed. ‘Well as long as he can talk I couldn’t care less what he looks like. Maybe he’s fading away, pining for his dead wife.’ She looked all gooey. ‘Anyway, you go. Tom is looking for you. I’ll take over.’

  Lindsay dashed back into studio. Tom needed reassurance.

  ‘How is it going?’

  ‘Great. Thanks for keeping that lot under control at the start. We could have been in trouble. The interview was fab. Colin Quinn is in make-up. Seems in good form but go easy, I’d say. By the way, his parents are in the audience. I don’t know if he knows but it might help him relax.’

  ‘Thirty seconds to air,’ announced the floor manager and after a few words about the next item Lindsay stepped quietly to the side of the set as the music pounded her ears.

  The celebrity chef had an ego the size of a watermelon and the audience were fascinated. He was a complete fake with dyed hair and orange skin. After plugging his new TV series Tom led him skilfully into talking about the sixteen-year-old who supposedly ‘threw herself at him. He was so thick that he didn’t even notice the audience gasping at his lack of respect for women in general and when they eventually booed at him he looked stunned. Tom wound him up and flattered him at the same time and he lapped it up. It made for entertaining television.

  The show flew after that and suddenly they were on the music item prior to Colin Quinn. Lindsay saw him standing at the back of the set alone, waiting. She wasn’t sure whether to approach him but he looked a bit lost.

  ‘Can I get you anything?’

  He shook his head and she was about to move away when she heard him say quietly, ‘Can’t say I’m looking forward to this but I’ll be fine once I get on.’ That shy grin was back. ‘Hard to believe, I’m sure, but I actually hate personal publicity.’

  ‘Why did you agree to do it?’

  ‘It’s part of every actor’s contract with the movie company. They want publicity for their product. Unfortunately, the people who give them that publicity all want to know about your private life. Normally I’ve nothing to say about myself but thi
s time, because I’ve been off the scene, they know there’s a story.’

  ‘That’s hard.’

  ‘Yeah, but if I have to do a big interview I’d rather do it in my home country where at least people care about me. I got thousands of cards and letters from Ireland when . . .’ He stopped abruptly.

  They stood in silence for a moment as the applause died and Tom Watts’ voice came over the speakers. ‘My next guest needs no introduction because he is arguably this country’s most successful export and a major international star to boot, but having just come through a huge personal trauma I’ll bet he’d appreciate knowing how much we’ve missed him. Let’s welcome home Colin Quinn.’

  ‘Good luck.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He gave her a wistful smile and walked swiftly towards the lights and when she looked at a monitor nearby he was smiling broadly as he strode over to shake hands with Tom.

  The audience went mad as soon as they saw him and gave him a standing ovation. He looked taken aback and touched and slightly embarrassed. Lindsay looked at his parents and saw that his mother was almost in tears, clapping loudly to hide her feelings. She felt like crying herself. It was an emotional moment.

  The interview was riveting. Both men clearly knew and liked each other and laughed and joked for a while, until Tom asked the question everyone wanted an answer to.

  ‘Almost two years ago now you lost your wife and you’ve been away from your work ever since and I know this is your first time home since it happened. How are you now and how are the children?’

  Colin Quinn paused for an instant. ‘Well, I’m OK now, in fact I’m doing fine, but I cannot tell you anything other than it’s been the hardest four years of my life.’

  ‘Your wife was diagnosed with cancer shortly after she gave birth to your daughters?’

  ‘Yeah.’ He let out a long sigh and everyone could see he was still raw. ‘We had twin daughters just over four years ago and Megan wasn’t really recovering as well as expected. We put it down to a difficult birth and the stress and tiredness of having two babies, but after six months or so she was diagnosed with leukaemia. It was the worst moment of our lives. She held on as long as she could to see her babies walk and talk and become little girls really.’ His voice was barely a whisper. ‘She died on their second birthday.’

  He looked very tense as he spoke and people in the audience could be seen wiping away the odd tear. Tom and Lindsay had discussed a strategy if the interview got to this point, anxious to maintain the momentum, yet not be seen to be voyeuristic.

  ‘How are the children now?’

  ‘You know something, they’re absolutely fantastic.’ He smiled slightly and seemed to relax. ‘They really are the best things in my life. Through them I found the strength to go on, even though that sounds like the worst cliché. They laugh and chatter all day and they’ve really become little women. And they had those two precious years with their mother and they still talk to her all the time. They say good night to her every night and tell her how much they miss her.’ His voice broke only slightly, in sharp contrast to the audience, who were mostly in floods of tears. He looked so lost and lonely that Lindsay wanted to hug him, along with every other woman watching, she suspected.

  ‘Speaking of mothers, did you spot your own mother and father in the audience?’

  ‘No way, where?’ He scanned the faces and found the two he wanted. ‘Jesus, Ma, you’d get in anywhere,’ he announced in his best ‘Dublin’ accent and the mood changed and the audience roared. Suddenly he stood up and ran down to the audience where he enveloped his mother in a bear-hug. It was a very special moment, with all seven cameras vying for the best shot of mother and son.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  BY THE TIME the closing music had faded Lindsay’s mobile, which she’d only just switched on, rang.

  It was Alan Morland.

  ‘That was one hell of a show. Colin Quinn was amazing, the best interview I’ve ever seen him give.’

  ‘Well, Tom was very good with him.’ Lindsay was delighted.

  ‘Yes, but he was very restrained and you could see he had a plan. I suspect that was your influence.’

  ‘Only a little.’

  ‘By the way, you gave me a credit, what was that about? I didn’t work on the show.’

  ‘You’re still Executive Producer, I just added Jonathan Myers to the credits as well. Otherwise nothing’s changed.’

  ‘Lindsay, you produced the show tonight.’

  ‘Technically, yes. But I’m still Assistant Producer and I’m happy with it.’

  ‘Thanks. I owe you one.’

  ‘Pleasure. Talk to you on Monday. Go back to bed.’

  There was a terrific atmosphere in the green room; everybody knew the show had been great. Lindsay had a quick word with Tom, who introduced her to his latest squeeze, Danielle – a nineteen-year-old dancer with flaming red hair, supposedly fresh from one of the huge Irish dance musicals currently taking the world by storm.

  ‘She looks like she’s danced round a few poles to me. Irish dancer my ass,’ Geoff winked at Lindsay as he came to say well done.

  Jonathan Myers appeared and pumped Lindsay’s hand.

  ‘Great show, well done. Colin Quinn was superb.’

  ‘Thanks. Come on, I’ll introduce you.’

  Colin Quinn was surrounded by fans and was still trying to enter the green room, hotly pursued by half the audience. Security were definitely earning their money tonight. Lindsay introduced the two men and decided to leave them to talk.

  ‘Are my mum and dad coming back here?’ Colin wanted to know as she moved away.

  ‘Yes, as well as your Auntie Anne and Uncle Tom and some other relations, all of whom are signing autographs as we speak.’ Lindsay laughed and went to rescue them.

  ‘This is a wonderful night. Thank you, my dear.’ Mrs Quinn hugged her as she looked around the green room. ‘Oh look, there’s that lovely chef. I must ask him about his recipe for roast lamb with anchovies.’ The others watched in astonishment as she took a glass of wine from a passing waiter and headed straight for their guest.

  ‘I warn you, you’ll have to drag her away from Tom Watts once she spots him,’ Mr Quinn laughed.

  Mrs Quinn, however, did know when to stop and she joined Lindsay and Mr Quinn in a corner, having said hello to everyone including her hero. ‘We even had our photo taken by your staff photographer.’

  ‘You must give me your address and I’ll send you a copy,’ Lindsay smiled at her enthusiasm as Colin joined them. She stood up quickly, not wanting to intrude and left them alone.

  Later on, she saw them again and they looked a bit lost so she joined them once more. They were a terrific couple, full of life. Colin appeared for a second time and again she made her excuses and left. She was at the bar getting a much-needed glass of wine when he appeared at her side.

  ‘I think you’re trying to avoid me. I wanted to say thanks.’

  ‘What for?’ She was intrigued.

  ‘For saying just the right thing back there. I hadn’t realized I was going to be so nervous.’

  ‘I’m surprised no one stayed with you. Normally—’

  ‘No, please, I asked to be on my own. Don’t blame anyone. But I was glad of the company in the end.’

  ‘It must have been difficult for you.’

  ‘No, actually it was OK and do you know something, I feel better now that I’ve come home. It was time.’

  ‘I’m glad. And thank you for doing our show. It was a big coup for us to get you.’

  ‘I like Tom Watts, always have. Listen, we’re going to dinner now in some very posh restaurant. Will you join us?’

  ‘No, I couldn’t. I wouldn’t want to intrude.’

  ‘I’d like you to.’

  ‘But I don’t know anyone.’

  ‘You know my folks and they’ve been raving about you since I met them tonight. Please?’

  She didn’t know what to say. ‘OK.’

  ‘Gr
eat, let’s go.’

  Half an hour later Lindsay found herself sitting beside Colin Quinn in one of Dublin’s most exclusive restaurants, surrounded by his family, Shirley and the rest of his entourage. The attention lavished on them was astonishing. Waiters hovered everywhere and the owner watched anxiously nearby. They’d been ushered in, past a room full of people all eager to catch a glimpse of the star, to an area reserved for them only. The champagne flowed but Lindsay noticed Colin was quiet and drank only a little.

  Afterwards, everyone insisted on going to a nightclub and Colin had his driver take the older people home, assuring his mum he’d be round at three for her famous roast dinner.

  Again, they were greeted with reverence and ushered in to the V.I.P. room. Lindsay felt a bit shy and chatted to Shirley, who seemed much more relaxed.

  ‘It’s been a tough week getting him here, but the difference already is amazing. He needed to talk about it and most of all he needed to come home to his mum.’

  ‘He still seems awfully quiet.’

  ‘No, he’s fine, believe me. I think tonight was good for him.’

  Colin came and joined them and Shirley was dragged onto the dance floor by a very camp hairdresser, part of the entourage.

  Lindsay wasn’t sure what to say to him and asked him about the children, then felt she’d said the wrong thing as his face clouded. But then he seemed happy enough to talk about them.

  ‘They’re in New York. I have a brilliant nanny and she’s been on location with the kids for the past month, so I’ve been with them as much as I could. I’ve got a week here in Ireland, then three weeks off so she’s going home to Australia and I’ll take care of them full time. They start school this year so I won’t be able to take them with me as much so I’ll definitely cut back on my work.’

  ‘Have you any photos?’

  ‘Yep.’ He took a photo of two adorable little girls out of his wallet. All three of them were tucked up in bed watching TV and the three faces were so alike, it was incredible.

  ‘They’re the image of you.’

  ‘That’s what everyone says but they’re like their mum as well, especially in this one.’ They were gorgeous in scarlet winter coats and hats, all ringlets and ribbons, playing in the snow.