‘What sort of problem?’ asked Sally.
‘You know what I mean – an eating-disorder type of thing. Anorexia, I think they call it. I was reading about it the other day in a magazine. Lots of film stars have it because they have to be so thin for the films. They either don’t eat at all, or eat and then make themselves sick afterwards. Some people have even died, it gets so bad.’ Janie was warming to her subject. ‘Mind you, she probably gets sick from all that dope she smokes as well. What?’ Janie looked up from her ironing to see Gwendoline and Sally staring at her open-mouthed. ‘Oh, don’t tell me you didn’t know? She is always rolling joints and stashing them in her make-up bag for later. Pete reckons that is why she can’t learn the lines. He says she is basically stoned all the time. I am surprised Giles hasn’t noticed – or Rupert, for that matter. Let’s face it, he is such a lovely guy and so obviously not into drugs, yet he spends all his time with her. Did I tell you I caught them at it in the dressing room the other day? God, it was so embarrassing.’
‘I thought you said she spent all her time with her head down the toilet,’ Sally said rather sullenly. ‘What a busy girl she is.’
Janie laughed. ‘Go on, Sally, tell it how it is!’
‘Sorry, but it does make me cross, Janie. People like her always seem to get away with murder, don’t they? Not much talent but all the luck in the world, and mugs like us prepared to cover for her. Anyway, enough of all that, I came here to be cheered up and get the gossip. How is Sarah these days?’ For some reason Sally had suddenly thought about the girl and her dealings with Percy. Peggy seemed happier of late so maybe things had gone back to normal.
‘Funny you should mention her,’ said Janie. ‘She is not my favourite person and she owes me money as it happens, but she is very quiet these days. I think something has happened.’
‘She owes me money as well,’ joined in Gwendoline. ‘And I believe she has had money off most of the boys. She seems to have eased off on Percy, I noticed.’
‘I know Peggy was worried about all that,’ said Sally. ‘Do you think Sarah was actually sleeping with him?’
‘Yes, I do. She is a right little madam,’ blasted Janie. ‘And I tell you what I think, that she tried to get money out of Percy because he was in a right state a while back and asked Pete about loans and such from the bank, and when Pete asked him why he needed the money, Percy got all tearful and admitted he was a bad boy sometimes and girls took advantage – but he wouldn’t actually own up to it being Sarah. But let’s face it, we all know she has been all over him like a rash. Even Peggy knows the score. I reckon Peggy has fronted her up and told her to get lost and that is exactly what she has done. Can’t blackmail Percy if the wife knows all about it, can she? So now she is keeping her head down – looking for the next victim, I expect.’
‘I always suspected it was Sarah who told Geoffrey’s wife he was having an affair.’ Gwendoline let this statement hang in the air and all three girls digested the information.
Sally found herself thinking what a sad world it was when people spent so much time and energy being horrible to each other.
The silence was broken by the arrival of Dora.
‘Hi, guys! Just been told I have to try on Isabelle’s costumes in case I have to go on. How cool is that . . .’ She stopped as she caught her sister’s glare across the room.
‘You have to go on? Dora, how many times do I have to tell you I am Isabelle’s understudy?’
‘Don’t blame me, sis. Giles sent me here. Talk to him.’ Dora crossed to Gwendoline and started to undress.
‘Oh, don’t worry, I will,’ Sally hissed and marched out of the room.
Chapter 36
Sally was fuming as she strode across the stage towards Giles Longfellow’s office. This was beyond endurance. Never mind the fact that her bloody sister was trying to usurp her role, Sally had a contract with the theatre that stated that she was the official understudy. As she approached the door to Giles’s office she could hear raised voices. She knocked loudly and the shouting stopped immediately. There was a pause and then the door was opened by Robert who looked at her briefly and then pushed past her and left.
‘Sally, come in, come in.’ Giles looked decidedly ill at ease and was mopping his brow with a silk handkerchief. ‘Please sit down, dear. What can I do for you?’
Sally took a deep breath and jumped straight in. ‘I am very disappointed to discover that somehow my sister Dora seems to have replaced me as the understudy for Ophelia. I have a contract which states I am employed as an ASM, and to play small parts and understudy. Why have you not allowed me to continue in this capacity?’
Giles let out a long sigh. ‘Oh, Sally, my dear, do we have to go through all this now? I am so stressed, as you can appreciate. I value your time and your talent enormously, but you can’t do everything. You have been engaged with the Dumb Show, which I hear is fabulous, and you have had your usual duties to perform finding props, et cetera. I felt it was impossible for you to understudy as well.’
‘But you could have talked to me about the situation,’ said Sally. ‘You agreed I could put Dora on my other jobs, and once I had set up the Dumb Show I would have been free once again to work with you and Isabelle. I have arranged the whole thing to fit round my duties, and there is not a problem. Please, Giles, it is only fair you give me back the job. Apart from anything else, Dora is not experienced enough to hold the performance together, no matter what she thinks.’
Giles regarded Sally for a few moments and then remarked, ‘Do I suspect a trace of filial jealousy?’
‘Oh, for goodness sake!’ cried Sally. ‘I am so sick of people always resorting to that old chestnut. I brought Dora here to work. I am proud of what she has achieved and happy for her, but that is not the point. I am the understudy and I want my job back.’
Giles laughed, a deep throaty sound that resounded round the room.
‘Well done, you! OK, Sally, you win. You are the official understudy and I will check with the printers that your name is in the programme. Make sure you let Gwendoline know about costumes and then meet me onstage to go through all the Ophelia scenes with Isabelle. I might as well tell you now that there is every possibility that you will have to go on at some point, as the girl has some medical problems that may need attention. Obviously we just hope and pray she is fine for the first night. Please keep all this to yourself,’ he added.
‘Of course,’ replied Sally, trying to keep calm and hoping Giles would not notice the flush of exaltation she could feel spreading over her whole face. ‘Thank you, Giles, I am very grateful.’ She moved as swiftly as possible, without looking as though she was rushing, to the door. She just wanted to get away before he changed his mind!
Once outside, and out of earshot, she let out a whoop of delight and went to find her dear sister. Dora was still in the wardrobe department trying on costumes. Sally made sure she was very calm and businesslike. It would not do at all for her to look as though she was enjoying her assignment.
‘Dora, can I have a word outside? Would you excuse us for a minute, ladies?’
Dora followed Sally out and up to the dressing room. ‘So what is so secretive we have to come up here?’ she asked.
‘I have just been talking to Giles and we have agreed that it is only right and proper that I get my job back as understudy to Isabelle. So I—’ Sally was interrupted by a very petulant Dora.
‘Oh come on, Sally, that is not fair! I have worked really hard the last couple of weeks. I am perfect for the part, and Rupert and I have a very special bond.’
‘I am sure that is true, sister dear, and nobody is denying you have worked hard, but unfortunately you do not have a contract, as I do, stating that you are the understudy. I too have worked hard for the last few months with this company, and it is only right and proper I get the perks of the job. Your turn will no doubt come one day if you continue to pursue your chosen career with the zeal you have shown so far.’
The t
wo sisters stood facing each other eyeball to eyeball; neither wanted to be the first to break the spell. Finally they both had to turn to face Janie, who announced breathlessly, ‘Sally, you have to come quickly. Isabelle has collapsed!’
They all rushed downstairs to the stage where a very dramatic scene awaited them. Rupert was bent over Isabelle, who was lying on the floor surrounded by various members of the cast and crew. Robert was pacing back and forth, and Giles was standing at the edge of the group looking lost.
‘Has someone called an ambulance?’ ordered Sally. ‘Come on, guys, move out of the way. Give the girl some breathing space.’ She knelt down beside Rupert and tried to work out what was happening.
‘The ambulance is on its way,’ called Gladys from the pass door. ‘I will bring them straight down luvvie, don’t you fret.’
Sally displayed her First Aid technique to great effect, and having felt Isabelle’s pulse and established there was nothing too serious going on, she announced, ‘I think she has just fainted. Someone get me a towel soaked in cold water . . . Oh, you got one – thanks, Heather.’ She took the towel from the stage manager and laid it across Isabelle’s forehead just as the actress started to stir.
‘There you go . . . Everything is all right, Isabelle, you just fainted.’ Sally spoke softly to the girl as she slowly came to, and became aware of her surroundings.
There was a commotion from the other side of the stage and two paramedics marched across to them.
‘Is this the lady? Can we have her name, please? Isabelle. OK, Isabelle, can you hear me?’ The two medics proceeded to put Isabelle back together again, and everyone drifted away. Sally took Rupert by the arm and led him towards the edge of the stage.
‘Would you like me to make you a cup of tea?’ she murmured. ‘What happened?’
‘Don’t worry about me – I’m all right. It was just a surprise. One minute she was fine and the next she was on the floor. God, I hope she is going to be OK.’
‘I am sure she will soon recover.’ Sally had a thought. ‘Has she eaten anything today?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know. No, I don’t think so. We didn’t have time for breakfast this morning.’
Sally gritted her teeth at the thought of the two lovebirds tumbling out of bed. ‘Does Isabelle eat properly, Rupert?’ Sally wondered if he had any idea about the girl’s eating problems.
‘Yes, I guess so. I mean, we all eat at strange times here, don’t we? I haven’t really noticed, to be honest. Why do you ask?’ He looked at Sally enquiringly.
‘Oh, no reason, just that Isabelle is very thin, and you know what actresses are like about their figures. You can never be too thin. But sometimes it can be dangerous. She needs all her strength at the moment with the hours we are working.’
‘Yes, I suppose you are right,’ said Rupert, looking as though he had no idea what Sally was going on about.
‘Now come on, let’s go and find Giles and get some work done. I can take up my role again as understudy.’
Giles, Rupert and Sally worked all afternoon. It was a fabulous rehearsal and by the end of the day Rupert was flushed with excitement.
‘Let’s go to Mrs Wong’s and get some chips,’ he said. ‘That was fantastic, Sally. I really feel as if I have turned a corner and I know I will be able to help Isabelle too.’
Oh great, thought Sally. All this effort for someone else to get the glory. But out loud she agreed. ‘You certainly have cracked it now. That last scene is going to be so moving.’
Before they left the theatre they got an update on Isabelle. Apparently the hospital was going to keep her overnight for tests but she would be back tomorrow.
‘I suppose I should go and visit her,’ said Rupert as they made their way next door to Mrs Wong’s.
‘I am sure she will be fine and probably sleeping, so I don’t think you need worry too much,’ Sally reassured him. ‘Heather has gone to the hospital with her stuff for the night, so I would relax and just enjoy your chips. Shall we get a bottle of wine as a treat?’ They got takeaway in the end, and bought a bottle on the way to Sally’s flat where they spent a wonderful evening chatting about nothing in particular. They really did get on so well and Sally was glowing with contentment.
Suddenly the door opened and Dora appeared, weaving her way across the room.
‘Oh wow, what are you two up to, eh? When the cat’s away in hospital? You are a quick worker, Rupie boy.’ Dora plonked herself down on the sofa and started to take off her boots.
‘Dora, you are drunk. What have you been up to?’ said Sally, trying to change the subject.
‘Oh, just drowning my sorrows with the lads, now I have been relegated to general dogsbody again by my scheming sister. So Rupert, what are you doing here? You didn’t answer my question.’ Dora had managed to get her boots off and was now splayed across the sofa watching Rupert who was sitting nearby on the carpet with his glass of wine.
‘I am enjoying a glass of wine with your lovely sister. Is that not allowed?’ asked Rupert, completely unaware of the undercurrents swirling around him.
‘Do you want a sandwich or something, to mop up the booze?’ Sally was hovering at the kitchen door, desperate to create a diversion. She knew what Dora was like in this mood.
‘No, thanks. I am going to bed in a minute. What are you two going to do?’
Dora leered at Rupert who quite innocently replied, ‘I am off too in a minute – got another hard day tomorrow. Isabelle is going to be back in the morning, so we are all good to go.’ He got up and finished off the last of his wine. ‘I will see you tomorrow, Sally, and thanks again for today. You have been a star.’
He went to kiss Sally on the cheek and Dora chimed in, ‘I bet you are disappointed, aren’t you, Sal? Isabelle is going to be OK. How very annoying!’
Sally was leading Rupert to the door as quickly as she dared. She tried to sound light-hearted as she replied, saying, ‘Oh, Dora, stop it! Of course I am delighted that Isabelle is recovering. We had a lovely time this afternoon but that is all part of the job. Thank you, Rupert, for working with me today. I look forward to putting it together with Isabelle tomorrow.’ She closed the door with a sigh of relief, and then turned to her sister.
‘What the hell is the matter with you? Why are you being such a bitch? I am beginning to wonder whether you should think about leaving, because quite frankly I have had enough of your machinations, and insults, and bad behaviour.’
‘Oh, give me a break,’ responded Dora, sitting up now and ready for a fight. ‘Who are you to decide whether I leave or not? I have the theatre to think of, and my responsibilities to the rest of the cast. I happen to care about them, you know,’ she said hotly.
‘Oh really? So then why don’t you get on with the jobs in hand and stop giving me a hard time? I don’t want to fight, Dora. I don’t understand what has gone wrong between us. We were having such fun in the beginning.’ Sally went to sit beside her sister on the couch.
Dora looked sullen.
‘It is just so frustrating sometimes watching you at work and wanting to be doing it myself. I just want to get on, Sally, and you are so happy to plod along and take things as they come. I want to make things happen. Then you have taken away the one thing I was really into, and now I am back to square one.’ Dora was pacing the room now like a cat. She is very beautiful, thought Sally. Much more like an actress ought to be than me. Maybe she is right and I am ruining her chances but not making the best of my own.
Out loud she said, ‘I am sorry about the understudy thing but you have to understand I have looked forward to that since the beginning of the season. I didn’t know you were going to come here and turn into an aspiring actress overnight. I don’t want to be the enemy.’ Sally suddenly felt exhausted. ‘Look, please let’s try and have fun like we were before. You will get a great part in the next production, I am sure. Giles really likes you, and I will remind him you are keen to work as an actress.’
‘We are doing Vi
ctorian music hall next, you idiot! So I get a couple of solos. Big deal – that is not going to show off my acting skills, is it?’ Dora complained.
Sally was defeated. ‘OK, sorry, I forgot – but please just be patient, like we all have to be. Why should you get everything all at once?’ With that, she took the wine glasses into the kitchen and left Dora to ponder life’s foibles.
As she crossed the living room to go to bed Dora stopped her and gave her a hug. ‘OK, sis, a truce. I will try not to wind you up or give you a hard time.’
Sally gave her a hug back and said, ‘Thank you, dear, that makes me very happy. Now I need to sleep. I will be so glad when this production finally opens. Night night.’
But as she undressed in her room, Sally wished she felt better about her situation with Dora. She still loved her sister, but she didn’t like or trust her very much, and that felt so sad. Her every instinct told her things were never going to be the same between them again when this job finally came to an end.
FINALE
The walk down
Chapter 37
Let’s all go down the Strand –
Let’s all go down the Strand!
I’ll be leader, you can march behind
Come with me and see what we can find!
The first dress rehearsal of Hamlet was an absolute disaster. It lasted four hours, and by the time the curtain came down, everybody had lost the will to live. Giles told everyone to go home and sleep on it. ‘It’ being any version of terrible acting that any one of them could muster.
Sally had a nightmare that she was buried in the grave onstage and nobody could hear her shouting to be set free. She woke the next morning in a terrible sweat, trembling with panic. It took half the morning for her to shake herself free of the sense of doom that hung over her. When she got to the theatre for the note session she could almost smell the clods of earth descending on top of her again.
The Boy I Love Page 25