The Cornish Cream Tea Summer by Cressida McLaughlin

Author:Cressida McLaughlin [McLaughlin, Cressida]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2020-02-07T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Lila had thought that saying her line over and over the night before had been extreme, but compared to the number of times they had to shoot this scene, to say their lines and then reset everything, for Toby and his fellow actor to have a particular exchange, or end their conversation in a slightly different way, it felt like a few seconds’ work. She supposed that with such a busy setting, so many more people, a hundred different things that could go wrong, it made sense that they would reshoot a lot. Besides, it was their first day at this location; they were still getting to know its quirks.

The first time she got to say her line, she hadn’t been prepared for the look of pure scorn Toby gave her as he walked past. She had expected a quick smile to show her she’d done well, but of course, he had to be angry – their characters were opposed to each other. Here, he didn’t know her. Here, she was against him.

After that, despite the long waits, the pinch of her boots and chill of the wind that found its way easily through her ill-fitting dress, she began to enjoy herself. She focused, harder than she had done in a long time, absorbing herself fully into the scene. Toby became Henry Bramerton and she was an impoverished, dedicated schoolmistress trying her best for her pupils and their families, outraged at being treated with so little respect by her new landlord, but still needing him to listen to her.

‘This ain’t right, Mr Bramerton, sir, what you’re doin’ here.’ She injected anger and pleading into her voice, lifting her skirts and wringing them while Toby – Henry – strode past, again and again. She tried slightly different inflections, each time waiting while her fellow extras threw less distinct complaints and insults at Henry until he stormed out of frame, and she could give it another shot. She never wanted it to end. She wanted to keep going, keep trying until she felt she had got it exactly right. She was desperate for everyone to believe in Miss Trevelyan.

Lila said her line and watched Toby whisk past her again, staring after him in what she hoped was defiance, until she heard the familiar ‘Cut!’ and then Gregor added, ‘Right everyone, that’s a wrap!’ There was an immediate change in atmosphere, people sighing and relaxing their postures, gentle murmuring as they made their way off set.

Lila was stunned. Was it really all over? Had she done the best she could? And then she felt a wave of emotion, of electricity, as if she’d been lit up with a thousand internal fairy lights. In a daze, she followed the young woman with the apron up the hill, back towards the costume trailer, and gasped when someone took her hand.

She turned to find Sam beaming at her. He was casually dressed, and she felt self-conscious in her unflattering outfit, so different to the silk gowns worn by Aria, or Keeley’s floaty white dresses.

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