Olivia and the Movie Stars (3 page)

Chapter Five

Olivia was eating her breakfast when her mobile phone rang.

“Olivia?” said an American voice hesitantly.

“Cosima!” said Olivia, surprised. “How did you get my number?”

“I hope you don’t mind. I asked Jon James for it.” Cosima paused. “I wanted to ask you a big favour.”

“What is it?” asked Olivia cautiously. She really didn’t want to get involved with the twins more than was necessary but, for Alicia’s sake, she didn’t want to be rude either. Having seen how Cosmo and Cosima had behaved at tea last night, she reckoned they wouldn’t be greeted with open arms by the rest of the Swan pupils and might have quite a hard time at the school.

“I hoped that you would come to the press conference this morning,” said Cosima. Then she added shyly, “I guess I’d feel happier if there was a friendly face in the crowd.”

“But Cosmo and your dad will be there. And Gran.”

“I know,” said Cosi firmly. “But I want you to be there too.”

Olivia sighed inwardly. Cosima had called it a favour but there was something about her manner that made it sound like an order at the same time. She hoped that Cosima hadn’t singled her out to be her special friend while she was at the Swan. But Olivia wanted to be kind, because after all she knew only too well what it was like to be thrust into a strange situation beyond your control. When she and Eel had arrived at the Swan two terms ago, Olivia felt everyone thought they were weird because they’d been in a circus, and being Alicia’s granddaughters singled them out too. She thought it must be the same for Cosima and Cosmo but even more so. If you had been famous all your life like the twins had, it must be impossible to make real friends.

“I’ll have to ask Gran,” said Olivia, hoping
she sounded more enthusiastic than she felt.

“Cool,” said Cosima. “I think Jon is calling her now. Catch ya later.”

Cosima was right. Alicia was that very minute talking to Jon James on her mobile. Jon was very fond of both the Marvell girls: Eel’s impromptu performance as Gretl on press night had saved his production of
The Sound of Music
and turned it into the hit of the season, and he admired Olivia for her extraordinary bravery in saving Katie Wilkes-Cox, another member of the cast, from certain death, even though Katie had been making her life a misery.

“Cosima really does seem very keen for Livy to be there,” Jon told Alicia. “And anything that will help put the twins at their ease can only be a good thing.” Then he added cryptically, “In fact, there’s going to be an announcement that both the Marvell girls will enjoy. You’d better bring Eel too.”

Before Alicia could ask him what he meant, Jon moved on. “How was your session with the twins yesterday?” Alicia paused just a fraction too long. “Tell me the truth!” he demanded.

Alicia sighed. “As you well know, Jon,” she
said drily, “the truth is a precious commodity and we must use it sparingly. Particularly in the theatre.”

Jon laughed. “OK, you’ve told me everything I need to know. Lots of hard work ahead for all of us, then. I just hope that the casting coup of the century doesn’t turn out to be a catastrophe instead. See you in a couple of hours.”

Alicia said goodbye and turned to Olivia. “I can see from your face that Cosima’s already asked you this – but would you like to come to the press conference?” asked Alicia. She saw the doubt in Olivia’s eyes. “I don’t want to force you to be friends with Cosima. But I think just at the moment she needs all the support she can get. Jon and I would be very grateful if you would humour her, at least today.”

“The problem with the Wood twins is that people humour them all the time,” said Olivia. “But I will come, Gran. But more for your sake, and for Jon’s, not for Cosima’s.”

“Thank you, Livy. It’s kind of you. You can go to your first two lessons and then meet me in the foyer at ten o’clock. And Jon wants Eel to be there too. Do you want to tell her or shall I?”

“I’ll find her,” said Olivia, gathering up her homework books. She knew that her little sister would be thrilled to be going to the press conference. Unlike Olivia, who shrank away from the bright lights, Eel loved the glamour of show business.

“It’s going to be a packed day,” said Alicia. “But, and thank heavens for small mercies, at least there’s no repeat of yesterday’s dreadful noise.” Olivia headed off downstairs to find Eel, who was doing a before-school class in the Pavlova dance studio. As she got to the door, the bell for first lessons rang. The second it stopped, the machines on the building site next door started up in a great cacophony of noise.

Two hours later, Alicia, Olivia and Eel were sitting in the front row of the Imperial Theatre. Behind them, the gathered press were getting restless. They had already been introduced to Jon James and the production’s designer, Lucy Parks-Davies, whose collapsing set for the National Theatre’s
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
had won her every award going. The choreographer was Tippi Leone, who famously had been sacked from a TV dance show for saying
that one of the celebrity contestants looked like a sack of potatoes with all the dancing skills of a tub of lard and then refusing to withdraw her comments. They had also been introduced to Chloe Bonar, who was playing Mrs Darling, and to the rising young comedian Ric Nighthall, who was going to play Nana the dog. He had been in full furry costume and had raised a few laughs with his antics. They’d even got to see the computer-operated mechanical crocodile with the ticking clock inside its tummy that would pursue Captain Hook. Eel thought it would be rather fun to operate the crocodile. She hoped Jon James would let her have a go.

But everyone was impatient to get to the real meat of the press conference. Since the Wood twins has been spotted arriving at Heathrow forty-eight hours ago, the press had been awash with speculation that they were in London to star as Peter and Wendy, and they were dying to interrogate the most famous twelve-year-olds in the world. But they were also agog to discover who was playing Captain Hook. Seldom had a production so successfully staged-managed its own publicity.

Jon James was talking again, explaining that
the production would be using an innovative new system of flying that would allow the children to soar right out into the auditorium and over the heads of the audience. The camera crew, standing in the aisle next to Olivia and Eel, yawned. Normally they’d have found this interesting but they knew that what their news desks really wanted was good footage of the Wood twins and an interview with whoever was playing Captain Hook. But Olivia was fascinated. She thought she’d very much like to have a go at flying. It sounded fun. She reckoned that her circus skills would stand her in good stead. It crossed her mind that Cosima had said she didn’t like heights. How would she cope with flying?

“And now for a real coup,” said Jon. “I’d like to introduce you to our flying consultant … the one and only Jack Marvell.” A cheer erupted from the auditorium. Olivia, Eel and Alicia gasped and Olivia turned to her grandmother accusingly.

“I didn’t know, Livy,” protested Alicia. “I promise. I’m as astonished as you are. I didn’t even know he was back in the country.”

Olivia felt really hurt. Even if Jack had
been told to keep his involvement in
Peter Pan
a secret, she thought he ought to have trusted her enough to tell her, or at least let her know that he was back in London. But as soon as she saw him walk on stage, his crumpled clothes and
bleary-eyed
expression showing he’d just stepped off a plane, her hurt feelings evaporated.

Jack Marvell was a popular and glamorous figure, an old-style hero whose daredevil stunts had long captured the public imagination. He’d made front-page news recently, after his plane had crashed in the Idaho wilds and he’d walked for four days through the wilderness to get help for the injured pilot. The cameramen and the rest of the media had really perked up. This press conference was getting better and better!

When Jack caught sight of Olivia, Eel and Alicia, he gave them a surprised and delighted grin and a thumbs-up. There were a few technical questions and then one of the journalists asked him about the safety of the flying apparatus he would be using.

“It’s safer than an aeroplane,” said Jack with a confident grin.

“But planes do crash,” someone called out.

“Not on their way to Never Land, and
not if I’m the pilot,” said Jack firmly. “All the children who fly in this production will be as safe as if their feet had never left the ground. And now, ladies and gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve just touched down myself and there are some very important people I have to see.” He made his way off stage, through the pass door and down into the auditorium, where he took the seat between Olivia and Eel, squeezed both their hands and whispered, “Hello, girls, I’ve missed you both so much.” Olivia squeezed his hand back very hard and snuggled close to him and Eel got out of her seat and climbed into his lap.

“Dad,” whispered Olivia. “Can I have a go at flying?”

“I knew you’d ask me that,” said Jack. “I was hoping to sign you up to be my guinea pig. Tom too, if he wants.”

On stage, Jon James was back at the microphone. “Now,” he said, “this is the moment you’ve all been waiting for! It gives me enormous pleasure to introduce our Peter and Wendy. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for Cosmo and Cosima Wood.” Some stirring music struck up, composed by
the man who would be composing all the music for the show, and Cosmo and Cosima stepped on to the stage into a huge spotlight. Camera shutters clicked. The twins waved and smiled. They looked very shiny, thought Olivia. As if somebody had polished them all over. She could see that Cosmo was holding Cosima’s hand very hard and Cosima’s smile was unnaturally bright as if she was acting happiness and excitement rather than actually experiencing it. She suddenly caught sight of Olivia and flashed her a grateful smile, full of genuine warmth.

“Now, I know that you are very eager to talk to Cosmo and Cosima, and ask them all about playing Peter and Wendy and making their stage debut here in London, but first I want to introduce you to our Captain Hook. We’ve managed to keep it so secret that nobody, not even Cosmo and Cosima, have known who they will be acting alongside on stage. But I can now reveal to you, in what I’m sure you will all agree is a brilliant piece of casting, that Captain Hook, and of course Mr Darling, will be played by that celebrated star of stage and screen, Jasper Wood.”

The auditorium gasped as Jasper Wood
strode on stage. He was a big man with a mass of dark hair and a hawk-like nose that gave a touch of cruelty to his handsome face. While a huge hubbub broke out among the journalists in the auditorium, all eyes turned to Cosmo and Cosima. How would they react to the news that they’d be acting on stage alongside their father? The cameras went crazy as the Wood children and Jasper were ushered towards each other. Jasper Wood clapped Cosmo on the back and caught Cosima in a massive bear hug and held her very tight. Eventually he broke away from her and raised a hand for silence.

“My amazing, talented son, Cosmo, and his beautiful sister, Cosima, and I are delighted and honoured to be making our West End debuts together in J.M. Barrie’s famous play. It means so much to us as a family, a family who have drama running through our veins, to be acting in the capital of the theatrical world, London. I know that I speak for all of us when I say that there is no place on earth we’d rather be, except in Never Land, and I hope that you will accept the invitation to fly there with us and experience its magic.” Jasper’s ultra-sincere manner and his clearly rehearsed words made Olivia’s toes
curl. She glanced at Cosima. She looked stiff with shock.

“Twins, how does it feel to know that you’ll be acting alongside your dad?” asked a reporter.

“Awesome,” said Cosmo. “Just awesome. I know he’s going to help us so much. He’s the best.” Jasper gave a blindingly white smile.

“Cosima, do you think your dad will make a great Captain Hook?” There was a little pause. Then Cosima looked at her dad, smiled very sweetly and said very clearly, “Why, it’s perfect casting. He’ll hardly need to do any acting at all.”

For a split second no one seemed to know quite what to make of this remark but then Jasper Wood slapped his thigh exaggeratedly and said, “My daughter! She’s such a comedian. She cracks me up every time.” Everyone laughed, but to Olivia it looked as if Cosima was holding back tears.

The journalists were all firing questions and Jasper Wood was fielding them in his big booming voice. Olivia’s phone gave a little bleep in her pocket and she pulled it out, glad of the distraction. To her surprise, she saw she had a message from Katie Wilkes-Cox. Olivia
hadn’t heard from Katie since the afternoon at the Duke’s Theatre when she’d come to pick up her things from her dressing room before leaving
The Sound of Music
in disgrace. Pale and subdued, she had thanked Olivia and Tom for saving her life and apologised for having tried to destroy their friendship. Olivia had never expected to hear from her again. She read the message.