The Blackwell Lessons (21 page)

69

Filming
Rapunzel
takes us all the way through spring and summer, and some extra filming days are added in September too.

By then I’m pretty big. All my shots have to be from the neck up.

Luckily, Nadia arranged the schedule so that my body shots were taken early on. I have a body double to help me now.

My Rapunzel dress needs to be specially altered, and Marc insists I go shopping with Jen for maternity clothes.

The last day of filming ends up being on the September 5
th
– much later than we thought. But apparently that often happens with movies. I know it’s because Nadia wants to get everything absolutely right and shoot something amazing.

It’s sort of special – the last day. Because we all know we won’t see each other in a while. Not until the première, which is scheduled for next year.

I waddle onto the set at 6am, fanning myself and wishing the air conditioning worked better.

Ruby and Leo are already in the communal dressing room wearing their costumes.

‘Happy last day, mamma,’ says Leo. ‘Bet you’ll be glad to put your feet up, huh?’

‘You can say that again,’ I admit. ‘But it’s been fun. I’m glad I did this movie. I’m so lucky to be working with you again, Leo. And Ruby, it was great to have met you.’

‘Likewise,’ says Ruby, grinning and pulling on her fairy wings.

‘What are your plans when filming is finished?’ I ask.

‘Back to Australia,’ says Ruby. ‘To the loving arms of my boyfriend.’

‘Boyfriend? I didn’t know—’

‘I keep him quiet,’ says Ruby. ‘I don’t want the press bothering him. And anyway, it’s fun reading about all my so-called hook-ups in the magazines. The latest is that Leo and I have been going at it. Isn’t that right big boy?’

‘That’s right,’ Leo winks. ‘They seem to have forgotten I’m engaged to be married.’

We hear raised voices from the corridor, and know that Baz and Sigourney have arrived.

‘Are those two
still
arguing?’ says Ruby. ‘You would have thought they’d have run out of material by now.’

‘Sigourney?’ says Leo. ‘Never.’

‘I get the feeling Baz doesn’t mind the fighting,’ I say. ‘I think it leads to a lot of making up.’

Ruby laughs.

We fall silent as we hear Sigourney shriek, ‘Well, if you haven’t slept with her, why the fuck does she have your number?’

‘She’s my agent for crying out loud!’ Baz replies. ‘What – you want me to only work with men now?’

‘Just because she’s your agent, doesn’t mean you haven’t slept with her,’ Sigourney shouts.

‘Christ, give me strength.’

Baz and Sigourney appear in the doorway.

‘Good morning all,’ Baz says, giving us a tired smile. ‘I’m guessing you heard our little love-in, just now. Serves me right for going out with this crazy bitch.’

‘Oh so I’m crazy now?’ says Sigourney, marching past us to one of the dressing rooms. ‘Crazy is as crazy does.’

‘Jesus Christ,’ Baz shakes his head. ‘Sigourney. Darlin’, it’s the last day of filming. Can’t we just go one day without an argument?’

Sigourney doesn’t reply.

‘Great.’ Baz rolls his eyes. ‘The cold shoulder treatment. I wonder how long she’ll manage it this time. Probably until the party tonight. Then she’ll get drunk and start hitting me.’

‘What party?’ I ask.

‘The last day of filming party,’ says Leo. ‘Oh right. You’ve never worked with Nadia before, have you? She always has one, on set. So it’ll be right here as soon as we wrap up filming.’

‘Always,’ Ruby agrees. ‘A big show-stopping fabulous party to say bon voyage.’

‘It sounds great, but I need to tell Marc,’ I say. ‘He’s … pretty protective of me right now.’

‘
Too
protective,’ says Leo. ‘What were you telling me the other day? That he doesn’t like you leaving the house. Let alone working.’

‘He may not like it,’ I say. ‘But I’m my own person. And if I want to work then I will.’

‘I think it’s sweet,’ says Ruby. ‘The way he picks you up every day. And makes sure you’re drinking enough water. And that special chair he bought you for between scenes.’

Baz shakes his head. ‘Horrible when you lose one of the boys to the other side. Marc used to be my right-hand man. But I can admit defeat. You’ve got him Sophia. Right under your thumb.’

‘He’s not under my thumb,’ I say.

‘Oh no?’ Baz raises an eyebrow. ‘The Marc I knew would never be running around after a woman.’

‘That’s not true,’ I say. ‘He’s always looked after Denise. And his sister.’

‘That’s different. They’re his family. I’m just saying you’ve changed him, that’s all. He’s a new man now. Not at all like he was before. When I knew him …’ Baz lets those words hang in the air for a moment. ‘Right. Better get the costume on. I’ll tell you what – that chain mail is a bugger around the bollock-region. I’ve got saddle sore like you wouldn’t believe. I’ll be glad not to wear it any more.’

He swaggers off towards Sigourney’s dressing room and knocks on the door. ‘Lover boy here,’ he says, grinning at us. ‘Want to share a dressing room?’

‘Fuck off,’ Sigourney shouts.

Baz sighs. ‘Great. She really is going to keep this up all day.’

70

When we finish shooting the last scene, there are cheers and the crew let off party poppers.

Nadia open bottles of champagne and fills glasses.

‘Don’t get too drunk now,’ she warns us. ‘The party will be ready in an hour. I want you to save yourselves.’

‘Nadia, I need to ask Marc about the party,’ I say. ‘He’s really protective right now. He might not think it’s a good idea.’

‘What is he? Your husband or your father?’ Nadia scoffs. ‘Sophia. You are a grown woman. Do
you
want to join us for the party?’

‘Of course I do. I’d love to say goodbye to everyone properly, but—’

‘Then there’s no problem. You stay here with us. Eat some food. Have a glass of champagne. Say goodbye. We can’t have the end-of-movie party without our leading lady now, can we?’ She puts an arm around my shoulder. ‘But hey – why don’t you invite Marc along? Then he can feel like he’s looking after you. Nearest and dearest are all welcome.’

‘Excellent!’ says Leo, swaggering towards us. ‘Because I’ve already invited Jen. Listen princess. You tell Mr Blackwell you’re partying with the crew. And if he doesn’t like it, he’ll have Baz to deal with.’

Baz laughs. ‘Me? Deal with Marc? You’re having a laugh aren’t you? He’d deal with me and you both.’

Around us, caterers arrive and set up long tables of food and drink.

‘So!’ Nadia claps her hands together. ‘I thought, since the set looks like some big, beautiful castle today, we’d have a medieval banquet. Chicken. Bread. Beer. Red wine. What do you think?’

‘Sounds great,’ says Baz. ‘When can we start drinking?’

As the party is being set up, I head out to the car park.

Marc’s Aston Martin is waiting.

When he sees me, he climbs out of the car. ‘Sophia. How are you feeling? Are you tired?’

‘I’m fine. But listen – I was wondering. Nadia’s throwing a party and I think we should go to it. I won’t see these people again for months. And we’re all so happy to have finished.’

‘Sophia—’

‘Please Marc – let’s not fight over this. Let’s go to the party together. And leave early together.’

Marc’s frown softens. ‘Fine. I suppose that, as of today, I get to keep you under lock and key until the baby comes.’

‘Lock and key?’

‘A figure of speech.’

‘Interesting choice of words. Do you have any locks and keys at home?’

Marc raises an eyebrow. ‘I just might.’ He puts a hand to my stomach. ‘Any more kicking?’

‘Plenty. But I think the baby is sleeping now. And growing. I feel I’m getting bigger by the second. I’m enormous.’ I put my hand over Marc’s on my stomach.

‘You look beautiful,’ he says.

The baby kicks against our hands and we both laugh.

‘Are you trying to tell Mummy and Daddy something?’ I ask.

‘For certain,’ says Marc. ‘Our baby is hearing Daddy trying to look after Mummy, and telling Mummy not to be so headstrong.’ He puts an arm around my shoulder. ‘Let’s go to the party.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Baz will be there, I take it?’

‘Of course. Is that a problem?’

‘No problem.’

‘Baz was saying something earlier,’ I say. ‘About you being a different person when you and he were friends.’

‘I was a different person. Someone I’m glad you never met.’

‘But I did meet that person,’ I say. ‘I met him when I started Ivy College. And I loved him.’

‘No, you didn’t meet him,’ says Marc, his blue eyes clear and beautiful. ‘I changed when I met you. And I don’t ever want you to meet the man I was before. I was cold, angry and violent.’

‘Violent?’

‘Forget I said that.’

71

When Marc and I arrive back on set, the party is all set up and everyone is drinking, eating and laughing.

Spanish music plays and a big paella steams in the corner by a stack of hay bales.

‘I thought it was supposed to be medieval?’ I say, as Nadia half fills my glass with red wine.

‘Sorree,’ she replies. ‘I always bring a little Spanish. No matter what the theme. You sure you only want half a glass?’

‘Half is plenty,’ I say, rubbing my pregnant stomach.

‘Marc?’ Nadia waves the bottle at him.

‘Not right now. Thank you.’

I feel someone tap my shoulder.

‘Jen!’ I shriek, seeing her behind me.

Her shiny blonde hair is straight and sleek as usual, and she’s wearing a structured cream dress with black piping.

‘Babes!’ She throws her arms around me, then holds me back and stares. ‘I can’t believe it. You’re even
bigger
than last week. How is that possible?’

‘Babies have a habit of growing.’

‘Yours certainly does. It’s going to be
huge
.’

‘God, don’t say that. I’m worried enough about the birth as it is.’

‘About that. I’ve been looking into this great hypnosis stuff. I’ll tell you all about it.’

‘Not before you say hi to your fiancé,’ says Leo, sidling up to us and putting an arm around Jen’s shoulder. ‘Hello there beautiful.’

He pulls Jen to him and gives her a long, slow kiss.

From across the room, Sigourney shouts, ‘Get a room!’

Jen frowns. ‘Sigourney had better watch it.’

‘Don’t pay any attention,’ says Leo. ‘It’s what she wants. Just ignore her. Come on. You need a glass of wine.’

‘No. I need a bottle of wine. And even that might not calm me down.’

‘Come on my beautiful bride-to-be,’ says Leo. ‘She’s just not worth it.’

As the night wears on, Sigourney gets more and more drunk.

I can’t help watching her. Nor can most of the room. She’s a walking car crash.

First, she slurs her words. Then she shouts and sings. Finally, she throws her arms around the cameramen, telling them how sexy they are – much to Baz’s annoyance.

When Sigourney starts slow dancing with a sound man, Baz comes storming over to us.

‘I should just call it a day,’ he says, downing beer from a metal tankard. ‘I mean, how much can one man take? She’s just not worth the aggro.’

‘Then why don’t you?’ asks Marc. ‘There are plenty more women out there.’

Baz sighs. ‘Why do I always like the crazy ones?’

‘She’s nowhere near as crazy with you as she was with me,’ says Leo. ‘Maybe you guys can really make it work.’

‘Blimey, how crazy was she with you then?’ says Baz, watching Sigourney grope the sound man’s behind.

‘Totally crazy. Believe me, you don’t want to know.’

‘Lucky you’ve found
me
now,’ says Jen with a winning smile. ‘I’m totally sane.’

‘I’ll be the judge of that,’ says Leo.

‘Hey!’ Jen swats his arm. ‘I’m going for a makeup check, okay? You can talk about your ex-girlfriend while I’m gone, because I really do not want to know. Back in a sec.’

‘Yeah right,’ says Leo. ‘You’re doing your makeup? It won’t be a sec. It’ll be ten minutes.’

‘You know me so well.’

‘So what’s happening with you and Sigourney now?’ I ask Baz.

‘I fucking love her, don’t I?’

Marc raises an eyebrow. ‘Then you’re in trouble.’

‘Fuck off Marc. Who are you to judge Sigourney? You married a student from your university.’

‘Sigourney’s bad news. You know it. And I know it. And for the record, I never wanted anything to do with Sophia while she was my student. But what happened happened. And I spend every day feeling thankful that it did.’

‘Lucky you,’ Baz downs the rest of his pint and slams the tankard on a fold-out table. ‘Mr Marc Blackwell, so holier than thou. You forget I know all about you.
All
about you. God help Sophia when she finds out the truth. What do you reckon Marc? How about I tell her right now?’

‘I don’t like where this conversation is headed,’ says Marc.

‘Does she know why she saw you on set a few months back? But you told her you weren’t there?’

Marc’s blue eyes darken. ‘I’m warning you Baz. Say anything to upset my pregnant wife and you’ll regret it.’

‘Are you threatening me?’

‘No.’ Marc’s eyes are cold and hard. ‘I’m making a promise.’