Page 116 of Christmas at the Movies
‘Without me, there’s no movie,’ said Noa threateningly.
‘Don’t be so sure about that,’ called Kirsty from behind a camera. ‘I’m sure I can finish makingEx-mas Eve. I’ve been doing most of the hard work anyway.’
‘You can’t do this!’ howled Noa, as more blood trickled out of his nose. ‘I have an Oscar!’
‘Yes, that’s true,’ said James. ‘But it would appear that you no longer have a cast or crew.’
Looking increasingly desperate, Noa tried a different tack. ‘OK, I get it,’ he wheedled. ‘I know I’ve been tough on everyone. To show you what a good guy I am, I’ll give you all a Christmas bonus if you carry on working. Who’s with me?’ He looked around expectantly.
Nobody stepped forward.
Noa let out a scream of frustration. ‘You’re all making a huge mistake!’
Everyone cheered as he stormed off the set.
Holly ran over to Aaron. ‘That. Was. Epic.’
James smiled as his daughter threw her arms around Aaron’s neck and kissed him.
‘That’s a wrap, folks,’ called Kirsty as everyone cheered.
‘Come on inside.’ James beckoned everyone into the cinema. ‘It’s time for the movie.’
Laughing and talking, everyone with tickets for the screening started making their way into the cinema as the crew began packing up their equipment.
James started to follow the crowd inside, when someone tugged lightly on his arm.
‘Can we talk?’ Sarah asked him.
The cinema was packed with people, so James and Sarah went up to the projection room to get some privacy. There wasn’t much in the tiny room apart from the projector and the new sound system, which had been installed days before.
‘That was so brave of you,’ said Sarah.
‘You’re not upset about what I did?’ asked James.
‘Not at all.’ Sarah shook her head. ‘I only wish I had seen through Noa’s charm sooner and called out his bad behaviour myself. I let myself be swept away by the excitement of writing again.’
Sarah had met plenty of people like Noa at the Beeb, who abused their power just because they could. It was depressing that that sort of behaviour was still going on in the entertainment business.
‘I’m sorry it took me so long to notice how much you missed writing,’ said James. ‘I didn’t realise because I’ve been so wrapped up in the cinema. I didn’t want it to be a failure because you put all your faith in me. I was desperate for it to be a success.’
‘Itisa success,’ insisted Sarah, taking his hand. ‘People love this place – you heard them tonight.’
James looked down at the audience filing into the auditorium. ‘Yes, but it hasn’t been worth it if it’s been makingyouunhappy.’
‘Iwasunhappy,’ admitted Sarah. ‘I’d been feeling lost, what with menopause and the kids growing up. I wasn’t sure of my place in the world any more, and felt my life and dreams slipping away from me. But one thing has never changed: I’ve never stopped loving you, James.’
‘I thought I’d lost you,’ said James. ‘I thought you were going to leave me and go live in LA with Noa in some massive mansion with a swimming pool and a private chef to make you both kale smoothies and quinoa salads on demand.’
‘You know I hate kale.’
James laughed. He stroked the back of Sarah’s hand with his thumb. ‘I would understand if you wanted to take the job, you know. He’s a jerk, but he can open doors for you.’
‘Are you kidding? I don’t want to work with Noa,’ said Sarah. ‘Even before tonight, I’d already decided that.’
She placed her hand tenderly on her husband’s cheek and stroked it. ‘I love writing movies – but I want to tell my own stories, not somebody else’s.’
‘That’s why I was considering selling the cinema,’ said James. ‘To make that possible. To free you –us– from the burden of running it.’
