Page 114 of Christmas at the Movies
‘People can do that anyway,’ Mum pointed out.
Nick thought about all the times he’d had to take a time-out. He always felt self-conscious when he got up and left. ‘Yeah, but at special sensory-friendly screenings people wouldn’t have to feel embarrassed about disturbing everyone else in the audience.’
‘True,’ agreed Mum.
‘And we would only shownicemovies,’ added Nick. ‘Nothing that will upset people.’
Holly frowned. ‘Different people get upset by different things. I hate spiders, but you don’t mind them.’
Whenever there was a spider in Holly’s room or in the bathtub, she made Nick get rid of it. He would trap it under a cup and let it out in the garden.
‘Maybe we can provide content warnings,’ said Mum. ‘So people know in advance what to expect.’
‘So can we do all that?’ asked Nick hopefully.
Mum and Dad looked at each other and then nodded.
‘It’s a wonderful idea,’ said Dad. ‘Cinema should be for everyone.’
Mum gave Nick a hug. ‘I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. I wish we’d thought of this ourselves when you were little.’
‘Yeah, it’s a really good idea, Nick.’ Holly tousled her brother’s hair affectionately.
‘Did you have any ideas about what movies we should show?’ asked Mum.
Nick grinned. He knew exactly what the first movie should be. ‘The Polar Express.’
He couldn’t wait to tell Elliot about the sensory-friendly screening the next time he saw him at school. And perhaps he was imagining it, but Nick thought he could hear Santa’s bell ringing in the distance.
Chapter 12
Present Day
The church bells rang out over the village square at eight o’clock. James had had enough. He could feel the muscle in his cheek twitching. He ducked under the yellow tape that had been erected to keep the onlookers off the set.
‘Hey,’ said an assistant in a hi-vis jacket. ‘Only cast and crew are allowed on set.’
Ignoring him, James marched over to Noa. ‘It’s eight o’clock. You need to wrap things up here. Our film festival screening begins at nine.’
‘We’re done when I say we’re done,’ said Noa, not looking away from the footage he was reviewing on a monitor. ‘I’m filming a major motion picture here, OK? People can watch an old movie any time.’
‘No,’ said James, fighting to keep his voice even. ‘I’m afraid that’s not OK. We had an agreement and you have violated it. You and your crew need to leave.’
He couldn’t stop Noa from luring his wife to Hollywood. It was no competition – hands down Noa could offer her more than James ever could. Nor could James stop the director from being mean to nice old ladies, or being a jerk to his cast and crew. But he could sure as heck kick him off his property.
‘I think you should show me a bit more gratitude, Jim.’ There was a warning in Noa’s voice, despite the phonysmile on his face. He gestured at the choir. ‘I let your wannabe daughter be in the film – but I can just as easily cut her out. I threw your wife a lifeline and rescued her failed career – but I can make sure she never works in this industry again.’ Noa took a step closer so he and James were practically nose to nose. ‘And I saved your pathetic little cinema from going bust. So I’ll keep filming here for as long as I damn please. NOW GET OFF MY SET.’ The threat in the director’s voice was no longer veiled.
‘No,’ stated James calmly. He gestured at the crowd of spectators. ‘These people have come to see a movie and I’m not going to let them down.’
Noa laughed mirthlessly. ‘I have two Golden Globes. I’m not going to let a loser from a nothing little town tell me what to do.’
James stood his ground, ignoring Noa’s insult. He had something far more important than any award: friends.
‘He is not a loser,’ said Geraldine, coming out of the city followed by Sarah. ‘And this isn’t a nothing little town. It’s a community.’ She ripped the yellow tape down and marched forward onto the set.
‘Get off my set, you old bat!’ shouted Noa.
‘We don’t have Golden Globes, but we’re the Golden Oldies,’ said Roger, joining Geraldine in solidarity with James. ‘And we love the Picture Palace.’
