Page 46 of Christmas at the Movies
‘You’re right,’ said Noa, nodding. ‘Thatisunusual. But Merricourt Manor is fully booked with weddings in the spring and summer. We liked the location so much we decided to wait until December. Plus, the film is set at Christmas, and the village is already decorated, so we won’t have to do much set-dressing.’
‘Makes sense,’ remarked Sarah. Ian and the Plumdale Beautification Committee made the village look picture-perfect at Christmastime.
‘Well, itdid, but the council has just withdrawn permission for us to park our crew vehicles on the grounds. Something to do with a badger sett? There was a big protest. Turns out badgers are protected. So we need a new location base – and fast – or we won’t be able to wrap the shoot before Christmas.’ Noa ran his hand through his thick hair, looking thoroughly exasperated.
‘Oh, dear.’
‘But that’s not all.’ He leant forward and lowered his voice conspiratorially, even though they were all alone. ‘Between you and me, the script stinks. It might as well have been written by AI.’
Sarah winced. She had been following the recent Hollywood writers’ strike with interest and was glad that screenwriters protected their profession against artificial intelligence. You couldn’t replace human creativity with computers.
‘What’s it about?’
Noa grimaced. ‘It’s so cheesy. It’s about two exes, who haven’t seen each other in years. She’s left an inn by an elderly relation, and he’s the hotel handyman. The deal is that they have to spend one Christmas there together before she can sell it. The working title isEx-mas Eve.’
‘Let me guess,’ said Sarah. ‘She’s called Eve … and they fall in love again by the end and she decides not to sell the inn.’
‘Bingo.’
‘Why are you making it? I’ve got to say, it doesn’t sound like your sort of thing.’ Sarah secretly loved the heart-warming holiday fare churned out by streamers every year. She and Holly had watched loads of them together. But Noa Drakos was an auteur. His last film, shot in black and white, had flopped at the box office but had been adored by the critics.
Noa let out a frustrated sigh. ‘I need the money. I can finance a passion project with the money I’m making from directing this drivel.’
‘Oh, it can’t be that bad, I’m sure,’ said Sarah.
‘Want to bet?’ Noa pulled open his satchel and took out a script. He slapped it onto the table.
Sarah’s fingers itched to pull it towards herself. It had been so long since she’d read a script.Should I ask?Sarah wondered, trying to work up the courage.
Noa riffled through the pages, shaking his head in dismay.
Sarah poured herself another shot for Dutch courage. She gulped some down, then cleared her throat. ‘Er … would you mind if I take a look?’ she asked hesitantly. ‘I, um, used to be a script editor at the BBC.’
Noa stared at her in surprise. ‘Seriously?’
‘Yes – I worked in the drama department, and then as a freelancer. I used to write my own stuff too. I’ve got an unfinished screenplay in the bottom drawer of my desk.’
Noa laughed in disbelief. ‘Surely this is the sort of thing that only happens in a romcom. I’m snowed in all night with a gorgeous woman … and she just happens to be a script editor.’
Sarah blushed at Noa’s compliment. Maybe hewasflirting with her. Some guys just couldn’t help themselves – they flirted witheveryone. Noa was obviously one of those.
‘You really want to read it?’ he asked.
‘Well, it’s not like I have anything else to do.’ Actually, there were plenty of things Sarah could do. Sleep. Get started on her online Christmas shopping. Plan the Christmas film festival. But it had been ages since she had worked on a script. Her pulse was racing with excitement at the thought of doing something creative again. Could she still do it?
She drained the rest of her whisky, willing him to say yes.
‘Go right ahead.’ Noa slid the screenplay over to her. ‘I’d love to know what you think.’
Sarah picked up the script with trembling fingers.
‘If it’s OK with you, I might try to get some sleep,’ said Noa, yawning.
‘You can use the sofa in my office.’
‘Cheers,’ said Noa.
She led him into her office and got out a blanket and pillow from the cupboard. Then Noa kicked off his boots and lay down on the sofa.
