Page 3 of Musical Games
Sandra shook her head. ‘Not this year, it’s Lorraine’s turn. You’re too new. Give it a couple of years.’ She paused for effect. ‘I’ve got you another commercial.’
A few months ago, Sam had done an advert for a brand of instant coffee. The money and exposure had been good, but it wasn’t as high-end as she wanted. Doubt pricked at her stomach. ‘It isn’t the thrush medication again? I told you, there’s no way I’m doing that.’
‘No, love, I’ve got you the one every hot young thing wants.’ Sandra sat back looking satisfied.
Sam’s brain went into overdrive.The Christmas advert for the John Lewis store? One for Coca Cola?
‘What is it?’
Sandra smiled enough to reveal two rows of yellowing teeth. ‘Mopeoke. I’ve gone and got you Mopeoke, love.’
What the fuck is that?‘Er, Mopeoke?’
Sandra clapped her hands. ‘Yeah. Didn’t you see the pitch onThe Bear Pit? They literally got into a fight over who was going to invest. Come on. You must have seen it?’
Sam struggled to think. She was so exhausted with the long days on set she rarely watched TV. Sandra spun her laptop around and Sam stared at the screen.
‘It’s a mop.’
‘And…’
She looked closer. ‘Is that a microphone at the end of the handle?’
Sandra nodded. ‘Syncs via Bluetooth to any device. Mop one end, karaoke microphone the other. Mopeoke. Fastest start-up since Trunkis and Loom bands.’
Fuck right off. She fought to buy time. ‘Er, why me?’
‘You’re the target demographic: lower middle-class, in your thirties, young family, house to keep clean, dreaming of stardom. Plus, you’re a household name now and I told them you could sing.’
‘I only turned thirty last month,’ Sam spluttered. ‘I’m single, childless, and my entire family are doctors.’
Sandra sat back, her smile gone. ‘Yeah, butyou’renot a doctor, are you? And millions of people every week don’t hear your Home Counties accent. They hear Bethany, who’s rough as a badger’s arse.’
Sam stared at the edge of the desk and rubbed her forehead. The headache had arrived and was dancing the cancan on the inside of her skull.
‘Look, are you interested or not?’
No, no, no, no, no.‘Can I think about it?’
‘You’ve till the end of the day.’ Sam nodded and Sandra sighed. ‘What do you want, Sam?’
She looked up. ‘You know what I want. I want bigger. I want films. I want more.’
Sandra dragged on her vape and engulfed Sam in a fog of overripe fruit. ‘You need a stronger platform before we make that move. You’ve got to start small. Your contract withElm Tree Laneis up for renewal in a couple of months. Don’t rock the boat. Take the Mopeoke gig. Trust me, it’s the best thing in your life right now.’
Sam pushed openthe door to the basement studio with her backside, holding coffees for her co-stars, Lorraine and Ian. They were filming a love triangle storyline onElm Tree Laneand were doing a photoshoot for the cover ofSoap Firstmagazine that would go out when the plot aired the following month. The shoot wasn’t complicated, just portraits of the three of them looking sufficiently angry or aroused, so they only needed a green screen backdrop and a few lights. The studio was small, old and damp. She repressed a shudder as the soles of her shoes stuck to the tacky floor.
A door at the end of the corridor opened and Lorraine rushed out. ‘Sam, how’s your hair? I’m so sorry about earlier. How did it go with Sandra? What’s the big job she’s got for you?’
Sam pushed the coffees towards her friend. ‘I’m fine, sweetie, can you take these?’
‘Are they for us? You’re a diamond.’ Lorraine read the sides of the cups. ‘Bethany.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Loz, yep, like it. And... Dickhead?’ She giggled. ‘He’s not here yet, so we can drink these while we wait.’
They entered a small room and perched on a cheap and uncomfortable sofa that had once been red but was now a muddy brown. ‘So tell me,’ asked Lorraine, ‘what was the job?’
Sam tapped the side of her nose. ‘It might not happen, so I’ve got to keep schtum about this one. But I did hear a rumour that a certain someone is going to be onStrictlythis year?’
Lorraine squealed and tapped her feet on the floor. ‘I’m so excited! I’ve been watching that show since I was a baby. I can’t believe I’m going to be on it!’
