Page 44 of Between Takes
Just as I moved forward, Alys rushed to the kid’s side. She knelt down in front of her, wearing a careful smile. From this distance, I couldn’t hear a word she said, but the girl stopped choking on her tears.
“Who is that?” Ryan asked. Something about his voice pulled my focus. He stared at Alys with fascination.
“Do you mean Alys?” I pointed to the red-haired woman holding the girl’s hands. Ryan nodded without so much as a glance my way.
“She’s a coordinator. I think she’s Welsh,” Shaun supplied with a frown. “I’ve worked with her on a couple of things. I should know more than that.”
“It’s alright,” I said. “No one here expects you to actually remember their names.” It was meant to be reassuring, but his frown deepened.
Before Shaun could comment, Alys started yelling at the crew. I didn’t blame her one bit. Their laughter had gone on long enough.
“Listen up, you callous idiots!” Alys shouted. She held the little girl to her side. Her hands covered her ears. “Next time a child starts crying on your set, instead of ignoring her, you might want to ask why!”
She directed her ire at the crew-at-large. My kind of woman.
“She’s five! She shouldn’t have to deal with an insensitive bunch of twats who don’t understand the meaning of child performance laws. Do you want to delay production, is that it? Neglecting the well-being of a minor is a great way to do it.” Those words Alys directed to Gary. She met his gaze with a fiery determination and a clear threat: Don’t do it again or I’ll fucking report you.
“Laughing at her doesn’t get you home any sooner,” she continued. “She has to go back through hair, make-up and wardrobe. So, when you’re all still here at ten PM tonight and you’re looking for someone to blame, make sure you look in the bloody mirror for the culprits.” Ruffling the girl’s hair, Alys led her outside, the make-up and wardrobe mistress following close behind. Neither looked particularly amused at the destruction of their work, but then, neither had stepped in to help either.
The silence on the set deepened as people glanced at each other, unsure if it was safe to move. Gary had the sense to look sheepish as he stared after Alys.
“Do you know her?” Ryan asked, dragging my attention back to him and Shaun. He stared at me with a gleam in his eyes.
“Uh, not well. Why?”
“Is she single?”
Shaun laughed. “Butt, you live in Glasgow.”
Ryan punched Shaun lightly, smirking at his comment. That gleam went nowhere, however.
“I don’t know if she’s single.” I shrugged. “We haven’t talked about anything but work.”
“But she lives here?” he asked, his expression turning thoughtful.
“As far as I’m aware, yes.”
“Does she like music?”
“Mona said she doesn’t know her well. Will you chill out?” Shaun clapped him on the back, squeezing his shoulder in one of those man hugs. Shaun’s concern had faded, but his expression remained pensive, as if caught in the past. I frowned and his gaze traced the motion. He forced his expression to smooth into something more laid-back.
“I’m starving. Are you coming, Sparky?” Shaun asked, releasing Ryan and turning his back on the shell-shocked crew.
“Sparky?” I squeaked. “What kind of a name is that meant to be?”
“A nickname.” His lips twitched as he took in my outrage.
“Why Sparky?”
He tilted his head, his eyes laughing at me. “I don’t think it needs explaining.”
I growled and he outright chuckled.
“Are you coming to lunch?”
“That’s not necessary,” I bit out. “I’m sure you’ve got lots of catching up to do. I can grab lunch here and get some of these tweaks in.”
“Are you actually going to eat?”
