Page 199 of Murder in the Family

That’s myfamily– you had no right – it’s exploitation—

NICK VINCENT (Producer)

Oh really? May I remind you that if you weren’t a Howard you’d never have been asked to do thisshowat all? Barely out of some also-ran college with not a single bloody cred to your name? Small wonder you absolutely bloody jumped at the chance when it came your way. You practically bit my arm off.

So don’t come the outraged virgin with me, matey. You’re absolutely fine with ‘exploiting your family’, just as long as you’re the one who’s doing it.

Guy opens his mouth to say something, then changes his mind and turns away. He’s breathing heavily and biting his lip. The others are trying not to notice.

HUGO FRASER

(sitting back and looking Nick up and down)

Very adroit.

NICK VINCENT (Producer)

Why thank you. Though something tells me that wasn’t exactly meant as a compliment.

HUGO FRASER

And having got that far, you must have realized that if you approached someone for the show who reallywasimplicated in the case they’d be bound to accept. Guilty or not. If only to find out what you’d uncovered.

MITCHELL CLARK

No wonder you found it so easy to get this thing financed. It must have looked like a proper little gold mine.

NICK VINCENT (Producer)

(smiling)

Let’s just say that our backers were quick to see the potential of this genuinely unique and innovative approach.

JJ NORTON

(under his breath)

I bet that’s straight out of the pitch deck. Word for bloody word.

NICK VINCENT (Producer)

(turning to JJ)

Actually, when we started out, all we were hoping for was to find something new to say about the case – that’s the whole point of doing this sort of show, after all.

But as soon as we changed the approach we realized that if wedidmanage to do that – if we did actually identify the real killer—

BILL SERAFINI

(nodding)

—that person could be sitting there right in front of you. Actually at this fucking table. It’d be frigging priceless.

NICK VINCENT (Producer)

(laughs)

No flies on you, Bill.

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