Page 24 of The Cut
‘You’ve got something on your face, love.’ Dani scrunched her cuff and leant in to wipe Ben’s cheek but he pulled away. ‘Come in. Karine will explain.’ Dani turned to Fruity Vape. ‘I opened the garage door for you, love. You can put all your gear in there.’ Her heels click-clacked their way into the atrium. She was in full party mode.
‘Where do you want it, mate? I got another call out.’ The driver of the flatbed, clipboard in hand, was scribbling on the paperwork and checking his watch. Ben’s shoulders sank as he signed the form and watched as the wreck of his car was dumped on to the road.
Minutes later, Ben was standing in the kitchen, awkwardly holding a glass of the pink fizz as Dani and Karine, who appeared to have bonded instantly, machine-gunned their way through all the facts and details of the film in which his son had apparently managed to bag the lead role.
‘When did all this happen?’ Ben slung his coat over the back of a high stool by the kitchen island. ‘I’ve only been away a week.’
‘Well … they liked his audition tape.’ Dani smiled over at Nate.
‘We loved the tape.’ Karine touched her arm.
‘They got him in for call-backs along with some of the rest of his year.’ Dani was flushed with excitement. ‘And he smashed it!’
Nate was slumped on the sofa in the den, playing on Lily’s Xbox, one eye on the TV, one ear listening to his fate. ‘I am the lead, though … tell him.’98
‘That’s right. Nate’s the leading man.’ Dani beamed at Ben. ‘Timothy Charmly eat your heart out, right?’
‘Timothée Chalamet … That’s how you say it.’ Nate cringed.
‘Whatever,’ Dani muttered under her breath, topping up her glass. She leant against the quartz worktop and fluttered her fake lashes at her new-found friend. ‘Is there a part in it for me?’ There was a pause as Karine Mickelsen diplomatically sipped her wine. ‘Only kidding. Can’t act to save my life. Well, apart from that one time—’
‘Dani …’ Ben stepped in, just in time to stop her straddling a chair and belting out the opening bars of ‘Life is a Cabaret’.
Karine flashed a professional smile and then turned her head to Ben. ‘I can assure you, you won’t even know that we’re here, Mr Knot. I’m originally from a documentary background.’
‘She’s got an Oscar.’ Dani nudged Ben, her eyes full of boastful pride.
‘Actually, a César … it’s kind of a French Oscar.’
‘Ooo la la.’ Dani filled her glass and clinked with Karine.
Ben glanced over at Nate. ‘So … what’s the film about?’
‘It’s a horror film. Max Crow.’ Dani shivered with excitement.
‘Well, we like to think of it as elevated genre.’ Karine smiled reassuringly.
Nate piped up from the den. ‘She says it’s going be likeThe Hoax… and that was massive.’
Karine smiled. ‘Yes. Unexpected blockbuster. Horror and superheroes are the only things keeping Hollywood in the black these days.’
Ben frowned. ‘Well, before he gets involved, don’t we need to see a contract? Is he going to be paid? What’s the deal?’
‘Jumping straight into the legals there, typical. He’s getting paid, aren’t you, pet?’ Dani gave Nate a thumbs-up. He smiled99back and returned his attention to the video game. ‘Don’t bother your head about all that, Ben. I’ve sorted it.’ Her elbow slipped on the counter, her Prosecco sloshing on to her sequins. Intoxicated in more ways than one, as money, fame and film premieres flashed before her eyes.
‘Er … OK. Look …’ Ben shook his head in disbelief.
Karine jumped in. ‘I’ll have all the paperwork prepared for you. Trust me, we need insurance as much as you do.’
Ben nodded, allowing himself to be drawn into Karine’s calm gaze. He studied her extraordinary face. She looked almost like an apparition: pale skin and white hair with eyes so light it was hard to identify the colour. She smiled at him.
‘You cool with all this?’ Ben addressed Nate in the den.
‘Yeah, Dad, I’m sweet … Do I get time off school?’ He rose from the sofa.
‘NO!’ Ben and Dani chimed in unison.
Karine placed her glass down and stepped forward towards Ben, smiling. ‘Please don’t worry, Mr Knot, the whole film will be seamless. We will be completely invisible. Most of the content is remote capture or found footage. We usually ask for access to phone cameras but that’s totally up to you.’
