Page 68 of The Girl with the Irish Secret
‘A legend,’ Hugh agreed. ‘And the casting director has been on the lookout for someone lesser known. Someone Irish, with Kathleen’s look.’
Vi put her fingers through her red mane and laughed. ‘I never thought the colour of my hair would be what got me the big break. I have always had to dye it some other colour to fit whatever movie I was cast in.’
‘I know,’ Hugh said. ‘Isn’t it a stroke of luck that they’re looking for someone like you? And here’s another thing that will swing it for you: the movie will be shot in your very own county. Kathleen O’Sullivan came from Kerry, as you might know. Your own back yard. Amazing, don’t you think? The Wild Atlantic Way and all that.’
‘But she was from a village near Castleisland, not Dingle,’ Vi corrected. ‘Which is inland, you know. Not near the coast at all.’
‘Yes, whatever.’ Hugh made a dismissive gesture. ‘But who cares? Nobody outside Ireland would have a clue. They want to film it by the sea and along the Wild Atlantic Way. They have already decided on the area and the location for a lot of the scenes. It’s going to be in some manor house down there. A big house near Dingle town. It has a great garden. Fabulous for this kind of thing. Can’t remember the name of it but it was something to do with flowers… Rhododendron House, or…’
‘Magnolia Manor?’ Vi asked, sitting up straighter, her heart beating.
‘That’s it,’ Hugh exclaimed. ‘You know the place?’
‘Very well.’ She couldn’t believe it. If they were going to use Magnolia Manor as a set, she would be going back home. The big house overlooking Dingle Bay, surrounded by lush gardens, had always been a haven where she could rest and recover from the turmoil of life and strenuous work. Except she hadn’t been there for a whole year. Not since the angry words she’d exchangedwith her sisters. They hadn’t been in touch since then, despite Vi’s efforts to make peace.
‘You’ve been there?’ Hugh asked.
‘I grew up there,’ Vi said, smiling. ‘My family own it. It’s being turned into apartments for seniors, and parts of it are used for weddings and other big events, so we don’t technically live there any more, but it’s where I spent most of my childhood.’ She looked at Hugh, feeling puzzled. ‘I don’t see how that can be authentic, though. How does Magnolia Manor fit in with Kathleen’s life?’
‘What’s wrong with a little poetic licence?’ Hugh asked with a wink. ‘What Hollywood wants Hollywood gets. In any case, Kathleen and her last husband lived in a big house somewhere on the west coast. So the house would kind of fit. The producer went to look at it and loved it. The owner, some old gal with attitude, drove a hard bargain, but they were able to stay within budget in the end. She was like a bulldog, while managing to look like a real lady, they said.’
Vi burst out laughing. ‘Oh yeah, she would. That’s my grandmother.’
Hugh blinked and stared at Vi. ‘Your grandmother? Are you pulling my leg?’
‘No, I’m not. She really is my grandmother,’ Vi assured him.
‘That’s some coincidence,’ Hugh said, shaking his head.
‘Isn’t it?’ Vi grinned. ‘I can imagine her arguing with the movie company.’
‘Tough as an old boot, they said,’ Hugh remarked. ‘But that place is supposed to be amazing. The researchers for the film company said it would look fabulous in the movie. I pushed hard to get you the part, you know. Said you even speak with a Kerry accent.’
‘Well, that part is true, even if you have tried to beat it out of me,’ Vi remarked.
‘That’s true. But now you’ll be able to talk away like the real Kerry girl you are.’ Hugh picked up a sheet of paper from the desk. ‘So, it’s nearly all fixed. You are only up against one other actress. But if you do well at the audition, you should have it in the bag.’
‘Audition?’ Vi asked. ‘But you said the part was mine.’
‘This is not really an audition, it’s just a little chat with the producer and director and maybe the male lead. Nothing too difficult. They just want to have a look at you and take a few shots to see how you’d look on the screen.’
‘Who’s the male lead?’ Vi asked.
‘Jack Montgomery.’
‘Really? Wow.’ Vi stared at Hugh, feeling excited. Jack Montgomery was a well-known actor. He was British and good-looking in a rough, romantic way and Vi remembered that she’d seem him featured in a magazine recently. This wasn’t his first lead part. He had starred inLetters from AmsterdamandThe Wilderness Year, both popular movies that had done very well at the box office. ‘He’s quite famous now, isn’t he?’
‘Yup,’ Hugh said. ‘And he’s in the production team of this movie. He needs to see you in person so he can decide if the two of you click. Chemistry is very important in this case. So that’s why he has a say in who they hire to play Kathleen.’
‘When’s the interview?’ Vi asked.
‘Three o’clock.’
‘Today?’ Vi asked, beginning to panic. She glanced at her watch. ‘It’s twenty to three already and I haven’t done my makeup or fixed my hair or anything. Where is this interview anyway?’
‘At the movie company’s London office,’ Hugh replied. ‘It’s five minutes’ walk from here.’ He handed her a card. ‘Here’s the address. You’d better get your skates on. Don’t worry abouthair or makeup. They want you to look natural. A blank canvas. Remember how Kathleen would always look so wholesome?’
‘Yes, but…’ Vi got up from the chair. ‘I need to look my best, don’t I?’ She looked down at her navy down jacket that had seen better days and the black leggings and scuffed trainers. ‘I didn’t think I’d need to dress up to see you. I came straight here from the gym and I have to be on the set ofThe Dockland Mysteries, the TV series I’m in, at five.’
