Page 10 of The Location Shoot
“I saved you the best room with a large writing desk, as you requested,” he replied, gesturing at Drew to give her the key. “Number seven, on the second floor.”
“Please order me whatever you’re drinking. I’ll be back in just a moment.” She turned to the group and said, “I’m really looking forward to getting to know you all.”
They all smiled and nodded politely.
Jean plopped back down with an entirely different energythan they had seen before. He called to the waiter to bring another bourbon neat. Everyone stared at him, their mouths slightly agape.
He sipped his drink and explained, “Ella has this effect on people.”
“It’s more the effect she has on you,” Michael said. “Your entire demeanor changed when she arrived.”
“There is no one on this earth who brings me greater joy. All who know her feel the same. She’s got a fire about her. To be fully alive, that is truly something,” he said dreamily. He paused and continued, “She understands what it means to make art that asks the big questions. Few possess what she does. She’s one of a kind and brings a certainje ne sais quoito a project.”
Finn saw Michael glancing around the table, no doubt noticing that everyone looked as intrigued as he was. “You looked completely smitten with her. Is she your . . . ?”
“My lover? No,” he said, shaking his head. “She has rules about sex. Won’t sleep with me.”
Michael and Finn each raised an eyebrow, eager to hear more.
Ella came flitting back into the room. She slid into the booth next to Jean just as the waiter served her drink.
“Ella,” Jean said, “tell them about your fucking rules.”
The actors’ jaws hit the floor, shocked by his brazen question.
“Gee, you can’t even let a girl have a drink and get settled in,” she joked.
Albie chuckled.
She turned to the group and said, “It’s simple. You should only sleep with people you’ll always love or people you’ll never love.”
Finn looked down, blushing. The others burst into laughter.
“I suppose that has a sort of logic to it,” Willow mumbled.
Jean draped his arm around Ella and said, “Darling, if that were true, we’d be in bed right now.”
“Oh, please! The only person you’ll always love isyou,” she said matter-of-factly.
No one could stifle their laughter. Ella shrugged, picked up her glass, and took a sip. “Ooh, that’s smooth,” she remarked. Finn noticed that Michael was practically undressing her with his eyes. He was staring too, although he tried to be far more subtle about it. He caught her eye, and they gazed at one another for a moment.
“So, have you come here to save us?” Jean asked.
“You don’t need saving, my darling,” she said, playfully tousling his hair. “This is merely a chance to inspire each other. I’m writing a series of four short books and figured being away in the country would be a good change of scenery. I’ll stay for the next two and a half months until you wrap the shoot; I’ll do what I can, but I’ll be busy with my own work.” She paused, dramatically widened her eyes, and looked straight at Jean. “Listen, I expect your feedback on my draft manuscripts. This isn’t all about you.”
He laughed. “Looking forward to it. I imagine I’m in for a treat.”
“Good. Then I’m in.”
“Will you come to set tomorrow morning? There will be a shuttle van taking people between the set and the inn all day. We start filming at ten.”
“Darling, you know I don’t punch a time card, but I’ll pop by.”
He kissed her cheek. “And group dinners each night.”
“Yes, of course. I know how you operate,” she replied. “It would help if you told me what the film is about before I stop by the set.” She turned to the group. “Well, I can’task you guys. You probably haven’t a clue other than some half-baked script you got!”
Drew laughed, and the actors followed suit.
