Page 86 of The Wish
‘Don’t worry, you’ll be on the day ward, ground floor, away from everywhere else. Can I tell them you’ll be here?’
‘Six o’clock. I’ll be there. Thank you, Sandy, I didn’t think this day could get any better.’
Ending the call Alex goes to the bathroom. He needs to get his emotions under control, he needs to splash water on the tears that threaten.
Kelly is the first to arrive at the studio an hour before Alex had told her to be there. She admits she has barely slept as she shows Alex the small posy of flowers she has picked up. One of the crew take them from her, promising to find a vase and hide them in an office where no one will go.
The curtains are closed, and Alex explains how Jesse and her family will be taken to two dressing rooms on one side of the building. They won’t know that Amy, Ryan and Luke are also coming, along with their parents. They will be kept as a surprise, as will the wedding dress, and one more surprise that Alex insists he won’t even share with Kelly. He asks her to play along and do as she’s told.
It soon becomes obvious no one has listened to the times Alex gave them. Jesse and her family arrive early too. Alex watches her closely as she gets out of the car. It is clear she is using all her reserves of energy to make the wish she wants for herfamily. Dean takes a wheelchair out of the boot of the car, but she refuses to get in. Dean wheels it into the studio behind his family. Sam runs ahead and is stopped by Steve as he tries to peek behind the big black curtain. Alex has them meet the crew, one of whom takes the wheelchair from Dean and puts it to the side of the room. Sarah, Charlie and Phil are identified as having worked on the wish and, as predicted, Jesse hugs them all long and hard. They give a layman’s explanation of what their roles are and what is going to happen. The Morgans understand that Alex and Steve will be co-directing what they are filming, and Jesse and Sam giggle with excitement when they are told they will be using the words ‘action’ and ‘cut’ to indicate when filming is beginning and ending. Dean asks where their scripts are.
‘Families don’t need scripts,’ Alex tells him. ‘You’re playing yourselves, remember.’
‘Can I get my money back if Sam says the wrong thing?’ Dean jokes, ruffling Sam’s hair.
‘Course you can, see me after,’ Alex replies.
‘Ooh,’ Mandy whispers to Kelly, ‘he has a sense of humour, who would have known?’
‘There’s a lot about him we don’t know,’ Kelly whispers back.
‘I hope you’re working on finding out all his secrets,’ Mandy says, giving Kelly a meaningful look.
‘Mandy, really, our relationship is strictly professional.’
‘Of course it is, how silly of me.’
Shown their dressing rooms – one for the boys and one for the girls – Sam immediately raids the chocolate bars on the sideboard along with fruit, cookies and cheese, a selection of healthy and unhealthy drinks. He insists on seeing Jesse’s room in case she has something he doesn’t. Kelly tells them Alex wants them dressed for a casual day in the park and leaves them to get ready. They’ve brought along various outfits. She tells them she will be back shortly to take them behind the curtain.
She returns to find the family dressed in summer clothes for a day at the park. Sam is hopping up and down with excitement. He’s insisted on putting on suncream – method acting, he tells them. He’s been doing some research. Kelly walks them to the curtain where Alex is waiting for them. He tells them to hold hands and close their eyes. When he says take a step, they can step forward a pace or two.
After a lot of coaxing, Sam promises to keep his eyes closed as he and Jesse stand between their parents. Finally, they’re ready. Alex and Kelly pull back the curtains.
‘Step forward,’ Alex says.
They step forward and instantly Sam screams out ‘WOW’.
In front of them, a still photo of Jesse covers the vast screen. She looms over them. Dean is immediately drawn to the screen and walks forward, as Jesse’s beaming smile envelops him. Dean’s eyes fill with tears. For the first time he understands the enormity of what Alex has achieved and created for his family, free of charge, without demands or drama – well, maybe a little drama. Once more, he fights down the feelings of shame and remorse at his behaviour. He and Mandy look at each other over the heads of their children. They both know that their daughter has made this happen – with Alex’s help. She’s built a legacy for them, a world they can enter when Jesse is no longer with them. It’s astonishing, and humbling. They begin to cry, but their tears turn to joy as Jesse and Sam whoop with excitement and laughter. They nod at each other: tacitly acknowledging that they’re allowed to enjoy this moment for what it is, revel in it, with no thought of what lies just ahead for them all.
Alex slowly explains to them what they are seeing. Steve runs some video footage for them to see the park they know so well, they recognise the trees, roundabouts and swings. Alex explains that by walking around the stage in front of the screen, multiple cameras will capture them from all angles, all camerasimmersing them into the scenes. The footage Steve and Alex filmed of the park, the beach, Jesse’s balloon flight, have been put into simulated software. What they re-enact today will be captured on film which will be edited together with the existing footage to create their story. Music has been embedded but can be adjusted, and Mandy has recorded her poems which will be used at some points, alongside shots of some of Sam’s drawings.
‘Where are the camera operators?’ Dean asks.
‘Over there,’ Alex says, pointing at Steve sitting behind the large console. ‘Everything is computer controlled; we’ve already set them to film, close up, move around, kind of like the Daleks fromDoctor Who. Steve controls them and can take over if he feels he wants a different angle or wide screen shot.’
‘I get the picture, I think. This is incredible, Alex.’
Dean sees Sam sitting on Steve’s lap being shown the monitors he will watch and control. ‘I think you might have a new crew member.’
‘Happy to have him here anytime, never too young to learn,’ Alex tells him gruffly. He’s still a little wary of Dean.
Alex’s attention is diverted as the curtains open. They weren’t expecting anyone else.
Frank and Ian step inside the curtained area and look on. Alex walks quickly over to them, anxiety and concern written on his face. He’s primed for trouble.
‘Hi, Alex, do you mind if we watch? I promise we won’t interfere,’ Frank says.
‘Of course, come and meet everyone, then grab a couple of chairs and make yourselves comfortable. Good to see you Ian,’ Alex says.
