Page 85 of Christmas off Script
Leo’s head started to move towards hers as the ring slipped off her finger and fell to the ground. Reaching instinctively for it, she head-butted Leo’s chest as he came in for a kiss. He leapt back as if shot, and Ella fell to the stage on her hands and knees.
‘Sorry, I’m so sorry,’ she mumbled.
‘No, I’m sorry,’ he replied, his words terse and clipped.
‘What on earth was that?’ Arthur cried. ‘Call yourself a Foxbrooke, Leo? We’re lovers, not lump hammers! The apple fell so far from the bally tree with you, m’boy, it landed in Paulton Tesco.’
‘Arthur,’ Libby said firmly. ‘It’s been a very stressful morning. Give them a break.’ She smiled at them. ‘Let’s move onto the clock striking midnight.’
Two hours later,the relief and joy everyone had expressed at Leo taking the role of Prince Charming had been replaced by a low-level worry that hung in the air like a bad smell.
People weren’t smiling anymore. They looked as anxious as Ella felt as Leo stumbled over his lines. His performance was slightly better if she wasn’t on stage, but the moment the two of them were together, they had the ease of a summit between the leaders of North and South Korea.
Ella wanted to weep. Where had her laughing and joking best friend gone? Leo appeared frazzled to the point of exhaustion, tiptoeing around her as if they’d just met and he didn’t know how to act.
Now he was standing near the door with Libby, his body language signalling utter dejection. Libby glanced at Ella and beckoned her over.
She approached with leaden feet.
‘Sorry for being so bloody useless,’ Leo said to her as she came to their side.
‘You’re not!’ Libby said warmly. ‘This is completely new and you haven’t had a chance to prepare mentally for it. It doesn’t help with all of us watching.’
He shrugged.
‘I think the two of you need to spend some time together in private.’
Ella’s heart pounded as Leo glanced at Libby in shock.
‘Working on some trust exercises and practising your parts,’ she continued. ‘I’ve got a whole list of ideas on the improv company website.’ She pulled out her phone, tapped on the screen, then handed it to Ella. ‘Have a look at these and decide which ones take your fancy. Don’t worry about the rest of the rehearsal. I’m not concerned about your lines. I just need you both to feel comfortable with each other.’
‘Of course we do,’ Leo immediately replied. ‘Ella’s my best friend.’
‘I know, but you’re now in a situation none of us planned for. When you’ve chosen a couple of exercises, take the rest of the afternoon off to give them a go. Director’s orders. Okay?’
Ella nodded and Libby gave her arm a squeeze, then walked away.
In the silence that followed, Ella scrolled through the list, her eyes unfocused, then held the phone out to Leo. ‘You choose. I’m sure they’re all fine.’
He didn’t take it. ‘I only want to do whatyou’recomfortable with.’
She bit the inside of her cheek to stop a sigh from escaping.Be a good friend!Channelling the eternally optimistic Libby, she forced a smile and checked the list again. ‘Okay, we can do the guided walk, the mirror exercise and the trust fall. You happy with that?’
‘If you are, then yes.’
‘Okay. Two secs.’ She strode across the ballroom with Libby’s phone. When she returned, Leo held the door open for her and they passed into the corridor.
‘So,’ he began. ‘Guided walk. What’s that?’
‘We really should use a blindfold.’ She glanced around as if one might magically appear.
Leo closed his eyes. ‘I promise I won’t peek. What are you going to do?’
‘I’ve got to lead you with verbal instructions only.’
‘Okay, I’m ready.’
‘Um. Turn ninety degrees anti-clockwise.’
