Page 45 of Game Changer

Chapter18

Zara

The movie comes to an end and the credits roll to the most beautiful orchestral music I’ve ever heard.

Buckie takes my hand. “What did you think?”

“I’m blown away. It was perfect. You were amazing Buckie. And that music throughout… ugh it got me right in the feels. Who did that soundtrack?”

The lights go up to a muted hue and he turns to me with a huge smile on his face. “Her name’s Ella Fitzroy-McRae. She’s an astounding composer and she has her own big highlander for inspiration. They live in the Cairngorms, in a castle of all places.”

“Well, you can tell she has some amazing influences there. The music was haunting. It was a perfect fit for the movie. I wouldn’t be surprised if an Oscar was winging its way to her for that. I imagine she has a humungous mantlepiece over a roaring fire to put it on. I’d love to live in a castle.”

“Mum said the same thing. She was joking of course, but hey now she lives in one, so careful what you wish for.” He taps the tip of my nose lightly.

“Ooh you gonna buy me a castle Buck?” I laugh at him, looking around at the people milling about. “What happened to Annalise? I thought she’d be here to watch the film too.”

“No. Actors don’t tend to sit through the entire film. We’ve already seen it and at any other premiere I wouldn’t stay. But I knew you wanted to see it.”

“Aww thank you for staying. I really did enjoy it.”

“Buckie the Q&A will be starting in five minutes so you should go and get yourself organised,” Shelly interrupts.

“It only lasts half an hour or so. Do you want to stay for it or head to the bar and wait?”

“Oh, I’ll stay right here. I’ve never seen one of these before and I need the whole experience.”

“Okay I’ll see you when it’s done. There’s an after party happening at the Savoy. Do you want to go?”

“Well duh. An after party full of celebs? Are you kidding me? I’m so there. With bells on.”

“Ha. Premiere virgin.” Shelly laughs beside me. “You’re so cute Zara. Right Buckie lets go or we’ll have the audience mobbing you up here.”

“I’ll come and get you when we’re done okay,” he says standing and leaning in to kiss the top of my head.

“See you later Zara. I won’t be at the party, but I’ll see you before I leave.”

They both walk to the stairs, and I pull out my phone to look up some credentials on Ella Fitzroy-McRae. Her music is stunning, and I want to know if she’s done any other movies I may have seen before. IMDb is a treasure trove of information. And it appears there are quite a few I’ve seen already. I usually watch a movie because I like the actors, or the film sounds good. If I’d only listened to this soundtrack and not seen the film, my mind would have definitely been swirling with images of the highlands. Those green rolling hills, snow-capped rugged mountains and views for miles.

I stow my phone when spotlights fill the stage. Buckie, Annalise, and the other supporting cast arrive on stage. There is another person there that I hadn’t seen earlier. The director. I know from what Buckie has told me that this is his first full length feature film. I have to say, hats off to an excellent debut. As he takes centre stage to talk, I sit forward in my seat. I’m excited to see what they all have to say about their performances.

“Good evening folks,” the director says into the mic he’s holding. “Welcome to you all and thank you for watching our wee film. Did you enjoy it?”

The audience, well the handful of people left, give a whoop and a cheer, and he nods his head as he beams a smile from ear to ear.

“Thanks, so much guys, it was an absolute honour to make this film in my home country. But even more so to work with this talented bunch of misfits.” He laughs as he turns to the cast who are all sitting on chairs on the stage. “Weren’t they perfect?”

Again, more whoops and applause come from the people down in the stalls. It takes me a second to realise that I’m completely alone up here in the Royal Box. The whole upper tier is empty, since everyone taking part in the Q&A has taken a seat closer to the stage. It’s a little eerie.

“Okay, we have a list of names for questions so I’m going to go through them in order as they are here.”

The director shouts out the first name and a voice sounds from below.

“I wanted to ask Owen and Annalise if the love scenes were hard to do with each other. Were you nervous?”

Annalise shifts in her seat. She turns her entire body to face Buckie, all the while keeping her eyes on the audience questioner. “We got on like a house on fire didn’t we Buck.”

Buck.I’m a little stunned at her using the shortened version of his nickname. I’ve never heard anyone else call him that except me. I’m even more perplexed when she puts her hand on his forearm and rubs her fingers up and down it.

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