Zoë was still going. ‘But I very much hope to be up on this prestigious stage again this time next year with our brand-new sitcom. It’s a big secret so I can’t give you any details at present, but I know it’s going to be great and I’m sure you’ll love it.’
Alice wasn’t so sure. The word on the street was that the replacement series was going to be a shameless rip-off of Pals, but with different writers and none of the existing actors among the cast. Pals had been set in an apartment block in the unglamorous suburbs of LA, where three penniless wannabe actresses – one English, one Irish and one Australian – shared a small apartment. The action revolved around the often strained relations between them and the occupants of the other apartments, in particular the penthouse flat on the top floor inhabited by a pair of tall, handsome law students – played by Harry and Richie – from mega-wealthy East Coast families. From what Alice had heard, the new series was going to be set in Dallas, Texas, and would involve the unlikely juxtaposition of moonshine-drinking rednecks and half-starved fashion models.
What was for sure, of course, was that she and the others from Pals were now out of a job, as the negotiations had broken down a couple of months back. The actors and writers had finally called the studio’s bluff, refusing to work without a change of director, but Conrad Chesterfield, the big boss, had dug his heels in. He had offered them a substantial increase in pay but had refused to sack Zoë, although he must have realised she was terribly unpopular. In the light of the cast’s refusal to work with her any longer, he had pulled the rug out from underneath them. As a result, Pals, in spite of being one of the studio’s biggest earners, was now history and Alice, probably like the others, was left with mixed feelings. On the one hand there was relief at no longer having to put up with Zoë’s never-ending harassment, but on the other was the fact that Pals had been a major part of her life, and now it was over. She knew she would miss it, but she also knew this gave her a chance to make a fundamental career change.
Alice’s musings were interrupted by more applause, as Zoë made her way slowly and carefully down the stairs towards them again, brandishing the unmistakable golden Emmy award as she did so. When she got back to their table, she set it down with a flourish and then went round embracing each of them – except for Benny. The bad blood between him and the production team was of the indelible variety.
As she reached Alice and air-kissed her theatrically, she lowered her voice and murmured sotto voce, but with her usual acidity, ‘Goodbye, Alice. You know you’ve just made the worst decision of your life, don’t you? I bet it won’t be long before you come crawling back.’
She accompanied this with a charming and remarkably sincere-looking smile for the cameras. Alice had to admit that, for a director, she wasn’t a bad actress. If she had spent more of her working life at least pretending to be a nice human being, instead of a domineering ogre, they probably wouldn’t be in this position now.
Alice beamed broadly back at her, conscious of the cameras still on them. ‘You say the nicest things, Zoë. But there’s no way that’s ever going to happen. That’s not the plan.’ She pointed to the other Emmy on the table in front of her, awarded to her a little earlier in the evening for being the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. ‘I’m taking my little trophy and I’m heading home to the UK.’ She saw Zoë hesitate and glance back towards her. Alice blew her a totally insincere kiss. ‘I’m out of here. I’m going back to university.’
Zoë’s eyes widened in disbelief. ‘You – a student? Never! You’ve got acting in your blood now. You’ll never quit.’
Alice shook her head. ‘I already have. I’m going back to uni in two weeks’ time. It’s all arranged. You’ll laugh, but I’m really looking forward to getting back into the real world once again.’
Her amazing big break five years earlier had come via a talent contest she had entered as a dare at the end of her second year at Bristol University and the subsequent move to California had stopped her degree course in its tracks. Although the years of success and fame had been fun – up to a point – the more she thought about it, the more the prospect of returning to a ‘normal’ life now really appealed.
Just for a second, Zoë’s amiable smile slipped into her trademark sneer. ‘You go back to being a student after living as a star? You’ll never stick it out.’
Chapter 1
Five years later
But Alice did. It wasn’t always easy, but she did.
Not only did she manage to get herself a first-class honours degree in art history, but she also followed it up with a doctorate specialising in the art of the Renaissance. The transition from famous, fêted actress to academic hadn’t been without its difficulties and, in spite of her resolve, she had missed more of her previous life than she had expected, but it had all worked out
