American lass with whom the good solid Englishman gets hitched, whereas Julia and husband are captivated by the fascists. Hence the cars. Miss America drives the Auburn, and the ultra English Robert drives the Bentley. Von Ribbentrop drives the German Horch, and I share the Italian Fiat with my fascist husband. Justin Parrâs playing Robert. Youâve seen him on TV, I expect. Heâs a poppet.â
I disliked him already. âThe theft could have been intended to spite either Angie or Eleanor then?â
âAngieâs the more likely. Ellieâs harmless. Sheâs new on the block, whereas a lot of us know Angie of old.â
âYou couldnât have been in
Running Tides
? Youâd have been in your cradle.â
âI didnât put you down as a line-shooter.â
âFair hit,â I conceded.
âI wasnât in it. I was still struggling doing bit parts on TV and since then Iâve run across Angie from time to time.â
âWhy does she have so much influence? She seems to act more like a prima donna than an adviser. Directorâs wife or not, she shouldnât be in a position to get Tom sacked once, let alone try for a second go. Why doesnât Bill or Roger rein her in?â
âRoger has a soft spot for Angie, chiefly because sheâs best chums with his wife, who holds most of the purse strings. Not an easy situation. Bill could overrule Angie, but he wonât. Everything takes second place to the film while itâs shooting. This film is going to be tricky, especially when we go on location next week, so endless squabbles with Angie wonât help either Bill or Roger.â
âHow much more shooting is there to do?â
âAbout another three or four weeks. It canât be more. Weâve all got other commitments after that, so we have to stick to schedule. Itâs one hell of a problem, and you, Jack, are the angel whoâs going to solve it for us.â
âThanks for your faith,â I said wryly. Another three weeks and she might walk out of my life. I pulled myself together. She wasnât even in it yet. âWhat about the car adviser?â I asked apparently carelessly. âDoesnât he have emergency solutions?â
She looked at me rather oddly. âHeâs not into detective work.â
âIâm glad. I wouldnât be here if he was.â
She laughed. âHowâs the ankle? Can it make it to a brief look at the other two studios and then the canteen for a quick coffee?â
Louiseâs company was so enjoyable that it would be easy to persuade myself that hunting down the missing Auburn could only be done at the studios â and who was to say that wasnât right? âSomething is rotten in the state of Denmarkâ, as some character in
Hamlet
observed. For me, substitute Stour Studios. Except for Louise. Nothing amiss there. Walking beside her, I felt as if Iâd known her for ever and that it was going to continue that way.
The set dressers, she explained, were still finishing up in Studio One for the love scene between herself and Justin Parr being shot that afternoon. I tried not to imagine too vividly what it might consist of, and instead took a curious look at a few of the people who theoretically might have stolen the Auburn. The set was of a small drawing room and lighting technicians were focusing stand-based and overhead lamps, while around them buzzed half a dozen set dressers adjusting cushions, furniture, and family photographs.
âIs Justin around?â I asked, as we stood inside the doorway.
âNo. Far too early. Weâre called for two thirty, another two and a half hours, and heâs well known for walking in on the dot. Me, I need a few minutes on set to complete the change from being Louise to Julia Danby.â
âIs that difficult?
âNo. Itâs a routine. I just shut my eyes and seductress Julia slowly takes over.â
I