Situation Tragedy Read Online Free PDF

going to commit itself to the vast outlay involved in contracting him for the next series, then they’d be bound to go ahead with it, he reasoned. ‘Oh well, that’s nice to hear, Nigel,’ he said, recapturing some of his casualness and bonhomie. ‘Let me get you a drink to celebrate.’
    â€˜I’ll have a Perrier water,’ said the Director of Programmes.
    At that moment George Birkitt and Rod Tisdale arrived in the bar and joined the circle. Having assured Peter Lipscombe (whose finger was still bleeding slightly) that everything was okay, the former, on whom the strains of the day were beginning to tell, ordered a quadruple brandy and the latter a half of lager.
    â€˜You pleased, Rod?’ asked Nigel Frisch.
    â€˜All right,’ the writer replied without excitement. ‘Sixty-six.’
    â€˜I beg your pardon.’
    â€˜There were seventy-four jokes in the script. Sixty-six of them got laughs.’
    â€˜Ah.’
    Charles slipped away from the gushing crowd. His system could only tolerate small doses of show-biz glamour. And Jane Lewis, the Trainee PA, had just come into the bar and was standing on her own.
    â€˜Can I get you a drink, Jane?’
    â€˜It’s Janey.’
    â€˜Sorry.’
    â€˜Janey. With an E-Y. I decided that’d look better on the roller.’
    â€˜Roller?’
    â€˜Roller-caption. My credit at the end of the programme. Jane’s so ordinary.’
    â€˜Oh. Yes. Janey then, would you like a drink?’
    â€˜Bacardi coke, please.’
    Charles engaged the attention of the barman who wasn’t coping with Peter Lipscombe’s latest massive order, got the drinks and was encouraged to see that Jane – or rather Janey – was still alone when he returned.
    She raised her glass. ‘To the success of the show.’
    â€˜Hear, hear.’ He took a long swallow. He was beginning to feel the effect of the day’s drinking. ‘How’d you think it went?’
    â€˜Part One was about 43 seconds over and Part Two was 1-17 over, but Sadie reckons they’ll edit all right. And we’re not certain that VTR was stable on one of the Rollback and Mixes.’
    â€˜Oh,’ said Charles. ‘But what about the show itself?’
    She looked at him blankly. ‘I’ve said. It was exactly two minutes over in all.’
    â€˜Yes.’ He paused. ‘What do you go on to after this?’
    â€˜Next I’m trailing the outside filming on the age-ist series.’
    â€˜Age-ist series?’
    â€˜Yes. W. E .T.’s just started a new unit for programmes for the elderly. Going to be presented by Ian Reynolds, who’s nearly eighty. Phil Middleton – that’s the director – said a lot of people would go for someone like Robert Carton as presenter, but he’s too boring.’
    â€˜Ah.’ Janey Lewis was clearly one of those girls who quoted irrelevant conversations verbatim. ‘And after that?’ Charles asked.
    â€˜Don’t know. I’d like to get on to another Light Entertainment show, but I don’t know. I’d like to get on to the
Wragg and Bowen
show.’
    â€˜Ah,’ said Charles ambiguously, as if he just might know what she was talking about.
    â€˜You’ve heard, haven’t you, that W.E.T.’s just bought
Wragg and Bowen
from the Beeb?’
    â€˜Of course,’ Charles lied.
    â€˜Going to be a huge show, that one. I mean, Wragg and Bowen are definitely the best double act in the country. They’re going to be paid ten thousand a week, each.’
    â€˜Oh. What’s the show going to be like?’
    â€˜I don’t think that’s been worked out yet.’
    â€˜Ah.’ Their conversation stagnated. Charles was feeling randy with the alcohol and didn’t want to leave her. She was a remarkably attractive girl with that black hair and pale skin. Nice shape, too. If only she could talk about something other