“ Look, about the thing on “Lunchtime Live”. I really meant what I said I think they should see me for the part of Jackie. It’s often been said there’s a certain similarity in the bone structure. The squarish jaw, wide mouth, hair coloring. She’s got to age from teens to death at sixty-four, right? Well, that’s no problem, especially …

The brass plaque on the door of his half of the building said simply ‘Robin Quick’. No ‘Limited’ or ‘Enterprises’ or‘Associates’ or even explanation of what he did, If Robin Quick had been her agent for more years than either of them would admit in public. Since she had been a star, at any rate. That long. They had courted …

Everything changed then. It wasn’t just her career, it wasn’t just George’s, although his relentless rise to megastardom had begun at exactly that time. It wasn’t just theirmarriage, which had been happy until that point and a sham ever since. It was the whole world. During her months of purdah, younger, prettier actressesmade their mark. Less talented but that didn’t …

“Thank you both so much for the interview. I expect you know by now, Belinda was taken ill while we were.on the air, so I’m afraid it wasn’t as smooth as it mighthave been. I hadn’t mugged upon….well, prepared forthe two of you. Belinda would’ve done you a much betterjob. But you were both marvelous.” He smiled at them. He …

He pushed past her and slammed the window closed. His proximity caused her to flinch slightly and shrink away from him. Turning to Becca he bowed his head almost religiously, seeking blessing, and then with a well-practised gesture peeled his toupee off from back to front, letting it fall into his cupped palm where it nestled like a moribund rodent …

“A sooty! A goddam sooty!”George fumed as soon as the dressing-room door was closed and he was alone with Kate and his PA. “George, please. Hal is not. .. what you said. He is black.” Kate braced herself for the inevitable onslaught of her husband’s ire. “He’s a c***, for Christ’s sake! Becca! Why didn’t you tell me I was …

Kate Fitch took her customary three deep breaths, sucking the air right down to the bottom of her lungs, feeling the satisfying movement of the diaphragm. As she exhaled for the third time she felt George’s hand taking hers and she smiled encouragingly across at him. Or rather, down at him; even in his shoes with lifts, he was a …

“Look, Christopher. Look at the pretty patterns.” The summer breeze gently ruffled the floppy fringe of hair that hung over the little boy’s eyes as he stood by the pond with his baby brother, proud that he’d been left in charge for a few minutes. Well, he was four now and that was quite grown up. Daddy was in charge …