Page 101 of The Girl with the Irish Secret

‘Thanks a million,’ Vi said. ‘That’s very kind.’

‘Not at all,’ Finbarr replied. ‘I’ll expect tickets to the premiere in return.’

‘Of course,’ Vi promised. ‘Front row seats and an invitation to the after-party.’

‘Looking forward to it,’ Finbarr said. ‘Let me know you got the package.’

‘I will,’ Vi promised. ‘Bye for now.’ She hung up and looked at Jack. ‘Nice guy. Very helpful.’

‘With what?’ he asked.

‘I had a chat a while ago with an old lady who knew Kathleen in the early days – at the time she was discovered by the talent scout. She told me they kept in touch after Kathleen went to Hollywood. She has sent me some correspondence she had with Kathleen back in the day. I can’t wait to read them.’

‘Sounds interesting,’ Jack said. ‘Should give you a feel for who Kathleen was in private.’

‘Exactly,’ Vi agreed. ‘You see, I’m trying to find out more about her than what’s written in the biographies. That will help me get more depth into her persona when I play her. Not that it would change the screenplay in any way, of course.’

‘I don’t see why not.’ Jack looked thoughtfully at Vi. ‘Right now I find the dialogue a little bland and clichéd. Maybe we could jazz it up a bit with some drama?’

‘Yes,’ Vi agreed. ‘I did like the dialogue, it’s very well written. But yeah, it’s a little run of the mill. But I never thought I’d have any influence on what’s in the script. I don’t want to make trouble.’

‘I’d make it for you,’ Jack remarked, waggling his eyebrows. ‘Maybe we could go through the script together and see what needs to be done? Rehearse the dialogue and get the feel for it, maybe to see how we click. What do you think?’

‘Yes,’ Vi agreed. ‘That’d be great. Let me know when you’re free to do that.’

‘We could do it on the phone,’ he suggested. ‘Anytime at all when I take a break.’

‘I’m free most evenings. And maybe once I get more information about Kathleen, we might work that into it,’ Vi said.

He nodded. ‘Good idea. I think it’s terrific that you’re doing a bit of digging into Kathleen’s personal life.’

‘I just wanted to get to know the woman behind the glossy image,’ Vi explained. ‘I want to have a real feel for what was in her mind at the time. Things nobody would know except close friends like Fidelma. Or maybe you?’ she asked.

Jack looked surprised. ‘Me? I don’t know much about her. Except one or two hints that she was hiding something from the press. But I’m not sure what it was. Just old Hollywood gossip that might be made up.’

‘Could it have been something personal and embarrassing?’ Vi suggested.

‘Stuff she wouldn’t have told journalists in interviews, you mean?’ he teased.

‘Yeah,’ Vi said, feeling embarrassed herself. ‘I bet she never made that mistake.’

‘Probably because she was coached to say what would look good,’ Jack mused. ‘And by the way, talking about stuff nobody knows…’ He suddenly looked awkward. ‘I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone what I said about my father. That’s not out there in public and it would hurt my mother and my sister if it came out. The official story is quite different.’

‘Of course, I won’t tell anyone,’ Vi promised.

‘Great.’ Jack rose from his chair. ‘I think it’s time we went back. It’s getting dark and the drive across that mountain pass was scary enough in daylight.’

‘We could go the longer way,’ Vi suggested.

‘I’d rather take the short sharp one,’ Jack said. ‘And I have a feeling the skies would be amazing up there just after sunset.’

Vi got up. ‘Yes, that’s true. Let’s go.’

When Jack paid the bill at the counter, the waiter smiled at them. ‘Nice to meet the stars of the next big hit,’ he said. ‘Good luck with the movie, lads.’

They smiled and thanked him. Jack looked curiously at Vi when they were outside. ‘So he knew who we were but didn’t say anything or ask us any questions. That’s classy, I have to say.’

‘That’s the Kerry way,’ Vi said as she got into the car.