Read Online The Silent Country by Di Morrissey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Di Morrissey
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themselves around, howling and crying.
Helen sat stony faced. Drago dropped his head in his hands. Colin had no idea what to say, so tried to makenotes. Finally there were no more hopeful leading ladies and Colin knew he would have to return to the bank.
‘Is there anyone you want me to film?’ asked Drago.
‘No, they are all dragons,’ declared Topov. ‘We go.’
‘What are we going to do about a leading lady?’ asked Colin anxiously.
Topov shrugged. ‘Word will spread. Someone will arrive. Let us go upstairs and have something to eat.’ He called for Nino and ordered food for himself and the small entourage of fans and hopefuls who were hovering in the café.
As Colin left to go to work, Johnny scuttled into the café.
‘That’s the man, right?’
‘Yes, but you need to speak to Helen,’ said Colin, pointing at the efficient woman in the severe blouse.
‘Nah. That’s the man with the action. I’ll talk to him.’ Johnny made a beeline for Topov.
Colin walked back to the bank, digesting the extraordinary auditions. He didn’t understand how anything could be achieved in Topov’s unstructured, emotional and casual manner. But maybe he was too used to the ordered calmness of the bank’s routine. He realised that he would have to relax and try to appreciate how these film people worked.
After work he returned to the café. Topov had left but Johnny, Drago and Peter were deep in conversation. Johnny’s face was flushed and he was in high spirits. He waved to Colin. ‘Hey, matey. I’ve organised the transport and I’m in. I’m going along. I’m going to be the cook and drive one of the vehicles. This is crazy. I love it. Come and have a drink.’
Colin was amazed. Johnny was such a town person. Colin couldn’t believe that he would join such an adventure, so far from the wheeling and dealing that the youngcockney loved. ‘Fantastic! That’s really good news. Congratulations. Is Topov downstairs? Any more girls turn up?’
‘A few. Topov has gone. Helen is going through the rest of them,’ said Drago. ‘She said she’d call me if she needed any photos taken.’
Colin went to the basement where a waiter was beginning to set up tables and chairs for the evening. Helen sat at the desk reading the notes she’d made.
‘Oh, Colin, glad you’re here, you can relieve me. Not that I think we’ll have any more hopefuls turn up.’
‘Has anyone interesting come in since I left?’
‘No. Young actresses obviously have better things to do with their time than try out for a film.’
‘So what do we do about a leading lady? Maybe we’ll find someone in a country town?’ said Colin.
‘I don’t think so,’ said Helen. ‘I would hardly rely on rural Australia to find dramatic talent.’
‘I suppose not,’ said Colin doubtfully. He remembered the amateur suburban plays he’d seen with his mother, which he had thought excellent, and offered, ‘What about the suburbs?’
‘Really, I don’t think the suburbs would supply the sort of glamour that Mr Topov is looking for.’
Colin decided to drop his suggestions. Helen was so imperious. ‘Have you met the new cook?’
‘I met Johnny when he and Topov discussed the transport. I hope he measures up,’ said Helen.
Topov suddenly appeared in the room. ‘Do not leave room. We have one more lady to see.’
Helen glanced at her watch. ‘It’s late. Lucky we are still here, seeing interviews began at nine am.’
‘From nine am,’ muttered Colin.
Topov sat at the table as a young woman came down the stairs. She had coppery curly hair, a big smile and waswearing brown capri pants cinched with a wide belt and a clinging leopard-print top that showed off her curves. Colin smiled back at her. The girl came and stood calmly in front of them as Topov frankly studied her.
‘Name?’ asked Helen filling in a form.
‘I am Marta.’ She had a soft Scandinavian accent but spoke clearly. ‘I am an actress.’
‘Where you have been
Helen sat stony faced. Drago dropped his head in his hands. Colin had no idea what to say, so tried to makenotes. Finally there were no more hopeful leading ladies and Colin knew he would have to return to the bank.
‘Is there anyone you want me to film?’ asked Drago.
‘No, they are all dragons,’ declared Topov. ‘We go.’
‘What are we going to do about a leading lady?’ asked Colin anxiously.
Topov shrugged. ‘Word will spread. Someone will arrive. Let us go upstairs and have something to eat.’ He called for Nino and ordered food for himself and the small entourage of fans and hopefuls who were hovering in the café.
As Colin left to go to work, Johnny scuttled into the café.
‘That’s the man, right?’
‘Yes, but you need to speak to Helen,’ said Colin, pointing at the efficient woman in the severe blouse.
‘Nah. That’s the man with the action. I’ll talk to him.’ Johnny made a beeline for Topov.
Colin walked back to the bank, digesting the extraordinary auditions. He didn’t understand how anything could be achieved in Topov’s unstructured, emotional and casual manner. But maybe he was too used to the ordered calmness of the bank’s routine. He realised that he would have to relax and try to appreciate how these film people worked.
After work he returned to the café. Topov had left but Johnny, Drago and Peter were deep in conversation. Johnny’s face was flushed and he was in high spirits. He waved to Colin. ‘Hey, matey. I’ve organised the transport and I’m in. I’m going along. I’m going to be the cook and drive one of the vehicles. This is crazy. I love it. Come and have a drink.’
Colin was amazed. Johnny was such a town person. Colin couldn’t believe that he would join such an adventure, so far from the wheeling and dealing that the youngcockney loved. ‘Fantastic! That’s really good news. Congratulations. Is Topov downstairs? Any more girls turn up?’
‘A few. Topov has gone. Helen is going through the rest of them,’ said Drago. ‘She said she’d call me if she needed any photos taken.’
Colin went to the basement where a waiter was beginning to set up tables and chairs for the evening. Helen sat at the desk reading the notes she’d made.
‘Oh, Colin, glad you’re here, you can relieve me. Not that I think we’ll have any more hopefuls turn up.’
‘Has anyone interesting come in since I left?’
‘No. Young actresses obviously have better things to do with their time than try out for a film.’
‘So what do we do about a leading lady? Maybe we’ll find someone in a country town?’ said Colin.
‘I don’t think so,’ said Helen. ‘I would hardly rely on rural Australia to find dramatic talent.’
‘I suppose not,’ said Colin doubtfully. He remembered the amateur suburban plays he’d seen with his mother, which he had thought excellent, and offered, ‘What about the suburbs?’
‘Really, I don’t think the suburbs would supply the sort of glamour that Mr Topov is looking for.’
Colin decided to drop his suggestions. Helen was so imperious. ‘Have you met the new cook?’
‘I met Johnny when he and Topov discussed the transport. I hope he measures up,’ said Helen.
Topov suddenly appeared in the room. ‘Do not leave room. We have one more lady to see.’
Helen glanced at her watch. ‘It’s late. Lucky we are still here, seeing interviews began at nine am.’
‘From nine am,’ muttered Colin.
Topov sat at the table as a young woman came down the stairs. She had coppery curly hair, a big smile and waswearing brown capri pants cinched with a wide belt and a clinging leopard-print top that showed off her curves. Colin smiled back at her. The girl came and stood calmly in front of them as Topov frankly studied her.
‘Name?’ asked Helen filling in a form.
‘I am Marta.’ She had a soft Scandinavian accent but spoke clearly. ‘I am an actress.’
‘Where you have been
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