Read Cherringham--Final Cut for Free Online

There was a lot of dialogue — and a level of intensity required from both actors that Jack could feel all the way back in in the shadows.
    Zoë Harding might be young — and new to movies — but she was breath-taking.
    And, in a sweeping red velvet dress, utterly convincing. Karl — her co-star — seemed to dominate the room without doing anything.
    No doubt about it — there was amazing chemistry between these two young players. But to succeed, Jack knew a movie needed much more than just chemistry.
    He’d watched nearly a dozen takes already, Zoë and Karl throwing themselves into the roles — and each time Alphonso shouted ‘cut’ and took the actors impatiently aside to change a line, or a delivery.
    The scene itself wasn’t going well — for some reason that Jack couldn’t identify at all.
    And now the director started shouting at the crew in a heavy accent about the lighting.
    Jack looked over at Zoë. She caught his eye and winked.
    What a trooper, he thought.
    As he watched, she hurried over to a corner of the room and two women worked quickly on her hair and teased a shoulder pad back into place. He saw her lean down for her flask, take a mouthful of tea, then place it on the floor out of the way.
    “First positions everybody, please, we’re going for another take,” called Fraser, voice booming, and Jack saw the whole room tense up again.
    How many more takes would they need?
    “And … action!”
    Jack watched Zoë instantly become Lady Ann again. She swept across the room and Cromwell turned in surprise to see her.
    “My Lord –”
    “This is no place for you –”
    “You mean you have no place in your heart –”
    “Lady Ann, I beg you, do not put words –”
    But suddenly, Jack knew something was wrong. He’d seen Zoë’s rock solid performance so often he knew every move she made …
    But now, she was backing away, her face confused —
    Karl too looked surprised — the rhythm of the scene collapsing —
    Jack stood up, alarmed — as Zoë clutched at her stomach, her face suddenly white — and while everyone else seemed frozen, Jack was already moving towards her, pushing crew to one side –
    “I don’t feel –” she said, trying to stand upright …
    And then she was falling backwards towards him, already unconscious, just as Jack reached her — and he too fell backwards, but taking her weight, his arms protecting her, his shoulder hitting the wooden floor hard, her head cradled onto his chest.
    As the room finally woke up to what was happening and everyone rushed to help at once …
    “Get an ambulance,” shouted Jack, “Now!”
    He lay Zoë flat on the ground and checked for a pulse.
    He could barely feel it …
    “Quickly, move — for God’s sake!”
    And as he heard people dialling on their mobile phones, and while everyone seemed to move in slow motion around him, Jack got ready to give Zoë Harding CPR …

7. A Narrow Escape …
    Sarah walked beside Jack, following the nurse into Zoë’s hospital room.
    A few feet from the bed, the nurse turned and said: “She’s been sleeping off and on since this morning. Getting her strength back.”
    Sarah nodded.
    The beautiful actress looked so fragile — a fantasy princess in a deep sleep in the shadowy room, blinds drawn, the monitor above the bed showing all her vital signs.
    “Thank you,” Sarah said. “We won’t wake her. Just wanted to—”
    But — as if on cue — Zoë opened her eyes, and turned to the voices, then a small smile on that beautiful face.
    “Sarah, Jack … sorry must have … dozed off again.”
    The nurse turned back to the patient. “Everything’s looking fine, dear. You’re doing well, and now — “a nod to Sarah — “I’ll leave you to catch up with your friends …”
    And the nurse left the room.
    Sarah came closer to the bed. Jack was by her side, but staying a bit back; she guessed that he had visited a lot of hospital rooms in his years on the force …
    And that thought