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aware that I was listening.  I look at the clock; he’s nearly three hours late. The amount of money it must cost to keep everyone just waiting around.
    I decide to go and get some food from the catering trailer whilst I wait. Thank God, I didn’t see that women again since she walked out. I grab myself some sandwiches and head back to makeup room, heaven forbid he comes and I’m not there!
    When I approach the room it’s practically full; lots of people buzzing around. I manage to push my way in and I spot Elliott! He’s not happy at all.
    I can’t make out what’s being said but there are a few raised voices.  I hear Hudson who is standing next to him.
    “But Elliott it’s just one of those stupid whores that just sells yet another story for money! It’s bullshit, don’t worry about it! Maybe we should pay her a visit!” He laughs.  I notice that he’s holding a newspaper.
    I see Tara making her way through with a Coke for him. She’s at his side like some protective wife! I slyly try and get a bit closer to see what’s on the front page but stupidly catch my foot on the table and stumble! I manage this time to stay upright but the noise has caught everybody’s attention. Elliott looks directly at me and then looks away again. My question’s answered. It must have just been the alcohol!
    Elliott stands, and turns to everyone.
    “Right, enough of the bullshit. I need to get to work. Everyone who’s not working on this film needs to leave!”
    He sounds so authoritative.
    Everybody leaves except Hudson, Tara and myself.
    I walk over to him and start getting ready. I touch his shoulder, putting tissues over his clothes. He totally ignores me.
    I continue moisturizing his face, adding the anti-shine. He pushes my arm out the way as he re- reads the story in the paper. It is as if I don’t exist.
    The producer appears at the door. Elliott are you ready? We really must get on.”  He looks at me.
    I nod. My intention’s not clear. I don’t want him to be ready and I want to talk to him about last night and about this morning. About the blonde bitch Tara!
    I feel myself going red.
    “Jessica, are you finished with me?” Elliott snaps.
    “Yes,” I reply, sadness reeling throughout my body.
    He doesn’t give me a second look and leaves.
     
    It’s such a long day. I have to go on to set to do retouches, not that he really needs them. All I really want to do is go home and curl up on the sofa and nurture my pride. I think the last time I had been treated that badly, apart from Henry, was when I was fourteen and at a school disco. Mark Hurst had asked me to the disco. He’d picked me up and we went together, but he decided half way through evening that he didn’t like me anymore and went off with Annabel Dreft. That same humiliation had revisited me throughout today. The only saving grace is only Elliott and I know about it! 
    “Jess, I’m off home. Are you finished?” Mia asks.
    “No, how come you’re finished?”
    “The director decided that we had worked hard enough today. Especially as most of our scenes were this morning. Especially as Elliott was a no show. All the non-stars worked really hard,”  she giggles.
    “OK, I’ll catch you later then. Not sure what time I’ll be home but you take the car. I’ll catch a lift. Bye.”  I look at my watch; it is 9:45p.m. God, it’s such a long day.  I have to clean Elliott up before I can leave and set up for tomorrow’s 6:30a.m. start. I remember thinking how glamorous this job was until, of course, I started it!
    “And cut, that’s a rap!” The best sentence you could here at 10:30p.m.  There were only a few of us left at the studios. Elliott walks over to me.
    “Jessica, can we make this quick? I’m starving and I need a drink.”
    “Yes, of course,” I call following behind him to the makeup room.
    It’s just the two of us now and it’s deadly quiet.
    “Are you busy?” Elliott asks.
    “What, now?  Yes, I’m taking your