The CBB :: View topic - All the World's a Stage

#1: All the World's a Stage Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:14 pm

This is everything I have so far on this. There's a bit missing in the middle which I'm hoping is on my other computer because it seems to have gone from the word doc on this one! I'm sorry to have lost all your lovely comments but feel free to make more Wink

The bottom bit was posted a bit before the board went so I don't know how many people saw it. The chapter headings are completely arbitrary by the way!

Edited: Found the missing bit and put it in before archiving begins!

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PROLOGUE

The applause was still sounding as Jane Carew opened the door to her dressing room at the Arts Theatre. The backstage area was located below the theatre and, with no windows, every time Jane descended, she felt like she was being smothered by the smell of stale sweat and hairspray. A television screen above the cheap green plastic sofas, currently buried beneath discarded costumes, showed the safety curtain being slowly lowered over the stage as the rustling of the audience indicated the end of the play. Wary of being caught by the fake platitudes from her fellow cast members, Jane hurried into her private dressing room which was, by now, stifling hot and she slipped out of her costume. Not daring to risk the wrath of Jenny, the wardrobe mistress, she carefully hung it up on the small rail in the corner and withdrew the multitude of pins which held up her ash-blond hair in its exquisite style. Lloyd, the director of the company’s UK tour of Euripides’ Hippolytus, had been very insistent on emphasising the nobility of the queen. Indeed, Jane often thought that the only reason she had been cast as Phaedra was because of her parents, considered theatre royalty by many, not least Lloyd.

Jane sat down in front of her brightly lit mirror. Beneath the heavy stage make-up, her pale skin was almost translucent and her dark grey eyes were ringed with tiredness. She brushed out the stiff lacquer that had held her hair, trying not to notice how dull and lifeless it seemed. Pulling on a pair of faded jeans and an old black jumper, she caught sight of a large bouquet of flowers in the corner of the room. Gripped by a sudden over-powering wave of anger, she picked them up and violently threw them across the room. They hit the wall in a blast of red, covering the floor with scattered rose petals.

‘Jane darling, it’s me.’ Lloyd’s high-pitched affected voice was accompanied by an insistent knock on the door of her dressing room.

‘You were simply fabulous tonight my dear, the audience were enthralled with you. Can I come in?’

‘Just give me a moment’ Jane replied, quickly gathering up the decimated flowers into the bin underneath her dressing table. Amongst the strewn petals, Jane picked out a small, white square card,

‘I miss you.
Love R xxx’

Fighting a wave of crippling nausea, Jane slipped it into the pocket of her jeans. Lloyd knocked again and she wearily opened the door.

‘Why on earth are you dressed like that? We’re supposed to be going to that party at the Embassy. You can’t go looking like that darling.’

‘I don’t feel up to it. I think I’m just going to go back to the room and try to get an early night.’

‘You do look done-in and you’ll need to be in tip-top condition for tomorrow’s matinee. The box office said that we’re nearly sold out. Have you had a chance to speak to your father about King Lear yet? The two of you, united on stage in Shakespeare’s masterpiece. I have goosebumps just thinking about it, darling. You said that you would ask him about it.’

Jane’s heart sunk. ‘Sorry Lloyd, I haven’t had a chance yet. I’ll try to remember to bring it up next time I see him.’

Thank you my darling, it will be simply fabulous. We’ll have an instant hit on our hands, I know it. I’d better get going, I don’t want to disappoint my public.’

He planted a quick kiss on her lips.

‘Make sure you get some sleep, you look terrible.’

Jane locked the door behind Lloyd as he left her dressing room for the party she was supposed to accompanying him to. She waited until all she could hear was silence and she was sure that everyone had left the theatre for the night. Now that the show had begun its home run in London, Jane could return to her small flat in Earl’s Court at the end of the day, rather than having to suffer the enforced jollity of evenings spent in locals restaurants and bars with Lloyd and the rest of the cast. The communal area was quiet and Jane was able to slip out of the stage door without having to see a soul.

Despite the chilling wind that ripped through her slender frame, Jane walked in the opposite direction from the bus stop which would take her home, without realising what she was doing. All she could feel was that small white card which was burning a hole in her pocket. Suddenly she was outside a Victorian terraced house. The front door was painted red and a vibrant pot-plant on the doorstep was somehow managing to survive the winter chill. Light and warmth radiated from within.

Jane looked up with the ghost of a smile on her face. Sometimes, when she couldn’t sleep at night, she imagined that this was her life. But it wasn’t. She took the card out her pocket and, standing where she was, she tore it up into tiny little pieces which scattered in the wind like a flurry of snow.

CHAPTER ONE

ONE YEAR EARLIER

Jane was woken by the loud ringing of the telephone in her flat. Slipping on her dressing gown, she ran to reach the receiver in time.

‘Kensington 54362’

‘Hello, is that Jane, Jane Carew?’

‘Speaking’

‘It’s me, Jose! I haven’t woken you have I? I’ve just flown back from Australia this very morning and I couldn’t wait another moment to speak to you!’

‘My darling Jose! It’s simply fabulous to hear from you. I am so tremendously glad that you’re back in London. How was Australia? I positively cannot wait to see you!’

‘I’ve had the most wonderful year. Lady Russell sends her love to you; I spent some time with her and Sir Jem in Sydney and she asked after you and your parents. It was so lovely to spend time with grandfather as well but I have some even more important news…I’m now a married woman!’

‘Jose Helston, what on earth have you been up to?’

‘Not Helston anymore, my name is now Jose Carmichael. Oh Jane, he’s the most wonderful man in the whole world. We were married in Sydney last month. I am so blissfully happy. I cannot wait for you to meet him, I know that you will love him as much as I do’

‘I am so happy for you, my dear. This is just marvellous news, it really is. When do I get to make the acquaintance of Mr and Mrs Carmichael? Oh darling, we have so much to catch up on!’

‘We’re staying with my brother Carl at the moment until we sort out our own place but could we meet you in town for supper on Friday night? Please say that you’re free!’

‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world darling. I know the perfect place, I’ll book us a table. What is the name of this husband of yours? I want all the details!’

‘His name’s Robert, everything else you’ll have to find out for yourself on Friday.’

Chapter Two

Jane twirled in front of the mirror one last time. The pale blue dress she was wearing perfectly complimented her dark grey eyes and English rose complexion. She had washed her blond hair that morning and it shone brightly as it curled around her shoulders. A touch of pink lipstick was enough, she thought, to finish the outfit perfectly.

She reached the restaurant early and took a seat in the bar to wait for José and her new husband. Jane repeated the word ‘husband’ to herself with a shake of her shapely head. It was difficult to believe that José really was married. Jane herself had idly drifted from man to man since leaving school; relationships in the theatre were not made to last and she couldn’t even count the number of times she had fallen casually in and out of love, managing to avoid having her heart broken along the way. But to be married…it seemed so elderly! She extracted a long cigarette from her satin evening bag and lit it aware, as ever, of being watched by the male patrons of the bar.

She sat with her back to the windows, giving her the perfect view when José and Robert walked in a few minutes later. José was as slender and chic as ever in a tailored red dress that contrasted perfectly with the dark eyes and hair that betrayed her Belsornian ancestry.

‘José, my darling. You look simply fabulous! Married life obviously suits you down to the ground.’

‘Oh Jane, it is so good to see you again. It’s been far too long.’

The friends embraced tenderly.

‘Jane, this is my husband, Robert Carmichael.’

Jane extended a slim, white hand and gave her most dazzling smile.

‘How do you do? It’s just marvellous to meet you’

‘And you. José has told me so much about you.’

Robert’s voice was warm and rich and he returned Jane’s smile with a broad one of his own, emphasising his strong jaw line and even, white teeth. He was tall and lean, with deeply tanned skin and slightly curling golden brown hair; a startling contrast to the sky-blue eyes which held Jane’s gaze for just a moment too long.

When they were settled at their table and Robert had ordered an excellent bottle of Merlot, Jane turned to her friend and said,

‘I want to the whole story from the very beginning! Tell me everything and absolutely do not leave a word out!’

When Robert had excused himself from the table, José had turned to her friend with an anxious face and said one word.

‘So?’

‘Oh José darling, he’s an absolute treasure. What a find! I am so happy for you.’

José broke into a bright smile, ‘I love him so much Jane, he’s just perfect. I never thought that I could be this happy.’

‘You deserve it my love. No we must look like we’re talking about something else because I can see that husband of yours coming back’

She flashed a conspiratorial grin in the direction of José and quickly changed the subject.

Jane and Jose embraced warmly at the end of the evening. As José slipped on her coat, Robert took Jane’s hand and bent down to give her a polite kiss on the cheek. As his lips came into contact with her cheek, Jane’s heart lurched and she felt like the whole world stopped for that moment. The look in Robert’s eye as he hastily stepped back told her that he had felt it too.

CHAPTER THREE

Spring was definitely in the air as Jane stepped out of the Shaftsbury Theatre and made her way to Oxford Street for a spot of shopping after her latest audition. Not that she should really be buying shoes while she was in between jobs, she thought with a sigh, but she had seen some darling red pumps in the window of one of the departments stores and she just had to have them. So lost was Jane in her revelries that she did not notice as she walked into a man who was trying to hail a taxicab on the side of the street.

‘Gosh, I am so sorry. I just wasn’t looking where I was going.’

Jane apologised without looking up.

‘Jane?’

She would have recognised that voice anywhere.

‘Robert! Hello! How are you?’

‘I’m very well thank you. And yourself? You looked like you were miles away.’

Jane looked embarrassed.

‘I was just thinking about a pair of fabulous shoes that I want to buy. My head was completely in the clouds! I hope I didn’t hurt you’

‘Not at all,’ he flashed Jane the smile that she remembered well, ‘it takes a bigger knock than that to trouble me. Are you in a hurry to get to those shoes of yours? I was just wondering if you would like to have a cup of coffee with me? I know a lovely little café just around the corner from here.’

‘Aren’t you on you way somewhere? I thought you were just trying to hail a taxi!’

Robert looked momentarily confused.

‘Oh yes…so I was.’

There was a moment’s pause.

‘Well, erm…you have to come and have a drink with me. José would never forgive me if I told her that I’d seen you and didn’t act in a suitably gentlemanly manner!’

‘If you put it like that,’ Jane said with a smile, ‘I don’t have any choice but to accept do I?’

Robert steered her towards a smart establishment where they settled themselves down at a small table in front of the window. When the waitress came over, Robert ordered them both cups of coffee and a small plate of cakes for the pair to share.

‘They say, don’t they, that you can’t walk down Oxford Street without meeting somebody that you know? José will be so glad that I have bumped into you! We’ve spent the last few weeks up in Scotland visiting various cousins but I know that now we are back in London, she wants to see an awful lot of you. I’m sure the two of you still have a lot to catch up on.’

He didn’t add that it had been his suggestion to go up to Scotland. That moment of intense attraction that he had felt for Jane had shaken him badly. He loved José very much and had not even thought of any other women since they had been married. But Jane was different. She was so alive and so vibrant that he had felt that he needed those weeks away from London and from the idea of Jane to clear his head and convince himself that it was just a momentary lapse. Probably the result of too much wine and good food he told himself. José was his wife, the woman that he loved. He was just being polite towards one of his wife’s friends. He was sure that if he told José, she would agree that he was doing the right thing. And of course he would tell her, he wasn’t doing anything wrong. He had absolutely no reason to feel guilty, did he?

Jane was a delightful conversationalist, full of amusing anecdotes and witty observations. Robert found himself laughing out loud at some of her more outrageous stories and shared some of the tales from his own somewhat misspent youth. Their coffee cups were long since drained when Robert looked at his watch with a start and realised that they had been talking for nearly two hours and he was now going to be rather late for a business engagement.

‘Gosh, we’ve been nattering away like a pair of old women haven’t we?’ said Jane with a smile as they gathered up their belongings and prepared to leave.

‘Do give my best wishes to José. Tell her that I will telephone her soon and that I simply cannot wait to see her. We must all have supper again soon.’

As they parted, Robert decided that he must have imagined the attraction. He and Jane had just spent a perfectly pleasant afternoon in each other’s company and that, he thought with a satisfied sigh, was that.

CHAPTER FOUR

‘I must say you are a very attractive young filly. I knew your father you know, he’s an excellent man.’

Jane smiled politely.

‘But you, my dear, are in a different class. Waiter!’

Lord Etherington snapped his fingers as a harassed boy flew past.

‘Another glass of champagne for myself and the lovely young lady.’

He leered towards Jane, suffocating her with his alcohol sodden breath. Jane shuddered as he reached out and put his arm around her waist.

‘This is a pretty dull party. I know a place where we could have a lot more fun’ he whispered in her ear. She tried to disentangle herself without making a scene but he seemed distressingly persistent.

Suddenly she felt a hand on a back and she heard a familiar voice.

‘Jane, how lovely to see you here! How are you?’

Robert embraced her.

‘Do you need saving?’ he discreetly asked in a low tone.

‘Oh god yes’ Jane replied with relief.

‘Sorry to steal her away old chap but there is someone I’ve been dying to introduce to Jane.’

Without waiting for a reply from Lord Etherington, Robert slipped his arm through Jane’s and led her away towards the empty conservatory.

‘Have a sear here and I’ll go and conjure up some drinks from somewhere. If he comes back, just pretend to be a pot plant. You are an actress after all.

He winked at Jane, leaving her giggling.

Robert retuned a few minutes later with two glasses of wine and took a seat next to her, handing her one.

‘God, these parties are trying aren’t they? I didn’t realise you would be here though.’

‘They only invite me because of who my parents are. Well that and to provide something for this country’s elder statesmen to leer at’

‘Does that in there,’ Robert gestured towards the ballroom, ‘happen often then?’

‘Fairly. Apparently actresses are fair game to drunk old aristocrats. Normally I can shake them off. Lord Etherington was just one of the persistent ones. Thank you for rescuing them. I’m not quite sure why I keep coming to these things.’

‘Well you never know who you are going to meet’ said Robert with a smile and he lifted his glass, ‘Cheers.’

‘Cheers’ said Jane.

There was a moment’s pause which Jane felt she had to break.

‘Where’s José tonight? I haven’t spoken to her for a week or two now. Life has been a bit of a whirlwind recently.’

‘She’s gone to stay with her mother in Switzerland for a couple of weeks. I have to stay in London to work.’

‘Lucky José! I hope she’s having a lovely time.’

‘She seems to be. A lot of her old school chums are out there, I suppose they are your old chums as well really! I know that she’s been wanting to catch up with them all for a while. We’ve moved into our own house now as well and it has been a rather trying few weeks.’

‘I haven’t been back to the Platz for years. Have you ever been there? It’s the most marvellous place. It really makes you feel like you are alive, properly alive I mean.’

‘I haven’t been although I might join her out there for a few days before she comes back.

There was another pause in which Robert seemed to be considering something.

‘I say Jane, I have two tickets for the big exhibition at the National Gallery on Wednesday. You wouldn’t like to come with me would you? You’d be doing me an enormous favour, I never understand any of that art stuff!’

Jane laughed,

‘That would be lovely.’

Robert walked Jane back to her flat. At the front door she fumbled for her keys as they stood facing each other like young lovers caught in the flicker of the street lamps.

‘Would you like to come in for a night cap?’

She thought at first that he was going to say yes and she wished she had done the washing up before she had left. He thought he was going to say yes too but he heard the words ‘No’ come out of his mouth.

‘I’d better not. It’s getting late.’

‘Of course.’ Jane kept smiling but her tone was less friendly, more polite, ‘thank you for walking me home and for saving me tonight.’

Unsure of what to do next, she stuck out her right hand which he shook formally.

‘Goodnight Jane.’

‘Goodnight Robert.’

Jane opened the front door and stepped inside, throwing her purse at the wall with a force that shook her. He was her best friend’s husband for god’s sake. She could not have feelings for him, she just couldn’t. And yet she already missed him and wished that he had agreed to come in. But that would have been wrong and she knew it and no amount of champagne would let her forget that.

She went into the bedroom and sat in front of the mirror, brushing out the lacquer from her hair. She had done nothing wrong she rationalised. Her feelings for Robert were irrelevant. Whatever she felt was of no importance. He was married to José.

Robert studiously walked down the street away from Jane’s flat without looking back, wishing it hadn’t been such a perfect evening. The house would be empty and quiet when he got back. But he had resisted any temptation. Maybe he would try to get through to José tonight and put things back into perspective.

Last edited by KathrynW on Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:03 pm; edited 3 times in total

#2: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:37 pm

Thanks, Kathryn. I hope you will be able to retrieve the middle part. I am really enjoying this drabble.

#3: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:54 pm

Nice to see this back, Kathryn. Hope you can retrieve the missing bit.

#4: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 5:09 am

Oh, I feel so sorry for them both. Thanks, Kathryn, I'm glad you have put this up here and am keeping my fingers crossed for the missing bit.

#5: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:39 am

Glad you've rescued most of this, Kathryn, and looking forward to more.

#6: Author: Róisín, Location: Gaillimh, Eire

Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:37 pm

*also crossing fingers* Thank you and hope you can find it Smile

#7: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:11 am

I hope this all makes sense, I am rather jetlagged so I'n not sure I'm entirely with it tonight Very Happy

Thanks for the comments, I haven't managed to get on the old computer yet but hopefully I'll find the missing bit soon!

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‘It really feels like you’re there with them doesn’t it?’

Jane turned to Robert with such a look of earnestness that he had to smile.

‘Just look at the expressions on their faces. That’s what it meant to be in the presence of Christ.’ Her voice trailed off into silence and Robert stepped back to admire one of Caravaggio’s most powerful works. It had always been lost on him before but somehow, it looked completely different now that he was seeing it through Jane’s eyes.

For a moment, they stood side by side, lost in the majesty of the work before them. With a smile and the shake of her head, Jane dispelled the moment.

‘Have you had enough of all this Baroqueness yet?’ Jane asked with a mischievous grin. The formality of last Friday’s encounter seemed to have disappeared and Jane was making a conscious effort to keep the tone of the afternoon light and breezy.

‘Shall we go and grab a bite to eat?’

‘There is only so much art that a man can take I suppose.’ Robert answered with a matching smile. ‘Thank you so much for agreeing to come with me, I feel like I’ve never really seen these paintings properly before.’ He felt the colour rise to his cheeks and quickly looked away. Suddenly a booming voice sounded across the gallery,

‘Carmichael! You old dog!’

A large man with a shock of bright red hair had bounded across the room and was violently shaking Robert’s hand, talking a mile a minute.

‘I haven’t seen you since Cambridge. You haven’t changed a jot, you’re still the same handsome old devil. And quite the ladykiller I see!’

He turned towards Jane,

‘This must be your lovely wife that I’ve heard so much about from the other boys. Good afternoon, my lady. Johnny Stiles at your service.’ He greeted her with an exaggerated bow and, with a flourish, planted a kiss on Jane’s outstretched hand.

#8: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:36 am

Oh dear, ouch!

*Hopes the disapproving stares of other Nat Gal attendees will shut loud mouth up!*

#9: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:55 am

Oooops! How will he manage this?

Good to see more. thanks Kathryn.

#10: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 5:58 am

Oh my goodness! Thanks, Kathryn, I'm glad to see this back again.

#11: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:45 am

Oh dear - easy mistake to make but how embarrassing for them!

#12: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:07 am

whoops!

Thanks, Kathryn

#13: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:37 pm

Ah.....hope he's soon put right!

Thanks Kathryn

#14: Author: Josie, Location: London

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 4:33 pm

Thanks Kathryn.

#15: Author: KathrynW, Location: London

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:02 pm

Thanks as ever for comments Very Happy

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Jane froze for a moment, unable, or perhaps unwilling, to correct his mistake. Robert jumped in, aware that he was talking unnaturally fast.

‘This isn’t my wife. This is an old friend of hers, Jane Carew. My wife, José, is visiting her mother in Switzerland at the moment. Jane was at school with José. She’s just keeping me company while my wife’s away, keeping me out of trouble and all that.’

Johnny stood up straight and Robert could see the twinkle in his eye that he well remembered from their university days.

‘I do apologise, quite my mistake. How do you do, Miss Carew?’

Now that the moment had passed, Jane was able to quickly recover herself and replied with her usual charm,

‘Don’t worry about it at all. Please call me Jane, Mr Stiles’

‘Only if you’ll call me Johnny’

‘Of course Johnny, it’s nice to meet you.’

Johnny gave her an engaging grin before turning to Robert.

‘It was good to see you, Robert. Let me give you my card and perhaps we can all have supper and I can meet your proper wife who I’m sure is equally charming.’

Robert took the proffered card and put it in the pocket of his jacket.

‘It was good to see you Johnny’ Robert said faintly, ‘I’ll speak to my wife about arranging something.’

The men shook hands and Johnny turned to Jane,

‘I hope to see you again soon, Jane.’

‘That would be lovely, Johnny.’

As Johnny turned and left the gallery, Jane turned to Robert.

‘Should we go and get some lunch then?’

Robert paused for a moment,

‘Yes…erm…actually no. I’m sorry Jane, I have a…an important business meeting that I just can’t miss. I’ll have to take a rain check on lunch. Thank you for accompanying me today. Goodbye.’

Jane watched in confusion as Robert hurried out the room, unable to see the look of relief on his face.

#16: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 6:14 pm

I feel so sorry for them both; this is such a muddle, but not of their own making. They have been pushed together and are obviously a lot keener on one another than they should be. Thanks, Kathryn.

#17: Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:23 pm

Thank you Kathryn!! Very Happy

#18: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:35 pm

Hmmmm, so far everything is above board and proper.....but......

Thanks Kathryn.

#19: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 9:16 pm

I feel a bit sorry for them too - they could do with steering clear of each other but it's going to be very difficult to do that when he's married to her friend.

#20: Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 8:10 pm

They're stuck in a horrible situation, one which life has a tendency to throw at people, leaving them with no idea of how to act.
Tahnks Kathryn, I'm really enjoying this.

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