We stood at the front of the set, me perched ready to 'fall' and then run. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the camera zoomed in on my face.
"Ready, Charlie? ACTION!" I jumped slideways onto the crashmat disguised as paving slabs and ran towards the fake wooden door. Men dressed in Tudor clothing followed, there sword raised and yelling. I breathed heavily as I ran, nothing was going to stop me. I wanted to make a good impression on the first day of filming. I had no idea what the plot of my episode was, I just knew I had to run from the 'guards' that were chasing me. I stopped when I reached the otherside of the courtyard we were filming in. The team surrounded me with umbrellas and coffee. Nick Hurran, the director, approached me, holding the script close to his chest to protect it from the rain.
"Okay, Charlie Howards, right? Okay Charlie, when you run, make sure to look over your shoulder every now and then. Look worried! Your being chased by Queen Elizabeth I's guards, remember?" I nodded along, taking in the instructions he gave me. " We're going to bring the rest of the main cast now. Im aware that you havent met any of them right? Apart from Louise who plays your mother. Well your about to meet the main guy. Charlie Howards, meet Matt Smith." I turned and faced the man Nick was pointing to. He walked up towards me, wearing shades despite the rain.
"Hello, Mr Smith." I shook his hand. He smiled at me. "Nice shades." Taking them off he winked.
"Yeah, they are. I like them so much ive got two pairs." He pushed them on my nose and laughed. "Might have a word with the costume department about your characters accessories! They suit you. Okay what scene are we doing then?" Nick flicked through the script, getting towards the end.
"Right, were doing the 'Return To The TARDIS'." I vaguely remembered the plot, and as I only had my lines and didnt attend the read through, didnt know what was going to happen. I had been kept in the dark about the whole thing really as the writers didnt want anything getting out. Nick continued and thankfully explained. "So after a challanging day being picked up at the muesum by some madman, battling the aliens of the Tower Of London, The Doctor', Matt,s fall out with Elizabeth and a near death experiance, Alex Whitehall, Chalie, is taken back home to her mother in future England. She is positive she is being pranked up until The Doctor points out a damage to the Tower that could have only been caused by the aliens. And we'll take it from there." Matt and I walked over to the set, a reconstruction of the bottom of the Tower. We stood opposite, ready to act.
"Take 1 scene 17 ACTION!" Matt suddenly became the Doctor in front of my eyes, his mannerisms changed and he looked like a man who had been fighting all day. Being a big fan of Doctor Who, I was finding it hard not to grab hold of him and not let go, but keeping my cool was my strong point.
"So, Alex, see you around." He turned and walked away towards the wooden TARDIS standing 5 feet away. I waited until he was just about to open the before shouting and running forward.
"Doctor wait!" He turned, smiling.
"Yes?"
"Thankyou. For saving my life back there. Even if it was just a prank." He laughed.
"Humans, always looking the unextrodinary explaination." I laughed too. From behind us, Nick shouted some directions.
"Charlie, lean in and kiss him. Matt, look surprised but continue." I didnt remember reading that on the script. Trying to concel my shock and nerves, I stood on my toes so I was looking Matt in the eye and leaned in, but
"CUT!" I stop centimetres away. We were left, awkwardly close on the first day of filming. Nick walked over again, along with the makeup department who set to work covering up my blush. Matt seemed fine with it though.
"Hey, your really good by the way! Im glad they picked you, sorry about not making the screen test, I had a family issue, oh and about this. They always throw something like this at you on the first day of filming. Their idea of a showbiz ice-breaker." I laughed. Nick had reached us and was now speaking.
"Charlie, you looked too awkward doing that. So what we are going to do is make you kiss him on the cheek instead? How about that? Matt..." He walked Matt over and was giving him what looked like instructions on lighting with the TARDIS. The makeup department had finished with me so I stood waiting for someone to give me instructions. After a couple more minutes, Matt and Nick walked back over. We confirmed we were ready and Nick went back to the directors seat.
"Take 2, scene 17. ACTION!"
"Thankyou. For saving my life back there. Even if it was just a prank." Again he laughed.
"Humans, always looking the unextrodinary explaination." I laughed then stood on my toes, aiming for his cheek. Thoughts ran through my head, ranging from 'Am I supposed to look this eager?' to 'OMG. Im kissing Matt Smiths cheek!'. I closed my eyes, waiting for my lips to make contact.
"Ale-" And then I was kissing Matt. Properly. Not the cheeks but lips. I felt him fake a little wriggle, knowing that he couldve pulled away. Nick had obviously told him to move his head at last minute. Matts hand went to my back and I put my arms around his neck is a loose embrace.
"And, pull away." I did as directed, not taking my eyes off Matts face. He looked at me seriously.
"Just so you know, it wasnt a prank. Im serious when I say your special. You were chosen to come with me long ago. It was never a question of if, just when. Come on. The TARDIS is waiting. Anywhere, anytime. Are you ready?" He held his hand out and i took it.
"You bet." And we walk inside the fake TARDIS. I waited a couple of seconds before attempting to move out of the cramped box but Matt held onto my arm.
"We have to wait for them to do the wind. Youll hear it." We were face to face again, surrounded by the sound of giant fans. "It seems like acting isnt your only talent miss Howards. Another seems to be a good old snog. We may have to arrange another." He winked slightly then walked out. The wind had stopped. And so had I. Frozen by the possibility of more personal time with Mr Matt Smith.
