I don't own Smash
-o-
1 . BELGRAVIA
"It's been a while, hey?" asked the red head she had hired as a last minute assistant.
"Sorry?" the statuesque actress turned her attention to the petite woman and smiled. "A while?"
"Yeah, I heard you haven't been in London in years! I'm so excited!" she explained for the umpteenth time. "It's my first time over here!"
Karen Cartwright hid a smile. Jenny Hudson was miss exclamation mark. It was endearing and contagious and she needed it at the moment. She was excited too but she had learned to conceal her thoughts and feelings from the crowd as well as her entourage. "Yes, it's good to be back, I guess," she said softly, her eyes lingering on the London skyline. "And you're right, it's been too long." She was excited and terrified.
She was really looking forward to working with Harold McIntosh and his partner John Longfellow though. It was a dream come true actually. As far as she could remember, she's been humming standards from their plays. There were so many to choose from. "A town to remember", "The gazebo", "My Lord Begham"...
She closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. In some ways, her theatre adventure did begin in London when she met Dev Sundaram. He was a doll at the beginning, always encouraging her to live up to her dreams, fighting for her every chance he got. And, thanks to him, she pursued her dream.
Her talent did the rest, with the help of her dear friend Derek Wills. He was the only one who supported her when she was cast in her first musical, 'Bombshell'. He put his faith in her and never bailed. Overnight, the shy brunette from Iowa became a star. It took her some time to recover from the fact that he had decided to settle back in England. He was a comforting figure in her life, someone she could trust no matter the odds. He was the one who landed her the leading part in 'My Fair Lady' when Eileen let her down to chase after a movie star, negotiating a juicy contract, the first of many. She still remembered fondly her few months as Eliza Doolittle, Derek's nice guidance and thoughtful attentions. It seemed like a lifetime ago.
He promised that they'd keep in touch, that the Atlantic Ocean wasn't wide enough to keep them apart. The things we say, she thought. Once he was back in London, he barely called or emailed her. She didn't feel betrayed. He was probably right to leave her even if it took her a long time to understand. She missed his voice above all, oddly that was the hardest part. And his eyes on her, warm, loving.
Their relationship was only a couple of weeks old. After months of denial, they finally took a leap of faith. It was complicated. Their respective careers would have probably split them apart after a while and she was glad they had the guts to give it a try. It was great while it lasted, she pondered, and she still missed him dearly. She checked his work for a while, a pilot for the BBC, some episodes of Dr Who. A chick flick in Australia, a thriller in South Africa, everything he loathed about cinema. After some time around the world, he finally got back to the theater and she was ready to let him go.
And now she was one of the biggest American star of the Broadway scene to ever take London by storm and she had not exchanged a postcard with Derek in years. Longfellow had been so sweet to her that she couldn't refuse any longer to star in his latest play.
The script was a thing of beauty and the songs, oh my, the songs! Simply perfect. She was anxious to go back to the real work, the rehearsals, the discovery, expectations. Life in the theatre was an adventure and she loved every part of the process. If everything went according to the plan, in less than eight weeks, they will open at the Old Vic Theater in the West End. She met with Kevin Spacey once. They were attached to the same project but the film was never shot. Energetic man. Two little months. Will it be enough?
The cab pulled over in a curb facing a Victorian Hotel not far from the Thames. It felt like a scene from a spy movie. She opened the door and let her assistant sort out the details. Being a star had its perks. She needed to freshen up before taking a stroll to Chesham Place.
She took a quick shower, applied some discrete make up and went back to the reception desk to ask for directions. The lady at the desk was kind enough to draw a map for her. "It's a walking distance," she said. "But it's quite far, though."
Karen didn't mind the walk. She needed some fresh air and some exercise. It took her a half hour to get to the prestigious district. The place was exquisite. Facing private gardens, his house was set in one of London Conservation areas. She didn't picture Derek living in Belgravia. It seemed like a lifeless neighbourhood, rows of embassies and expensive hotels. But he once told her he inherited the place.
Where would they meet if they ever reconnect? What would Leo McCarey do, she thought. She pictured herself waiting for him on the Serpentine Bridge in Kensington Gardens, on the stairs of the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, on a bench in Westminster Abbey, but nothing compared to the Empire State Building, not even Renzo Piano's Shard of Glass. She was afraid to call him after all these years. She had not heard of him in four years, almost five. Maybe he was married with children. Maybe he was not even in London.
She sat down for a while at the bar of the Sheraton, her eyes set on his door, before going back to her hotel in a cab, more depressed than she had expected.
Fortunately, the play would take her mind off Derek. Tomorrow she'll meet her new director.
"Don't be alarmed," had said McIntosh. "He's accustomed to work with your people."
"My people?"
"Yes, you loony Americans," she heard him giggle over the phone.
