Holly and Archie were having a great holiday. Yesterday they had walked down the star-paved street full of people dressed up as famous movie characters, and today Dad and Big Hair had driven them to the beach. Occasionally Holly would look at Archie and notice sadness in his eyes and she would remember about his mum, then Archie would make a joke or do something silly to make her laugh and they would get back to enjoying themselves. Real life could wait. This was too much fun.
When they got home, they got out of the car to see Miss Gilfeather walking briskly up the drive.
‘I am sorry to bother you, Mr and Mrs Bigsby.’
‘Not at all,’ said Holly’s dad. ‘Miss … er …’
‘Gilfeather,’ said Holly.
‘Please, call me Vivian,’ she said. ‘I wonder whether I could borrow Holly and Archie for a short while.’
Mr Bigsby said that would be fine and, as Miss Gilfeather led them down the drive, through the gates next door to Petal’s house, Holly asked, ‘What do you need us for?’
Miss Gilfeather stopped and spoke very quietly. ‘It’s Petal. She’s terribly upset. Do you know, I actually feel sorry for her. Nothing I say helps. Her mother is incommunicado and none of her other friends are answering the phone. So I thought maybe you could talk to her.’
‘But she hates us,’ said Holly.
Miss Gilfeather looked at Holly then at Archie and smiled. ‘Oh, I don’t think so. In fact, in her own little obnoxious way, I think she’s rather fond of you. But that isn’t the point. The point is she is upset, and I am asking you to make her feel better.’
She took them inside and showed them into the lounge, where Petal was sitting on a sofa that was the shape of a pair of lips. Her face was blotchy and red from crying. In front of her was a TV screen, paused on a smiley-faced TV presenter with the words Hollywood Gossip behind her.
Holly and Archie looked at each other then back at Petal.
‘Hi, Petal,’ said Archie.
‘Leave me alone. This is a disaster,’ she replied, waving a hand dismissively. ‘It’s not fair. It’s not even true. They shouldn’t be allowed to tell lies like that. Chase is coming over in a minute. He’ll put things right.’
‘Put what right? What’s wrong?’ asked Holly.
Petal pressed the play button on the remote control.
‘… And now the latest gossip from Tinseltown, Hollywood,’ said the presenter. ‘Rumour has it that Petal – The Movie, the film version of Petal Moses’ autobiography, is set to be a total flop.’
Behind her, an unflattering photo of Petal appeared. She was mid-blink and chewing gum. Seeing it, Petal howled in misery.
‘Our spies on set say that Miss Moses is following in her mother’s footsteps.’ The presenter paused then added, ‘She’s an awful actress too. Hollywood legend Chase Lampton must be worried about the impact the film will have on his flagging career, not to mention that of his son, Dante. Mr Lampton refused to speak to our reporter.’
The picture of Petal was replaced by images of Chase quickly getting into the back of a car, being driven away.
‘His silence speaks volumes,’ continued the presenter. ‘And, in spite of her executive producer status, Petal’s oh-so-famous mother has been strangely distant from the project. Suspiciously, as her daughter’s movie looks to become the biggest turkey this side of Christmas, her mum is off recording a new album. A case of Don’t blame me, perhaps.’
Petal hit the pause button and the picture froze on the presenter’s plastic smile.
‘Wow!’ said Archie.
Holly tried to think of something better to say. She wasn’t exactly a fan of Petal but, seeing her so upset, she felt sorry for her.
‘It’s simply terrible,’ said Petal.
‘But these are just rumours,’ said Holly. ‘No one’s even seen the film yet.’
‘That’s very true,’ said Chase Lampton, staggering into the room, closely followed by Miss Gilfeather.
‘Mr Lampton, I must insist you leave,’ she said.
The director smelt strongly of alcohol.
‘Now, Vivian,’ he replied, ‘I do wish you’d chase me call … no, that’s not right. Call me Chase. That’s it.’
‘I’ll do no such thing. Now come along, you are in no fit state.’
‘I tell you what’s in no fit state,’ said Chase, flopping on to the sofa next to Petal. ‘Petal – The Movie. It’s a piece of junk. One more flop, the studio said. This was my last chance and what have I done? I’ve taken a kids’ film and made a disaster movie …’ Chase fell back, laughing at his joke. Petal burst into tears.
Holly and Archie glanced at each other.
‘Now, Mr Lampton,’ Miss Gilfeather squawked, ‘are you telling this twelve-year-old girl that the film she has spent all summer making is no good? Are you saying that after one bad report on some silly gossip show you’re giving up on it? Is that what you’re saying?’
Chase Lampton stopped laughing. He sat up straight. Her words seemed to have sobered him up. He looked at the floor and mumbled, ‘No, Miss Gilfeather.’
‘I’m sorry?’ she said.
‘It’ll be fine.’ Chase turned to Petal, who had stopped crying. ‘It’s just Hollywood rumours, Petal. It’s going to be a great movie.’
‘Really?’ said Petal.
Chase stood up, avoiding eye contact with Petal. ‘Yeah, of course. We’ll put a great soundtrack on it, lots of quick cuts. It’ll be great. And hey, it’s the wrap party tomorrow night. I’ll get Theo to invite everyone who’s anyone. By the next morning everyone will be saying what a great movie it’s going to be. People are easily distracted in Hollywood. You two must come,’ he said, pointing at Archie and Holly. ‘And, of course, you, Vivian. You’ll save a dance for me, won’t you?’
He tried to demonstrate this with a fancy dance step but lost his footing, tripped on a leopard-skin rug and fell over with a THUD.
‘I think we’d better take you home,’ said Miss Gilfeather, picking him off the floor and dragging him to the door. ‘Come along.’
‘See you all at the party tomorrow night,’ said Chase.
‘Blimey,’ said Archie once he was gone. ‘That was odd.’
‘You see?’ said Petal. ‘I knew Chase would make it all better. The film will be great. I’ll have to buy a new dress for the party, of course.’
‘But –’ Holly’s protest was cut short by a nudge in the ribs from Archie.
‘It’s better than crying,’ he muttered through his teeth. ‘See you at the party, Petal,’ he said out loud.
‘I can’t really see why you’re invited. You were only extras, after all,’ she replied.
Archie yanked Holly out of the room before she could respond. Outside, Miss Gilfeather had just managed to shove Chase into the back of his car.
‘How is she?’ asked Miss Gilfeather.
‘Back to normal,’ replied Holly.
‘Oh,’ said Miss Gilfeather. ‘Oh well, I suppose that’s an improvement. Thank you.’