Marianne was a funny girl. They were so unalike that sometimes Sally couldn’t believe she was her own flesh and blood. Marianne appeared to be utterly fascinated with money – percentages, deals, stocks and shares, financial indexes and all kinds of things about which Sally couldn’t give a toss. In fact, the entire subject of money was something Sally would much rather avoid discussing. So while her daughter recounted, in minuscule detail, figures, share prices and statistics about the scandal she had seemingly caused back in London, Sally’s mind glazed over. Marianne had apparently not noticed her mother’s lack of interest and gone on talking till well after one in the morning.

Marianne did not understand either that, regardless of how late you might stay up while filming, your car still arrives at 5.30 a.m., and the driver expects you to be up and dressed, ready to go. Also that lines don’t magically jump into your head.

Thus, having had less than four hours’ sleep, now, slouched in the quiet warmth of her tiny roomette dressed in a black Lycra jumpsuit, it was not at all surprising that Sally fell into a deep slumber. Even though bits of script lay open on her lap, some pages had spilt on to the rough bit of matting.

She only woke to the sound of the Third Assistant knocking and opening up the caravan door, asking her to go straight to the set for a walk-through for camera. Bleary-eyed and groggy, Sally grabbed the pages of script to take with her. She still didn’t know it.

But, as time was up, she followed the Third into the house, walking along carpeted hallways lined with canvas, on to the set: a very fancy room with gold-panelled walls and a beautifully painted ceiling. The ornate salon was crammed with antique furniture, which was roped off so that no one would sit on it. As this scene was set at night, all the windows were blacked out. The only light came from the warm spotlights.

‘Morning!’ Daniel grinned inanely. ‘Let’s keep it moving today, Sally. Okey-dokey, folks! Quick rehearsal, blocking it all. Then we’ll get the cameras set up. Let’s get the crew in to watch.’

This was terrifying. Sally only had the sketchiest idea of her lines in this scene.

Eggy was waiting, wearing his burglary attire. His was also a black Lycra suit, but it really was skintight and on him it was rather comical.

‘OK, Sally, luv!’ Daniel stepped into the acting area, while camera and lighting crew gathered behind him. ‘Let’s run through. Perhaps you could start crouched down behind that armchair.’

Sally got into position. Hiding the pages, she hastily got the first line into her head. She wished she’d had time to scribble some hints on to her wrists and palms.

‘And action!’ called Daniel.

Sally spat out her first line, and, as the scene demanded, bobbed up.