‘ . . . the stern,’ the cameraman corrected himself. ‘Well, the plan is that they’ll keep you well lit all the way out to sea, so that we can follow you precisely. Hopefully we’ll keep turning till you’re a mere spot on the horizon.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Daniel? While we’re waiting for Mr Markham, perhaps we could switch the shots?’

Daniel looked across at his assistant.

‘I think we ought to do the long shot first, whatever. This wind is picking up and I’d like to get that one in the can before it’s too late. With a rising sea like this we can work in the waves at the water’s edge, but I imagine it’ll be hard to keep the boat in focus if it’s bouncing all over the place out there.’

Sally looked out to sea. From the look of those waves the RIB would certainly be bouncing all over the place, even if she left this minute. She’d have a job keeping it upright.

‘You? Stephane, is it?’ The cameraman signalled to one of the grips. ‘You’re wearing black. As long as we make a thing later of Mr Markham removing his top hat in the first shot, when he climbs aboard, we can use you on the long shot . . .’ He pointed towards the boat. ‘In you get.’

As the chief electrician came out of the RIB, which was now brilliantly lit, tentatively Stephane climbed in.

Sally helped him get astride the pillion, while she had no option but to ride side-saddle.

‘OK, folks.’ The First Assistant signalled to the crew to prepare. ‘We’re going for a take on this.’

The clapperboard went into position.

‘Sound?’

‘Speed.’

‘Camera?’

‘Running.’

‘Scene 198. Take one.’

‘Stop!’ Eggy panted as he trotted down the sand, fastening his shirt buttons as he came towards the boat. ‘I’m here. WAIT! I’m here!’

‘And cut.’ Daniel sank back on to his shooting stick. ‘Quick as you can now. And look, while we’re here, let’s shoot Eggy getting in, with the lines, please.’ He turned to the First Assistant, then looked up at the sky, then at his watch. ‘Let’s run it all into one scene. Do the scene with Sally already in the boat. OK? Just for now. We can fiddle it in the edit. But at least we’ll have something.’

The First Assistant nodded and held up his hand for silence. ‘Start positions, everyone!’

Stephane moved away and Eggy stood a few feet back from the boat.

‘Turn on the engine, please, Sally.’

Sally fired up. She so wanted to quiz Eggy about where he had been, and what the hell Theresa had to do with it.

‘Take her out a little from the shore.’

The crew pushed the back of the boat forward, and it started bucking on the wave crests.

‘Sound?’

‘Speed.’

‘Camera?’

‘Running.’

‘Scene 198. Take two.’

‘And . . . action!’