Becky has to recalibrate for a moment. Then she plunges in. ‘It’s based on the ancient Greek myth Medea. It’s a contemporary retelling. It’s about a woman who takes back her power in a messy and destructive way. It’s about that moment when men realize that women can be every bit as dangerous and imaginative and vindictive and proud as the men they know.’

‘And what’s the story?’

‘Men take everything from her. Promise her things and betray her. She kills her own children to destroy their father.’

‘It’s usually men who do that to their ex-wives.’

‘Exactly.’

‘And you’ve got a script?’

‘Yes. It needs a bit of work, but it’s basically there.’

‘Can I read it?’

‘That’d be great. I’ll send it to you when I’m back in—’

‘Send it to me now. I’m on Gmail. It’s: Sharon 105 mm.’

‘Like the Nikon lens?’

‘Exactly.’

Becky has to tap the email address into her phone twice, her hands are shaking so much. She cannot believe she is sending Medea to a director as amazing as Sharon. She feels a true fizz of excitement until she catches herself, wondering if it’s all a big joke that is being caught on hidden camera, as she attaches the PDF from her Dropbox. Then with one tap it’s sent.

‘That’s my bedtime reading then.’ Sharon hugs Becky. ‘I’ve got to go back and be nice to my North American distributers now. Good luck. And chin up.’

‘Nice meeting you.’

‘Top tip? Don’t bother to look like you haven’t been crying. Just say you found someone’s film really, really moving. Even better if it’s their film. They’ll buy you drinks all night.’

In the morning when she wakes, in her pretty hotel room facing away from the ocean, there is an email from Sharon waiting for her.

FUCK YEAH I’M IN*

(* terms and conditions apply)

Chapter 9

The location for their pitch meeting is the hotel restaurant area, timed for just after the breakfast rush, after the plates and cutlery are gone but when plenty of people are still milling around and chatting over coffee. The restaurant is unremarkable but for its glass walls on all sides that allow patrons to both watch (people, the sea) and be watched. When Becky arrives, Matthew is already there with Emilia, seated at a circular table that makes them particularly noticeable. Becky cannot help but inwardly applaud Matthew’s genius: nothing like a very visible meeting with a high-profile actress to get people wondering what that was about. What a way to kick off the buzz, thinks Becky.