‘My response exactly,’ Clover groaned. ‘But he’s adamant. No knuckle-dragging. He wants a pitch by the end of the month, or—’ She shrugged. It didn’t need to be said: no money. They all had a love-hate relationship with their generous but wildly unrealistic executive producer. Had he forgotten it had taken months just to set up the filming agreements with Mia? That Cory wouldn’t see anyone at all at that point, could barely even look at his own wife? Not to mention the months then spent living with the Allbrights, the post-production edits?

‘Well, if he’s going to be a git about it, then we need to simplify the process,’ Matty said, rallying. ‘Cory was a reluctant subject and that made things so much slower.’

‘Yes, but also heartfelt,’ Clover interjected, one hand over her own heart.

‘Yes. But also slower,’ Matty reiterated; she was nothing if not practical. ‘And if warp speed is the brief, then we need to find someone who’s actually on board with being filmed.’ She shrugged. ‘Who wants us to tell their story?’

Clover frowned. She had a feeling this question already had an answer. ‘Are you thinking of anyone specifically?’

‘I say we go Angelina,’ Matty said without missing a beat. She had been lobbying for this ever since the call had come in from Jolie’s LA publicist whilst she was midway through a trying-on session of her latest ASOS order and eating a packet of Percy Pigs. It had taken her several days to recover from the shock and she now spoke of Nancy – the publicist – as though they were old muckers. ‘UNICEF, war crimes against women. Being a single mother to thirty kids . . . It’s really got it all.’

Clover’s eyes narrowed. ‘You just want to know what really went down with Brad.’ Clover also knew her friend wanted to see inside Angelina’s house. According to Matty, it wasn’t a person’s eyes that were the window to the soul, but their downstairs loo.

‘Clo, the whole fricking world wants to know that! That’s what makes it compelling.’

‘She’ll never go there,’ Johnny said with a shake of his head. ‘She’ll just say it’s part of the custody agreement or whatever.’

‘Then we make it a condition. No Brad, no war crimes!’ Matty said, as if she was telling toddlers they couldn’t have chips without eating their peas. ‘Nancy called us, remember? Angie needs a platform people will engage with. Her image needs to be softened. She knows we can do that for her.’

‘I’m just not sure anyone cares about her and Brad that much anymore, do they? Haven’t we all moved on?’ Clover asked, drumming her socked feet against the plate cupboard. ‘Besides, it’s just gossip and famous people. We need something with meat. Human interest. A living, breathing tragedy.’