something funny and the two of them laughed loudly. Eventually they looked back over to Harry. He was now gazing thoughtfully at his fingernails.
‘If only his Oscar-winning public could see him now,’ hissed Jazz.
‘Oh, I’m sure they’d love him all the more for it,’ Wills said gently. ‘He can do no wrong.’
‘Yes, I’ve noticed that. But do I detect some bitterness in your voice?’ Jazz had meant it as a joke, but Wills was serious.
He stared at Harry as he spoke. ‘It’s because of him that I didn’t get the part of Maurice in It’s Nearly Over.’
Jazz was stunned. ‘How? Why? How do you know?’
‘Harry knew Howard Fleaback, the producer, from working on Heart of An Englishman, and Howard asked Harry what he thought of me because they considered me perfect for the part. I’d already auditioned for another film that never saw the light of day. It turned out that Harry told him I was immature, self-obsessed and unfocused as an actor. He also said I had a drink problem.’
Jazz gasped.
Wills continued, ‘My agent knows Howard and when I didn’t get the part, she phoned him up and asked why. He said he’d been told on the best authority that I wasn’t cut out for Hollywood. When pressed, he explained it more fully.’
Jazz couldn’t believe her ears. She needed to be sure. ‘So Harry ruined any chance you may have of a Hollywood career?’ she asked incredulously.
‘Yup.’ Wills drained his coffee cup and dripped the dregs on the church floor.
‘Why on earth would anyone do something so mean-spirited? Especially someone who’s made it themselves?’
‘Oh, no actor ever makes it for good,’ replied Wills. ‘That’s the cruelty of the profession. You can win an Oscar one year and be passe the next. Even Harry Noble. And remember, for him there’s more to lose because all his family are so well-respected in the business.’ Wills shrugged and made an effort to look as if he didn’t really care. ‘Harry and I go back a long way. We were in a very bad production of Waiting for Godot together years ago and he detested me then. Made no bones about it. I’ve never got another job with that director either.’ He paused. ‘The great Harry Noble just doesn’t like me and that carries a lot of weight in this profession.’
But something didn’t fit for Jazz. ‘So why did he give you this part?’
Wills laughed good-naturedly. ‘I have absolutely no idea. Maybe he wanted me to see him now he’s an Oscar winner. Maybe he gets a kick out of directing me, a lowly TV actor when he’s a Hollywood star, when we were once on the same level. Who knows the way his mind works?’
He looked across at her, his eyes open just a little bit too wide and his smile just a litde too forced. ‘Anyway, I might never have made it in Hollywood. Who knows? Maybe Harry Noble saved my pride.’
His brave humility hurt her more than the story. How dare Harry Noble get away with something like that! And to think he was so universally respected!
‘Have you ever told him you know what he did?’
Wills shook his head. ‘What would be the point? It would make me look as immature and self-obsessed
as he said I was. No. It’s enough that I know.’
Boiling with anger at the injustice of it all, Jazz looked over at Harry. He was staring right at her.
She turned away immediately.
Chapter 10
It was Ben’s second birthday party and the family was huddled in Josie and Michael’s tiny lounge. Simon had been invited and Jazz didn’t know who she was more furious with that he was still on the scene, him or George. She decided it was him.
Letting him sit uncomfortably on his own, she cornered George and related the amazing story Wills had told her about Harry.
George was adamant. ‘I don’t believe it, I just don’t believe it.’
Jazz was exasperated. ‘Just because he’s the great Harry Noble doesn’t mean he’s not human, you know.’
But George was stubborn. ‘That’s not human, that’s
‘If only his Oscar-winning public could see him now,’ hissed Jazz.
‘Oh, I’m sure they’d love him all the more for it,’ Wills said gently. ‘He can do no wrong.’
‘Yes, I’ve noticed that. But do I detect some bitterness in your voice?’ Jazz had meant it as a joke, but Wills was serious.
He stared at Harry as he spoke. ‘It’s because of him that I didn’t get the part of Maurice in It’s Nearly Over.’
Jazz was stunned. ‘How? Why? How do you know?’
‘Harry knew Howard Fleaback, the producer, from working on Heart of An Englishman, and Howard asked Harry what he thought of me because they considered me perfect for the part. I’d already auditioned for another film that never saw the light of day. It turned out that Harry told him I was immature, self-obsessed and unfocused as an actor. He also said I had a drink problem.’
Jazz gasped.
Wills continued, ‘My agent knows Howard and when I didn’t get the part, she phoned him up and asked why. He said he’d been told on the best authority that I wasn’t cut out for Hollywood. When pressed, he explained it more fully.’
Jazz couldn’t believe her ears. She needed to be sure. ‘So Harry ruined any chance you may have of a Hollywood career?’ she asked incredulously.
‘Yup.’ Wills drained his coffee cup and dripped the dregs on the church floor.
‘Why on earth would anyone do something so mean-spirited? Especially someone who’s made it themselves?’
‘Oh, no actor ever makes it for good,’ replied Wills. ‘That’s the cruelty of the profession. You can win an Oscar one year and be passe the next. Even Harry Noble. And remember, for him there’s more to lose because all his family are so well-respected in the business.’ Wills shrugged and made an effort to look as if he didn’t really care. ‘Harry and I go back a long way. We were in a very bad production of Waiting for Godot together years ago and he detested me then. Made no bones about it. I’ve never got another job with that director either.’ He paused. ‘The great Harry Noble just doesn’t like me and that carries a lot of weight in this profession.’
But something didn’t fit for Jazz. ‘So why did he give you this part?’
Wills laughed good-naturedly. ‘I have absolutely no idea. Maybe he wanted me to see him now he’s an Oscar winner. Maybe he gets a kick out of directing me, a lowly TV actor when he’s a Hollywood star, when we were once on the same level. Who knows the way his mind works?’
He looked across at her, his eyes open just a little bit too wide and his smile just a litde too forced. ‘Anyway, I might never have made it in Hollywood. Who knows? Maybe Harry Noble saved my pride.’
His brave humility hurt her more than the story. How dare Harry Noble get away with something like that! And to think he was so universally respected!
‘Have you ever told him you know what he did?’
Wills shook his head. ‘What would be the point? It would make me look as immature and self-obsessed
as he said I was. No. It’s enough that I know.’
Boiling with anger at the injustice of it all, Jazz looked over at Harry. He was staring right at her.
She turned away immediately.
Chapter 10
It was Ben’s second birthday party and the family was huddled in Josie and Michael’s tiny lounge. Simon had been invited and Jazz didn’t know who she was more furious with that he was still on the scene, him or George. She decided it was him.
Letting him sit uncomfortably on his own, she cornered George and related the amazing story Wills had told her about Harry.
George was adamant. ‘I don’t believe it, I just don’t believe it.’
Jazz was exasperated. ‘Just because he’s the great Harry Noble doesn’t mean he’s not human, you know.’
But George was stubborn. ‘That’s not human, that’s
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