wow.’
Well wow
, thinks Ruth. Is that the sum of your intellectual input? A PhD in archaeology, years of experience and research.
Well, wow
. And it’s impossible to tell the age of bones just by looking at them. Carbon 14 tests can give a clearer picture but they can be out by as much as a hundred years. The only real clues are in the context, the objects found in the earth beside the body. Phil won’t mention this, it’s far too boring. Besides, the most significant find is still on Ruth’s bedside table.
‘Do you get frightened, Phil, looking at the skeleton of such a monstrous figure?’
Phil laughs modestly. ‘Well, I’m an old hand at digs but I have to confess there was a slight frisson, here.’ He pats his chest.
‘Cut!’ Dani’s voice rings out from behind the camera. ‘Don’t bang your chest, Phil. It makes the microphone boom. Let’s take a quick break folks.’
I’ve been trying to tell Phil not to bang his chest for years, thinks Ruth, straightening up. She thinks that Phil looks rather chastened. Dani is talking to him and she can see him nodding vigorously. Probably agreeing to do a full-frontal striptease for the cameras. She can tell just by Phil’s body language that he’s in awe of Dani. He’s standing just that little bit too close and laughing just a little bit too loudly. Shona said that she’d be along later to watch the filming. Ruth will be interested to see her reaction. Ruth’s friend Shona, once a glamorous free spirit, has been in a relationship with Phil for almost three years and they have a baby son, Louis. Ruth is fond of Shona but she doesn’t always trust her. She wonders how much Shona trusts Phil.
Ruth hopes that there’ll be more interruptions and that they won’t get round to her interview today. Dani had said that filming would take four to six weeks but they’ve been here all day and, as far as Ruth can see, they’ve only shot about ten minutes of film and most of that was Corinna telling the horrific/terrifying/chilling story of Mother Hook.
‘Good game, isn’t it?’ Frank is leaning into the trench. He is wearing jeans and a check shirt and looks rather like an intellectual Indiana Jones. Ruth is sure that this is deliberate. Frank is also due to be filmed today.
‘Does it always take this long?’ Ruth climbs carefullyout of the trench. The runners usually provide tea and coffee in the breaks and she doesn’t want to miss out. It’s surprisingly tiring, standing still for hours.
‘We’re doing well,’ says Frank. ‘Dani’s good at moving things along.’
‘What do you think she’s saying to Phil?’
‘Probably telling him to cut down on the theatrics and put in some history. She’s going to be spitting mad at Corinna’s script.’
‘Can’t she tell her to change it? She’s the director after all.’
‘It’s not that simple. Corinna’s quite a big star and the
Women Who Kill
programmes are always heavy on blood and gore. That’s one reason why I’ve never done one before.’
‘Why did you do this one then?’
‘Because Dani asked me. I’ve done a few history programmes with her. She really knows her stuff.’
‘What about Corinna? Have you worked with her before?’
‘No, but I know of her. She used to be quite a well-known actress but then had a career break to bring up her children. Now she’s becoming famous all over again.’
‘She’s certainly making it all sound very dramatic.’
‘Yes, ‘says Frank. ‘It’s a bit over the top for me, I must admit. But you’d be surprised how the most serious people become drama queens when they’re on camera. Look at Phil.’
‘He’s always like that.’
Frank laughs and takes two polystyrene cups from a passing runner. ‘You wait till it’s your turn.’
‘I’m dreading it.’
‘You’ll be great. Just be yourself.’
‘People always say that,’ says Ruth. ‘It’s surprisingly unhelpful.’
‘Frank!’ Suddenly Dani is beside them, a tiny
Well wow
, thinks Ruth. Is that the sum of your intellectual input? A PhD in archaeology, years of experience and research.
Well, wow
. And it’s impossible to tell the age of bones just by looking at them. Carbon 14 tests can give a clearer picture but they can be out by as much as a hundred years. The only real clues are in the context, the objects found in the earth beside the body. Phil won’t mention this, it’s far too boring. Besides, the most significant find is still on Ruth’s bedside table.
‘Do you get frightened, Phil, looking at the skeleton of such a monstrous figure?’
Phil laughs modestly. ‘Well, I’m an old hand at digs but I have to confess there was a slight frisson, here.’ He pats his chest.
‘Cut!’ Dani’s voice rings out from behind the camera. ‘Don’t bang your chest, Phil. It makes the microphone boom. Let’s take a quick break folks.’
I’ve been trying to tell Phil not to bang his chest for years, thinks Ruth, straightening up. She thinks that Phil looks rather chastened. Dani is talking to him and she can see him nodding vigorously. Probably agreeing to do a full-frontal striptease for the cameras. She can tell just by Phil’s body language that he’s in awe of Dani. He’s standing just that little bit too close and laughing just a little bit too loudly. Shona said that she’d be along later to watch the filming. Ruth will be interested to see her reaction. Ruth’s friend Shona, once a glamorous free spirit, has been in a relationship with Phil for almost three years and they have a baby son, Louis. Ruth is fond of Shona but she doesn’t always trust her. She wonders how much Shona trusts Phil.
Ruth hopes that there’ll be more interruptions and that they won’t get round to her interview today. Dani had said that filming would take four to six weeks but they’ve been here all day and, as far as Ruth can see, they’ve only shot about ten minutes of film and most of that was Corinna telling the horrific/terrifying/chilling story of Mother Hook.
‘Good game, isn’t it?’ Frank is leaning into the trench. He is wearing jeans and a check shirt and looks rather like an intellectual Indiana Jones. Ruth is sure that this is deliberate. Frank is also due to be filmed today.
‘Does it always take this long?’ Ruth climbs carefullyout of the trench. The runners usually provide tea and coffee in the breaks and she doesn’t want to miss out. It’s surprisingly tiring, standing still for hours.
‘We’re doing well,’ says Frank. ‘Dani’s good at moving things along.’
‘What do you think she’s saying to Phil?’
‘Probably telling him to cut down on the theatrics and put in some history. She’s going to be spitting mad at Corinna’s script.’
‘Can’t she tell her to change it? She’s the director after all.’
‘It’s not that simple. Corinna’s quite a big star and the
Women Who Kill
programmes are always heavy on blood and gore. That’s one reason why I’ve never done one before.’
‘Why did you do this one then?’
‘Because Dani asked me. I’ve done a few history programmes with her. She really knows her stuff.’
‘What about Corinna? Have you worked with her before?’
‘No, but I know of her. She used to be quite a well-known actress but then had a career break to bring up her children. Now she’s becoming famous all over again.’
‘She’s certainly making it all sound very dramatic.’
‘Yes, ‘says Frank. ‘It’s a bit over the top for me, I must admit. But you’d be surprised how the most serious people become drama queens when they’re on camera. Look at Phil.’
‘He’s always like that.’
Frank laughs and takes two polystyrene cups from a passing runner. ‘You wait till it’s your turn.’
‘I’m dreading it.’
‘You’ll be great. Just be yourself.’
‘People always say that,’ says Ruth. ‘It’s surprisingly unhelpful.’
‘Frank!’ Suddenly Dani is beside them, a tiny
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