Chapter Two: Plan and Execution

Here are my notes for the next chapter, as they appear in my notebook:

Chapter 2

The purpose of this next chapter – the dramatic imperative or dramatic proposition, its reason for being – is to reintroduce Juliette to Jonathan in such as way as to persuade her of his bona fides (over the suspicions of Bronwyn) and to prompt her to take more seriously his suggestion that she apply for the part of Blair (or, as I rename her, Charlize) on The Parks.

It’s a week later. Julie and Bronwyn are at the airport en route to Paris. Bronwyn, it transpires, is the one who checks out men assiduously. A little comic potential, I think. Some dialogue that suggests itself:

“Look at that one there,” Bronwyn said.
“Don’t point,” said Juliette.
“What, you think he’ll see? I don’t mind if he sees,” she said. (Etc.)

(Question: Does Bronwyn talk their way into business class? Or maybe Juliette does?)

Booking into their hotel in Paris. Juliette takes the air in the Place. She sees various people in mid-career. A photographer. A pavement artist. Nannies. Two businessmen in earnest conversation. Why can’t she decide what she wants to do with her life?

Tourism “montage”. Musee D’Orsay. Canal St Martin. The cemetery. Notre Dame. Sainte Chapelle. Eiffel Tower. Pompidou: Jonathan.

They bump into Jono. Can’t believe it. Julie spends evening with him. Bronwyn unhappy.

End of their holiday. Man spotting. Discussion of Jono.

Rob Whelan needs to return in this chapter. Maybe he sends Juliette text messages repeatedly. Or tries to phone her when she’s in Paris. (And she has to pay for his calls! Or she doesn’t answer them.)

Juliette must be scathing – totally denunciatory about Rob. It can be a running gag – the things she once found attractive in him. The cute grin. The stock phrases he used. The clichés!

They get home. Julie checks her mail. Invitation to an audition. There might be messages from Rob under the door. BIG QUESTION: Where does this go? It must be used to distinguish Jono from Simon.

Here’s the first scene from the Chapter:

Chapter 2

“Look at that one there,” Bronwyn said.
“Don’t point,” Juliette hissed. “He’ll see, and then he’ll come over to find out what you’re on about…”
“He won’t!”
“He’s looking.”
“Ohmigod!”
Bronwyn whipped round and grabbed her suitcase.
“We’re going to be late!”
“We’ve got plenty of time…” And then, deliberately teasing Bronwyn, “He’s coming across.”
“No!”
“Just tell him you think he’s cute.”
“I do not think he’s cute!”
“Or attractive in a non-cute way.”
“Juliette!”
“I think he’s going to check in on our flight. Perhaps he’ll end up sitting next to you.”
“Juliette, if you’re kidding me, I’ll never forgive you!”
“Oh. He’s moving on. He’s going to the Virgin Atlantic check in.”
Bronwyn turned. Her eyes slid over the crowds moving past them.
“Where is he?”
“There.”
They watched the boy – well, he was closer to thirty than boyhood – saunter down the main concourse and angle in towards the Virgin Atlantic check-in counters.
“He wasn’t really heading in our direction, was he?” asked Bronwyn.
“Not really, no.”
“You pig!”
“Really, Bronwyn, if you are interested in men, then you should welcome their attention.”
“I would welcome it – but it’s never going to happen, so I don’t really have to worry about it, do I?”
Bronwyn said this carelessly, with a little self-deprecating shrug.
“That’s nonsense. You’re an attractive woman and any man with half a brain would make a bee-line for you!”
“You’re a sweet friend, Juliette, and I’ve always loved you dearly – but I have to tell you, you’re a lousy liar.”
“I’m not lying.”
“I’m as plain as a pikestaff, Julie, and you know it. Plus I’m fat as a pig…”
“Nothing that a month in a gym wouldn’t cure!”
“I weigh seventy three kilos.”
Juliette was astonished.  “Seventy three?” she said, trying to keep the surprise from her voice. “You don’t weigh seventy three!”
“I do,” Bronwyn said miserably. “I weighed myself this morning. And I’m about to spend ten days in the gastronomic capital of the world! Can you imagine what I’ll be when we get home!”
The emigration official looked suspiciously at Bronwyn’s passport photograph, then up at Bronwyn, then back at the picture.
“I weighed fifty five when I had that picture taken,” she whispered to Juliette. “No wonder she doesn’t recognize me!”
The stamp came down with a smart bureaucratic thump and Juliette and Bronwyn were through in duty-free.

***
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