‘We will not give you the complete script unless you win the part, but you may read the pages which feature your role.’

‘Which part is on offer?’ he asked. Was it too much to hope for the lead?

‘I hope you won’t be offended when I tell you it is the part of the evil terrorist,’ laughed Ostendorf.

‘Not at all.’ Peter smiled back. Jonathan had thought him perfect for a meaty villainous role. He was handed half a dozen pages on which the character of DR EMIL was scored through with a yellow highlighter. In order to provide him with some interaction the producer’s assistant read the role of Jack, the hero’s captive offspring. The tone of the piece was sombre and oblique, the exchanges awkward, as though English was not the author’s first language. After the read-through, Peter raised his hand. ‘There’s a problem with the English translation,’ he pointed out. ‘It’s very stilted. I could paraphrase my lines and get a better reading out of it.’

‘I think for now it would be better if you stay with the words you have,’ replied Luserke firmly.

He could take a hint. Tidying the pages, he sat back and waited for a response. The group talked quietly amongst themselves. Heads were nodding. Only the art director seemed to be in dissent. Finally Ostendorf rose and turned to him with an outstretched hand. ‘We believe we have found our evil doctor,’ he said, smiling warmly. ‘You are happy?’

Peter thrust his hands in his pockets and beamed his thanks back at the group. ‘I am very happy.’

‘Good. Now we take some test pictures of you to show our backers.’

‘What do you mean, they’re shooting before signing your contract?’ asked Fanny. ‘I’ve never heard of such a thing. Your agent certainly wouldn’t allow it.’