This strange conversation was making the young blonde more confused by the minute. A good body – which Kelly certainly did have – was obviously important for an actress but then so was acting skill! Anyway why should Phil have had any difficulty in getting her to accept a night's work as an extra for a television film? It didn't make any sense.

"Have a drink, dearie," suggested Mrs. Agard in a hearty friendly manner, sliding a bottle of vodka down her dressing table towards Lynn Langley. "We've got awhile to wait before they're ready for our scene, and I find it helps if you go out there a little bit sloshed, if you know what I mean."

Lynn didn't but she accepted the drink anyway, despite the fact that Matt disapproved of liquor and would not keep any in the house. Maybe a quick slug will clear my head a little, she decided, pouring herself a healthy glassful and then adding some tomato juice to make a Bloody Mary. Then she settled back to watch as Jon barged busily into the dressing room and went to work on Kelly's face, applying rouge and make-up to give her skin some color under the bright lights on the set.

"Finish your drink, baby," advised Jon bruskly, nodding in Lynn's direction. "I'm going to be ready to do you in another minute. And better get out of that dress unless you want to get make up all over it."

"What should I put on?" asked Lynn, a little alarmed.

"Who gives a shit?" snapped Jon crudely as he dabbed mascara onto Kelly's skin. "Just get out of the dress."

Blushing at the man's vulgar language, Lynn observed that the older woman was wearing a dressing gown and cursed herself for not having had the brains to bring something like it herself. Here was no sign of anything resembling a slave girl costume, and she hated to make a fuss over what she was supposed to wear, so she took a deep breath, finished her drink to give her courage and then, unzipped the simple print dress she had worn, hanging it on a hook behind the door and sitting back down in her underwear.