‘Well, that’s bollocks – a hotline should be twenty-four hours. Wait – itisoffice hours,’ I say, confirming with a glance at my watch.
‘Not in Sydney – it’s the middle of the night there,’ she replies matter-of-factly.
I heave out a weary sigh. ‘Ofcourse, they’re based in Sydney. This just gets better and better.’
‘Yeah,’ she sighs.
‘Anyway, I suppose I should?—’
I’m interrupted by her ringtone, and she leaps up and goes out to the balcony to take the call. I was about to head to reception to sort a room for the night, but I’ll wait.
Taking her spot on the sofa, I send Pippa a text telling her that True North’s ‘helpline’ doesn’t open for another nine hours.
Her reply comes straight away – a crying-face emoji – and I reply with a hug emoji. Pip’s not great in a crisis and, in her mind, this will count.
I sit back against the sofa and look outside. Delaney is walking back and forth along the railing. Notpacing– her stride is more composed than that. Ambling perhaps. As I observe her, my mind starts to wander.
EXT. HOTEL BALCONY – CAPRI – AFTERNOON
Delaney ambles along the balcony railing, twirling a lock of her hair, mobile phone pressed to her ear.
DELANEY
Hey, babe. So, I hear you might be in Reykjavik?
Yeah, well, I’m on Capri.
Yep,thatCapri.
She listens, then frowns.
DELANEY
Yeah, he’s here.
No, I’ll talk to them. I was waiting to hear from you first.
I know you did, but the reviews were good. This is just a fluke, Nicholas – we’ll get it figured ou?—
Okay. So, what about your room?
Pippa – her name’s Pippa.
Oh, that’s good.
Yeah, okay – notgood, exactly…
At least you guys get your own rooms.
No, they’re fully booked.
We haven’t figured that out yet.
I promise, I’ll call them as soon as their office opens. Okay. Talk to you later. I lo?—
She lowers the phone, frowns at it, and goes inside.
I snap out of screenwriter mode as Delaney comes through the doorway and gives me a wry smile.