‘Well, that’s the idea,’ drawled Bernard. ‘Might you be interested? I’m sure our little show could benefit from your international expertise.’
Was I interested in writing full-time for the show that inspired my career? In my home city, at a time when I was starting to worry about my parents growing older, at a time when I was starting to consider how and where I wanted to grow older myself? As a freelancer, I’d been waking up in the middle of the night for years worrying that I’d never be commissioned to write another script. I’d written for a few TV dramas over the years but I’d never had job security at any of them. This offer was a miracle. It was the best thing I’d ever heard.
I tried to sound calmer than I felt. ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘I might be interested.’
‘Very good,’ said Bernard. ‘My staff will be in touch.’ And he hung up.
A few days later I had a formal Zoom interview with Bernard’s second in command, Susan Halloran, which made me even more excited about the new job.
‘The writers’ room is just the first step in a new regime here atNorthside,’ she said. ‘You’ll still be assigned to write individual episodes, but there’ll be a lot more collaboration between the writers. And once everyone’s working on site, we’re going to needfresh new ideas from all of you to shape the future of Charlemont Street.’
First Bernard saying they wanted my expertise, now the opportunity to shapeNorthside’s future! This was getting better and better. I beamed at Susan through my laptop camera. In the glow of my ring light I looked positively radiant.
‘Susan,’ I said, ‘you’ve come to the right place.’
And now, two months later, here I am, sitting on Roo’s couch –which is now my couch too, I remind myself – bubbling with anticipation about my first day atNorthside.
‘I can’t believe I’ll be on Charlemont Street tomorrow.’ I let out a sigh of happiness. ‘This is literally my teenage dream come true.’
‘When d’you think you can take me in to have a gawp around the set?’ says Roo.
‘Hmmm, I dunno,’ I say. ‘Probably not straight away. I mean, technically I’ll be on trial until August. But as soon as I’m settled in, you’ll be my first guest. It’s the least I can do, considering you’ve given me a home. For which I’m very grateful,’ I add.
‘Stop that,’ says Roo, tucking a lock of black hair behind her ear. ‘You’re the one doing me a favour. I’d have had to sublet that room to a stranger if you hadn’t moved back.’ She glances at the art deco clock on the sitting-room mantelpiece. ‘What time isNorthsideon these days?’
I follow her gaze. ‘Ooh, it’s on now. Quick, turn on the telly.’
Roo grabs the remote control. ‘I haven’t watched it in years,’ she says. ‘Is Barbara Brady still there?’
‘Nope,’ I say, because I’ve been doing my research since I got offered the job. ‘She’s in prison.’
‘Barbara?’ says Roo. ‘What for?’
‘Perverting the course of justice,’ I say. ‘She framed Mozzer McCaul for killing Jake two years ago, but really Barbara’s twelve-year-old son Colin did the murder. Now sssh, it’s starting!’
The familiar music plays over the credits. We see an aerial view of Dublin and then the camera zooms in to the north of the Liffey river and hovers over Charlemont Street. There are shots of Donnelly’s pub, of the White Lady statue in the McCauls’ window, the various businesses, and then the title, in the style of an old street sign. The street is officially in Dublin 3, though its exact location seems to wander all over the north of the city. Geography isn’tNorthside’s strong suit.
And tomorrow, that familiar set will be my workplace.
‘Mozzer!’ cries Roo, as the episode begins with the show’s comedy queen emerging from her terraced house. A feeling of warm nostalgia washes over me. Me and Roo watching Mozzer McCaul together! It’s like old times.
Except it isn’t, not quite.
When the ad break starts I turn to Roo. ‘That was …’
Roo takes a sip of tea. ‘It’s changed a bit since our day, hasn’t it?’
I hadn’t wanted to admit it, but now Roo’s said it I have to acknowledge that she’s right. In the past, the programme was famous for its warmth and humour, and the big dramatic stories were balanced by lighter character-based moments. Now it all feels a lot more intense and … downbeat.
But then, I haven’t been able to watch much of it since I got home. They only had the last two weeks on the IBC Player. We can’t judge the state ofNorthsideon a fortnight’s worth of episodes!
‘I suppose it’s just going through a very serious phase,’ I say.‘It’s done that before.’ And it has, hasn’t it? I cast my mind back. ‘Remember when every episode was about Baby Rosie’s kidney disease for, like, two months?’
‘Oh yeah,’ says Roo. ‘And there was the time Barbara left that cult and had a breakdown and went to live in a shed …’
‘That was pretty grim,’ I agree. ‘But it didn’t stay like that forever. Remember what came next?’
And together we both say, ‘Mozzer’s music career!’