Play to the End by Robert Goddard Read Free Book Online Page B

performance would have been a very bad idea. But the circumstances weren't ordinary. Not by a long way. "Definitely."

    I piloted a bemused Denis to a youth-oriented pub in the North Laine, where anonymity for a pair of middle-aged actors was virtually guaranteed. Denis is easing his way back into the theatre after heart trouble and I was well aware he didn't need the stress I was about to inflict on him. The least I could do was give him a chance to get used to the idea that tonight wasn't going to be quite like every other night on tour.

    I ordered a scotch and persuaded him to join me, then we plonked ourselves down as far as possible which wasn't very from the nearest rock-blaring loudspeaker.

    "Something on your mind, Toby?" Denis prompted.

    "Yes." I took a swallow of whisky and came straight to the point.
    "You'll be playing James Elliott this evening."

    "What?"

    "You'll be standing in for me, Denis."

    "What do you mean?"

    "Just what I say. I won't be there."

    "But... there's nothing wrong with you."

    "I have to be somewhere else." I would have lowered my voice as I ploughed on, but the wall of sound meant our conversation had to be conducted at a bellow. "It can't be helped."

    "You're baling out?"

    "Just for tonight. Normal service resumes tomorrow."

    "You're joking."

    "No. I'm serious, Denis. You're on."

    He stared at me for a moment, then said, "Bloody hell," and gulped down most of his whisky.

    "Want another?"

    "Better not, if I'm performing tonight." He thought about the prospect, then added, "On reflection, perhaps I better had," and held out his glass.

    By the time I'd fetched our refills, his shock had lessened enough for puzzlement to show through. "Not like you to let the side down, Toby."

    "No choice."

    "Care to elaborate?"

    "Can't."

    "Are you planning to phone in sick?"

    "No. Brian would be round to the Sea Air quicker than you can pour a Lemsip. And I wouldn't be there. So, I wondered if.. ."

    "You want me to tell them?"

    "Would you?"

    "Bloody hell." Denis made a pained face. "What am I supposed to say?"

    "Exactly what's happened."

    "It won't go down well."

    "I imagine not."

    "Leo will get to hear."

    "Of course."

    "It'll be a black mark against you."

    "Not the first."

    "Even so .. ." Denis worked with me on several episodes of Long Odds.
    We know each other well enough for much to be left unsaid. The consequences of my no-show were sure to be uncomfortable, but, given the severely limited future of Lodger in the Throat, no worse than that. A little local difficulty was all either of us had cause to anticipate. "You do know what you're doing, don't you, Toby?"

    "I think so. Besides .. ." I smiled. "You'll wow them, Denis."

    There was well over an hour to go till I was due to meet Derek Oswin when Denis and I parted. I walked down to the front and stared out to sea. I could still have changed my mind then. In fact, I did change my mind, several times, as I contemplated the fall-out from what I was about to do. Leo would play the heavy producer with a will. And I could hardly complain. Walking out on the show, albeit for one night only, was gross dereliction of an actor's duty. Part of me was appalled that I was even considering it.

    But, in the final analysis, what did it really matter? They can say what they like. They can even dock my salary if they want to. The play's going nowhere. We all know that. Whereas my rendezvous with Derek Oswin ... I suddenly decided that maybe I didn't have to choose after all. I ran most of the way up to the taxi-rank in East Street and jumped breathlessly into a cab. We were in Viaduct Road ten minutes later. Telling the driver to wait, I dashed to the door of number 77 and hammered at it with the knocker.

    No response, of course, and no light showing. That was as I'd expected, really, but it had been worth a try in case I caught Oswin on the premises. My guess was that he was already lying in wait for me at the meeting-place he'd