15.

We met Marianne in our room. Simon stayed with me, which made me feel a little happier.

"Thanks for seeing me, I am aware that you have quite a punishing schedule," she said, as we shook hands.

We sat in the comfortable chairs.

"Okay, I'll get straight to the point. A certain movie producer is very interested to offer you a screen test for a part in a forthcoming major production."

"What kind of part?"

"Female lead."

"What kind of movie?"

"A romantic thriller."

"I'm not an actress. I'm a model. I can look pretty for the camera, and advertise clothes and other products. I have no training, and no experience. Why me?"

She smiled.

"You got me. I have never come across someone who doesn't want to sell themselves, and asks these sorts of questions."

"Well, why me?"

"Look in the papers, your face is there, day after day, you sell clothes, soap, shampoo, root beer and even tampons for God's sake! Your face is one of the most valuable commodities in the Western World at the moment. You can't open a magazine anywhere without seeing you looking out from the pages. And you say you aren't an actress, did you realise more people tune into your pop commercials than the movie channel?"

I laughed, for now she was being silly.

"Seriously, you have talent, guts, determination and more personality that half the supposed stars in this goddamn town. I've read your story, and it is some tale. It is almost enough for a movie in its own right."

"It isn't finished yet," I said, and she smiled at me.

"Okay, but will you do a test?"

"Who is in it?"

"It hasn't been finalised yet. Matt Damon has been approached, as has Ben Afflick."

"Look, it all sounds lovely, but there is a scheduling problem. I have the show this afternoon, and then we are off to Miami tomorrow. So maybe you will have to find someone else," I said.

"The fee would be at least one million dollars," she said.

"Marianne, I make more than that selling toothpaste. I have more money than I can spend in a lifetime. I do things because I want to, and because they are fun. I rise to a challenge, and like doing things with the people I love near me. Being stuck in some studio or on location somewhere for months at a time, when the guy I love is working teaching kids how to paint properly, is not my idea of a good time.

I like being home every evening, so when Simon gets home after a hard day, we can make dinner together, and talk through what has happened to us both. I like to sleep in my own bed, and feel him close to me. I hate trailers, hotels, and tents, but they are bearable with him there with me."

"If we set up the test tomorrow before you leave, and arrange transport and everything, will you at least give it a try?"

She was desperate, and I wondered why.

"Why do you want me so much?" I asked.

"Because, you have the look!"

"What look?"

"Beats me, but I am told , 'Get Sandi Lake, she has the look!' So, here I am," she said with a smile.

"Okay, but Simon comes too, and all arrangements thereafter will be through my agent."

"Of course. I didn't know you had an agent."

"I don't, but it looks like I may need one."

The limousine arrived on the dot of nine the next morning. Simon and I were whisked to the studio where Marianne met us.

"Good morning Sandi, and Simon. Thanks for coming. Miles Norton is the producer of this movie, and he wants to speak to you first!"

We were taken into some lavish offices, and I was introduced to the producer, the assistant producer, the director and all kinds of people. I instantly forgot their names, as I had a habit of doing when given too many at once to remember. The director, Tim something, took me to one side.

"Okay Sandi. This movie is based on a computer game, similar in a way to Lara Croft's Tomb Raider. It is all about illegal arms deals, and you are an East European model whose boyfriend gets caught up with the Russian Mafia. He is killed, but gives you details, on a computer disk, of a big deal that is going down in the London Docks. There is a race on to get the information from you, and it starts in Eastern Europe, and comes through Hungary, Austria, France and then finishes up in the UK.

"You meet up with a CIA agent, and together you have to evade the enemy, and deliver the information to the only person who can decipher the code. The scene I want you to try for is the one just after the first attempt on your life, and you have been fished out of the Danube by the hero. You are in a cheap hotel room, and you are cold, wet and very frightened. Okay?"

"Okay," I said, reading the page and a half of script.

I was taken into the sound studio, and there was a crude set, which was enough to pretend to be a bedroom. I read through my part, and it didn't seem too difficult. A technician came in and told me he would read the hero's lines, but the camera would only be on me.

I held up a hand, and went to the loo. I stuck my head under the tap, and soaked my hair and face. Then I returned, and read through the script once more. I had an ability to memorise stuff, so I put the script down, where I could see it if necessary, and nodded.

"Okay," I said.

A lad came out with a board, and said, "Sandi Lake, screen test, take one!"

"Action!"

Him "Hey, you are safe now!"

Me (heavily accented) "For how long?"

Him "I don't know. We must move out soon, and try to reach London. But they will be watching the airports and stations."

Me "Just who are zese people?"

Him "You don't want to know!"

Me "Yes I do! Ze bastards have just tried to kill me, you owe me zat much."

Him "I suspect they are Russians, probably the Mafia, and with links to the old KGB. They are trying to sell arms to interested parties, mostly terrorists in the West. Rudi (my boyfriend) was involved."

Me "Rudi? Never, he vas a gentle boy. He vas an artist for God's sake!"

Him "He was blackmailed. They used his sculptures to ship arms and explosives through the border checks."

Me "So, vy are zey trying to kill me, is it zis?" (Holds up disk).

Him "Probably."

Me "Vot is on it?"

Him "I don't know."

Me "Just who are you anyway, and vy do you know so much about me?"

Him "I'm the only friend you've got."

Me "How do I know I can trust you?"

Him "You have no choice."

"Cut!"

I started in surprise, as I was just getting into it and had started to enjoy it.

"Sandi, did you memorise the whole damn section?" the director asked.

"Yes, why did I miss something?"

"Not at all, in fact you altered some of the dialogue."

"Well, it didn't sound like an east European, it was too Americanised. I just wanted it to sound real."

There was some muted laughter, and I felt embarrassed.

"Sandi, you told Marianne that you couldn't act. Well, you are wrong, you can and did, brilliantly," the director said.

"Oh," I said, somewhat shocked.

"Okay people, that's it," someone shouted, and we were taken back into the office. Marianne was smiling.

"Okay, Sandi, I liked the test, I want to see how it comes out, so we will have a coffee, and then if you want you can view it with me!" said Tim.

I went and sorted out my hair, and then was given a coffee. About half an hour later we were ushered into the viewing room, which was a small cinema with a dozen seats. I watched as my small scene unfolded in front of me, and was surprised as how I looked. My voice surprise me the most, it was very sultry and sexy and didn't sound like me at all. It was very east European.

"Well, how do you think you did?" the Producer asked me.

"She didn't look like me."

"No, she looked and sounded like an East European model. I'll be honest, I want you for the part, and I think you are made for it."

I turned to Simon.

"Sweetie?"

"You were amazing. Go for it!" he said, with a grin.

"Really?"

"Look, I know I was not convinced before, but having seen that, I am now. You were very believable. Even if this is the only one you ever make, how many people get this opportunity?"

"Okay, I'll do it," I said.

There were smiles all round, and we then discussed terms. I rang Jemima in London, and she agreed to talk to a friend of hers who was an agent. She also advised me to join Equity, and to tread very carefully. As the movie plan was in its infancy, there was no great panic. Most of the cast had yet to be selected, and there was an awful lot to do before shooting started.

Most of the shooting was to take place on location across Europe and in Pinewood studios in Buckinghamshire, England. They were hoping to start in the back end of September. I hoped the Danube was warm at that time of year. We shook hands, and were taken back to the hotel. It was all rather surreal, and by the time the next day's papers came out, so did the news that Superbabe had been head-hunted for a lead part in a new potential blockbuster.

The press were once again interested in me, and the fashion show received added publicity because of this. I was unable to go anywhere without the press asking me silly questions, and I began to regret being so well known. Returning to the same hotel in Miami was hard, as memories came flooding back.

Simon and I used the pool together, and I never went anywhere without him. We were relaxing in the Jacuzzi on the last evening, when I heard a familiar voice.

"Hello girl."

We turned, and there was my father. I had a lurch in my heart, as part of me was pleased to see him, and another part dreaded his presence and all it meant to me.

"Hello, Mr Armitage," I said, keeping my voice neutral.

He was dressed in casual slacks and a polo shirt. His hair was very short and almost all grey. He looked thin and tired, with great dark bags under his eyes. I had never seen him look like this.

"I see you are going to be a movie star," he said.

"Perhaps, how have you been?"

He sat on the step.

"Not bad. I have a nice house in the middle of nowhere. But I miss you, Sandi."

"You should have thought of that a long time ago."

"I know. You two engaged yet?"

I held up my hand and wiggled my ring finger.

"Splendid. You both have my blessing, for what it's worth."

"Are you ever going to be able to go home?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"No. If I leave the States, then I lose the protection. If I appear in Britain, then they will have no qualms about nicking me."

"But what about what I gave to the police?"

"They didn't need it. The yanks shot the bastard."

"Are you sure, he may be your next door neighbour and calls himself Mr Smith?"

"I saw the body. I was there!"

"Oh."

"Its funny, I'd like to go back and change so much."

"Hilarious. You can't, Dad."

"I know. I'd like to see my grandchildren though."

"Dad, I'm eighteen, and we are not having babies yet. So you will have to wait."

"Don't leave it too long, please," he said, and I caught a tragic undercurrent.

"Oh, Dad. You haven't?"

He looked down and nodded.

"What?" I asked.

"Cancer. I've had my last lot of chemo, now it I am waiting to see if it worked."

"Where?"

"Lymph glands."

"Oh shit," I said, and he laughed.

"You said it, girl."

"I'm sorry. When did you find out?"

"Three months ago. I went for a routine check up."

"You should have called."

"What good would it have done? You were busy with exams, and I have no hold on you."

"I am still your only daughter."

Tears came to his eyes, and Simon took my hand. We got out of the Jacuzzi, and slipped on the towelling robes.

"You have this annoying habit of appearing and fucking up my life, Dad."

He smiled, but it was a sad smile.

"I know kid, I'm sorry. But I had to see you."

I hugged him, and found he was very thin under his clothes.

"Oh Dad, what are we going to do?"

"Not a lot we can do. I'm dead, remember?"

"How long?"

"A year, maybe a little more."

"And the chemo, what if it works?"

"Once it is in the lymph glands, it is hard to eradicate. The specialist thinks I may have a year to eighteen months."

"Fuck!" I said, feeling very depressed.

"Hey, I won't die in bed."

"What you going to do, rob a bank?" I teased.

"Not quite. But I have a plan."

"Oh Dad, no! Not again, please!"

"Look, I hope to give back something. I gave the world the prettiest girl there is, so I can't be all bad."

I started to cry. He had never been there for me, except when he killed people, and that was hardly sound parenting.

Simon held me, and said to Dad, "Sir, I think you'd better go."

He nodded, and gently kissed my cheek.

"Goodbye Sandi. Remember I have always loved you, and always will."

Then he was gone. It was the last time I saw him alive!

We completed the tour, and returned home. It really felt like home, and it was lovely to be somewhere familiar after a month of hotels. I was sent the entire script, and Jemima introduced me to an agent, Richard Scott. I had a meeting with him, and he arranged to scrutinise my contract and sent off my Equity application. The contract was actually straightforward, but I was careful to ensure that Superbabe was my property, and no use could be made of it in the publicity, without my permission, and to my benefit.

On his advice I signed a slightly amended contract, and stood to gain over $1,000,000 before the shooting even started. I was also due a percentage of any profits, which could take me into silly figures. But, this was irrelevant, as my investments had gained, and money was the least of my problems.

We were watching TV one evening, and a documentary about the third world came on. The sights and sounds of the suffering in different parts of the world drove me to tears, and I decided to do something about it. The next day, after Simon went to work, I went to see my financial advisor, and I asked about how I could help ease the suffering in the world. He was somewhat bemused by this, as his job was to build the wealth of his clients, not to help to give it away. He told me he would look into it.

I was reading a magazine and it featured a charity called ROPE (Relief for Oppressed People Everywhere) and arranged to covenant a sizeable amount of money to aid the setting up of schools and clinics in Africa. I felt happier knowing that some of Dad's ill-gotten gains were going to people who really needed it.