The scene started after Higgins, Eliza and Pickering come back from the ball, and Eliza is furious and worried about her future, feeling taken advantage of by Higgins.
It wasn’t a hard scene to portray, she thought as she started her lines. The fury and betrayal were something she didn’t even need to act.
Lily turned into Eliza, expressing her gratitude for the opportunity to temporarily escape and at the end of the scene, the cast and crew clapped.
‘Bloody marvellous, all of you, honestly. And Eliza, you were marvellous,’ Jasper called. ‘I want to see that passion more. Whatever is driving you today, harness it and ride it into the performances.’
As all eyes turned on Lily, she felt a burning sensation in her cheeks and she walked off the stage to where Jessica was.
‘What happened last night? You ran out of the pub like you’d seen a ghost. Are you okay? Did you lose your voice again?’
Lily stared at her. ‘Have you spoken to Nick?’
‘No, I left when you did. I did see some missed calls from Nick though. I haven’t caught up with him yet.’
Lily paused. ‘Were you engaged to Nick?’ she asked finally.
Jessica made a sad face. ‘Yes, we were engaged, but he didn’t want to move to London. He’s very selfish, so I broke it off. He doesn’t support his partner’s dreams.’
Lily felt as though the world was falling out from under her feet.
‘He told me that you weren’t engaged,’ she said.
Jessica shrugged. ‘Well we were, not for long but we were. He’s lying because he’s embarrassed that I broke it off.’
Lily walked back onto the stage and looked out for Nick. ‘Nick, can you come here please?’
She walked back to where Jessica was, as Nick came to them, and Jasper and a few of the cast came closer. Nothing like a potential scene off stage to get a committed audience, she thought.
Nick walked up to Jessica and Lily.
‘I’ve been trying to call you,’ he said to Jessica who smiled sweetly.
‘I’m sorry, I was busy this morning and my ankle was playing up.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with your ankle. You’re an attention-seeker,’ Nick said. ‘Now tell Lily that we were never engaged.’
Jessica looked at Nick and gasped. ‘What? Why would I do that? We were engaged.’
‘We were not engaged,’ said Nick, exasperated. ‘We went out for six months, and then you went to London.’
Jessica shook her head. ‘We had discussed you moving to London and then you said you couldn’t so I broke it off.’
‘That doesn’t mean we were engaged.’ Nick looked at Lily, his face in shock. ‘She’s lying,’ and he turned to Jessica. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with you, but you’re either seriously unwell or vicious to the point of being cruel. We never were engaged. You and I were never going to be anything long term. We are completely different people and I’m glad, because you’re not a nice person.’
Lily put her hand on Nick’s arm. ‘It’s okay,’ she said to him softly.
Now the entire cast and crew were watching them but it was too late to try and get any privacy, and Lily was somewhat relieved that there were witnesses.
‘Is it okay?’ Jessica snapped and turned to the cast, walking out onto the stage. ‘You know I have met our leading lady before this show.’
Lily was confused. She had never met Jess. She really was making up lies with every word she spoke.
‘I’ve never met you before,’ said Lily loudly so everyone could hear.
But Jessica turned around. ‘I was the person who gave you a tissue as you were lying in a heap backstage at the Theatre Royal after you lost your nerve and your voice during your audition.’
She looked at Jasper. ‘And you cast her, even after I told you that she was unreliable and too emotional for the show. The girl can’t even do am dram. How is she going to make it as a professional?’
