by Judy Nunn
From stage actor and international television star to blockbuster best-selling author, Judy Nunn’s career has been meteoric.
Her first forays into adult fiction resulted in what she describes as her ‘entertainment set’. The Glitter Game, Centre Stage and Araluen, three novels set in the worlds of television, theatre and film respectively, each became instant bestsellers.
Next came her ‘city set’: Kal, a fiercely passionate novel about men and mining set in Kalgoorlie; Beneath the Southern Cross, a mammoth achievement chronicling the story of Sydney since first European settlement; and Territory, a tale of love, family and retribution set in Darwin.
Territory, together with Judy’s next novel, Pacific, a dual story set principally in Vanuatu, placed her firmly in Australia’s top-ten bestseller list. Her following works, Heritage, set in the Snowies during the 1950s, Floodtide, based in her home state of Western Australia, and Maralinga, have consolidated her position as one of the country’s leading fiction writers. Her eagerly awaited new novel, Tiger Men, will publish in November 2011.
Judy Nunn’s fame as a novelist is spreading rapidly. Her books are now published throughout Europe in English, German, French, Dutch and Czech.
Judy lives with her husband, actor-author Bruce Venables, on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
By the same author
Centre Stage
Araluen
Kal
Territory
Beneath the Southern Cross
Pacific
Heritage
Floodtide
Maralinga
Tiger Men
Children’s fiction
Eye in the Storm
Eye in the City
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including printing, photocopying (except under the statutory exceptions provisions of the Australian Copyright Act 1968), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of Random House Australia. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
The Glitter Game
9781742741949
An Arrow book
Published by Random House Australia Pty Ltd
Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway, North Sydney NSW 2060
www.randomhouse.com.au
First published by Pan Macmillan 1991
This Arrow edition published 1999, 2007, 2011
Copyright © Judy Nunn 1991
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying (except under the statutory exceptions provisions of the Australian Copyright Act 1968), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of Random House Australia.
Addresses for companies within the Random House Group can be found at www.randomhouse.com.au/offices
National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication Entry
Nunn, Judy.
The glitter game/Judy Nunn.
ISBN 978 1 86471 248 3 (pbk.)
A823.3
To my husband Bruce Venables
who makes me laugh.
Contents
COVER
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BY THE SAME AUTHOR
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT PAGE
IMPRINT PAGE
DEDICATION
EPIGRAPH
PROLOGUE
NARELLE
JANE
PAUL
GREG AND VICKY
MANDY AND SIDNEY
THE FIRST DAY
SIZING UP
RELATING
SUCCESS
REVENGE
RETRIBUTION
POWER GAMES
MANOEUVRES
RAPE
MURDER
DISCOVERY
BETRAYAL
SURVIVAL
THE LOGIES
REVELATIONS
EPILOGUE
PREVIEW OF ELIANNE
BONUS CHAPTER SAMPLER
RANDOM HOUSE
Writers, actors and artists
youse call yerselfs
actors writers and artists
I know youse for what youse are
prostitutes, pimps and pooftahs
and the police has been called for.
Miss Porteous Stops The Party
Barrett Reid
Edwina nodded to the waiter who hovered beside her, Veuve Clicquot bottle poised. She’d demand Bollinger in her next deal, she thought. Veuve was too bitter.
She glanced around the table at her co-stars, pleased that she’d kept her distance from them. When one had set one’s sights as high as Edwina had, involvement was out of the question. Anyway, they were all riding on the crest of her wave. The show would never have been as successful without her — they had no reason to bear her any ill will.
Well, most of them had no reason. She caught the malevolence in Jane’s eyes over the rim of her glass. Yes, Jane had every right to be bitter, but that was the name of the game, after all — only the ruthless made it to the top.
Edwina was no stranger to Logies awards. She had picked up the silver State vote for Most Popular Television Personality in New South Wales for the last five years.
But this year was different. This year was the first time a Logies presentation telecast had been sold overseas. Stations all over the UK had bought the rights — the Logies would go to air halfway across the world the following night.
For an hour, while limousines had arrived and celebrities had walked up the red carpet into the Regent Hotel, searchlights had scanned the sky and police had held back the thousands of screaming fans.
Inside the hotel the air was electric with anticipation. The most important award presentation night in the history of the Australian television industry had begun.
And it was all because of ‘The Glitter Game’ and its star, Edwina Dawling. This was the year Edwina had been nominated for the public vote of Most Popular Actress in a TV series, the industry vote of Best Actress in a TV Drama Series and the coveted Gold Logie, a public vote for the most popular television personality in Australia.
Thanks to the unprecedented success of ‘The Glitter Game’, the sultry pop singer turned nightshow host was now internationally acclaimed as Australia’s leading television actress. She was off to the States to star in a glossy new CBS series especially written around her. But first the three Logies. Just to prove to everyone at home that Edwina Dawling really was the best.
‘The Glitter Game’ had not only been a turning point in Edwina’s career: it had created new stars; resurrected a few has-beens and placed them on the international market; and, in just twelve months of airtime, had made more overseas sales than any other series in the history of Australian television, including an unprecedented American network deal.
The phenomenal success of ‘The Glitter Game’ had been studied endlessly by ratings surveyors and marketing teams and had been put down to two major factors. Across-the-board appeal was one. Its essence of ongoing drama was exactly what the general viewer wanted — but its edge of satire and mild send-up of the television industry won many fans who otherwise scorned all series as ‘soap’. The second factor was doubtless the current fascination that overseas markets seemed to have for Australian television and
the fact that ‘The Glitter Game’ was set in an Australian television station in which the characters were making an Aussie ‘soap’ gave the show a voyeuristic quality that had proved most popular. Imitative series were already popping up but none of them had that indefinable quality that belonged to ‘The Glitter Game’ — and, of course, none of them had Edwina.
Edwina felt a light tap on her shoulder.
Alain was standing beside her. ‘Good luck, Edwina.’
She snapped out of her reverie to return to the noise, glitter and smoke-filled excitement of the overcrowded Regent Hotel ballroom. ‘Thank you, Alain.’
As she watched him weave his way back to his table, Davey put his hand on her thigh and whispered, ‘He wants you to lose.’
‘I know.’ To hell with Alain, she thought. It was a foregone conclusion that ‘The Glitter Game’ would win Best Drama Series. As executive producer Alain would be up there to collect the award — he should be bloody grateful to her.
On stage, the MC was introducing the next presenters.
Mandy leaned across the table, her ample breasts creasing into a thousand wrinkles and nearly knocking her glass over. The dress she was wearing would have looked good on her twenty years ago. ‘Next one up, Edwina. Good luck.’
Another of Edwina’s gracious smiles. Yes, Mandy’s bonhomie was genuine. She had every reason to be grateful. She was one of the successful resurrections — she’d just picked up the Best Supporting Actress award.
‘ … the Most Popular Actress in a Drama Series … ’
Davey gripped Edwina’s hand under the table.
‘ … and the winner is … ’
The tearing of the envelope, a flash of perfectly capped teeth and a girlish giggle from the American ‘special guest’ presenter … ‘Edwina Dawling!’
The spotlight hit Edwina and there was a roar of applause as she rose from the table. The approval was genuine — she was idolised by the public and admired by her peers. But there were no spontaneous pats on the back or cries of ‘Wonderful, darling!’ as she made her way to the stage. Edwina didn’t invite effusive behaviour. She remembered everyone’s name, from actors, directors and crew, to wardrobe, hair and make-up, but no one was ever ‘darling’ and, with the exception of a gracious handshake, she was physical with no one.
‘Congratulations, darling.’ The make-up was heavy and the American woman looked fifteen years older close up. Her mane of hair brushed Edwina’s face as she kissed her on both cheeks and the air was thick with Patou’s Joy.
Edwina kept her smile remote and waited patiently for the woman to break the clinch. What show was she from — ‘Dynasty’, ‘Dallas’? Edwina really couldn’t remember, they all looked like barbie dolls to her. Where were the legends this year? Where were the John Waynes, the Mickey Rooneys? Even a Lee Marvin or a Gina Lollobrigida would have done. They’d all been presenters in the past. This year there was a tired line-up of plastic soap stars from the States — no doubt they were considered ‘superstars’ by the organisers and the public, but as far as Edwina was concerned, they weren’t in the same league as the legends. And ‘The Glitter Game’ was doing better than all the US series put together.
‘You must be ecstatic.’ Another girlish giggle and the woman backed nervously away. She was out of her league and she knew it. Edwina felt a flash of sympathy for her as she stepped forward to the podium.
Her acceptance speech was short but not brusque, gracious but not patronising and grateful but not humble. She knew she looked good. Her black hair gleamed, swept up and away from the flawless face. George Gross had done a good job on the gown — it clung to her tall, lean body, a picture of elegance.
There was another burst of applause as Edwina left the stage and the MC walked into the spotlight to plod his way to the commercial break.
Edwina froze. A woman had risen to block her path.
‘Congratulations, Edwina.’ Even with all the lights now trained on the stage, Liza’s prematurely silver hair gleamed and her black eyes shone with a hatred that was tangible. ‘I wondered whether I might have a word with you in the commercial break.’
Edwina stood her ground and returned the cold smile. ‘I’ll send Davey to the foyer. He’ll be only too happy to relay any message you may have, Liza. Excuse me.’ Edwina swept past Liza and returned to her table.
Liza was seething with fury. Send that bloody little poofter hairdresser! Well, she’d give him a message to relay, all right. She stormed off to the foyer.
Behind her, the MC addressed the audience. ‘Ten minutes to do the necessaries, folks, then up on applause when we return from commercial break for the Ron Goddard Dance Team.’ There was a thin, perfunctory round of applause as people sprang from their seats and made for powder rooms and toilets.
Jane, Narelle and Mandy offered their hasty congratulations en route to the ladies but Sidney and Davey remained, rising slightly from the table as Edwina sat down.
Sidney’s bladder was bursting but sycophancy outweighed his need to relieve it. ‘Well done, Edwina, well done.’ The fruity voice of the old actor was thick with alcohol and, as usual, flecks of spittle shot out from between his Terry-Thomas teeth. Edwina didn’t even flinch as one caught her on the neck.
She picked up her glass of Veuve. ‘Thank you, Sidney.’ Disgusting old ham, she thought. How in hell could the viewers find him funny? But they did. There was no accounting for taste — well, certainly, not in television. Davey again reached for her hand under the table. She smiled gently at him, then remembered.
‘Liza Farrelly wants to have a word with you in the foyer.’
‘Oh.’
‘Go on, Davey. And don’t be long. I want you seated before we’re back to air.’
As Davey rose from the table, Sidney took the opportunity to stagger to his feet as well. ‘If you’ll excuse me, Edwina.’
‘Of course, Sidney.’
‘Knockout, Edwina!’ Edwina looked across at the table where the younger members of the ‘Glitter’ cast were sitting. Seventeen-year-old Vicky was giving her the thumbs-up. Edwina gave a barely discernible thumbs-up sign back. She liked the kid — she was a hard worker and a damn good actress. Then she noticed Paul and Alain standing beside Vicky. Alain nodded effusively and made a ‘mind-if-I-join-you’ gesture. Hypocrite, Edwina thought, but smiled and nodded back. At least Paul wasn’t being hypocritical. He glared balefully at her and turned his back. She respected him for that — not that he didn’t deserve what she’d done to him, but she respected him nonetheless.
Davey hadn’t returned to his seat before they were back to air. In fact the dance team had been and gone, two awards had been made and the industry vote of Best Actress was about to be announced when he slid back into his seat, his face ashen.
Edwina shot him a look of reprimand.
‘Sorry.’
‘People performing, Davey. It’s rude,’ she muttered.
‘And the Best Actress is … ’
During the dramatic pause Edwina noticed how sick Davey looked. ‘There’s something wrong, isn’t there?’
‘ … Edwina Dawling!’
‘No, nothing.’ Davey rose and assisted her to her feet.
Once again, Edwina led the spotlight to the stage, accompanied by tumultuous applause.
Again her acceptance speech was brief and dignified but her mind was on Davey. She kept glancing in his direction, but she couldn’t see a thing against the glare of the television lights. After leaving the stage, she ignored the smiles and congratulations and made her way straight back to the table to slide in beside Davey.
‘What is it? What’s wrong? You look terrible.’
Her concern for Davey had not gone unnoticed. But then her concern for Davey never had. Their relationship was one of the unfathomable mysteries of the entertainment world. If Edwina had been an all round ‘fag hag’ that would have been totally acceptable but her general manner towards homosexuals was as gracious and aloof as it was to everyone else in the
industry. Sure, as her personal hairdresser Davey did a great job, but a hairdresser was a hairdresser, surely. One journalist tried to intimate that he was her younger brother but investigation had failed to turn up a thing. It was a mystery, all right.
‘Nothing’s wrong, Edwina — just the smoke, that’s all.’ Davey edged Sidney’s butt-filled ashtray complete with smoking cigarette to one side.
‘What did Liza want?’
‘The usual bitchy stuff.’ Davey’s answer was evasive. ‘Why you’re ditching the series to go to CBS. She wants to see you after the show.’
‘She should chat to Alain. He’d love to twist the knife too.’
Sidney had fumbled around for the ashtray but failed to find it so he lit up another cigarette and started ashing in Davey’s sideplate.
‘He wants to talk to me after the show,’ Edwina continued. ‘He’ll try it on again, of course.’
But Davey was miles away. ‘Who? What?’
‘Alain. Another plea to throw the CBS deal. After the show.’
‘Let’s not talk to any of them, Edwina. Let’s leave straight after the Gold.’
Edwina shook her head. ‘Appearances, Davey. We’ll stay till the end but we’ll leave after the obligatory chats, I promise.’
The MC droned on, more awards were presented, including that for the Best TV Series which Alain accepted for ‘The Glitter Game’, and the audience grew restless with anticipation as the Gold drew near. Then, finally …
‘ … the Gold Logie for the Most Popular Television Personality in Australia … ’
Edwina darted a glance at Davey but he wasn’t looking at her.
