The Cinema at Starlight Creek

by Alli Sinclair

  What was going on? The residents of Starlight Creek had been happy to have the production in town to give it a much needed injection into the economy, and now a handful of townsfolk were turning on them for no discernible reason. Why?

  Oh no. Had Robert Dennis got his claws in? This is not the end of it. And I will do my damned best to make sure this production fails. Those had been his exact words. Had he sent Brody in to do his dirty work? A jilted boyfriend was the perfect way to create a stir on set and turn the town against the production.

  ‘Bloody hell,’ Claire muttered as she headed back to the cinema. Some fires needed putting out.

  * * *

  Claire sat on the swing on the verandah of Luke’s house. It had been a long day fraught with the usual challenges on set, and also the added stress of Brody Hall showing up and setting off Colin from the newsagency and the woman with the baby. The ordeal of the day had left her unsettled, and there was only one place that brought her peace.

  The screen door creaked open and Luke came out with a gin and tonic adorned with a slice of lime.

  She happily took the glass, sipped from it and basked in the slight burn of alcohol. The tension faded, just a little. When he held her hand, her shoulders relaxed and the problems that had been mounting somehow felt like they could be thwarted.

  ‘I wouldn’t worry about Colin,’ said Luke. ‘He’s all hot air with nothing better to do than have a whinge. Although …’

  ‘Although?’

  ‘Although his brother is the mayor. They’re close, and if Colin got in his ear …’ Luke shook his head. ‘Don’t worry. You guys are nearly finished, right?’

  ‘Yes.’ Aside from outside influences, production had been going along very nicely. And it worried her.

  Luke sipped his gin and tonic, his gaze concentrating on the fields before them. The sun had started its descent and a light warm breeze danced through the air.

  ‘About our last conversation,’ he said.

  She looked at him, waiting for him to continue, though he seemed to have stalled.

  ‘What did you want to say?’ she finally asked.

  ‘I’ve been thinking and,’ he put the drink on the small table in front of them, ‘my head tells me this is ridiculous, but my heart is telling me something else.’

  ‘About?’ She could hardly speak.

  ‘About you.’

  ‘Me?’ she rasped.

  ‘Why are you surprised? Or … are you not interested?’

  ‘In you?’ She instantly regretted the shocked tone. ‘Of course I’m interested, I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t. But these are early days, Luke, and with your commitments here and my work taking me everywhere—’

  ‘I’m not asking you to move here, I just want us to keep in contact.’

  ‘As friends?’

  ‘I would say we are more than that.’ His low voice stirred her body in the same way she responded to his touch.

  Luke stood and moved over to the edge of the verandah, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Claire closed her eyes, wishing she could give him what he wanted. Given the conversation they’d had last time about the French backpacker, he had put a lot on the line to even suggest he and Claire keep in contact.

  Getting up, she went to Luke and rested her hand on his lower back and her head on his shoulder. Quietly, she said, ‘It’s not that I don’t want to be with you.’

  ‘I get it.’ He stepped away. ‘I should have known better.’

  ‘Known better than to tell me what you want?’ she asked. ‘Don’t ever be afraid to tell me what you’re thinking, what you’re feeling.’

  Luke gripped the railing. ‘It doesn’t matter now. You’re leaving. You’ll get busy. We’ll drift apart, despite the best intentions to try to see each other when we can.’ Luke turned to face her. ‘It’s life. What’s that saying? Reason, season, lifetime?’

  ‘Luke.’ Claire reached for his hand, but he didn’t wrap his fingers around hers like he usually did. ‘We barely know each other but I want to learn all I can about you. I want to know your favourite colour, your favourite band when you were a teenager, what you think about at three in the morning … I want to know everything about Luke Jackson and I can’t do that if you don’t give us a chance.’

  ‘You want this?’

  ‘Of course I do!’ She heard the words fall out of her mouth, surprised by their enthusiasm, petrified by their implication. How could she balance a long-distance romance while building her career? Yet here she was, envisioning a future with Luke against seemingly impossible odds. ‘What’s changed?’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Yesterday you told me that it’s impossible to have everything we want in life. You said it with conviction. Yet your tune is so very different today.’

  ‘Things happen,’ he mumbled, his eyes not meeting hers.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I’m tired.’ His shoulders dropped. ‘I’m tired of trying to be someone I’m not. And despite my best efforts to resist, you inspire me, Claire Montgomery.’

  ‘I do?’

  ‘Of course! You’re working your way towards achieving your dreams and I’m here, stuffing about, not doing anything concrete, not making a solid commitment. I love my father, and I do love this farm, but there is so much more to my life. I don’t know how, but I’m going to make this dream a reality.’

  ‘Oh, that’s fantastic!’ She threw her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss. ‘I’m so excited for you!’

  His smile was lopsided. ‘I’ve got a long way to go and I need to figure it all out, but I’ll get there. And I wouldn’t have done it without you.’

  ‘I’ve done nothing.’

  ‘Are you serious?’ he laughed. ‘You are the most inspirational person I’ve ever met and I love you for it.’

  Claire’s arms fell to her sides. ‘You …’ She couldn’t say it.

  ‘Oh god,’ Luke said. ‘I don’t mean love-love, I mean … Shit. I don’t know what I mean.’

  Claire snaked her hand around the back of his neck. ‘I don’t know what I mean, either.’

  Their lips met and the worries of the day—and future—faded into the inky sky above.

  CHAPTER 23

  1994 – Starlight Creek, Queensland

  Claire finished checking the foyer of Hattie’s cinema, ecstatic to be at the end of another long day but sad that the shoot had almost finished. Soon she’d be supervising the packing up and ensuring everything made it back to the warehouses. She was going to dearly miss the spectacular sunrises and sunsets, the endless blue sky, the warm air wrapping around her skin and the fields of sugarcane that stretched as far as the eye could see. There was also one certain man she was going to miss most of all.

  Claire ran her finger along the dark wood of the kiosk, wondering what would become of the cinema once the production left Starlight Creek. It would be such a shame for the cinema to close its doors once more, as the atmosphere had changed dramatically since it had been full of cast and crew. The cinema had been filled with happiness, electricity, connection, and, dare she say it, magic.

  ‘I’m going to miss you,’ she whispered into the semi-darkness. Although she was talking to the cinema, those were words she needed to practise for when she next saw Luke. All of this was too difficult. No way could she achieve her career goals while splitting time between who-knows-where and Starlight Creek. Damn it. Luke was right. It was impossible to have everything you wanted in life.

  Sadness trailed her like a lost puppy as she made her way into the cinema. Picking up scattered pieces of paper from the seats and floor, she made her way over to the bin at the back corner, near the pile of old movie reels the set designer had styled for the shoot.

  Crash!

  Claire jumped and the papers dropped out of her hand, slowly floating onto the floor.

  ‘Who’s there?’ she said firmly, adrenaline racing through her veins. She looked around for a weapon but could only f
ind a can of Coke. What was she going to do? Caffeinate the intruder to death?

  Rustling came from a dark corner. Her body tensed—fight or flight?

  Fight. This was Hattie’s theatre and she’d made a solemn promise to make sure it was well looked after. If someone had snuck in when she wasn’t looking and had less-than-desirable intentions then …

  Oh no.

  Robert Dennis.

  Brody Hall.

  ‘Come out now!’ she demanded, her hands shaking. ‘I know you’re in there!’

  A moment later a lanky figure appeared from the shadows, his head hung low.

  ‘James?’ It came out as a choked laugh. ‘I left you at your house hours ago.’

  Since arriving in Starlight Creek James had been behaving himself so Claire had only needed to keep one eye on him, not two. Or so she thought …

  He shook his head. In his limp hand was a creased piece of paper.

  ‘She doesn’t want me.’ A cloud of alcohol followed his words. Oh no. What would Nigel say?

  ‘Who? Annalise?’ Claire put her hand under James’s elbow and guided him to a seat. He flopped into a half-sitting, half-lying position. She pointed at the letter. ‘May I?’

  He slowly handed it over and Claire moved the missive around until she caught the dim light above.

  Dear James,

  This is the hardest thing I have had to do. I know we made promises to each other about spending the rest of our lives as one, but it’s not going to happen. Our lives are very different and even though you promised to take me with you, I can’t ever see me fitting in.

  You told me about the star-studded parties, the glamour, the champagne, and I got swept up in it all, imagining myself at a new event every night with you.

  Then reality hit. I don’t love you. I thought I did and I was willing to give up my family for you. Then Brody came home from his mining work and I realised that the only thing I want to be is with him. Brody and I had broken up before he went to the mines and I thought it was over but now that he’s back, I can see he’s changed. I was wrong to start anything with you.

  I did love our time together. You are funny and sexy and everything a girl could want. But you’re not Brody.

  I’m sorry, James. I’m truly sorry and I hope you can understand that I never meant to lead you astray.

  I hope one day you will forgive me. I wish you all the best. Thank you for everything.

  Annalise

  XOXOXO

  Claire put the letter down. ‘Oh, James.’

  He braved a smile, although it fell flat.

  She should ask him how the letter got into his hands but right now it didn’t matter. ‘You really liked her, huh?’

  James let out a long breath and once more the air grew thick with alcohol fumes. ‘She was unlike anyone I’d ever met. I thought she loved me. I thought …’ He punched the back of the chair and Claire refrained from telling him off. ‘She lied! What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I make a relationship work? Why doesn’t anyone want to love me?’

  She really felt for him.

  ‘How about we get you back to your place? Sleep it off? Things will look better tomorrow.’

  ‘No, it won’t,’ he slurred, his eyes half-closed.

  Claire stood and tried to lift him, but his body was a dead weight. ‘Come on. Let’s get some water into you.’

  ‘No.’ He crossed his arms and pouted like a three-year-old.

  ‘Come on, act like the grown man you are.’ She hoped the tough love would do the trick. ‘Annalise has gone back to her ex-boyfriend. It happens. And it sucks. But you have so much more in your life to look forward to. You have a career that’s skyrocketing, and a really nice family—’

  ‘My mum still talks about that time you sent me home with the lemon meringues you made.’

  ‘It was her birthday, I wanted to do something nice and you’d told me how they were her favourite dessert. Look,’ she tried to get back on track, ‘the point is that there are so many great things going on in your life, why do you want to bog yourself down in a relationship?’ She caught her breath. Crap. This is exactly what she’d been contemplating.

  ‘Because when you love someone they make your life better, not worse. They give purpose.’ For someone who had been drinking heavily, James made a lot of sense.

  ‘Some things just aren’t meant to be.’ Jeez. Now she sounded like Luke. She nudged James’s leg with her foot. ‘It’s been a long day. We both need a decent sleep.’

  James used the armrests to steady himself as he got up and Claire wedged her shoulder under his arm, so he could rely on her for balance. She’d drop him at his place then come back and finish for the day. Although the day had rolled into morning and she cursed that she hadn’t made it to Luke’s. She’d make up for it tomorrow. Later this morning. Gah! She really needed sleep.

  Claire locked up as she left the cinema. She struggled down the street under James’s drunken weight until they eventually made it to the small house that had been rented out just for him. He fumbled in his pocket for keys, finally pulling them out but missing the keyhole every time he took aim.

  ‘Here, let me.’ She propped him up against the wall and unlocked the door. Claire turned to say goodnight but James had disappeared. Looking down, she spotted him slumped on the verandah. Pushing him gently in the shoulder, she said, ‘James.’

  ‘Huh?’ He opened his eyes. ‘Claire? Claire!’

  ‘Yes, I’m Claire. We need to get you inside.’ With the way Colin and the other townsfolk had been acting, the last thing she needed was for someone to see James drunk in public. She doubted anyone would be roaming the streets at this hour, though she wasn’t going to risk it.

  James somehow managed to get to a standing position again and she guided him down the long hall and to where she guessed was the bedroom. She was relieved when she found it as James’s weight was taking a toll. He stumbled forward, taking her with him, and they landed on the bed.

  Laughing, Claire untangled herself from his legs and arms. ‘Okay, Mr Lloyd, time for night-night.’

  By the time she’d reached the doorway, James’s snores filled the room.

  She left the house, closing the door quietly behind her. Claire stepped onto the street and looked up to find Colin standing on his front porch on the opposite side of the road.

  ‘Morning!’ She waved cheerily then wondered what she was doing. Everyone knew James Lloyd stayed in that house and it wouldn’t take long before Starlight Creek residents thought musical beds was being played.

  Crap.

  She needed to see Luke before word got back to him. It wasn’t that he’d believe such gossip, though better to be forewarned and for her to axe those rumours.

  Weariness wove with sadness as she traipsed back to the cinema. From across the road she stopped and admired the way the half-moon shone on the worn facade. When she’d first seen the cinema, she’d been taken aback by the state of disrepair. Peeling and fading paint, movie posters from decades ago, an air of melancholy surrounding the place. With Claire’s knowledge of Amelia Elliott’s incredible journey from fighting to study architecture to becoming a legend in her own right, it had been depressing to arrive at Starlight Creek and see one of her creations in such terrible condition. It felt like a disservice to Amelia and her legacy. Though, now knowing Hattie and how much she had struggled to keep the place maintained, it was less of a disservice and the cinema was just an unfortunate victim of progress.

  Claire crossed the road and double-checked the door, even though she remembered locking it. Happy everything was secure, she turned to walk back to her room at the pub. She stopped. Her nose twitched.

  Was that … smoke?

  Holy shit.

  She put her hand back on the handle, but it was stone cold. Maybe it was a house nearby or the sugarcane mill?

  Claire fumbled for the keys in her bag. She found them and tried to shove them in the keyhole, but her shaking hands made it difficult.<
br />
  Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

  The door finally clicked open and Claire ran into the foyer, turned on the lights and looked around. No smoke. No fire. Perhaps she had a massive dose of paranoia. Besides, if there was a fire the lights wouldn’t work. Would they?

  She cautiously walked into the cinema and reached for the main light. Claire breathed a sigh of relief when it worked.

  It flickered.

  Then went dead.

  The distinct stench of smoke filled the room. In the corner where she’d found James, red and orange flames licked the walls. Racing to the electrical fire extinguisher, she released the valve and aimed. It was a perfect bullseye and she kept it steady.

  It was too little, too late.

  The hungry flames climbed the wall and Claire ran out of the cinema, through the foyer and onto the street. She bashed on the door of the nearest house.

  ‘Fire!’ Claire screamed.

  A few seconds later the woman she’d seen with the young baby appeared at the door. She rubbed her eyes. ‘What?’

  ‘Fire in the cinema!’

  The woman’s eyes widened, and she ran back inside and was straight on the phone. Minutes later, the Rural Fire Service truck arrived and a handful of men jumped out and set to work.

  Claire stood a small distance away. Nausea swelled in her belly.

  About to ask the woman to use her phone, Claire remembered the mobile she’d been lugging about. With shaking hands, she reached into her bag.

  Pushing the buttons of the phone number she’d memorised some time ago, Claire waited for an answer.

  ‘Hello?’ came a sleepy voice at the end of the line.

  ‘Luke. You need to come to the cinema. Quickly.’

  CHAPTER 24

  1952 – Hollywood

  Stuart Cooper slammed his fists on the wooden desk in his office and shouted, ‘What the hell has happened with Montreaux?’

  Lena grabbed her purse and stood. ‘I think it’s best I leave.’

  ‘Better you stay. This concerns you,’ said Stuart.

  Lena sat on the edge of the chair. Her chest felt hollow, like someone had just torn out her heart. How could Pierre do this?