You stretch your legs as you finally step off the plane, your knees stiff from nine hours of flying and your mind hazy with a cocktail of nerves and jet lag. Heathrow Airport is a blur of movement and accents, people weaving through customs and baggage claim with practiced ease. But for you, every moment feels surreal.
Your eyes land on a man in a black suit holding a pristine white sign with your name printed in neat serif letters. Below it, in playful script: "Welcome to London."
You smile, rolling your suitcase toward him. He nods respectfully.
"Ms. [Your Last Name]? I'm Tom. I've been assigned to be your driver during filming. Welcome."
"Thanks," you say, your voice cracking from sleep deprivation. As you slide into the backseat of the sleek black car, your phone buzzes.
looking at your phone seeing a new message from Your manager Kami in the form of a voice memo as in true Kami fashion she very rarely sends texts.
NEW MESSAGE - Manager Kami
"Don't forget, the cast party tonight at 7. It'll be a fun way to meet everyone before we start rehearsing tomorrow! OHH! and I had your outfit for tonight delivered to your flat already because I knew you would over think it, ok got to run bye!"
You exhale sharply leaning your head back on the seat, suddenly aware of how fast all of this is happening. Just a month ago, you were auditioning via Zoom from your tiny LA apartment, and now you're in London, cast as one half of Bridgerton's new queer couple who they will be developing in the background this season. opposite Erin Kellyman, of all people. Your heart thuds, just thinking about her. You had chemistry reads with her before, but you feel like your heart might stop seeing her in person. The car ride was long and primarily you calming your emotions before a night of socializing.
Stopping at your new flat to drop your luggage off and change before going to the cast party. You get out of the car and bring in your suite cases to what will be your new home during the filming of the season. Overwhelmed at the thought of living in a new country, as well as the process of sorting out your living arrangement back in L.A before coming here. So now you're a London girl. Now living in a foreign country with little ties to where you were before. overwhelmed to say the least and growingly home sick. you take a breath and change into the outfit Kami had sent to the flat for the party feeling like a doll being dressed up. Even though Kami was right about how you would over think it and she did pick out a fit that made you look hot. Taking one last look in the mirror before heading out to the car Tom was taking you to the party in.
The cast party is held at a stunning townhouse in Notting Hill. Fairy lights drape across the courtyard, and the air is filled with laughter, posh accents, and the clink of wine glasses. You spot her almost immediately.
Erin is standing by the bar, wearing black trousers and a cream silk shirt unbuttoned just enough to make you lose your train of thought. Her red curls are pinned loosely, and when she turns and catches your gaze, her expression shifts into a crooked grin that's impossible to read.
She makes her way over to you, casual, confident.
"You made it," she says as she leans to give you a friendly side hug.
"I did! Jet-lagged and slightly overwhelmed, but I'm here." you say returning her hug hoping she couldn't hear your heart beat out your chest.
"Welcome to the madness," she chuckles, then tips her drink toward you. "I'm Erin, but you already know that." she giggles. Seeing her eyes light up and smelling her Crisp and fresh perfume brings out a feeling you are in over your head. "And you're stuck pretending to be in love with me for the next few months." you joke with her. Erin's eyebrow arches "Pretending?" You laugh, not sure whether to take it as flirting or just her British sense of humor.
Erin takes you around the party introducing you to the cast members she has been able to meet in the weeks after being casted. She feels like a safety net for the cast party you didn't know you needed. Throughout the night you got lost in the party, feeling the close proximity to the cast and Erin not as scary as you first thought when you landed hours prior. "Falling in love already?" A voice from behind you pulls your attention away from Erin and your conversation to a tall brunette man holding a flute of champagne. "Sorry......what?" you respond as you're not quite sure you heard him right over the sounds of the party. "Falling in love already?" he repeats as you avert your attention around the room "With the cast I mean." he clarifies. "Ohh! Yes definitely, just a bit dumbfounded by it all." you say motioning to the commotion around you "I'm Y/N L/N by the way" you stuttered and extended your hand to shake. "Johnathan Bailey" he shakes your hand. "Don't worry you'll fit in nicely, we party hard, but we are good company" Jonathan says trying to be comforting. "Oh, I bet y'all are!" you tell him "Y'all? Oh, you're so American, this is going to be fun." he jokes, raising his glass to you to which you raise yours in return.
Feeling a little buzzed off the Champagne and the smoke that lingered outside the party when Erin walked you to your car. Holding your door open for you Erin recognizes your driver "Hey Tom! How have you been?" Erin converses with Tom as you get in and get buckled. "Get her home safe for me all right." Erin asked, "I'll see you at rehearsals tomorrow, yeh." she remarks "yup! See you tomorrow." you grin as she closes your door. That night you go home feeling the afterglow of the party. Feeling giddy as you close your flat door playing back the moments the lights caught Erin just right and when she told Tom to get her home safe.
In a post-apocalyptic world, the isle provides a safe haven from a pandemic that has decimated earth. Anna wake up pregnant and unable to remember who her husband is. Nor does Anna recognize Helen and Peter who are supposedly helping her get her health back. Disbelief in what she is being told leads to a horrible revelation and Anna having to contend with existential issues brought on by man’s destruction of the planet.
Do you, or anyone else, know where we can watch Lilies Not For Me, and the movie Woken?
Re: Lilies, afaik it is now available for streaming in the US, on the usual suspects' platforms - fruit-based devices 🍏, Amazon, etc. (I haven't watched it myself since it's coming out in theatres at the end of April in France.)
I looked up Woken and apparently it's available for streaming in Italy? Again haven't checked the truth of it myself.
Sorry for not having that much info, hope it helps anyway!
