And he was right. Watching him, Peggy knew that it was time to get down to serious work. In two days they had to have a play ready. Really ready, not half-way. And Chuck, like all good directors, was giving them the impetus and the drive to do it.
V
Opening Night
Thursday! Peggy woke up with a funny feeling in the pit of her stomach and for a moment wondered why. Then she remembered—opening night!
“Oh!” she groaned and turned over, feeling the butterflies come and go somewhere in the region of her chest. “Oh,” she moaned again and turned over on her back.
“Good morning!” There was a knock at her door, and Rita entered bearing a steaming cup of coffee. The cup rattled a bit in the saucer as she put it down, spilling coffee over the sides.
“You, too?” Peggy asked, sitting upright.
“Naturally!” Rita held her arm out, showing Peggy her trembling hand.
“That’s nothing!” Peggy scoffed. “Look at this!” They compared hands, and indeed, Peggy’s was much the shakier.
“Well, you haven’t been up as long as I have,” Rita said. “Wait awhile.”
“I know. It’ll get better, and by noon I’ll feel fine, and by dinnertime I’ll wish I’d never thought of being an actress in the first place. Oh dear!” Peggy steadied herself with a sip of coffee. “I wonder how Alison feels.”