The Players

By Katharine R Pepper

"All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players..."

As You Like It - William Shakespeare

 

In 1920s Australia, the silent movie industry is thriving.

Amelia Malone, obsessed with acting and the "flicks" from a young age, has her life forever changed when she is discovered at her local theatre and thrust into the exciting world of moving pictures.

Sam Collins, despite being the son of two famous vaudevillians, has never given acting a second thought. But fate, in the form of Henry Johnson, movie producer, has other plans.

Together, Amelia and Sam light up the silver screen, and Australians can't get enough of them. Their lives, onscreen and off, appear to be perfect.

Behind the scenes, however, things are not so black and white. And Amelia and Sam soon discover that life, just like the movies, is filled with both tragedy and comedy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Katharine R Pepper
• Release date: Nov 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201771997

Katharine R Pepper

Katharine R. Pepper has always loved reading books, but secretly she's always been a frustrated novelist. Her first efforts, around the age of 19, were corny, romantic stories banged out on a manual typewriter (with heroes who looked very much like Tom Selleck in his Magnum PI days (#showingherage)). Let's just say they were good typing practice! Katharine has lived in Melbourne, Grafton, Alice Springs and Adelaide, been married twice and divorced once, has two (now adult) children with Husband No. 1 and a stepson with (current) Husband No. 2. She finally rediscovered writing when she moved to the Gold Coast with her children in 2000 (after separating from Husband No. 1) and joined the Gold Coast Writers’ Association. Soon after this, she became part of The Ten Penners, a subgroup of the GCWA. The group has released three anthologies for children: Fan-tas-tic-al Tales in 2009, Mystery, Mayhem & Magic in 2017 and Backyard Beasts & Curious Capers in 2023. She has published two novels: Shadow of a Soldier in 2013 (previously released under the name "Kate Russell", but now updated with a new cover for 2021) and The Players, also in 2021. Katharine has six other novels in progress: two with a crime scene cleaner as the protagonist, three featuring a teenage witch (YA), and one standalone historical fantasy (YA).   Katharine has been a member of the Queensland Writers Centre and Sisters in Crime for many years. She also has a blog: https://katharinerpepperauthor.wordpress.com/ (which she doesn't update nearly enough).

Book preview

Prologue

1927 - Benjy

Benjy Collins was only six months old when he made the newspapers for the second time. The first was the day he was born—the son of the two most famous movie stars in Australia. The second was when he went missing from the nursery in his parents’ bungalow.

It was front page news. Pictures of Benjy and his distraught parents were everywhere. Any story featuring Sam and Amelia Collins sold papers, but this story was the greatest of them all. The fairy tale romance the entire country had followed for the past few years now had an extra, delicious twist.

Amelia and Sam placed full-page advertisements in several national newspapers, with the most recent photograph of Benjy they had. His sweet little face, with his distinctive mop of black hair, was everywhere. There were posters in the local shop windows, too, offering a large reward for any news of Benjy’s whereabouts. Movie fans throughout Australia were on the lookout, but even that army of willing volunteers couldn’t find any clue.

Of course, everyone was praying for Benjy’s safe return, but that didn’t stop them from devouring every story relating to the kidnapping. After a week or two, though, with nothing new to report, the story slipped from the front page to the second, and from the second to the third...

Benjamin Samuel Collins was nowhere to be found.

Chapter One

1927 - Amelia

Amelia Collins lay awake, anxious and afraid. Sam slept next to her, but he was restless—tossing and turning and moaning meaningless words. It had been two long weeks now since the kidnappers had taken Benjy from them, and it seemed as if the nightmare would never end. Her precious baby boy—where was he?

She closed her eyes, willing her mind to still so she could sleep. The velvety pillowcase, instead of offering comfort, felt hot and smothering. She turned to her husband and reached out to him—she wanted desperately to touch him, feel his warmth. But she drew her hand back. She wouldn’t wake him. At least one of them was getting some sleep tonight, even if it was fitful.

She rolled over and sat up, pulling on her dressing gown. Perhaps some hot chocolate would help. She crept from the bedroom and made her way to the kitchen.

She poured milk into a saucepan and put it on the stove to heat. The sun was rising. Where had the night gone?

She was still there, staring out the window, when Sam woke up an hour later.

‘Darling, what are you doing?’ He walked towards her and wrapped her in his arms.

‘I couldn’t sleep, so I was making some hot chocolate...’

Sam glanced quickly at their stove, the best that money could buy, relieved to see that Amelia had forgotten to turn on the gas.

‘Why don’t you go back to bed, and I’ll bring it in to you,’ he said gently, steering her back towards the bedroom. ‘You must be exhausted.’

He settled her into bed and tucked her in.

‘I’ll be back soon with your drink,’ he said, kissing her on the forehead.

‘I love you,’ she said.

‘I love you, too,’ he said. ‘Now, rest.’

By the time he returned with the chocolate, Amelia was asleep.

She slept for hours, her body finally succumbing through sheer exhaustion. When she awoke to the mid-morning sun streaming through the bedroom window, for a moment she felt at peace. She’d been dreaming of happier times—even before they’d had Benjy—and it had just been the two of them. Then she immediately felt guilty for forgetting about her son, even for a few brief moments. She closed her eyes against the pain.

She remembered vividly those early days—when she and Sam had first fallen in love. It had filled their life with joy. But perhaps that was the problem—they’d been too happy, so some power in the universe had shattered their happiness to teach them a lesson.

‘Sam!’ she called out.

Sam came running. ‘What is it? Are you all right?’

‘Oh, Sam! What if all this is a punishment? What if we’ve been too lucky—too blessed—and now our son has been taken because we had too much...’

‘Amy, darling,’ he said, holding her close. ‘Why shouldn’t we have been happy? Plenty of other people have happiness in their lives, and they’re not punished for it. That’s not how life works. We’ll get through this, no matter how it turns out, together. And we’ll be happy again, you’ll see.’

And she almost believed him.

In those first few weeks, the police were a constant presence in their lives—asking questions, searching the house and grounds for clues, knocking on the neighbours’ doors—but they found nothing.

As time dragged on, and there was no sign of Benjy or his kidnappers, Amelia and Sam lived in a kind of daze from day to day, almost having to remind each other to breathe, eat and sleep. Their home, so recently filled with love and laughter, now felt like a prison.

Amelia’s biggest fear was that they would go to their graves, never knowing who had taken their baby boy or why. She would have been horribly relieved if they’d found Benjy’s body—because at least then they could have grieved properly for him and had the chance to move on with their lives. But the uncertainty was unbearable. With no proof otherwise, they continued to hold on to the slim hope that he was out there, somewhere, if only they could find him.

Images of the day Benjy disappeared, and the aftermath, played around and around in her head, like a never-ending movie. She remembered the exact moment she’d searched Benjy’s cot, not wanting to believe her own eyes—all that had remained of her baby was a single dark hair on the mattress, and his favourite toy elephant lying on the floor, as if it had fallen from his grasp just moments before. She’d clung to that elephant for hours afterwards, while the police questioned them, and her brain tried to accept the reality of what had happened.

She tried not to think about the ‘what ifs’—but it was impossible. What if they’d come home a little earlier? What if Sam hadn’t paid the ransom and called the police instead?

What if...?

What if...?

What if...?

Around a month after Benjy disappeared, Inspector Cranston and a young constable came to the house.

‘Inspector!’ said Sam. ‘Is there—news?’

‘I’m afraid so, but perhaps I’d better tell you together. Is Amelia...’

‘I’ll get her. She’s resting...’

When Sam and Amelia returned, the inspector gestured for them to sit down. Amelia reached for Sam’s hand and gripped it so hard her knuckles turned white.

The inspector cleared his throat.

‘I’m sorry to have to inform you that—there’s no easy way to say this—we’ve found the body of a little boy,’ he paused for a moment, ‘and I need you to come and identify him.’

Amelia sobbed—huge, gulping sobs that shook her entire body.

‘Is it—him?’ asked Sam, as he held Amelia tightly.

‘The bod—the child is around the same age as your son, with dark hair. That’s all I can tell you. I’m very sorry.’

‘I can’t—I can’t do it,’ sobbed Amelia.

Sam took a deep breath.

‘I’ll come, Inspector,’ he said.

Inspector Cranston turned to the constable.

‘Constable Rolfe—please stay with Mrs Collins until we return.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Are you ready, Sam?’ asked Inspector Cranston gently.

Sam nodded.

The inspector pulled back the sheet covering the tiny body.

Sam forced himself to look at the tiny figure on the cold table. When he could speak, he said: ‘It’s not him.’

The inspector replaced the sheet, and they left the room. Sam’s heart ached for the parents of this child who had been taken too soon.

‘What happened to this poor little mite?’ asked Sam once he’d recovered sufficiently from his shock and relief.

‘We’re not sure. His body is unmarked, so perhaps he died of natural causes and the parents were too poor to bury him. There could be any number of reasons. I’m just glad that at least it’s not your little boy.’

‘But it’s someone’s little boy,’ whispered Sam.

Amelia threw the door open as soon as he put his key in the lock, her face stricken. Sam shook his head. She collapsed into his arms and they both cried with relief and for the parents of that anonymous little baby.

One evening, after six long weeks had passed, Inspector Cranston came to the house.

‘I’m terribly sorry,’ he said to them. ‘The case isn’t closed, and we’ll never stop looking for your son, but I’m afraid that we have nothing at all to go on. The trail is cold, and the Commissioner has demanded that my men be directed elsewhere.’

Amelia, who thought she had no tears left to cry, wept.

‘We understand, Inspector,’ said Sam. ‘I know that you and your men have done all they can, and we’re grateful. Please keep us informed of any fresh developments.’

‘Of course, Sam. Again, I’m very sorry.’

Sam escorted him out and then returned to Amelia. They sat together in silence for a very long time.

Chapter Two

1927 - Six Weeks Earlier - Benjy

The woman pushed the door open of the tiny rented house, lugging her heavy suitcase. It wasn’t much of a place, but it was big enough for the three of them. She left the suitcase in the hallway and went in search of her companion and the child.

She heard them before she saw them. They were in the kitchen, and the man was swearing. He was trying to feed Benjy, who was having none of it. There was mushy food everywhere. It looked like the little boy was wearing more of it in his hair and on his clothes than had found its way to his mouth.

‘Come on, you little brat,’ the man was saying irritably. Benjy cried.

‘That’s enough,’ said the woman, coming in and scooping the crying baby into her arms. He settled down almost immediately.

‘You can keep him,’ said the man. ‘I didn’t sign up for this.’

‘Has he eaten anything since I’ve been away?’ asked the woman anxiously.

‘I got him to take some milk yesterday, and he had a few mushy vegetables. That’s it,’ he said.

‘He must be starving!’ The woman bustled about, preparing a bottle one handed while she crooned and sang to the baby. Once she’d cleaned him up a little and had him sitting contentedly in her lap, she rounded on her partner. ‘Where’s the money?’ she hissed.

The man looked at her innocently.

‘What money?’ he said.

‘You know damn well what money,’ she retorted. ‘We agreed there’d be no ransom.’

‘No, you decided there’d be no ransom. I never actually agreed—at least, not in so many words.’

‘How much?’

‘What do you care?’

‘I—I do care...’

The man laughed.

‘You care so much that you stole their baby? Give me a break. My motivations are almost pure compared to yours.’

‘You have to give it back.’

The man looked at her incredulously.

‘You’re joking, right? Don’t be daft, old woman. No, it’s done now. This money will set me up for life.’

‘What would your mother say if she was here?’

‘My mother? The woman who wasted her life pining after a man who’d never love her? Hah! As if her opinion would matter, even if she was still around to give it to me.’

They both sat in stony silence for a few moments, glaring at each other over the cheap Formica table.

‘You must have promised to give him back if they paid the ransom. What happens when you don’t keep your side of the bargain?’ asked the woman, her voice rising in distress.

‘I suppose they’ll just think he’s dead,’ the man said coldly. ‘They’ll lose all hope of his return. Serves them right. Now their lives aren’t so perfect, are they?’

The woman wept.

‘Turn off the waterworks. If you think so much of them, you can give their little movie star brat back, and face the consequences of your actions.’

‘I can’t do that. You know I can’t,’ cried the woman. ‘Otherwise, what’s it all been for?’

‘Exactly! You’ve got what you wanted—a child to replace your own. And I’ve got what I wanted—lots of money. So everyone’s happy...’

He got up from the table, scratching his bushy beard.

‘I still can’t believe they didn’t recognise me,’ he mumbled. ‘They’re so self-absorbed they can’t see what’s right under their noses. Even that bitchy sister had no clue.’ He smiled nastily. ‘Maybe I should have been an actor.’

He stretched. ‘Well, I’m going down to the pub to celebrate my newfound wealth. Don’t wait up.’ And he left.

The woman bathed Benjy, settled him in his cot, and then made herself some eggs on toast. Her appetite wasn’t what it had been lately. Perhaps it was the stress. After she’d eaten, she tiptoed into the room she shared with the baby and gazed down at him lovingly. ‘Don’t worry, little man,’ she whispered. ‘I’ll take good care of you.’

The woman heard her companion come back in the early hours of the morning. She hoped his banging and crashing wouldn’t wake the baby. After a few minutes, she heard the front door slam again.

Unable to go back to sleep, she got up to make a cup of tea. As she passed her companion’s room, she saw that the wardrobe door was open, and all his clothes had gone. She sighed. It didn’t surprise her he would leave. He’d probably fritter the money away in a few months and then be looking for his next scheme. His mother had always spoiled him, trying to make up for the fact that his father wasn’t around much, and he’d learned nothing useful about life. Now he thought he was better than anyone else and that the world owed him a living. Well, he’d probably come to a terrible end.

She heard Benjy stir and smiled. He was such a beautiful little boy. His soft, dark hair reminded her so much of her own daughter’s when she was a baby.

She walked into the bedroom. The little boy was standing up in the cot, smiling at her. He was so trusting, so loving. Her heart expanded with love for him. She felt a brief pang at the thought of how his parents must feel, but she dismissed it. They’d never suffered for the harm they’d caused, and she couldn’t allow herself to soften. Besides, she wouldn’t harm a hair on their baby’s head. She loved him. ‘We’ll be fine, little man. Don’t you worry,’ she said.

Chapter Three

1916 - Amelia

‘A melia! Get your nose out of that magazine and come and help me with dinner!’

‘Sorry, Mum! Coming!’ With an impatient sigh, Amelia Malone put aside the latest edition of The Green Room (which was, according to its cover, ‘Australia’s Greatest Stage Magazine’) where she’d been reading all about Annette Kellerman’s latest movie, A Daughter of the Gods. There was a three-page feature (including photographs) and the magazine proclaimed it was ‘the greatest motion picture spectacle ever seen’. Amelia could believe it if the photographs were anything to go by. She couldn’t wait for the movie to be released in Australia, so she could see it for herself.

Annette Kellerman—the champion Australian swimmer and vaudeville star who’d conquered Hollywood—was her favourite actress. But Amelia loved everything about acting, the theatre, and, most exciting of all, moving pictures. She spent all her spare time poring over pictures and articles as if her life depended on it, daydreaming about what it would be like to be on the stage, or (she hardly dared to think of it), in an actual movie. It was all so thrilling!

However, for now, Annette Kellerman would have to wait. Because Maud Malone certainly wouldn’t.

‘Amelia!’

‘I’m here,’ Amelia said, as she shuffled into the kitchen.

‘Hurry up, love,’ said Maud, handing her a bowl of potatoes. ‘Your dad and Bill will be home soon, and those spuds won’t peel themselves!’

They worked together in silence for a few minutes.

‘Where’s Louisa, anyway?’ grumbled Amelia after a while. ‘Shouldn’t she be helping too? I’m not the only girl in the family, you know.’

This earned Amelia a look from her mother with which she was very familiar. It wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation.

‘She’ll be back soon. I sent her to fetch some eggs from Mrs. Brown next door,’ replied Maud.

At that moment, Amelia heard the front door bang open, and Louisa walked into the kitchen, carrying a basket with half a dozen eggs.

‘Here you go, Mum, as requested!’ She smiled, showing her dimples, and pushed her glasses further up her long, straight nose. ‘What else can I do to help?’

‘Thank you for offering, Louisa,’ said Maud, looking pointedly at Amelia, who pretended not to notice. ‘But Amelia is just about finished peeling the potatoes, so I think we’re fine for now.’

‘I might just read for a little while then,’ said Louisa, ‘if you’re sure you don’t need me.’

‘Of course, dear.’

Louisa turned to leave, poking her tongue out at her younger sister when their mother wasn’t looking.

‘Goody-Two-Shoes,’ muttered Amelia.

‘Dunce,’ retorted Louisa.

They glared at each other, making faces, until they both broke into giggles.

‘Settle down, girls,’ said Maud, as she put the sausages in the frying pan to cook, while Amelia dumped the (now peeled) potatoes into a saucepan of boiling water.

Soon after that, Percy Malone barged into the kitchen. Percy was a big man, filling the small room with his height and width. Percy worked for a coachworks business just a short distance from their Redfern home (‘O’Grady’s Coachworks and General Woodworks, specialising in the finest quality sulkies, buggies, carriages and every other kind of vehicle’), and his bulk was well suited to the physically demanding work. At six foot five, he towered over Maud, who was just over five feet tall, and bent down to kiss her on the cheek.

‘What’s for dinner, my lovely?’ he boomed.

‘I’ll tell you after you’ve washed your hands,’ chided Maud, shooing him in the towards the washhouse. But she was smiling as she said it. ‘Where’s Bill?’

‘I’m here, Mum,’ said Bill, as he came into the kitchen. Bill was a younger, quieter version of his father. He was also tall, at six foot two, but a leaner build than Percy. However, they both had the same thick, dark hair and hazel eyes. Bill worked with Percy at O’Grady’s, and his easy-going nature made him very popular with the customers and other staff.

A short while later, as they sat down to their dinner of sausages, mashed potatoes and peas, Percy said: ‘Oh! I nearly forgot! I’ve got a surprise for you, Amy.’

‘For me? Really?’

‘Yes. Now, where did I put it?’

Percy made a great show