Page 194 of The Silent Appeal

Thanks.

6:51 p.m. Nicky-Rose wrote:

What’s wrong?

6:51 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Nothing.

Undated page from a decorative journal belonging to Isabel Beck:

TODAY BIG SUNDAY AS IT HAPPENS

Things that went wrong onstage:

Fran was supposed to ask if I’d like to see my room, but she said, “Would you like to go and unpack?” which is actually my next line, so when I said, “Yes, I’d better go and unpack” it sounded like I’d forgotten the line and she helped me remember it, when she was the one who said the wrong words.

Nick bumped into me while we were waiting backstage and didn’t say sorry.

The hem of my evening dress is coming loose. Denise said she’ll mend it for tomorrow, but it dragged on the floor for the whole rehearsal and made me feel really down.

Things that went wrong offstage:

Emma’s horrible statue of me.

No one spoke to me during tea breaks. Had to sit on my own backstage. I bet it was because of the statue.

Father Josh wasn’t there when Fran snuck away during the interval of the evening run-through. She looked up and down the haunted lane and then at her phone several times. I had to dash back to the green room before she saw me, but when she came back she looked upset and was texting like mad backstage (where we shouldn’t have phones at all).*

*Obviously this went wrong for Fran, not me.

Message exchange between Fran Elroy-Jones and Rev. Josh Harries on June 1, 2025:

8:34 p.m. Fran wrote:

Here.

8:38 p.m. Fran wrote:

Second interval. Only ten minutes.

8:40 p.m. Fran wrote:

Have to get back in five.

8:45 p.m. Fran wrote:

Going back now.

9:04 p.m. Josh wrote:

Sorry, we’re rearranging the girls’ bedrooms.

9:05 p.m. Josh wrote:

Tomorrow, I promise.

Message exchange between Fran Elroy-Jones and Isabel Beck on June 1, 2025: