<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Right girls, let\u2019s be having you, form a line please.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018You\u2019d think we were in the army,\u2019 Christina whispered to Dot as she scampered into the line. Mr Philips began his inspection. \u2018Now girls,\u2019 he bellowed as he looked up and down the line, \u2018If it\u2019s Good?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018It\u2019s Greens,\u2019 the girls chorused back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018And if it\u2019s Greens?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018It\u2019s good.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christina held her breath as Mr Philips began to move down the line. She hoped as ever that he wouldn\u2019t stop in front of her, but his stick made its familiar tap on the floor as he turned to face her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Ah, Miss Kemp.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Yes, Mr Philips?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018You are looking, how shall I put it, slightly unkempt, Miss Kemp?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dot stifled a giggle further down the line. Before Christina could answer, he continued,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018You could make more of yourself, Miss Kemp, accentuate yourself. Look at any of these other girls if you want to know how.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I\u2019m sure I could Mr Philips,\u2019 Christina looked at her shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Now Miss McKenzie, you are looking…\u2019 He stopped for an uncomfortable amount of time as he looked Dot up and down, \u2018quite delectable today, quite delectable.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He reached the end of the row of girls and then turned to bark out his usual, \u2018right, at your stations girls, we open at midday,\u2019 and, just before he retired to his office, he said, as if it was an afterthought,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Oh Miss \u2013 eh \u2013 Miss McKenzie, I will require your assistance in the projection room at 1.30 pm sharp, Billy will be otherwise engaged.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christina and Dot were loading their trays with cigarettes in preparation for their first customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Look, Dot, you don\u2019t have to go in there with old Mr Creeps, that\u2019s not part of our job.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I know it\u2019s not Chrissie, but look, it\u2019s fine. I\u2019m a big girl; I can look after myself.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018He\u2019ll look after you alright duck,\u2019 shouted Maggie, the kiosk supervisor with a wink as she squeezed past. \u2018Right then, Christina, Dot, and Ruth, you\u2019re on trays and walkarounds \u2013 don\u2019t say I\u2019m not good to you; Betty and Janet, you\u2019re on the kiosk with me. We\u2019ll swap after the first showing.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018I mean it, Dot, you could just come straight into the screen with me, say you forgot or\u2026 say you came in to keep an eye on me, make sure I didn\u2019t get too caught up in watching the film?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Like I could stop you from watching that film, how many times have you seen it so far?\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Good afternoon, Miss Hepburn, it\u2019s great to see you again,\u2019 Christina said silently to the screen as she leant against the wall in the aisle, by the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018This is my favourite time you know, I\u2019ve done my rounds, the audience are settled, and it all goes quiet when the newsreel comes to an end. It\u2019s bliss. I bet you love it too, whenever you go to the movies. If you get time to go, I mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Oh Miss Hepburn, I\u2019ve got so many questions for you. You see in this bit where you break Cary Grant\u2019s golf club over your knee, and then he pushes you over? I mean, how dare he do that to you. I know it\u2019s a film, and all and you\u2019re acting, but I bet you would never let this happen to you in real life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018And you know, here\u2019s another thing, Miss Hepburn \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christina\u2019s reverie was interrupted by Billy, Mr Philips\u2019 projection room assistant opening the door. He leant in, checked the screen, gave her a wave and a wink, and ducked out again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Want to know more? The full story and other like it can be found in<\/em> The Low Road: A Celebration of Dundee’s Nethergate available on this website.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Or you can download a PDF of this story below: –<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n