Put the translated title here |
Daisy Macbeth |
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Daisy was looking at the clothes in the shop window of
Bronzetti’s enjoying her favourite three-flavour ice cream. |
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She never went into the shop because she couldn’t
afford their prices. |
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"I must admit that Italian styles are very nice,
but you have to be pretty slim to get into them." Daisy muttered to
herself. |
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It wasn’t that Daisy was fat, she was just average,
but certainly not paper-thin, like most models. |
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And again to herself, "Mm, that two-piece is a
lovely shade." |
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"Kay, I didn’t expect to see you here yet - oh,
sorry you’re not Kay, are you?" |
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Daisy turned around to see who was speaking to her. |
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It was a rather shabby-looking, bearded man of about
fifty. |
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He was clearly of African origin and had a strong
Southern States accent. |
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In spite of his clothes he was wearing glasses of a
famous Italian make, which Daisy knew cost a lot of money. |
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"No, indeed." |
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Daisy wasn’t used to being chatted up in the middle of
the High Street and made to walk off in the direction of her favourite
ice-cream parlour. |
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"Please excuse me, Miss...er, you see I’m a film
director and..." |
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"No thank you, I’m not interested. Goodbye." |
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"No, you don’t understand. I really am. |
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"I’m Lawrence Baker," the man told Daisy as
though the mention of his name would explain his behaviour. |
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"And I’m a private investigator!" retorted
Daisy. |
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"Oh, that doesn’t matter, you’ll do just the
same." |
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Daisy was rather good at getting rid of stupid people
but this time she was a bit curious to know what was behind this sort of
insistence. |
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"Do call me Lawrence" the man added. |
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"Look, in case you’ve never heard of me I
directed an all Harlem cast of The Tempest." |
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Daisy liked Shakespeare on the screen and had indeed
seen the film. |
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"Well, I liked your film immensely but I’m not
Kay and......oh, you weren’t talking about Kay Bartok, the Canadian
actress in Macbeth? |
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"You made that too, didn’t you?" |
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"Yes." Lawrence Baker smiled. Daisy had made
his day. |
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"I’m afraid my films don’t make a lot of money,
but it gives me pleasure to hear an Englishwoman saying she enjoyed at
least one of them. |
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"But back to business. |
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"I mistook you for Kay. And I’ve had a wonderful
idea. How would you like to be her double for the rest of the week!" |
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Daisy was stunned. |
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Mr. Lawrence continued: "Your face isn’t exactly
like hers but you have an identical build and just the same long
light-brown hair. |
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"You know, Kay, is a bit run down and she badly
needs a rest. |
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"The thing is that she has a lot of engagements in
the next few days as we are here to promote our latest film, "Back to
the jungle with a modem". |
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"Well, I really don’t act as a profession - at
least I do sometimes when I’m investigating a case, but......" said
Daisy. |
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"Look, why don’t we have a cup of coffee over
there," Lawrence indicated a coffee shop on the other side of the
road. |
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"Kay is meeting me there because she wanted to do
some shopping first. |
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"Look, there she is, going into the coffee shop now." |
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Lawrence was the talkative type who would never take no
for an answer, and Daisy was rather intrigued by the whole matter so she
decided to meet Kay Bartok. |
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When she was introduced to the actress, Daisy saw that
their features were different and that Kay Bartok was at least fifteen
years older, but physically they were indeed very similar. |
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Kay Bartok had a strong Canadian accent. |
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"So you’re a private eye, Miss Hamilton. |
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"How very interesting. |
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"You must get into very dangerous situations
sometimes." |
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Daisy took a liking to this gracious lady who looked at
people as though she was sincerely interested in what they were saying. |
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"Kay, what do you think? |
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"Miss Hamilton could put heavy eye make-up on, wear
a face-covering hat and would look exactly like you." |
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"Just a minute, Mr. Baker, I work as a private eye
and not as a film double..." |
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"Look, Daisy, we could pay you just as if you were
investigating something. |
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"You would be doing us a great favour,"
Lawrence insisted. |
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Daisy hesitated: |
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she had only one case on hand at that moment and that
was how to pay for some office furniture she needed badly. |
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Files were everywhere, and her fax machine wasn’t
working. |
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"Well" – she replied – "I was just
going on holiday, but I could put it off for a few days." |
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Lawrence Baker smiled triumphantly: |
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"Kay, you go off and have a rest for the next few
days, and I’ll take Daisy round with me to parties and lunches you would
be going to." |
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Kay Bartok looked relieved. |
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"I want to thank you Miss Hamilton and I hope the
next time I come over I can look you up and we can have a good laugh
together." |
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The next morning Daisy found herself in a hotel suite
with Mr. Baker helping her with her make-up. |
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Daisy was a bit confused. |
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"But Miss Bartok is older than me! Won’t people
notice? |
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"And what about her accent?" |
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Lawrence laughed. |
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"Don't worry. Kay is well-known for her stage and
film classical acting, |
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she studied in London, you know, and most people think
she is English anyway. |
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"As to the fact that Kay is older than you, she
doesn’t look it in her films!" |
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Daisy took courage by the hand and enjoyed herself
immensely for the rest of that week. |
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She wore beautiful clothes, opened a fête, had gorgeous
food in wonderful restaurants in the heart of London and earned
five hundred pounds. |
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Lawrence was anything but mean. |
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There was just one thing - unfortunately she had put on
four pounds in weight! |
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Back in her office Daisy was perusing the newspapers she
hadn’t had time to see in the last few days. |
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One tabloid read: |
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"Kay Bartok opens fête in the heart of England to
collect money for a multiple sclerosis charity. |
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Nearly double the sum expected was donated thanks to the
charm of this great actress. |
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It was noticed that she looked very well, and younger
than when she played Lady Macbeth in Lawrence Baker’s film. |
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She modestly said that she hopes to act even better in
her next role and that she likes English ice-cream very much!" |