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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.

“=,H, 8@>,R>@.”

"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..."

“=,H, FB"F4$@, <>, >, 4>H,D,F>@. )@ F&4*">4b.”

"No thank you, I’m not interested. Goodbye."

“=,H, &Z >, B@>4<",H,. a *,6FH&4H,:\>@ D,04FF,D.”

"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,

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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!"