I open my project plan and check through the details for Cougar’s Antarctic expedition. It’s only two days until she leaves and there are still a few loose ends.

      Antarctic liaison: Australian Antarctic Division will supply scientific talent – Lucas Nilsson.

      I snort and check my emails. He has replied: Looks fine, Lucas.

      Looks fine? Has he even read it? There are five hundred and twenty actions in my spreadsheet. They can’t all look fine. A second email from him pops up: But you have to remember. This is Antarctica. It’s unpredictable.

      Unpredictable? That is completely unacceptable. He needs to be told that’s not how television works. I grind my teeth, make a note to follow up by phone, and continue scrolling through my project plan.

      Series storyboard: Script to be finalised by creative team headed by Dianne …

      The rest of the production team straggle in.

      Another email pops up: PS. Emailing at four am? Sleep is more important than spreadsheets.

      Not to me it’s not, I reply.

      Maxine’s arrival is heralded by the clack of her heels.

      You will see, pops up in my inbox.

      I delete Lucas’s email and sit up straight. I’ll deal with him later. Full focus is now required.

      Taking her seat, Maxine looks towards Cougar’s chair. Her nostrils flare as she glances at her watch. ‘Give us a run-down on the financials will you, Damien? While we wait.’ She places her phone on the table with a bang. Maxine and Damien the financial controller are at the same level in the station hierarchy, but this is Maxine’s turf and she is asserting her command.

      ‘The good news,’ Damien says, ‘is we have extensive advertising bought up already for this series.’ Damien is relaxed, confident and full of himself. He presses a button on his laptop and a bar chart fills the screen on the wall. ‘You can see last season’s advertising.’ He picks up a small laser pointer and indicates the smaller bar. ‘And this season’s.’ He points at the larger bar. ‘I think it’s safe to say Cougar on Ice is going to exceed our projections.’

      At the mention of Cougar, I grit my teeth, controlling my emotions. I imagine them as three lionesses called Anger, Hurt and Betrayal. At the moment they are well behaved, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous. Down, girls.

      ‘What type of advertisers?’ says Maxine.

      ‘Two car companies, two airlines, white goods …’

      Maxine fiddles with her phone.

      ‘We also have some interest in product placement,’ says Damien.

      Maxine looks up at this. ‘What products?’

      ‘Tim Tams, Jimmy Choo, iPad, Baileys—’

      Maxine’s phone rings. She snatches it up. ‘What? But? How long? That’s impossible. Where? Let me talk to her. Very well. As soon as possible.’ Beneath the blusher and foundation her face has paled. All eyes are on her as she puts the phone down. This is clearly bad news. ‘Cougar Gale has’ – she breathes deeply – ‘broken her ankle. While skateboarding down the ramp at