Well, what to tell you that you havent already read… You all know that Chocolat was able to phone me on my mobile at 2 pre designated times so that I could report ‘live’ from the scene – I must tell you all that it was totally her idea and at HER expense too – phoning a mobile from US to UK…but she did it for the zone! just for fun
Anna & I travelled up to Leicester Sq and met up with Poppet and Nichola. We went for lunch, but the 4 of us were too churned up to really eat properly, so we chatted and laughed. There were already quite a few people outside the cinema, staking their place in the ‘front’ of the barriers. On reflection, they might just have been in the better place.. However, after chatting up a very nice policeman, we managed to stay around the Press area and just waited and hoped… The heavy downpour was not appreciated I can tell you but it was all worth it in the hope of seeing our man: I remember at some point I was next to Spirit of Cherokee and ScrunchyApril & her Mum were there too! We knew we had to be in our seats by 6.30 or we risked not getting in at all, despite being ticket holders. We waited until the last minute, then we had to give up our wonderful place right next to the Press area and walk on a rather sodden red carpet.. the same carpet that Johnny walked some 15 minutes later…
It was hard seeing him arrive via the big screen inside , just outside where we had been, but our hands were tied – nothing we could do about it. The little bottles of mineral water and individual bags of popcorn were nice though! Soon it was time for the Presentation. I remember looking round to the rear of the cinema and gasping as I saw the children, then Kate and then Johnny walk in (the same door we had just walked through…). They were made to queue up along the side of the cinema, but Johnny was surrounded by 3 or 4 big burly looking guys. But I couldnt take my eyes off him. He looked quite small amidst those big guys.. I couldnt tell you what the Director or anyone else was talking about up on the stage, I just had my eyes glued to Johnny. I couldnt believe I was in the same room as him, and that I could see him with my own eyes, not just through my computer screen, or via my TV. Suprisingly, we hadnt been asked to leave our cameras, so I chanced it and got it ready to take some pictures. I somehow had the presence of mind to set it to video, and then I realised Johnny was called to go up on stage. I just pressed the button and followed him with my camera (Anna & I were in the 3rd row from the front so VERY near). I will try to post that here – bear with me, I am not too good at these things, may need to enlist some help!
I just remember seeing Johnny standing there, next to Kate (who looked stunning) – he did his Captn Jack salute and patted his heart, then stood there smiling, with his hands crossed in front of him. He looked little, yes. But oh so beautiful. Perfect. Thin, yes but you know, he isnt a big man and i think this is just how he is! Before I could stop shaking, they were starting to leave the stage – he didnt say anything – none of them did I dont think.. (forgive me – bit blurry!). Then as Johnny was leaving, some people behind me shouted ‘we love you Johnny’ and all I could think of shouting was, ‘Bye Johnny’! I think he must have heard me for there wasnt alot of noise at that point. There was no shouting or screaming inside the cinema and no standing ovation. All very polite, and typically English!
I watched Johnny walk up the side of the cinema again, but this time his bouncers were not around & bless him, he stopped again to sign wahtever he could – even tho it was dark because they started to play the film. At one point, Anna & I gasped because someone had a torch and they shone it on his face – he was lit up – just for an instant – beautiful. And then, he was gone. Just gone. How I watched the film, I’ll never know: I will admit this to you all now, I cried buckets. I cried because I found the whole situation so overwhelming and intense: being in the same room, inches away from this man who has come to mean so much, was just too much. Actually, I didnt want to see the film at that point, just too much to take in although of course I did watch it, and it is all you have read about and more. He is just incredible.
After the film finished, Trinni and friend, Poppet, Nichola, Anna, DeppsJoke and I (so sorry if I have omitted anyone there) found a coffee bar which is where Chocolat rang me the 2nd time. Our original hook up time was delayed because the whole thing had been delayed I think because of Johnny stopping to sign so many autographs. We all know what he is like! You have all read Chocolat’s report I am sure, so I dont need to recount all that. All I can repeat though, is the intense emotions I felt at this time. Very very intense.
After some time, there was just Anna, DeppsJoke and I left and DJ had a call from AnaMaria to say she had just spoken with Johnny & Vanessa. She said Johnny was still at the party, so we decided to jump in a cab (at 11.30 at night!) and head for the party.. we got there to find a few photographers at the gate, and a young lady from Israel who is actulaly a friend of nichole Jacks! She was bubbly as she’d already had a hug from Johnny and an autograph but now she wanted more! She had written on one of the big posters ‘Johnny Depp please stop for a minute’ in the hope of getting his car to stop… I thought it sounded a good ploy, so we stayed with her.. anyway, cutting a longer story short here, we were sidetracked for just a brief second by some stupid bouncer who said something about ‘stand back now, dont want you doing anything silly like running in front of the car’ to which I was replying, ‘Oh i wont do a anything that stupid’.. and *poof* – the black Mercedes which had come pretty close to my foot I might add, disappeared towards the West End… DeppsJoke said,’That was them – I saw Johnnys glasses and Vanessa’. So there they were, gone. gone again.
A great feeling of emptiness followed, but all in all a wonderful time was had and meeting new Zoners and putting faces to names, was lovely. My congrats to AnaMaria for handling her Johnny encounter so respectfully and decently and to the other zoners lucky enough to get close/meet him. It wasnt my turn to meet him THIS time, but I live in hope – it is my goal to shake that mans hand one day and give him the biggest kiss on that beautiful cheek beating heart and to say ‘Thank you’. And I will do it ladies, I will… group hug
Just a foot note to this: with reference to the car we ‘thought’ Johnny left in – it is totally irrelevant now – it could have been any type of car, I was only remembering what the security man had said- we werent really looking – we just wanted to see HIM – not the license plate , not the make of car, just HIM. It was a wonderful experience to have been in the same room as him, and to share with the fellow friends and Zoners who were there.
