Beverly Hills Dead

45

On the Monday morning after New Year’s, Vance split logs to replace those he had burned, then cleaned the cabin, packed his mule, saddled his horse and made his way back down the trail. The ranch was spread out before him, and in the clear Wyoming air he thought he could see a hundred miles.

His mind was as clear as the air. He had read his book and Rick’s script, explored the countryside on horseback and done what he could to place Susie’s death in a different part of his head, one that did not occupy all his thoughts. The trip back to the ranch house took four hours, and he was there in time for lunch. After he had eaten, he called Rick Barron.

“Vance, how are you?”

“I’m very well, Rick. Coming up here was the perfect thing to do, and now I’m ready to come back.”

“I’ll have the Staggerwing at Jackson Airport in the early afternoon, tomorrow” Rick said.

“I read the script for Greenwich Village Girl, too, and I liked it. Who do you have in mind for the girl?”

“Eddie and I think a lot of a girl who’s under contract to the studio. Her name is Hattie Carson. I’ll show you a test she made when you get back.”

“Fine. I’d like very much to see it. Who’s producing?”

“I am, but I don’t think I’ll direct this one. We can talk about that when you get in. Why don’t we have lunch in my office the day after tomorrow?”

“I’d like that.”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard from Hy Greenbaum, but he and Eddie have reached agreement on your new deal. You might want to speak with him before our lunch, so we can have that out of the way.”

“I haven’t talked to him, but I’ll call him this afternoon.”

“Great. The pilot will call the ranch tomorrow as soon as he lands. Oh, and I’ve dispatched a print of the film to the Coopers.”

“I’ll let them know, Rick.”

“I’ll see you on Wednesday, then.”

“I look forward to it.”

Vance hung up and started to think about work again.

Eddie came into Rick’s office and sat down. “All hell has broken loose in the papers and the trades,” he said.

“I know; they’ve been calling me all morning. I just had my secretary refer all the calls to Bart.”

“He’s issued statements, one for us and one for Vance, and told them that will be all.”

“The LAPD will follow up with the press and keep them posted on leads. I think it’s best if the studio just stays out of it.”

“So do I. By the way, Leo and I have had our talk, and I think he has a thorough understanding of his place here. He knows he still works for you, although I’m sure he still covets your job.”

“No,” Rick said. “Leo covets your job.”

“This is a big jump for such a young guy. He’ll be our Irving Thalberg,” Eddie said, referring to the former production head at MGM, who had died in his thirties.

“I didn’t know Thalberg, but from what I’ve heard he and Leo have a lot of stylistic differences.”

Eddie grinned. “I think you could say that.”

“I heard from Vance. He’ll be back tomorrow night, and we’re having lunch on Wednesday. You want to join us?”

“Nah. You two have a lot to talk about. Did he read the script?”

“Yes, and he liked it.”

“I was worried he wouldn’t want to do it without Susie.”

“He didn’t mention Susie, but he asked who I had in mind. I think when he sees Hattie Carson’s test, he’ll like her.”

“Good. We go into wide release on both Bitter Creek and Times Square Dance today. I can’t wait to see our first week’s grosses.”

“Well, we’ve certainly milked every ounce of nationwide publicity; what with that and the reviews, we ought to do well.”

“I’m counting on it,” Leo said. “I want the profits from that picture to finance our move into television, and I hope the other picture will help, too.”

“You really think it’s not too early for that, Eddie?”

“Listen, kiddo, I’m told that industry-wide ticket sales were off twenty percent last year, and you can blame TV. The number of sets has doubled in the last year, and it’s going to do even better next year. We did okay last year, with our ticket sales up about six percent, but we’ve got to catch the wave at the right moment, and that’s now, while the other studios are still in denial and are dragging their feet.”

“I had an idea for a show,” Rick said.

“Tell me.”

“I think we should get space in New York for a production facility and do live dramas of two hours. We can buy Broadway plays, maybe even do some classics. And I think we should commission original stuff, too. It might be a good testing ground for later feature pictures.”

“I think that’s a terrific idea, kiddo. I’m going to be in New York in a couple of weeks, and I’ll feel out the networks. Have you given any thought about who should run it?”

“Yes, I have. I was thinking, maybe, Sid Brooks.”

Eddie’s eyebrows went up. “Have you talked with him about this?”

“No.”

“Good, because the blacklist is in force in TV, too.”

“Hy Greenbaum has managed to get some of his blacklisted clients rehabilitated.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard about it. Are you thinking that after what Sid went through he would change his mind and do that?”

“Hy has told me he’s trying to talk him into it. Maybe with something like this for an incentive, he’d do it. Also, maybe he doesn’t want to go to prison.”

“Does he know anything about TV?”

“No, but who does? They’re making this up as they go along. Sid knows drama, and he’s directed a couple of times on Broadway, and I’ve heard he’s very good with actors. Certainly, his name on the show as, say, executive producer would attract a lot of good New York talent, actors and playwrights, too.”

“Maybe you should have a discreet lunch with Sid sometime soon.”

“Maybe I should,” Rick said.