Beverly Hills Dead (16 page)

"I'll get that check cut," Eddie replied, picking up the phone.

"Can you raise that much cash?" Rick asked. "If Sid's in the middle of a divorce, I think he'd rather not deposit it into a bank account."

"Not to mention avoiding taxes," Eddie said.

"I'll spread it among the production costs of
Bitter Creek
."

"Okay, but don't make a habit of this. My girl will bring it to you." He held out an envelope. "Here's what Sid needs to sign. Don't forget to ask him what pseudonym he wants to use."

Rick arrived at the restaurant on time, and Sid was already sitting at the bar. They shook hands and were led to a booth.

"How are you doing?" Rick asked.

"Better," Sid replied. "I had a few bad days, especially when I learned that Alice was leaving and that she had taken everything I had with her. Hy sent me to a lawyer named David Sturmack; one phone call from him to her lawyer and my part of the money is back in the bank, and I'm living in my own house again. The phone number will be the same."

"I'm glad to hear it, Sid. Who is this Sturmack? I've never heard of him."

"Somebody Hy recommended; they're in the same building. He's only twenty-nine years old, and he came out of the war a colonel, and Hy says he's very well connected, whatever that means."

They ordered drinks and got menus. When their order was in, Rick got down to business. "Have you and Hy talked about what working is going to be like after the hearings?"

"Yes, at some length. What it boils down to is that I'm going to have to work under pseudonyms, and I won't get my usual price."

"I don't want to know the pseudonyms, Sid, but I want to see whatever you want to write. We'll have to keep it at arm's length, just in case I get subpoenaed, or if questions arise from other studios."

"I understand, Rick. I certainly don't want to cause you and Eddie any embarrassment in the industry."

"Eddie and I would just as soon tell all of them to go to hell, but there's another consideration: the American Legion and some new groups plan to boycott and picket any films that have blacklisted writers, directors or actors associated with them."

"All the more reason for pseudonyms," Sid replied.

"This means we're going to have to put a pseudonym on your credit card for
Bitter Creek
, too."

Sid looked taken aback but nodded. "I guess that was inevitable."

"Sid, you have a contract with us that guarantees your single-card credit on this picture, so you can sue us if you want to and probably win. It's what I'd do in your position."

"It's what I would have done a couple of weeks ago, but it wouldn't be in my interest to do that. I'm just going to have to lump it until things change."

"I hope they change quickly, Sid. I really do."

"Look, I'm the architect of my own fate, here; I'm not looking to blame anybody else."

Rick nodded. Their food came and they ate quietly, making only desultory conversation. When the plates had been taken away and coffee served, Rick spoke up again. "I have a couple of pieces of good news, though."

"I'll take all the good news I can get," Sid said.

"First, the bad news: Alan James's picture,
Dark Promise
, was scheduled to open at Christmas at Radio City Music Hall, but because of the circumstances surrounding his death and, of course, because of the hearings, it was cancelled. Yesterday the distributors came to see Eddie, saw the incomplete rough cut of
Bitter Creek
, and offered us the slot at the Music Hall."

"That's wonderful!" Sid said. "I'm delighted."

"It makes removing your credit all the more painful."

"Don't worry about that; it'll be great for everybody who worked on it. Anyway, a lot of people around town know I wrote it; I'll get a few pats on the back even if I don't get a nomination."

"Oh, Eddie wants you to sign this." He gave Sid the envelope and watched as he read it and readily signed it.

Rick put a thick manila envelope on the table and shoved it across. "Here's the other good news: we're paying you another fifty thousand for your script. The envelope is full of cash, hundreds and fifties. We cleaned out the vault at the studio."

Sid opened the envelope, peered inside and grinned. "I've never seen this much money before."

"Neither have I. Of course, you don't have to mention this to Alice or the IRS. If you want to pay Hy his commission, that's up to you."

"Of course I'll pay Hy, but Alice can whistle for it; this is
not
marital income." He patted the envelope as if it were a puppy. "Thank you, Rick, and thank Eddie for me, too. This will go a long way toward keeping me on my feet after the divorce."

"Do you know what that's going to cost you?"

"I had a second meeting with Doug Sturmack this afternoon, and he tells me, since Alice and I were married for twelve years and all during the time I made any money, I'd better get used to the idea of giving her half of everything. In the end we'll have to sell the house and the apartment building in Santa Monica and split the proceeds."

"Can't you just buy her out of the house?"

"The idea is that we'd have the real estate appraised and each of us could buy the other out, but the fact is neither of us would have the cash. I couldn't get a mortgage under the present circumstances, since I'm technically unemployed, and she couldn't either, as a divorced woman with no job. Sturmack has already gotten their agreement to put both properties on the market."

"I'm sorry; I know you love that house."

"The house is a thing; it wasn't very big, but it had everything we needed. When things change I can buy another one. I don't mind letting it go just to get out of the marriage."

Rick thought of something. "Do you have any idea what it's worth?"

"I don't know, maybe eighty or ninety grand. A house a couple of doors down went for a hundred grand, but it's bigger than ours."

"Do me a favor. Get it appraised, but don't put it on the market for a few days. I know a potential buyer, and it would save you paying a broker's commission."

"All right, Rick."

"Is there a mortgage on the house?"

"No. Both properties are free and clear."

"Right. There's something else I'd like to ask you about, Sid."

"Shoot."

Rick told him about receiving the two party cards in the interoffice mail, but he didn't mention Glenna's name. "Do you have any idea who at Centurion might have sent those cards?"

Sid shook his head. "No, I can't imagine who would do that."

"Sid, who would have access to membership records of the party in New York?"

"The chapter officers, I imagine."

"Would they have kept your card, or was it issued to you?"

"Actually, they showed it to me, then kept it. They apparently didn't want members showing their cards around."

"So any officer of the branch could take the card, have it photo-stated, then replace it in the files?"

"Any officer or, I suppose, any clerical employee. I would imagine, though, that the cards would be kept under lock and key, and lately I doubt if they would have been kept on the premises of the party offices, since they are liable to be served with a search warrant."

"One other thing: could a party member sign somebody else up for membership and pay his dues?"

"I've never heard of that being done, but somebody with the right access might be able to do that."

"Without the person's knowledge?"

"Yes, I'd think so."

"That's what I need to know, I guess. Thank you."

"Let me know if there's anything else I can do, Rick."

The two men parted in front of the restaurant, Sid with the manila envelope under his arm.

29

Rick gathered the cast of
Bitter Creek
in his office, gave them coffee and addressed them. "Something's come up," he said. "Something good."

They all looked expectant.

"
Bitter Creek
has been chosen to open at Christmas at Radio City Music Hall."

There were smiles and applause all around.

"But that leaves us with only a very short time to complete the interiors, cut it and insert the opticals and titles and score it. We had scheduled three weeks to shoot the interiors, but in light of this good news, we're going to have to shoot them in ten days, and that means working right through the weekend. I'm going to need the help of every one of you to get that done, and I know you'll do your best. The sets are complete and are being assembled and dressed, and we're ready to shoot the ranch house interiors, starting today, so let's get over there, get costumed and made up, and we'll start before lunch."

Everybody got up and shuffled out of Rick's office, chattering excitedly.

Eddie Harris came in. "How'd it go with Sid last night?"

"He was happy to cooperate, Eddie." He handed him the executed addendum to Sid's contract. "And happy to have the cash, too."

"What pseudonym does he want to use?"

"Jesus, I forgot to ask him. I'll call him later today."

"Good."

"Eddie, I know you're interested in keeping Vance Calder at the studio over the long term."

"I certainly am."

"Something came up last night: Sid and Alice are going to sell their house and split the proceeds. Vance, you know, is living in his bungalow, but he's interested in buying a place. I think he might like Sid's house, but he doesn't have that kind of cash yet."

"How much are we talking about?"

"Sid's having it appraised, but he thinks it's worth eighty or ninety thousand."

"And we just gave Vance a ten-grand bonus, so he's holding some cash. If he wants the place, tell him we'll loan him ninety percent of the purchase price for, what, two years?"

"Give him three; we want him to owe us for a while, don't we?"

"Sure. Three is good. We don't need to do anything more for Susie right now, do we? I mean, we gave her the bonus and the new dressing room."

"My guess is Susie's star is tied to Vance's right now. If she wants a new place to live, it will probably be with him."

"Yeah, you're right. You're starting the interiors this morning, aren't you?"

"Yeah. I'm going over there in a few minutes; the cast is getting ready now. They're pumped up about the Music Hall announcement."

"Great. I'll look forward to the rushes." Eddie took his leave.

Rick buzzed his secretary. "Please get hold of Tom Terry and ask him to come see me. Now, if it's convenient." Tom Terry had worked on the Beverly Hills police force with Rick, and when Rick was promoted to producer, he hired Tom to replace him as head of studio security.

Tom Terry came in and sat down. "Hi, Rick. I heard about the Music Hall thing; congratulations."

"Thanks, Tommy. Listen, there's something I want you to do for me."

"Sure, anything."

"Write this down. I want you to find out everything you can about a Harold Schmidt of Milwaukee, a.k.a. Hal."

"Lot of Schmidts in Milwaukee, Rick."

"Fewer Harolds, though. This one is probably a member of the CP and seems likely to be involved in left-wing activities in the city or state. That's all I know about him."

"Okay, I'll get on it. Best thing is to make some calls and get a name on the Milwaukee force."

"Go to Milwaukee, if you have to."

"You want me to talk to Schmidt about anything?"

"Locate and research him first, then call me. I'll decide then whether I want you to see him, or if I do it myself."

"I'll get right on it," Tom said, then left.

Rick asked his secretary to forward any calls from Sid Brooks to Stage One, then he got into his little electric cart with his shooting script and drove over there.

Basil was finishing up lighting the ranch house set, and various members of the cast were standing around. He was headed for his canvas chair, next to the camera, when the script girl came to him.

"There's a call for you, Rick," she said. "Your secretary's on the line."

Rick walked over to where a phone stand stood against a wall and picked up the instrument. "Rick Barron."

"Sidney Brooks is on the line," his secretary said. "I'll put him through."

"Sid?"

"Yeah, Rick. I'm sorry to disturb you on the set."

"Not at all. What's up?"

"David Sturmack got an appraiser over to the house first thing this morning, and he says the house will sell for ninety grand. He'll work up a detailed report later, but that's going to be the number. If your friend wants to see it, have him call me."

"Thanks, Sid. I'll get back to you. Oh, by the way, what do you want to use for a pseudonym for your credit on
Bitter Creek
?"