Sins of Omission (42 page)

A party! A sparkling, glittering rainbow of a party. Hosted by him, of course. A party that would set tongues to wagging for weeks afterward. The kind of party Hollywood deserved. Formal, of course, which meant the stars would be decked out in their jewels and dressed to the nines.

It was time, Reuben decided, for him to step into the limelight, light he deserved for his hard work. He was an idea man, or so the directors said. Idea men came up with ideas, and he'd just come up with one: a party to end all parties. The idea had come out of nowhere when he'd entered his office earlier in the day. He'd tried it out on Margaret and her mouth had fallen open. “Tell me more, Mr. Tarz!” she'd cried. She'd even offered to help.

But ideas were only ideas until they became functional, and in this case functional meant getting approval from Sol Rosen. Tonight, after dark, he'd go out to the Canyon and spring it on Sol. Of course, all he had to do was cross the hall and spring it on him now, but he wanted to think about it a little more, and besides, Bebe wasn't in his office. Bebe would be home. Oh, shit, he groused. This has nothing to do with Bebe, not a goddamn thing.

Then he laughed, a confident, arrogant sound.

 

It wasn't one of California's starry nights. All day the weather had been oppressive. The heavy scent of orange blossoms that Reuben usually liked hung upon the air like a wet blanket. He'd suffered through several sneezing attacks already. Even now, sitting outside Sol Rosen's house, the air was still and his nose was tickling. Maybe he should turn around and go back to his apartment, but he'd come here for a reason.
You're an ass, Tarz,
a voice inside him whispered.
You know you could have said what you have to say at the office instead of driving all the way out here. Leave well enough alone and go home.
Reuben hated these little conversations he had with his inner voice. Before he could change his mind he pushed open the car door and loped up the steps to the front door. A maid in a starched white uniform opened the door and ushered him into a sitting room off the wide central foyer.

Sol Rosen shuffled in, his eyes wide with alarm. “What's wrong?” he bellowed. “Don't tell me the goddamn studio burned down. I'm not in the mood for bad news tonight, Tarz.”

“It's not bad news,” Reuben said. “I have an idea and I wanted you to hear it tonight before I give it to the papers in time for the morning editions. I propose a party, a sizzling, glittering Hollywood party that's going to cost some big dough. One month from this weekend. By then we'll have the box office receipts from the Red Ruby series and Jane's
Devious Dolly Darling
clips. I'd like to run a reel of the Sugar and Spice girls with each picture—you know, two for the price of one, that kind of thing. Distribution is set, we can't go wrong. I need your okay for the party, though. I saw both films late this afternoon and they're spectacular. It's going to take you weeks to count your money. The public is going to eat this up.”

“Yeah? How much do I have to spring for this party?”

Somewhere upstairs Reuben could hear a phonograph playing. “Maybe thirty grand. I've never thrown a party like this, so I have no idea. It could go over, it could go under. If you want to be on the front page of every trade paper in the business, this will do it, trust me. We'll invite the whole damn industry. What do you think?”

“I say what the hell, it's only money. And you sure know how to spend it, Tarz. Like you said, you gotta gamble once in a while.”

Reuben almost jumped out of his skin when he felt hands cover his eyes. “Guess who?” Bebe said, laughing. “What are you two cooking up?” She went around to her father's chair and plopped into his lap, her dressing gown flying open to reveal a silky expanse of leg. She stared across at Reuben with wide green eyes that looked so innocent he could only stare back at her, transfixed.

“We're planning a party to celebrate Red Ruby and Dolly Darling, new films we're producing. It's Reuben's idea,” Sol said generously.

“Who's going to plan it?” Bebe asked.

“My secretary, I guess,” Reuben replied. “I really didn't get to that stage yet in my thinking.”

“A thirty-grand party, honey. Do you think this town will sit up and take notice?” Sol asked.

“Thirty thousand dollars” Bebe said, awed. “Would either of you gentlemen consider letting me arrange this party? I know what goes over and what doesn't. It will give me something to do and I know the places to go for the best prices. Things like ice sculptures, engraved invitations, musicians, where to rent different things, like flowers, appropriate crystal…” She looked hopefully at Reuben, then craned her neck to look up at her father.

“If it's okay with Tarz, it's okay with me,” Sol said fondly as he tussled his daughter's hair.

“Fine with me. I'd like it one month from this weekend. The entire industry. Black tie.”

“I'll do a good job,” Bebe said excitedly. “I'll start tomorrow.”

“If that's settled, I have to be on my way. I want to make the papers before they put them to bed.”

Bebe was off her father's lap in a flash. “I'll walk you to your car. No, no, don't get up, Daddy, you're tired.” She trotted after Reuben like an adoring puppy.

“I think it's going to rain, what do you think?” she asked in a shaky voice.

“I wouldn't be surprised,” Reuben muttered.

He was behind the wheel, about to turn the key in the ignition, when Bebe poked her head in the window. “Reuben…I…I appreciate you…I know my father would…Reuben, I'm glad…are we ever going to talk about…you know…”

“Not if I can help it,” Reuben said through clenched teeth.

Bebe drew back. “I'll do a bang-up job with the party…Dammit, Reuben, it wasn't
all
my fault. You're certainly none the worse for it. Look at you, my father's assistant, and before you know it you'll have him retiring and be running the studio yourself. Taking over the way you did in France. Good night, Reuben.”

“Good night,” Reuben growled as he maneuvered the car around the half circle.

He absolutely would not think about this in any way, he told himself. He would deal with Bebe Rosen when he was ready to deal with her and not before.

Daniel was sitting at the kitchen table poring over his books when Reuben walked in. It was after midnight by the time he'd finished running through his evening for Daniel's benefit. “Do you have any ideas?”

“One. I'd make sure word got around that this affair is by invitation only. Stall on mailing them till…may beten days before. Everyone will sweat wondering if they're invited. The studio will be swamped—you know, you owe me for this, let's see that I'm invited, all that kind of stuff. Keep feeding the papers little tidbits and this will be one grand party. I bet Bebe will do a terrific job. She knows everyone. Wise choice, Reuben. Do you mind my asking if you two made peace with each other?”

“You must be dreaming, Daniel, or else you're overtired. Bebe hasn't changed at all. She doesn't have all her nuts and bolts and don't sit there and tell me she does. I don't want to hear that poor-little-rich-girl routine, either. You have your opinion of her and I have mine.”

“If that's the way you feel, why are you letting her arrange this party?”

“Somebody has to do it, why not Bebe? At least it will keep her out of trouble for a month. Besides, I didn't ask her, she volunteered,” Reuben snapped.

“Why don't you just admit you're using her,” Daniel snapped back.

“I'm entitled to…forget it. Good night, Daniel.”

Daniel grinned to himself as Reuben stomped his way to the bedroom. “You aren't fooling me, pal, not for a minute,” he murmured.

During the following weeks Reuben paced and worried like an expectant father as he waited for the financial reports on Red Ruby and Dolly Darling's box office success. When he wasn't stewing and fretting, he was busy fielding phone calls and avoiding outright confrontations concerning invitations to what was now being referred to as the party of the decade. Once again, Daniel had been proven right.

“This would be a hell of a time for you to even up all those slights and any other grudges you're holding in the industry.” Reuben told Sol the day the engraved invitations were to go in the mail. At Sol's uncertain look, he continued. “I mean it. A lot of those guys out there stomped on you. You're entirely justified in my eyes if you cross off some of these names.”

Sol dickered with the idea, remembering various slights and insults over the years, most of them real, some of them imagined. Reuben could feel the man's indecision and wasn't surprised when minutes later he said, “If I crossed off names, I'd be just like they are. Send them all, don't cross anyone off.”

“You're a bigger man than I am, Sol,” Reuben said flatly.

Sol smirked. “You know, my sweetheart is working her buns off on this. I think she dreams about it. She goes to bed at two or three and she's up at six. This morning she had all her papers and notes spread out on the dining room table. She told me I'd have to eat in the kitchen. A bang-up job, Tarz. A real bang-up job.” Sol frowned. “In fact, she's been spending so much of her time arranging this thing, I don't think she's given any thought to an escort for herself. I'd hate like hell to see my honey being escorted by her brother. In my eyes that would be a pissifying shame.” Sol's voice was loaded with meaning.

Reuben grinned. “You're always one jump ahead of me. I was going to ask Bebe to be my escort. Time just got away from me.” He turned at the office door. “You look jittery, Sol.”

“Don't tell me you aren't,” Sol blustered. “I've been hawking the mail room for the past hour. I want to see what your bright ideas are netting this studio. Today's the day!”

Reuben felt his stomach start to churn. He tried for a patient, confident tone. “We've gone over this at least ten times, but if it will make you feel better, let's have another go at it.

“New York said the Red Ruby film grossed half a million. Instead of running it just Saturdays, they ran it Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Continuous matinees Saturday and Sunday. Dolly Darling grossed four hundred thousand in Chicago. What we're waiting for is our blockbuster, the double feature and the Sugar and Spice short. All these studio heads are scrambling to do what we did. So we gave a little extra with the Sugar and Spice girls. I keep telling you you have to give to get. The trade papers are saying the lines are a block long. I don't know which is the bigger hit, Red Ruby or Dolly Darling. The Sugar and Spice girls are the clincher. A million in New York and a cool million in Chicago. Two here in our backyard. Fifty bucks says I'm on the money,” Reuben said arrogantly. “But I'll be stealing it.”

Sol was spared making a decision when Daniel walked through the door, his arms loaded down with mail, graphs, and charts. Like a kid on Christmas morn, he was grinning from ear to ear. Reuben felt light-headed at the look on his face. He gave an imperceptible nod and Daniel dropped his load of papers on Sol's desk. “You did it, Mr. Rosen. You're on top of the heap! I took the liberty of picking up the trade papers early. I had to grease a few palms, out of petty cash,” he said hastily.

As Sol's pudgy fingers riffled through the stack of papers, Daniel drew Reuben aside. “Our projections were too low,” he said. “We grossed three-quarters of a mil in Chicago and nine hundred thousand in New York. Our own little town gave us top dollar, a million and a quarter. The
Examiner
said—and this is a direct quote—‘Fairmont is at the top of the pile.' This morning, Reuben. The phones are ringing constantly. They've had to put extra guards on at the gate. The whole damn town is out there begging for an invitation to your affair. You did it, pal! You pulled this place out of the muck, and it's right up there on top. I can't believe you're letting Sol take the credit.”

“It's his studio, Daniel. I work for the man and so do you. I did what I was paid to do. But there'll be big bucks in it for us. Look, we know what we did, and so does the industry. Letting Sol take the credit is…the wise thing to do. Working behind the scenes is fine for now. When it's time to step out front I won't owe anybody anything. I have to admit it's a great feeling…. Listen, do you have a date for this party?”

“Do I need one?”

“You don't
need
one, but you should have one. This is a big night for both of us. Sol just suckered me into escorting Bebe. To tell you the truth, I think we'd look kind of silly walking in together.” Reuben grinned. “Why don't you ask Jane? She's a star now, and you two'd look good making an entrance together.”

“What if she says no?” Daniel asked, flushing.

“She's not going to say no. She likes you. Get going, and thanks, Daniel, you did a hell of a job on this. When Sol comes down to earth I know he'll recommend a bonus for you.”

Daniel was almost at the door when he called over his shoulder, “You're sure she'll say yes? You didn't call her or anything, did you?”

Reuben shook his head. “You're on your own.” He turned to Sol. “Well, what do you think?”

“Think? Jesus Christ, I don't know what to think! People want to laugh and Red Ruby is making them laugh. A jewel thief, yet!” Suddenly he frowned. “Maybe we're giving them too much at once.”

“No, we are not giving the public too much. They came back for the triple we ran last week. This is no time to be greedy, Sol. This was a test and it proved itself. Let's face it, you are not an astute businessman. If you were, this studio would not have been at the bottom of the industry. If you're going to fight me on this, I'm going to walk out of here and I'll take Red Ruby and Dolly Darling with me. And even though Nesbit is still in the developing stages, he goes, too. If you insist on being greedy, it'll be your downfall. We've got something good going here, don't fuck it up! I want to hear your answer now,” Reuben said coldly.