Karen and Mrs. Rhodes landed in L.A. after a comfortable flight. Mrs. Rhodes had watched a movie most of the time, thrilled with it all. This was how she liked to travel: first class all the way. Karen had taken care of everything. They checked into the Beverly Hills Hotel, and she was shown to one of the exclusive bungalows scattered throughout the grounds.
She leisurely unpacked her new outfits and shoes. Karen had told the saleslady at Bonwit’s to charge up to two thousand dollars to her account. She’d had a glorious time shopping. She was going to wear the gold-brocade cocktail suit to dinner that evening. Her Givenchy-style gown, which reminded her of Audrey Hepburn in Charade the moment she saw it, was perfect for the Première. The only fly in the ointment was something about Karen that made her feel uncomfortable, it was as if she had to get her permission to do anything, even speak to her own daughter. She decided right then and there to put a call through to Val. It was around eleven Boston time, and knowing her daughter she knew she’d still be up.
“Hello, Valerie, its Mummy.”
“Mummy, what a wonderful surprise,” It was. Val was thrilled to hear her mother’s voice and not Karen’s.
“How was the trip? How’s the hotel, and how’s Karen?”
“Let me get a word in edgewise. The trip was fine, and the hotel is absolutely magnificent. I’m in one of those private cottages where Elizabeth Taylor stayed with Eddie Fisher, or one of her husbands. Karen is, well what can I say, she’s charming and generous and seems to be for you one hundred percent. But…”
Val interrupted her. “And what are you doing tonight?”
“We’re meeting a couple of your West Coast agents for drinks in the Polo Lounge. Then dinner somewhere else. I must say I’m very excited and I have the most beautiful gown for…”
She stopped and changed the subject. “And you, my pet, are you working hard?”
“You know how it is. But everything’s fine. I can’t believe we start previews next week. It seems impossible that they’ll be able to pull the whole show together by then. You’re going to love Lydia Lopez.”
“Are they treating you well?”
“You don’t have a thing to worry about, honestly Mummy. I’m happy and healthy and full of the devil.”
“You do sound good. I miss you terribly. I don’t think we’ve ever been apart for this long a stretch. Ever.”
“I know and I miss you. I wish I could be there with you for the…”
Now Val paused. Neither of them wanted to say the word Première.
“Mummy, if or when you see Nicky, say hello. If anything he made me grow up.”
“You didn’t need to learn about growing up from him. I’m afraid I’ll find it very difficult to be in his presence at all. But you know me well enough to know I’m not about to do anything to jeopardize you or your career.”
“I know.”
Val had heard enough.
“Have fun, Mummy. Give my love to Karen. Oh and a big kiss to Herby and Shelly. They were so nice to me in Italy. I’m going to try to get some sleep now.”
“That’s the idea my pet. You need a lot of rest; you always did. Why don’t you put a do not disturb on your phone?”
“That’s a good idea. I’m going to do that right now. Talk to you soon, Mummy.”
“Good night, and God bless.”
“God bless you. Good night, Mummy.”
Val rang off happier than she’d been in ages and turned to Didi.
“I’m calling the desk to tell them not to let any calls through till tomorrow’s wake-up. That was my mother’s idea; isn’t she brilliant?”
She did just that and they fell back into each other’s arms, making the most of the time that was theirs alone.
Karen had tried to call Val and was told the line was busy. When she’d tried a second time she’d been told there was a DND on that number. Furious, she’d tried Glen and Deidra Grayson’s suite, but again no answer.
“Would you like to leave a message, Madame?”
“Just say Karen called and will call back tomorrow.”
She got off the phone and did two lines of coke before calling Mrs. Rhodes .
“How’s it coming Mrs. Rhodes?”
“Karen dear, I do think we can cut a few of the formalities at this point. I told you before, please call me Anne.”
“Okay, Anne. I’ll try. I thought I’d come to your bungalow now, and we can go to the Polo Lounge together.”
“Terrific. I’m ready.”
They made a stunning entrance into the dimly lit, crowded bar. Herby shot up to greet them and introduced his wife Linda and a gorgeous starlet named Sharon Templer, Shelly’s date for the evening. It struck Anne as quite amusing that most of the men from the agency had names ending in Y, like Murray, Shelly, Herby, Stanley, and they all tried so hard to look young. They wore open-neck shirts with too much jewelry and had hair that looked like it wouldn’t move if a ton of bricks dropped on them.
“Welcome to sunny California, ladies. You have some catching up to do. I think champagne is in order.”
By the time they left the Polo Lounge, none of them was feeling any pain. They had dinner reservations at the Townhouse, the in spot on Sunset. Anne opted to go with Herby and his wife in his Rolls. Palm trees and a Rolls Royce— just to her liking. Karen went in the limo with Sharon and Shelly. Coke and a J appeared before the door even closed. Sharon slipped a book of matches in Karen’s pocket during the trip whispering, “for later.”
The three-story Townhouse had a restaurant on the main floor, a discotheque on the second, and on the third floor, a private gaming room where enormous amounts of money were exchanged among those playing backgammon on suede, Hermes backgammon sets.
The main talk during dinner was about the Première and the private screening they’d been invited to at the studio the next day before the main event. After dinner they all went to the second floor to dance. Their table was on a raised platform, and Anne felt like the queen. It took a couple of minutes to adjust to the lights, and then she saw him. Nicky was on the dance floor with a crowd of young men and beautiful girls. It looked as though they were having a marvelous time. She had to admit he looked extremely handsome, but that didn’t stop the anger welling up inside her. She felt Karen’s hand take hers.
“It had to happen, Mrs. Rhodes, I mean Anne. And it’s better here than at the Première.”
“It’s not going to be easy. I hope I can be cordial.”
The others at the table were aware of the situation and didn’t know what to do.
Karen stood up and waved. “Look there’s Nicky.”
“I don’t think he’ll see you from the dance floor with all those lights flashing.”
“Then I’ll go and join them.”
She headed for the dance floor before anyone could agree or disagree. Anne saw the smile briefly leave Nicky’s face when he saw Karen. Only for a second she noted. He kissed her and they continued dancing. When the music stopped he walked back to the table with her.
“Hi, everyone. I see Herby still has enough pull to get the best table in town. And of course the beautiful Mrs. Rhodes, welcome to the West Coast.”
She answered in her saccharine voice.
“Thank you, Nick.”
The loud music started up again and luckily it was impossible to carry on a conversation. He whispered a couple of things in Karen’s ear and then told Herby something as he made his way around the table to Anne. He kissed her lightly on the cheek. She flinched, but managed to smile as she spoke through her teeth.
“I hope I don’t see much of you whilst I’m here.”
“You won’t if I have anything to do with it.”
He stood up and announced to the whole table he’d see them the next day at the screening, and with his trademark smile a mile wide, he went back to his crowd. It wasn’t long before he left with his entourage waving and blowing kisses.
Karen had been impressed by Anne’s performance.
“You handled that very well.”
“You didn’t think that pipsqueak was going to get the best of me, did you?” She tossed her head like a proud horse.
“Good for you, Anne.”
When they arrived back at the hotel Karen insisted on walking her back to her bungalow.
“By the way, Anne, did you speak with Val earlier?”
“Yes dear, she sends her love. It did my heart good to hear her in such good spirits. As you know I’ve been quite concerned lately.”
“I know. I’m glad you got through. I tried calling, but she had a do not disturb on.”
“I told her to do that. I’m glad to hear she listened to me for a change.”
Anne leaned forward, allowing Karen to brush her cheek with a good-night kiss, and disappeared inside.
Back in her room, Karen started pacing. She’d done a lot of coke and knew herself well enough—it was going to be a while before she’d get any sleep. Something bothered her. She found it relaxing at these times to try to figure out the culprit.
First Val. I’ll get back to that. The Première and Nicky, Boston previews, the New York opening. New York and the Peter thing, although that sounded like it was settled. That brings me back to Nicky. What if he really has people trying to dig up stuff? What do I have on him?
At the beginning of their friendship, during one of his weaker moments, Nicky had confided in her about his sexual preferences. She’d told him, “so what.” It had come up in conversation at a discotheque, when he’d seen a guy named Marco Benito. He explained how they’d grown up together. He’d joined their table and they’d had a good time, but Nicky had been on edge all evening. He told her later he could never let any of his old friends or family know his scene.
“It’s not like I’m trying to hide anything, but if my friend Marco and his crowd, or my uncle Vinnie knew, they’d freak out. It’s not acceptable, is the way they put it. I think Marco would have me whacked.”
Wouldn’t it be a nice surprise for Nicky if his old pal Marco showed up. That would straighten him out. All Karen had to do was figure out how to get him there, pronto. Two lines of coke and a glass of champagne later she was emptying her jacket pocket when she found the matchbook with Sharon’s number on it. Without hesitating she picked up the phone and dialed the number.
“Hello, Sharon. I hope I didn’t disturb you. It’s Karen. From earlier this evening”
“The only thing you disturbed were my thoughts, and they were about you.”
Oh my God, she’s got to be kidding, thought Karen. “I hope they were good.”
Sharon giggled. “I came three times.”
“I think you just made me blush.”
“I wish I was there to see that.”
“Where are you exactly?”
“Hollywood, about twenty minutes away.”
“Will it take you that long to get here?”
“I’ll try to make it sooner.”
“Bungalow twenty-four. Come straight to the door and knock twice. I’ll be waiting.”
The phone went dead.
My, my, she’s eager. What a shame; that’s always such a turn off. But it could be amusing. I’ll have Sharon call Marco and tell him she saw Nicky, and someone at the table had mentioned that Nicky didn’t have any close friends or family coming to the Première. Someone else said Marco Benito was like family to him. She’d say she was calling because she’d heard what a nice guy he was, and how handsome, plus other good things she couldn’t possibly mention over the phone. Long story short, she’d stress that the whole crowd thought it would be a nice surprise for Nicky to have Marco show up at the screening. He could even be her date and go with her to the Première if he wanted. She couldn’t wait to meet him. And so on, and so on.
Karen knew from two minutes on the phone with that broad, she could pull it off. Especially with someone like Marco. He’d be happier than a pig in shit to know his good looks and special talents had traveled from one coast to the other. All Karen had to do was find his number. She put her answering service voice lady on the job, and in twenty minutes she was sitting with his number written neatly on the hotel scratch pad. She took two yellows, knowing where that would take her, and settled back to wait for Sharon’s arrival, remembering to add a call to Dr. A in the morning to her must do list.
Two knocks on the door brought her back to Beverly Hills.
“Hurrah for Hollywood.”
Laughing at her own joke she opened the door. Sharon stood there looking totally different. She wasn’t the little sexy starlet Karen had met earlier. She wore a simple safari jacket with white gabardine pants, pink wire sunglasses, and not much makeup. Her short blonde hair bounced as she walked across the room. Karen was pleasantly surprised.
“Wow, I wouldn’t have known you. You’re a very good actress, I must say.”
“Glad you like it.”
“I think this is going to be fun.”
“I hope so. I haven’t had any fun in ages.”
Karen took a bottle of Taittenger from the fridge.
“Champagne is in order. I didn’t expect to have so much to celebrate.”
She popped the cork. They toasted each other and from then on, it was more fun than Sharon could have ever imagined. After the intimate getting-to-know-you, totally exhausted they relaxed with a cigarette and the remaining champagne.
“Now, my dear, a little business break. I need your help. Actually, I need a very big favor.”
Sharon smiled
“I can’t imagine what kind of favor I could possibly do for you. But if I can, no problem. I’d love to help you out.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be too difficult. In fact, I think you’ll enjoy it.”
She filled her in on the surprise she had in store for Nicky without telling her the reason.
“I think that’s a beautiful thing to do. You’re right. I don’t mind in the least.”
Karen went to the wall safe, came back, and counted ten one hundred dollar bills. She handed them to Sharon.
“I know a girl has to make a living in this town. I appreciate this.”
Sharon looked at the thousand bucks lying in her hand. Hers for just calling some dude in New York and persuading him to go to a Hollywood Première with her. This was definitely her lucky day. Shelly had given her a C-note for the evening and a blow job. This seemed simple, and besides she really liked Karen. At five in the morning L.A. time she put the call through. It went without a hitch. Her honeyed voice promised Marco the time of his life. He said he’d be on the first plane he could get and asked her to make a reservation for him. Karen took care of that. For a couple of hundred bucks, the hotel manager always managed to find an extra room.