by Galia Albin
Chapter 50
The success of her musical extravaganza, “The Ascent of the Shala to Safed,” warmed Talia’s heart, but it came as no surprise. The script was excellent, the music and photography were exquisite. Unfortunately, Marvin Goldstone cancelled his participation in the production; for several week, Talia felt a strong sense of failure and oscillated between despair and hope, but eventually she managed to convince the Italian opera director Ricardo Minotti to take part in the production—a choice that proved very successful. Together with the composer, Roy Shahar, and the singer, Ari Amiel, they formed a most triumphant trio.
Talia had vowed to maintain a stable home and never again to leave her children alone, and yet she was caught up in the whirl of activity and excitement that surrounded the film production. She couldn’t decline the invitation to join the cast at gala screenings around the world. In the coming months, she found herself dragged to cocktail parties and opening nights in eleven countries, and sometimes, in order not to deprive the children of her company, she took them with her.
The thunderous applause at the end of each show seeped into Talia’s dreams, mixing with the dreams in which Jonathan was a perennial guest. Once more, she seemed to see him sitting in his armchair in the dimly lit bedroom. “The audience loves the show, Talia,” she heard his voice and shuddered, as if chilled by a wind. “Get on the stage when the show is over, hold hands with the actors and the director, and receive the applause. You deserve it!”
“Thanks, Jonathan, it really is a great success; but why am I so gloomy?”
“This is how people like us feel Haven’t you realized that since my death, I have been inspiring you? The strength to stand up to Manu and Uzzi and all the others comes from me. For people like you and me, undertaking the task is more important than actually attaining the goal. You put your heart and soul into this project, and not that it is accomplished, you feel empty.”
How right he was! She could not imagine going through the day without attending the shooting that for so many months had been the center and the anchor of her life. She and the cast became one family, conducting their lives together. Now she even missed the director, Ricardo. Quite often, she had to dodge the bear hugs and the inevitable advances of this Italian Lothario. She missed his fiery Italian curses, his enthusiastic exhortations, his outbursts of rage, and his gushing affection.
“Start another project, Talia,” Jonathan said, “something small that will gradually get bigger. You see now that you can do practically anything you set your mind to. You needn’t go looking for an opportunity. It will find you.”
Mira Muller, Ditty’s mother, passed away leaving her daughter the majority shares of a small, rather obscure newspaper that ate up almost her entire estate. Mira and Ditty were very different from each other, as much as mother and daughter can differ in temperament and personality. Mira was adventurous and loved words and language. Ditty hated the newspaper, which for her epitomized everything she didn’t like about her mother.
“What am I going to do with it?” Ditty complained, wringing her hands desperately, “Me, own a newspaper! Do you know what it’s called”
“Of course, I know, Ditty, even though you’ve always objected to having anything to do with the failing rag. But you don’t have to pretend with me, we’ve known each other for ages.”
“’Society”’ Ditty confessed, ignoring Talia’s comments. “This isn’t Hollywood, you know! I remember how I envied you at the time; your lunches with Bette Midler and Shirley Maclaine, shopping with Goldie Hawn, and dinners with Jonathan Douglas and Barbara Streisand. What an incredible life you led there! But here, what is there to write about? This is a swamp full of croaking frogs.”
165
“You’d be surprised. Would you like me to prove it to you? Come, let’s be partners. And if you’re not interested in the paper as a business venture, no problem—I’m willing to buy all the shares; just tell me and I’ll do it. I can get a consortium. Micah will explain all this to you.”
No doubt, as a result of the successful cooling deal, Talia acquired a very good reputation in the business community and among bank managers. She was pleasantly surprised, when trying to summon the bankers to an urgent conference to discuss the purchase of “Society,” that she got a positive response immediately. Her status had improved considerably. At the meeting, the discussion was peaceful, pleasant, and focused. It concluded with a favorable decision, granting Mrs. Schwarz the credit necessary for the purchase of the publication, with preferred conditions. “We are convinced,” stated the consortium’s representative, attorney Barzilai, “based on our acquaintance with Mrs. Schwarz, that her purchase of “Society,” which is an insolvent asset, will help to repay at least some of its outstanding debt to its creditors.”
