by Ron Goulart
"Whoa now, Elsie. Are you telling me Forman & McCay's going after the My Man Chumley account?"
"Yes, they are. Several agencies are trying for it, after what happened with LM&L. Arthur Moon and Les Beaujack indicted for murder and all," his agent said. "Anyhow, the word I get is that Forman & McCay have the best chance of landing it."
"And they want me for what part?"
She coughed. "My Man Chumley."
He laughed. "As an actor on camera?"
"No, they're going to go with animation. Sounds like a good approach to me, what with all the negative publicity Kathkart and his image have been getting since the whole story broke," she said. "A cute appealing animated version of Chumley could diffuse a lot of the negative feelings."
"So they want me to do the voice of this new, sanitized Chumley?"
"That's right, Ben. This is, when you stop to think about it, a nice touch. The man who exposed the earlier Chumley as a multiple murderer taking over the part."
"How would Walden Foods feel about me? If I'd kept quiet, none of this would have hit the fan."
"Apparently they're a very fundamentalist and upright group. The idea of your taking over as Chumley appeals to them."
"Forman & McCay has already hinted at the idea to the client?"
"So they tell me. Well?"
"If I get the job, it won't be an exclusive thing, will it? I want to be able to keep doing other voice work."
"You can work for any other account that'll have you. You just can't play rival butlers."
"What do they need for the pitch?"
"You'll have to do a demo tape, reading the copy for three proposed animated spots. They'll play those and show storyboards. The fee they're mentioning is extremely handsome."
"I'll never have to do any personal appearances at My Man Chumley restaurants—or actually eat any fish or chips?"
"Nobody will ever see you at all. It's the cartoon Chumley who'll be getting all the attention."
"When do they want to tape them?"
"On Wednesday in Manhattan. At the agency—can you make that?"
"Sure, what time?"
"Eleven. And they want to take you to lunch afterwards, that's Forman and McCay themselves."
"Sounds like I've arrived."
"As far as the agency's concerned, you definitely have. All in all, Benjamin, this seems to me like a fine career move for you."
"That it does."
"I'll phone you later on today if I have any further news. They'll be Fed-Exing you the scripts."
"Righto, love."
He put the phone down. Sitting on the bed, he started to laugh.
After a moment he took up the phone again. "H.J. has got to hear about his," he said and dialed her number.
