Postscripts

by Claire Rayner

  ‘I’m supposed to be. If he agrees. I reckon he will. I’ll call this afternoon. He’s been out of town — ’

  ‘Then ask him. In my experience he’s an honest enough guy. Ask him right, and he’ll tell you.’

  ‘He’s been good to me so far,’ Abner admitted. ‘Gave me other contacts to use even before we had a deal. I could screw him easy.’

  ‘Exactly,’ Dave said. ‘That’s the sort of reputation he’s got. You could go further and fare worse, take it from me.’

  ‘OK. Victor Heller.’

  Dave sat silently for a while, staring at him, and then said slowly, ‘Heller’s a round-the-edges sort of guy. I’ve bumped into him here and there. Always seen with people in the know, you understand me? I’ve never heard of him ever actually doing anything direct. But there he is at the BAFTA awards every time, and at all the industry events. Looks nothing much, but he’s always around, you know? Tell you what, you find out anything about him and I’ll be interested to hear. He’s a puzzle to me too.’

  Abner nodded and then said, ‘Eugene Garten,’ watching Dave carefully.

  The result was a dead blank. He turned down the corners of his lips and shook his head. ‘Doesn’t ring any bells with me.’

  ‘Says he’s a film publicist.’

  ‘Oh!’ Dave’s face cleared. ‘Then maybe. The town’s crawling with them. They’re the fleas on the industry’s ass.’

  Abner laughed. ‘They’re not all bad news,’ he said. ‘Are they? Someone has to get a movie talked about to get the mugs in.’

  ‘Oh sure, but there’s talking and talking. There’re one or two big companies in the business I like, and I’ll recommend ’em to you when the time comes. Just ask me. But watch out for the solo operators, the little guys. If this is one of them, he’s the last thing you need.’

  ‘That was my reaction. And then, of course, there’s Jo Rossily. I liked her — do you know her?’

  Dave nodded. ‘Everyone does. Great distributor, gets involved in all sorts of things other people don’t like. Feminist, you see. All those red hot bra-burning movies, that was how she got started. Now she deals with a lot of rather more sophisticated stuff.’

  Abner frowned. ‘When people say sophisticated they usually mean porn. I didn’t take her for one of those.’

  Dave threw his head back and roared as though Abner had made a great gag. ‘Jo Rossily and porn? Christ, that’s the funniest idea I’ve ever heard! No way, baby! I mean sophisticated — stuff from Czechoslovakia, France, Germany — the sort of movies that get their BAFTAs at the start of the evening before all the interesting stuff gets going. Last year she had a winner with a Japanese movie they say made a fortune. In Japan. Here it was zilch. But she gets by.’

  ‘That makes sense,’ Abner said. ‘I didn’t see her as at all — as anything but straight up.’ He frowned then. ‘That reminds me. There was one name that I wanted to ask you about — not anyone I’ve met but it seems to keep coming up. He turned out to be her partner, Mayer — Matthew Mayer.’

  Dave looked at him sharply. ‘What about him?’

  ‘Well, yeah. What about him? Like I said, I keep on hearing his name, seeing it too. Monty Nagel had this great list of contacts on his computer and I saw it and over and over again this guy was there. Never a principal, always in the second row, you know?’

  ‘It’s not unusual in this business,’ Dave said, and bent his head. ‘In fact it’s — um — common.’

  ‘Well, sure. Lots of people have sleeping partners. But not all the same one! This fella seems to be sleeping with Jo Rossily and God knows who else besides. I don’t suppose he’s the only one though. There was this guy Venables — ’

  ‘Alex Venables?’

  ‘You know him?’

  ‘Oh, sure I know him. Front man, no more. Deals in financing films. But never acts on his own.’

  ‘That’s what happens with all of them,’ Abner said disgustedly. ‘I saw a guy called Gentle, Simmy Gentle. I reckoned I had him on toast and what happened? He backed down all of a sudden because of his money man. Said he didn’t like it — and it turned out that his partner, the guy who didn’t like the project Gentle thought was great, was Victor Heller.’

  Dave shook his head. ‘Oh, come off it! He isn’t Simmy Gentle’s man! Everyone knows who that is.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I said, Simmy Gentle’s partner ain’t this Heller. I told you, he’s just a schlepper, a hanger on, a gofer. No, the real one’s someone quite other.’

  Dave seemed to be beginning to enjoy himself and Abner felt irritation rise in him. He wanted straight answers, not this runaround.

  ‘Well, who the hell is it, then?’

  ‘The same as Jo Rossily’s partner. The same as more businesses in this town than you can shake a stick at. Matthew Mayer, that’s who.’

  Nineteen

  ‘Just make sure you get to that dog food shoot on time,’ Dave said. ‘It’s all I ask. And when you fill up, use unleaded. Me, I’m one of your up-to-the-minute guys. Had the engine fixed soon’s I could. You got a map?’

  ‘I’ll get one,’ Abner said. ‘Listen, Dave, this is very good of you — ’

  ‘Good, hell! Like the man said, what’s a pal for? You need a break. I don’t need the car for a couple of days, so it’s all easy.’

  ‘And thanks for fixing the date with Mayer,’ Abner said, and got into the car. It felt odd to be sitting on the wrong side, but he’d get used to it. He was getting used to a lot in this country. ‘Maybe he can help me get Postscripts moving properly. It just doesn’t make sense. People get interested and then they — ’

  ‘Yeah. You told me,’ Dave said, and slammed the door on him. Abner rolled down the window. ‘Now listen. You make a left on to the roundabouts and you don’t get priority on the red lights for a left. Don’t forget that. And — ’

  ‘Dave, I’ve been driving more than half my life. It can’t be that different here. If it’s going to worry you, then I won’t take the car.’

  ‘Aw, shut up. Take it and enjoy it. I was just trying to tell you, is all! I hope this guy in the Cotswolds comes up with useful stuff. No harm even if he doesn’t. It’ll give you a chance to relax. It’s a nice sort of area to see. You’ll like it. Looks like an ad for Hathaway shirts, know what I mean? Cute. On your way, buster. See you when you bring the dog food home.’ He stepped back and very carefully Abner started the engine and moved the car out of the cramped little car park and made for the exit, very aware of its anxious owner watching him. And he couldn’t blame him; the car was a handsome black Rover upholstered in thick crumpled leather and with a polished wood dashboard; not quite an antique but a much-cherished old one. It was extraordinarily good of the guy to let him have the use of it for a couple of days; and he took a deep breath as at last he was out into the street.

  A crazy sort of morning, he thought, as carefully he made his way through the heavily clotted traffic towards Shaftesbury Avenue. That seemed the right end of Soho to aim for and he’d stop off as soon as he got home to Camden Town and get a road map and work out how he was to get out of London to the Cotswolds, wherever that was. And maybe pick up some chocolate; he’d forgotten how much he liked eating chocolate while he drove, and he had a sudden memory of pushing a car through the grid of Manhattan in much the same sort of heaving reeking traffic as this, and felt a surge of excitement; he was here in Europe, in London. He was at the wheel of a car in the middle of one of the greatest cities of the world. It made him feel sophisticated and aware of himself in a way that was new to him. And it was comforting. Because he’d sure as hell had made a fool of himself this morning with Dave. To have lost his temper so crazily — who needed that sort of behaviour? He must have lost his marbles there for a moment; and he grinned as the British expression slid into his mind. Another few weeks here and he’d be speaking the local lingo like a native.

  At his apartment — and he took an almost juvenile delight in the way he’d managed to work
out the route without going too hopelessly astray — he collected a few things to take with him, shaving gear (and again memory pushed at him and he thought — Miriam. Maybe I can use the car to get down to Oxford, too? That was a very pleasant thought) and a clean shirt and some of his dwindling supply of cash. He’d have to contact his American bank and draw on some of his special reserves. He hadn’t intended doing that when he’d come to London for that National Film Theatre lecture. He’d had it all worked out that with them paying his airline ticket he’d be able to keep his costs low. He’d been pretty confident that he’d have his business sewn up fast, and have a budget he could work with. He hadn’t been certain he’d get his film set up, of course he hadn’t. But he’d been almost certain, and it rankled now to think how wrong he’d been.

  But he brightened then as he locked up the apartment and went down to the street, then stopped, thought and went back up again, and picked up the phone.

  ‘Mr Nagel’s in a meeting,’ the girl said in a bored voice. ‘Perhaps you could call back later — ’

  ‘No.’ Abner said firmly. ‘Going out of town. Tell him Abner Wiseman. He wanted me to call him today.’

  The girl sniffed and there was the usual electronic music on the line (God, but he hated that) and then Nagel’s voice, a little thick and slow.

  ‘Well, Abner! I hear you’ve been putting yourself about a bit!’

  ‘How do you mean?’ At once Abner was alert.

  Nagel laughed. ‘What should I mean? Just that I know you’ve been busy, a real credit to yourself. People have told me. Taking up all the suggestions I gave you.’

  ‘They haven’t done me a lot of good,’ Abner said a little bitterly. ‘I got hopeful there once or twice but when it came to it there was always a reason why people pulled out. Listen, Mr Nagel — ’

  ‘Monty. Why so formal?’

  ‘OK, so Monty, I’m getting a bit sore, you know? Everywhere I turn there’s obstacles, and I can’t see why — ’

  Nagel made a tutting sound. ‘Oh, come on Abner! You’re no baby in this business. You know as well as I do, these things take time. How many deals get to the edge after years of finagling and then go down the tubes? More than ever get finished, that’s for sure. You should know that better than most.’

  ‘Of course I know it. But I also know the difference between deals that fold from natural causes and those that don’t.’

  There was a little silence and then Nagel said, ‘How do you mean, natural causes? And what’s different about what’s happening to you?’

  ‘Oh, it’s hard to explain!’ Abner said and shifted the phone to his other ear, suddenly aware that he’d been pressing it so hard against his head that he ached. ‘It’s just this feeling I keep getting that people are deliberately holding me back. That there’s interest in the idea — a hell of a lot of interest — but that for whatever reason there are some people who just want to make it difficult for me. Gentle and Venables and — ’

  ‘Imagination, old boy. It’s just that people have to be careful with their money these days! Times are hard, you know that, and getting harder — ’

  ‘And yet at the same time everyone’s saying there’s lots of money about and plenty of opportunity on account of the way the satellite channels are opening up and — ’

  ‘Well, yes. But isn’t this the most paradoxical business in the world? Isn’t that why we love it so much? We’re not making hammers and nails and mousetraps, you know. We’re making movies, bits of people’s hearts.’

  ‘Very poetic, Monty,’ Abner said. ‘At the same time we’re in a business which wants to make money. It has to make money, for God’s sake. You as much as anyone — are you still interested in taking me on?’

  ‘Are you willing to work with me is the question,’ Nagel said. ‘You sound pretty angry one way and another. You seem to think the people I sent you to are some sort of — I don’t know -swindlers, maybe. I can’t say I feel that — ’

  ‘Oh, hell! I’m not blaming you.’ Abner fanned the pang of compunction that had lifted in him, wanting to be ashamed of his suspicious feelings. Maybe this was just the way people were in this town. ‘I suppose I’m getting a little dispirited. Still, it’s getting a bit better. Met an old friend from the States. Working here as an agent. He’s — ’ He stopped himself just in time, remembering the possible illegality of working without permits. ‘He’s put a bit of useful stuff my way. And he’s fixing a meeting for me with Matthew Mayer.’

  Again there was a little silence. ‘Is that a fact?’ Nagel said then. ‘Who did you say fixed that?’

  ‘I didn’t. But I will. His name’s Shandwick, Dave Shandwick. Runs a small agency in Bateman Street.’

  ‘Shandwick — oh, yes, I know. Crew guy, yes.’

  ‘You got it. He was my sound man on Uptown Downtown years ago. Very good too. It’s not easy on these city locations. Noisy — and he was a great fixer.’

  ‘From all I hear he still is. And if he fixed for you to see MM he’s a pretty good fixer indeed.’

  ‘MM? Oh, Mayer. Why?’ Abner sharpened. ‘Is he so big a noise that — ’

  ‘Oh, no, it’s not that.’ Abner could almost see the shrug. ‘Hell, no. It’s just that he’s a real background man, you know? Never got involved in making a film in his life, not really. He just handles money and the background stuff. I can’t see why you’d bother to meet him. He can’t do you any good. And why he’d use time for you. He’s just a number type, you know. Doesn’t give a damn about what the product is — he’s just a buyer and seller. That’s all. He likes money, not movies.’

  ‘Then why is he involved in so many film businesses? I saw his name on your computer over and over again. If he’s into money, he should be selling those hammers and nails and mousetraps. You know where you are with that sort of stuff. Not like this business — you can lose a fortune overnight.’

  ‘And make one,’ Nagel said drily. ‘I reckon that’s the attraction. Anyway, like I said, seeing him won’t get you anywhere.’

  ‘Well, I’m not so sure. Gentle told me his partner was Victor Heller, but according to Dave it’s really this Mayer guy. So, since Gentle turned me down when he’d started out being all interested and excited and then tells me it’s because of his partner, and lies to me about who this partner is, well, naturally I’m interested.’

  Again that invisible shrug. ‘Well, it’s up to you if you want to waste your time — ’

  ‘What else can I do?’ Abner said. ‘I don’t seem to be getting anywhere with anyone else. Maybe this one can make it work for me.’

  ‘You don’t need him,’ Nagel said. ‘Not if you join my list — and I’d be happy to have you.’

  He felt better; he couldn’t help it. ‘Well, thanks. It certainly is useful to know someone takes me seriously.’

  ‘Oh, they all do, believe me. It’s just like I said, these things don’t always work out so easy to start with. Then they will. Listen, let me see you, hmm? Come in, let’s go through the people you’ve seen, work out where you stand and we’ll go on from there. When can you make it?’

  ‘Well, Dave Shandwick’s lent me a car and I want to make the most of it, do some research, talk to someone who lives in the Cotswolds. I’ve only got it for today and tomorrow, returning it Wednesday morning. Could I come in then? I’m — er — tied up Thursday and Friday.’

  Nagel gave a little crack of laughter. ‘One of Dave Shandwick’s little jobs on the side, hmm? Well, make sure he pays you at least half the rate for the job. When are you seeing this Mayer guy?’

  ‘Wednesday afternoon.’ Abner stopped then, a little puzzled. ‘You don’t actually know him? Mayer, yourself? The way you said that made it sound like — ’

  ‘Mmm? Oh, I’ve met him. There aren’t many people in this business I haven’t. But I don’t have much to do with him. Why should I? Like he said, he’s only the background for the people who really do the work. No big deal.’

  ‘Oh.’ Abner felt a little c
restfallen. ‘I thought maybe he’d be a source of funding. After all, he’s Gentle’s partner as well as Jo Rossily’s and — ’

  ‘Oh, Abner, Abner! You really don’t have to believe all you hear! Dave’s leading you on, you know? I dare say MM’s got a few bob in Gentle’s operation, but it’s Heller who’s the real power there.’

  ‘He’s a friend of yours, isn’t he?’ Abner said then, as casually as he could. ‘I met a guy called Garten and he told me that you knew him.’

  ‘Who told you?’ The voice was sharp.

  ‘Garten. Says he’s a film publicist. Contacted me, told me he’d be glad to help in my research and said he’d been tipped off about Postscripts by Heller, and then said Heller was a friend of yours.’

  ‘Jesus, this sounds like a telephone directory you’re reading to me,’ Monty said fretfully. ‘What do I know of this Garten? I never heard of him.’

  ‘Never?’

  ‘Well, possibly! Ye gods, Abner, what do you want of my life? I’ve told you, I know a lot of people in this business and even more of ’em know me. I’m a big noise, you know? Not exactly Morton Janklow or whatever that big New York guy’s called, but big all the same. Is it any wonder people push my name about? Why put me through some sort of third degree over it? So, you’re having troubles setting up your movie. Stick with me and you won’t find it so tough. I make no promises, of course, but I have good hopes for you. It’s a good project and it’ll work. But don’t go giving me any mishegass nagging. I can’t take it.’

  Abner stood silent for a while and then nodded, knowing it was an absurd action as part of a phone conversation, but still doing it. ‘OK. Maybe. I guess you’re right. I’m sorry, I’ve just got so — ’

  ‘Yes, I can tell. So stop it. Go down to do your research, whatever it is, what is it, by the way? What sort of information will you find about the camp people in the Cotswolds, for pity’s sake? That’s real Ye Olde Englishe countryside, you know? Can’t imagine any camp survivors living there.’