Tell me about it, Susan said. Everything. Every detail.
I did. By the time Id finished it was time for another brandy and soda. When it arrived I slid down a little in my chair and stretched out my legs in front of me and watched the amusement play on Susans face. Outside in the darkness life barely moved in the sullen cold. Inside was food and drink and Susan and the whole evening ahead. Susan made the measuring gesture with her hands, mimicking Jill Joyce. This Iong? she said. Good heavens.
She looked at me, looked back at the measured distance between her hands, looked at me again, and slowly shook her head. I shrugged.
I thought I could bluff it through, I said.
You think that about everything, Susan said. Are you going to take the job?
I turned the glass around in little circles on the table in front of me, holding it lightly with both hands, watching it revolve.
I dont know, I said.
Shes awfully difficult, Susan said. She had her elbows on the table and she held her teacup in both hands, talking to me over the rim.
Yeah, I said.
Today was not unusual, Susan said.
What about the four and a half pages they
had to shoot this afternoon? I said.
Sandy will shoot around it, Susan said. Hes amazing.
Why dont they just fire her? I said. Get someone whos sober all day?
TVQ, Susan said and smiled like she does when shes able to kid me and herself at the same time. The maitre d came over and told us our table was ready for dinner.
Whenever youre ready, sir. No hurry. He went back to his post near the door.
TVQ? I said sadly.
Television Quotient. Its a way of rating star appeal, she said.
Of course, I said.
Jill Joyce has the highest TVQ of anyone now on television, Susan said.
And to think she wanted to jump on my bones, I said.
Makes you feel sort of humble, doesnt it?
And a TVQ like that translates into ratings which translate into renewal which translates eventually into a big syndication deal which translates
Into money, I said.
Bingo, Susan said. Mucho dinero, sweetheart.
Have you gone, just a twidge, ah, Hollywood? I said.
Ill say. Film is my life. Susans eyes crinkled and her smile was brighter than Jill Joyces TVQ.
And it doesnt cut into your work?
My patients? No. Nothing cuts into that.
Nothing? I remember a Monday morning three months ago
Except you, Susan said. Occasionally, and, if its the Monday morning Im thinking about, I feel that you overpowered me. That doesnt count.
Then how come I was on the bottom?
Just never mind, Susan said. Its time to go up for dinner.
We went up and sat and looked at the menus. The room looked out over the Public Garden which was lit with concealed spots and stiller than death in the brute cold evening.
Actually, Susan said as she scanned the menu, my formal duties dont require me to be on the set. I read scripts and make suggestions. Thats really the extent of my technical advice. The rest of the time I come around and watch because it fascinates me.
I nodded, contemplating the herbed chicken with mashed potatoes.
It doesnt fascinate you? Susan said.
Fascinated me for about ten minutes, I said. But I gather they do this for more than ten minutes.
Twelve hours a day, Susan said. Six days a week. More if theyre behind.
And a show starring Jill Joyce often gets behind, I said.
Sandy and most of the directors have worked with her before, Susan said. They try to arrange to shoot most of her scenes before lunch. Close-ups and stuff. Long scenes they can use a double, or they can loop her dialogue afterwards.
Loop her dialogue, I said.
Arent I awful? Susan said. She smiled happily about it. Im totally stagestruck. I talk the jargon. Im not sure I can be saved.
In fact, one of the eighty-two things, by actual count, that I like about you is the totality of your enthusiasms, I said.
What are the other eighty-one? Susan said.
I think I mentioned them to you that Monday morning.
Actually, I think you concentrated rather heavily that day on maybe one or two, she said.
The waitress came, we ordered, the waitress went away. Susan leaned toward me a little, her chin resting on her folded hands. The play was gone from her eyes.
Actually, I hope you will help her, she said.
Jill Joyce?
Yes. I dont know if someones bothering her or not; but she is so lost.
Im supposed to be the detective, I said. Youre supposed to be the shrink.
I cant help her, Susan said. She wont come near me. She doesnt have anyone. Sandy tries to take care of her, but hes got to make the pictures. She has no one whos simply looking out for her. Not because of her TVQ, or the syndication deal we can get five years down the road. Not because shes Jill Joyce.
Think anyones ever done that? I said.
No, Susan said.
I looked out at the Public Garden, at the leafless willows through whose spidery branches the back lighting showed.
And you think I should, I said.
Yes.
Even at the risk of my, ah I held my hands out in the two-foot measuring motion.
Susan smiled at me as sweetly as a convent acolyte.