Killer Cocktail (5 page)

Footage from the set of
A Winter's Night
5/2/96

Melanie Summers and Christina Franklin sit while makeup technicians apply their makeup. Christina focuses on reading the script on her lap. Melanie watches Christina in the mirror.

MELANIE

Sorry to hear that your kitchen scene got pulled.

CHRISTINA (nods without looking up)

Yeah. Me too.

MELANIE

You were pretty good in it, I thought.

CHRISTINA

Thanks.

MELANIE

I wouldn't take it personally. That kind of thing happens all the time.

CHRISTINA (still not looking up)

I'm sure it does.

MELANIE

You still have the scene in the bedroom though, right?

CHRISTINA (her hand pauses on the script
and she finally glances up)

As far as I know.

MELANIE (smiling)

Well, that's good. So, I understand you're seeing Johnny now, is that right?

CHRISTINA (warily)

That's right.

MELANIE

How's it going?

CHRISTINA

Fine.

MELANIE

That's good. He seems pretty smitten.

CHRISTINA (awkwardly)

I …

MELANIE

It's funny. Johnny and I were together for so long, I think people assumed that we would get back together someday. I certainly did. But I'm happy for you both. Just ignore all the crap people are saying.

CHRISTINA

I wasn't aware that anyone was saying anything.

MELANIE (scoffs)

Oh, sweetie, in this town, someone is always saying something.

Melanie looks at herself in the mirror. She fluffs her hair and then stands up.

MELANIE

Well, I'm done here. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get to keep your bedroom scene.

CHRISTINA (faintly smiling)

Okay. Thanks.

Melanie turns and waves her hand over her shoulder as she walks away. Christina stares at her retreating form.

CHRISTINA (quietly)

Bitch.

eight

“But getting back to
the tapes,” said Janice. “How will it work exactly? You edit them and then publish the whole thing? Don't the people in the videos have to sign off on them first or something?”

“Of course,” said Nigel. “And, obviously, we won't include anything that those involved would rather we not. But I can't imagine it being a problem,” he continued. “
A Winter's Night
is an American Classic. It's like finding behind-the-scenes footage of
Gone with the Wind.”

Janice chewed the lipstick off her bottom lip before answering. “Still, it's just that while they are off camera, sometimes the actors and the crew tend to—oh, you know—let their hair down. There may be footage that might prove embarrassing. Not to me, of course,” she added quickly, “but to others.”

Sebastian leaned his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his hands. With an impish grin, he said, “Me thinks the lady protests too much. Come on, darling. Let's hear it. Did you let your hair down? What did you do? Try and find out why they call him the Best Boy? You did, didn't you? Come on now, give. Tell us the whole sordid story, you saucy minx.”

Janice's skin flushed. She pursed her lips together and turned her head in Sebastian's direction. “Don't be ridiculous. I did no such thing,” she said stiffly. “Unlike others in this town, I have always conducted myself as a lady. I never indulged in any of that kinky hanky-panky stuff.”

I wondered what kind of activity would meet the definition of both “hanky-panky” and “kinky.” From the befuddled expressions of the others at the table, I suspected I was not alone. I decided it was not a question I wanted answered. Ever. “Of course you didn't, Mother,” Christina said after a moment. “Bash is only teasing.”

“Not that I wasn't asked to, mind you,” said Janice. “I was. A lot. Oh, I could tell you some stories if I wanted to.”

“What do we have to do to make sure that you don't?” Sebastian asked, his expression earnest.

“I'm only saying that there are some nasty things that go on in this town,” Janice said with an air of importance. “Some are done by the very people in this room, too.”

Sebastian suddenly tensed in his chair at the sight of something behind Christina. Glancing in that direction, I saw Barry Meagher heading toward our table with a purposeful stride. “Drop it, Mother,” Sebastian muttered quickly as he stood. “Barry's heading this way.”

Footage from the set of
A Winter's Tale
5/5/96

The set is a hospital. John's character, Donny, has been injured and lies in a hospital bed. His head is bandaged and his arm is in a sling. Christina's character, Freda, is his nurse. She sits in a chair next to him. She is in a nurse's uniform. Various crew members move around them as they prepare for the next take. John idly smokes a cigarette as they wait to start. Christina flips through a magazine. Neither speaks to each other. Barry is talking to his assistant about the lighting. Off to the side, Melanie and her assistant, Sara Taylor, sit eating their lunch. Sara is about thirty years old. She is tall and thin, and her long brown hair is pulled up into a bun.

Although the camera stays focused on John, Melanie and Sara's conversation can be heard.

SARA (in a low voice)

So, have you decided what you're going to do?

MELANIE

I don't know, Sara, I just don't know.

SARA

But this could be your last chance! You've fought so hard for this, Melly, and now the goal is finally in sight. No one knows better than I all the crap you've had to endure for all of these years. I was there when your mom and stepdad sold you out to do that asinine show
Life with Melanie.
I've watched the men in this business try to seduce you with empty promises. I was there when the studio heads wrote you off as an insurance risk. Here's your chance to finally be able to call your own shots.

MELANIE

I know, Sara. I know. It's just that I don't know if that's what I want anymore. I'm so damn tired. You have no idea how tired I am. I never knew I could feel this tired at age twenty-three. Lately, I've been wondering if it's even worth it. Let's say I finally do make it to the top. Then what?

SARA

Then we make this town ours! We say which scripts you'll do and which ones you won't.
We
say who you'll work with and who can kiss your ass. We will
finally
be in charge! Think of it, Melly! We'll finally have it all.

MELANIE (voice raised)

We?
We?
Who the hell do you think you are? You're my assistant, Sara.
Assistant.
Look it up if you need to be reminded of the definition. You fetch me coffee and make sure my dry cleaning is picked up. I've appreciated your work over the years, but there is no “we.” There is only me.
I'm
the one who gets in front of the camera.
I'm
the one who memorizes pages and pages of dialog.
I'm
the one the paparazzi follows around morning, noon, and night.
I'm
the one who deals with the touchy feely creeps. Got it?
I
decide what I want to do with my life. And I'll decide if I want this—not you! Jesus! You're as bad as the rest of them! Everyone wants a piece of me. Everyone wants to jump on the Melanie train. Well, I'm sick of it!

John and Christina are now staring at Melanie and openly listening to her rant. Barry has stopped talking to his assistant and is also watching Melanie.

SARA

That's not what I meant, Melanie. I'm sorry. I just feel protective of you. I only have your best interests at heart. You know that.

MELANIE (standing)

Do I? 'Cause from where I'm sitting, it sure sounds a hell of a lot like the same crap I've heard from everyone else over the years, “How can Melanie Summers make me more money, and what can I get her to do to get it to me faster?” You're no better than the studio heads who always try to cop a feel. The only difference is at least they're up front about it. None of them ever pretended to be my friend. But I'll give you credit for at least one thing, Sara. You helped me make up my mind. I know exactly what I'm going to do. And to hell with everyone who disagrees with me.

Melanie throws her half-eaten sandwich on the ground and storms off to her trailer. Sara sits for a second in shock and then runs after her.

SARA

Melanie, wait! I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that! Melanie! Please, listen to me!

The sound of a door slamming can be heard, followed by loud knocking.

SARA

Melanie! Please let me in! Honey? I'm sorry!

The camera swings back to John and Christina. John is staring at where Melanie ran to, his cigarette seemingly forgotten in his hand. Beside him, Christina sits still reading her magazine. Her hand is shaking. Barry walks toward them.

BARRY

You two ready to do the scene?

JOHN (after a quick glance at Christina)

Sure. Let's do it.

nine

Barry Meagher was an
assortment of exaggerated features. Six-feet-seven and reed thin, he walked with a kind of gangly swagger. His thick silver hair was virtually untamable; no matter how short he cut it, it still managed to stick out in every direction. Coal black eyes, deep laugh lines, a crooked nose, shaggy eyebrows, and a wide mouth made up his face. Alone, each feature was unremarkable, but when combined together, it added up to that mystical x-factor which makes silk purses and wealthy used-car salesmen possible.

“Christina!” he now called out in his gravely voice. “What a night it's been! Didn't I tell you? It turned out just like I promised it would!” Christina rose from her chair, just as Barry enveloped her into an enormous hug. “I knew you were going to win the moment I saw the first rushes. You were brilliant!”

Christina hugged him back, a girlish grin on her face. “I never could have done it without you. I'm so glad you won as well!”

Barry smiled fondly down at her. It was no secret that Barry thought of Christina as the child he never had. He was both proud and protective of her, and most in the industry knew that to cross Christina was to cross Barry. “We make a good team,” Barry said now. “And speaking of teams, I am really pushing Frank to cast you opposite John in
The Deposition.”

Christina flushed and looked about to protest, when Barry lifted his hand in understanding. “I know things went to crap between you and John,” he said, “mainly because John is an immature ass. But you have to admit, despite his personal failings, you two
do
work well together. And this role is an Oscar waiting to happen.” He brandished his own Oscar as he added, “In the right hands, of course.”

“I don't know, Barry,” she began, but Janice cut her off.

“Of course, she'll take the role,” Janice answered. “Just let me know what I have to do to convince Frank.”

Christina closed her eyes in silent frustration. Barry's gaze slid to Janice. His lip twitched slightly. “Hello, Janice,” he said. “How are you tonight?”

Janice gave an odd laugh. “Oh, just fine. You know me. Always doing what I can to support Christina.”

“Oh, I know,” Barry said, as if in agreement. Something about his tone, however, suggested the opposite.

A steely expression crept into Janice's eyes. “People may think I've been pushy, but as a single parent I've had to do the work of
two
people.” Pasting a smile on her face she turned to Christina and added, “Not that I minded one minute of it, of course.”

Behind her, Sebastian coughed and repeated, “Of course.”

Barry glanced back at Christina before saying, “No one would dare say otherwise.”

Janice squared her shoulders. “I'd like to see them try.” From her defiant tone, I wondered if she thought one of us was actually going to challenge her on this. Not surprisingly, no one did.

Barry gave Christina's arm a friendly squeeze, and he turned to the rest of our group. After shaking's Sebastian's hand, he focused on Mandy. Giving her a slow once over, he grinned and said, “Mandy, my dear. You look like a raspberry tart in that dress.”

“I'll take that as a compliment,” Mandy replied with a wink. “After all, who can resist a raspberry tart?”

“Very few people, I imagine,” Barry replied as he pulled her into a bear hug. “Certainly not me.”

Mandy gave a light laugh and said, “You're incorrigible.”

“Only with you,” he said before his dark eyes focused on me. Releasing Mandy, he took a step toward me and said, “I never forget a pretty face. So I don't believe we've met before.”

Despite the obvious line, I found myself smiling in return. Barry Meagher certainly had charm. I extended my hand and said, “I'm Nicole Martini.” Tilting my head toward Nigel, I added, “This is my husband, Nigel.”

Barry took my hand in his and held it while he turned to Nigel. His brows pulled up in surprise. His glance slid to Mandy and then back to Nigel. “Aren't you the couple who found the tapes?” he asked.

“That would be us,” Nigel confirmed.

“Well, this is fortuitous,” Barry continued, still cradling my hand in his. “I was hoping to meet you.”

“As was I,” Nigel said, as he held out his hand. As Barry was holding his Oscar in one hand and mine in the other, he was forced to relinquish one. It was no surprise when my hand was let go.

“What a great find. When can we expect to see them?” Barry asked as he and Nigel shook hands.

“Not for a few months yet,” Nigel said, reaching for my now free hand. “We still have a lot of editing ahead of us, and I want to tape some interviews with people who were on the set. It might help to put the footage into context for the viewer.”

Barry nodded in approval. “Good idea,” he said. “I'd be happy to do what I can.”

“We
all
will,” added Janice. “I think we can all agree that it's vital that we make very sure that the final footage is an accurate portrayal of that time. We all know how easy it is to edit a story to sell a certain slant.”

I was about to ask what slant she thought Nigel and I were planning to sell when a deep voice called out. “Christina! What a perfect night, eh?”

Turning, I saw the original owner of our house, Frank Samuels, walking toward us with a purposeful stride. Although he was in his early seventies, he looked far younger. Tall with broad shoulders, he moved with an athletic gait. His beard and mustache, like the hair on his head, was grey and cut short. In this sense it was at odds with his eyebrows, which were jet black and bushy. Based on his striking similarity to the woman to his right, I guessed her to be his daughter, Danielle. While she lacked both his height and facial hair, she had the same hooked nose and wide-set brown eyes of her father.

Accompanying them was John Cummings and Jules Dixon. Mandy made a soft pinging noise and in a low voice said, “Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has turned on the ‘Shit's About to Hit the Fan' light so please fasten your seatbelts and place your tray tables in their upright position. It's about to get messy.”