Alexandra Waring (44 page)

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6-7-88

Cassy,
Here’s my favorite review:

Okay, shoot
me
for sacrilege, but I can’t watch “DBS News America Tonight” without thinking that maybe Alexandra Waring should play Hope on “thirtysomething.” One gets the sense
she
wouldn’t let Hope be such a pill.

Alexandra

P.S. I also liked our friendly critic in Washington’s comment:

What more appropriate time to launch the Star Wars of TV News than during the Moscow summit? There are enough technical credits on this newscast to scare the Soviets into signing anything.

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June 8

Alexandra,
Here’s my favorite:

Executive Producer Catherine Cochran has created a hodgepodge Americana hour of long hard-news stories and short fluff, anchored by a glamorous yuppie, supplemented by a rainbow coalition of specialty editors, highlighted by reporters yakking—live, mind you—in forty different dialects, drawls and accents from around the country, and packaged in graphics ranging from trendy glitz to Hallmark schmaltz. The amazing thing is, it works, and Cochran may have won herself the distinction of producing the first newscast that genuinely reflects the nature of the country that it’s supposed to be about.

Your hodgepodge producer signing off, my glamorous yuppie friend—

Cassy

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June 8

Jackson,

Thank you for the beautiful flowers, but there is no need to thank me. I meant every word I wrote Belinda. But I’ll take the flowers anyway—they make me smile every time I look at them. Thank you.

Cassy

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***PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL***

8 June 1988

MEMORANDUM TO: Jessica Wright
FROM: Jackson Andrew Darenbrook
REGARDING: The Plaza Hotel

Jessica honey,

I know you’re making a fortune for us but, sweetie pie, the suite you’re living in is a part of the guest suite for Darenbrook Communications and this crazy family of mine coming to town on July 1 and some of them are expecting to stay in that suite.

Which means you better audition for Ivana’s Eloise Suite or you’re going to personally find out the shocking truth regarding how much it costs to house mischievous young ladies in the Plaza.

Sweetie pie, please try and figure out what you’re doing by July 1

As Cassy, I think, told you (like six weeks ago), if you’d only call this nice lady, Mrs. Heidelson, she will help you find an apartment and arrange everything.

Your pal and fan and employer,
Jackie

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***PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL***

6/8/88

So, Jackie,

You think you can get away with sending me an eviction notice hidden in a basket of flowers, eh? Well, just wait and see what happens to you. (I hear Ivana and Donald baby don’t want the Atlantic City crowd here, so they’ll be trying to evict you for sure—I mean, if this network isn’t a crapshoot, what is?)

Also, did it ever occur to you that I might want to stay in the suite when your crazy family arrives because one filthy rich scoundrel like one of your brothers might be worth more than some poor, mass-murdering crack dealer pervert, which is just about all that there is left to date in this town?

Love and kisses,
Jessica, the crown jewel of your network

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6/9

***PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL***
by hand

Here’s a crown, Jessica. Now please find a new palace by July 1.

Love,
Jackie

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Dear Jackie

Thanks for the crown. I’m wearing it on the show today. As for the palace, I hear that Harry and Leona aren’t entertaining much anymore.

Love,
Jessica

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6/9/88

Langley,

Attached is our revised schedule for London. We will stay for the boat party and leave the following day, Sunday, June 26, and begin work at Hargrave Studios on the 27th.

Gordon

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Thursday afternoon, 9 June 1988

Dear Jackson,

How can I ever thank you? For such a lovely luncheon at Café des Artistes, for such a wonderful place to work, and for, literally, changing my life.

But what I wish most of all to thank you for is your friendship. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have your support personally, as well as professionally. I’ll miss sharing the tabloids with you (though I’m sure my marriage won’t faze them in the least). For myself, and for Gordon too, I thank you. And I love you.

Alexandra

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