Sins of the Flesh (9 page)

By this time Stella had had enough and sent the bartender to fetch Irene, who took one look at the drunken men and turned to leave.

“Wait a minute, you can't leave them here!” Stella screeched. “They're giving my place a bad name. Six parties left because of them, and who's paying for all this?”

Reuben raised his hand. “I have that honor. These…fine gentlemen have graciously…graciously…I said that…they said I can pay. How much?” He leered at the voluptuous Stella. “And don't charge us for the virgins. I didn't get one.”

“Neither did I,” Rocky said, his voice wafting up from the floor. “Jerry had two, didn't you, old buddy?”

“Yep, I had two,” Jerry said, latching on to Irene. “Just point me in the right direction. I wanna go home and see…I wanna go home and…”

“Take your virgins with you.” Reuben laughed uproariously. “I paid for them, so you can take them, isn't that right, Rocky?”

“Yessireee,” Rocky said from under the chair.

“I'll be back for the other two,” Irene said through clenched teeth. “Wait till Mr. Bishop hears about this!”

“Mr. Bishop! We just gave his eulogy.” Reuben sniffed. “A fine man, a gentleman of much renown. My friend and…my friend…and I love him.”

“I love him, too. Where are the virgins you paid for, Tarz?” Rocky squeaked.

“Jerry, the sneaky bastard, took them home,” Reuben grumbled.

“Then, by God, let's go after him. Help me up. How did I get down here?” Rocky asked, bleary-eyed.

“You fell when you were giving your eulogy. You were looking for dust. Dust to dust, you said. You should clean this place better,” Reuben said virtuously to Stella as he peeled a series of bills from his money clip.

Rocky and Reuben, their arms around each other, lurched to the door and stumbled outside.

“Quick, lock the door before they decide to come back,” Stella called to the bartender.

“Here, here, and here,” Irene said sternly to the three men, motioning for them to sit together on the leather sofa in Daniel's waiting room. Properly chastised, they sat like errant schoolboys as Irene laced into them.

“You are a disgrace! This is shameful! You and you,” she said, pointing to Jerry and Rocky, “are members of the bar! People saw you! People actually saw you!”

“Did we have the virgins with us?” Jerry demanded, sliding next to Reuben.

“Virgins!” Irene squeaked.

“Those lasses that still have their cherries.” Reuben roared with laughter. Rocky chose to slide off the leather sofa and rolled about on the floor. Irene quickly locked the door, then thought better of it and grabbed her purse, locking the door behind her.

“There goes one virgin,” Jerry bellowed loudly enough to be heard all over the building.

“Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you!” Irene called from her position of safety behind the locked door. “Go to sleep, all of you, and I'll be back in the morning.”

“She sounds like my mother,” Rocky grumbled.

“Nah,
my
mother sounds like that,” Jerry said, joining Rocky on the floor.

“What are you doing up there, Mr. Hollywood?” asked Rocky. “You too good for us?”

Reuben peered over his knees to stare at Daniel's two friends. “I wish I had a dog.”

“I had a cat once,” Rocky volunteered, “but it died.”

“I had goldfish. I called them Frick and Frack. They died.” Jerry wept.

“What'd you have, Tarz?” they asked together.

“I never had a dog or cat or even goldfish,” Reuben blubbered.

“Jesus, that's terrible. Let's go get him a dog, Rock. A man needs a dog. Goddamn,” Jerry moaned, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“We'll have to get it tomorrow, that virgin of yours locked us in here,” Rocky slurred.

“What would you call the dog? A boy dog, right?”

“Yeah,” Reuben mumbled. “Maybe…maybe…wha'd you call your cat, so I don't name my dog the same thing?” he demanded of Rocky.

“Maizie. May-zee, May-zee,” Rocky crooned. “So what's the name of the dog we're buying you?”

“Dog. Just Dog,” Reuben said sorrowfully. “Maybe Jake, maybe not.” He stretched out on the leather couch. “G'night,” he mumbled.

Within minutes three sets of lusty snores permeated the room.

 

At 7:30 the following morning, before the building came to life, Irene unlocked the office door and shook the three men awake.

Reuben sat up, instantly aware of where he was and what had transpired during the previous hours. His stomach felt sour, and the pounding in his head was equal to that of a thousand drums. He struggled to a standing position, then wished he hadn't. His shoulders shaking with exertion, he looked down at the floor where Rocky and Jerry were cursing to each other. He stretched one long arm toward Rocky, who reached for it after a moment's debate. Jerry was next, his eyes holding a mixture of respect and suspicion.

“Now what?” he grumbled.

“I don't know what you two Harvard boys are going to do, but I'm going back to the Ambassador and clean up.”

“Hold on, Tarz, I thought we left all that crap at the crossroads last night. I thought we were friends waiting for news of a mutual friend. What the hell kind of a son of a bitch are you that you can turn your emotions on and off at a second's notice?”

Reuben wished he could squeeze the pain out of his head. Although he deserved what Rocky said, it didn't make things better in his mind. Daniel, loyal, wonderful Daniel, had gone to them for help instead of him when the chips were down. But it wasn't their fault. “I was out of line, sorry.”

“We'll be in touch the minute we hear anything. You can stop by, camp out here, whatever you want. Do you need a car?”

Gingerly he shook his head. “No, I think I'll take on the city by foot; I can use the exercise. But thanks for the offer.” He hesitated a fraction of a second before he held out his hand. The surprise on the faces of both men was worth the effort. Before the door closed behind him, Reuben heard Jerry mumbling about paying for two virgins and getting only one. He would have laughed, but his head hurt too much.

The only thing to do now, the only thing he could do, was wait.

Bebe woke in slow degrees. First her eyes opened and then closed. It always took a good five minutes before she realized that she felt terrible, sick really. After another five minutes she'd succeeded in forcing the bile back to her stomach. Her second conscious thought was that she needed a drink to start the day more than she needed to brush her teeth and take a shower. Her third thought, always realistic, was how lucky she was that there was no one around to see how she looked and felt.

The diamond-studded watch on her wrist told her it was seven
A.M
. Usually she was just getting in at this hour, and here she was getting up with the roosters. Why, she asked herself, her foggy brain whirling. Oh, yes…she had something to do today that was important, something she'd promised herself she would do—early. Searching the pretty bedroom for the answer, she happened to glance at the little silver picture frame. Lily, sweet little Lily, Reuben's daughter by his mistress, Rosemary. Rosemary with the big red bow. Rosemary had died in childbirth, and…she had agreed to take the baby when Reuben said they would make a fresh start in their marriage. Lily was a robust baby with fat pink cheeks that gobbled up bottle after bottle, never crying unless she was hungry. And then…and then…one morning she had stopped breathing. What was it the doctors said? Something about infant deaths with no reason. Unexplained. The casket had been small and white, the top covered with yellow-and-white daisies. She'd mourned—God, how she'd mourned!—not just for Lily, but for what she recognized as the final failure of her marriage. Lily had been her last chance to make Reuben love her, and…she was filing for divorce today.
That
was the important thing she couldn't remember.

It was almost noon before Bebe had herself sufficiently together to leave the house. In the full light of day, her appearance had shocked her witless, so much so that she'd almost canceled her appointment with her attorney. Living the party life generally meant that she slept all day and partied all night. Lamplight and twilight were always kind to her ravished features, and makeup hid a multitude of flaws. Today, the harsh reality slammed her full in the face. She wanted to cry, to blubber, to wail and stamp her feet at what she'd become, but she didn't. She'd done it to herself…with Reuben's help. From somewhere deep inside her a warning bell sounded. It was the end of the road for her; either she straightened out her life, or she would be joining Lily in that never-never place everyone feared. Initiating divorce proceedings was to be her first step in her personal survival. From there she would take it one day at a time.

The lawyer's name was Chester Rogal. He was considered small-time by most Hollywood standards, but he was successful by his own standards and that was all that counted. When he closed his office at night, he often bragged to himself that he'd never short-changed a client or lost a case. He'd settled cases out of court, but always to his client's advantage. He was short and rotund, with a beak for a nose and an Abraham Lincoln beard that he constantly massaged while he was thinking. And he was thinking now as he listened to Bebe Tarz. Of course, he'd heard all the stories before, everyone had, and he was smart enough to know that there were two sides to everything and then there was the truth. But Chester never passed judgment. Ever. Now he was listening with what he called his third ear for some telltale sign that Bebe was going to prove less than profitable.

“It's very simple, Mr. Rogal. The settlement can be one or the other. I see it as cut and dried. I want my father's half of the studio returned to me and my brother, or else I want half of everything Reuben owns. Either way, I want his resignation from the studio. If we settle for half and he fights for his seat on the board, I'll give that up if I have to, but I want him out of there. What I really want is the studio; it belongs to my family. He robbed my father, and I don't care what the media says about him
being
Fairmont Studios. Do you foresee a problem with any of this?” Bebe asked.

“Well, I'd be lying to you if I said the man won't put up a fight. He's given his life to the studio, and you want to yank it out from under him. Of course, he's going to put up a fight. But we'll work something out,” Chester said confidently.

“Mr. Rogal, I want you to cut him off at the knees. And I want to take back my maiden name after the divorce.” Bebe scribbled out a check for an outrageous sum of money and placed it on the desk with a trembling hand. “You will earn every cent of this, and if things go the way I want them to go, there will be a bonus in it for you. I'll be in touch, Mr. Rogal.”

Chester buzzed his secretary after Bebe had left. When he heard her voice he smiled. “Helen, I want you to get me every word that's ever been printed about Hollywood's golden boy, Reuben Tarz.” He continued to smile as he stared at the check in his hand. Four lovely zeros, all in a row.

 

The moment Bebe swung the powerful car into the driveway leading to the house, she knew something was wrong. Her brother Eli and Clovis Ames, Fairmont's leading lady of silent films and Sol Rosen's second wife, were talking together on the front steps. Bebe felt her throat constrict. Something had happened to her father.

“We've been waiting, sis. Sit down. It's Pop, he's had a stroke. He…didn't make it. Clovis was with him in the ambulance.”

“He didn't suffer, Bebe,” Clovis said gently. “It was quick and…merciful, if you can say that about death. I…I want to do the right thing…. I'm not Jewish…Eli said he would handle things, so perhaps you two should talk about this. I can go back to the house or…I can stay, it's up to you.”

In shock, Bebe could only nod. Her father gone. How was it possible? Just a little while ago she'd asked for the studio, had told the lawyer it belonged to her and Eli. But she hadn't mentioned her father. Was it possible that even then she'd had a premonition? No, her father and Clovis were happy, traveling and doing things together. More than once he'd told her that he didn't want anything to do with the studio, that Reuben Tarz deserved all the misery that went with it.

“I think you should call Reuben,” Eli said.

“That's funny, Eli. I don't have the foggiest idea of where Reuben is. I just got back yesterday myself,” Bebe cried, dabbing at her eyes.

“The housekeeper told me he's in Washington. With Daniel Bishop, I assume. The studio told me he's staying at the Ambassador. We can delay the funeral until he gets back. Do you want me to call him?”

“No, I'll do it. What about Simon and Dillon?”

“I'll take care of it.”

“Clovis, did Daddy say anything, at the end, I mean?”

As if on cue, Clovis drew herself up dramatically. “Yes, he said to tell both of you he loved you very much. I was holding his hand and he squeezed mine. I said I would tell you.” Eli's eyes thanked her for the lie.

“Oh, Clovis!” Bebe threw herself into her stepmother's arms. “I'm going to miss him. I wish I'd been a better daughter, kissed him more often, visited him more, said kinder things to him.”

Clovis patted her comfortingly. “Shhh, that's not important. Your father knew you loved him and he loved you. He wouldn't want you crying like this. I want you to pull yourself together, Bebe. Things have to be done; you have to call Reuben. The whole town will turn out to pay tribute to Sol. We have to make some plans.”

Bebe nodded. “What will you do?”

Clovis smiled wanly. “I think I'll go back to Texas and stay with my sister. I've had enough of this town to last me the rest of my life. Who knows, I might strike oil. The house is yours, Bebe. When your husband deeded it back to Sol, he in turn deeded it to you and Eli. Eli says he wants no part of it, so I guess it's yours. I certainly don't want it, and Sol never wanted me to have it. We had our own arrangements, and they aren't important. Come along and call Reuben.”

“I filed for divorce today, Clovis,” Bebe said, trailing alongside her father's widow.

“It's about time. Now maybe you'll make a life for yourself. I'm proud of you, Bebe, really proud. If you need me or if there's anything I can do, let me know.”

“I always wanted to be like you, Clovis. I used to playact and say and do things I thought you would do in a scene. I think I've been acting all my life,” Bebe said pitifully.

“I'm flattered, honey, but what I did wasn't reality. That was all make-believe for money. Money was the thing; everything, no matter what it was, was for box office. I'm really glad I didn't make it when sound came. I got a chance to be myself, and I like who I am. That's why I have to leave this place. Enough talk now. You have to call Reuben.”

The moment Reuben answered the phone Bebe started to cry. Between sobs she told him of her father's death. “Eli said we can postpone things till you arrive. Can you give me some indication of when—”

“Bebe, listen to me,” Reuben said, his voice full of shock. People like Sol Rosen lived forever. “I can't make it back right now. Go ahead with the funeral. I'll pay my respects when I get there. You know how I feel about funerals. They're barbaric.”

Bebe shook her head to clear her thoughts. Reuben—her own husband—was not interested in attending her father's funeral? She took a deep breath. “I heard what you said, Reuben, and I think you are the lowest form of life on this earth. Daddy practically gave you the studio, and you can't be bothered to attend his funeral. How dare you! How
dare
you, Reuben! Better yet, go to hell! Oh, I get it,” Bebe screamed, “it finally got to you; you're afraid to show your face to the industry because they'll all start talking about the way you aced Daddy out of the studio. Well, you crud, they'll talk more now because I'm going to remind them in case they've forgotten. Go to hell, Reuben!”

Eli felt his eyes pop at Bebe's angry words. Clovis reached out to take Bebe in her arms. “He's not coming,” she blubbered. “He's not coming to Daddy's funeral.”

 

Sol Rosen's funeral wasn't just a funeral, it was an event. Everyone in Hollywood, down to the last cameraman and script girl, attended the graveside service. Bebe found herself listening to the rabbi's eulogy, wondering where he'd come by his information and all the kind words and outright lies he was saying. From beneath her veil she could see others wondering the same thing. “Your father wrote his own eulogy himself several years ago,” Clovis blurted out suddenly as if reading her mind.

Bebe, Clovis, and Eli were the last to leave the cemetery. “I feel as if I should say something, do something,” Bebe said softly.

Eli shook his head. “I wish he'd loved me. I loved him.”

“I wish I'd loved him more,” Bebe said.

“I loved him enough for all of us,” Clovis muttered. “It's true,” she said defiantly as they looked at her. “He loved you, Eli, he just couldn't show it. He thought it wasn't masculine to show his feelings for a son. You have to believe me. It's the truth.”

God would forgive her this little lie, and so would Sol.