The Fan Letter (25 page)

“Good. You belong with us, Leslie. We want you back,” he said putting his hands on her arms. “Now, give me a hug and a kiss and promise me you’ll seriously reconsider.”

She gave him the hug and the kiss and a shrug.

“I’ll see you on the twelfth,” he told her as he waved and shut the door behind him.

“Thanks for stopping in,” she muttered to the closed door and walked slowly back to the kitchen table to resume typing. Her finger was poised over the on/off switch, but her mind was far away in a beachfront house.

L
eslie’s parents, her ex-co-workers at the boutique, some local fans, and the photographer from the paper were on hand at the airport to see Leslie off. Everyone was confident she would win even though she was not so confident. Her black evening dress from Mona was carefully packed. It had a well-fitting bodice with full sleeves that narrowed down to the buttoned wrists. The waist was outlined by rows of black sequins and the skirt was full and would trail behind her as she walked. Tom’s necklace would adorn her bare neck and she borrowed a pair of diamond studs for her ears.

After all the hugs and kisses and pictures, Leslie boarded the commuter jet and settled back for the one hour flight, her mouth dry, her palms damp, and her heart pounding. Her outfit in the box was held tightly on her lap.

She saw no one familiar at the terminal as she came down the ramp. She began to get panicky as the studio had said she was supposed to be met. Nervously glancing from face to face as she walked, a waving chauffeur caught her attention, holding up a sign that read Nelson. She sighed in relief when she saw him.

“Miss Nelson?” he asked pleasantly as he took her box. “I’m sorry I’m a little late. Traffic, you know. Mr. Avery is in the car. Please follow me.”

He led her to the loading zone where a black stretch limo waited at the curb. The door was opened to reveal Richard Avery and Eddie Chase on the seat next to him, both men dressed in tuxedos. A passerby spotted Eddie, gave a short shriek and managed to wave before the door was closed.

“Surprise! Told you I would see you on the twelfth!” Eddie explained, all pleased with himself. “I couldn’t let you go with Avery here. It just wasn’t right. So I made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“You draw the short straw?”

“No, lost best out of three in Rock, Paper, Scissors.”

“Well, as long as you tried so hard,” she kidded back, “how can I resist?” She looked around the car. “I do hope I’ll have someplace to change other than in here.”

“Oh, sure,” Eddie piped up. “We’ll stop at some gas station for you.”

“Oh, goodie,” was her flat reply.

Mr. Avery just shook his head and looked out the window. “Kids,” he muttered. “I’ve arranged for a dressing room for you backstage since you had to fly in. We’ll go straight to the Pavilion. The awards begin in two hours. After the ceremony, which will last forever, will be a dinner and then a photo session with the press. You will be back at the airport in time for your eleven o’clock flight.”

“Unless you decide to stay,” Eddie injected hopefully.

Richard looked puzzled by this comment but asked Leslie instead, “Do you have a speech memorized? I’d like to hear it before we get there.”

“Speech?” Leslie echoed, her eyebrows going up. “Whatever for? I’m not going to win. Why do I need a speech?”

Mr. Avery rolled his eyes and rubbed a hand over his face. Eddie pursed his lips and looked out the window. Speaking very slowly, Mr. Avery said, “And what if you do win? You must be prepared, Miss Nelson.”

A headache started throbbing behind her left eye. “Oh, I’ll think of something if the impossible happens.”

“It usually does, Les. It usually does,” Eddie cryptically commented in an undertone.

She heard him and narrowed her eyes. “What do you know? What have you done?”

He was all innocence. “Nothing!”

T
here was no red carpet, no bleachers full of waving fans, no hosts from the news stations, no lines of photographers for that day’s awards. The nominees quietly wandered in and were shown to their elaborately decorated tables.

Leslie emerged from her dressing room and was greeted by smiles from her two escorts.

“Very nice, Leslie,” Mr. Avery commented. “Very tasteful.”

“Eddie?” she asked as she turned a full circle.

“Ah, you’re too short,” was his remark.

She gave a laugh. “What?”

“Good,” he nodded. “Keep
that
smile on your face, not the fake one we usually see.”

Leslie took his offered arm and they emerged into the Ballroom. Leslie looked around and was confused. “This looks so different than the room they usually use. It’s so…plain.”

Mr. Avery explained, “The set you are used to seeing for the televised awards is in another room. This is the one they use for the technical awards. If we have time afterwards, I’ll show you the other. We have to be seated now.”

They were joined at their table by the costume designer and the set designer of the show whom Leslie had met them before. The show was up for a total of four awards that night, including Special Effects.

The lights dimmed and the ceremony began. It was handled in the same way as the more popular televised version. Well-known presenters would name the candidates and, in a lot of cases, clips from the shows were included on huge screens to the right of the stage.

Leslie looked at her program. Her category was about half-way into the evening. The others in their group were spread out somewhat evenly throughout the event.

Their first loss was Special Effects. Their first win was Set Design. Mr. Avery and the designer made their way onstage amid polite applause and made two short, appreciative speeches.

They came back to the table with the gold and crystal statue, grinning broadly. They both looked cool and calm. Leslie was a bundle of nerves.

Thirty minutes later the presenter, a late-night talk show host, read the names for the New Author of the Year division. Leslie’s name was second of the five. A montage of each author’s works was shown after the name was announced. Leslie had a tight grip on Eddie’s arm as she stared at the stage. The men exchanged a worried glance. She was as pale as a ghost and didn’t seem to be breathing.

“And the award for New Author of the Year goes to…Leslie Nelson! This is her first nomination and the first award for Miss Nelson.”

The screens again flashed scenes from “The Time Police,” yet Leslie didn’t move. Richard and Eddie were about to nudge her when she suddenly stood from her chair and smiled warmly at the applause. The men looked puzzled but joined in the clapping.

Leslie walked steadily to the stairs of the platform and gracefully raised the hem of her dress to keep it out of the way of her heels. She received a hug from the presenter and was handed her statue which, had she noticed, had her name engraved on the front gold plate. The screens continued to show scenes from the series. When the clapping stopped, Leslie looked over the room.

“I was asked today,” she began in a clear, smooth voice, “by Mr. Avery if I had prepared a speech. I hadn’t because I am familiar with the competition and didn’t figure I would win. But I would be a poor writer if I was to become speechless.”

There was a small ripple of laughter that went through the audience.

Leslie smiled and continued. “So, I will be brief and thank those who have helped and encouraged me back home in Amherst and those wonderful people at Majestic who believed in my work and gave flesh and blood to the characters and ideas I put on paper. I share this award with all of you. Of course, I’m keeping it, but you can come by and see it any time. Thank you!”

She bowed her head briefly in a nod of thanks as more laughter and applause was heard, and she was escorted down the stairs by the talk-show host. Smiling, she returned to her table and was kissed and hugged by all her co-workers before she was allowed to sit.

“Very nice, my dear,” Mr. Avery leaned over to take her hand. He was surprised to find it was cold and clammy and that she was shaking as she smiled back.

Eddie leaned over and whispered, “Now you can breathe, Les. Tom will be proud of you.”

She averted her wide eyes from his as the next winner was announced.

Those were the only awards they won that night. Leslie could now relax and enjoy her dinner. Eddie knew she had tensed up again as he led her to the press conference. But, he also knew she would surprise him and come through as well as she always seemed to do.

There were numerous pictures being taken of the groups and of the individuals of each show represented. “The Time Police” group received their turn and Leslie faced her first camera interview. Fortunately, because of the number of awards and the shortage of time, the interview was general and brief. By ten o’clock Leslie was on her way back to the airport.

At midnight the same group that had seen her off greeted her with one question: “Well, what happened?”

When she opened the black box and held up the gold and crystal statue, her friends went crazy and showered her with champagne.

At two in the morning Leslie was back in her apartment alone, wearing her new black dress, staring at her first award, and mentally going over the entire day’s events.

L
ong lines of cheering, waving fans greeted the elegantly dressed arrivals as they made their way up the red carpet to the gilded entrance of the Pavillion’s Regal Ballroom. Overhead, the crystal chandeliers twinkled with hundreds of lights and prisms and played off of the sequins and beads and gemstones below. Tuxedoed waiters walked amongst the stars and offered drinks and hors d’ oeuvres from silver platters.

Friends and co-workers, directors and producers, actors and dates all mingled in the spacious lobby before being escorted to their seats for the evening.

Phillip and Eddie arrived at the same time and went over to Tom and Tina, and Cindy and her escort. Eddie faintly shook his head at the question in Tom’s eyes and then brightly asked, “Did you hear the news? Leslie won last night. You should have seen her in a black gown that swept along behind her! She looked great.”

All were pleased by the announcement. Tina had glanced up sharply at Tom, but he had only a mild smile of his face. She couldn’t see the flash in his eyes as he turned to Maxwell who had just arrived. She readjusted her arm as it rested in his and set her mouth in a determined smile.

Richard Avery and Ron Nickles joined the group and were introduced to Maxwell’s date and to Cindy’s. “We took two last night,” Richard announced. “Let’s do that again tonight!”

They all agreed and turned to enter the main auditorium. Phillip touched Eddie’s arm and slowed his pace. Eddie did likewise.

“Tell me about Bunny,” Phillip requested in a voice only Eddie could hear. “Was she nervous? How did she do?”

Eddie smiled to himself. Phillip still couldn’t remember to call her by her real name. “She was so nervous that she forgot to breathe. She just sat there when her name was announced. We thought Richard would have to take over. Then, she rose like the phoenix, glided up to the stage, and winged a wonderful little speech. I was really proud of her. She, again, shocked Avery! He thought she was going to faint on him.”

Phillip didn’t reply in any way. He just smiled and nodded to Eddie as he followed the others to the row of seats designated for “The Time Police.”

P
hillip took the first award for the series that night in the Best Supporting Actor category. It was his first award ever. His broad smile enhanced his handsome face as he made a brief acceptance speech. The cameraman caught a glimpse of something shiny and zoomed in on a small bunny attached to the lapel of his tuxedo. The pin, however, was removed by the time he retook his chair in the audience.

He was pleased with his speech. He had thanked the ones who had voted for him and his co-workers. His special gratitude was for the writers of the show who gave his character so many dimensions, even love, he had added.

The show itself won the award for the most popular series. The two screens from the previous night’s ceremony had been brought in and now clips from the series’ four seasons ran. When Phillip had won, they played clips of the Professor in his love scenes with Jane. The clip that played now featured Jack, Sir Charles, Jane and Andrew. The group was deep in discussion:

The screen faded to black and the other four nominees were named and their clips were shown. Polite applause again followed each clip.

The presenter was obviously pleased as she read the winner. “And the award for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series…Tom Young!”

Tom made his way onstage amid clapping and wolf whistles from his friends. It took a while for the noise to abate.

He looked over the audience only to see Eddie smiling at him and thumbing his nose. Tom shook his head and began his speech with a grin. “This award means a lot to me because it is the Public Opinion Award. I’m privileged to be part of a wonderful cast of actors and writers. Without all their efforts there would be no ‘Time Police’ and no reason for me to be dressed like a penguin,” as he tugged at his tight collar and the audience chuckled. “Thanks go to my friends and co-workers, to our fine director Ron Nickles (he paid me to say that) and to my girlfriend L…uh, Tina who is a wonderful addition to the show.” He coughed and flushed at his slip. Tina’s smile was frozen on her pleasant face as the camera in the audience panned their row of faces and stopped on hers. “So,” Tom was finishing onstage, “thanks again and be prepared for our best season ever!”

Tom was escorted to the stairs as the emcee returned to the stage and concluded the evening. Tom bent to give Tina a kiss and she offered her cheek, her smile still frozen. The smile faded as the red light of the camera aimed at them went out and people began gathering their wraps.

The group headed backstage for the interviews and photographs that would air on the next day’s news and entertainment shows.

Phillip happily found himself surrounded for pictures and interviews. After watching Sarah do this for years he was enjoying himself. The golden bunny pin reappeared briefly for the on-camera interview.

Tina attached herself to Eddie’s arm as Tom held his interview and didn’t relinquish the arm when Tom had finished. Eddie grinned gamely as he led her over to congratulate Phillip. When she complained loudly of a splitting headache, Tom offered to see her home. She thanked him but asked Ron for the favor. Tina was smart enough to know she wouldn’t see Tom again on a social level, and she was professional enough to know she wouldn’t leave the show especially after the awards they won that night. Hers and Tom’s relationship instantly turned into a working relationship. Another thing she knew was that Tom wouldn’t follow her home. She had been called Leslie for the last time.

T
he fan mail that now came to Majestic Studio doubled in volume after the award show aired. It had been steadily increasing since the new season began in September, but now the accolades really arrived.

The most notable increase was the mail addressed to Phillip Beck. Ever since the third show, CHATEAU REX, he was now thought of as a romantic lead. This both surprised and tickled the actor. After sixteen years and countless appearances, he was being described as a sexy leading man.

His agent Bill recognized what had happened and was quickly arranging for scripts with renewed zeal. Within a month of the award, Zenith sent three scripts. North Star sent two. This time Phillip was wanted for the lead.

Public opinion was a strong force. If the public accepted Phillip as the lead, they would have him as the lead.

By May, Phillip was again overwhelmed with scripts, but he didn’t mind. These were the ones he had been awaiting all those lost years.

He now found himself traveling to exotic locales for filming, and took the time to redecorate his mansion to resemble an English manor he had just visited that autumn. All of Sarah’s white furniture was donated to charity, and all her clothes were packed into a rented storage shed and locked with one key. Davey’s room was left as it was and the door shut and locked. He contacted his lawyer and sent him to Ireland where his wife Sarah was handed the divorce papers, a settlement for the house, a letter and documents for Davey in which she was demanded to deliver in due time, and a key and the bill for the storage locker. If she set foot in his house, she would be forcibly removed from the property. Appearances on “The Time Police” were limited to two a season and he agreed to one fan convention every other year. His face became a regular in celebrity magazines, and late night talk shows were now plugging his movies. More time was given to charities and the bookcase in his study began to be filled with more awards and commendations.

There was a special lock that was installed on the third drawer on the right side of his desk. This drawer held Bunny’s letters, pictures, scripts, and the newspaper articles he had collected still remained. The last thing added was a shot of her in the black evening dress holding her award. The drawer was locked and the key, along with Davey’s key, was added to his ring.

Phillip now had a private secretary and manager who worked closely with his agent Bill to keep all of Phillip’s appearances and film dates organized. It pleased Phillip to no end that he could not longer keep track of everything himself.

I
n Ireland, Sarah and Marty were quietly married. Davey and his little sister walked down the aisle together in front of their parents, his steps were short to allow for Heather’s small legs.

Sarah’s career was stronger than ever. After Heather was born, she fanatically dieted and exercised and got back her beautiful figure. Heather would have her blond hair and Marty’s dark eyes. The toddler received offers. Davey received offers. Sarah had more than she could handle. She and Marty decided they would never return to the United States.

When this was explained to Davey, he didn’t seem to mind. Marty was now his daddy and that tall man had faded from his young memory. He was receiving an international education and could now speak four languages fluently. Sarah worked with him daily so he never lost what he had so easily acquired. What she never mentioned to Davey was Phillip.

Heather was the main delight in Davey’s life. He adored his beautiful little sister. He wanted to teach her everything he knew and couldn’t understand why she wanted to play so much. When he complained that Heather didn’t seem very smart, his mother simply laughed and told him to be patient. “She’s your sister for the rest of your life. You’ll have plenty of time to teach her. Now go play and have some fun.”

Sarah was feeling no regrets in taking Davey away from his father. She was selfishly pleased to know the deep loss Phillip suffered when he had come to France to see for himself that his dear son looked at him as a stranger. She now felt secure then that Phillip would do nothing more to get him back. She would honor the demands from the lawyer when Davey was old enough to know his past and understand her decisions. Then, and only then, would Davey be allowed to know about his real father.

The situation that caused Sarah the most worry was that of her private investigator, Wayne Fields. Long after she knew of her mistaken assumption she had continued to pay him in hopes of earning his doubtful loyalty. She had ordered him back and forth to Los Angeles in vain hope of finding some solid evidence she had craved—both against that nobody in Amherst and against her husband. Finally Wayne had rebelled and said he would no longer work for her. He was staying in that horrible little town in Northern California, and she hoped he would rot there with her dirty little secret. She had sent him a substantial final check with an unsigned letter requesting his silence, never hearing from him again.

As Sarah traveled around she heard bits and pieces of news out of Los Angeles. Only a few of her friends ever contacted her and they, too, told of a new rising star in the picture industry. She was shocked when she learned it was Phillip.

Having finished his filming in England and charming the British, he would be back next year to star in one of their biggest films along with newcomer Tina Rowan. “The Time Police” was hugely popular in England, and they liked the way Jane and Rex looked together.

Sarah found herself going through the movie magazines. Again and again she found articles about Phillip. Never once was she mentioned. He was now one of the most eligible bachelors in the industry and quickly becoming one of the most popular actors.

Staring at one gossip magazine’s picture of his tanned, smiling, handsome face, Sarah thought grimly,
He did it
.
After all the years and all the lousy jobs, he did it
. He had done what he had always said he would do. She had never believed him after their initial move from New York. And he did it without her. It was a bitter pill for her to swallow.

It didn’t help her mood, either, to see the current bestseller list out of New York. CHATEAU REX was still holding the number one position and ANDREW’S REVENGE was number six. The author? Leslie Nelson of Amherst, California.

T
om Young found himself returning home to New York during the breaks from the series. His family was delighted to have him back so often, but, as time went on, their delight turned into worry. He just didn’t same to be the same carefree, joking man who popped in occasionally to tease and torment them and then disappear as suddenly as he had come. Where he had been outspoken and charming, now he was quiet and morose. There was a cloud that dimmed the sparkle in his amber eyes.

None of his brothers or sisters could help their baby brother. They knew the problem wasn’t professional since Tom’s career was its highest ever. When they chided him for not bringing the Public Opinion award for them to see, he just quietly told them it didn’t seem to matter so much any longer. This really surprised them. They were the ones that knew Tom’s pride in his work, and his ongoing efforts to better his performance.

Any question put to Tom about his personal life went unanswered. Any joke or prank went unrevenged. Dinners and visits with old family friends were few and strangely uncomfortable. Where Tom was once the life of the party, he was now content to sit on the sofa and watch the other people enjoying themselves.