Page 112 of The Gathering Storm
Sherwood Forest. He didn’t know it, but English woods were lovely, intimate and charming, not like the great wild forests of America. It would be nice to see Sherwood Forest.
And he could pretend all he liked, but he was just delaying thinking about Polly. It would be more than nice to see Polly, even if he was only Cousin Lennie to her now. Just to see her again – and dear old Morland Place, which held so much of his heart. He felt as though he had been in exile, and was being allowed a chance to go home.
Home! He realised now that that was what Wilma feared – not that he’d die, but that he’d stay there. She was so smart, it was frightening.
Lennie came across Al Feinstein on the back lot, standing in the sunshine in his shirtsleeves, hands jammed into his pockets as usual, talking to the assistant producer, Dorothy Fitch. He broke off when he saw Lennie coming, removed his hands from his pockets and made an expansive gesture. ‘So, Len, you’ve heard? I see it in your face.’
‘You’re taking the company to England?’
Dorothy turned to him. ‘I’ve been saying, we could find a suitable forest right here in California. And a castle façade can be built on the lot for next to nothing, out of plywood and papier-mâché.’
‘Small thinking!’ Feinstein dismissed her argument. ‘This movie is gonna be big, the biggest thing since Cleopatra and twice as good, and we’re not gonna stint on it.’
‘We’re not?’ Lennie said wryly. As a major shareholder, much of it was his money.
‘Don’t worry,’ Feinstein said, patting his shoulder. ‘It’ll all come out of budget. This is advertising, Len – you got to advertise, these days. And it’ll cost a lot less than Selznick’s dumb “search for Scarlett” stunt. Which, by the way, is a total crock, because I hear on the grapevine he’s already got an unknown English actress tucked in his top pocket, not that he’s letting on. Those screen tests are totally phoney. Not like our trip to Merrie Old England! See the difference? It’s already catching the headlines. “ABO to Major in Authenticity” – Motion Picture Journal. “Feinstein backs the Real Deal” – Movie Mirror. We’re knocking Selznick and MGM outta the park.’ He slapped himself on the chest in congratulation. ‘The old man’s still got it. Gone With the Wind!’ he said witheringly. ‘Kinda title is that? Sounds like a plug for Andrews Liver Salts!’
‘What’s the plan, then – going to England?’ Lennie asked, knowing a smokescreen when he saw one.
Feinstein raised his hand placatingly. ‘Controlled, every inch of the way. Small cast, just the principals, small crew. We’ll recruit technicians and extras over there. Much cheaper. Six weeks’ location shooting in July and August – the weather’s more reliable then. Right, Dotty? Get over there, get it done, get back. Nottingham Forest, the real one. Authenticity.’
‘The forest is not a problem,’ Dorothy said, looking anxious, ‘but we’re having trouble finding the right castle.’
‘England’s lousy with castles,’ Al objected.
‘Yes, but most of them are ruins. And owned by some obscure branch of the British government, which adds to the difficulties and the paperwork. I’ve got an agent over there looking, and he says there’s one in Scotland that might do, but that’s a long way from Nottingham, and he says the roads are bad.’
‘Scotland can be hard going,’ Lennie agreed. ‘I’m sure there must be one nearer than that.’
‘The problem is, we need one with a working drawbridge for the siege scene. Honestly,’ she turned back to Feinstein, who met her with a stony face, ‘we ought to think about a back-lot façade.’
Lennie suppressed a smile. ‘You want a privately owned castle with a drawbridge, not too far from Nottingham? I think I know just the place.’
‘You do?’ Dorothy said, hope struggling with doubt in her expression. ‘How do you know about it?’
‘I used to live there,’ said Lennie.
