Page 31 of Second Act
“That’s what I understood, which is why I called you. We would love to have you in our Webber stable of very talented writers. Are you and Andy writing partners? Should we be talking to him too? I had the impression that the picture was kind of a one-off for him. I assumed he’d want to wind up running another studio one of these days. Do you think he’d be interested in working on a series withyou? He could certainly write the scripts if you’re more comfortable working with him,” Helen said easily, eager to please and to entice Violet to sign on with them.
“I’m not sure what his long-term plans are. I think he wants to pick and choose his writing projects. I loved working with him. And he taught me a lot about the process.”
“With spectacular results, I might add.” Helen smiled at Violet. “I’m sorry you’re not free right now, Violet. We would have loved to have you on our lead series for the fall, with all the hype that goes with it. We could schedule it for later in the season, but a new show has more impact if we launch it in the fall. We can always consider it for January or February. Or wait till the year after. We’re very interested in partnering with you, and that’s by unanimous vote of the committee that green-lights our new projects.”
“I’m really honored,” Violet said, her head swimming with all the information Helen had given her. She wanted to remember every detail to tell Andy when she got home.
They chatted for a few more minutes. Helen thanked her for her time, and Violet thanked her for the very flattering opportunity.
“Don’t just be flattered. Come and work for us,” Helen said, smiling. “I’m sure you’ll get a lot of offers, but we would really love to put a show of yours on the air, as soon as you feel you could do it, with your other commitments.”
“I’d love that too, and I’ll talk to Andy about it. I think he’s still a little torn right now between another big executive job and writing.”
“I know which one I’d pick,” Helen said. “I’d pick writing. It’s fresh every day, and you have a lot more control of your own destiny and can pretty much establish your conditions. My idea of hell would berunning a studio or a network. He’s remarkable that he managed to hang in at Global for nineteen years. Most people burn out in two. It’s a thankless high-risk job, and if the owners sell, you’re out of a job, just like Andy. It happens all the time in this business. It’s brutal dealing with that kind of insecurity, one minute you’re at the top, and the next minute you’re on the street, looking for a new job. Some of the best people I know have lost their jobs that way, when the parent company sells. I think Andy handled it with enormous grace. He was smart to leave town for a while and do something else. Give him my best. We worked on a project together years ago, he probably doesn’t even remember me,” Helen said modestly.
“Oh yes, he does. Very much so. He wanted me to come to this meeting, and spoke highly of you.”
“Good. I’m happy to hear it. Next time, he’s welcome to join us.” Helen walked Violet back to the reception area on her floor, and Violet was elated when she got in the elevator. She couldn’t wait to talk to Andy about it. She had liked Helen Berg a lot. She seemed like a supremely competent woman and a straight shooter.
—
Timothy drove Violet to a few more shops on the way home. She was distracted, thinking about everything Helen Berg had said to her, and she was waiting impatiently for Andy with a glass of wine at the pool when he got back to the house at six o’clock. He stopped to kiss her and sat down in a chair next to her. “How was your meeting?” he asked her. He was happy to see her when he got home.
“I think it was pretty good.” She repeated everything Helen said to her.
“Pretty good? Vi, it was fantastic! People here would die for an offer like that from Webber. And you turned it down? I can’t believe it.”
“I want to work on our new movie with you,” she said simply. “I can always talk to her after that.”
“If they’re still interested. Things move fast in this business. You shouldn’t miss an opportunity like that.”
“I’d rather work with you on another movie,” she said, and he smiled at her.
“I don’t know how I got so lucky. This town is crawling with people who would kill their grandmothers to get an opportunity like that, and you just turned down your own series at Webber. She must have been surprised.”
“Maybe. She said you could do the scripts on the new show if we want to continue working together. She asked if we’re writing partners. I wasn’t sure what to say.”
“Yes, we are. I have to admit, a big series would be kind of a thrill, and we could probably squeeze in an indie movie once a year. Now, that would be a great combo.” She smiled then too.
“It sounded good to me, but I wanted to hear what you thought.”
“I think you were crazy to turn it down, but hopefully you’ll get another shot. And I know I love you. That’s what I think of your meeting. If you want to keep writing together, I think what she’s suggesting could even be good for us. Thank you for holding out for our movie,” he said gratefully.
“There was no way I was going to give that up,” she said, as Dash arrived at the house and came to talk to them at the pool.
“I want to move to LA,” he said, looking excited. “I love the weather here, the food, and the people.”
Andy turned to him with a grin. “Violet turned down the offer of a series for Webber today,” he said proudly, and Dash’s eyes opened wide.
“You’re shitting me.”
“I’m not. She didn’t want to miss the chance to work on another movie with us.”
“Hell, I would have sold your ass out in a hot minute,” Dash said, and all three of them laughed. “And I mean it. What was the series about?”
“Whatever Violet wants to write. Carte blanche,” Andy said.
Dash groaned. “I’m dying.” And then he turned to her. “Next time you get an offer like that, call me before you decline. We need to protect you.”
