by Gail Bowen
I smiled at the memory. “They probably were, and Taylor, everybody at your party had a lot of fun.”
Our daughter’s eyes stayed on the painting. “Sally never had any of that,” she said tightly. “Jo, I’m grateful you asked Darrell to bring this painting. It will take Vale where she needs to be to play Sally, but I don’t ever want to see it again.”
Darrell and I exchanged a quick look. “I’ll take care of it,” I said. “Taylor, just have Vale let me know when she wants to see it.”
Taylor swallowed hard. “Thank you, and Jo, thank you for agreeing to let them make Sisters and Strangers. People need to know . . .”
“Know what?” I said.
“Everything,” Taylor said. She squared her shoulders and turned to Darrell and Ben with a smile. “Now, would you two like to come to the production studios, see the paintings I’ve made and meet some of the people working on the series?”
“I’m in,” Darrell said. “I’m very keen to see what you’ve done with Sally’s work.”
Ben demurred. “May I take a rain check? Those studios are spread out over a city block and, my ankle isn’t ready for a marathon.”
After Taylor and Darrell left, I re-swathed the painting in its bubble wrap cocoon, called a friend of Taylor’s who owned a small gallery downtown and explained the situation. She agreed to pick up Sally’s self-portrait later in the day and keep it safe until Taylor decided what she wanted to do with it.
While I made the arrangements to store the painting, Ben and Georgie went back outside, and after I broke the connection, I joined them. I had splurged on really comfortable patio chairs, and Ben and Georgie were basking in the sun, cozy as Taylor’s cats, Bruce, Benny and Bob Marley.
“I could stay like this forever,” Ben said. “But we need to talk about where the production stands. I know you’ve had a few bumps in the road.”
“More than a few,” Georgie said. “And the road ahead is uncertain.”
When I’d told Georgie about Hal’s role in securing the initial financing for Sally and Joanne, her first reaction was concern for Hal. She’d worked with him before, and like Fawn, Georgie felt Hal was a fine man who would be suffering for creating a situation fraught with peril. After she’d explained the sequence of events that might result in Buzz Wells coming to Regina, Ben’s concern was palpable. “You have to do everything you can to keep Wells away from Sisters and Strangers,” he said.
I leaned forward. “Easier said than done, because Ainsley is carrying a huge burden, and Buzz Wells has the skills to lighten her load,” I said. “Gabe’s will left everything, including Living Skies, to Ainsley, and when Roy died, Georgie told me Ainsley inherited the summer home in Lennox, Roy’s loft in New York and his investments. Ainsley will be knee deep in the paperwork that comes from settling two estates. Not to mention the fact that she needs someone to manage Living Skies and someone to produce Sisters and Strangers.”
Ben frowned. “I thought you said Fawn Tootoosis was the production manager. She has an excellent reputation.”
“And deservedly so,” Georgie said. “But Ainsley’s never worked with Fawn, and she says she needs someone in whom she has complete confidence.”
“And that’s Buzz Wells?” Ben said. “Forgive me, but if she divorced Wells, she clearly had some concerns about him.”
Georgie raised an eyebrow. “Believe it or not, it was Buzz who wanted the divorce.”
“I didn’t know that,” I said.
“I only found out last night,” Georgie said. “When Ainsley called and started making noises about having Buzz join us, I pointed out that there must have been some friction between them or she wouldn’t have divorced him. Ainsley was upfront about the situation. She said Buzz divorced her because he was tired of having Roy at the centre of her life.”
“Now the centre of her life is gone,” Ben said.
“And there’s a vacancy,” I said.
“A vacancy that Buzz Wells is eager to fill.” Georgie rubbed her abdomen and took a deep breath. “I know I’ve been leading the brigade against Buzz, but there’s something you need to see before we take our next step.”
After Georgie disappeared into the house, Ben looked at me questioningly. I shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
Georgie returned with her laptop and placed it on the end table between Ben’s chair and mine. “This video of Ainsley rehearsing the actors for the Broadway production of The Happiest Girl is posted on YouTube.”
The video was only six minutes long but it revealed an Ainsley I’d glimpsed only once — the night she and Roy had danced to “Begin the Beguine” at the gala for their former dance teacher and mentor. As Ainsley and Roy tapped together, their relationship, strong and deeply intuitive, seemed organic — two individuals, each with an instinctive awareness of what the other needed. As a director, Ainsley appeared to have developed that same bond with her actors. A slight nod of her head, a half smile, a touch on the cheek and the moment came into focus. Clearly hours of work had gone into creating this kind of mutual trust and intimacy.
When the video ended, Georgie turned to us. “I wanted you to see what Ainsley can bring to a production.” Her smile was rueful. “I’d almost forgotten how good she can be.”
“Her rapport with the actors is extraordinary,” Ben said.
“Ainsley works hard at establishing that rapport,” Georgie said. “Before rehearsals start, she gives each of the actors a binder stuffed with her research — sketches, photos and lines from poems, plays and novels — anything that she feels will help them get to the heart of their character. She includes a note making it clear that the materials in the binder are simply tools that the actors can use or lose at will.”
“So the binder is a good faith offering showing Ainsley’s belief in the actor and in their future relationship,” I said.
“Exactly,” Georgie said. “You could see from that video how calm and attentive she is with them.”
“She rows with a steady stroke,” Ben said.
“She does,” Georgie agreed, “and there’s never any doubt about where the boat is headed. But now Ainsley is being buffeted in so many directions that she’s incapable of setting her course. The first day of principal photography for Sisters and Strangers is Monday, June 11. Ainsley knows she’s not doing what she needs to do to prepare, and it’s driving her crazy.”
“If she could accept the fact that Fawn Tootoosis is eminently qualified to bring the production through on time and on budget, Ainsley would be free to direct,” Ben said. “And you two could focus on the script. The only vacancy then would be general manager of Living Skies, and that position would be easily filled.”
“You make it sound so simple,” Georgie said.
“It is,” Ben said. “But human emotions complicate simple things. Ainsley is caught in a maelstrom, and apparently Buzz Wells is offering her a lifeline. The level-headed professional we saw in that video would have no problem realizing that if she trusts Fawn Tootoosis to produce Sisters and Strangers, the rest will fall into place.”
“I doubt that Buzz Wells is pushing Ainsley in that direction,” I said.
Ben’s laugh was short and resigned. “I’m sure you’re right. I guess if Wells does show up, all you can do is remain vigilant. On that cheery note, shall we move along? Would it be possible for me to look at what’s been written so far?”
“Better than that — let’s do a read-through,” Georgie said. “Ben, you read the male actors’ lines. Jo can read stage directions, and she and I will work out the women’s lines as we go.”
Hearing the dialogue aloud was absorbing, and the three of us were surprised when Darrell and Taylor returned and Darrell announced that it was time for them to hit the road. He was attending an opening at Saskatoon’s Remai Gallery that night and needed time to get ready.
After we said o
ur goodbyes, Taylor went out to her studio, and Georgie turned to me. “Do you believe that Buzz Wells coming aboard is a done deal?”
“I don’t know, but speculating isn’t going to change anything,” I said. “That read-through with Ben gave us plenty of food for thought.”
“It did,” Georgie agreed. “But I’m tired of thinking. Let’s talk about the wedding. I saw an outfit online that I’d like your opinion on.”
“Then get your laptop, and we’ll sit down at the kitchen table and make decisions.”
The suit Georgie showed me was stunning: pale dusky pink silk shantung, graceful, and chic.
“It’s gorgeous,” I said. “And with your colouring it will be perfect.”
“But it’s pink, and I’ve never been a girly-girl.”
“It’s a very muted pink, and the design is austere: no embellishments, just clean simple lines and precise tailoring. If you carry a bouquet of dusky roses and champagne orchids, you’ll be a knockout.”
Georgie’s gaze was suspicious. “How do you know all that?”
“Taylor. She sees remedying my ignorance of fashion as her life’s work. She was born knowing how to tie a scarf.”
“Hal is a big fan of your daughter,” Georgie said. “And of you.” She paused. “Joanne, Hal told me about the role he played in getting the seed money for Sisters and Strangers. He’s sick about it.”
“I know,” I said. “And I understand. Gabe had done a huge kindness for Hal by hiring him when everyone else had written him off, and Buzz had caused Hal’s sister grief by using her concept to keep Broders’ Annex, the show she’d created, running for four seasons after he’d forced her off the writing team.” I touched Georgie’s arm. “I understood that Hal couldn’t have anticipated the outcome, and I told him that the day we met in the writers’ room.”
“And he was grateful,” Georgie said. Suddenly she narrowed her eyes. “Joanne, I don’t know why this didn’t cross my mind before. Do you think Ainsley knows where the financing for Sisters and Strangers came from?”
“Gabe was an egotist. I can’t imagine him telling Ainsley that he got the money for his shining new venture by having her ex-husband’s creditors put the squeeze on him and by selling them stock in the company they owned.”
“That does seem unlikely,” Georgie said. “There’s one way to find out.” She took out her phone and placed the call. When Ainsley picked up, Georgie waded right in. “There’s something you should know about how Gabe acquired the start-up financing for Sisters and Strangers,” she said. That was as far as she got. As Ainsley gave her an earful, Georgie grimaced and mouthed the words “she knows”; after she’d listened a little longer, Georgie mouthed the words “she doesn’t care.”
She and Ainsley talked for a few more minutes and then Georgie ended the conversation, “Okay we’ll see you tomorrow at two o’clock. Safe flight.” She slid her phone back into her bag. “I’m assuming I don’t have to tell you that did not go well.”
“I picked up on that.”
“Okay, well, in a nutshell, Buzz had a lousy hand but he played it well. He told Ainsley the truth and didn’t spare the gory details. He said that at the moment, they were both in a difficult place, but they could help each other.”
“And she agreed.”
“She did. Ainsley says Buzz is just coming to Regina to get the lay of the land, familiarize himself with the situation and explain his strategy for seeing Sisters and Strangers through to post-production. After that, if they can strike a mutually beneficial arrangement, Buzz will sign on for the duration. They’ll arrive in Regina on the early flight, and Ainsley wants a table meeting, all hands on deck at two o’clock tomorrow afternoon. She’s calling Fawn now to arrange it.” Georgie pulled her laptop closer. “Nothing we can do till then, so let’s see if we can find you something that Taylor will approve of.”
I have never been a shopper but shopping online with Georgie was fun, and when we finally settled on an oyster silk shantung suit that was the perfect complement to Georgie’s outfit, we moved onto possible dresses for Chloe, and from there to floral arrangements and wedding cakes. After we’d ticked off all the boxes, Georgie leaned back in her chair. “I call this a good day’s work,” she said. “I’m going home to nap. Since you have to be at the table meeting tomorrow afternoon, you should take the morning off.”
“That works for me,” I said. “Zack and I are spending the weekend at Peter and Maisie’s farm looking after our grandsons. I can use some of that extra time to dig through the girls’ toy boxes and pull out the old favourites.”
Georgie rested her elbow on the table and cupped her cheek in her palm. “So what are the old favourites?”
“Let’s see. Madeleine and Lena never seemed to tire of the parking garage with an elevator for cars. They spent hours arranging the livestock on their farm in various permutations and combinations. They were serious about their wooden building blocks, and they had matching Corn Popper push toys.”
“I saw Charlie in action at the Easter egg hunt,” Georgie said. “I’m no expert, but I’m guessing he could turn a corn popper push toy into a lethal weapon.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Maybe you should keep the matching push toys in reserve in case Rumpel goes on a rampage.”
“Maybe,” I said, “but I’m guessing he’ll start with a full-scale charm offensive.”
Georgie shuddered. “I’ve seen Buzz turn on the charm, and he’s positively oleaginous. I always felt like I needed to take a shower after he left the room.”
“I hate slimy,” I said, “but let’s jump off that bridge when we come to it. In sixteen days you and a wonderful man are getting married, and by Christmas you’ll have a child. This is a happy time. Don’t let Buzz Wells cast a shadow over it.”
* * *
As soon as Georgie left, I called Charlie D. “Guess who’s coming to town?” I asked.
“Buzz Wells?”
“Now you’ve spoiled the surprise.”
“Just the first one. From what I’ve heard Buzz Wells is full of surprises.”
“That news does not gladden my heart,” I said. “Anyway, the story is that Buzz is coming to assess Sisters and Strangers, and if he and Ainsley agree that he can make a contribution, he’s on board.”
Charlie D chortled. “And you’ll have a front-row seat to watch Wells’s performance as the reluctant genius selflessly shelving his own plans to save a troubled project. I’m not going to miss out on this, Jo. I’m calling the great man to arrange for an interview.”
“Do you think he’ll talk to you?”
“Are you kidding? The guy has a massive ego, and in addition to the fact that our show is heard Canada-wide, it’s now aired in twenty-eight American stations with desirable media markets.”
“How are you going to approach the interview?”
“The same way I approach every interview. I’ll do my research. I’ll go through everything we have, and then I’ll visit the land of castaway dolls.”
“You’ve lost me.”
“It’s just a term my producer uses for the people who played significant roles in the past of the person we’re focusing on, before the person moved onward and upward. In Buzz’s case, I’ll probably start with the people who worked with him on At the Algonquin.”
“I bet they’ll have stories to tell.”
“Agreed,” Charlie D said. “That must have been a tumultuous ride. Anyway, after the research it’s the usual drill: I come up with questions that I hope will evoke a thoughtful response, I listen carefully to Wells’s answers, and if I think a follow-up question will shed more light on what’s happening with Sisters and Strangers, I’ll ask one.”
“No gotcha questions.”
“Not my style,” he said. “Anyway, in this case unnecessary. Guys like Buzz Wells have a habit of painting th
emselves into a corner without any assistance from me.”
“Are you going to tell him you’re my son-in-law?”
“Sure. I believe in full disclosure. I also think Buzz will give me more if he thinks he can get to you through me.”
“Buzz and Ainsley are arriving here tonight, and there’s a table meeting of all the department heads tomorrow at two o’clock, so Buzz can get up to speed.”
“Our New York office will find his number, and I’ll call Buzz tomorrow before the meeting and ask for an interview at his earliest convenience. Give him that extra jolt of confidence he needs before he bulldozes his way into Sisters and Strangers.”
“Hey, whose side are you on?”
Charlie D’s tone was no longer lighthearted. “I’m on your side, Jo — always — but Buzz Wells has a lot at stake here; so do you, and we can’t afford a misstep.”
* * *
Taylor blazed through as I was setting the table for dinner. She said that when she’d seen Kyle at the studio that afternoon, he seemed better, and they’d arranged to have a quick burger and work on the apartment. I removed her place setting and Zack and I sat down to our chicken chili and cornbread alone.
Zack ate with gusto. “This is fantastic,” he said. “We haven’t had this before, have we?”
“No. It’s from craft services. Georgie brought lunch and we’re having leftovers.”
Zack buttered his cornbread and grunted appreciatively. “Movie people eat well.”
“They do, and because of the long hours and the various dietary restrictions and likes and dislikes, craft services has to work hard to keep everybody happy.”
“This dinner is making me happy. How did your day go?”
“Mixed,” I said. I gave Zack an overview of our day, ending with the news that Buzz Wells would be accompanying Ainsley when she returned to Regina.
“And that does not augur well?”
“I honestly don’t know. This afternoon Georgie showed Ben and me a video of Ainsley rehearsing the actors for the stage version of The Happiest Girl. She was relaxed, radiant and brilliant with the actors. Zack, it was hard to believe she was the woman we’ve been dealing with since November. Even I could recognize that Sisters and Strangers needs what Ainsley can bring to it. Since Roy and Gabe died, Ainsley’s been overwhelmed. Suddenly, she has the responsibility of running Living Skies, making decisions about the rough cut of The Happiest Girl and trying to visualize the screenplay of Sisters and Strangers when she has only a partial script to work with. And she is mourning the death of the person who was like a part of her for thirty years.”