Nicky was another happy camper on the set. When he saw the dailies, he felt confident that the movie would, without a doubt, be the ticket he needed to cement his future. He’d be right up there on the A-list without question as soon as Joe Public saw the two of them, larger than life, between the sheets.
Val’s mother was delirious with all the attention she was being given. Over and over again she had the chance to bring out how she, Anne Rhodes, had been a dancer…
“Ballet, the Royal Ballet”
Then her terrible sickness.
“Rheumatic fever.”
That hideous illness had ended her career. She’d married a handsome Navy man who took off his uniform after the war and became ordinary. He’d wanted nothing to do with show business or the chance for their daughter to pursue the career she was born for.
“Valerie started to dance in her crib.” Was one of her favorite lines.
“I just couldn’t let all that talent go to waste. Yes, of course we keep in touch with her father. He can’t leave his business; it requires his presence in England. He understands. Yes, we are one of those sophisticated couples, I suppose. Ha, ha, ha. And I couldn’t let my baby go off into the big world all on her own, now could I?”
Val hated these articles; she found them so embarrassing. She still had bad dreams about her parents fighting over her career. Her poor father had turned to the bottle and then his secretary. It was sad. Her contact with him had become less and less, but the last thing she wanted to do was fight with her mother, who was being kept busy and staying out of her hair.
On the set, working every day, and out playing every night, became their way of life. They danced at every discotheque in Rome and smiled at a million cameras. Like clockwork, Nicky took her back to her room, said a quick “Good night sweetheart, sleep well,” gave her a light kiss on the lips, and left. At eighteen, Val had been exposed to life, but her mother had always been there to protect her from men and involvements. Now in love for the first time, she knew she wanted Nicky. He’d become an obsession.
Five months into the film, a small crew had to leave Rome for a few weeks to shoot location shots in Tuscany. Much to Val’s delight, her mother decided to stay in Rome. Tired after a long day on the set, Val wanted some alone-with-Nicky time.
“The lady in wardrobe told me about this old Tuscan restaurant up in the hills. The wooden tables are outside in an old vineyard, and they still make their own wine there. It sounds wonderful, can we go?
“I’m up for it, sure.”
“Just the two of us. Okay?”
They sat outside under millions of stars in the sky. It was hot and humid. Their second bottle of Chianti tasted even better than the first. It was late when they got back to Val’s room. Before Nicky could give her a peck on the cheek and say good night, Val kissed him like she had never kissed anyone before. Nicky surprised himself by responding. Not a word was spoken. Somehow, they were in her room, undressed, exploring each other slowly and gently. For Val, it was all new. For Nicky, even with all he’d seen and done, it was the first time he could remember being with anyone so innocent and yet so hungry. His curiosity made him a follower, and he liked where he was led. They made love. No inhibitions, no tricks. Nothing was dirty or wrong. They lay there exhausted in the moonlit room.
“I knew it would be like this.”
“Too bad the world’s out there waiting to swallow us up.”
“It doesn’t have to, Nicky..”
“Baby, it’s not that easy out there,” he said protectively.
“It could be. Let’s just be like this,” she said.
“We can try.”
She snuggled up to him and drifted off to sleep.
*****
The next important press release from the PR department was the announcement of their engagement. Hundreds of pictures were taken of the happy couple enjoying the enormous party thrown for them on the closed-off Via Veneto—paid for, of course, by the studio—and the enormous diamond ring on Val’s finger from Bulgari—not yet paid for, of course, by Nicky.
After the party that night and finally alone in his room, Nicky had a chance to put a call through to L.A.
“She’s a kid. It had to go this far. I’ll say this one more time, this is my time. If I blow this, we’ve had it. No. You can’t come here. I’ll be there in a couple of months. She’s not coming to the coast, because they’re sending her to New York. Something about a Broadway show. I told you. She knows I’m up for a series. Just hang in there, baby. Later.”
To everyone’s delight the movie was in the can on schedule. The vibe, from the studio heads down, was positive with a capital P. The magic the two of them generated on and off the screen was undeniable.
Anne Rhodes was still on cloud nine and spent her time planning their arrival in New York. For once, she left Val’s career in her agent’s hands. There were so many offers now; it just meant choosing the right one. The Broadway show was at the top of her list. She told Val they were going to New York City because her agents insisted on it. The truth was, Anne loved the idea of exploring the city she’d grown up watching in black and white at the cinema. New York’s skyline, full of skyscrapers and penthouses, was definitely her cup of tea.
The whole company was on the same flight to New York, with most of them, including Nicky, connecting nonstop to L.A.
“We’ll make it work, babe. What’s a plane ride between New York and L.A.? We can be together as much as we want when we’re not hot. It’s true! Haven’t I always told you the truth?”
“It doesn’t make me like it. I wanted to go to Los Angeles with you.”
“Cool it, Val! We want the best for each other, don’t we? I know you don’t want to hear this, but the best thing for me and you is work.”
“I know you believe that, but something… “
“Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts and extinguish all cigarettes. We are preparing for our arrival at JFK”
“You’re a good actress, baby, but don’t go freaking out on me, okay? You can take the East Coast, and I’ll take the west. It’s not for long, and then we’ll have it all. We’ll tell them all to go screw, you’ll see. It’ll be you and me baby.”
Flashlights and interviews made their landing at Kennedy a quick good-bye. A limo whisked Val and her entourage away to the city. Nicky’s entourage hurried him off in the opposite direction, just in time to catch their connecting flight to L.A.
CHAPTER 2
The Plaza Hotel
For Val and Anne, a hotel room overlooking Central Park, nonstop phone calls; agents setting up TV appearances, interviews, and magazine photo layouts; plus deliveries of huge bouquets of flowers made their first few weeks in New York City hectic, to say the least. The public couldn’t get enough of Val. Brits were in! She was in! The happy couple was in! By the time it was time to sleep, it came easy. The three-hour difference between the coasts made it difficult for Nicky and Val to stay connected. When they did, a quick exchange of everything gushed over the miles.
“Hello, baby. Great news, I’ve landed the series. It’s only the money now. I can’t talk long; they’re opening a new place on the strip tonight, and I have to show. Publicity—you know the scene.”
“That’s wonderful! I’ve got good news from this end. It does look like I’m going to do Broadway. I met with some producers, and it seemed to go well. I’ll know in a couple of days.”
“Perfect!”
“I saw you on a talk show the other night. I loved it when you spoke about the person in your life who makes you happy.”
“So, how’s New York treating you?”
“What I’ve seen of it is fabulous.”
“You should go out, baby.”
“You know I wanted you to show me the city.”
“You’re not being real again. Trust me. You’ll feel better if you go out.”
There was silence on the phone.
“Listen, Val. I’ll tell you a secret. Whe
n the details are worked out on my series, I’ll have to be in New York to shoot some exterior shots.”
Val squealed with delight.
“Nicky, why didn’t you tell me that first? Sometimes you’re just plain wicked.”
He didn’t let her continue.
“So, sweetie, go out. Explore the city and when I get there you can show me around.”
“I love you, Nicky.”
*****
Anne had found Val a hairdresser named Joe. He was originally from London. He’d come over with Vidal Sassoon and did so well he’d opened his own salon. He was used to celebrity clients and used to making house calls. Most of his clients didn’t want to sit in a public salon; they preferred to pay top dollar for their privacy. Everyone, it seemed, was extremely satisfied with this setup. Anne Rhodes liked him and thought he’d get along with Val. She was right; they hit it off immediately.
He came up to their suite three times a week. He seemed to know everyone and everything about everyone. He was behind the scenes on most of the high-fashion magazine layouts, and all the top photographers in town used him on their VIP shoots. When he dished the dirt it was hilarious. Val could relax with him and have fun. Usually, he was so involved telling her about his life he didn’t pry into hers. He flitted in one day, full of it.
“My dear, you would not believe! Tonight I am going to THE chicest, glitziest party that New York City has ever seen. Top of Rockefeller Center. At the Rainbow Room no less!”
“I was invited to that.”
“Aren’t you going?”
Val laughed. “No. I don’t exactly want to go alone, and I definitely don’t want to go with my mother.”
“Listen, Ms. Val, I’m going with the Karen van Dougall. I crimp her hair too, you know. Well, she invited me to escort her. She wants to shock chi-chi-dom with her faggot hairdresser. Moi! She’s totally outrageous, you know. I just know she wouldn’t mind the chauffeur stopping here to pick you up. I think it will be a total camp. Oh come on sweetie, come. The whole world is going to be there.”
“What would I wear? I have nothing formal or chic.”
“Then, my dear, we’ll do a look! What character do you want to be tonight?”
She curtsied.
“Alice in Wonderland when she meets the Queen of Hearts.”
“My dear you just did. Oh, I know exactly what we’ll do. I have to call Karen pronto. You’ll be Alice, yours truly the Queen of course, and Karen, oh she’ll be divine as the Mad Hatter. She’ll love it to death. You have that sexy mini dress with the frill around the bottom; you know the one? The Mary Quant number you showed me from London. I’ll do your hair, you’ll carry a large lollipop or something fabulous, and maybe long white tights and mile high shoes to finish it off. Who knows. Oh my dear, you’ll be divine! I cannot wait. Women’s Wear Daily will feature it, and you will be the toast of the town.”
“I’ll do it. Nicky said I should go out.”
“Be still my heart. How is that gorgeous creature? When is he coming to the Big Apple?”
“Now, now, control yourself, Joe.”
“Okay, okay. Let’s not get ruffled. I promise not to touch. Although I can’t talk for the rest of the boys I know. Come on, Val, it was just a joke. Headquarters just sent you a memo. Don’t get your knickers in a knot. Back to the prop list. What do I need to buy at Bloomies?”
He left with his list, and Val danced around the room excited about the party. She tried on her dress and was thrilled with the way it looked. She danced across the living room to show her mother who looked up, and her jaw dropped.
“You are not going out dressed like that. I won’t have it, Valerie Rhodes. You cannot humiliate me. Your mother! Either go like a lady, or don’t go at all.”
“Mummy, you don’t seem to understand. Joe said it’s what everyone is doing. Anyway, I’m going with the Karen van Dougall; she’s Miss Society. If she does anything, the next day the whole world is doing the same thing.”
“That is precisely what I don’t understand. From what I’ve read about her she could go to any designer and buy a dozen gowns.”
“But she doesn’t want to, Mummy. We are going to have fun, and seriously I’ve forgotten how to since I’ve been in this town. So I am going tonight, and that’s that!”
She went back to her room to wait for Joe to come and do his magic. It wasn’t long before he arrived with the props. Between lots of laughs they pulled her Alice look together. He’d found a red heart-shaped evening bag for her to carry and had made a fresh-flower garland with ribbons for her hair. When he was finished with her, she stood there looking like an exquisite, rich hippie, flower-child version of Alice. It was perfection. Even her mother couldn’t deny that she looked absolutely breathtaking. Joe wore a white chiffon shirt. He’d sewn a huge red satin heart in the middle of his back. His red satin hip-hugger pants fit like he’d been poured into them. The bell-bottoms were wide and the length was perfection, just skimming his silver, platform, Jumping Jack Flash boots.
As they walked through the hotel lobby, Joe kept whispering, “It’s all attitude darling.” And with heads held high they tried not to laugh at the reactions from the stuffy people there. Their limo was waiting. They collapsed in the back. Next stop was Karen’s for her finishing touches.
Karen van Dougall had a large apartment in one of those old Bing and Bing buildings on Central Park West. About fourteen rooms. Done, but lived in. A tall, stunning, WASP-like beauty, Karen had been born into wealth and had made the society pages since birth. When she’d turned twenty-five, she inherited twenty-five million dollars. Now twenty-seven, she had managed to use her money and social position to her advantage in a variety of ways.
Since childhood she’d always been fascinated watching her father apply his business skills. He had been thrilled with her curiosity and encouraged her to explore and find interests she would like to invest in. Being a native New Yorker, she was drawn to the theater. Her first investments were in two new theatrical productions. They both proved to be financially successful. Quite a coup for Broadway. After that, she was on every producer’s “angel list.”
Another love of hers was fashion. Always invited to fashion shows she came to know the designers and their models. Through them she’d met Joe; he’d been backstage organizing the hair department at an important runway show. The first words he ever said to her were, “Sit down right there,” and he’d cut her hair, just like that. It was brilliant, and she loved it. They were friends from that moment on, hanging out together whenever they could. He turned her on to some up-and-coming designers in town—the ones he knew who needed money—and before long, she was backing a couple of the hottest young designers around. She’d been engaged once, had lots of affairs, and at present was playing the field and loving it.
A maid opened the apartment door, then disappeared. Joe led the way through to the bedroom. It was huge and comfortable: fireplace and settees, satins and chrome, modern yet warm. The bed on a platform seemed to go on for miles. Karen suddenly appeared from behind a mirrored wall. She was totally nude except for a ridiculous top hat on her head.
“Well what do you think?”
Val quickly answered.
“The hat has to go.”
They all burst out laughing and had immediate rapport.
“Pour some wine, Joe, and help yourself to some stash. I just got a lid from Colombia. They said it was sprayed with horse fertilizer or something weird. Whatever it was, I took two tokes and want the stud of the century to walk into my life right now. I feel so horny.”
She disappeared behind the mirrored wall. Val laughed, pretending to know what they were talking about. She sat down on one of the settees. Joe sat opposite her. He opened a beautiful Chinese box sitting on the coffee table and found something that looked like tobacco. He went through the ritual of smelling it, pulling out some papers from a secret drawer, licking two, sticking them together, and finally rolling a cigarette. He lit it, took a long
drag, held his breath, and passed it to Val. She tried to copy him and choked.
At that moment, Karen sprinted out from behind the mirror. She was now wearing a burgundy, velvet, three-piece pantsuit with a white lace blouse. The ruffled lace collar framed her face, and long, lacey cuffs foamed out below the sleeves. Her thick streaked hair was pulled up into a soft chignon. She was very beautiful, yet handsome at the same time.
“When I was small, Daddy used to do this to make me laugh.”
With that she made the top hat she was holding collapse. The three of them found this hysterical. Karen noticed Val having a hard time trying not to cough.
“Val, do you mean to tell me you don’t smoke?”
“Not this stuff, but there’s always a first time. What am I supposed to feel like?”
“Just relax, honey. The joint does the rest. You’ll know when you get there.”
They sat around complimenting each other on how great they looked, puffing away and sipping away, losing track of the time ‘til Joe happened to look at his watch.
“Okay my two beauties, let’s go and make an entrance. If it’s boring we’ll make a fast exit. There’s a new place downtown that’s far-out. It’s called the Closet Case. Couldn’t you just die? A couple of creative queens must have been up all night thinking that one up. The music is supposed to be to die for and I feel like dancing for days.”
They left Karen’s building feeling on top of the world. They were ready for the city to be ready for them. Val couldn’t get over the way she felt. If that’s what a joint could do, she’d definitely have to ask Joe how to get some.
She was out on the town. She was in love. She was loved. Everything!
CHAPTER 3
Over the Rainbow Room.
When the three of them made their entrance at the Rainbow Room, Karen seemed to know the world, and the world seemed to feel obligated to say hello. The party, for some charity or other, proved to be great fun. The champagne flowed. The music was loud. Dancing was frantic, and their table was used to occasionally catch a quick breath. Karen and Joe had more energy than ten people put together. When Val tried to stifle a yawn, Karen quickly opened what appeared to be a wonderful antique fob watch hanging across her vest. With the speed of light she flipped it open and passed Val a tiny green pill.
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