by Adrian Laing
“Sean,” said Helen “you’ve said it all.”
There was a little knock on the door of David’s office, which wasn’t expected.
“Hold on Sean, I can guess who that might be.” Helen had a feeling what was about to happen.
Helen opened to door and standing outside like two naughty school boys were Davy and Mark.
“Er, hope we haven’t like disrupted anything,” said Davy sheepishly.
“No, no it’s OK,” said Helen. “Sean is leaving and we’re just saying our goodbyes.”
Davy and Mark stepped into the office and Mark stepped forward as if he had prepared some speech.
“Can I speak with Sean here? I mean is that OK?” Mark looked around the room, uncertain as to whether what he was doing was OK or not.
“Sure, why don’t you sit down on the sofa, with Sean.” The sofa was just about big enough for the three of them to shuffle up comfortably.
“OK, this is cosy. What’s the story guys?” asked Helen.
Mark and Davy looked at each other and exchanged a brief set of nods as if they hadn’t quite agreed who was to say what, so Davy took the initiative.
“Helen, it’s like this. My brother Mark and I are like ready to move on. It’s not that I’m bursting to leave here, it’s more like I’m bursting to prepare to hit the road. We wanted to do this right. So, we wanted to lay it down and tell you straight that we’ve both had a real experience here.”
Mark decided he should get a word in. “Like the man says, Helen. It’s been the best, it really has. But I guess the whole thing about being here is knowing when you’re ready to move on and we’re ready to move on. Like Davy says it’s great being here, but it’s made me feel ready to get back out there and you know – do my thing.”
David stood up and placed out his hand for a handshake, but Davy wasn’t having any of it. “You think brother I’ve been through what I’ve been through to give you a handshake? Man, come here and let me give you some love, brother.”
Davy approached David and wrapped his arms around David in the tightest bear hug David had ever been privy to. “I love you brother,” said Davy with tears in his eyes before he finally let go and headed towards Helen. “Man there’s so much love in this room I can hardly breathe.” And so the hugging and kissing went on until everyone was satisfied there was no more hugging to be done.
“OK,” said Helen wiping a tear from her eye. “There’s not going to be time to set up any Graduation Ceremony, I feel like I’ve let you all down.”
Davy was having none of it. “Let us down? How can you say that, Helen? This is the Graduation Ceremony, like right here, right now. Hell we might all be struck down by er… lightning or something you know, this is the moment of joy. Man, I feel so happy I have to just share with you.”
Out the blue Davy launched into his personal favourite, his band’s classic ‘Boogie Yer Woogie’. Sean and Mark seemed familiar with the beat and lyrics and the three of them were off, causing David and JC to break out into a little disco shuffle. Helen quite spontaneously let her hair out of its little bun and threw off her shoes.
“You think the old lady doesn’t know how to boogie her woogie? Let me show, let me show you the way to go…” Helen let caution go to the wind and danced without inhibition and a party atmosphere took over.
Sean took Helen’s hand and started to bump against Helen in an old-fashioned disco sort of way.
“I’m telling you guys, this is better than Glee,” cried Sean as the other chapped and cheered as Davy carried ‘Boogie Yer Boogie’ to its very end.
After a while the energy seemed to leave the group and they all sat down wiping away tears of laughter.
Davy suddenly turned quite serious. “Oh, man that was great. Just one thing. What about Sarah-Jane? I mean I feel a bit worried leaving her all alone. Will she be alright, Helen?”
Helen composed herself and deftly placed her hair back in its little tidy bun with a hair band and put her shoes back on.
“That’s sweet of you to think of Sarah-Jane, Davy. She’ll be alright, I promise you. In fact, her dad is on his way over here right now. I expect she’ll be leaving soon, too. Please do make sure you say goodbye before you go. I mean all of you.”
David and JC looked at each other with some surprise.
“Really? I didn’t know that. Charlie Macqueen is on his way here, like right now?” asked David.
“Sure is, David. Says he’s got something for us that might help.”
“Something that might help? Can’t wait,” asked JC with obvious concern.
“Hey brothers, as long as it’s not a writ you’ll be OK. I guess you all know of Charlie Macqueen’s legal victories, he’s a legend all right, even in my world.” Davy smiled and laughed.
“That’s not funny, Davy,” said David.
Davy straightened up. “Hey brother, this place has given me back my sense of humour. You know where I’m coming from.”
Helen for one knew Davy was only joking. “I think I know what the dad’s up to, it will be fine. Now before you go Davy, I just need to have a word with you, on your own if you don’t mind. I need to tell you something, something that really is funny.”
“Oh shit, sounds heavy, Helen.”
“Not at all, Davy, quite the opposite.” Helen smiled, confident that in a few moments Davy would get the joke; he had been off dope for longer than he had been since he was probably twelve years old and hadn’t even noticed.
32
“My, Charlie Macqueen, this is a real pleasure, an honour even, you look great, if I may say so. Welcome to The Place. May I introduce David, our Group Operational Director, and his son, JC.” Charlie shook hands firmly with each of the unholy Trinity and beamed his famous Hollywood smile.
Helen wasn’t often impressed – really impressed – with another person’s physical appearance but Charlie Macqueen looked every inch the Hollywood legend turned successful business man that he had become. Helen gestured for Charlie to sit in the spot usually reserved for guests and made a conscious effort not to outstare the Hollywood movie star.
“Can I get you anything, Charlie?” Helen quite often deliberately avoided asking that question but was willing to make an exception for Charlie Macqueen.
“No, no I’m fine. Let’s get to it. We know why I’m here. I don’t plan to stay too long; I’ve got some scores to settle at the ranch so to speak and a lifetime of family troubles to face up to today, so let’s make the most of this.”
David tried not let on how awe struck he was, but it was certainly surreal to be in the presence of someone so well known even by the high standards of The Place.
Helen was keen to demonstrate some authority. “Before we do so Charlie, I take it Sarah-Jane doesn’t actually know you’re here, I mean right at this very moment. Anyway, she’s fast asleep; it’s pretty late in the morning but Sarah-Jane’s been through quite a lot and we’re happy to let her sleep for as long as she wants; it’s part of the process, if that makes sense.”
“That’s fine, Helen. Sarah-Jane and I text each other, so you’re right, she knows I’ll be here when she wakes up. Sarah-Jane speaks very highly of you all, and the other guests. How are the other guests by the way?”
“Well, funny you should mention that Charlie,” said David. “As it happens, might even be the first time since day one that we’ve got one guest – and that’s Sarah-Jane. Suits us, and I don’t think Sarah-Jane will mind. We’re fully focussed on Sarah-Jane for as long as its takes.”
Charlie shuffled around a bit and undid the button of his exquisitely tailored suit. “That’s interesting, I mean interesting in a good way.”
An uneasy silence followed as if no one was quite prepared for the next move, nor really knew what the next move was going to be.
Charlie looked at JC “So you’re JC. Sarah-Jane has take
n a shine to you. I can see why.” Charlie turned his attention towards David. “Your boy’s a mighty fine young man, David, real fine.”
JC blushed as David muttered “thank you”.
“OK, Helen,” Charlie was obviously gearing himself for the big statement. “First off, thanks for all you’ve done and are doing for Sarah-Jane. It’s been heartbreak for me. Over twenty years of heartbreak. You know ever since that day, it’s not been right. I’ve tried everything. I must know more about medications than a lot of doctors. I heard about The Place and did some research, I decided you three would deliver something different, something that might help… progress Sarah-Jane.”
Charlie dropped his head but quickly composed himself as if he had decided to come out fighting. “Sometimes I wish I could have the luxury of falling apart myself you know. Maybe it’s just not my style. I’ve got a bit of reputation for taking no prisoners, I’m sure you know all about that side of me. I reached the heights as an actor but being a newspaper owner is just so much more fun. Nearest I’ll get to playing god, I suppose.” Charlie looked at David and smiled.
“But you know I’m a businessman at heart and business is business and I’ll be damned if anyone’s going to screw me over.” Charlie paused for a moment as if he knew that he was veering off course. “Anyway, point is that I feel I’ve come to a crossroads with Sarah-Jane, you know shit or bust.” Charlie let his tough words hang in the air as if to set the tone of the meeting.
“That’s all good to hear, Charlie.” David felt the need to engage with Charlie on a serious level. “You said you did some research Charlie, I’m glad that put your mind at rest.”
David was about to find out why Charlie was a Hollywood legend, for more reason than just his good fine looks and acting skill. Charlie Macqueen was a player.
“Yeah, David. You see when I say research, I don’t mean tapping your name into Google. I mean research as in deep research. I mean CIA level. I’ve been tight with every president since Nixon. You don’t think I’d entrust you with the person closest to my heart, the most important thing in the world to me, my only daughter, if I didn’t feel that I knew the three of you probably better than you know yourselves or those you consider to be your best friends.”
“Really,” said Helen. “CIA level? We’re flattered. Go on, Charlie.”
“Helen I know all about you. I know more about you than those journey men at the Sunday News. I know what school you went to, I know what qualifications you have, from where. A doctorate in psychology from the University of Tallinn, capital of Estonia, very impressive, Dr. Pope. You’ve done pretty well for a rebellious teenager called Halina Putsep. I know also – forgive me Helen – all about the divorces and the money, about your psychologist dad who abandoned you, I know how you earned your pocket money as a teenager, I know how you funded The Place and I know how you operate.”
Charlie looked at David with a mafia-type stare. “And I know all about you too David. I mean everything, including your personal battle with alcoholism. I’ve even met the governor of the prison where you stayed – how do you say over here – at Her Majesty’s Pleasure.”
Charlie turned his glaze back towards Helen. “I love the bit about how you two met, after you talked your way into a job as a prison psychologist, Helen, I thought that was genuinely romantic, even by Hollywood standards. Let me tell you the best bit. Do you know I’ve got a personal controlling interest in the Sunday News? Do you know it was me who set the dogs on you in the first place? When I read the first draft of the Sunday News piece I had to correct at least ten factual inaccuracies. They didn’t even pick up on the joke between you that Helen’s original surname – Putsep – is Estonian for cooper.”
This time it was David’s turn to blush and his head sunk.
“OK, Charlie. Why don’t you come out with it? What is it you want from us?”
“David, I ain’t finished yet.” Charlie took a long look at JC. “JC, I know about your mom. I know how she died.”
JC had to use all his will power not to burst into tears, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by David or Helen.
“OK, Charlie. Put your cards on the table. JC doesn’t need this. His mother – my wife – died in a car accident. I was driving, JC knows all about it. He was in the car at the time. Why do you want to bring this up?”
Charlie looked around as if he had taken complete control. “I’m bringing this up to let you know that when I started to dig into The Place, the more I came to like you all. I just wanted to see how you’d react to a little pressure, that’s all. Hope you didn’t mind. I mean I needed to know if you were going to panic and do something stupid and I needed to know that before I sent Sarah-Jane over to you. Just a little test if you like. And hey, here’s the good news: You passed. David, you’re my kinda guy.”
Charlie sat back looking very pleased with himself, and continued before JC, David or Helen could think of anything to say.
“You see Sarah-Jane already feels bonded with JC. I needed an emotional hook to persuade Sarah-Jane to go along with this, and that hook was JC’s story. OK, it was different with JC’s mother, her death was an accident, that was clear from the reports at the time but I told Sarah-Jane enough for her to feel connected to you, JC. As for you David – as a dad in prison – that must have been real tough. I thought if you three have survived all of that stuff – and got your act together to hold this place together – then believe me, you’re on my team. That’s where I’m coming from.”
Helen, David and JC still weren’t sure where this was heading.
“And you’ve travelled half way round the world to tell us this, Charlie?” asked David.
“David, I’ve travelled half way round to world to meet you guys. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to make any threats or demands. I’m here to make you an offer. I like you guys, I really do. What really gets me about The Place is that Helen over there is sitting on enough dough from the second divorce settlement alone to hang around a beach for the rest of her life and not worry for one second about money. But instead Helen, and you David, and you JC, slave away all hours working out ways to sort people out. And boy do you three have ways of sorting people out. I’ll need to talk to you guys about security issues, by the way. And David, you’ll need to pick your friends a bit more carefully – Henry Stallard has been very helpful to me. Let me tell you David, that guy’s a cheap bastard in more ways than one. Now that one got you, didn’t it?”
David tried to conceal his emotions but could not prevent himself biting his top lip and wiping away an ever-so-small tear from his eye whilst shaking his head in disbelief, as the betrayal of his best mate sunk in.
Charlie smiled as his best self-satisfied smile and continued. “You see I know that Helen hasn’t worked all this out by reading some textbook or studying all her life. She suffered terrible emotional torture at the hands of her father and as a consequence spent years with her therapist, that Gootsy guy. Therefore she understands shock therapy, laughter therapy, inspirational therapy and all the rest better than anyone.
I mean there ain’t one therapy that you use here that Helen hasn’t tried and tested herself, ain’t that right Helen?”
Helen look a bit shocked, but was composed and dignified. “OK, Charlie. You got it. That’s right. I’ve been through it all and had to find a way out. I guess if you want to screw someone up, there are two ways that are almost bound to succeed.”
Charlie’s perfect Hollywood smile appeared in all its glory. “Two ways, Helen. Remind me.”
“First off would be to have a father who is – publicly – a caring family psychiatrist but in reality is an emotional bastard to his family. The second would be to have a beautiful and successful mother who is so self-absorbed and depressed that she ends up taking her own life. Like Sarah-Jane’s mother did. And if I wanted to make doubly sure that the kid had virtually no chance of a normal life I’
d have the mother committing suicide on her kid’s birthday, preferably when the kid is very young but old enough for it to hit home. Maybe the kid’s sixth birthday. You know, like Sarah-Jane.”
This time Charlie’s head sunk and for one moment David looked around for a box of tissues. But Charlie was made of sterner stuff.
“Helen, you’re my kind of lady. You’ve got a physical beauty and presence matched only by your inner strength. And you understand people. You’d make a great politician.”
“Thanks for that, Charlie. But shall we, as you said, get back to business?”
Charlie rubbed his eyes as if he had to wipe away invisible tears.
“OK, Helen. Business. First, there’s Sarah-Jane. I’ve brought something with me.” Charlie took out from the inside of his pocket a little memory stick. “You see this little usb stick? On it in the very best format available anywhere in the world is a digitised home movie, taken at Sarah-Jane’s sixth birthday party. I shot the film. It features a lot of Sarah-Jane and some footage of Sarah-Jane’s mother. Sarah-Jane has never seen this before. I’ve brought it over because I want you to show this to her if you think it will help.” Charlie handed over the small device as if it was the most precious thing in the world.
“Thank you Charlie. Yes, I would like to show this to Sarah-Jane. The room downstairs is already set up for this type of ‘activity’.”
Helen looked over to JC who nodded to confirm that the arrangements were still in place as they had been for Gootsy’s last session.
“I’ll tell you what, we’ll do this later today Charlie. I want to see it on my own first. I also want to decide whether you should be present, or not. How do you feel about that?”
Charlie looked slightly taken aback. “Helen, I’m not sure I could take it, really.”
“And why do you think Sarah-Jane could ‘take it’ but you can’t?”