Scene 78
Scene Seventy-eight...High Noon
Time: 12:00 N, Tuesday, September 17, 1946
Place: Harry's home office
Storyteller: Vivien
I call Harry's firm. The secretary says he's working at home today. "Would you like to make an appointment for tomorrow?" she asks.
"No, thanks. Click."
So here I am, on Robertson's front porch. Hope nobody's home except Harry. Oh, here comes Lois, wearing a blue artist smock. Darn, that mean dog is with her.
"Hi Victoria. Come in. Forget something the other evening? Stop growling, Lucy."
"No, Mrs. Robertson. I have an appointment with your husband."
"It must be about your singing career. Follow me."
Lois taps on the door. "Harry, your appointment is here."
"Thank you, Darling. Now go back to that landscape. Sorry to interrupt."
"Please shut the door, Victoria. Take a seat."
Why isn't he surprised to see me without an appointment?
He hands me an envelope. Cash and a plane ticket. Moses must have confessed.
"You're not getting rid of me this easy, Harry."
"Mr. Robertson to you, Vivien." He passes me a P.I. report.
I scan it. "This makes absolutely no difference. William...whoops Moses, will be doing some serious jail time unless he turns all of Bill's money over to me. He was a very rich man."
"You heartless creature! I should skin you alive for bringing 'the mob' to my daughter's home. My daughter!"
"What? I didn't..."
"They followed you last night. You know too much. They want to silence you. Don't go to your apartment or the club. Go straight to the airport. Change your name...especially your last name. Hide in New York."
The phone rings. He looks my direction. "I have to take this; it's probably from the bomb squad."
Harry listens to the caller and then asks, "So, you're absolutely sure that boat is clean?"
"Good, good..."
While Harry focuses on telephone details, I clutch the envelope and rise. My new high heels hurt. I wobble toward the door.
The last thing I hear him say is, "Did you find that cat and take him to Sal?"
"Yes, that's the one, black with gold spots. Good, good..."
Time: 12:00 N, Tuesday, September 17, 1946
Place: Harry's home office
Storyteller: Vivien
I call Harry's firm. The secretary says he's working at home today. "Would you like to make an appointment for tomorrow?" she asks.
"No, thanks. Click."
So here I am, on Robertson's front porch. Hope nobody's home except Harry. Oh, here comes Lois, wearing a blue artist smock. Darn, that mean dog is with her.
"Hi Victoria. Come in. Forget something the other evening? Stop growling, Lucy."
"No, Mrs. Robertson. I have an appointment with your husband."
"It must be about your singing career. Follow me."
Lois taps on the door. "Harry, your appointment is here."
"Thank you, Darling. Now go back to that landscape. Sorry to interrupt."
"Please shut the door, Victoria. Take a seat."
Why isn't he surprised to see me without an appointment?
He hands me an envelope. Cash and a plane ticket. Moses must have confessed.
"You're not getting rid of me this easy, Harry."
"Mr. Robertson to you, Vivien." He passes me a P.I. report.
I scan it. "This makes absolutely no difference. William...whoops Moses, will be doing some serious jail time unless he turns all of Bill's money over to me. He was a very rich man."
"You heartless creature! I should skin you alive for bringing 'the mob' to my daughter's home. My daughter!"
"What? I didn't..."
"They followed you last night. You know too much. They want to silence you. Don't go to your apartment or the club. Go straight to the airport. Change your name...especially your last name. Hide in New York."
The phone rings. He looks my direction. "I have to take this; it's probably from the bomb squad."
Harry listens to the caller and then asks, "So, you're absolutely sure that boat is clean?"
"Good, good..."
While Harry focuses on telephone details, I clutch the envelope and rise. My new high heels hurt. I wobble toward the door.
The last thing I hear him say is, "Did you find that cat and take him to Sal?"
"Yes, that's the one, black with gold spots. Good, good..."