Everyone laughed and Marshall tilted his head modestly.
“I had a little help. About four million guys, in fact. They’re the ones who won it.”
“Christ,” Ben said under his breath.
“Don’t snipe,” Bunny said.
“But I think we can all agree,” Minot said, “morale’s important, too. As someone who did see active service, I can tell you those pictures meant a lot to us. Now I wonder if I can ask you about one of them. In 1943, you were in Convoy to Murmansk. You remember that?”
“Sure. I was in the Navy in that one.”
“Escorting a convoy of freighters, wasn’t it?”
Dick nodded. “Dodging U-boats.”
“Dodging U-boats. Now of course they were all over the Atlantic. And the book the movie was based on-were you aware of this? — was English, about convoys heading for England. Convoy it was called.”
“That was the original title of the picture, too. The first script, I mean.”
“Oh, the original. And were you going to England in the script?”
“Yes.”
“Then all the sudden, Murmansk. Now why is that, do you think?”
“I don’t know. That would have been up to the writer. The director. I just say the lines.”
“The director, the writer-same fella on this picture, is that right? On Convoy to — Murmansk,” Minot said, emphasizing the last word.
“Right. Milton Schaeffer.”
“You ever ask him why he changed it?”
“Just in a kidding way. Made things harder to pronounce, the places.”
“In a kidding way. And what did he say?”
“Well, at the time we were trying to show how all the Allies were in it together. He said this was a way of bringing Russia in.”
“Including a new Russian character.” He looked down at his notes. “Andrei Malinkov. Soviet Naval attache. Dick Marshall couldn’t get through the Baltic himself, is that it?”
Dick smiled. “The idea was, we were working together. He knew the mine fields.”
“Americans and Russians side by side. Just like they were any folks. Let me read you something.” He picked up a paper. “‘We’re not just carrying food. Equipment. We’re carrying hope. They’re taking a terrible beating. We have to help. How can we eat if they’re going hungry?’ Recognize that?”
“I said it. In the picture.”
“It’s in the book, too. Of course then you’re saying it about London. Now it’s-what? Leningrad? You think it’s the same thing? London, Leningrad? Is that what Mr. Schaeffer said?”
Dick gave a side glance to his lawyer, who nodded, a cue.
“He said the suffering there was even worse, in Russia, but nobody was doing pictures about it. This would help draw attention. That we needed to help the Russians.”
“Help the Russians,” Minot repeated. “Well, that we certainly did. The ships in Convoy — excuse me, Convoy to Murmansk — were carrying Lend-Lease. Millions and millions to help those people Mr. Schaeffer said were suffering so much. Know how much of it they’ve paid back? Not one cent. Not one kopek.” He looked up. “Did you ever suspect at the time that Mr. Schaeffer might be a Communist?”
“No, sir,” Marshall said, appalled.
“No, you don’t find that word in the script, not once. Just those friendly Russians. But they must have been, mustn’t they? Why not call them Communists?”
“I don’t know.”
“Maybe you’d have found that harder to say. Maybe everybody would have found it harder to watch. Better not to tell people what the picture is really about. That’s how they work. How would you feel now about Convoy? Knowing what you know today?”
Another glance to his lawyer, Bunny still, staring ahead.
“I guess I’d ask to be taken off the picture. If, like you say, it wasn’t good for America. All my pictures, I’ve always thought they were a hundred percent American.”
“Mr. Marshall, no one here is questioning your loyalty. We’re just concerned that some people might use it for their own ends. Maybe you need to be a little more careful in the future. Not just say the words. Think a little bit about what’s behind them.” A school principal to a truant.
“Yes, sir.”
Dick lowered his head slightly. Ben thought of him climbing into the fighter cockpit, eager to take on Japan, and saw that the nod had been the real point of the testimony, a kind of salute to the new commander at the long table.
“Anyone else on the committee have a question? If not, I think we can take a short break. You’ll be available to us later, if we need you?” he said to Dick.
“Congressman, I’m here to help. I believe in fighting for Americaand not just in the pictures.”
Ben glanced across at the press section. Everyone was scribbling but Ostermann, his eyes fixed on Minot.
“That was fine,” Bunny said to Marshall. His lawyers were gathering up papers from the witness table.
“Nice to say that about my pictures. Seeing them over there.”
“What he said was that he was in the Pacific and you weren’t. That’s all anybody heard.”
“Still.”
“Never mind, you were fine. The fight line was good. They’re all going to use it.”
“I meant it.”
“That’s what makes it so convincing,” Bunny said, not missing a beat. “I didn’t know where he was going with the 4-F, but it was fine.”
“Where he was going?”
“Well, we don’t want anybody poking lights in your ears, do we? Anyway, it’s done.” He put a hand on Dick’s shoulder. “Polly,” he said, spotting her.
“Dick, that was wonderful. Wonderful. Read the column tomorrow,” she said, patting him. “You’re going to be very pleased.” She turned to Bunny. “I have a bone to pick with you.”
“Oh, Polly, a very small bone, I hope.”
“You promised me an interview with Liesl.”
“And you’ll get it.”
“When, after the picture opens? I thought she’d be here today. Why isn’t she?” she said, her voice pointed now. “You’d think she’d want to be here with Dick.”
“Polly, she’s shooting. Some of us have to work. Of course she wanted to be here. She also wants to get the picture out.”
“You mean you do.”
“Because I’ve seen it. You won’t believe how good she is. Bergman.” He held his hand up, being sworn in. “Have I ever lied?”
Polly laughed. “You? No. You don’t have it in you.”
“A heart to heart, I promise. The kind you like. Just let her finish.”
Polly waved this off. “See where I’m sitting? Right next to the Other Mann. Maybe I’ll get him to ask. Somebody with influence.”
“Call my office in the morning. I’ll have Wendy set it up. Anyway, I thought you were doing Dick.”
“A companion piece. You should want this,” she said, tapping Bunny’s arm. “It makes her more American. Especially after today. I could tell Ken was pleased. It’s a great thing he’s doing.”
Bunny watched her trail after Dick, then turned to one of his assistants. “Where’s Rosemary? I thought she was supposed to be here.”
“Rosemary?” Ben said.
“She hasn’t been served yet,” the assistant said.
“That’s funny,” Bunny said, frowning, a detail out of place. “Go call and see what’s up.”
“Why Rosemary?” Ben said, walking out with Bunny.
