“Oh, the arrogance is still there.”
“It’s still there, Roz?”
“It’s still there. It’s not going anywhere, trust me.”
Billy stared at her. “What happened?” he asked her.
“What do you mean?”
“Your husband won’t let you do itanymore?”
Roz was confused. “What are you talking about? He won’t let me do what anymore?”
“Work! Roz, do you realize you weren’t in anythingthis past Broadway season? Ichecked. I’ve always followed yourcareer, at least lately. What happened?”
Roz exhaled. “Nothing happened. I just stopped getting roles.”
Billy’s eyes widened. “You’re pulling my leg!”
Roz smiled. “I’m not kidding, Billy.”
“Do you mean to tell me that you, RozGraham, one of the best actresses on stage today, can’t get work?”
“I can get work if I’m willing toplay those good old mammy roles, which I absolutely am not willing to play.”
“Damn right,” Billy agreed.
“But starring roles?” Roz said. “The lead actress roles, or even thesecondary lead?” She shook her head,unable to smile anymore. It was stillpainful to her. “No. I’ve not been able to get that kind of worklately.”
“That’s a crying shame. Racism is alive and well, and I’m white. I see white privilege everyday I’m alive.”
“It’s a little racism,” Rozagreed. “That’s always there. But it’s a lot of ageism.”
Billy frowned. “Ageism? Against you? But you don’tlook a day over thirty, Roz.”
“Even if that were true,” Roz said,refusing to accept his empty compliment for more than what it was, “thirty isconsidered too old by Broadway standards nowadays, Billy. They don’t even want thirty-somethings. And my ass is turning forty soon?” She shook her head. “I can forget it.”
“Wow,” said Billy. “Now I’m glad I came. I thought it was a shot in the dark. Maybe longer than that. Now I’m glad I decided to try it anyway.”
Roz looked at him with confusion inher eyes. “What are you talking about?”she asked him.
“I’m here to offer you a job, Roz.”
“In Hollywood? No thanks,” Roz said. The last time she tried her hand at a job inHollywood she was horrifically assaulted and almost died. That place, she decided, was bad news forher.
“Not Hollywood,” Billy said. No, he wanted her far away from Hollywood.
“Then what?” she asked.
“You may not know this,” he said,“but I, too, dabble in stage productions beyond all of my Hollywoodblockbusters work. Since the stage waswhere I cut my teeth.”
“Are you telling me you have aBroadway production coming up? I didn’tsee anything in Variety.”
“No, not a Broadway production. This is a limited run at the Old Vic inEngland. And by limited, I’m talking twoyears. You’ve played the Old Vic before,haven’t you, Roz?”
“Yes, I have. But did you say two years?”
Billy nodded and smiled. “Isn’t it spectacular? I signed the deal last week. A two-year run guaranteed.”
“Even if it’s a flop?”
“If it flops, I’ll pull it, and theyknow that. But no, it’s not going toflop. But the thing is, Roz,” he said,careful not to sound desperate, “I want you to play the lead.”
Roz was stunned. She didn’t see that coming! “Let me get this straight,” she said, movingto the edge of her seat. “Are yousaying you want me to basically move to London--”
“Oh, there’s no basically about it,”Billy made clear. “You will have to moveto London for at least two years. Longerif we’re super-successful, which I’m certain we will be. But moving to London, because you will bedoing several shows a day every day, will be required.”
Roz leaned back. She would love to play the Royal Victoriaagain, especially in a not-for-profit production. And to have a gig for at least two yearsstraight would give her the stability she would love while doing what she lovedso dearly. But leaving Philly for thatlong?
“I know you have young children,”Billy said.
“Oh, they’ll be thrilled to liveoverseas. They are the least of myworries. They love adventure.”
“But?” Billy asked.
Roz didn’t say.
“If it’s not uprooting your childrenthat you’re worried about,” Billy said, “then it must be uprooting your husbandthat’s the problem.”
Roz didn’t want to go there withhim. She never discussed Mick aroundanybody, given who he was.
Billy could tell she wasn’t going toget that personal with him. He,therefore, moved on quickly. “Or is it the Graham Talent Agency you’re mostworried about leaving behind?”
“No, I should be able to manage thatplace long distance, just as long as there’s videoconferencing.”
“Then what’s your hesitation,Roz?” He couldn’t help it. He knew she wanted the gig. He just needed her to accept it.
“What exactly is the play?”
“A revival of Virginia Woolf.”
“With me as Margaret?”
Billy smiled. “You’ll knock it out of the park, Roz. I can see you winning the Olivier award andboatloads of other awards. And thenwe’ll bring it to Broadway. I think thisrole can be your crowning achievement. It still is Liz Taylor’s crowning achievement and she and Burton madethat movie in ’66. I really believe thisrole, if you choose to take it, can define your career for generations, Roz.”
He could see that fire in Roz’s eyes,the fire every actor had whenever they knew they were being handed the role ofa lifetime. But she was stillhesitant. And he knew why. That husband of hers. That damn Sinatra! But he had to be careful not to scare heraway completely. He could try to producesomething on Broadway for her, but he needed her away from Sinatra, especiallyduring what he hoped was going to be an arrest and a long, drawn-outtrial. And then a conviction whereSinatra would rot in prison. Or worse.
But he needed Roz to commit to Londonbefore then. Because he knew there wasno way in hell Sinatra was uprooting his massive company and his odious crimeactivities just to be with his wife in England. Not a man like Mick the Tick. Nota man who would end the life of a beloved woman like Natalie. Wasn’t going to happen.
And with Sinatra worrying about hisown misfortunes, and unprecedented legal jeopardy, Billy would be there to pickup the pieces or, if Roz wouldn’t cooperate, tear apart those pieces. It was a no-fail,
