Page 96 of The Gathering Storm

Al didn’t like being opposed. ‘What the hell is Welsh?’

‘From Wales. A far-flung region of Britain with a very different accent. Just imagine making a movie about a hot-shot New York lawyer, and the actor plays it with a Deep South accent, like a Georgia Cracker.’

Al contemplated that, then said, ‘Yeah, but nobody’s gonna know the difference from a British accent. Bottom line is Dick Randolph is big box office, and he likes doing the accent. You should be concentrating on Rose – I’m offering her the lead role! She’s gonna be the only female on screen, except for a servant girl, a nun and the wicked queen. And it’s a great script. It’s got action, sword fights, tight bodices, galloping horses, romance, a near rape—’

‘A what, now?’

‘The second male lead, Sir Bedevere, Mr Sexy but Slimy to Robin’s Stand-up Guy. I had to beef up the script a little. He gets Marian backed into a corner, then Robin swings down from a tree, like Tarzan, and snatches her away. That’s a great scene! I tell you, this movie is gonna be big. The script’s got everything!’

‘A bit more than everything,’ Lennie said. ‘There was no Sir Bedevere in Sherwood Forest.’

‘Why the hell not? Sidekick to the evil King of Nottingham. King’s gotta have knights, right? Sir this and Sir that. There’s even a fat one, great comic relief. Think Oliver Hardy, Guy Kibbee.’

Lennie was floundering in a sea of error. ‘It’s the Sheriff of Nottingham, not the King.’

‘King is better. I’m thinking Charles Laughton. Don’t tell me he can’t do a British accent.’

‘Yes, but Sir Bedevere? Shakespeare didn’t—’

Al grew impatient. ‘Who the hell knows what this Shakespeare guy didn’t write? It’s English, it’s historical, it’s right down his street. We’ll call it one of his lesser-known novels – who’s gonna argue? And I’m telling you, Len, if Rose doesn’t want this, there’s a hundred other actresses will bite my hand off for it, so don’t do me any favours. I’m just telling you first because I know you got her best interests at heart. Have a word with her and Van and let’s get this thing moving and make us all some serious moolah.’

Lennie went straight to Van Kerk’s office, and found him more than ready to talk about Robin Hood.

‘There’s a bit of background to it that I’m guessing Al won’t have mentioned. He’s supposed to have poached Dick Randolph from MGM by employing great cunning, but the fact is they were willing to let him go because of his drinking problem. Now Al wants to use him in a smash hit so as to spit in Louis B. Mayer’s eye. You know the rivalry between those two – friendly on the surface, deadly underneath.’

‘A drinking problem?’ Lennie groaned.

‘Don’t worry, he’s in the Ardmore right now, drying out. ABO’s paying. He’s getting clean, lean, and ready for the screen. I believe he’ll knuckle down, all right – he needs this role to restore his reputation.’

‘What about Rose’s reputation? She wants to do serious parts.’

‘Of course the script needs some work, but there’s some touching scenes between Marian and Robin, and some real menace from the bad guys.’

‘Including Sir Bedevere?’

Van shrugged. ‘The handsome bounder, trying to seduce the virtuous girl? And she nearly falls for him? It’s classic,’ he said. ‘They’ve got some great dialogue together. We can get the names changed.’

‘And what’s this about a nun?’

‘One of Robin’s ex-girlfriends – took the veil when he went off to the Crusades. That’d make a great movie on its own – The Earlier Adventures of Robin Hood. But the nun’s a small part – won’t take the shine from Marian. Likewise the Wicked Queen.’

‘Who is … ?’

‘The Sheriff of Nottingham’s wife. She won’t be called the Wicked Queen in the finished film – that’s just shorthand for now.’

‘It sounds as if you’ve made your mind up,’ Lennie said, ‘but Al seems to think you need persuading. What’s the snag?’

‘I’ve told you the project is really about showcasing Dick Randolph to put one over on Louis B. Mayer. The fact is that Al only wants Rose for the part of Marian because he doesn’t want one of the big-name actresses taking the attention away from him. But that doesn’t make it any less of a good part. We just have to let Al think he’s pulling the wool over our eyes. Between us Estelle and I will make sure she’s not sidelined.’

Lennie examined his face. ‘There’s something else, isn’t there? You brushed that objection away too easily.’

Van hesitated. ‘It’s not a problem, it shouldn’t be a problem, but it’s just something I’ll have to sell to Rose. I need to find the right way to put it to her.’

‘Put what to her?’ Lennie said suspiciously.

‘They want Dean Cornwell to play Sir Bedevere.’

‘Oh.’