“Max, I just don’t think—”
“This is insane, June.”
“No, it isn’t. Elwood trusts me to make sure his desires are known and honored and right now he does not want company. We need to respect his wishes, Max. It’s unfair of you to demand more from him than he is able to give you.”
“But I need to talk to him! It’s important.”
“I can’t force him to speak with you. That would be cruel. I won’t do it.”
“Damn it, June, this is no way to conduct yourself in this business. He knows this.”
“And you should know better than to insist on something Elwood is not currently able to give you.”
“This is not acceptable,” Max said after a moment’s pause. “I think it’s time we got a shrink back in here. He’s never been this bad. You know he hasn’t.”
“I’ve been thinking that, too,” June said slowly, and Eva wondered if she was making up the comment on the fly. “But when Imentioned this very thing to Elwood he said no. I think we should give him a little more time before I do something he specifically asked me not to do. And I’ll have you know he’s not behind on the screenplay. It will be finished on time by the end of the year, just like he promised. He knows how important it is. He works on it every day.”
“What am I supposed to do in the meantime?” Max groused. “I have things I need to discuss with him.”
“You could always send him a letter, you know. You have a secretary. He’s still reading his mail, Max.”
“I’ve been his agent for twenty years!”
“Yes, but maybe that’s why he doesn’t want to see you,” June said. “You knew him before all this. Before…you know. The accident.”
“That accident was almost a decade ago.”
“For you and me, yes. But not for him. He feels it in his soul like it was yesterday, Max.”
Max swiveled his head to look at the stairs once more and for a moment Eva wondered if Max might charge past her, bolt up the stairs, and kick open Elwood’s bedroom door.
Half of her wanted him to. The other half was afraid something big and awful would come crashing down around them all if he did.
But Max turned back around. “I’ll give you a week. One week, June. If he’s not better, I’m calling a doctor myself. You tell him that.”
“I quite agree, Max. I do. Let’s give it until Christmas Eve, then. Or how about the day after Christmas? We don’t want to make the holidays difficult for anyone, especially for Elwood, right?”
“Fine. The day after Christmas.”
Max glanced up the stairs one more time before moving past June to walk toward the still-open door. “What does he do up there, holed up like a hermit all day long?” he grumbled.
“He writes, of course,” June said.
Max turned halfway back around to look at Eva as he stood on the threshold. “A pleasure to meet you.” He directed his gaze back to June. “If anything changes, good or bad, I want you to call me. Day or night, I don’t care.”
“Thank you, Max. That’s very kind. And do write Elwood if you like. I promise you your letter will be read. And answered if you need an answer.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He stepped out.
“Oh, and, Max?” June said. “Might you let the studio know Elwood is taking some time away from the phone and visitors? Perhaps tell them he’s focused on finishing the screenplay and doesn’t want to be disturbed?”
Max nodded. “I’ll take care of it. You take care of him. And I’m serious. If anything changes, call me.”
“I promise.”
Eva and June watched Max walk out to his vehicle. It was a convertible and he had the top down. It had probably been a lovely drive out to Malibu that afternoon, and the man likely wouldn’t mind the jaunt back to LA now, despite not having been able to speak to Elwood. It was that beautiful a day.
When he was gone, June closed the front door and turned to Eva. “I need a drink.”
