“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” I answered quickly. “I had never seen a French film before. But I went to see it in theaters after the New York Film Festival reviewed it, and I fell in love.”
She folded her napkin and smiled triumphantly. “Come with me.”
We walked to a table at the front of the room where she tapped a man on the shoulder. “Alan, this is Samantha. She works with Eddie Kaufman, and she’s a huge fan of Julian’s.”
I reached out to shake his hand, hoping I looked more at ease than I felt. I could feel my nerves beneath the wine buzz. “I just joined the firm a few weeks ago,” I added.
“Julian Schnabel? I think he’s here somewhere. Julian loves a fan.”
“I lovedThe Diving Bell and the Butterfly. It would have been magical to see it screened here.”
“Well it’s nice to meet you, Samantha. We’re all Eddie Kaufman fans here. The festival is lucky to have him in our corner. Especially with the red tape we’re dealing with fighting the city.”
“The pro bono matter, right?” I asked quickly, hoping it seemed like I had some idea of what he was talking about.
He nodded. “Are you working on ‘festival-gate’ too?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. But if there’s an opportunity for me to pitch in, I’d love to help any way I can,” I added.
“We’re going to need all the muscle the firm can give. The kickoff meeting is next Tuesday. Do you have a card?”
I was so grateful I hadn’t left my Longchamp behind. “Absolutely,” I said, digging into my bag.
Pamela looked satisfied with having made the connection. “Shall we head back to our seats?”
“Very nice meeting you, Sam. Give Eddie my regards,” he said enthusiastically. My brain was firing in all directions. I knew I’d be checking my email obsessively between now and Tuesday.
Charlie was reading an email on his phone when I got back to the table. I leaned over as soon as Pamela started talking to the person next to her.
“You’ll never believe who I just met.”
“Robert De Niro.”
“Close. I met the guy who convinced Eddie to join the board.”
“No way! What did he say?”
“I think he’s going to email me. He mentioned something that I’m pretty sure relates to the pro bono matter Eddie’s working with them on.”
“Sick.”
I laughed. “When I wake up tomorrow, is any of this actually going to be real?”
“You mean, my genius plan is working.”
The gala ended promptly at nine o’clock.
“Nightcap?” he asked.
“Did you learn that word fromMad Men?” I asked.
“Yes, and I’m bringing it back.”
I laughed. I felt like I was on a networking high. “Okay, sure. Maybe somewhere between here and the West Village?”
Charlie smiled. “I’m sure we can stumble into something.”
I stood up slowly, willing my heels to get me to whatever bar we stumbled into.
