“His house is about twenty miles from here. Do you know the area?”
“Not well. I only moved down from Leeds a few weeks ago.”
He really hoped Max didn’t ask about the city because Newt only knew the prison.
“River’s place is in the middle of the countryside. It’snice. Has a pool, which you’re free to use.”
Wow.It had been at least eight years since Newt had been swimming.
“The garden’s untidy. Luckily, nothing is growing at this time of year. River is the priority. He’s been reasonably gracious to my parents, because they’re my parents, but I should warn you, he won’t be with you. He’ll be rude, sullen and belligerent. If you’re lucky.”
Oh God.“He’s angry about what happened.”
“At the moment, completely fucking furious. As I said, he cycles back and forth through anger and depression. Just as we think there are signs of improvement, he slides down again and breaks something in the house or sacks someone. That seems to be his usual MO.”
Newt wondered how he managed to sack anyone. “What was he like before the fall?”
“He was fun. A kind, thoughtful guy. Polite to those on set. He made an effort to treat everyone well. Everyone wanted to send him flowers after the accident. I asked them to make a contribution to a charity River supports. He had a rep for being a decent guy. Well, he still does because few people have seen the state he’s currently in.”
“What’s his prognosis?”
“Physically, he’ll get there. His understanding is pretty good now. It was hell when he had no comprehension at all, and I get that had to be bloody scary. We communicated by drawings, though he couldn’t draw. The doctors say he probably has almost full understanding now, though we can’t be sure. He can’t speak. Well, hecanspeak but he can’t easily make himself understood.”
“How did he manage to sack anyone?”
“I made the mistake of telling him he didn’t need tokeep anyone he didn’t like. I thought I was giving him some control back in his life. I wroteYou’re firedon a piece of card and mimed what it meant. It was supposed to be a joke but… Well, that’s why I’m paying the physio.”
“They say there’s a two-year window to get speech back after brain damage.”
“That’s exactly what we were told. He wants it back a lot sooner than that. He’s determined yet resistant at the same time. The phrase ‘his own worst enemy’ appears to have been coined for him.”
“Does he want to act again?”
“There’s a big role waiting for him. One he landed just before he was injured. Shooting starts September/October in the States,ifhe can get well. But it’s a bigif.And I have to give them some notice if he’s not able to do it. Misha Denning, the executive producer, knows he was injured, though he has no idea how badly, but he has another actor in line if River doesn’t make the grade. Harry Gardner, who sent River art materials rather than flowers, which was thoughtful, is itching for the role, but Misha favours River. Misha was the producer of a film of River’s that will be out soon.Medway Boys.”
Newt had no idea who Harry Gardner was, let alone Misha Denning.
“How many peopledoknow about his current condition? I assume those who were there when he fell.”
“Yes, but they don’t know how he is now, the extent of what happened to him. Several of the crew went to see him in hospital but at that stage he was still unconscious. We were encouraged to talk to him, with the idea that he might be able to hear what we were saying. Barney, his stunt double, feels terrible. He was sick that day, which was why River was persuaded to make the climb. River shouldn’t have done it. Heshouldn’t have been allowed to do it. He hates heights. I have no idea how they talked him into it. But he doesn’t remember what happened. He understands that he fell, but nothing else.”
“Is the accident being investigated? I mean, was it an accident?”
Max hesitated. “It appears so, but the investigation is slow going. No one died. Filming is over. The Croatian police don’t seem to be very motivated to investigate more thoroughly. The studio is petrified they’re going to get sued for millions.”
“You hesitated. You think it might not have been an accident?”
“I really don’t know. I do know that River’s been getting nasty letters. He’s not aware. Forward all his mail to me. I’ll send you my address. I’m keeping an eye on that situation.”
“So where do people think he is? Are there rumours circulating about him?”
“The official line is that he’s away recuperating, which is true. Obviously, his address is not public knowledge. I get people enquiring: fans, film studios… His friends contact me regularly, but we don’t give out anything but a standard—he’s taking time out. Back to normal soon.”
“Is River aware there’s a deadline?”
“Yes. He’s desperate for the part, but very easily discouraged. He doesn’t feel as though he’s making fast enough progress. Part of that is his own fault. He can’t expect to improve if he keeps pissing off those who are trying to help him. He needs some sense of achievement and hasn’t felt that yet. He should. For a start, he’s alive after an horrific injury.”
“And no friends are allowed to visit?”
