Executioner's Song, The - Norman Mailer [288]
Schiller started pulling out contracts and talking money. He did not tell them. he had been on the phone with ABC saying $40,000 wasn't enough. It had to be fifty. All the while, the final figure he knew was going to be a lot more, but he had calculated that for now sixty thousand in cash would get him by. Gary would have to be paid his fifty up front, but Nicole being in a mental home, he could structure her contract to give ten now, ten when ready to be interviewed, and five when the film was produced. Just give him ABC's fifty, and he could always find another ten.
Next day, to get things advanced a little further, Larry said to Vern, "Look, I said to you that my signing of a contract is not contingent on you getting any releases, and it isn't, but let's avoid future hang-ups. Will you go over and get Brenda to sign and her husband Johnny? I also need your signature, and Ida's. Tell everybody I'm not going to ask for an exclusive contract where they can't speak to anyone else, just a simple release." Vern was agreeable, got in his truck, and went around picking them up. The total would add to another $4,000.
Vern told him that Gary would not agree to any contract until he met the man. Schiller nodded. Right. That's the way it should be.
Vern said, "But, no way are you going to be able to meet Gary."
"Look," Schiller said, "tell me about the daily routine at the prison. I've been told before that I could not get into places and I got in." Larry said, "Draw me a map. Tell me, do they search you? Does the time of day change things? Do they allow you to go day or night? What type of guards are there at different hours?" Schiller was thinking: Gary will have help on the inside. He hasn't been a prisoner in this place for long, but, on the other hand, he has status among convicts and guards. "Vern," said Schiller, "let Gary tell us how. He'll know when the moment comes."
Then the November 29th issue of Newsweek appeared on Tuesday morning, November 23, with Gary Gilmore on the cover. DEATH WISH was printed in large letters across his chest. Moody felt it gave a big push to the bidding.
A couple of conversations followed with Susskind, who wanted to know if Bob had ever heard of Louis Nizer, and then mentioned a couple of other hotshot lawyers like Edward Bennett Williams. Hell, the next thing Moody knew, a voice was on the phone.
"Mr. Moody, this is Louis Nizer. My friend David Susskind asked me to call to let you know that he's exactly who he says he is, and I think you'll enjoy dealing with him. I know. I've dealt with him."
Bob replied, "It's nice to talk with you, Mr. Nizer, but, in fact, you hardly need sell me Mr. Susskind. We've seen his work and I'm aware he's a very talented, able person." It wasn't going to cut the mustard with Bob Moody. He didn't enjoy being treated as a hick.
Moody had had considerable dealings with San Francisco and Los Angeles lawyers and rarely were they patronizing. They lived near enough to Salt Lake to assume a few reasonably important things might be going on in Utah, but, dealing with lawyers from New York or Washington, D.C., you could feel them cultivating good old Provo.
Susskind got a call from Moody and Stanger. They told him that Dennis Boaz had been dismissed. To Susskind, these new lawyers seemed straight and very sound. Very small townish in a good sense.
Virtuous men, he decided.
The thing had been handled very badly indeed, they said. They didn't think they could get any cooperation from Boaz so they would like to learn firsthand of Susskind's offer.