The Last Don - Mario Puzo [207]
In the film industry you said good-bye to most of your lovers at the end of a picture as politely as you did in the old days to your dancing partner at a ball.
Skippy Deere claimed it was his idea to hold the wrap party at the Xanadu Hotel and to show a very rough cut of the picture that same night. He knew that Athena would be leaving the country in the next few days and wanted to make sure that Athena did not have to reshoot any scenes.
But, in reality, it was Cross who proposed the idea of a wrap party and showing of the film at the Xanadu Hotel. He asked it as a favor.
“It will be great publicity for the Xanadu,” Cross told Deere. “And here’s what I’ll do for you. I’ll comp everybody on the picture and anybody you invite for one night—room, food, beverage. I’ll give you and Bantz a Villa. I’ll give Athena a Villa. I’ll provide security so nobody gets to see the rough cut—like the press—that you don’t want to. You’ve been screaming for years you wanted a Villa.”
Deere pondered this. “Just for publicity?”
Cross grinned at him. “Also you get hundreds of people loaded with big cash. The casino will get a good part of it.”
“Bantz doesn’t gamble,” Deere said. “I do. You’ll get my money.”
“I’ll give you fifty grand in credit,” Cross said. “If you lose we won’t press for payment.”
That convinced Deere. “OK,” he said. “But it has to be my idea or I can’t sell it to the Studio.”
“Certainly,” Cross said. “But Skippy, you and I have done a lot of things together. And I’ve always come out on the short end. This time it’s different. This time you have to come through.” He smiled at Deere. “This time you can’t disappoint me.”
For one of the few times in his life Deere felt a thrill of apprehension and did not quite know why. Cross was not making a threat. He seemed genial, he seemed to be just stating a fact.
“Don’t worry,” Skippy Deere said, “We finish shooting in three weeks. Make your plans for then.”
Then Cross had to make sure that Athena would agree to come to the wrap party and showing of the rough cut. “I really need it for the Hotel and a chance to see you again,” he said to her.
She agreed. Now Cross had to make sure that Dante and Losey would come to the party.
He invited Dante to come to Vegas to talk about LoddStone’s and Losey’s plan to make a picture based on Losey’s adventures in the police department. Everybody knew that Losey and Dante were now good buddies.
“I want you to put in a word for me with Jim Losey,” Cross told Dante. “I want to be a coproducer on his film and I’m willing to invest half the budget.”
Dante was amused by this. “You’re really serious about this movie business,” he said, “Why?”
“Big money,” Cross said. “And broads.”
Dante laughed. “You’ve got big money and broads already,” he said.
“Class. Big money and class broads,” Cross said.
“How come you don’t invite me to this party?” Dante asked. “And how come I never get a Villa?”
“Put the word in for me with Losey,” Cross said, “and you’ll get both. Bring Losey along. Plus if you’re looking for a date I can fix you up with Tiffany. You’ve seen her show.”
To Dante, Tiffany was the ultimate personification of pure lust, her breasts so full, her smooth, elongated face with its thick lips and wide mouth, her height and long, shapely legs. For the first time Dante was enthusiastic. “No shit,” he said. “She’s twice as big as me. Imagine? You’ve got a deal.”
It was a little too obvious, but Cross was counting on the fact that the interdiction on violence in Vegas by all the Families would make Dante confident.
Then Cross added casually, “Even Athena is coming. And she’s the main reason I want to stay in the movie business.”
Bobby Bantz, Melo Stuart, and Claudia flew to Vegas on the Studio jet. Athena and the rest of the cast arrived from the shoot in their personal trailers, as did Dita Tommey. Senator Wavven would represent the state of Nevada,