“He’s worried about his ability to perform,” Jacobs said. “At the Oscars.”

“Hoo-boy,” said Lawford as they walked into the house.

Sinatra was sitting on the sofa in pajamas and a bathrobe, drinking a bourbon on the rocks. “Gentlemen, to what do I owe this honor?”

Charlie looked at Lawford awkwardly but Sinatra changed the subject before they had to confront their task.

“You went to the Globes, right?” Sinatra asked Lawford. “I heard Marilyn could barely walk.” The Hollywood Foreign Press Association had given Monroe and Charlton Heston their top awards a few weeks before.

“She was not in good shape,” Lawford agreed as he sat in a plush armchair across from Sinatra.

“‘Town Without Pity’ won,” Sinatra said, referring to the Best Original Song winner. “That and ‘Moon River’ are going to be tough to beat.”

“I’ve got my eye on some of the Globes’ ‘New Star of the Year’ girlies,” Lawford said. “Jane Fonda. And that Ann-Margret!”

“You and me both, pally,” Sinatra said, toasting his friend.

“Warren Beatty got one of those awards too,” Lawford said. “The kid is quite a swordsman.”

“That whole evening is ridiculous,” Sinatra said. “Foreign Press Association. It’s like five guys wearing fezzes—no one even knows if they write for actual papers.”

“Nothing like an Oscar, I’d imagine,” said Charlie, positioning himself on the other side of the room.

“That was something special,” Sinatra said. “Hey, Charlie, I got Joey tickets to the Oscars this year but per usual, he’ll be a no-show. You want ’em?”

Rat Pack member Joey Bishop was almost never around, working steadily on his new sitcom and preferring a comparatively normal life with his beloved family. Bishop’s membership in the Rat Pack was pretty much confined to movie sets.

“Yes, of course,” Charlie said.

“You’ll need to stand up and applaud like hell when I sing!” Sinatra said playfully.

“A given,” Charlie said.

“George!” Sinatra called. His valet walked into the room. “Go get Joey’s Oscar tickets that he’s never gonna use and bring them to Charlie. Put them in the car so he doesn’t forget them.”

“At once, Mr. Sinatra,” Jacobs said. “Do you want me to give him the screenplay you asked him to look at?”

“What’s this?” asked Lawford.

“Oh,” Sinatra said. “A picture about the U.S. accidentally dropping an A-bomb on North Carolina. Charlie’s going to give it a scrub to see how realistic it is.”

“Peachy,” said Lawford.

“Oh, and I got something else for you, Charlie,” Sinatra said. “An LP. Listen to it when you get back to your suite.”

“Will do,” Charlie said.

“What is it, Pope?” Lawford asked. “No parting gifts for me?””