“Why, hello, Mr., um, Brownie,” Fontaine said. “I told Mr. Sinatra yesterday that we had hired Congressman Marder here to serve as a consultant on the film, purely as a resource if Mr. Sinatra wants to get more background for his role. Charlie’s a war hero. Fought in France. Just wanted to make a cursory introduction, won’t take more than thirty seconds.”

Brownie remained silent, turning his head toward the room behind him. Charlie remembered a similar maneuver by his father’s assistant, blocking and guarding his dad’s study door when Charlie was in high school and needed money, permission, a signature on a report card. Echoing that past, Brownie made a regretful expression, then he shook his head no.

“Completely understandable, sorry for bothering you!” Fontaine said brightly. “Tell Mr. Sinatra we are happy to set up another time for him to meet the congressman, at his pleasure and convenience!” Brownie closed the door firmly. Fontaine, unfazed, turned to Charlie and Margaret, arms outstretched, and shooed them back down the hall.

“That went about as well as I thought it would,” he said, walking quickly.

Margaret was never one to suffer fools or rude behavior, even if the offender was one of America’s biggest stars. “I thought you’d set up this time for Charlie to meet him?”

“I did,” Fontaine said with the rueful smile of someone who knew the routine. “Don’t worry about it; we’ll figure something out.” He was already heading toward an exit, waving over his shoulder. “Promise.”

Margaret took Charlie’s hand. He looked at her grimly; he’d never be able to help his father if he didn’t get close enough to Sinatra to learn something that Kennedy and White would find helpful.

“Well, there go our ‘High Hopes,’” Margaret said, trying to get a smile out of him.

“Well, let’s ‘Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive,’” Charlie responded, smiling. “At least we’re here.”

Surrounded by the film crew busily preparing for the next day’s shoot, Charlie and Margaret weren’t quite sure where to stand or what to do. They spotted Frankenheimer deep in discussion with the set designer and several workers next to the faux train car, which looked as though it had been cut in half lengthwise. This was where Sinatra’s Marco would have trouble lighting his cigarette and meet his love interest, played by Janet Leigh. Images of a landscape were projected onto a giant screen outside the train window so it looked as if the train were moving.

“How much footage?” Frankenheimer asked the set designer.

“Twenty minutes,” he said, “about.”

Frankenheimer ran a hand through his mussed hair. “That’s it?” He sighed. “Just make sure we don’t have them speed by the same water tower five times. This isn’t Bugs Bunny.”

“Gotcha.”

Charlie and Margaret sat down on a nearby bench near the door to a hallway. “I guess we just sit?” he said.