“It was an agreement, or a declaration, or a statement—no one’s quite sure what to call it. But it definitely is not a legally binding contract, especially not binding on me. The Waldorf Agreement never had the force of law, but as I said, everyone gets along by sharing certain prejudices. It was impossible to test in the courts, because, well, who had the endless legal resources to fight the studios?”

“And Dalton, Adrian, Ring, and the others, the Ten who took their First Amendment rights all through the courts,” Simon said, “look where they ended up. Federal prison.”

“It’s time to test the Waldorf Agreement in the court of public opinion,” Carleton went on. “For years now, you could get irrevocably smeared if just your name even appeared in Red Channels, or crossed someone’s lips in a Congressional hearing. The only way you could defend yourself against libel was to testify in front of the Committee. The very people who held all the power. Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” Carleton put his feet up on the desk and looked thoughtful. “I’m going to take a different avenue. Think of me as Gary Cooper in High Noon. Will Kane, out there, one lone, handsome guy striding toward his destiny.”

“Yes, Carleton,” I reminded him, “and everyone deserted Will Kane. He was left all alone!”

“It’s true, with Simon’s name on the screen, there’ll probably be threats, but at least if my experiment fails, I won’t be going to federal prison.”

“Simon will.”

“So what? In Mexico I was committing slow suicide, and I didn’t even know it. Leah was dying, and she didn’t even know it. Now we’re alive again, we’ve got our daughters, our grandchildren. If I’m arrested, the prison doctor will have to take care of my liver.” This thought made him burst into laughter, and he and Carleton both lit cigarettes.

“There’s another side to this too.” Carleton brought his feet down. “With Simon’s name on the credits, there will be lots of screaming in the press, lots of . . .” He brushed his Errol Flynn moustache and smiled.

“Publicity. You sly old fox.”

Carleton chuckled. “I want you to be part of this, Roxanne. I want your input. It’s only fair. There’s a risk to you too. It’s public acknowledgment that Art Luke was a front. The Granville Agency repped him.”

“Well, I’m not an agent anymore. The Granville Agency doesn’t exist. What does Art say?”

“Art fought in the Pacific. He’s a brave man. He’s agreed.”