'The Show Must Go On' . A Fan Fiction.
Los Angeles, July 3, 1974.
'At last ! You've taken your time. I've started wondering if you overslept and missed your plane. It'd have been a disaster..'
'I've been sleeping..yes..just wanted to be the last..you know..'
'David I love you, but no one would recognize you in that cap and those shades, you really couldn't find bigger ones? And let me tell you that I truly admire that old man walking style of yours. 40 years old at least. Give me your bag, old man.'
'I love you too, Sam.'
Despite his thick, dark glasses, he grimaced when they left the airport building. 'Mercy..How I hate that heat and Los Angeles in general. I can't breathe.'
'Anyone could think it's been cold in Hawaii..Hey you can't breathe!'
'It's such a smog that my smoking makes no difference really.'
'Ok, get in.'
For a couple of minutes they were driving in silence, Sam concentraiting on finding the right way from the airport parking lot, David rolled down side window and was smoking his cigarette.
'Great..Now..David..''
'What's wrong Sam..I haven't asked how everybody's at home. Something wrong with dogs? You are ok? And Kate?'
Sam smiled, he knew how David loved and cared for his animals.
'No, everything is fine..Just..have you read any papers?'
'No, why? Elliot had some, but he left 2 days ago. God, he's so tiring'. He lighted another cigarette.
'You've became a chain smoker..again. You can give me one fag too..Yes, Elliot is a shrewed guy. He tired you out.'
David just moaned loudly and they both laughed.
'Yes, we were talking for hours and he recorded every single word..and those questions, what a mugger..why and who, names and adresses. I've told him about drinking beer ..you know that I like it with dinner, and he kept asking what brand and how many a day. Can you believe it?'
'He wants to write about your drinking beer? In that book of his? I don't like it.'
'He will not write anything without my permission', David hid his face in his hands for a moment and Sam looked at his dear friend with concern.
'You have told him about her.' It wasn't a question.
'Yes..I have. It was a mistake and telling him haven't helped me at all. I want those tapes back...Home..wow...'
Sam laughed again. 'They have left you.'
'Not a single chick ? So fast?' In spite of himself he was disappointed, he got used to girls waiting for him day and night by this gate, some of them had their luck and were let in, maybe not exactly inside his house..
'They haven't left you. I've just told them that you are travelling around the world and ..some other stories.'
'What stories? Sam!'
'Nothing really. Just wanted to get rid of them. Stories, you know..that you want to become a monk. Maybe. Such things. Don't look at me like that, here is your welcome committee.'
They got out of the car and Sam sat down on the chair in front of the entrance to the large, one storey comfortable house. He lighted a cigarette and looked with a smile how the owner of the house, now without the cap and his shades, was knocked down onto the grass and greeted by his furry friends..
'Enough of this!' A handsome dark haired woman came out of the house. She was older than David and Sam, in her early 30s, a bit on the plump side.
'I said, that's enough, get out, Sam, give me a hand."
They finally got David out from under a very big dog and several cats and got him back on his feet.
'You look awful!'
'Thank you Kate.'
'Welcome. You will be watching by millions of people in 24 hours..'
'Still a lot of time, won't you hug me and kiss me..?'
'Shower first, breakfast in 10 minutes.'
It was great to eat breakfast in the kitchen, sitting together by the open window, eating, talking and laughing.. here in that part of San Fernando Valley the air was fresh and full of smells coming from a nearby meadow.
'Ok, boys and girls' Kate looked with tenderness at David. She had been running his house for 2 years but sometimes it still felt like a dream, that David Cassidy, so famous, rich and beautiful, was not only her employer (she would have happily worked for free for him), but first of all a friend.
'So David, you have to phone a lot of people, the list is on your desk. Some were so desperate they wanted to go and look for you at Maui. The next thing is a question..Black or blond? And it needs a cut of course'. She reached out and gently touched his long, soft hair..'It's scary how many are gray..'
David shrugged. 'Whatever. What will be faster?'
'A touch of blond and I can cut them a little bit, no problem..Have you..have you read any papers?'
'Now, I'm really worried. A drink, a fag and I'm ready. Is it something new, some new evidence..'
'Yes. There was an inquest..I have The Times for you..
He took his time. They didn't see his face, he rested his head on his hands.. asked for another glass of wine..And another cigarette. At last pushed the newspaper away, but didn't look up. 'Is that all?'
'...No.'
It was painful looking into David's eyes. 'No? You have something worse ? Something worse than..traumatic asphyxia..how they call it, 'compression of the body' ? You have something worse???'
'No, it's not worse of course. Please..but, just read it for yourself. And Sam I want a drink too.'
This time he read the article very fast.
'So..now you know, Geraldo will ask you about it, it's a hot news.'
David didn't look worried, more amuzed. 'You know when I started working, in that first year, you know Sam when we rented our first house..I earned that year $3k, and I saw every single buck of it..But I have never seen any single dollar of those 8 millions they say I have.. Never, I mean I've spent some on cars or this house..I even have given some money to people to make them leave me alone..But I've never actually seen that money..I can't imagine how $300k look like..'
He got up and walked out of the kitchen without a word. There were a lot of phone calls to make.
Next day, on 'Good Night America', David Cassidy looked like always gorgeous and sensational, very calm, but also very well prepeared for the demanding host of the show and difficult questions... Looking like eternal Peter Pan, but talking like someone much older and very experienced..The show must go on..
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