Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard Page B

Ulu Grosbard . . .”
    Chili said, “What’s it called, Mr. Lovejoy ?”
    â€œThat’s Murray’s title. It’s not bad when you know what it’s about.”
    Chili was thinking it sounded like a TV series, Mr. Lovejoy, about this faggy guy raising a bunch of kids of different nationalities and a lot of that canned laughter. He wondered if they got people to come into a studio, told them to go ahead, laugh, and they recorded it, or if they told them jokes. He remembered a TV program about how movies were made that showed people kissing their hands, the sound of it being recorded to go in a love scene the hand kissers were watching on a screen. Movies were basically fake. The sounds in a fight scene weren’t anything like what you heard nailing some guy in the mouth. Like the fight scenes in the Rocky movies, Stallone letting some giant asshole pound him, he’d be dead before the end of round one. But there were good movies too, ones that had the feeling of real life . . .
    Harry was saying once he had a development deal at a studio, that would satisfy Mesas, they’d quitbothering him. Harry saying now if he could get to Michael Weir through Karen he wouldn’t need to raise the half a mil . . .
    Wait a minute. “What?”
    â€œYou knew she was married to Michael at one time.”
    â€œKaren? No . . .”
    â€œFour years, no kids. This is the house they lived in till Michael walked out on her.”
    â€œNo, I didn’t know that,” Chili said. “So you want her to call him, set up a meeting?”
    â€œThat’s all—put in a good word.”
    â€œThey get along okay?”
    â€œThey never see each other. But he’d do it, I know.”
    â€œThen what’s the problem? She won’t ask him?”
    â€œI haven’t asked her, ” Harry said. “If I did, I’m pretty sure she’d turn me down. See, but if she thinks about it a while and it becomes her idea, then she’d do it.”
    â€œI don’t follow.”
    â€œThat’s ’cause you don’t know actors,” Harry said, “the way their minds work. Karen can’t just call Michael up cold and ask him. She wasn’t even that talented—aside from having that chest, you might’ve noticed, which I think is what made her a fantastic screamer. But, she still has that actor mentality. Karen would have to feel the situation. First, she has to want to do it as a favor to me . . .”
    â€œFor putting her in your movies.”
    â€œYeah, and she lived with me too. Then, she has to have a certain attitude when she calls Michael, feel some of the old resentment. He walked out on her, so he owes her the courtesy of a positive response. You understand?”
    â€œYou and Karen lived together?”
    â€œThree and a half beautiful years. So for old times’ sake Karen lays a guilt trip on Michael and I get a free meeting with him.”
    â€œWill she do it?”
    â€œShe’s lying in bed at this moment thinking about it.”
    â€œIt sounds like a long way around to get there,” Chili said, taking his time. He couldn’t see Karen living with this guy, even if he wasn’t fat then. He could see her with Michael Weir. He said to Harry, “Well, if she doesn’t want to help you for some reason, maybe I could talk to Michael, get you your meeting.”
    Harry said, “How? Threaten him?”
    â€œI’m serious,” Chili said. “I think I could get next to him, talk about that movie he was in, The Cyclone .”
    â€œHow would you do that?”
    â€œYou want to discuss Michael Weir or Leo the drycleaner? All that dough he’s carrying around? Came here with four hundred and fifty thousand . . .”
    Harry wasn’t saying a word now.
    â€œYou’re thinking,” Chili said, “what if I was to put you next to the drycleaner. Ask him