the effect of the weather on their golf scores. This was a lousy April. Hot as hell one day, then wham, down in the forties.
Dan silently made his way through the grapefruit, the two lamb chops, the string beans, the sliced tomato. He passed up the fruit Jello. He wondered what Robin Stone was thinking. But most of all his sympathy went to the chef whose talent was being stifled with Gregory’s present regime.
With the coffee, Gregory went into his life story. He told Robin about IBC. How he had created it. His early struggles building a new network. Robin listened attentively, asking an intelligent question now and then. And when Gregory complimented Robin on the Pulitzer Prize and even quoted from some of his past columns, Dan was properly impressed. The old man must think a lot of Robin Stone to do all this homework.
When Gregory put the unlit cigarette between his teeth, Dan sensed the real purpose of the lunch was about to begin.
“Robin has some pretty exciting ideas,” Gregory said expansively. “It would come under network programming—that’s why I invited you here today, Dan.” Then he looked at Robin almost paternally.
Robin leaned across the table. His eyes met Dan’s. His voice was direct. “I want to do a show called In Depth”
Dan reached for his cigarette case. The tone of Robin’s voice had held no request. It was an announcement. He tapped the cigarette. So that was it. Gregory had already given Robin the go-ahead. This was just protocol, pretending to allow him to make the decision. He was supposed to nod and say fine! Well, fuck them—he wasn’t going to make it that easy. He lit his cigarette and took a deep draw. As he exhaled, his smile was intact. “Good title,” he said easily. “What would it be? A fifteen-minute news show?”
“A half-hour. Slated for Monday night at ten,” Robin answered.
(The sons of bitches even had the time picked out!) Dan kept his voice even. “I think we have the new Western scheduled for that spot.” He looked at Gregory.
Robin cut in like a knife. “Mr. Austin feels the In Depth show should go in there. It would prove IBC had integrity—expanding the news media to prime time, plus doing a new kind of news show. The Western can always go to another slot.”
“Do you realize the money we’d lose? We have a chance to sell a cheap game show right after the Western. We’d have to give away the time following your kind of show.” Dan was addressing Robin, but he was talking for Gregory’s benefit.
“If the In Depth show comes off, you’ll still get your prime time rate,” Robin answered.
“Not on your life,” Dan said coldly. “We also won’t be able to get a sponsor interested in a half-hour news show.” (He wondered why Gregory was just sitting there, letting him battle out this cockeyed idea with this egghead!)
Robin looked bored. “I know nothing about network sales. You can take that up with the sales department. My function at IBC is to bring some excitement and expansion into News programming, and I think this will be an exciting show. I intend to travel, to bring In Depth interviews to IBC about current world news. I might do some live shows out of New York or Los Angeles. I promise you this—I’ll deliver a damn good news show that will be entertaining as well.”
Dan couldn’t believe what was happening. He looked at Gregory for support. Gregory smiled evasively.
“When would you put this show on?” Dan asked. It was too incredible to be true.
“October,” Robin answered.
“Then you don’t intend to go on camera before then?” Dan asked. “No seven o’clock news? No special coverage?”
“I intend to cover the conventions this summer.”
“I assume you’ll take Jim Bolt along. His face is well known, and he did a great job in fifty-six.”
“He did a lousy job,” Robin answered, with no change of emotion. “Jim is good with the seven o’clock news. But he shoots no juice or excitement at convention coverage. I’m
Dan silently made his way through the grapefruit, the two lamb chops, the string beans, the sliced tomato. He passed up the fruit Jello. He wondered what Robin Stone was thinking. But most of all his sympathy went to the chef whose talent was being stifled with Gregory’s present regime.
With the coffee, Gregory went into his life story. He told Robin about IBC. How he had created it. His early struggles building a new network. Robin listened attentively, asking an intelligent question now and then. And when Gregory complimented Robin on the Pulitzer Prize and even quoted from some of his past columns, Dan was properly impressed. The old man must think a lot of Robin Stone to do all this homework.
When Gregory put the unlit cigarette between his teeth, Dan sensed the real purpose of the lunch was about to begin.
“Robin has some pretty exciting ideas,” Gregory said expansively. “It would come under network programming—that’s why I invited you here today, Dan.” Then he looked at Robin almost paternally.
Robin leaned across the table. His eyes met Dan’s. His voice was direct. “I want to do a show called In Depth”
Dan reached for his cigarette case. The tone of Robin’s voice had held no request. It was an announcement. He tapped the cigarette. So that was it. Gregory had already given Robin the go-ahead. This was just protocol, pretending to allow him to make the decision. He was supposed to nod and say fine! Well, fuck them—he wasn’t going to make it that easy. He lit his cigarette and took a deep draw. As he exhaled, his smile was intact. “Good title,” he said easily. “What would it be? A fifteen-minute news show?”
“A half-hour. Slated for Monday night at ten,” Robin answered.
(The sons of bitches even had the time picked out!) Dan kept his voice even. “I think we have the new Western scheduled for that spot.” He looked at Gregory.
Robin cut in like a knife. “Mr. Austin feels the In Depth show should go in there. It would prove IBC had integrity—expanding the news media to prime time, plus doing a new kind of news show. The Western can always go to another slot.”
“Do you realize the money we’d lose? We have a chance to sell a cheap game show right after the Western. We’d have to give away the time following your kind of show.” Dan was addressing Robin, but he was talking for Gregory’s benefit.
“If the In Depth show comes off, you’ll still get your prime time rate,” Robin answered.
“Not on your life,” Dan said coldly. “We also won’t be able to get a sponsor interested in a half-hour news show.” (He wondered why Gregory was just sitting there, letting him battle out this cockeyed idea with this egghead!)
Robin looked bored. “I know nothing about network sales. You can take that up with the sales department. My function at IBC is to bring some excitement and expansion into News programming, and I think this will be an exciting show. I intend to travel, to bring In Depth interviews to IBC about current world news. I might do some live shows out of New York or Los Angeles. I promise you this—I’ll deliver a damn good news show that will be entertaining as well.”
Dan couldn’t believe what was happening. He looked at Gregory for support. Gregory smiled evasively.
“When would you put this show on?” Dan asked. It was too incredible to be true.
“October,” Robin answered.
“Then you don’t intend to go on camera before then?” Dan asked. “No seven o’clock news? No special coverage?”
“I intend to cover the conventions this summer.”
“I assume you’ll take Jim Bolt along. His face is well known, and he did a great job in fifty-six.”
“He did a lousy job,” Robin answered, with no change of emotion. “Jim is good with the seven o’clock news. But he shoots no juice or excitement at convention coverage. I’m
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