Chapter 3: Champagne With Timothy

Chapter 3: CHAMPAGNE & TIMOTHY

I guess the most surprising thing about Richard was that he loved baseball. He could even rhyme off most batting averages as well as he could recite Hamlet. He told me that he always wanted to do a baseball movie on Hank Greenberg, he felt that Greenberg was robbed of the batting championship because he was Jewish.

Anyway the World Series started the next week and I asked Richard if he would like a bet. I took Philadelphia and he took Kansas City for $20.00 a game. 

Jerry had really gotten to me at noontime. We had been sitting at the bar as he phoned his lawyer Milton. Timothy Rouse the first AD on Circle came in and I joined him at the producer's table. There was only one other person in the bar and we could hear Jerry right across the room.

He bellowed out something to the effect that he could only get that much money if he lied to his mother.

"Your governor is a real boon to the Canadian Film Industry isn't he?" Tim uttered dryly as he gestured towards the bar. It was none other than Blake Edwards himself bemusedly watching the hapless Jerry destroy the reputation of the Canadian Film business as any sort of professional entity. I couldn't stand it and I went over and reached around him and clicked off the phone and hustled him out of the bar. I gave him a proper tongue lashing for conducting business in public and so loudly. Even through the usual alcohol haze he realized that it was not very smart and took it silently. We went to another bar that had TV so we could watch the first game of the series.

I let Jerry off at the door and then found a nice 'No Parking' space. Jerry had a theory that at the end of the year it was cheaper to pay parking tickets than to pay for parking and it was certainly more convenient. These were the days before 'Green Hornets' and 'Towing' and he might have been right except that when I was angry at him I would just park anywhere and rack up 5 or 6 tickets a day. Jerry gamely stuck by his theory as I ran the tickets up into hundreds of dollars and stuck it to him even more when I was really angry.

Philly won the game and we went back to the 22. Jerry sat at his corner in the bar and sat by myself at the producer's table when in walked Bob Harris. Bob was Richard's Valet and while we were on a first name basis he was very formal today and said "I believe this is for you sir." He handed me a crisp new $20.00 bill that I swear was freshly pressed and ironed. I took it with thanks and Richard came in a few minutes later.

 I told him I had a tradition that when I won a bet I always bought the loser a drink. He sat down with some glee; he liked that tradition and was right there when I won again the next game to buy me a drink and one for himself.

Richard explained that generally he never carried any money or credit cards on him. He always had an account or his staff took care of such details. This had gotten him in to real trouble in Switzerland when he made a spur of the moment run into to town to get some cigarettes (he had an account at the store. There was some construction and a detour and he hit a rut and damaged a wheel so badly he had to leave the car. He said it was very difficult to get anyone to believe that it was indeed Richard Burton hanging out in front of the local Cafe trying to borrow some coins for a phone call. There was a notorious insane asylum in the neighbourhood and it took some hours and the police to straighten it all out.

That evening I met Murray MacLauclan for some drinks. Murray was an old friend and was entertaining some Japanese acquaintances he had met on his tour in Japan. Meichiko Suzuki was the granddaughter of Admiral Suzuki and a very popular personality on Japanese TV a sort of Barbara Walters of Nippon. The other 2 gentlemen were a Record Company Rep and Music Promoter. It was a difficult conversation at best Meichiko spoke English pretty well but the others English was limited and the conversation remained somewhat stilted and very polite and formal. The talk was mostly on the music business and Toronto touristy things, and some mention of importing Murray's next album to Japan.

Murray was always the consummate gentleman and host and tried very hard to make everyone feel comfortable in spite of the language barrier but the tone continued to very simple and very Very formal. After 3 or 4 drinks the men indicated they had other plans and rose to leave. They bowed very stiffly and about 3/4s down. I nodded politely but Murray tried very hard to mimic their bows but went a little too far which caused Meichiko to utter rather caustically

"Don't Kiss his ass Murray San, he isn't going to sell your fucking records.'

The shock of the language after such forced formality caused me to convulse in laughter. When the dust settled the men left and Timothy Rouse hearing the laughter joined Murray and Ms Suzuki and I.

Timothy had helped get Murray's girlfriend Karen a part in the movie. He tried very hard to impress Miss Suzuki by buying as many bottles of Dom Pergion as there was time for. I do not remember much after that except going home very late and very drunk.

The next day was pretty much a write off, Jerry and I went to lunch  which we often did. It was probably the most difficult part of my job. Jerry didn't eat so much as he used to feed. He was a fast, loud messy eater and with his drinking and talking at the same time I was always sort of ready to have to perform the Himlech manoeuvre  on him. After lunch we went to a sports bar and watched the game  which Philly won again and I went back to the 22 to collect again.

Bob was waiting for me like he didn't have anything else to-do except give me my crisp new $20.00 bill. Richard and Ron came in from set and joined me at the producer's table.   It had been a rather crazy day Ron told me. it was an early call on Toronto Island and they had to hold the ferry because Tim hadn't shown up. They left without him and Hank was just furious. Richard liked Tim and kept asking Hank what had happened to him."Where's Tim?"He kept asking.   Hank got madder and madder and finally as the ferry approached the island he announced that Timothy was fired. The doors open on the other side and there is Tim somewhat rumpled and bleary-eyed but there and at it. “I came over a bit early to check out the location." he explained and carried on with his duties as though everything was ordinary. The surprised Hank had to eat his words.

We found out later that Tim had arrived at the dock by cab just as the Ferry had left. Thinking quickly he taxied over to the Helicopter Rentals and rented a chopper to drop him on the island. He just charged it to the movie.

Timothy was a character He said he was a career first assistant director and had no desire to direct. He understood the movie biz perfectly and used it to help his womanizing.  He always sent flowers to woman stars and charged them to the movie and helped get minor parts for any girl he was chasing. I really liked Tim and we hung out quite a bit. Once when were shooting Double Negative at the Airport. We had 300 extras and I was checking about and ran into Tim coming from a ticket window with a beautiful black girl. “Hey I say what are you up to?” “The young lady and I are off to Montreal for the weekend.” Says Tim. “Thats a bit like taking coals to Newcastle isn’t it?” I laugh. “Thats a bit rude” says Tim. “What are you doing here? “WE are shooting a scene for double Negative” I say. “Ha” says Tim when we shot here we had 300 extras.’ “Timothy I tell him “nobody is real.””Gotcha1” at second look it was easy to tell all the suitcases were empty Tim turned red and headed for his plane.

The next day there was no ball game.

Barry Hale and Jerry were at Jerry's apartment working on the script,' Cynthia’s House' Which was loosely based on the play 'Veronica's Room' by Ira Levin . They were drinking heavy and on a high, so they were very enthusiastic and producing a lot of garbage.

Both of them knew movies inside and out and Jerry knew plays as well, I left them to it and headed back to the 22.

Kansas city won the next 2 games and Richard was right there to collect the $20.00 which wasn't important and buy me a drink which gave him an excuse to have a couple too. Which was very important?

 He told me about playing Arthur in Camelot with Julie London he said he had a lot of trouble not making a play for her, every man I know who knows her is a little bit in love with her She caught me having a nip before I went on one night . I  bet her I could drink the whole 40oz and perfom as usual. I won that bet.

He told me a great story about  getting thumped by Hume Cronyn 

Jason Robarts and Hume Cronyn were doing a play on Broadway Big Fish Little Fish and Jason hadn't shown up at the theatre . He was married to 'Betty' Bacall at the time and she phoned me to help her find him. 

I knew a bar that we all used to sneak off to and sure enough Jason was sitting there drinking. I talked him into going back to theatre  We met Hume Cronyn and Betty in this bare little room backstage where there was a piano stool as the only piece of furniture. Jason was still refusing to go on . I continued to berate Jason and sat down on the piano stool and gave him proper hell about 'the show must go on' and devotion to the craft and all that. He must have been very impressed with me of all people telling him about going astray.

Suddenly Jason just hauled off and sucker punched me. He hit me right in the chin and knocked me flying. Well I was defenceless sitting on that stool like that, so I was really angry and I went after him but Hume grabbed me rather firmly and told me to," Leave Jason alone Richard, he’s fragile."

Well I bided my time but he finally sat on that piano stool and I caught him with a good one and knocked him ass over teakettles. Well that little bastard Cronyn lit into me and hammered me royally. I couldn't believe it. I'm no giant either but I've always handled myself rather well. And Hume hammered me properly.

Then I found out he had been an Olympic Boxing Champion for Canada back in the twenties. You know back in the early days we used tease Hume about being rich. He had money you know. We kidded him about being a millionaire and a dilettante and all that. We thought he had a million dollars or something like that. Then I found out he was really rich like 80 or 90 million he owned a big share of Labatts. 

We sat talking on into the evening and he told me a story about going home to Wales.

It was fun going back home as a celebrity, I went to the local 'The Miners Arms.' and was buying everybody drinks. I thought everybody was there but I happened to glance outside and I noticed Tommy plodding down the road. Tommy had been a school chum he was a bit shy and had a bit of a stutter. Come and have a pint so I called to him   "I can't Richard, I'm too ch ch chuffed."

"What's the matter I asked? "

"I just lost 20,000 p p pounds.' he moaned.

Surprised I asked? "How did you lose $20,000 pounds." 

"The pools" he pulled a ticket out of his pocket. What do you mean I asked. "L-look at it " he said, all my t -teams won but one".  That's terrible,"I said "Which one?"

F-ff he started.

"Fallkirk?" I tried to help.

"No! F-ff -f."

Again I tried to help. " Was it Fullham?

"No", he finally blurted "I- it was

F-f-fu-fucking Swansea!"

I laughed and laughed Richard could turn any almost any story into his own.

Throughout this movie Richard had been a bit stiff and held one arm a bit close. Ron had mentioned that he had a problem with a pinched nerve or something and was taking medication for it. Richard suddenly got serious and morose.

You know I'm not going to reach sixty. I shall probably die before my sixtieth birthday.

I tried to laugh it off he was 53 and I told him he was trying to call it rather close.

No really! We drank rather heavy back then, Peter and Dick and I. You know we used to drink 2 or 3 forty ounce bottles a day each. It is too much for any man, we are going to pay for it. It will catch up with me; I know it and I still smoke too much. I think it gives my voice an edge so I do it, but I know it isn’t good for me.

His conversation got rather maudlin as he contemplated his own death and we kept on drinking and talking, some of the others came and went but we kept the thread of conversation going, mostly about him his father. How he fell off a bridge drunk.

 My father considered that anyone who went to church and didn`t drink alcohol was not to be tolerated. I grew up in that belief.

And I have to think hard to name an interesting man who does not drink.

And his undying love of Elizabeth.

I could never really love anybody as much as I loved her.

Our love was /is so furious that we burn each other out."

He downed his wine and said with a sigh “I really never loved anybody else.”

Among other things she was extremely jealous and I do have a problem passing on a pass.  Once I think it was in Germany there was some sort of festival and we were introduced to Diana Ross and the Supremes. So she shakes my hand she passes me a scrap of paper in it. Well I was careful to put it in my pocket so that Elizabeth wouldn’t notice. We got involved in drinking and meeting people and I met Tom Jones. A fellow Welshman and all and I had never met him before and we got off in private to have a chat. Funny thing he said when I met Diana Ross she slipped me her room number. I reached for the scrap of paper and showed him she had given it to me too. We laughed wonder what she would do if we both showed up.

He passed me a book ‘The Gamblers”. Here I just finished this maybe you’d like it.

I`m a reader, you know. I was corrupted by Faust. And Shakespeare. And Proust. And even Hemingway. But mostly I was corrupted by Dylan Thomas, that Welsh thing. Most people see me as a womanizer, boozer and purchaser of large baubles and I`m all those things too.  But mostly I`m a reader, I am reading on the set all the time, Give me Agatha Christie for an hour and I`m happy as a clam. My house in Switzerland will collapse someday   under its own weight from the books. I hope I`m there when it does.

One hundred years old. Reading the newest thriller from Le Carré or a new play from Tennessee Williams.  Hmm, No I guess they would be long dead too.

 He had a funny thing about homosexuality. Whenever he mentioned an actor that was gay he would make an aside: “he is a fag you know” in a tone that made sound like this was the saddest thing in the world.

He went on to tell me that a few years ago he had to replace his Lawyer/ Business manager in New York. The fellow had come down with Parkinson's disease or some such thing. Richard said he had been a good friend but he couldn't do the job anymore and he got a new business manager.

In the course of events my new business manger had done a full audit and accounting of my business. He asked me if I knew how much money I had made and I told him I didn't have a clue. He then told me that I had grossed seventeen million. Then he asked if I knew how much I still had left and again I said he had no idea. Almost seven million he told me.

So far in my lifetime I had spent 10 million dollars. Not bad for a poor little Welsh miner's son eh?

Ron told me that Richard had 2 million in gold stashed away someplace

Just case everything else goes down the drain.

Kansas City's run was short-lived Back in Philly the home team got the next 2 and the series was over. Bob showed with the $20.00 but I didn't see Richard till much later the next day to buy him a drink. It was about 9 p.m. he was sitting with Ron.

The story of the day was that (Jules Dassin) the director of Circle of Two had gotten an open ended expense account while Richard and Tatum had only gotten a rigid per diem. Hank's theory was that since Jules didn't drink he couldn't cost very much. Jules’s of course flew in his private chef and the like which had sent Hank backtracking quickly.

Richard seemed a little out of it that night. I kidded him lightly about the bet as I bought him a wine. He drank the wine faster than usual and turned sort of strange.

He told me that he had hedged his bet and proceeded to tell some ridiculous story that the night before the final game some man met him in the elevator and offered to bet him $10,000 on Kansas City. Richard said he took the bet. That the man called him after the game and met him and paid off the money. Richard said the man gave him the $10,000 dollars in cash just like that.

I was speechless; the story was so weak and stupid that I didn't know what to say. Even THE VOICE couldn't save that pathetic story.

Fortunately at that moment Susan arrived at the door and Richard left to join her for dinner. I looked at Ron and asked about the story. "Fucking Pills" was all Ron said.

I met Ron Berkeley working with Richard Burton on Circle of Two. I worked for Udo Productions we owned circle and sold it to Bill and Henk and I was cleaning up some of the details.
Ron and i became fast friends as I hung out with Richard for the rest of the movie. Ron was working on a script and gave it to me to read. He had read a couple of mine. I came up with some ideas for his script and the next thing he had arranged for Warner Brothers to offer me $25,000 to do a rewrite on the script. Ron offered me his summer home, a small castle in Normandy and his Maserati.
he wanted Billy Connolly to act in it long before he did movies. I showed Ron around Toronto and we had drinks every day I was having a drink with him and Lesley McDonnell one day and mentioned I was going to the Queens Plate and they agreed to join me. I was very much a jeans and T shirt guy and both of them were pretty snappy dressers. So when we met to go to the plate they dressed down to T shirts and jeans and I of course wore my suit so I could get in the Clubhouse. LOL. As the movie was wrapping up we were making arrangements to fly to France when the writer's strike began an WB cancelled all deals. (the story of my life so close and yet so far away) Ron wrote to me for several years always typed with a typewriter. Always long letters and great stories and hopeful deals. Ron had a great movie history. he started working for his father who was also a make-up man at 16. . Ron's first job was shaving Marlene Dietrich's legs. Ron was a great friend for much too short a time. I lost contact on one of my moves. While I am sad at his passing I am glad he had a long life and worked well into his eighties.

I ran into Milton Acorn on the way to the 22 the next day. Milton was more properly a poet. Milton too had been a drunk but he seemed to produce in spite of it and I liked him and his poetry. I asked him if he would join me for a drink. He produced a white poker chip and told me that he wasn't drinking. He held up the poker chip and told me he had to break the chip before he would have a drink. I extended the offer to a coffee or soda and led him to the 22. I sat him down at the producers table and he ordered a coffee as I introduced him to the others at the table. Now Milton was sort of scruffy to say the least he usually forgot to brush his hair or shave and he had a gray craggy face and bulbous eyes. He wore old working clothes and I guess frankly looked more like a wino than a poet. The rest of the table looked at me funny like what was he doing there and were confused by my obvious admiration of this character.

They seemed surprised at the literate and intelligent tone of our conversation until one could not take it anymore and turned to Milton asked him what he did.

"I am "said Milton regally "a latent science fiction reader."