The House of Rumour A Novel - By Jake Arnott Page 0,129
that everything was all right but he could not form any kind of coherent sentence. He tried a smile but suspected that just made him look more wasted.
‘At least have some breakfast, boss.’
‘Uhn . . . sure.’
In the kitchen Juanita had laid out an array of fresh fruit. Danny picked out a mango, two bananas, a pear and three oranges. He gestured to Juanita.
‘En la licuadora . . . por . . .’
Juanita smiled and nodded. She peeled the bananas and put them in the liquidiser.
He took the glass of juice and wandered out into the front garden. He looked up and saw a figure standing in his driveway. A man in a grey suit. He turned back to the house.
‘Arthur,’ he tried to shout but his voice was a feeble croak.
He looked back at the driveway. The man in the grey suit had disappeared.
Lorraine arrived at nine. His manager wore a Helmut Lang suit in light gunmetal, a Bikini Kill T-shirt, black slip-on loafers. Her hair teased out in a shock, her face more made-up than usual. Danny noticed dark rings under her eyes.
‘Uhn . . . are you . . . okay?’
‘I’m fine, Danny. Just, you know—’
‘Working too hard?’
‘No, no, I’m loving the job, I really am. Playtime’s been a little crazy, that’s all. But good news. I think I’ve found the lawyer that can get you out of your recording deal. Name’s Paul Moss. He’s going to argue that you didn’t have full and proper legal advice when you renegotiated back in ’ninety-one, that you didn’t enter into the contract knowingly.’
‘That’s . . . good.’
‘And that they were negligent in promoting your last album. They just don’t understand the new direction.’
‘Uhn . . .’
‘So, shall I set up a meeting?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Right. Item two: the film project. Are you sure this is the right part for you?’
‘Uhn . . . yeah.’
‘But you’d be playing a fucking alien, for Christ’s sake. Won’t that mean make-up and latex shit all over your face?’
‘Uhn . . . no . . . it’s not going to be like that.’
‘Okay. I’ll have another look at the script. You’ve got that writer coming over at four, right?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Now, Danny, I don’t understand. I checked with the production company and this guy isn’t even attached to the project.’
‘He wrote the . . . uhn . . .’
‘He wrote the screenplay for the original. That was back in the 1950s. He’s not doing the remake.’
‘I like his work.’
‘Okay. But, look, Danny, if they do offer you the part, the insurers will want you to have a medical.’
‘Uhn . . .’
‘You sure you’re up to that right now? I mean, you’re coming through a difficult period, making a break with the past. Maybe now’s not the time to have too much stress in your life.’
‘I’m okay.’
‘Sure. But, you know, you’re worried about old friends giving you a hard time about moving on.’
‘Uhn . . .’
‘Arthur can look after you, you know. And we can always get more security if you want it.’
‘Thanks.’
‘And I’m always just down the road. Don’t let those freaks get to you. We’ll get through this. Then you can get back in the studio and do what you do best. Anything else?’
‘No, no, I don’t think so.’
‘Well, if there is I’m in the office all day.’
As Lorraine got up to leave Danny stood also. He reached out his arms clumsily to touch her, as if he was still learning how to make some gesture of friendship. Something between a hug and a handshake. Lorraine smiled.
‘It’s going to be fine. It really is. Just try to relax. We can take our time over all of this.’
‘Uhn . . . thanks, Lorry.’
She ruffled his hair then turned and left the room. Danny collapsed back onto the couch. He fished the pill bottle out of his pocket, clicked off the lid and carefully poured out the capsules onto the glass surface of the coffee table. He counted them out. He had twelve left. He looked at the label on the bottle.
06/27/97
OSIRIS, D.
TAKE 1 CAPSULE 3 TIMES A DAY
NO REFILLS.
He was nearly through this month’s prescription. Dr Nielson had told him that he wasn’t going to write him another before the due date. They were for his anxiety and his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, he had said, and it was important that he stick to the recommended dosage. He would have to find another doctor. He picked out two capsules and then put all the other drugs back into the