Yes, I am zooming forward in time to show a typical day of working for the man; the one who will not be named. At this time I only worked in his office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I would be expected to know everything that happened in my absence on Tuesdays and Thursdays of course.
At this time the boss was starring in (and had directed) one of his plays in the West End and had recently done a couple films and published a book. He also was doing a lot of voiceovers because he had two voiceover agents. The new one knew about the old one but not vice versa, so it was very tricky.
I went to the boss's play again this evening after work. It was the last week of the run and I cheered up by having a drink with my pal Gerry, who was one of the chorus boys. (I will reveal his name, cryptically and immune to Googling, as it has become rather well known: Gerard [the profession of Mr. French/Jeeves etc.])
19 July 1996
As soon as I got in, I tried to ring [the boss] this morning but his line was engaged. When I spoke to [his literary agent/business manager] I learned that he had been talking to her, but was now on his way out to Pinewood [Studios] - presumably to do the looping for [his latest film]. She told me about a meeting she had arranged for next Thursday; assured me [the boss] knew about it. He also had been reminded about the meeting this afternoon with the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
In the meantime [the boss's partner] came in. She said she couldn't stay very long but as usual, stayed longer than intended. [I am skipping a couple paragraphs here - some amusing but too complicated stuff...] Then [the B's P] noticed the wall chart. She was surprised that [the boss] had things on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as she had been intending to book a flight for them to the South of France for the beginning of next week. She said [the boss] never tells her anything!
So I began preparing next week's schedule, which I would fax later to [the boss].
But before I could finish I got an angry phone call from him. Claiming that I NEVER tell him ANYTHING. That even if I had verbally told him about these meetings how did I expect him to remember... He can't always come in and look at the wall chart or in the diary... When I explained about the fax he said that was no good because I had not done it... He was most angry about the voiceover - but that's ridiculous - the only reason I even ever speak to Stephanie was that she found out by accident that I existed and only uses me to find out his schedule and to help nag him. [I guess at that time I wasn't meant to be speaking to the agents; that all changed later!] But all that voiceover work goes through to him and I only know what he tells me!
I wanted to kill him. I did stand firm - saying he never tells me everything either, and when I sent the fax later I was going to make a joke about crawling through shit or something but I just signed it: 'Yours humbly and apologetically' - not that he deserves such nonsense but I want a quiet life!!!
The people from Plymouth were nice. [The boss] was late, and called to say he was gonna be late... He complained that he couldn't get through; I suggested he get Call Waiting and he got all shirty.
[Skipping several paragraphs here and afterward that are irrelevant or would require too much explanation...] Oh, I haven't written about the performance. [The boss] was absolutely amazing. I'd never seen him so full of venom - such POWER without shouting... I told him later he always was his best when he was mad at me.
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