Half Moon Street Page #2

getting paid for all of that.

But they don't pay anything.

What?

You mean, you're doing

all of that for nothing?

Maybe you're not

so smart after all.

Hello, Id like to speak

to Mr. Hugo Van Arkady, please.

Who's calling, please?

This is Dr. Lauren Slaughter...

of the Middle Eastern Institute

for Strategic Studies.

Just a minute, please.

-Yes.

-Hi.

This is Lauren Slaughter.

Dr. Slaughter.

We met the other night

at General Newhouse's.

Yes, the vegetarian.

I remember very well.

How are you?

Im fine, thank you.

Actually, I was just wondering--

you mentioned the other night...

that you might

be able to help me.

-You need a loan?

-Yes.

Have you tried your local bank?

No. I thought you said that--

If he turns you down,

give me a call...

and we'll talk about it

over dinner or...

maybe a quiet lunch

in the country.

Or even a weekend.

No, thank you, Mr. Van Arkady.

Ill manage.

By the way,

did you send me a tape?

A tape? Why on earth

should I send you a tape?

No reason. Thank you.

This young woman

earns $200 an hour.

Her takings for a single week...

might be several

thousand pounds.

She is one of a growing

number of young women...

who work in London's

newest industry...

the escort service...

grossing several million pounds

monthly, most of it tax-free.

The men are lonely, you keep

them company. That's it.

That's why

it's not prostitution.

Prostitution is

lowering yourself...

but this is

just the opposite.

Escort agencies--

the thing l like

about it--no hassle.

Good night.

Is this your taxi, General?

Yes. Can I offer you a lift?

Im going to Kensington.

Its on my way. Thank you.

That was a terrific paper

of yours in The Spectator.

Ah. Well, I had some

very good raw material.

But not good enough to warrant

a field trip to Kuwait.

You're a woman in a hurry.

No more than any man, General.

She reminds me of...you know,

that great Australian girl.

You're absolutely right,

but she can't go out like this.

Men expect something sexier.

Quelque chose qui fait bander.

If you're thinking

of tits in a tight dress...

you have a pretty

stereotyped idea...

of what this job requires.

Is that so? Up to you.

Here's the drill.

We'll keep track of

your appointments, pay you cash.

But once you accept the job,

you go out with the guy...

even he has halitosis

and a triple chin.

-And afterwards?

-The sky's the limit.

We don't want to know.

Dinner's OK.

For the rest...

Ill see how l feel.

Of course, you'll be

using a pseudonym.

No. Ill use my own name.

That's highly irregular.

Im not ashamed of what

I do, Captain Twilley.

Perhaps she might be

available...film Americain.

Good idea.

A big film producer--

Floren Farvenstein from L.A.

Most of our clients

are regulars.

You must look your best.

Ill dazzle him with my wit.

The bodies of 3

Iranian students...

were found today in a cellar...

in a disused tenement

building near Brands Hatch.

The Iranians, believed to be

members of the Hezbollah...

had been missing

for several weeks...

...to disperse a mob

of rampaging youths...

who earlier overturned

a police van and set it on fire.

Police are still

searching for a man...

who claimed in

an anonymous telephone call...

that he would blow up

Brixton Underground Station...

if his friends were not

released by midnight.

Good evening, madam.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much, Love.

Vous parlez chinois, vraiment?

C'est merveilleux.

J'aimerais tellement

passer la nuit avec vous.

-C'est $300.

-C'est beaucoup.

Take it or leave it.

Raw fish very good.

Very health-giving.

What was that with the waiter?

I say you very good-looking.

I thought I heard

a reference to money.

You speak Japanese?

Im not on the menu,

Mr. Matsushita.

I decide what I do

after dinner...

and in your case, it's no.

Definitely no. Eai.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

Excuse me, madam.

Your name, please?

Slaughter.

Thank you, madam.

Yes?

You're from the Jasmine Agency?

Appearances can be deceptive.

Don't worry.

Im naked underneath.

Hi. Im Lauren Slaughter.

An American. How exotic.

Im Sam Weller.

Nice to meet you.

Give me your things.

Sam Weller, huh?

-Dickens, isn't it?

-Yes.

''The Pickwick Papers''?

What made you pick

a cockney character...

as a pseudonym...Lord Bulbeck?

You know my real name?

I see you on the box, actually.

Would you like a drink

before we go to dinner?

Im drinking Chablis.

Perrier and a slice

of lemon, please.

When did you stop being

a radical, Lord Bulbeck?

I like to think l still am.

That's my father.

He was injured

in the General Strike in 1926.

He taught you

trade union organization.

The practical side of it.

That was my wife.

She was killed in an accident.

I know...in Turkey.

You seem to know a lot about me.

I was in China when

you were putting together...

the Hong Kong settlement.

As a tourist?

I was writing my doctorate

on the Chinese economy.

Oh, really? An intellectual.

What was it like

for you over there?

Infuriating.

Fascinating.

I don't know, everything after

China seems...anticlimactic.

Did you get to know

many Chinese?

A few.

The Chinese weren't

really encouraged...

to have Western friends.

We were considered...

spiritual pollutants.

Spiritual pollutants.

I had a Chinese lover

for a while.

Oh? Is that allowed?

Not really.

This is crazy.

An escort agency sends me

out on a date...

and I end up talking

to Lord Bulbeck about...China.

Why don't you call me Sam?

Where did you learn to do that?

I can't stand helpless men

who can't cook...

but you can treat it

as a form of courtship.

OK.

Tell me about

your Chinese lover.

Chinguay?

Chinguay was considered

a dissident poet.

I used to sneak him

into my dorm room...

and put blankets up

over the windows...

and we'd stay up all night

arguing about T.S. Eliot.

Can I ask you a question?

Why does somebody like you...

go to the Jasmine Agency?

We men are stuck with

the courtship ritual...

and I just don't

have the time for it.

I was going to ask you

the same question.

I need the money...

and I happen to like

uncomplicated sex.

A lot of women

need the money, but--

A lot of women like

uncomplicated sex. May I?

How long have you

been doing this?

Oh, about a couple of weeks.

You're the first person Ive

been able to talk to, actually.

And you're going to do it again

on a regular basis?

Well, I haven't done

too badly tonight.

My dear, you should be

very, very careful.

You mean diseases and maniacs?

Don't worry.

I found a gynaecologist

who teaches karate.

I was referring to something

completely different.

-You're from Kuwait?

-Mm-hmm.

Im Dr. Slaughter.

I was supposed to do research

in your country...

but Im afraid

it didn't work out.

-Ah, the field trip.

-Yes.

You must allow our government

to invite you next time.

Yes, of course.

It would be our honour.

Thank you.

You know, I was very impressed

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