The Ghost Writer Page #6

he'd drunk nearly half a bottle?

That's convenient.

- What do you mean?

- Nothing.

- You think his death was suspicious?

- Don't you?

Yes.

Yes, I do.

Today at the beach,

I met a man, an old timer

who was familiar with the currents.

And he said that there was no way

that a body from the ferry

could have washed ashore on that spot.

You're kidding.

He also said that there was a woman who

saw flashlights on the beach that night.

And then she fell down the stairs,

and now she's in a coma. That's all I know.

That's all you know? Jesus.

- Can I borrow your phone?

- Why?

I need to call Adam.

- What?

- Nothing.

- Aren't you gonna call him?

- Later. I'm going out for a walk.

But it's pitch black. It's pouring with rain.

- It'll clear my head.

- Well, I'll come with you.

No. Thanks, but I need to work this one

through on my own.

Stay here. Have another drink.

Don't wait up.

Are you awake?

- Well, I am now.

- I'm sorry.

It's all right. Hang on.

- What time is it?

- I don't know.

I called Adam.

- And?

- Can I come in?

The day before Mike died,

he and Adam had a terrible row.

I've never told anyone this before,

not even the police.

- What about?

- I don't know.

But it was furious. They never spoke again.

When I asked Adam about it,

he refused to discuss it.

After what you just said,

I felt I should ask him again.

And what did he say?

He was having dinner

with the Vice President.

That bloody Bly woman

wouldn't even give him the phone.

Oh, God. Oh, dear God.

What's he got himself mixed up in?

It's all right. Everything'll be all right.

I'm scared.

I've never been scared in my life before,

but I am now.

Your hair's all wet, you're drenched.

Let me get you a towel.

Bad idea.

Do you mind?

Course not.

The modesty of the morning after?

I'm sorry. I thought you were asleep.

You mean you thought I'd be gone?

You've taken out the family tree.

He's very proud of the Langs.

You know, if you want a family tree,

go to a garden center.

Why have you underlined my name

every time?

I was surprised

there wasn't more about you.

Why? I'm just the wife.

Yeah, even so.

You ought not to be written out of history.

Why not? Most women are.

Then I'll reinstate you.

I'll put in all the occasions

that he's forgotten.

How kind. Like the boss's secretary

that remembers his wife's birthday for him?

Something like that. But then,

like you say, I'm not a proper writer.

- What are you planning to do?

- Leave.

It's not necessary, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm afraid it is, as far as I am.

- Where will you go?

- Back to the hotel.

Look, I'm sorry. I should never have stayed

in a client's house.

- It always ends up with...

- With you screwing the client's wife?

No, not always.

But it does make it hard

to maintain a professional distance.

And the thing we discussed last night?

What do you propose to do about that?

- That's none of my business.

- Well, you can't just ignore it.

Look, I'm his ghostwriter.

I'm not an investigative reporter.

- What are you gonna do about it?

- Perhaps I'll write my own memoirs.

Ex-Prime Minister's Wife Tells All.

Well, if you ever decide to do that,

give me a call.

You think I need someone like you

to produce my book?

I don't want to be in his bloody memoirs.

He's on his own. I'll get a divorce.

And she can do the prison visits.

Morning, sir.

- Finished for the night, have we?

- Why don't you just piss off?

BMW ConnectedDrive.

Traffic is clear to your destination.

Join the road when possible.

In 200 yards, turn left.

Sorry, lady, but the hotel is right.

Turn around when possible.

This is getting ridiculous.

Turn around when possible.

All right, you win.

In 50 yards, turn left.

Turn left.

You've got to be joking.

Single or return?

Return. I hope.

Forty bucks, please.

- Have a good one.

- Ta.

Okay, come on. Come on, keep coming.

A little more. Stop.

In 50 yards, turn left.

Please proceed to the indicated road.

In 200 yards, take the next exit.

In half a mile, make a sharp right turn.

Turn left.

In 200 yards,

you will have reached your destination.

You have reached your destination.

Paul Emmett?

Professor Paul Emmett?

"Professor Paul Emmett

of Harvard University

"has written of the unique importance

of the English-speaking peoples

"in the spread of democracy

around the world.

"As these nations stand together,

"whenever they have faltered,

tyranny has gathered strength."

Hello?

- Is that Mrs. Emmett?

- Who is this?

I wondered if I might have a word

with Professor Emmett.

Do you have an appointment?

It's about Adam Lang.

I'm assisting him with his memoirs.

Just a moment, please.

This is Paul Emmett.

I think you must have made a mistake.

But you were at Cambridge with Mr. Lang?

We were contemporaries, yes,

but I can't claim to know him.

I have a photograph of you together.

Come on up to the house.

I make it a rule never to see anyone

without an appointment.

But your mention of a photograph

rather tickled my curiosity.

- Please, come in.

- Thank you.

Yes, he's here now.

- May I?

- Sure.

Yes. Yes, he's on his own.

He didn't say.

British, about 40.

Well, well.

I literally have no recollection of this.

- But that is you?

- Yes, it is.

I was on the board of the Dramat.

I had quite a time of it, as you can imagine.

- The Dramat?

- I'm sorry. The Yale Dramatic Association.

I maintained my theatrical interests

when I went to Cambridge

for my doctoral research.

- Could I keep this?

- No, I'm afraid not.

- I'm sure I could get you a copy.

- Would you? That would be kind.

Maybe you could tell me

how you came by it.

I'd be happy to.

Come into my study.

Yes, the wall of ego.

We all have one.

It's our equivalent of the dentist's fish tank.

Have a seat.

So, the picture.

Um...

I've been working with Adam Lang

on his memoirs.

Yes, I know, you told me.

Yes, poor Lang. It's bad business,

this posturing by The Hague.

As for Rycart, the worst

British Foreign Secretary since the war.

Lang was right to fire him.

- How well do you know Lang?

- Hardly at all.

- You seem surprised.

- He mentions you in his memoirs.

Oh, really?

Well, now it's my turn to be surprised.

What does he say?

That's very decent of him.

As Prime Minister,

he always had good instincts.

- But that doesn't mean I know him.

- But the...

That. That was taken at a reception

in London

to mark the 10-year anniversary

of the Arcadia.

- Arcadia?

- Yeah, it's a little organization that I ran.

Very highbrow.

No reason why you should have heard of it.

The Prime Minister graced us

with his presence.

What can you remember of him

from Cambridge?

- I'm sorry, you don't mind, do you?

- No, not at all. Go ahead.

It's just that I'm rather bewildered.

No one's mentioned the Cambridge

connection between us in all these years.

- But you performed together?

- In one production.

It was the summer revue.

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