The Look of Love Page #2

can put on shows with naked girls,

so Mr Raymond has plans to transform

himself into a theatre impresario.

But, for today,

he has his hands full,

rehearsing a new dance show

for his Revue Bar.

Okay. Hold it, hold it, hold it.

We're now getting near

to the end of the act.

What I want you to do is,

now, readjust the ending,

so that, by the end,

you're completely nude.

That's great. Undulate.

Remember more... more...

more snake-like movements.

The fact that Midas

has turned you to gold...

Don't worry about the logic of that.

You're not gold ingots,

you're beautiful women

and the gold doesn't impede

your movements.

Very fluid.

Excellent. Great.

Mr Raymond, what makes

a good striptease artist?

Well, the girls are...

in a sense, actors

and they must persuade the men

that they're enjoying the experience.

Uh, so it's a performance

and they must be convincing.

And how did your career begin?

Well, I'm an entertainer,

first and foremost.

I started out with a

mind-reading act.

Erm, and I soon realised that people

like to look at attractive girls.

And they liked it even more

if the girls had no clothes on.

Er, so in that sense,

in that sense alone,

I could read people's minds.

In leafy SW19,

not far from the world-famous

grass courts of Wimbledon Tennis Club,

he and his young family live

among the company directors,

city bankers and lawyers.

His son and daughter

go to public schools

and enjoy the right sports.

Not bad for a boy from Liverpool

who arrived with five bob i n his pocket.

Good try, darling.

Yes, try and hit it, though, Howard.

Try and hit it with the bat.

Okay, again, one more time.

Thanks.

Again.

Come on, Howard.

Keep your eye on the ball.

Yes! Out! Out!

All this is the measure

of Raymond's success,

far from the grey class certainties

of Mossley Hill, Liverpool,

where he was born.

My father left home

when I was just a baby.

Uh, so I was brought up

in a house full of women.

So I'm very comfortable

around them.

Um, we moved to Glossop

when I was a child,

where I was educated

by the Sisters of Notre Dame.

What would the nuns think

of what you do now?

I think that they

would be forgiving.

I think, you know,

I mean, I'm very strict.

I would never allow anything

blasphemous in any of my shows.

No, never.

I wouldn't have some...

one of the dancers, you know,

dressed as a nun, you know, with...

suspenders under her habit,

you know.

You know, pulling the rope off

a Franciscan monk and, you know,

having him ravage her or something,

you know, in a confessional box.

I would never do anything like that

because I would find that offensive.

Do you keep in touch

with your father?

Uh, no, he disappeared completely.

Would you say everything

you touch turns to gold?

Not... not everything, er...

but enough.

Mr Raymond, thank you

very much. Cheers.

You're more than welcome.

Thank you.

What time do you finish tonight?

I think about 5:
00.

You're a sweetheart.

I think an hour with me

will sort you right out.

Well, I may well take

you up on that.

Hello.

I was trying not to wake you.

What time is it?

Uh, late. Well, early.

- Was she nice?

- Uh, a girl. Just a girl.

Mmm?

- What's that?

- Hmm?

Oh, sh*t.

It's gold paint.

One of the girls in the

Midas thing, you know.

Makes a change from lipstick.

You wouldn't want a husband

who was surrounded by all these...

beautiful, naked girls

and have no libido.

- Would you?

- Oh, I don't know.

You could have a boy if you want.

- Mmm?

- Big, strong boy.

Would you be there?

Yes. Of course.

And would you make

love to him, too?

No, of course not.

And where would

this be happening?

Right here. In our bedroom.

And what would you be doing?

I'd be over there in

the chair. Tied up.

How would it all get started?

- Well, the doorbell would ring.

- Would you answer it?

Well, of course I can't.

I'm f***ing tied up, aren't I?

I'm not Houdini.

Twenty-five with you, sir.

Thirty with you, sir.

Forty.

Forty-five, sir. With you at 45.

I am looking for 50,000.

Fifty at the back.

Debbie, this is Carl. My lawyer.

- Hello, Debbie.

- Morning.

60,000.

I have 60. I'm looking for 65.

Do I see... Thank you, 65.

Seventy with you, sir. Seventy-five.

Hundred and fifty.

No further bidding.

Sold to you, sir, for 150,000.

- Do you own that one?

- No.

- 15?

- No.

- What about 78?

- Not 78.

- 76?

- 76 is mine. I own 34.

- What about the next one?

- No.

- Is this yours?

- That's mine, yes.

- Say "mine". I mean "ours",

of course. - Of course.

I own this one here.

Why?

It's horrible.

Some of the streets...

some of them are a little bit scruffy.

So why do you buy

so many buildings?

Because, uh, one day you

will own the company

and nothing confers more respectability

on someone than property.

Do you want a piece of cake

from that shop there?

Yes. Obviously.

I told you I could read

people's minds, didn't I, eh?

Can I have the berry cheesecake,

the strawberry mountain,

the cake with the almonds on the side

and the marzipan figs?

- Debbie!

- Mmm!

You're not supposed

to eat them all.

They're to share with the other girls,

to help you make friends.

Now, we must insist that you

don't come inside to the dormitory.

It's a rule that we have here.

It can be very upsetting

for the children.

Right.

But they do get over it

after a week or so.

Right.

- Sorry.

- That's okay.

Hello, I'm here for the audition.

Too late, I'm afraid.

Are you sure you can't just

squeeze one more in?

Hold on one moment.

- Mr Raymond?

- Mmm?

I'm here for the auditions.

You're late.

Yes. No. Yes, I am late.

But I told myself that I

wasn't going to come in

unless there was a free parking meter,

which usually there never is.

But, at the last second,

a red Cortina pulled out.

So... here I am.

Luck, hopefully, or destiny?

- Uh, what's your name?

- Um, Amber.

Well, my real name is Julia

but I call myself Amber.

I see. Yes, well, my name's

not really Paul Raymond.

It's, uh... My real name's

actually Geoffrey Quinn.

Oh.

Gosh.

It's really...

It's quite grand, isn't it?

Well, in your own time,

if you'd like to take off your robe.

Of course.

Excellent. Um, turn round, please.

Exquisite.

If you want to hop into the pool.

Yes.

If you'll fit.

Think you're almost as tall

as the pool is long.

Yes.

Breast stroke?

Of course.

How could any man

be such a cad?

Such a hypocrite

as to make love to me

whilst he had a wife?

Oh, any man who

would do that...

I thought you were

like other men,

- eager to start an affair...

- Quickly.

...as long as there were

no strings attached.

Leonard, Leonard!

Who are those women?

Oh, they're our neighbours.

We let them use the swimming pool.

- They're very liberated.

- Mmm! Liberated from their clothes.

Leonard, I need a huge favour.

You need a place to hide

from this nasty story

- that's going around

about you. - Yes.

Well, it's clear to me,

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