Page 82 of The Little Liar
The film, which Nico had financed, was a work of fiction, but every time it reached its conclusion, he felt his body tremble.
“Again, sir?” the projectionist asked when it finished.
“No. That’s enough.”
“It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it?”
Nico rose and looked toward the booth’s bright light.
“What did you say?”
“I’m sorry, sir,” the projectionist mumbled. “Excuse me.” The light went off, quickly followed by the clumsy noise of a film canister dropping.
Nico shook his head and sat back down. This projectionist was new and obviously did not know the rules: no speaking during the screening process, unless spoken to.
Nico had developed a nickname in Hollywood, “The Financier,” pronounced the French way“fee-nan-cee-yay.”He was now one of the most powerful people in his business. Despite the glamour of actors and directors, it was money that moved Hollywood, and The Financier had more of it than most. But unlike many in his field, he shunned attention and wanted only to view the films privately upon their completion, not to attend their premieres or visit their working sets. Most of his movies made handsome profits, which he reinvested in new projects and made more.
Even in his forties, Nico’s deep-set blue eyes, wavy blondhair, and tall, lanky frame drew glances in a business where good looks matter. But people did not see him often. He arrived at odd hours. He stayed late. He did not have an assistant and conducted most of his business by phone. He never gave interviews. He found his job relatively simple. Pick stories that people wanted to hear. Make sure the budgets were responsible. Proceed.
In between, he would disappear for many days at a time, and calls to him would often go unanswered. When he did respond, he fabricated stories: an ankle injury, a sudden trip to New York, a car problem. People waited months for an appointment. If he canceled, they waited months more.
He stared now at the white screen, thinking about the final scene of the film he’d just watched, the clown walking into the gas chamber. He rubbed his temples, then tapped his hand three times on the armrest.
“I changed my mind,” he announced to the projectionist. “Play it again.”
Now, I hear your question: Did Fannie ever find Nico?
The answer is right in front of you. But it took twelve years to reveal itself. Here are the important steps along the way:
1968
After meeting Katalin Karády, Fannie returned to Europe. Her ticket restrictions, passport paperwork, and lack of further money made traveling beyond New York impossible.
She kept the movie postcards with her.
1969
Fannie revisited Gizella in her Hungarian village, and stayed with her through the summer, circling the date of August 10 on the calendar.
On that day, a redheaded man with ruddy skin and a thick torso arrived with a bag of money. Fannie confronted him.
“Who are you? Who sent you? Where is this money coming from?”
He shook his head at every question. When Fannie persisted, he got into his small car and drove away.
1970
Fannie traveled to Israel, where her daughter was living, and the two of them spent months together, often by the sea, which Tia loved. They spoke about Tia’s plans upon graduation, and a young man she had met who was about to enter the army. Sometimes they spoke of Sebastian. One night, while walking along a beach, Tia asked, “Are you ever going back to him?” and Fannie said she didn’t know, and Tia asked, “What happened between you two?” and Fannie sighed and said, “First we were friends, then we were refugees, then we were parents, and now we feel like strangers.”
1971
Fannie returned to Hungary and stayed with Gizella, helping her with the housework and pushing her wheelchair on walks through the village. When the redheaded man arrived on the morning of August 10, Fannie was ready. She again asked where the money was coming from. When he refused toanswer, she ran to his car and got in the front seat. “I am not leaving until you tell me,” she yelled.
The man stared at her for a moment, then walked away, leaving the car behind.
1972
Fannie returned to Israel, where her daughter and her new husband welcomed their first child, a baby boy. The couple named him Shimon, after Fannie’s father, which left Fannie happy and sad at the same time.
