Grey Skies in Mourning

© 2010 Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Chapter Three

edited 12/12/2012

Fat as he was the Kodiak bear known as Kab Langly stood well in the ornate office of his only boss later that night. In front of him, behind a mahogany desk that cost more than most families made in a year sat the real owner of Republic Pictures. Sanford Richard Yade was a handsome stallion. Well groomed and well dressed he had a business mind that had allowed him to crush seven independent companies under his thumb. But even a mind like his couldn’t be of much help when it was assaulted from so many directions. He needed to get away for a while but his little house of cards was beginning to sway. Outside his office a late Fall storm blew and its fury matched the stallions own.

“I’m gonna kill Haster” he growled toward the silent bear. “Take him out five miles in a storm like I did my wife, see if tha bastard can swim back. She sure couldn’t thank God.”

“Sir” KL said, understanding that this kind of anger would lead no where, though it was why there was currently no Mrs. Yade. Being caught in bed with the gardener had lead to both their deaths as the bear well knew. He’d not been aboard that amphibian himself, but through the stallions occasional rants he had a fair idea of what had happened. That poor wolf had been dead long before seeing the water. It had been Yade himself who had tossed his naked mare out of the aircraft, watching her vanish into the sea as she swam in the direction that she thought was shore. Mrs. Yade had been a fair swimmer but five miles in a storm was a long way in the dark even for an expert swimmer, which she wasn’t. It hadn’t helped that Yade had apparently told her the wrong direction to swim. “Won’t Haster reconsider?”

“Reconsider?” the stallion asked. He snorted in disgust. “His answer? ‘I’m sorry Richard, but you know that all my studio holdings are in my wifes name. I’m just her mouthpiece. She wants her son to make this picture so I must accept and try to keep the damage to a minimum.’” He growled, an unusual sound from a stallion. “Everyone knows that kid isn’t Haster’s. Mans never slept with a woman in his life, some gardener got to her I bet.” He took a deep breath, calming himself. “Well that’s his problem.”

Yade sighed, standing to take several deep breaths. It was, the bear knew, his way of calming down. Finally nodding no to no one the stallion sat again. “Bartholomew just sold all his holdings. He’s out, plans to restart Mammoth. Well good luck to him, that’s three of the original group gone and in this economy we will be lucky to survive until ‘38. Damn jackass will be lucky to have a home by January. He sold his damn preferred shares to Haster, wouldn’t even accept my money and its that time of year again.” He looked straight at the bear. “Please tell me that you have good news.”

“I think I do sir” Kab answered. “Von Pugpug came through though it cost her heavily. I’ve a copy of the script synopsis with me.”

A rare smile came to the stallions face. He had no interest in vixens, never had but the woman had become popular for a B actress and seemed to be able to gather talent around her. That kind of actress Republic needed. Still it hadn’t stopped his instructions to the bear and if she’d ended up on the ranch Yade would have ridden her just as he did every actress that ended up in that hell-hole, to reinforce to them who owned them. “Let me see it, how big a cost?”

Opening the case he held Kab withdrew a thick envelope. It held not only a complete synopsis, pure gold if the project was a success, but a signed contract that Charlene was probably now crying about. Setting it on the desk he stepped back. “She’s wearing an engagement ring sir, given her by the script writer.”

“Script...” Looking at the envelope now in his paw Yade read the label. “Lucy Ullrich. A woman. Oh, this is delightful. Well then it certainly proves Charlene’s loyalty. I certainly will not have to worry about any backstabbing from her now. Make sure she gets that part you offered, if we have the money to film it by then. Anyone willing to ruin their reputation just to help out her studio deserves some loyalty. Haster may be stabbing me in the back and Bartholomew’s abandoning us may hit the studio’s stock value tomorrow but those are passing things. People like you and Charlene are what keep a studio going. Now, find a chair and lets go over this proposed horror movie.”

“Series sir” the bear corrected as he gratefully settled his bulk into a chair. “Twenty-four episodes. I’ve read it sir, its blood curdling. Only three of the stars make it through alive.”

“Series then. Now, ah, the synopsis . With a signed contract from Jean? Wonderful, it is just what we need. Especially if we have to sell it later to DAKA. She is an excellent bit of fur to play with.”