Arthur Hailey - Evening News

Margot then called one of her own two secretaries at home and gave instructions to cancel or reschedule all her morning appointments.

She had no idea what Theo Elliott wanted.

At Globanic headquarters, Margot was kept waiting several minutes in the senior executives' elegant outer lounge where, unknowingly, she occupied the same chair used only four days earlier by the Baltimore Star reporter Glen Dawson.

When Margot entered the chairman's office, Elliott wasted no time with preliminaries, but demanded, "Why the hell aren't you keeping better control of your goddamned news people in Peru?”

Startled, Margot asked, "What kind of control? We've been getting compliments about our coverage there. And ratings are—”

“I'm talking about dismal, depressing, downbeat reports.” Elliott slammed a hand heavily on his desk.”Last night I received a call direct from President Castafieda in Lima. He claims everything CBA has been putting out about Peru is negative and damaging. He's mad as hell with your network, and so am I”

Margot said reasonably, "The other networks and the New York Times have been taking much the same line we have, Theo.”

"Don't tell me about others! I'm talking about usl Besides, President Castafieda seems to think what's happening right now is that CBA sets the pace and others are following. He told me so.”

They were both standing. Elliott, glowering, had not asked Margot to sit down. She asked, "Is there anything specific?”

"You're damn right there is!” The Globanic chairman pointed to a half-dozen videocassettes on his desk.”After the President's call last night I sent one of my people to get tapes of your evening news programs for this week. Now I've seen them all, I can see what Castafieda means; they're full of doom and gloom—how bad things are in Peru. Nothing positive! Nothing saying Peru has a great future ahead, or that it's a wonderful place to go for a vacation, or that those lousy Shining Path rebels will be beaten very soon!”

"There's a strong consensus they won't be, Theo.”

Elliott stormed on as if he had not heard.”I can understand why President Castafieda is furious—something that Globanic can't afford to have happen, and you know why. I warned you about that, but you obviously weren't listening. Another thing —Fossie Xenos is fuming too. He even thinks you may be jeopardizing, deliberately, his big debt-to-equity deal.”

"That's nonsense, and I'm sure you know it. But perhaps we can do something to improve what's happening.” Margot was thinking quickly, realizing the situation was more serious than she had thought at first. Her own future in Globanic, she realized, could easily be at stake.

”I'll tell you exactly what you'll do.” Elliott's voice had become steely.”I want that meddling reporter—Partridge is his name—brought back on the next airplane and fired.”

"We can certainly bring him back. I'm less sure about firing him.”

" Fired , I said! Are you having trouble hearing this morning, Margot? I want the bastard out of CBA so that, first thing Monday, I can call the President of Peru and say, 'Look! We threw the troublemaker out. We're sorry we sent him to your country. It was a bad mistake, but won't happen again.”

‘Foreseeing difficulties for herself at CBA, Margot said, "Theo, I have to point out that Partridge has been with the network a long time. It must be close to twenty-five years and he has a good record.”

Elliott permitted himself a sly smile.”Then give the son of a bitch a gold watch. I don't care. Just get rid of him, so I can make that phone call Monday. And I'll warn you about something else, Margot.”

"What's that, Theo?”

Elliott retreated to his desk and sat down behind it. He waved Margot to a chair as he said, "The danger of thinking writers or reporters are something special. They aren't, although they sometimes believe they are and get exaggerated ideas about their own importance. 'The fact is, there's never a shortage of writers. Cut one down, two more spring up like weeds.”

Warming to his theme, Elliott continued, "It's people like me and you —who really count in this world, Margot. We are the doers !—the ones who make things happen every day. That's why we can buy writers whenever we want and—never forget this!—they're two-a-penny, as the English say. So when you're through with some worn-out hack like Partridge, pick up a new one—some kid fresh out of college—the way you would a cabbage.”

Margot smiled; it was evident that the worst of her superior's wrath had passed.”It's an interesting point of view.”

"Apply it. And one more thing.”

"I'm listening.”

"Don't think that people at Globanic, including me, are not aware how you and Leon Ironwood and Fossie Xenos are jockeying for position, each of you hoping one day to sit where I am now. Well, I'll tell you Margot, as between you and Fossie this morning Fossie is several noses out in front.”

The chairman waved a hand dismissingly.”That's all. Call me later today when the Peru thing is all wrapped up.”

* * *

It was late morning when Margot, back in her office at Stonehenge, sent a message to Leslie Chippingham. The news president was to report to her "immediately.”

She had not appreciated being sent for this morning, preferring to do the summoning herself She found herself pleased at the current reversal of that situation.

Something else Margot had not liked was Elliott's reference to Fossie Xenos as being "several noses out in front.” If that relative position was true, she thought, she would revise it promptly, Margot had no intention of having her own career plans disrupted by what she was already regarding as a minor organizational issue, capable of being quickly and decisively resolved.

Therefore, when Chippingham appeared shortly after noon she came as speedily to the point as Theo Elliott had with her.

”I don't want any discussion about this,” Margot stated.”I'm simply giving you an order.”

She continued, "The employment of Harry Partridge is to be terminated at once. I want him out of CBA by tomorrow. I'm aware he has a contract and you'll do whatever we have to under it. Also, he's to be out of Peru, preferably tomorrow but no later than Sunday. If that means chartering a special flight, so be it.”

Chippingham stared at her, open-mouthed and unbelieving. At length, having trouble finding words, he said, "You can't be serious!”

Margot told him firmly, "I am serious, and I said no discussion.”

"The hell with that!” Chippingham's voice was raised emotionally.”I'm not standing by, seeing one of our best correspondents who's served CBA well for twenty-odd years, thrown out without any reason.”

"The reason is none of your concern.”

"I'm the news president, aren't I? Margot, I appeal to you! What's Harry done, for chrissakes? Is it something bad? If so, I want to know about it.”

"If you must know, it's a question of his type of coverage.”

"Which is the absolute best! Honest. Knowledgeable. Unprejudiced. Ask anybody!”

"I don't need to. In any case, not everyone agrees with YOU.”

Chippingham regarded her suspiciously.”This is Globanic's work, isn't it?” Intuition came to him.”It's your friend, that cold-blooded tyrant Theodore Elliott!”

"Be carefull”she warned him, and decided the conversation had gone on long enough.

”I don't plan to do any more explaining,” Margot said coldly, "but I'll tell you this: If my order has not been carried out by the end of business today, then you are out of a job yourself, and tomorrow I'll appoint someone else acting news president and have them do it.”

"You really would, wouldn't you?” He was looking at her with a mixture of wonder and hatred.”Make no mistake about it—yes. And if you decide to stay employed, report to me by the end of this afternoon that what I wanted has been done. Now get out of here.”