The Fatty Arbuckle case (1962)

They were the first of 30 guests that were to pass in and out of the Ar buckle suite during the party— all of them important witnesses during the trials. Al introduced himself and the girls. Lowell had met Virginia before. He said, "Marooned in San Francisco too, like us?" Arbuckle had been opening the windows— it was a warm sunny day and before the era of air conditioning— therefore his back was to his new guests. Now he turned around as if taken completely by surprise, "Virginia! How wonderful," he said. "What brings you to earthquake haven?" He acknowledged greetings from Al and Maude perfunctorily. There was a kind of mock formality in the air. Guests were introduced around. Virginia was polite but cool. She sat down, took off one shoe and rubbed her foot. "Can I help?" laughed Arbuckle. "I'm the greatest little toe tweeker in the West. "Say, what about <lrinks?" Arbuckle said to Fishbeck. "It isn't Prohibition in here." He took drink orders and passed them on to Fishbeck, who filled them. After prodding, Virginia ordered a screwdriver ( orange juice and gin ) . She said, "We can only stay a minute." No one answered her. Arbuckle brought her drink. He had a straight shot of bourbon in bis other hand. "A toast," he said. "To San Francisco's most distinguished visitor." He drank. She sipped. There was a knock on the door and a bellboy whom Arbuckle called 'Tom-Tom" (and who was to make frequent trips to the room ) brought a tray of hors d'oeuvres. The telephone rang. A local man and his wife were coming up. Fishbeck said into the phone, "Come up. The pass word is 'sleepless nights.' " He laughed heartily. Zey showed Al a dance-step she had created and said indignantiy that DoUie maintained it had been used in a Ziegfeld Follies. Al showed his version of what he thought it should be. 32