Goldengirl

‘Quite possibly a better one than if I started talking after Moscow,’ said Dryden. ‘I’ll tell you why. This kind of deal is conditional. They agree to pay a fee for Goldine to endorse their product provided she achieves an Olympic triple. I make it clear we can’t finalize anything until after Moscow, because it would contravene the Olympic rule on amateurism. But they see the advantage of having it all set up now, ready to sign on August sixteenth, the day she wins her third gold medal. On the morning she makes the headlines, they could run her picture in their ads, like the Grand Prix drivers touting gasoline the day after a big win. So we draw up terms in advance, and for them it’s a speculative venture. Winning the Trials is still half a world away from the triple in Moscow. I can use that uncertainty as a negotiating point. They’re more easily persuaded to agree to a figure of three hundred grand now, when it’s speculative, than later, when it’s fact.’

‘It’s a gamble, in other words,’ said Sternberg.

‘It is for us,’ said Cobb. ‘They risk nothing in this kind of deal except the possibility of Dryden pushing them to an inflated fee. The risk is mainly on our side. If Goldengirl succeeds, we collect. Otherwise, no deal. Correct, Mr. Dryden?’

‘It’s been my understanding from the start that this is all or nothing,’ answered Dryden.

‘I confirm it,’ said Serafin at once. ‘The strength of our position is that we know those three gold medals are within her capability. We are not interested in silver or bronze. If you can use the fact to obtain more favorable terms, Mr. Dryden, you have our support. I must say that your suggestions so far sound eminently sensible. The more publicity Goldengirl can get this week, the better are your chances of being taken seriously by the companies you approach. There is one thing I was coming to, gentlemen, that I may as well tell you now, because it bears on something Mr. Dryden has suggested. After the Trials, Goldengirl is going to train in seclusion, but not in the Sierra Nevada retreat. I have made arrangements for her to complete her training elsewhere in America. She will continue to have the services of everyone who has helped her up to now, and the exclusive use of a track and gym vacated for the summer by a women’s physical education college. In the interests of security, I would prefer not to divulge its location. It’s not that I don’t have confidence in your discretion, gentlemen; simply that I don’t believe in burdening colleagues with confidential information they don’t need to know.’

Some glances were exchanged across the table at this, but nobody made an issue of it.

‘What happens to the Sierra training camp?’ asked Valenti.

‘A good question.’ Serafin looked at his watch. ‘Two hours ago, work began on dismantling it. By the end of the week there will be nothing left there. The chance of that mythical wise-guy reporter from the Los Angeles Times pinpointing the site is almost nil, Mr. Valenti, and if he did, all he would find would be ashes. We are covering our traces, in other words. But the comment I wanted to make on Mr. Dryden’s suggestions was that I can certainly arrange for Goldengirl — I tend to use that name, if nobody objects — to spend a day in Los Angeles on a public-relations exercise. I like the idea, and so, I think, will she.’

Dryden thanked him. So far, the proposals had met with better support than he could have hoped for, but the difficult part remained. ‘If you all agree on the timing of the campaign, let’s talk about its character, the character we want Goldine herself to present to the world, because that’s going to govern the way I pitch my campaign. There are some fixed points already: she’s tall, blond, pretty, a natural athlete who comes from nowhere to make the U.S. Olympic team in three events. That’s all good copy for the press, but she can’t go on being a mystery blonde. We have to fill in the story. I wouldn’t suggest we fabricate things; they’d soon be wise to that.’

‘We tell ’em what we want ’em to know,’ said Valenti.

‘Right.’

‘How’s this for starters, then? Her mother dies trying to save her from drowning off Huntington Beach. No father, so she’s orphaned at three. Doc Serafin adopts her, spots her potential, and from there it’s a straight rags-to-riches theme. Great copy!’

‘Riches are out,’ said Sternberg, who seemed to relish pouring scorn on Valenti’s suggestions. ‘The Olympics are for amateurs — remember?’

‘Okay. For “riches” read “fame,”’ said Valenti with a shrug.

‘If you’re suggesting the story is strong enough already, I think you’re right,’ said Dryden. ‘It’s more a question of what we leave out than what we add. Dr. Serafin has just told us the training camp is being demolished. That’s obviously one thing we don’t want anyone knowing about. Another is the backup.’

‘No one’s going to argue with that,’ said Sternberg. ‘We all know the press would do a hatchet job on Goldengirl if they got on to the camp or the consortium.’