1985-10 (October)

October 11th, 1985 Called Walker, gave him Ocheyer schedule, which puts him in Covington on Nov. 7th. Notion is, we'll take off for Mississippi Coast. next day; be gone, say, three or four days. Library; returned "The Innocent," got two more: "Seven Summari" and "The Wild Bunch," two favorites of mine ever since they first appeared. Picked up Gwyn's boots at Galtelli on walk back; good workmanship. Then stopped at Lipsey's and got three filets of fresh sole and a small loaf of sourdough bread. Ran a washer load of Towels, tee shirts, drawers, and socks. Put them all in respective drawer. Watched (after sole dinner with Fume blanc) cassette of "The Wild Bunch," which I liked as much as ever- but was greatly disappointed at the omission of the 'departure' scene against a backdrop of eucalyptus trees, one of the high points of my movie experience. (Wide-screen preblems were the reason for omiting it, I guess.)

October 12th, 1985 Up at 7; fried egg on rye toast. Began reading Shane Alexander's Nutcracker, an "inside account of a Utah family murder. In afternoon, walked up to Morningside, taking Over Paris to lend to Tunkie, but found house empty. Back home, called hospital (Methodist); talked breifly with him- told him again to call me for anything and and anytime. I never know, from day to day, whether or not he is entering his final week or month. VHF cassette: first reel of "Seven Samurai." Johnny here for cook-out of oysters steamed in shells and sausage of [sevenakheads?]; with beer.

October 13th, 1985 Continued Nutcracker; neither well written nor well organized, but a fascniating [crude?] repoort of the bizarre cast of characters. Walked two miles. Evening TV: cassette two of "Seven Samuri." It held up well as a sort of shoot-em-up, bang."

October 14th, 1985 Columbus Day; no mail, no banking. Library; returned cassettes. Tobaco corner; got four tins of Edwards and four 8-oz. packs of 'Swinger.' Back home; finished Nutcracker. Disatisfied with it, looking back, but not while reading it, or anyhow not nearly as much. Walked 2 1/2; Mozart piano concertos 17, 19. Call from Cybill Shepard's secretary, then from Cybill herself, wanting me to call her agent in California, Walter Teller, about renewal after opinion on September. I called (213-278-8622) but got no answer. Glad to know , however, that she wants a renewal.

October 15th, 1985 Called Rosen about Cybill's agent's inability to reach him and mine to read the [agent?]. Rosen said he's been in Florida, where Ann Elisa's father is dying; but it's been arranged that he'll see Teller in NY next Monday about renewal od the option. Also said he;s pusuing the paperback Civil War matter with Random; waiting now for Loomis to counter with the legal department about a new contract without the $10,000 [xxxxx?] royalty limit. Received in mail, $94.48 in additional royalties on the Italian translation of Shiloh. Johnny here for dinner: steaks all round, with fresh broccoli, baked potatoe, and a bottle of Bordeaux.