:50:02
In many ways, Maria
affected Oscar more than any of us.
:50:05
Her father's trial, the fact that being
honest about something unpleasant
:50:10
could make her more popular
than ever, it shook Oscar.
:50:13
His gods began to crumble.
:50:16
He became aware even of some clay
around the feet of Kirk Edwards.
:50:21
But two years went by before
the great god Edwards toppled over.
:50:25
Two good and happy years,
for me at any rate.
:50:30
The night he fell to earth - I suppose
it was the most losing night of Kirk's life -
:50:36
was just about a year ago,
in Beverly Hills, California.
:50:40
It was quite a night.
Turned out to be quite a party.
:50:44
Kirk Edwards was the host and, over my
objections, Maria let him use her house.
:50:50
He'd asked personally
and Maria said yes.
:50:56
Kirk didn't give many parties,
but when he did,
:50:59
they were always for men
like Señor Alberto Bravano.
:51:03
Bravano did no less for Kirk
when Kirk visited South America.
:51:08
Noblesse oblige, sort of.
:51:10
But it soon became obvious
:51:12
that the señor was only mildly
interested in the available talent.
:51:16
He'd found what he wanted: Maria.
:51:20
Jerry and I were playing backgammon.
:51:22
That dated us, all right,
but it gave us something to do.
:51:26
We weren't paying much attention to
the game. We were worried about Maria.
:51:30
She seemed too restless,
too tense, too withdrawn.
:51:34
And Kirk, when he wasn't
looking at Maria,
:51:38
he was watching Bravano look at Maria.
:51:40
He didn't like it.
:51:43
Alberto Bravano was, and is, one of
the three richest men in South America,
:51:47
which makes him one of
the richest in the world.
:51:50
But unlike Kirk his only interest in money
lay in spending it for his own gratification.
:51:59
To Oscar, Alberto Bravano
was heaven-sent.