August 10, 2022 • 22 mins
"Driving Lauren Bacall" by Jaki McCarrick
A man tell a story of his brush with screen legend Lauren Bacall, and the real life drama of the friend who introduced them.
Author
Jaki McCarrick - Jaki's Blog
An edited version of this episode's story "Driving Lauren Bacall" is available in print in "Riptide: Volume 14"
Cast
Gordon Rochford - Those Conspiracy Guys Podcast
Thea Solone - Thea's CastingCall.Club Profile
D.E. Medus - david.medusmedia.com
Music
Into the Unknown by Oddsprite
Art
Art for this episode includes modified versions of:
Photo by Soheb Zaidi on Unsplash
Photo by Ian Taylor on Unsplash
Photo by Imre Tömösvári on Unsplash
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
Hello and welcome to me this podepisode 17. I'm your host D
Mitas. This episode story isdriving Lauren Bacall. And it
comes to us from JackieMcKarrick. And as told by Gordon
Rockford the US alone and me.Jackie McKarrick is an award
winning writer of plays poetryand fiction. Her debut short
(00:25):
story collection, the scatteringwas published by sarin books and
was shortlisted for the 2014edge Hill prize. The collection
includes her story the visit,which won the 2010 wasa theory
of Short Fiction Prize, and wasincluded in Best British short
stories published by salt in2012. On the basis of her debut
collection, Jackie was longlisted in the 2014 inaugural
(00:47):
Irish fiction laureate, herplay, Leopoldville won the 2010
Papa Tango prize for newwriting. And her play the
naturalists premiered in 2018 inNew York to rave reviews.
Impeccable, a gift to itsactors. So the New York Times
beautifully performed SouthernNew Yorker. Her play Belfast
(01:08):
girls, developed at the NationalTheatre studio, London was
shortlisted for the 2010 SusanSmith Blackburn prize and the
2014 BBC Tony Doyle award. Itpremiered in the US in Chicago
in 2015. Too much criticalacclaim has since been staged
widely internationally withrecent premieres in Australia
and Sweden. In 2016, Jackie wasselected for screen Ireland's
(01:31):
Talent Development Initiative,and has recently completed the
screen adaptation of Belfastgirls. She is currently working
on her second collection ofshort fiction and her first
novel, the family wolves. Jackiealso writes critical pieces for
the Times Literary Supplement,Irish Examiner, poetry, Ireland
review, and other publications.Needless to say, I'm thrilled to
(01:54):
be producing this piece forJackie. Jackie. Sorry it took so
long performing the story areGordon Rockford myself and the
Salone worden Roquefort is thehost of those conspiracy guys
podcast. The US alone is a fulltime professional voice actress
specializing in video games,animation, commercial elearning
and the occasional audio book.The US started as a theater kid
(02:17):
and has been studying acting invarious formats for over a
decade. She has since expandedher client base to more fan
based projects. In addition topaid voice work for corporate
and non union and universityThea majored in vocal
performance received training asa classical opera singer, namely
as a contralto and mezzosoprano. Since July 2020, Thea
(02:37):
has acquired over 300 pluscharacters to her name on
casting call club. That's whereI founder and as cherished every
moment, he is always grateful tothe big dude, her clients, her
team and her peers. For withoutthem this would not be possible.
She looks forward to plenty moreadventures to come. links to
(02:58):
where you can find their workonline will be in the show notes
for this episode. Means pod nowhas chapter images and other
podcasting 2.0 features that arenot available on legacy apps
like Apple, Google or Spotify.Get a new free podcast app at
new podcast apps.com. That wasnot an ad read. We don't do ads
here at metus media. I just puta lot of work into the show and
(03:18):
want my listeners to get thefull experience. Without further
ado, driving Lauren Bacall myJackie McKarrick
Jimmy Feeny wasn't my bestfriend in London. The man who
(03:40):
had that honor was Pat McCarthyfrom Cork. Nor did Jimmy keep in
touch once I followed my wifeback to Ireland. We promised he
would. But he was the mostmemorable of my London friends.
I imagine because of what he andhis family have gone through.
Course, for all I know, he madethe move to himself since I left
(04:03):
the city. But I did it somehow.Jimmy had never anything good to
say about Ireland wasn'tdifficult in the end for me to
go home. My wife had inheritedthe house with the four kids and
what was I had in London. Mostlyfucking her in Shepherds Bush.
(04:23):
That's what so I had to moveback really. In time the
children did well at school. Mywife became less pensive than
she'd been in England. I didn'tput up a fight about the move.
Though I do still have afondness for my London days.
Even the worst of them the mostlonely and desperate. They were
(04:46):
a lot more interesting thanthose I've had in the dark or
small town. I ended up in
the canteen, which is all No,that's for sure. Jimmy and I met
the dogs in White City. He wasfrom Limerick, a city he left
when he was 14. So you wouldn'thave guessed it from the
freshness of exactly
(05:07):
an emerging star in the world ofbuilding contracting in London.
He was known for two thingsbesides his building skills,
which were considerable. Thesewere his towering presence. And
the fact he had every one of hissiblings living within walking
distance from his house andCricklewood. In fact, one of
them I believe, lived in thesame street. No need to go home
(05:32):
Connie would say to me, not wanta whole lot of them are here
with me now. It was a remarkablething about Jimmy, that when so
many Irish in London had failedto help each other, whether in
terms of money or legs up theladder, so to speak, unlike most
other ethnic groups of the city.Jimmy's love for his family was
such, he said all his familymembers up with jobs and places
(05:56):
to stay upon arrival in London.So there wasn't a day that they
had to struggle, not at firstanyway. His love for each of his
siblings was immense, andimpressive. And there were six
or seven of them, I think.Anyway, when I first met him, I
knew he was unlike me and therest of the lads, we hung out
with the rest of us, we're notall settled. It was the usual
(06:19):
problem of the Irish in London,the pull of home. Of course,
when I did return to Irelandwanted to go straight back to
London, to immigration works, itseems to me. But Jimmy was
determined and steady and verysettled. His family was close by
or near enough and he lovedLondon, he wasted no time with
(06:41):
useless dreams of leaving it.However, everything changed
after I knew the mind five orsix years. His sister, Carmen's
eight year old son Joseph, wentmissing. And after a month
looking for the boy, I went outmyself on trips with Jimmy to
parks all over the Capitol. Thechild's body was found in a
(07:03):
canal by Kings Cross.
Let's just say he'd not fallenin the bastard who did it was
eventually God and sent thepresident.
The whole business cast a shadowover Jimmy for many years, as it
did everyone in the Finneyfamily. He lost his business and
soon left constructionaltogether. At some point, that
(07:27):
kind of acceptance came overJimmy so that those who met him
years later could not believethat there was this horrible
story in his background. So theywill express the shock to me or
others in our circle, but rarelyto Jimmy himself. In the years
that followed, he would look outfor my own children, sensitive
as he was, I suppose, to theirfragile presence in this world.
(07:51):
All his sweets and toys hebought them. And as a cab driver
for many actors performing inthe West End, he would often be
given free tickets to shoes andonce he personally brought my
eldest, Aladdin on ice, she wasnever to forget his kindness.
Then 12 or so years after thearrest of little Joseph killer,
(08:13):
I began to see another change inmy friend. He became this time
markedly sullen, withdrawn. Itold him I had been the
nightshift he was working in hiscab. What's up I said, it's
McHugh.
He's getting out in the summer.Jimmy Feeny
said, his face, Ashen. Fucksaid, I put my hand on the man's
(08:36):
shoulder. The power of hisstrong frame was palpable
beneath my fingers. For months,then whenever I go meet him at
the dogs or in the Blackstar thebar I worked in Kilburn, he
would have had the samedepressed look as if Joseph
disappearance was happening allover again. He was not just
(08:56):
morose but distracted when hetalked. He became precise in
these habits. He drank steadily.Only one point when in the past
he might have had three or more.He looked firmer in his body to
wiry as if he'd been workingout. I began to think that this
mild mannered giant for he wasover six foot six inches tall,
(09:18):
was planning something I wentstraight for the jugular you're
not thinking of doing thatwithout McHugh Are you? And you
by him that he understoodperfectly what I meant.
I can't talk about it calm, theless you know, the better.
Which as far as I was concernedmeant he will always planning
something possibly in cahootswith members of his own family.
(09:41):
His brothers maybe I can't say Iblame them at all. I would join
them if they'd asked me.
They will be watching you. Isaid the police. They'll know
you'll be wanting to do thingsto the bastard.
Don't be stupid. Say no more.
are in June then just beforeMcCune is released, Jimmy came
(10:03):
in to see me again at theBlackstar he stood up on his
usual barstool. This time he wasmore vivacious, the color
returned to his fat dimpledcheeks. It was a joy to see him
this way. After all the pain hadgone through, especially of
late. No doubt having to revisitin his mind, the time of his
nephews disappearance and viledemise. I thought perhaps he
(10:27):
made some kind of peace with thenews of Macuser imminent
release. What's the matter,Jimmy? I said,
You won't believe me.
Come on. Hope it's not the duty.You know who? Jimmy shook his
head.
No, con, nothing to do withthat. I'm driving a Hollywood
star on the police for the nextfew weeks. She asked especially
(10:47):
for me as a hetero niqab oncebefore and we hit it off that
time.
Who is he asked Racquel Welsh.Jimmy licked his lips and pulled
forward across the bar.
No, actually, is Lauren Bacall.And she's working on film in
London. And I'm her driver.
(11:10):
I can be the jealous type.Always better about my wholesale
failure in that wonderful city.I've long since left. But it was
not bitter but are jealous ofJimmy's news. He had often
celebrities in his cab, though.I did not remember him telling
me about his earlier stint withBacall. I would have remembered
that. To this was good news.Indeed. Some excitement and
(11:35):
glamour, if only reflected forthe man at last. find anyone to
serve to boost it was he? I'veoften thought since I had
circumstances been different.Jimmy himself might have done
well in Hollywood. A handsomeenough man. He was drawn to
theater musicals and loved andhad great knowledge of the old
(11:57):
black and white films, the moviestars of all. So this kid was
right up the street. What's shelike? I said,
so far she's a sassy one. Givesme the lowdown on all the actors
she's working with. VanessaRedgrave Albert Finney. On doors
the director wants to film thatshe say some Agatha Christie
(12:18):
story. Murder on the OrientExpress. I think it is.
The She asked you about yourlife. She does. Did you tell her
but
Joseph I did. And she went allquiet. When I told her
a real life murder. That's whythe celebrities are shielded
from that, you know, real life.I said I Jimmy said returning to
(12:42):
start. I suppose you didn't tellher with a certain plan. You
seem to be cooking up backthere.
Of course I fucking didn't.
Over the next few weeks.Whenever he came into the pub,
he'd been glowing. He tell meabout what new star he'd met at
Ealing studios. Who else hadbeen in the cab with Lauren
Bacall, who he said, had bookedhim to show for her to shoots
(13:06):
interviews in restaurants forthe period of three weeks around
London. He said she had a greatsense of humor and talked
politics with a non stop andthat Vanessa Redgrave and she
had hit it off. We're bothrebels. two peas in a pod. Boat
he said had a compelling senseof justice.
(13:27):
A lot of smoke in the car tomarine says I reek. And you
know, you're right Khan.
I looked at him quizzically. Idid
tell her Lauren Bacall whatwe're planning to do to McHugh.
Jimmy seemed unfazed by therevelation. So he's are doing
something. What'd she say that?
(13:50):
She said, I don't blame you. Butit isn't smart. Yeah. Yeah.
Well, she's right. Prepare shehas. She's Lauren Bacall.
Jimmy smiled. Then dove his lipsinto the black of his paint.
Somewhere in the back of mymind, I suspected there was
still some plan afoot. But I letit go. Stupidly, perhaps. I
(14:14):
don't know why I suspectedexcept that Jimmy seem so
particularly unraveled. Morecaulk shortens usually quietly
confident self. The specter ofMcHugh no longer haunting him as
plainly as it had. When Ioriginally envisaged the Finney
family taking revenge, I thoughtit might be a case of roughing
(14:36):
McHugh up but the Finis wereneither fighters or killers. So
I decided not to fret on Juliabut my friends and tensions
which he insisted he no longerhad. One night around about this
time. He offered to give me aride home to my gaff once my
shift was finished for yourcharge
(15:04):
Do you want to meet her?
He said, As we drove north alongthe Kilburn high road, who I
said, Oh,
do you bloody think?
I laughed? We took a ride ontome Grove Road and drove into
West Hampstead and from there toHampstead, robocall stain.
She's got to shoot tonight shewon't mind I've already
mentioned yet.
What could he possibly have tosay about media a Hollywood
(15:25):
star? I have no idea. And I didnot ask. We pulled up outside
her house a tall Victorian redbrick property on leafy Street.
An old oak tree hovered over thehouse, sheltering it sort of. In
many other parts of London thiswould have been chopped down.
But here in Hampstead there wereso many tall blowsy Trees
(15:48):
leaning into houses that the oakseemed right at home. Jimmy said
I should go with him to thefront door of the house and
canceling surprises passengeronce he got in the cab. I exit
the car and immediately heardthe hood of an hour. Jimmy and I
both looked up at the Open Solarround Farrell head of the bird
staring straight at us. It wasmoments like this that my wife
(16:12):
had said she missed most aboutIreland. Her time with nature
and wildlife. And you hear wasin London right in front of me.
As we approach the door of thehost Lauren Bacall appeared on
the porch.
This is Khan. I'm dropping themoff on the way the tall,
neatly curved woman standingregally before me offered her
(16:32):
hand and I shook it a realpleasure to meet you, Miss
McCall. I said Kim I'd like itwas a bottler or some class of
kept hoping fool anyway.
Call me Betty.
I sat in the front of Jimmy'scab and his more dazzling
(16:53):
passenger sat in the back. Shewas mesmerizing. Her neck like a
swans, her eyes pale and hooded.And of course, there was that
voice smokey direct.
I've heard a lot about UConn.
I watched her in the mirror. Shesat back to light up a
cigarette. She hauled furiouslyon it and exhaled. I tell you, I
(17:18):
was quite happy that entailed athick minty smoke and willingly
let her expanded breath warm mylungs. Hope it was all good. I
said how it
was. He says you're thinking ofgoing back to Ireland. He will
miss you. I think a Jimmy.
Jimmy laughed. And I could seehe was blushing. I couldn't
(17:42):
imagine he'd have anything niceto say about me to anyone, let
alone Hollywood royalty. addsthe wife Betty. She misses the
place. And as it looks likeshe'd be inheriting a house
there soon I might have a littlebottle on my hands. Lauren
Bacall smiled and turn to lookat the window. The night was
(18:05):
clear and the streets were fullof people coming home from pubs
and nightclubs.
My daughter is the most likedBogey, my first husband. They
both believe or believed Ishould say in the case of bogey.
Where do you do the thing whereyou can give the most be of
service for everyone's good,sort of like an act of love that
(18:27):
has stood us all in good stead Ithink so keep that in mind calm.
No need to battle with your dearwife. A file
of smoke no hovered in themiddle of the car. I wanted to
cough but I suppressed the urgewith all my might. Mainly
because I felt so enormouslylucky to be receiving advice
from such a woman. Though I didnot know precisely what she
(18:50):
meant. I do remember lookingover at Jimmy then he was
clearly turning her words overin his mind making his own sense
of them. He led me on Boscomberoad. By now it was past
midnight and Shepherds Bush wasquiet. I walked to the house all
dark inside apart from the lowglow of a lamp in the living
(19:11):
room where I knew my wife willbe waiting for me. I couldn't
wait to tell her of my encounterwith Lauren Bacall. By the end
of the month, McHugh was dead.He had been hit at high speed by
a car which had driven over hisbody several times and with such
brutal force, the man had beendecapitated. It had happened at
(19:35):
night on a street in MuswellHill, and the car was not seen
are reported. The police went tosee Jimmy immediately knowing he
was a cabbie, knowing he and theother men and women of the Feeny
family had a serious score tosettle with McHugh. But Jimmy
had a cast iron alibi, which thepolice had double check More
(20:00):
times than was needed. No doubtthe glimpse again the smoky
voice goddess of the film'sthey've grown up with Lauren
Bacall confirmed that at thetime the hit and run was
supposed to have happened. JimmyFeeney had been driving her from
a late night cigarette andwhiskey run. He was her driver
after all. Before I left London,finally, to go back to Ireland,
(20:24):
the greatest regret of my life Imust say I met with Jimmy one
last time. We shared a pot oftea and Venus cafe in the north
end of Kilburn. Jimmy seemedaloof. He looked at constantly
at the new row and saplings beenplanted on the verge of the high
road. When I told him thedetails about my wife's
(20:44):
inheritance, he passed noremarks. I didn't feel easy
enough for them to mention thedead McHugh. I tried to give him
money. I told him buddy wouldn'taccept it. Jimmy said you'd
visit me in Ireland but he likePat from Cork and most of my
London pals. They never did.Though he did tell me he'd quit
(21:06):
capping. That after drivingLauren Bacall around for three
weeks he could hardly go back toteenagers vomiting in the back
of his Mercedes on Saturdaynights. I've since heard he did
eventually go back to it. Ibelieve he was hired again by
Miss McCall or Betty, as she wasknown to her friends. Jimmy and
(21:28):
I shook hands when we left eachother. And I realized that it
was the first time we've everdone that touched each other
skins on. His hands were gentleand soft. I noticed his shake,
limp, which I remember thinkingfrom a powerful big bone man
like him was surprising.Everyone I knew during my own
(21:51):
wife thought it was Jimmy whoplowed over McHugh. But once I
chickened the man's hand, I wasnot so sure. Though, over time,
I've come to understand thatthere are people in his life who
are capable of turning againsttheir own nature, good or bad
for something they perceive asmore important, such as love our
(22:14):
family perhaps
all of the stories told on me aspawn are properties of their
authors mean as part of theproduction of metus media all
rights reserved unless otherwisestated. Our theme music comes to
(22:35):
us from odd Sprite. You can hearmore of their music and odd
sprite.com We'll see you nexttime folks. Have a good one.
Hello and welcome to me this podepisode 17. I'm your host D
Mitas. This episode story isdriving Lauren Bacall. And it
comes to us from JackieMcKarrick. And as told by Gordon
Rockford the US alone and me.Jackie McKarrick is an award
winning writer of plays poetryand fiction. Her debut short
(00:25):
story collection, the scatteringwas published by sarin books and
was shortlisted for the 2014edge Hill prize. The collection
includes her story the visit,which won the 2010 wasa theory
of Short Fiction Prize, and wasincluded in Best British short
stories published by salt in2012. On the basis of her debut
collection, Jackie was longlisted in the 2014 inaugural
(00:47):
Irish fiction laureate, herplay, Leopoldville won the 2010
Papa Tango prize for newwriting. And her play the
naturalists premiered in 2018 inNew York to rave reviews.
Impeccable, a gift to itsactors. So the New York Times
beautifully performed SouthernNew Yorker. Her play Belfast
(01:08):
girls, developed at the NationalTheatre studio, London was
shortlisted for the 2010 SusanSmith Blackburn prize and the
2014 BBC Tony Doyle award. Itpremiered in the US in Chicago
in 2015. Too much criticalacclaim has since been staged
widely internationally withrecent premieres in Australia
and Sweden. In 2016, Jackie wasselected for screen Ireland's
(01:31):
Talent Development Initiative,and has recently completed the
screen adaptation of Belfastgirls. She is currently working
on her second collection ofshort fiction and her first
novel, the family wolves. Jackiealso writes critical pieces for
the Times Literary Supplement,Irish Examiner, poetry, Ireland
review, and other publications.Needless to say, I'm thrilled to
(01:54):
be producing this piece forJackie. Jackie. Sorry it took so
long performing the story areGordon Rockford myself and the
Salone worden Roquefort is thehost of those conspiracy guys
podcast. The US alone is a fulltime professional voice actress
specializing in video games,animation, commercial elearning
and the occasional audio book.The US started as a theater kid
(02:17):
and has been studying acting invarious formats for over a
decade. She has since expandedher client base to more fan
based projects. In addition topaid voice work for corporate
and non union and universityThea majored in vocal
performance received training asa classical opera singer, namely
as a contralto and mezzosoprano. Since July 2020, Thea
(02:37):
has acquired over 300 pluscharacters to her name on
casting call club. That's whereI founder and as cherished every
moment, he is always grateful tothe big dude, her clients, her
team and her peers. For withoutthem this would not be possible.
She looks forward to plenty moreadventures to come. links to
(02:58):
where you can find their workonline will be in the show notes
for this episode. Means pod nowhas chapter images and other
podcasting 2.0 features that arenot available on legacy apps
like Apple, Google or Spotify.Get a new free podcast app at
new podcast apps.com. That wasnot an ad read. We don't do ads
here at metus media. I just puta lot of work into the show and
(03:18):
want my listeners to get thefull experience. Without further
ado, driving Lauren Bacall myJackie McKarrick
Jimmy Feeny wasn't my bestfriend in London. The man who
(03:40):
had that honor was Pat McCarthyfrom Cork. Nor did Jimmy keep in
touch once I followed my wifeback to Ireland. We promised he
would. But he was the mostmemorable of my London friends.
I imagine because of what he andhis family have gone through.
Course, for all I know, he madethe move to himself since I left
(04:03):
the city. But I did it somehow.Jimmy had never anything good to
say about Ireland wasn'tdifficult in the end for me to
go home. My wife had inheritedthe house with the four kids and
what was I had in London. Mostlyfucking her in Shepherds Bush.
(04:23):
That's what so I had to moveback really. In time the
children did well at school. Mywife became less pensive than
she'd been in England. I didn'tput up a fight about the move.
Though I do still have afondness for my London days.
Even the worst of them the mostlonely and desperate. They were
(04:46):
a lot more interesting thanthose I've had in the dark or
small town. I ended up in
the canteen, which is all No,that's for sure. Jimmy and I met
the dogs in White City. He wasfrom Limerick, a city he left
when he was 14. So you wouldn'thave guessed it from the
freshness of exactly
(05:07):
an emerging star in the world ofbuilding contracting in London.
He was known for two thingsbesides his building skills,
which were considerable. Thesewere his towering presence. And
the fact he had every one of hissiblings living within walking
distance from his house andCricklewood. In fact, one of
them I believe, lived in thesame street. No need to go home
(05:32):
Connie would say to me, not wanta whole lot of them are here
with me now. It was a remarkablething about Jimmy, that when so
many Irish in London had failedto help each other, whether in
terms of money or legs up theladder, so to speak, unlike most
other ethnic groups of the city.Jimmy's love for his family was
such, he said all his familymembers up with jobs and places
(05:56):
to stay upon arrival in London.So there wasn't a day that they
had to struggle, not at firstanyway. His love for each of his
siblings was immense, andimpressive. And there were six
or seven of them, I think.Anyway, when I first met him, I
knew he was unlike me and therest of the lads, we hung out
with the rest of us, we're notall settled. It was the usual
(06:19):
problem of the Irish in London,the pull of home. Of course,
when I did return to Irelandwanted to go straight back to
London, to immigration works, itseems to me. But Jimmy was
determined and steady and verysettled. His family was close by
or near enough and he lovedLondon, he wasted no time with
(06:41):
useless dreams of leaving it.However, everything changed
after I knew the mind five orsix years. His sister, Carmen's
eight year old son Joseph, wentmissing. And after a month
looking for the boy, I went outmyself on trips with Jimmy to
parks all over the Capitol. Thechild's body was found in a
(07:03):
canal by Kings Cross.
Let's just say he'd not fallenin the bastard who did it was
eventually God and sent thepresident.
The whole business cast a shadowover Jimmy for many years, as it
did everyone in the Finneyfamily. He lost his business and
soon left constructionaltogether. At some point, that
(07:27):
kind of acceptance came overJimmy so that those who met him
years later could not believethat there was this horrible
story in his background. So theywill express the shock to me or
others in our circle, but rarelyto Jimmy himself. In the years
that followed, he would look outfor my own children, sensitive
as he was, I suppose, to theirfragile presence in this world.
(07:51):
All his sweets and toys hebought them. And as a cab driver
for many actors performing inthe West End, he would often be
given free tickets to shoes andonce he personally brought my
eldest, Aladdin on ice, she wasnever to forget his kindness.
Then 12 or so years after thearrest of little Joseph killer,
(08:13):
I began to see another change inmy friend. He became this time
markedly sullen, withdrawn. Itold him I had been the
nightshift he was working in hiscab. What's up I said, it's
McHugh.
He's getting out in the summer.Jimmy Feeny
said, his face, Ashen. Fucksaid, I put my hand on the man's
(08:36):
shoulder. The power of hisstrong frame was palpable
beneath my fingers. For months,then whenever I go meet him at
the dogs or in the Blackstar thebar I worked in Kilburn, he
would have had the samedepressed look as if Joseph
disappearance was happening allover again. He was not just
(08:56):
morose but distracted when hetalked. He became precise in
these habits. He drank steadily.Only one point when in the past
he might have had three or more.He looked firmer in his body to
wiry as if he'd been workingout. I began to think that this
mild mannered giant for he wasover six foot six inches tall,
(09:18):
was planning something I wentstraight for the jugular you're
not thinking of doing thatwithout McHugh Are you? And you
by him that he understoodperfectly what I meant.
I can't talk about it calm, theless you know, the better.
Which as far as I was concernedmeant he will always planning
something possibly in cahootswith members of his own family.
(09:41):
His brothers maybe I can't say Iblame them at all. I would join
them if they'd asked me.
They will be watching you. Isaid the police. They'll know
you'll be wanting to do thingsto the bastard.
Don't be stupid. Say no more.
are in June then just beforeMcCune is released, Jimmy came
(10:03):
in to see me again at theBlackstar he stood up on his
usual barstool. This time he wasmore vivacious, the color
returned to his fat dimpledcheeks. It was a joy to see him
this way. After all the pain hadgone through, especially of
late. No doubt having to revisitin his mind, the time of his
nephews disappearance and viledemise. I thought perhaps he
(10:27):
made some kind of peace with thenews of Macuser imminent
release. What's the matter,Jimmy? I said,
You won't believe me.
Come on. Hope it's not the duty.You know who? Jimmy shook his
head.
No, con, nothing to do withthat. I'm driving a Hollywood
star on the police for the nextfew weeks. She asked especially
(10:47):
for me as a hetero niqab oncebefore and we hit it off that
time.
Who is he asked Racquel Welsh.Jimmy licked his lips and pulled
forward across the bar.
No, actually, is Lauren Bacall.And she's working on film in
London. And I'm her driver.
(11:10):
I can be the jealous type.Always better about my wholesale
failure in that wonderful city.I've long since left. But it was
not bitter but are jealous ofJimmy's news. He had often
celebrities in his cab, though.I did not remember him telling
me about his earlier stint withBacall. I would have remembered
that. To this was good news.Indeed. Some excitement and
(11:35):
glamour, if only reflected forthe man at last. find anyone to
serve to boost it was he? I'veoften thought since I had
circumstances been different.Jimmy himself might have done
well in Hollywood. A handsomeenough man. He was drawn to
theater musicals and loved andhad great knowledge of the old
(11:57):
black and white films, the moviestars of all. So this kid was
right up the street. What's shelike? I said,
so far she's a sassy one. Givesme the lowdown on all the actors
she's working with. VanessaRedgrave Albert Finney. On doors
the director wants to film thatshe say some Agatha Christie
(12:18):
story. Murder on the OrientExpress. I think it is.
The She asked you about yourlife. She does. Did you tell her
but
Joseph I did. And she went allquiet. When I told her
a real life murder. That's whythe celebrities are shielded
from that, you know, real life.I said I Jimmy said returning to
(12:42):
start. I suppose you didn't tellher with a certain plan. You
seem to be cooking up backthere.
Of course I fucking didn't.
Over the next few weeks.Whenever he came into the pub,
he'd been glowing. He tell meabout what new star he'd met at
Ealing studios. Who else hadbeen in the cab with Lauren
Bacall, who he said, had bookedhim to show for her to shoots
(13:06):
interviews in restaurants forthe period of three weeks around
London. He said she had a greatsense of humor and talked
politics with a non stop andthat Vanessa Redgrave and she
had hit it off. We're bothrebels. two peas in a pod. Boat
he said had a compelling senseof justice.
(13:27):
A lot of smoke in the car tomarine says I reek. And you
know, you're right Khan.
I looked at him quizzically. Idid
tell her Lauren Bacall whatwe're planning to do to McHugh.
Jimmy seemed unfazed by therevelation. So he's are doing
something. What'd she say that?
(13:50):
She said, I don't blame you. Butit isn't smart. Yeah. Yeah.
Well, she's right. Prepare shehas. She's Lauren Bacall.
Jimmy smiled. Then dove his lipsinto the black of his paint.
Somewhere in the back of mymind, I suspected there was
still some plan afoot. But I letit go. Stupidly, perhaps. I
(14:14):
don't know why I suspectedexcept that Jimmy seem so
particularly unraveled. Morecaulk shortens usually quietly
confident self. The specter ofMcHugh no longer haunting him as
plainly as it had. When Ioriginally envisaged the Finney
family taking revenge, I thoughtit might be a case of roughing
(14:36):
McHugh up but the Finis wereneither fighters or killers. So
I decided not to fret on Juliabut my friends and tensions
which he insisted he no longerhad. One night around about this
time. He offered to give me aride home to my gaff once my
shift was finished for yourcharge
(15:04):
Do you want to meet her?
He said, As we drove north alongthe Kilburn high road, who I
said, Oh,
do you bloody think?
I laughed? We took a ride ontome Grove Road and drove into
West Hampstead and from there toHampstead, robocall stain.
She's got to shoot tonight shewon't mind I've already
mentioned yet.
What could he possibly have tosay about media a Hollywood
(15:25):
star? I have no idea. And I didnot ask. We pulled up outside
her house a tall Victorian redbrick property on leafy Street.
An old oak tree hovered over thehouse, sheltering it sort of. In
many other parts of London thiswould have been chopped down.
But here in Hampstead there wereso many tall blowsy Trees
(15:48):
leaning into houses that the oakseemed right at home. Jimmy said
I should go with him to thefront door of the house and
canceling surprises passengeronce he got in the cab. I exit
the car and immediately heardthe hood of an hour. Jimmy and I
both looked up at the Open Solarround Farrell head of the bird
staring straight at us. It wasmoments like this that my wife
(16:12):
had said she missed most aboutIreland. Her time with nature
and wildlife. And you hear wasin London right in front of me.
As we approach the door of thehost Lauren Bacall appeared on
the porch.
This is Khan. I'm dropping themoff on the way the tall,
neatly curved woman standingregally before me offered her
(16:32):
hand and I shook it a realpleasure to meet you, Miss
McCall. I said Kim I'd like itwas a bottler or some class of
kept hoping fool anyway.
Call me Betty.
I sat in the front of Jimmy'scab and his more dazzling
(16:53):
passenger sat in the back. Shewas mesmerizing. Her neck like a
swans, her eyes pale and hooded.And of course, there was that
voice smokey direct.
I've heard a lot about UConn.
I watched her in the mirror. Shesat back to light up a
cigarette. She hauled furiouslyon it and exhaled. I tell you, I
(17:18):
was quite happy that entailed athick minty smoke and willingly
let her expanded breath warm mylungs. Hope it was all good. I
said how it
was. He says you're thinking ofgoing back to Ireland. He will
miss you. I think a Jimmy.
Jimmy laughed. And I could seehe was blushing. I couldn't
(17:42):
imagine he'd have anything niceto say about me to anyone, let
alone Hollywood royalty. addsthe wife Betty. She misses the
place. And as it looks likeshe'd be inheriting a house
there soon I might have a littlebottle on my hands. Lauren
Bacall smiled and turn to lookat the window. The night was
(18:05):
clear and the streets were fullof people coming home from pubs
and nightclubs.
My daughter is the most likedBogey, my first husband. They
both believe or believed Ishould say in the case of bogey.
Where do you do the thing whereyou can give the most be of
service for everyone's good,sort of like an act of love that
(18:27):
has stood us all in good stead Ithink so keep that in mind calm.
No need to battle with your dearwife. A file
of smoke no hovered in themiddle of the car. I wanted to
cough but I suppressed the urgewith all my might. Mainly
because I felt so enormouslylucky to be receiving advice
from such a woman. Though I didnot know precisely what she
(18:50):
meant. I do remember lookingover at Jimmy then he was
clearly turning her words overin his mind making his own sense
of them. He led me on Boscomberoad. By now it was past
midnight and Shepherds Bush wasquiet. I walked to the house all
dark inside apart from the lowglow of a lamp in the living
(19:11):
room where I knew my wife willbe waiting for me. I couldn't
wait to tell her of my encounterwith Lauren Bacall. By the end
of the month, McHugh was dead.He had been hit at high speed by
a car which had driven over hisbody several times and with such
brutal force, the man had beendecapitated. It had happened at
(19:35):
night on a street in MuswellHill, and the car was not seen
are reported. The police went tosee Jimmy immediately knowing he
was a cabbie, knowing he and theother men and women of the Feeny
family had a serious score tosettle with McHugh. But Jimmy
had a cast iron alibi, which thepolice had double check More
(20:00):
times than was needed. No doubtthe glimpse again the smoky
voice goddess of the film'sthey've grown up with Lauren
Bacall confirmed that at thetime the hit and run was
supposed to have happened. JimmyFeeney had been driving her from
a late night cigarette andwhiskey run. He was her driver
after all. Before I left London,finally, to go back to Ireland,
(20:24):
the greatest regret of my life Imust say I met with Jimmy one
last time. We shared a pot oftea and Venus cafe in the north
end of Kilburn. Jimmy seemedaloof. He looked at constantly
at the new row and saplings beenplanted on the verge of the high
road. When I told him thedetails about my wife's
(20:44):
inheritance, he passed noremarks. I didn't feel easy
enough for them to mention thedead McHugh. I tried to give him
money. I told him buddy wouldn'taccept it. Jimmy said you'd
visit me in Ireland but he likePat from Cork and most of my
London pals. They never did.Though he did tell me he'd quit
(21:06):
capping. That after drivingLauren Bacall around for three
weeks he could hardly go back toteenagers vomiting in the back
of his Mercedes on Saturdaynights. I've since heard he did
eventually go back to it. Ibelieve he was hired again by
Miss McCall or Betty, as she wasknown to her friends. Jimmy and
(21:28):
I shook hands when we left eachother. And I realized that it
was the first time we've everdone that touched each other
skins on. His hands were gentleand soft. I noticed his shake,
limp, which I remember thinkingfrom a powerful big bone man
like him was surprising.Everyone I knew during my own
(21:51):
wife thought it was Jimmy whoplowed over McHugh. But once I
chickened the man's hand, I wasnot so sure. Though, over time,
I've come to understand thatthere are people in his life who
are capable of turning againsttheir own nature, good or bad
for something they perceive asmore important, such as love our
(22:14):
family perhaps
all of the stories told on me aspawn are properties of their
authors mean as part of theproduction of metus media all
rights reserved unless otherwisestated. Our theme music comes to
(22:35):
us from odd Sprite. You can hearmore of their music and odd
sprite.com We'll see you nexttime folks. Have a good one.
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