"Hell, he's dead. Think about the Quick." "I killed him, Ned." "A rope killed him, Jake." "I tied the rope for him." "He was an amateur," Bacon said. "He was out of his class. Nobody killed him. He killed himself trying to mix with the pros." "Trying to mix with the poison eaters." "What?" "Nothing." "Did you write those damn fool letters, Jake?" "Yes, I guess I did." "What the hell for?" "I don't know for sure yet. I think because I was sore." "What at?" "Myself." "What for?" "I don't know," Lennox said wearily. "It's like there were two of me ... and one didn't like the other. You know how every man's got a voice inside him that talks to him like a stranger. Mine didn't talk. It wrote letters." "You aren't thinking about taking from a head-shrinker, are you?" "I don't believe in them." "Stay away from those guys, Jake. I wouldn't trust a talent that wasn't crazy a little. It's the crazy that makes you the writer. Stay with it and enjoy." "Enjoy what? I've lost everything. God knows I made it a fight ... but I've lost everything. I've got nothing left." Bacon laughed. "If it wasn't for you, I'd still be in there doing word associations and ink-blot tests and--This is a big favor, Ned, but why? I thought you hated my guts after I sold you out to Blinky." "Just the Irish temper," Bacon said. "I'm directing 'Who He?' starting February." "It's going off." "No it's not. "But--" "Sachs is moving over to our new show." "Our new...?" "'The Couple from Missouri.'" "What's that?" "Wake up, Jake. You remember that show we faked to cool the Kansas beef last week." "The couple competing on give-away shows?" "Uh-huh. The network bought it. We've had to change it around a little. Blinky'll tell you while we're signing the contracts." Bacon parked the car in the low Forties. As he got out he said: "And remember, this time we split three ways. No fifty percent for Grabinett." They walked up Madison toward Grabinett's office. Lennox was even more dazed. A moment ago his world had been in ruins. Now it was apparently back in business and doing better than ever. He flexed his arm against his gimmick book. Then he phoned Gabby from a drugstore. There was no answer. As they passed Borden's office building, Avery came bouncing out and saw them. Lennox flinched. Borden ran over and shook hands. "Only got a minute," he said, glancing at his watch. "Have to grab an early train. What was it like in the hatch, Jake? They put you in a strait jacket? Do they really have padded cells? I tell you, let's have lunch tomorrow. I've got to hear all about it. Give me a call, not too early." He waved buoyantly and darted into a cab. Lennox watched him go. His jaw hung. He looked at Bacon with so much astonishment that Bacon laughed. "Wake up, Jake. You've got enough new material to eat free for a month." "Material?" Lennox echoed. "What else? You're lucky."