Chapter 2: The glimmer of hope and despair
November 1, 1960
A few days later, Massimo was in his doctor's waiting room. He noticed on the cover of the newspaper, a photo of Elsa. It looked like the official poster for Elsa Mars Time. He took it to look at her. He noticed the other newspapers. Elsa was on the cover of all the newspapers this morning. He heard the doctor call his name. He put the newspaper back down, thinking that Elsa must be on all the covers because of the fire the day before. He was going to sit in front of his TV when he got home, to find out more.
Massimo was sitting at his doctor's office.
"So Doctor? » asked Massimo.
"Listen Mr. Dolcefino, your condition is relatively stable. I mean the disease progressed slower than we thought, but it still progressed. »
"How much time do I have left?" »
"It depends. There's a new experimental treatment I'd like you to try. Your case matches perfectly with the cases sought for the study. This is an intravenous treatment developed by a health institute in Canada. I checked, and the treatment is available here, if you want it. With this treatment, you could gain a few years, or even fall into what is called "Remission". In other words, we could drive away disease. If you refuse this treatment, and the disease maintains its new rate of progression, you could have up to 6 to 8 months. »
"Wait a minute. A week ago, you told me I had a month to live. »
"Yes, actually, this kind of illness is quite unpredictable. But if the treatment has the effect I believe it will have on you, we could call it a miracle. In fact, just that the progression has slowed down like this, I think we can speak of a miracle. »
Massimo thought of Elsa. He put his hand in his jacket pocket and touched, with his fingertips, the small blue velvet box, containing the ring that he had once bought for Elsa.
"It's ok doctor. »
"You may have some side effects. This is a corrosive and aggressive treatment, but effective. »
" No problem. I'm ready for anything. When do we start? » asked Massimo.
"Today if you want. »
"Let's go." »
Later, Massimo was settled in, and he turned on the TV. Elsa was everywhere, on every channel.
"Unbelievable but true. Elsa Mars is an amputee! According to very reliable sources, Elsa Mars was once a pornographic actress for a Snuff Movie in Germany, as evidenced by her explicit images. How did she survive? What is his secret to hiding his infirmity? So many unanswered questions and the star is not making any comments for the moment. »
Massimo couldn't believe his eyes or his ears. How did they know? Who did they think they were? He felt anger rising within him. How dare they call her crippled?
He took a deep breath, then returned his attention to the television. He decided to put on another news channel.
"Since this morning, the news hasn't stopped coming about Elsa Mars. Today, Elsa Mars special show. Let's redo the chronology of events. It all started first thing this morning, with the release of Times magazine and Hedda Hopper's article, quickly followed by the newspapers. At the beginning of the afternoon, the brands Campfire Gold, Cosmétique Revlon and Mary Quant officially dissociates himself from her. Around noon, radio stations pulled all of his songs from the airwaves. 1 p.m., World Broadcasting Network cancels the program ''The Elsa Mars Hour''. 1:30 p.m., Wunder Grammophon , the star's record label, terminates their contract. Fifteen p.m., Michael Beck sends a press release, announcing that he has resigned as the star's agent and has filed for divorce. He also claims to have left the marital nest a week ago. The star is currently locked up in his sumptuous Beverly Hills home, which has also been surrounded by journalists and paparazzi since sunrise. Impossible to get an interview or comments from him. How did she get there? That's what everyone is wondering. She's literally losing everything, and her fans seem pretty worried. We went to the site, in front of Elsa's house, where several fans were gathered, in support of their favorite star. »
On the TV, he could see that in front of Elsa's mansion, there were journalists, curious people and Elsa fans with signs to support their idol.
Massimo was distracted in front of his little TV. How could all this have happened? He stood up in one jump. He paced back and forth in his little living room, thinking out loud.
"It's certain that Elsa must be completely destroyed right now." She's losing everything. No, I can't believe she's going to lose what's precious to her again. I have to go see her. Yes, that's it, I'm going to go see her. »
Massimo had found a flight to California for the next morning. He had an appointment for further treatment and he was going to leave directly afterwards.
The next day, Massimo was waiting for his turn in the waiting room of the doctor's office. He was reading the day's newspaper. As he expected, Elsa was on the front page. "Elsa Mars and Michael Beck's fabulous mansion officially put up for sale, for the modest sum of $2.4 million. He had taken the time to read the article. Elsa found herself faced with nothing. Of course she was going to receive compensation for breaking her contracts, and she had accumulated quite a bit of money over the years, but what worried Massimo was her morale. He knew well that what Elsa had been clinging to for years was her career, her success, her dream. Now she found herself without a goal or a hideout. He knew she was going through particularly difficult times, and he wanted to be there for her. Suddenly he noticed a funny dressed man enter the room. He looked back down at his newspaper when the man sat down next to him.
" I know what's tormenting you. » The man began.
"More than one thing torments me, you know. » Massimo laughed a little, before returning his attention to the information on Elsa.
"When you go to see her, don't be afraid to tell her you're here to stay. »
Massimo raised his eyes from the newspaper and looked at the man, unsure if he had heard correctly.
"Don't look at me like that my dear, you should have done it a long time ago. » The man laughed a little.
"Excuse me, but what do you want to talk about?" »
"You and I have a friend in common. » He said, pointing to the photo of Elsa on the cover of Massimo's diary.
Massimo was visibly disturbed by the words of the strange man sitting in front of him.
"Excuse me, but who are you? »
"Forgive my rudeness, my name is Edward Mordrake. It's not usual for me to do this, but I'm here to help. » The man replied, holding out his hand.
"Massimo Dolcefino. »Replied Massimo, shaking his hand, uncertain.
"But I know it well. By the way, you should hurry up, she's really not well these days. »
"What do you mean exactly?" »
"Have you read this newspaper or not? » Edward replied.
"Yes, but…" Massimo began.
"If I can give you any advice, do it. Love her like you've dreamed of doing for years. And don't forget this ring. You both deserve to be happy, count on me, I'll see to that. »
"Wait, but how do you know that…" Massimo tried to ask before being cut off again by this strange character.
"Okay, I have to go, I have a lot to do. It was a pleasure Mr. Dolcefino. And never forget, miracles really do exist. » Edward said getting up and heading towards the door.
Massimo was trying to process what had just happened when Edward turned around.
"Oh yes, I forgot. Mr. Dolcefino, you should talk to your doctor about Sildenafil Citrate. With that, goodbye. » Then the strange man disappeared.
Massimo obviously didn't understand what had just happened. He didn't have much time to think about it before his doctor called his name.
A little later, Massimo had received his 2nd treatment , and then he was sitting at his doctor's office.
"So Mr. Dolcefino, how are you feeling so far?" »
" Alright. Even this morning, despite the first treatment, I felt very good. »
"Yes, you were responding really well to the treatment, it's surprising to see such promising results early like that. I believe that if it continues like this, we will be able to talk about a real miracle. »
"A miracle. » Massimo thought aloud.
"Very well, then, as I explained to you earlier, there is no problem with you going on a trip, the IV doses are completed. The rest of the treatment will be oral, by medication. You have my number, so call me if you need, and we'll see you again in 2 weeks for a follow-up. »
"Yes, of course, thank you Doctor Jeffrey. Oh umm, I was wondering, what is Sildenafil Citrate? » asked Massimo.
"Oh, actually, Sildenafil Citrate is still a preliminary-stage drug that acts as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. To be clearer, it is a medication that acts on erectile dysfunction. » Explained the doctor.
"Oh okay, I didn't know such a product existed. »
"It's rather recent, but it's already proving its worth. Have you had erectile problems since starting treatment? »
"No, actually, it's been several years. I had an accident which left me with this after-effect. »
"Okay, I see, so look what we're going to do, I'm going to prescribe some for you." Try it and we'll see if it solves your problem. But don't get excited too quickly. This medication is very effective, but does not work for everyone. As I told you earlier, it is still in the preliminary stage. »
"Okay, thank you doctor. »