A few minutes later, he asked, "Speaking of hitching careers to stars, what's happened to that young man who hitched his to yours?" "Bill Ingram?" Celia laughed; she always remembered the first time Ingram had come to her favorable attention-at the QuadrilleBrown advertising meeting in New York.”Bill has been working in International as Latin-American Director-the job I had. Now we're thinking of bringing him to pharmaceutical sales with a promotion.”
"Nice," Andrew said.”Looks as if he made a good star-choice too.”
Amid Celia's happiness about her promotion, a note of grief intruded. Teddy Upshaw died, while working at his desk, from a heart attack. Teddy had remained as O-T-C sales manager, having found his niche, which he filled successfully and happily. At his death he was less than a year from retirement. It grieved Celia that she would never again hear Teddy's lively voice, watch his energetic stride, or see his bouncing-ball head while he talked enthusiastically. Celia, with Andrew, and others from the company, attended Teddy's funeral and accompanied the cortege to the graveside. It was a miserable, blustery March day, with showers of freezing rain, and the mourners huddled in their coats while sheltering under wind-besieged umbrellas. Some, including Celia and Andrew. went to the Upshaws' home afterward, and it was there that Teddy's widow, Zoe, took Celia aside. "Teddy admired you so much, Mrs. Jordan," Zoe said.”He was proud to work for you, and he used to say that as long as you were at Felding-Roth, the company would always have a conscience.”
Celia, moved by the words, remembered the first day she had become aware of Teddy-fifteen years earlier, immediately after her speech to the Waldorf sales convention, when she had been ordered from the meeting hall in apparent disgrace. His was one of the few sympathetic faces she had seen on the way out. "I loved Teddy, too," she told the other woman. Afterward Andrew asked, "What was it Mrs. Upshaw said to you?" Celia told him, adding "I haven't always lived up to Teddy's ideal. I remember that fight, the argument, you and I had in Ecuador when you pointed out some places where I'd ignored my conscience, and you were right.”
"We were both right," Andrew corrected her, "because you brought up some things that I'd done, or hadn't done, too. But none of us is perfect, and I agree with Teddy. You are FeldingRoth's conscience, I'm proud of you for it, and I hope you'll stay that way.”
The following month brought better news, for the world at large and, in a narrower sense, for Felding-Roth. The war in Vietnam was over. It was a crushing defeat for America, a nation not accustomed to defeats. Yet, the tragic slaughter had ceased and the task ahead-formidable but less bloody-was the healing of national wounds, more divisive and bitter than any since the Civil War. "In our lifetimes the bitterness won't end," Andrew predicted one evening, after he and Celia had watched on television the final, humiliating exodus of Americans from Saigon.”And historians, two centuries from now, will still be arguing the rights and wrongs about our being in Vietnam.”
"I know it's selfish," Celia said, "but all I can think of is, thank heaven it finished before Brucie was old enough to go!" A week or two later, the hierarchy of Felding-Roth was cheered by news from France that the drug Montayne had been approved for manufacture and sale in that country. It meant that under the licensing agreement between Felding-Roth Pharmaceuticals and Laboratoires Gironde-Chimie, American testing of Montayne would now begin. As to the drug's purpose, Celia had suffered some unease on first learning that it was intended for pregnant women, to be taken early in their pregnancy when nausea and morning sickness were most prevalent conditions which Montayne would banish. Celia, like others, had strong memories of Thalidomide and its awful aftermath. She also remembered how glad in retrospect she had been that during both of her own pregnancies Andrew had insisted she take no drugs at all. She had confided her concern to Sam, who was understanding and sympathetic.”When I first heard about Montayne," he admitted, "my reaction was the same as yours. But since then I've learned more about it, convincing me it's a splendidly effective, yet totally safe drug.”
Since Thalidomide, Sam pointed out, fifteen years had passed during which time there had been enormous progress in pharmaceutical research, including scientific testing of new drugs. As well, government regulations in 1975 were stricter by far than in the 1950s. "Many things change," Sam insisted.”For example, there was a time when the idea of using anesthetics during childbirth was fiercely opposed by some who believed it would be dangerous and destructive. In the same way there can, and must, be safe drugs for use during pregnancy. Montayne is simply one whose time has come.”
He urged Celia to keep an open mind until she had examined all the data. She promised that she would. The importance of Montayne to Felding-Roth was underlined soon afterward when the vice president and comptroller, Seth Feingold, confided to Celia, "Sam has promised the board that Montayne will give us a big boost moneywise, which we sure as hell need. This year our balance sheet looks like we're candidates for a welfare handout.”
Feingold, a sprightly, white-haired company veteran, was past retirement age, but was retained because of his encyclopedic knowledge of Felding-Roth finances and an ability to juggle money in tight situations. Over the past two years he and Celia had become friends, their closeness aided by the fact that Andrew had successfully treated Feingold’s wife for arthritis. The treatment freed Mrs. Feingold from pain she had suffered over several years. "My wife thinks your husband could change water into wine," the comptroller had informed Celia one day.”Now that I know you better, I've a similar feeling about his wife.”
Continuing to discuss Montayne, he said, "I've talked with Gironde-Chimie's financial people, and the Frenchies believe their drug will be an enormous profit builder for them.”
"Even though it's early, all of us in sales are gearing up for the same thing here," Celia assured him.”But especially for you, Seth, we'll try a little harder.”
"Attagirl! Speaking of trying harder, some of us are wondering how hard those Brits are working in our research center over there. Or are they loafing, spending most of their time having tea breaks?" "I haven't heard much lately...”
Celia began. "I haven't heard anything, " Feingold said.”Except it's costing us millions, like the money's going in a bathtub with the plug out. That's one reason why our balance sheet is a disaster area. I'm telling you, Celia, a lot of people around here, including some members of the board, are worried about that British caper. Ask Sam.”
As it turned out, Celia did not need to ask Sam because he sent for her a few days later.”You may have heard," he said, "that I'm taking a lot of flak about Harlow and Martin Peat-Smith.”
"Yes," she answered.”Seth Feingold told me.”
Sam nodded.”Seth is one of the doubters. For financial reasons he'd like to see Harlow shut down. So would a growing number on the board, and I'm expecting tough questions from shareholders at the annual meeting.”
He added moodily, "Some days I feel like letting it happen.”
Celia reminded him, "It's not much more than two years since the Harlow research started. You had faith in Martin.”
"Martin predicted at least some positive result within two years," Sam answered.”Also there are limits to faith when we're hemorrhaging dollars and I have the board and shareholders on my back. Another thing-Martin's been obstinate about progress reports. He just won't make any. So I need some assurance there really is progress and that it's worthwhile going on.”
"Why not go to see for yourself?"
"I would, except that right now I can't take the time. So I want you to go, Celia. As soon as you can, and then report back to me.”