Page 81 of The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe

Hoover is alarmed at the extent to which the president’s affairs have become a national security risk. His movie star mistress is gossiping with a known Soviet agent who briefs other foreign intelligence operatives.

And then there’s José Bolaños. Hoover’s information suggests that the screenwriter is “deeply distrusted by the real left” because he has a close friend who works for the CIA, and he has been seen walking in and out of the CIA station in Mexico City.

Now Marilyn has invited Bolaños to Beverly Hills. She’s asked him to escort her to the Golden Globes.

CHAPTER 57

MARILYN SPENDS $3,000 on a green sequined halter-neck gown with a mermaid-tail hem designed by Norman Norell, who also made the dress she wore to marry Arthur Miller.

The dress is an investment in her career. At the 1960 Golden Globes, she took home the trophy for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical forSome Like It Hot. Tonight, March 8, 1962, Rock Hudson will be presenting her with a Henrietta Award as World Film Favorite.

Being Marilyn Monroe is becoming increasingly expensive and time-consuming. The hair takes longer to style and the makeup takes longer to apply. But when she makes the effort, the effect is as hypnotically beautiful as always.

She hasn’t had a bite to eat today, reminding herself,I have to be skinny for Frankie.Instead, she sips champagne.

Frank Sinatra, in the apartment next door, has promised to come see her new dress before she leaves for the ceremony at the Beverly Hilton. He says he has a surprise for her.

“Hi, baby,” she whispers breathlessly.

Sinatra is beguiled by the platinum hair, the sparkling sequins.

“Close your eyes.”

From his dinner jacket, Sinatra removes a leather box, saying, “Now you can look!”

Resting on a velvet cushion is not the large, hoped-for engagement ring but a pair of emerald earrings to match her bright green dress. Emeralds and diamonds. He clips one to each ear.

“Thank you, Frankie,” she whispers. “They’re very beautiful.”

“I should hope so,” he replies. “They cost me thirty-five thousand dollars.”

Nearly half the price of her new house.

Marilyn’s red-carpet look is among the most elegant at the Golden Globes. Reporters buzz about her emerald gown and matching earrings. Photographers can’t take enough pictures.

Marilyn and her screenwriter escort, José Bolaños, exchange intimate glances, and, as the A-list crowd celebrates with champagne and cocktails, they dance as close as they did in Mexico City.

Peter Lawford invites Marilyn to New York City, where a dinner is to be held in President Kennedy’s honor in a private apartment on Park Avenue.

At 9 p.m., Marilyn is already an hour late and still not quite ready. Milt Ebbins, Peter Lawford’s talent manager, has beenwaiting outside her room for almost two hours. Finally, he bursts through the door to find Marilyn sitting at her dressing table, applying makeup to her famous beauty mark.

“Please, Marilyn! We can’t keep the president waiting!”

“Oh,” she greets Ebbins. “Can you help me with this dress?”

She pulls a black beaded sheath from its hanger.

“It just needs a little tug!”

So I’m watching this giant international movie star standing there stark naked in her high heels,Milt thinks.She puts a scarf over her hair so it won’t get mussed and pulls this beaded dress over her head. This dress was so tight it took me ten minutes to pull it down over her ass!

“Take it easy,” Marilyn says. “Don’t tear the beads.”

When Marilyn is finally ready, Ebbins is astonished at the transformation, enthusing, “Jesus Christ, you sure are pretty.”

“Thank you,” she replies, coolly, disguising her famous blond hair in a red wig for the drive uptown.

The Secret Service clears them into the party that’s already well underway.

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