“That doesn’t sound like such a good record to me,” Robert said.
“It is when you compare it with some of the other hospitals,” Helen said. “I tell you, it’s scary. But the point is that National Health is sensitive about this nosocomial infection issue. Gertrude specifically told me that National Health would never in a million years consider running an ad campaign based on it.”
“Perfect!” Robert exclaimed. “That is good news. What have you told Terese Hagen?”
“Nothing, of course,” Helen said. “You told me to brief you first.”
“Excellent job!” Robert said. He pushed himself up onto his long, thin legs and paced. “This couldn’t be better. I’ve got Terese just where I want her.”
“What do you want me to tell her?” Helen asked.
“Just tell her that you have confirmed National Health has an excellent record vis-à-vis nosocomial infection,” Robert said. “I want to encourage her to go ahead with her campaign, because it will surely bomb.”
“But we’ll lose the account,” Helen said.
“Not necessarily,” Robert said. “You’ve found out in the past that they are interested in ‘talking heads’ spots with celebrities. We’ve communicated that to Terese time and time again and she has ignored it. I’m going to go behind her back and line up a few of the stars from some of the current hospital-based TV dramas. They’d be perfect for testimonials. Terese Hagen will bomb and we’ll be able to step in with our own campaign.”
“Ingenuous, Helen said. She slid off the arm of her chair. “I’ll start the ball rolling by calling Terese Hagen immediately.”
Helen scooted back to her own office and had a secretary put in a call to Terese. As she waited, she complimented herself on the conversation she’d just had with Robert. It couldn’t have gone any better had she scripted it. Her position in the firm was looking better and better.
“Miss Hagen is downstairs in the arena,” the secretary reported. “Do you want me to call down there?”
“No,” Helen said. “I’ll head down there in person.”
Leaving the carpeted tranquility of the account executive area, Helen descended the stairs to the studio floor. Her pumps echoed loudly on the metal steps. She liked the idea of talking with Terese in person, although she’d not wanted to go to Terese’s office, where she’d feel intimidated.
Helen rapped loudly on the doorjamb before entering. Terese was sitting at a large table covered with storyboards and tissues. Also present were Colleen Anderson, Alice Gerber, and a man Helen did not know. He was introduced as Nelson Friedman.
“I’ve got the information you requested,” Helen said to Terese. She forced her face into a broad smile.
“Good news or bad?” Terese asked.
“I’d say very good,” Helen said.
“Let’s have it,” Terese said. She leaned back in her chair.
Helen described National Health’s positive nosocomial record. She even told Terese something she hadn’t told Robert: National Health’s hospital infection rates were better than AmeriCare’s at the General.
“Fabulous,” Terese said. “That’s just what I wanted to know. You’ve been a big help. Thank you.”
“Glad to be of service,” Helen said. “How are you coming with the campaign?”
“I feel good about it,” Terese said. “By Monday we’ll have something for Taylor and Brian to see.”
“Excellent,” Helen said. “Well, if I can do anything else, just let me know.”
“Certainly,” Terese said. She walked Helen to the door, then waved as Helen disappeared into the stairwell.
Terese returned to the table and sat back down.
“Do you believe her?” Colleen asked.
“I do,” Terese said. “Accounts wouldn’t risk lying about stats that we could presumably get elsewhere.”
“I don’t see how you can trust her,” Colleen said. “I hate that plastic smile. It’s unnatural.”
“Hey, I said I believed her,” Terese said. “I didn’t say I trusted her. That’s why I didn’t share with her what we are doing here.”
“Speaking of what we are doing here,” Colleen said, “you haven’t exactly said you like it.”
Terese sighed as her eyes ranged around at the scattered storyboards. “I like the Hippocrates sequence,” she said. “But I don’t know about this Oliver Wendell Holmes and this Joseph Lister material. I understand how important washing hands is even in a modern hospital, but it’s not zippy.”