Post by Rick Henry on Jun 12, 2006 23:24:25 GMT -5
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 1979
Karen sat in the Hard Rock Cafe nervously awaiting Patrick's arrival. In her mind she went over and over how she would break the news to him. Of course she knew that when the time arrives she'd flubber up her words and say it all wrong.
Finally, Patrick showed up twenty minutes late. He came all the way from San Diego and mentioned that the traffic was unexpectedly heavy. Karen stood up as he walked toward the table. They hugged and he gave her a kiss on the cheek. Patrick told her he missed her quite a bit over the past month. With Karen in New York for the MUSE concert and Patrick in London working on a new album with Roxy Music, the two have not been able to see each other in about five weeks.
"How's the Roxy Music album coming along?" Karen asked.
"Great, we'll have it ready for release next month." Patrick answered as he shuffled in his chair to become comfortable.
"Very exciting," Karen quips, "I really like Bryan Ferry's voice. He's very unique.
"Yes, he is," Patrick responds, "I'm so glad you called. I've really been thinking about you quite a bit."
"Yeah," Karen answered, "I've been thinking about you a lot also."
"Karen, I really care about you and I really miss you," Patrick continued speaking, "We've been seeing each other for over a year now. And, you're all I ever think of. Morning, noon and night that crazy little smile of yours is always in my heart."
"Oh, that's so nice," Karen says temporarily forgetting why she had him here.
"Karen, I feel it's time to take our relationship to the next level," Patrick says.
"Oh, believe," Karen says, "Our relationship has moved to the next level."
Patrick interrupts, "Wait, wait, listen to my idea Karen."
"But, I need," Karen tries to speak but Patrick interrupts.
"I've been wanting to say this for over a month now," Patrick says.
"Okay, okay, go ahead," Karen gives him approval.
"I've been thinking of buying a house here in California. Maybe in Laguna Niguel or the hills of Orange, " Patrick speaks while he sips on his 7-Up. And, Karen I'd like you to move in with me. Would you Karen?"
Karen had a momentary loss of words as she was stunned by what Patrick had just suggested.
"You don't need to answer me now," Patrick said, "You can think about it. We can discuss it at another time."
"No Patrick," Karen says, "We need to talk about this right now."
"Okay," Patrick says with a confused look on his face.
"I've got something to tell you," Karen says, "And I know it won't be easy."
"Okay, Karen," Patrick answers back, "Are you breaking up with me?"
"No, no, nothing like that," Karen says.
"Okay, okay," Patrick leans forward in his chair brimming with excitement.
"Patrick," Karen looks him in the face, "I'm pregnant."
"Woah, woah, back up Karen," Patrick exclaims, "You're pregnant?"
"yes, I'm pregnant," Karen answers.
"Well it can't be mine," Patrick demands.
"Patrick," Karen says, "You are the father. There is no one else."
"I want a paternity test done. You've tricked me into this," Patrick accuses, "You told me you were on the pill."
"I was on the pill," Karen answers, "But somehow I got pregnant. Something went wrong."
"Well Karen," Patrick said, "This is your baby. I'll pay you money, I'll help you support it. But I want nothing to do with this kid. I'm sorry Karen, but you're on your own here."
"You know Patrick, I don't want your money," Karen said as she stood up, "I have to leave now. This conversation is over."
Karen left the restaurant very upset. She wasn't quite sure where she was going. She tried calling Frenda from her car phone but got her answering service.
Karen was still hungry (since she didn't eat at the Hard Rock Cafe) so she stopped into an A&W Drive In and had a hamburger and a root beer float as she contemplated her now even more complicated situation. She just couldn't believe what Patrick said.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 1979
Karen arrived in Downey at 10:30 a.m. to meet mom and dad. The three of them drove in Karen's Mercedes to meet Richard at Marri's Pizza in Long Beach. (click here to read article on Marri's Pizza www.ocweekly.com/food/feature-review/will-you-marris-me/22229/ )Karen arranged this gathering claiming that she hadn't seen Richard since he came back from Topeka. She said she really wanted to spend some time with her family.
The three of them made it to the dimly lit restaurant at 11:30 a.m. Richard was already there. He was sitting at a booth smoking a brown More cigarette and sipping on a glass of chilled Chenin Blanc. He jumped up and gave Karen a big hug right when he saw her. They were both so overjoyed to see each other.
Richard took a look at Karen and mentioned that she had gained weight and that the extra weight looks good on her.
Mom and dad break in and mom gives Richard a warm hug before they all sit down at the booth.
Karen menitoned how much she likes Marri's because of the crazy grafitti on the walls. "Listen to this one," Karen says as she reads some of the grafitti, "Greg, Jose and Chris: 3/30/78 first band rehearsal."
At this point the waiter walked up to ask if anybody wanted anything to drink. Karen ordered a water, no ice, with lemon wedges on the side. Mom and dad ordered a bottle of Chianti.
A few minutes later the waiter came back with the drinks. Mom ordered the Chicken Fra Diavolo. Dad said he wasn't in the mood for Italian food so he ordered a cheeseburger with french fries. Richard ordered a large meatball sandwich, while Karen had the lasagne with beef sauce.
As the foru waited for their meals the conversation remained pleasant. Richard spoke mainly of his experiences in Long Beach. He mentioned the Concours D'Elegance in Huntington Beach and the Grand Prix cart race actually held in Long Beach. Richard said he's really getting back into going to these car shows and events.
Dad directed the conversation toward Karen by congratulating her on the success of "Love Making Love To You". Richard mentioned that he had to admit that it is one "hot" tune.
Once their meals arrived they all "oohed and aahhhed" as the waiter set their plates on the table.
After the waiter finished serving the Carpenter family he went to his next table. The lady over their told the waiter that Karen Carpenter was sitting at that booth. The waiter looked back at Karen as she bashfully smiled and waved at him.
Karen finished her meal first and mom mentioned how quick she ate. Karen said that she was starving and that the lasagne was excellent.
After their plates were cleared mom and dad poured themselves another glass of wine from the bottle they ordered earlier.
"Mom, Dad, Richard," Karen spoke in a serious tone, "I'm so glad we're together right now."
Mom commented back, "Your father and I are happy to be with our children."
"Well, I'm happy we're together because I have a little news for you," Karen said with a quirky smile on her face.
Mom interrupted and said, "Oh yes, Karen, we heard you'd be recording with Roy Orbison."
"Yes, mom I'm very excited about that," Karen pointedly said, "But, that's not my news."
"Well? Just what is your news?" Mom asked in a nagging voice.
There was a short silence between the four while Karen mustered up the courage to say the words.
"I'm pregnant," Karen belted out boldly.
Dad's mouth fell open.
Richard gave Karen a caring smile.
And mom shouted out, "You just can't be pregnant, you're Karen Carpenter."
Karen said in a hushed voice, "Mom, mom please we don't need everyone in the restaurant to hear us."
"Okay Karen," Mom answered in a quieted but steamed tone of voice, "But, you just can't be pregnant. Are you married? Who's the dad? Is there something else you're not telling us?"
"No mom," Karen answered solemnly, "I am not married. As a matter of the fact I just broke up with the baby's father."
"Who's the father?" Dad asked.
"What do you mean broke up?" Mom screamed quietly.
"Patrick Benjamin is the father. I broke it off with him. He doesn't want to be a father. I'm doing this on my own."
"Patrick Benjamin," Richard said, "Yeah, I've met him. He worked on a few Zappa albums."
"Richard, Richard," Mom said, "This is not a music conversation. We're talking about your sister's dilemma, her stupidity."
"Mom," Karen responded sharply, "This is not a dilemma. This is your grandchild."
"No Karen," mom fired back, "This is a dilemma. You are Karen Carpenter, you can not be pregnant and unmarried. End of story."
"Listen to what you just said mom," Karen cried back trying to keep her voice down, "I will be thirty years old in five months. It's time that the world and you, mom, came to terms with the fact that I am an adult with a real life. I'm not a puppet, I'm not a toy. I have a life. I have feelings. I'm not some sexless pixie, you know!" Mom gasps when Karen says this.
Karen continues speaking calm, yet focused, "And, I need to come to term with this also. The fact is I am Karen Carpenter. I've been lost for so long in this whirlwind of fame and always being on the move. I've been living this lie, this masquerade for way too long now. I almost believe that I am that perfect little angel that everybody wants me to be. Well, mom, I'm just not that perfect crystalline angel. I'm just not," Karen bursts into tears, "I just can't live this way anymore."
"Okay women," Dad stepped in looking toward mom, "Listen, Karen is our daughter," Now looking toward Karen he says, "And we love you Karen. And we love our grandchild." Mom squirms as dad makes this comment, "But this is going to hit the gossip columns and a lot of people will be affected by this. We need to be realistic and rational here."
"Dad," Karen sighs, "I know that. But, this is where I'm at. I need to deal with this. This is my situation. I can handle the press."
"Well," Dad says, "We're here for you. I support you 100%."
"Yes," Richard agrees.
"Oh dad," Karen cries, "You always know how to handle these situations. And that's one trait I got from you. I can be strong in this. I can handle this and be victorious over any adversity."
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 1979
Karen phoned Herb Alpert to set a lunch date. Herb said he'd be in Brazil until Monday night. So, they set the lunch for Wednesday October 3rd. Karen told Herb that she and Richard had an announcement to make and, they are also requesting that Jerry Moss and Werner Wolfen to be there for this.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 2, 1979
Love Makin' Love To You reaches # 3 in it's fifth week on the chart. This is a jump of four spots from it's position of # 7 last week. The song also moves up to # 1 on the adult contemporary chart up from # 9 last week.
Karen's album jumps up to # 8 in it's eighth week on the chart, up from last weeks # 42. That's an incredible jump up of 34 positions.
The Singles 1969-1973 makes a small jump from # 184 to # 173. This is it's second week back on the chart.
Top Seven Singles for the week of October 2, 1979
7. Rise - Herb Alpert
6. Dim All The Lights - Donna Summer
5. After The Love Is Gone - Earth Wind and Fire
4. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
3. Love Makin' Love To You - Karen Carpenter
2. Sad Eyes - Robert John
1. My Sharona - The Knack
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3, 1979
This is it the day that Karen (with Richard) will finally face Herb and Jerry with her prenancy. She was completely nervous about coming out with this. Herb and Jerry have been very supportive over the past ten years and now she feels like she's going to let them down.
They met at The Velvet Turtle, a posh restaurant in West Hollywood. Only Jerry and Richard ate. The rest only ordered drinks. Karen had a tall cranberry juice, Herb a martini and Werner a cosmopolitan.
Werner mentioned that he had another appointment across town in an hour.
Richard said to Werner, "Well wait Werner, This is of a sensitive nature. We just can't rush through this.
"No, that's alright Richard," Karen said, "I'm just going to be up front and direct about this."
Karen's frankness caught Herb's attention as he took a sip of his martini.
"I'm pregnant," Karen said sternly and assured.
Herb quickly looked up at Karen and coughed as he choked on his martini.
Everybody's eyes were on Karen as they waited for her to say more.
"I'm pregnant, I'm unmarried, I'm Karen Carpenter and I'm proud of it."
"Well Karen," Jerry says, "This really throws a wrench into the works. The media will be all over this once word gets out. They're going to blow this all out of proportion."
"What's there to blow out of proportion? I'm just pregnant, women get pregnant all the time," Karen smartly commented.
"Yes," Jerry says, "But these women aren't Karen Carpenter."
"Yeah well," Karen says, "Maybe I'm tired of being goody two shoed Karen Carpenter. Maybe it's time for me to be me. Maybe it's time I started living my life for me, and not for this big entity known as Carpenters. Maybe it's time for me to grow up. I'm 29 years old, I'm not that young inexperienced 19 year old anymore."
"yes, yes, we see Karen," Herb counsels, "We're here for you. Though, we're concerned. The media, so far, has been very good to you. And it's not by good luck. We've worked very hard to keep a good image for you. You're very well respected in the celebrity circle.
"Yes, that's it Herb," Karen says, "I'm very well respected. This does not have to be a bad thing."
"Karen, you're well respected because of us. A&M has carved out a good reputation for you."
"Excuse me Herb," Karen blurts out, "But, I think I have something to do with my reputation. This is so wrong."
"Forgive me Karen," Herb pleads, "I am so sorry. I'm just caught off gaurd. What I meant is the world is used to seeing Karen Carpenter in a certain light. People call you the "Voice of an Angel", they call you the Lead Sister. They have a certain image of who you should be."
"But, who they think I should be and who I am are two complete different people," Karen responds.
"I know, I know Karen," Herb continues talking, "We're only concerned about the media and paparazzi taking this and painting you as a bad person."
"Well Herb," Karen proclaims, "We need to take control of the media before the media takes control of us. I am going to go out there and make this announcement to the public myself. That way there will be no misunderstandings."
"It's easier said than done," Herb answers back.
"Well, I'm not going to just sit back and let the gossip mongers tear me apart," Karen said.
"You're right Karen," Jerry jumps back into the conversation, "We do need to control this."
"Yes, yes," Karen nods her head in agreement.
"Your timing is perfect," Jerry says, "With both your album and single on the verge of being #1 the added publicity can't hurt."
"Woah, wait," Karen says gesturing with her hand, "This is not a publicity stunt. This isn't about perfect timing. I'm not an object. And, I'm also not going to stoop to using the paparazzi and gossip columns to sell records. No way, not me. I will not cheapen myself that way. My records will sell for their artistry, not because of controversies contrived by the media. Something about that rings hollow. My music is not hollow and I refuse to go down those paths."
Karen pauses for a minute to catch her breath.
"I know I have a lot to say on this subject," Karen continues talking, "But there's a lot pent up inside of me right now. I've been going on this way for ten years. I'm not a product, I'm a real person. This has nothing to do with timing and everything to do with reality. I'm pregnant.