By the third trip, my husband Fred was infuriated that I was going again, but I had meetings with the film industry in Warsaw, and a tour of some of the healthcare facilities in Gdansk that Barbara Cheney from the U.S. Embassy had set up for me. Besides, Marcia was still there, and I could meet up with her, so I wouldn’t be alone.
As I boarded the plane, I realized that Frank, the Greek was on the same flight, going back to Poland for the “Cause Credit Card Deal.” Interestingly enough, he did not even acknowledge my existence. He didn’t even nod at my “hello” when I walked past him on the plane. We even took the same shuttle to the Marriott, and he deliberately ignored me on that shuttle.
After I checked in, and was on my way up to my room, Frank was waiting for me in the hallway and grabbed my arm to pull me aside. He then looked me straight in the eye and very menacingly informed me that Studibert was not happy with my performance in Poland, and both he & Studibert didn’t want to have to do it, but if I continued working with Solidarity, Studibert would have to circulate a letter of denouncement of me. Frank then through my arm down and walked away.
I may be just a housewife, but I was being handled as a threat, and knew I was now on the “out’s” with the Freedom Foundation. My efforts would be jeopardized. I was panicking. Studibert was notorious for distributing damning letters about people that got in his way. I personally knew of 3 men who had worked closely with him at the White House, who had either crossed him, or found him out. Studibert would write scathing letters on White House stationary simply stating that the White House (always used 3rd person) did not endorse this person, nor did they recommend them, in fact, the person was considered to be disreputable. These letters would be mailed and faxed to every government agency and to every friend and co-worker the individual every had. Studibert essentially murdered people's careers and destroyed their lives with the power he had when at the White House. He was no longer at the White House, but he was still relying heavily on the fact that he used to be when Frank threatened me.
Frank had accomplished what he set out to do, that which Studibert was unable to do at the Polish Embassy party in D.C. I felt so alone, abandoned and afraid.
The anxiety of what Frank and Studibert could do to me, along with the jet-lag was playing on my emotions. I was terrified, but managed to get a grip and turned my terror into utter anger. I had some significant meetings I needed to follow through with, and I was more determined than ever to see where they would take me. I reminded myself that Studibert did not rule the world.
I went to my room, and immediately started calling. Martha was not in her room, but she had left a message for me that she was in fact in Gdansk at the Hell hotel. I spoke with Hannah, Kuba’s wife, and discovered that Kuba and Andrjez were in meetings in Warsaw, but would call me back later.
Andrzej did call me back as I was unpacking. He gave me the addresses, names, and itinerary for meeting with the key people at the sound studios in Warsaw. He told me they were anxious to meet me, as I had been recommended by Krakowski and Solidarity.
I inquired after Kuba and Basia. They were doing quite well. I asked Andrjez how he was doing, and he noted that he would be stuck in Warsaw for another day, but planned to be back in Gdansk the next. He had arranged for me to meet Lech Walesa there, but would have to take the early morning train to get there in time to introduce me to him. He had also arranged a meeting with a prominent Thoracic surgeon in Gdansk to discuss healthcare while I was there.
We carried on a friendly conversation for a couple of minutes, and it came out that he stayed with Kuba when he was in Warsaw for Solidarity. I then offered him my room for the next day and night, since I would be going on to Gdansk early the next morning, but since I would only be spending the day and one night there, I didn’t want to give up my hotel room. So I offered it to him, and he was thrilled! He had never stayed at the Marriott, and always wanted to. This was like Christmas for him, and he just gushed out thank-you’s all over the phone. I laughed, because for me, I hated staying in hotels – no matter how luxurious they were.
My mood was now changed. Hope was back in my heart, and the busy schedule, gave me purpose and reminded me of why I was there. What Frank was doing there, and what he planned to do to me in the future no longer mattered. Andrzej made me feel welcome, safe, and useful.
I left a message for Martha, giving her my itinerary and phone number, took a quick nap, and then headed out to the studios.
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