hr.thecarpetbaggers-第107章

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　〃I　hear　David's　going　up　for　his　physical　soon；〃　Pierce　said。
　〃Any　day　now；　the　jerk。　He　could　easily　get　a　deferment。　Married；　with　a　baby；　especially　now　the　industry's　got　an　essential　rating。　But　he　won't　ask　for　it。〃　He　looked　across　the　table　at　Pierce。　〃Even　Nevada's　taking　his　Wild…West　show　out　on　the　road　to　work　for　free　on　the　War　Bond　drives。〃
　〃It　just　proves　that　there　are　still　some　people　around　who　think　the　world　is　flat；〃　Dan　said。　He　signaled　the　waiter　for　another　round　of　drinks。　〃All　those　guys。　I　practically　started　them　in　the　business。　Today　they　all　got　it　made　and　where　am　I？　Still　trying　to　make　a　deal。〃
　Bonner　looked　at　him。　He　didn't　feel　sorry　for　Pierce。　Dan　was　still　one　of　the　most　successful　agents　in　Hollywood。　〃Yeah；〃　he　said　sarcastically。　〃My　heart　bleeds　for　you。　I　already　heard　the　story　of　your　life；　Dan。　That　isn't　why　I　came　to　lunch。〃
　Dan　was　a　sharp　enough　agent　to　know　he　was　in　danger　of　losing　his　audience。　He　turned　off　the　plaints　and　lowered　his　voice　to　a　confidential　tone。　〃You　read　the　script？〃
　Bonner　picked　the　script　up　from　the　seat　beside　him　and　placed　it　on　the　table。　〃I　read　it。〃
　〃Great；　isn't　it？〃　Pierce　asked；　the　selling　enthusiasm　beginning　to　creep　into　his　voice。
　〃It's　good。〃　Bonner　nodded　his　head　pedantically。　〃Needs　a　lot　of　work；　though。〃
　〃What　script　doesn't？〃　Pierce　asked　with　a　smile。　He　leaned　forward。　〃Now；　the　way　I　see　it；　this　script　needs　a　strong　producer　like　you。　Wanger；　over　at　Universal；　is　nuts　about　it。　So　is　Zimbalist；　over　at　Metro。　But　I　can't　see　it　for　them。　They　just　ain't　got　the　feel　and　showmanship　you　got。〃
　〃Let's　skip　the　bullshit；　Dan。　We　both　know　the　script　is　good　only　if　we　can　get　a　certain　girl　to　play　in　it。　And　we　both　know　who　that　is。〃
　〃Denton；〃　Pierce　said　quickly。　〃That's　my　thinking；　too。　That's　why　I　brought　it　to　you。　She's　under　contract　to　your　studio。〃
　〃But　Jonas　has　the　final　say　on　what　pictures　she　makes。　And　he's　turned　thumbs　down　on　some　pretty　good　ones。〃
　〃What's　he　trying　to　do？〃　Pierce　asked。　〃Hide　her　away　in　a　closet　and　keep　her　for　himself？　You　can't　do　that　to　a　star。　Sooner　or　later；　she　busts　out。〃
　Bonner　shrugged。　〃You　know　Jonas。　Nobody　asks　why。〃
　〃Maybe　he'll　like　the　script。〃
　〃Even　if　he　did；〃　Bonner　said；　〃once　he　sees　you're　the　agent；　the　whole　deal　goes　out　the　window。〃
　〃What　if　the　girl　puts　the　pressure　on　and　says　she's　got　to　do　it？〃
　Bonner　shrugged。　〃Your　guess　is　as　good　as　mine。　But　I'm　not　going　to　give　it　to　her。　I'm　not　getting　into　trouble　over　any　script。　No　matter　how　good　it　is；　there's　always　another。〃
　Pierce　stared　at　him；　his　fleshy　lips　tightening　grimly。　〃I　got　an　idea　we　can　make　her　see　it　our　way；〃　he　said。　〃I　got　my　hands　on…　〃
　Bonner　stopped　him。　〃Don't　tell　me。　If　it　happens；　let　it　e　as　a　pleasant　surprise。　I　don't　want　to　know　anything　about　it。〃
　Pierce　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　relaxed　back　into　his　seat。　He　picked　up　the　menu。　〃O。K。；　Maurice；〃　he　said；　smiling。　〃What　you　going　to　eat？〃
　
　The　mail　was　on　the　small　desk　in　the　living　room　when　Jennie　got　back　from　the　studio。　She　walked　over　to　the　desk　and　sat　down。　〃We'll　have　dinner　about　eight　thirty；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　to　take　a　bath　and　rest　up　first。〃
　〃Sí；　se？orita；〃　Maria　answered　and　waddled　away。
　Jennie　looked　at　the　mail。　There　were　two　envelopes；　one　large　manila　one；　which　from　experience　she　guessed　contained　a　script；　and　a　letter。　She　opened　the　letter　first。　The　letterhead　across　the　top　read：　St。　Mary's　College　of　Nursing。　Her　eyes　flicked　down　the　page。　It　was　in　Sister　M。　Christopher's　precise　script。
　
　DEAR　JENNIE；
　This　is　just　a　short　note　to　express　the　appreciation　of　the　students　and　the　staff　of　St。　Mary's　College　for　the　special　screening　of　your　picture　which　you　were　kind　enough　to　arrange　for　us。
　The　Reverend　Mother　and　the　sisters；　including　myself；　were　all　most　impressed　by　the　moving　expression　of　the　faith　and　love　for　our　Saviour；　Jesus　Christ；　that　you　brought　to　your　interpretation　of　what　must　have　been　a　most　exacting　and　difficult　portrayal。　It　is　unfortunate　indeed　that　the　makers　of　the　motion　picture　thought　it　necessary　to　include　certain　scenes　which　we　felt　could　very　easily　have　been　omitted　without　impairment　to　the　story　of　the　Magdalen。　But　on　the　whole；　we　were　extremely　pleased　that　in　these　troubled　times；　so　noble　a　demonstration　of　the　Redeeming　Grace　to　be　found　in　the　Love　of　Our　Lord　is　available　for　all　to　see。
　Now　I　must　close　for　I　am　soon　due　in　Surgery。　Since　the　war；　all　of　us　in　the　school；　and　in　the　hospital；　are　working　double　shifts　due　to　the　shortages　of　help。　But　with　Our　Lord's　Grace；　we　shall　redouble　our　poor　efforts　to　extend　His　Mercy。
　The　Reverend　Mother　extends　to　you　Her　Most　Gracious　blessing　and　prays　that　you　may　continue　to　find　success　and　happiness　in　your　new　career。
　 Sincerely　yours　in　J。　C。；
　 SISTER　M。　CHRISTOPHER
　
　A　vision　of　the　sister's　austere；　observant　face　flashed　through　her　mind；　together　with　a　twinge　of　nostalgia　for　the　years　she　had　spent　at　the　college。　Somehow；　it　seemed　such　a　long　time　ago。　It　was　as　if　she　were　a　pletely　different　person　from　the　wide…eyed；　nervous　girl　who　first　appeared　in　the　Reverend　Mother's　office。
　She　remembered　the　quiet　hours　of　study　and　the　long　hours　of　training　and　the　exhausting　hours　of　sheer　drudgery　in　the　hospital。　There　had　been　times　when　she'd　cry　out　of　sheer　frustration　at　her　inability　to　learn　all　that　was　taught　her。　It　was　during　those　moments　that　the　mask　of　austerity　would　disappear　from　the　sister's　face　and　she　would　place　her　hand　fortingly　on　the　girl's　shoulder。　〃Work　hard　and　pray　hard；　Jennie；〃　she'd　say　gently；　〃and　you　will　learn。　You　have　the　true　gift　of　healing　within　you。〃
　And　she　would　feel　forted　and　her　strength　would　be　renewed　as　she　saw　how　unsparingly　the　sister　gave　of　herself　to　all；　both　patients　and　students。　It　seemed　that　no　matter　what　hour　of　the　day　or　night　Jennie　was　on　duty；　Sister　Christopher　was　always　nearby。
　Jennie　reached　for　a　cigarette。　All　of　them　must　be　working　terribly　hard　if　the　sister　mentioned　it　in　a　letter。　Sister　Christopher　was　never　given　to　make　much　of　her　own　efforts。　A　feeling　of　uselessness　swept　through　Jennie　as　she　thought　of　the　paratively　easy　life　she　led。　She　looked　down　at　her　strong；　lean　hands。　She　did　so　little　with　them　now。　The　knowledge　that　was　in　them　seemed　to　tingle　in　her　fingertips。　There　must　be　something　she　could　do　to　help　the　sisters。
　There　was。　She　reached　for　the　telephone　at　the　same　time　she　had　the　idea　and　dialed　quickly。　〃Rosa？　This　is　Jennie。〃
　〃How　are　you；　Jennie？　David　told　me　how　you　almost　broke　up　the　United　States　Army　with　the　Hope　show。〃
　Jennie　laughed。　〃The　poor　kids　have　been　away　from　women　too　long。〃
　〃Don't　hand　me　that。　The　trade　papers　said　you　were　great。〃
　〃Don't　tell　me　David's　got　you　reading　them？〃
　〃Sure　thing；〃　Rosa　said。　〃Isn't　that　what　every　wife　in　the　business　does？　It's　the　only　way　they　can　keep　track　of　what　their　husbands　are　doing。〃
　〃How's　little　Bernie？〃
　〃Why　don't　you　e　over　for　dinner　one　night　and　see　for　yourself？　It's　been　a　long　time。〃
　〃I　will。　Soon。〃
　〃Do　you　want　to　talk　to　David？〃
　〃If　he's　there；〃　Jennie　said　politely。
　〃Good…by；　dear；〃　Rosa　said；　〃and　dinner　real　soon？　Here's　David。〃
　〃How's　the　pride　and　joy　of　the　Norman　lot？〃
　〃Fine。　I'm　sorry　to　disturb　you　at　home；　David；　but　I　had　a　little　problem　I　thought　you　could　advise　me　on。〃
　His　voice　became　serious。　〃Shoot。〃
　She　cleared　her　throat。　〃I　went　to　St。　Mary's　College　of　Nursing　on　a　scholarship　and　I　was　wondering　if　I　could　arrange　with　the　studio　to　take　something　out　of　my　pay　check　each　week　and　send　it　to　them　the　way　they　do　with　the　Motion　Picture　Relief　Fund。　It　would　be　sort　of　paying　them　back　a　little　for　all　they　did　for　me。〃
　〃That's　easy。〃　David　laughed；　a　kind　of　relief　in　his　voice。　〃Just　send　a　note　to　my　office　tomorrow　morning　telling　me　how　much　you　want　taken　off　and　we'll　do　the　rest。　Anything　else？〃
　〃No；　that's　all。〃
　〃Good。　Now；　you　e　to　dinner　like　Rosa　said。〃
　〃I　will；　David。　Good…by。〃
　She　put　down　the　telephone　and　looked　at　the　letter　again。　She　began　to　feel　better。　At　least；　even　if　she　couldn't　be　there　herself　to　help；　her　money　would　do　some　good。　She　put　down　the　letter　and　picking　up　the　manila　envelope；　ripped　it　open。　She　had　been　right。　It　was　a　script；　a　long　one。
　Curiously　she　read　the　title　on　the　blue　cover。　Aphrodite；　a　screenplay　based　on　a　novel　by　Pierre　Louys。　She　opened　the　script　to　the　first　page　and　a　note　fell　out。　It　was　brief　and　to　the　point。
　
　DEAR　MISS　DENTON：
　It　has　been　a　long　time　since　you　made　a　motion　picture　and　I　believe　you　were　wise　to　wait　for　the　proper　script　with　which　to　follow　up　your　tremendous　success　in　The　Sinner。
　Aphrodite；　I　believe；　is　that　script。　It　is　the　one　property　I　have　seen　that　has　the　scope　and　the　quality　to　add　luster　to　your　career。　I　shall　be　most　interested　in　your　reaction。
　 Sincerely；
　 DAN　PIERCE
　
　She　folded　the　letter　and　put　it　back　in　the　script。　That　Dan　Pierce　was　a　cutie。　He　knew　better　than　to　submit　the　script　to　the　studio　in　the　usual　manner。　She　picked　up　the　script　and　started　upstairs　to　her　room。　She　would　read　it　in　bed　after　dinner。
　
　14
　
　DEAR　MR。　PIERCE：
　Thank　you　for　sending　me　the　enclosed　script　of　Aphrodite；　which　I　am　returning。　It　is　a　most　interesting　screenplay。　However；　it　is　not　one　that　I　should　particularly　care　to　do。
　 JENNIE　DENTON
　
　She　wondered　whether　she　had　been　right　in　so　summarily　dismissing　the　script。　She　had　mixed　feelings　about　it。　At　night；　in　bed；　reading　it　for　the　first　time；　she　could　not　put　it　down。　There　was　a　fascination　about　the　story　that　brought　to　her　mind　Standhurst's　description　of　the　courtesan　who　helped　rule　the　world。　The　screenplay　seemed　to　capture　the　sensual　imagery　and　poetry　of　the　original　work　and　yet　bring　it　all　within　the　limitations　and　confines　of　the　Motion　Picture　Code。　Yet；　the　more　she　read；　the　less　enthusiastic　she　became。
　There　was　not　one　single　line　or　scene　that　could　be　found　objectionable。　On　the　surface。　Yet；　beneath　the　surface；　there　was　an　acute　awareness　of　the　erotic　byplay　that　would　subtly　work　on　an　audience's　subconscious。　By　the　time　she　reached　the　end　of　the　screenplay；　she　felt　this　was　the　writer's　only　purpose。
　She　fell　asleep；　oddly　disturbed；　and　awoke　still　disturbed。　At　the　studio；　the　next　morning；　she'd　sent　to　the　library　for　a　copy　of　the　original　novel；　then　spent　all　of　that　day　and　part　of　the　next　reading　it。　After　that；　she　again　read　the　screenplay。　It　was　not　until　then　that　she　realized　how　boldly　the　beauty　and　purpose　of　the　story　had　been　distorted。
　Still；　there　was　no　doubt　in　her　mind　that　it　could　be　made　into　a　great　motion　picture。　And　even　less　doubt　that　the　actress　who　played　Aphrodite　would　bee　the　most　talked　about　and　important　actress　of　that　season。　The　Aphrodite　of　the　script　was　truly　the　goddess　and　woman　who　was　all　things　to　all　men。
　But　that　was　not　enough。　For；　nowhere　in　the　screenplay　could　she　find　the　soul　of　Aphrodite；　t