hr.thecarpetbaggers-第52章

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　〃Good　morning；　Louella；〃　she　said　in　a　sweet　voice。　〃No；　you　didn't　wake　me　up。　Nevada　and　I　were　just　having　breakfast。　。。。　Yes；　that's　right　…　The　Girl　on　the　Flying　Trapeze。　It's　a　wonderful　part。　。。。　No；　Norman　decided　against　borrowing　Gable　from　Metro。　He　says　there's　only　one　man　who　could　do　the　part　justice。　。。。　Of　course。　Nevada；　it's　a　natural　for　him。　Wait　a　minute；　I'll　put　him　on　and　let　him　tell　you　himself。〃
　She　covered　the　mouthpiece　with　her　hand。　〃It's　Parsons；〃　she　whispered　quickly。　〃Bernie　decided　yesterday　he　wanted　you　to　play　the　part　of　the　stunt…rider。　Louella's　checking　on　the　story。〃
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Nevada　asked　dryly。　''Wouldn't　MGM　lend　him　Gable？〃
　〃Don't　be　silly！　Get　on　the　phone。〃
　〃Hello；　Louella。〃
　The　familiar；　sticky…sweet　voice　chewed　at　his　ear。　〃Congratulations；　Nevada！　I　think　it's　just　wonderful　that　you're　to　play　opposite　your　lovely　wife　again！〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；　Louella。〃　He　laughed。　〃Not　so　fast。　I'm　not　making　the　picture。〃
　〃You're　not？〃　Another　Parsons　scoop　was　in　the　making。　〃Why？〃
　〃I've　already　agreed　to　go　out　on　the　road　with　my　Wild…West　show；〃　he　said；　〃And　that　will　keep　me　tied　up　for　at　least　six　months。　While　I'm　away；　Rina　will　look　for　another　house　for　us。　I　think　we'll　both　be　more　fortable　in　a　smaller　place。〃
　Her　voice　was　businesslike　now。　〃You're　selling　Hilltop？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃To　Thalberg？〃　she　questioned。　〃I　heard　he　was　interested。〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃Several　people　have　expressed　interest。〃
　〃You'll　let　me　know　the　moment　you　decide？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃There's　no　trouble　between　you　two？〃　she　asked　shrewdly。
　〃Louella！〃　He　laughed。　〃You　know　better　than　that。〃
　〃I'm　glad！　You're　both　such　nice　people；〃　she　said。　She　hesitated　a　moment。　〃Keep　in　touch　if　there's　any　news。〃
　〃I　will；　Louella。〃
　〃Good　luck　to　both　of　you！〃
　Nevada　put　down　the　telephone　and　looked　across　the　table。　He　hadn't　meant　for　it　to　e　out　this　way；　but　there　was　nothing　that　could　be　done　about　it　now。
　Rina's　face　was　white　with　anger。　〃You　could　have　told　me　about　it　before　you　told　the　whole　world！〃
　〃Who　had　the　chance？〃　he　retorted；　angry　despite　himself。　〃This　is　the　first　time　we've　talked　in　months。　Besides；　you　might　have　told　me　about　the　picture。〃
　〃Bernie　tried　to　get　you　all　day　yesterday　but　you　never　came　to　the　phone。〃
　〃That's　a　lot　of　crap；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　home　all　day　and　he　never　called。　Besides；　I　wouldn't　have　his　handouts　…　or　yours　either；　for　that　matter。〃
　〃Maybe　if　you　took　your　nose　out　of　that　damn　stable　once　in　a　while；　you'd　find　out　what　was　going　on。〃
　〃I　know　what's　going　on；〃　he　said　angrily。　〃You　don't　have　to　start　acting　like　a　movie　star。〃
　〃Oh；　what's　the　use？〃　she　said　bitterly。　〃What　did　you　ever　marry　me　for？〃
　〃Or　you　me？〃　he　asked；　with　equal　bitterness。
　As　they　stared　at　each　other；　the　truth　suddenly　came　to　both　of　them。　They　had　married　because　they　both　knew　they　had　lost　each　other　and　wanted　desperately　to　hold　onto　what　was　already　gone。　With　the　knowledge；　the　anger　dissipated　as　quickly　as　it　had　e。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said。
　She　looked　down　at　the　coffeepot。　〃I　am；　too。　I　told　you　I　was　a　spoiler；　that　I　wouldn't　be　any　good　for　you。〃
　〃Don't　be　silly；〃　he　said。　〃It　wasn't　your　fault。　It　would　have　happened；　anyway。　The　business　is　changing。〃
　〃I'm　not　talking　about　the　business；〃　Rina　answered。　〃I'm　talking　about　you　and　me。　You　should　have　married　someone　who　could　have　given　you　a　family。　I've　given　you　nothing。〃
　〃You　can't　take　all　the　blame。　We　both　tried　in　our　own　way　but　neither　of　us　had　what　the　other　really　needed。　We　just　made　a　mistake；　that's　all。〃
　〃I　won't　be　able　to　file　for　a　divorce　until　after　I　finish　this　next　picture；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃It's　all　right　with　me　if　you　want　to　file　before　then。〃
　〃No；　I　can　wait；〃　he　said　calmly。
　She　glanced　up　at　the　wall　clock。　〃My　God！　I'm　late！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I'll　have　to　hurry。〃
　At　the　door；　she　stopped　and　looked　back　at　him。　〃Are　you　still　my　friend？〃
　He　nodded　his　head　slowly　and　returned　her　smile；　but　his　voice　was　serious。　〃I'll　always　be　your　friend。〃
　She　stood　there　for　a　moment　and　he　could　see　the　sudden　rush　of　tears　to　her　eyes；　then　she　turned　and　ran　from　the　room。
　He　walked　over　to　the　window；　and　lifting　the　curtain；　looked　out　onto　the　front　drive。　He　saw　her　e　running　from　the　house；　saw　the　chauffeur　close　the　door。　The　car　disappeared　down　the　hill　on　its　way　to　the　studio。　He　let　the　curtain　fall　back　into　place。
　Rina　never　came　back　to　the　house。　She　stayed　that　night　at　Ilene's　apartment。　The　next　day；　she　moved　into　a　hotel　and　three　months　later　filed　for　divorce　in　Reno。　The　grounds　were　inpatibility。
　And　that；　except　for　the　legalities；　was　the　way　it　ended。
　
　17
　
　DAVID　HEARD　THE　VIOLENT　SLAM　OF　THE　DOOR　IN　HIS　UNCLE'S　OFFICE。　He　got　to　his　feet　quickly　and　walked　to　the　connecting　door。　He　opened　it　and　found　his　uncle　Bernie　seated　in　his　chair；　red　faced　and　angry；　gasping　for　breath。　He　was　trying　to　shake　some　pills　out　of　the　inverted　bottle　in　his　hand。
　David　quickly　filled　a　glass　with　water　from　the　carafe　on　the　desk　and　handed　it　to　Norman。　〃What　happened？〃
　Norman　swallowed　the　two　pills　and　put　down　the　glass。　He　looked　up　at　David。　〃Why　didn't　I　go　into　the　cloak…and…suit　business　with　my　brother；　your　uncle　Louie？〃
　David　knew　no　answer　was　expected；　so　he　waited　patiently　until　Norman　continued。　〃Fifty；　a　hundred　suits　they　make　a　day。　Everything　is　calm；　everything　is　quiet。　At　night；　he　goes　home。　He　eats。　He　sleeps。　No　worries。　No　ulcers。　No　aggravations。　That's　the　way　a　man　should　live。　Easy。　Not　like　a　dog。　Not　like　me。〃
　David　asked　again；　〃What　happened？〃
　〃As　if　I　haven't　got　enough　troubles；〃　Norman　plained；　〃our　stockholders　say　we're　losing　too　much　money。　I　run　to　New　York　to　explain。　The　union　threatens　to　strike　the　theaters。　I　sit　down　and　work　out　a　deal　that　at　least　they　don't　close　the　theaters。　Then　I　get　word　from　Europe　that　Hitler　took　over　all　our　German　properties；　offices；　theaters；　everything！　More　than　two　million　dollars　the　anti…semiten　stole。　Then　I　get　a　plaint　from　the　underwriters　and　bankers；　the　pictures　ain't　got　no　prestige。　So　I　buy　the　biggest；　most　artistic　hit　on　Broadway。　Sunspots　the　name　of　it　is。　It's　so　artistic；　even　I　don't　understand　what　it's　all　about。
　〃Now　I'm　stuck　with　an　artistic　bomb。　I　talk　to　all　the　directors　in　Hollywood　about　it。　I'm　not　so　dumb　altogether　that　it　don't　take　me　long　to　find　out　they　don't　understand　it　neither；　so　I　hire　the　director　who　did　the　play　on　the　stage；　Claude　Dunbar；　a　faigele　if　I　ever　saw　one。　But　fifty　thousand　he　gets。
　〃A　hundred　and　fifty　I'm　in　already　and　no　box　office。　So　I　call　up　Louie　and　say　lend　me　Garbo。　He　laughs　in　my　face。　You　ain't　got　enough　money；　he　says。　Besides；　we　got　her　in　prestige　of　our　own。　Anna　Christie　by　Eugene　O'Neill　she's　making。　Good…by；　I　says　and　call　up　Jack　Warner。　How　about　Bette　Davis？　Wait　a　minute；　he　says。　I　sit　on　the　phone　ten　minutes。
　〃The　pisher　thinks　I　don't　know　what　he's　doin'？　He's　calling　his　brother　Harry　in　New　York；　that's　what　he's　doin'。　Here　I　am；　sitting　on　long　distance　in　New　York　with　the　charges　running　up　by　the　minute　and　he's　calling　back　his　brother　Harry；　who　is　two　blocks　away　from　where　I'm　sitting。　Hang　up　the　phone；　I　feel　like　telling　him。　I　can　call　your　brother　for　only　a　nickel。
　〃Finally；　Jack　gets　back　on　the　phone　to　me　ninety…five　dollars　later。　You're　lucky；　he　says。　We　ain't　got　her　penciled　in　for　nothing　until　September。　You　can　have　her　for　a　hundred　and　fifty　grand。　For　a　hundred　and　fifty；　don't　do　me　no　favors；　I　tell　him。　The　most　she's　gettin'　is　thirty；　thirty…five　a　picture；　maybe　not　even　that。
　〃How　much　you　want　to　pay？　he　asks。　Fifty；　I　says。　Forget　it；　he　says。　O。K。；　then；　seventy…five；　I　says。　One　and　a　quarter；　he　says。　One　even　and　it's　a　deal；　I　says。　It's　a　deal；　he　says。　I　hang　up　the　telephone。　A　hundred　and　thirty…five　dollars　the　call　costs　me　to　talk　two　minutes。
　〃So　I　go　back　to　Wall　Street　and　tell　the　underwriters　and　bankers　we　now　got　prestige。　This　picture　is　goin'　to　be　so　artistic；　we'll　be　lucky　if　we　get　anybody　into　the　theater。　They're　very　happy　and　congratulate　me　and　I　get　on　the　train　and　e　back　to　Hollywood。〃
　Bernie　ran　out　of　breath　suddenly　and　picked　up　the　glass　of　water　again　and　drained　it。　〃Ain't　that　enough　trouble　for　anyone？〃
　David　nodded。
　〃So　enough　troubles　I　got　when　I　walk　into　my　office　this　morning；　you　agree？　So　who　do　I　find　waiting　but　Rina　Marlowe；　that　courveh。　'Rina；　darling；'　I　say　to　her；　'you　look　positively　gorgeous　this　morning。'　Do　I　even　get　a　hello？　No！　She　shoves　the　Reporter　under　my　nose　and　says；　'What's　this？　Is　it　true？'
　〃I　look　down　and　see　the　story　about　Davis　in　Sunspots。　'What　are　you　getting　so　excited　about；　darling？'　I　say。　'That's　not　for　you；　a　bomb　like　that。　I　got　a　part　for　you　that　will　kill　the　people。　Scheherazade。　Costumes　like　you　never　in　your　life　saw　before。'　And　you　know　what　she　says　to　me？〃　He　shook　his　head　sadly。
　〃What？〃　David　asked。
　〃After　all　I　done　for　her；　the　way　she　spoke　to　me！〃　his　uncle　said　in　a　hurt　voice。　〃　'Take　your　hand　off　my　tits；'　she　says；　'and　furthermore；　if　I　don't　get　that　part；　you　can　shove　Scheherazade　up　your　fat　ass！'　Then　she　walks　out　the　door。　How　do　you　like　that？〃　Norman　asked　in　an　aggrieved　voice。　〃All　I　was　trying　to　do　was　calm　her　down　a　little。　Practically　everybody　in　Hollywood　she　fucks　but　me　she　talks　to　like　that！〃
　David　nodded。　He'd　heard　the　stories　about　her；　too。　In　the　year　since　she　had　broken　up　with　Nevada；　she　seemed　to　have　gone　suddenly　wild。　The　parties　out　at　her　new　place　in　Beverly　Hills　were　said　to　be　orgies。　There　was　even　talk　about　her　and　Ilene　Gaillard；　the　costume　designer。　But　as　long　as　nothing　got　into　print；　they'd　looked　the　other　way。　What　she　did　was　her　own　business　as　long　as　it　didn't　affect　them。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃
　〃What　can　I　do　about　it？〃　Bernie　asked。　〃Give　her　the　part。　If　she　walked　out　on　us；　we'd　lose　twice　as　much　as　we're　losing　right　now。〃
　He　reached　for　a　cigar。　〃I'll　call　her　this　afternoon　and　tell　her。〃　He　stopped　in　the　midst　of　lighting　it。　〃No；　I　got　a　better　idea。　You　go　out　to　her　place　this　afternoon　and　tell　her。　I'm　damned　if　I'll　let　her　make　it　look　like　I'm　kissing　her　ass。〃
　〃O。K。；〃　David　said。　He　started　back　toward　his　own　office。
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　his　uncle　called　after　him。
　David　turned　around。
　〃You　know　who　I　ran　into　in　the　Waldorf　my　last　night　in　New　York？〃　Bernie　asked。　〃Your　friend。〃
　〃My　friend？〃
　〃Yes；　you　know　who。　The　crazy　one。　The　flier。　Jonas　Cord。〃
　〃Oh；〃　David　said。　He　liked　the　way　his　uncle　put　it；　reminding　him　of　the　earlier　conversation　they　had　had　about　Cord　some　years　ago。　He　and　Cord　had　never　exchanged　so　much　as　a　word。　He　even　doubted　if　Cord　knew　he　was　alive。　〃How　did　he　look？〃
　〃The　same；〃　his　uncle　replied。　〃Like　a　bum。　Wearing　sneakers　and　no　tie。　I　don't　know　how　he　gets　away　with　it。　Anybody　else　they　would　throw　out；　but　him？　Shows　you　there's　nothing　like　goyishe　money。〃
　〃You　talk　to　him？〃　David　asked　curiously。
　〃