hr.thecarpetbaggers-第83章

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　15
　
　IRVING　FOLLOWED　DAVID　INTO　THE　LIVING　ROOM　AS　ROSA　BEGAN　TO　CLEAR　THE　DISHES。　〃I　never　saw　her　looking　so　good；〃　he　said；　stretching　out　in　a　chair　in　front　of　the　fire。
　David　nodded　absently。　〃Yeah。〃
　Irving　looked　at　him。　〃You　got　something　on　your　mind；　Davy？〃
　〃The　usual　things；〃　David　said　evasively。
　〃That　ain't　the　way　I　hear　it。〃
　Something　in　his　voice　made　David　tense。　〃What　do　you　hear？〃
　〃The　word　is　out　they're　giving　your　boy　the　squeeze；〃　Irving　said　in　a　low　voice。
　〃What　else　do　you　hear？〃
　〃The　new　crowd　wants　to　make　you　top　dog　if　you　throw　in　with　them；〃　Irving　said。　〃They're　also　saying　that　Bonner　has　sold　out　to　them　already。〃
　David　was　silent。　He　couldn't　believe　that　Jonas　didn't　know　about　what　was　happening。　But　it　was　possible。
　〃You　ain't　talking；　Davy；〃　Irving　said　quietly。　〃You　didn't　bring　me　out　here　for　nothing。〃
　〃How　did　you　find　out？〃
　Irving　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃We　got　stock；〃　he　said　casually。　〃Some　of　the　boys　called　up　and　told　me　that　their　brokers　were　contacted。　They　want　to　know　what　we　should　do。〃
　〃How　much　stock？〃
　〃Oh；　eighty；　ninety　thousand　shares　around　the　country。　We　figured　it　would　be　a　good　deal　the　way　you　were　running　things。〃
　〃Have　you…　〃　David　corrected　himself。　〃Have　the　boys　made　up　their　minds　yet　which　way　they're　going？〃　That　stock　could　be　important。　It　was　over　three　per　cent　of　the　two　and　a　half　million　shares　outstanding。
　〃No；　we're　pretty　conservative；〃　Irving　said。　〃We　like　to　go　where　the　money　is。　And　they　been　making　it　sound　real　pretty。　plete　financing；　doubling　the　profits；　maybe　even　splitting　the　stock　in　a　couple　of　years。〃
　David　nodded。　He　reached　for　a　cigarette　thoughtfully。　It　hung　in　his　lips　unlit。　Why　hadn't　Jonas　replied　to　his　messages？　Three　times　he'd　tried　to　locate　him　and　each　time　there　had　been　no　reply。　Surely　he　must　know　by　now。　The　last　place　he　checked　had　sent　word　that　Jonas　was　out　of　the　country。　If　that　was　true；　the　whole　thing　would　be　a　fait　acpli　by　the　time　he　returned。
　〃What　are　you　going　to　do；　Davy？〃　Irving　asked　softly。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　know　what　to　do。〃
　〃You　can't　ride　the　fence　much　longer；　chum；〃　Irving　said。　〃There's　no　way　on　earth　to　live　with　the　loser。〃
　〃I　know。〃　David　nodded。　He　finally　struck　a　match　and　held　it　to　his　cigarette。　〃But　it's　like　this。　I　know　Cord　doesn't　pay　much　attention　to　us；　maybe　sometimes　he　even　holds　us　back　a　little。　But　I　also　know　he　can　make　a　picture；　he's　got　a　real　feel　for　this　business。　That's　why　he　bought　in。　It's　not　just　all　cold　ass　like　it　is　with　Sheffield　and　the　others。　Plain　banker…and…broker　arithmetic　and　to　hell　with　everything　except　the　profit…and…loss　statement　and　balance　sheet。〃
　〃But　the　bankers　and　brokers　hold　all　the　cards；〃　Irving　said。　〃Only　a　fool　bucks　the　house。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　David　said　almost　savagely；　grinding　out　his　cigarette。
　Irving　was　silent　for　a　moment；　then　he　smiled。　〃Tell　you　what；　Davy。　I'll　get　all　our　proxies　together　and　deliver　'em　to　you。　When　you　decide　what's　best；　vote　'em　for　us。〃
　David　stared　at　him。　〃You'd　do　that？〃
　Irving　laughed。　〃The　way　I　see　it；　I　got　no　choice。　Didn't　you　haul　that　alky　for　us　from　Shocky's　garage？〃
　〃Here　es　the　coffee；〃　Rosa　announced；　carrying　in　a　tray。　〃Jesus！〃　Irving　exclaimed。　〃Lookit　that　choc'late　layer　cake。〃
　Rosa　laughed　in　a　pleased　voice。　〃I　baked　it　myself。〃
　
　Irving　leaned　back　against　the　couch。　〃Oh；　Doctor！〃　he　said；　looking　at　Rosa　and　rolling　his　eyes。
　〃Another　piece？〃
　〃I　had　three　already。　Another　and　you'll　have　to　do　a　plastic　job　on　my　stomach　to　get　me　back　in　shape。〃
　〃Better　have　some　more　coffee；　then；〃　she　said；　refilling　his　cup。　She　began　to　gather　up　the　cake　plates。
　〃I　meant　to　ask　you；　Davy；〃　Irving　said。　〃You　ever　hear　of　a　broad　named　Jennie　Denton？〃
　〃Jennie　Denton？〃　David　shook　his　head。　〃No。〃
　〃I　forgot；〃　Irving　said；　glancing　up　at　Rosa。　〃You　been　out　of　circulation。〃
　〃What　about　her？〃　Rosa　asked。　〃I　knew　a　Jennie　Denton。〃
　〃You　did？　Where　did　you　know　her；　Doc？〃
　〃At　the　hospital。　Four　years　ago　there　was　a　nurse　there　by　that　name。〃
　〃About　five　six；　dark　eyes；　long；　light…brown　hair；　good　figure　and　an　interesting　way　of　walking？〃
　Rosa　laughed。　〃Sexy；　you　mean？〃
　Irving　nodded。　〃Yeah；　that's　what　I　mean。〃
　〃Sounds　like　the　same　girl；〃　Rosa　said。
　〃What　about　her？〃　David　asked。
　〃Well；　Jennie　is　probably　the　most　expensive　hooker　in　L。A。　She　has　her　own　six…room　house　in　the　hills　and　you　want　to　see　her；　it's　by　appointment　only　and　you　go　there。　She　won't　walk　into　a　hotel　room。　She's　got　a　real　exclusive　list　and　you　want　a　date；　you　got　to　wait　maybe　two；　three　weeks。　She　only　works　a　five…day　week。〃
　〃If　you're　remending　her　to　my　husband；〃　Rosa　interrupted；　smiling；　〃you'd　better　stop　right　there。〃
　Irving　smiled。　〃Well；　it　seems　one　night；　earlier　this　week；　Maurice　Bonner　went　there　and　she　gave　him　the　full　treatment。　So；　nothing　will　do　the　next　day　but　he　has　Jennie　down　to　the　studio　for　a　screen　test。　He　shoots　her　in　color；　some　scenes　from　some　old　script　he's　got　laying　around。　While　he's　at　it；　he　decides　to　make　it　real　good。　He　dresses　her　in　a　white　silk　sheet。　It's　supposed　to　be　a　baptism　scene　and　when　she　es　up　out　of　the　water　in　the　big　tank　on　Stage　Twelve；　you　can　see　everything　she's　got。　In　two　days；　that　test　bees　the　biggest　picture　on　the　home　circuit。　Bonner's　got　more　requests　for　it　than　Selznick's　got　for　Gone　With　the　Wind！〃
　There　was　only　one　script　David　remembered　that　had　a　baptism　scene。　〃You　wouldn't　remember　the　name　of　the　script？〃　he　asked。　〃Was　it　The　Sinner？〃
　〃Could　be。〃
　〃If　it　was；　that's　the　script　Cord　had　written　especially　for　Rina　Marlowe　before　she　died。〃
　〃I　don't　care　who　it　was　written　for。〃　Irving　smiled。　〃You　gotta　see　that　test。　You'll　flip。　I　sat　through　it　twice。　And　so　did　everybody　else　in　the　projection　room。〃
　〃I'll　look　at　it　tomorrow；〃　David　said。
　〃I'd　like　to　see　it；　too。〃
　David　looked　at　Rosa。　He　smiled。　It　was　the　first　time　she'd　ever　expressed　any　interest　in　a　picture。　〃e　down　to　the　studio　at　ten　o'clock；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　both　look　at　it。〃
　〃If　I　didn't　have　an　important　meeting；〃　Irving　said；　〃I'd　be　down　there　myself。〃
　
　David　tied　the　sash　of　his　pajamas　and　sat　down　in　the　chair　near　the　window；　looking　out　at　the　ocean。
　He　could　hear　the　water　running　in　the　bathroom　basin　and　the　faint　sound　of　Rosa's　voice；　humming　as　she　rinsed　her　face。　He　sighed。　At　least；　she　could　be　happy　in　her　work。　A　doctor　didn't　have　to　survive　a　war　of　nerves　in　order　to　practice　medicine。
　The　door　clicked　open　behind　him　and　he　turned　around。　She　looked　at　him；　a　musing　expression　on　her　face；　as　she　stood　in　the　doorway。
　〃You　had　something　to　tell　me？〃　He　smiled。　〃Go　ahead。〃
　〃No；　David；〃　she　replied；　her　eyes　warm。　〃It's　a　wife's　duty　to　listen　when　her　lord　and　master　speaks。〃
　〃I　don't　feel　much　like　a　lord　and　master。〃
　〃Is　anything　wrong；　David？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said　and　began　to　tell　her　the　story；　beginning　with　his　meeting　with　Sheffield　the　night　she　had　called。　She　walked　over　to　him　and　put　her　arms　around　his　head；　drawing　him　to　her　bosom。　〃Poor　David；〃　she　whispered　sympathetically。　〃So　many　problems。〃
　He　turned　his　face　up　to　her。　〃I'll　have　to　make　a　decision　soon；〃　he　said。　〃What　do　you　think　I　ought　to　do？〃
　She　looked　down　at　him；　her　gray　eyes　glowing。　She　felt　strong　and　capable；　as　if　her　roots　were　deep　into　the　earth。　〃Whatever　decision　you　make；　David；〃　she　said；　〃I　feel　sure　will　be　the　right　one　for　us。〃
　〃For　us？〃
　She　smiled　slowly。　This　new…found　strength；　too；　was　what　it　meant　to　be　a　woman。　Her　voice　was　low　and　happy。
　〃We're　going　to　have　a　baby；〃　she　said。
　
　16
　
　THE　BRIGHT　SUNLIGHT　HURT　THEIR　EYES　AFTER　THE　DARK　OF　THE　SCREENING　ROOM。　They　walked　along　silently　toward　David's　office；　in　one　of　the　executive　cottages。
　〃What　are　you　thinking；　David？〃　she　asked　quietly。　〃That　test　make　you　sorry　you're　married？〃
　He　looked　at　her　and　laughed。　He　opened　the　door　to　his　cottage　and　they　went　past　his　secretary　into　his　private　office。　David　walked　around　behind　his　desk　and　sat　down。
　She　seated　herself　in　a　leather　chair　in　front　of　his　desk。　The　thoughtful　expression　was　still　on　his　face。　She　took　out　a　cigarette　and　lit　it。
　〃What　did　you　think　of　the　test？〃　he　asked。
　She　smiled。　〃Now　I　understand　why　she's　driving　all　the　men　crazy；〃　she　answered。　〃The　way　that　sheet　clung　to　her　when　she　came　out　of　the　water　was　the　most　suggestive　thing　I　ever　saw。〃
　〃Forget　that　scene。　If　it　weren't　in　the　test；　what　would　you　think　of　her？〃
　She　dragged　on　the　cigarette　and　the　smile　left　her　face。　〃I　thought　she　was　wonderful。　She　almost　tore　my　heart　out　in　that　scene　where　all　you　saw　was　Jesus'　feet　walking；　the　bottom　of　the　Cross　dragging　along　as　she　crawled　in　the　dirt　after　Him；　trying　to　kiss　His　feet。　I　found　myself　crying　with　her。〃　She　was　silent　for　a　moment。　〃Were　those　real　tears　or　make…up？〃
　David　stared　at　her。　〃They　were　real　tears；〃　he　said。　〃They　don't　use　make…up　tears　in　tests。〃
　He　felt　his　excitement　begin　to　hammer　inside　him。　In　her　own　way；　Rosa　had　given　him　the　answer。　He　hadn't　felt　like　this　since　he'd　first　seen　Rina　Marlowe　on　the　screen。　They'd　all　been　too　blinded　by　the　baptismal　scene　to　see　it。
　He　pulled　a　buck　slip　from　the　holder　on　his　desk　and　began　to　write　on　it。　Rosa　watched　him　for　a　moment；　then　walked　around　the　desk　and　looked　down　curiously　over　his　shoulder。　He　had　already　finished　his　scribbling　and　was　reaching　for　the　telephone。
　JONAS…
　I　THINK　IT'S　ABOUT　TIME　WE　GOT　BACK　INTO　THE　PICTURE　BUSINESS。　LET　ME　HEAR　FROM　YOU。
　DAVID
　〃Get　me　McAllister；　in　Reno；〃　David　said　into　the　telephone。　He　looked　up　at　Rosa　and　smiled。　She　smiled　back　and　returned　to　her　chair。
　〃Hello；　Mac；〃　David　said；　his　voice　firm　and　forceful。　〃Two　questions　you　can　answer　for　me。〃
　A　feeling　of　pride　began　to　run　through　her。　She　was　glad　she'd　e　down　to　the　studio。　This　was　a　facet　of　her　husband　she　had　never　known　before。
　〃First；〃　David　said　into　the　telephone；　〃can　I　sign　an　actress　to　a　contract　with　Cord　Explosives？　I　have　specific　reasons　for　not　wanting　to　sign　her　with　us。　Important　reasons。〃　David　relaxed　slightly。
　〃Good。　Next　question。　I　have　some　film　I　want　Jonas　to　see　right　away。　Can　you　get　it　to　him？〃
　He　waited　a　moment。　〃Can't　ask　for　anything　more　than　that。　I'll　have　the　film　at　your　L。A。　office　in　two　hours。　Thanks；　Mac。　Good…by。〃
　He　pressed　down　the　bar　on　the　telephone　and　raised　it　again。　〃Miss　Wilson；　get　me　Jess　Lee　in　printing　and　developing；　then　e　right　in　here。〃
　He　held　onto　the　telephone　and　reached　for　a　cigarette。　He　put　it　in　his　mouth。　She　leaned　across　the　desk　with　a　match。　He　drew　in　on　the　cigarette　and　smiled　at　her。
　〃Jess；〃　he　said；　as　the　door　opened　and　his　secretary　came　in。　〃I'm　shooting　down　a　buck　slip　to　you。　I　want　you　to　photograph　it　on　the　title　card　and　splice　it　onto　the　end　of　the　Jennie　Denton　test；　right　away。〃
　David　covered　the　mouthpiece　with　his　hand。　〃Take　that　buck　slip　down　to　Jess　Lee　yourself；〃　he　said　to　the　secretary；　indicati