merton of the movies-第20章
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The room was not crowded now。 Only a table here and there held late comers； and the choice of foods when he reached the serving counter at the back was limited。 He permitted himself to complain of this in a practised manner； but made a selection and bore his tray to the centre of the room。 He had chosen a table and was about to sit； when he detected Henshaw farther down the room； and promptly took the one next him。 It was probable that Henshaw would recall him and praise the work he had done。 But the director merely rolled unseeing eyes over him as he seated himself； and continued his speech to the man Merton had before seen him with； the grizzled dark man with the stubby gray mustache whom he called Governor。 Merton wondered if he could be the governor of California； but decided not。 Perhaps an ex… governor。
〃She's working out well；〃 he was saying。 〃I consider it one of the best continuities Belmore has done。 Not a line of smut in it； but to make up for that we'll have over thirty changes of costume。〃
Merton Gill coughed violently； then stared moodily at his plate of baked beans。 He hoped that this； at least； would recall him to Henshaw who might fix an eye on him to say： 〃And； by the way； here is a young actor that was of great help to me this morning。〃 But neither man even glanced up。 Seemingly this young actor could choke to death without exciting their notice。 He stared less moodily at the baked beans。 Henshaw would notice him sometime； and you couldn't do everything at once。
The men had finished their luncheon and were smoking。 The animated Henshaw continued his talk。 〃And about that other thing we were discussing； Governor； I want to go into that with you。 I tell you if we can do Robinson Crusoe； and do it right； a regular five…thousand… foot program feature； the thing ought to gross a million。 A good； clean； censor…proof picturegreat kid show； run forever。 Shipwreck stuff； loading the raft； island stuff； hut stuff； goats； finding the footprint； cannibals； the man Fridaycan't you see it？〃
The Governor seemed to see it。 〃Finethat's so！〃 He stared above the director's head for the space of two inhalations from his cigarette； imbuing Merton Gill with gratitude that he need not smoke again that day。 〃But say； look here； how about your love interest？〃
Henshaw waved this aside with his own cigarette and began to make marks on the back of an envelope。 〃Easy enoughBelmore can fix that up。 We talked over one or two ways。 How about having Friday's sister brought over with him to this island？ The cannibals are going to eat her； too。 Then the cannibals run to their canoes when they hear the gun； just the same as in the book。 And Crusoe rescues the two。 And when he cuts the girl's bonds he finds she can't be Friday's real sister； because she's whitesee what I mean？ Well； we work it out later that she's the daughter of an English Earl that was wrecked near the cannibal island； and they rescued her； and Friday's mother brought her up as her own child。 She's saved the papers that came ashore； and she has the Earl's coat…of…arms tattooed on her shoulder blade； and finally； after Crusoe has fallen in love with her； and she's remembered a good deal of her past； along comes the old Earl； her father； in a ship and rescues them all。 How about that？〃 Henshaw； brightly expectant； awaited the verdict of his chief。
〃 WellI don't know。〃 The other considered。 〃Where's your conflict； after the girl is saved from the savages？ And Crusoe in the book wears a long beard。 How about that？ He won't look like anything sort of hairy； and that's all。〃
Henshaw from the envelope on which he drew squares and oblongs appeared to gain fresh inspiration。 He looked up with new light in his eyes。 〃I got itgot the whole thing。 Modernize it。 This chap is a rich young New Yorker； cruising on his yacht； and he's wrecked on this island and gets a lot of stuff ashore and his valet is saved； toosay there's some good comedy； see what I mean？valet is one of these stiff English lads； never been wrecked on an island before and complains all the time about the lack of conveniences。 I can see a lot of good gags for him； having to milk the goats； and getting scared of the other animals； and no place to press his master's clothesthings like that； you know。 Well； the young fellow explores the island and finds another party that's been wrecked on the other side； and it's the girl and the man that got her father into his power and got all of his estate and is going to make beggars of them if the girl won't marry him； and she comes on the young fellow under some palms and they fall in love and fix it up to double…cross the villainBelmore can work it out from there。 How about that？ And say； we can use a lot of trims from that South Sea piece we did last year； all that yacht and island stuffsee what I mean？〃
The other considered profoundly。 〃Yes； you got a story there； but it won't be Robinson Crusoe； don't you see？〃
Again Henshaw glanced up from his envelope with the light of inspiration。 〃Well； how about this？ Call it Robinson Crusoe； Junior！ There you are。 We get the value of the name and do the story the way we want it； the young fellow being shaved every day by the valet； and he can invite the other party over to dine with him and receive them in evening dress and everything。 Can't you see it？ If that story wouldn't gross big then I don't know a story。 And all easy stuff。 We can use the trims for the long shots； and use that inlet； toward the other end of Catalina for the hut and the beach； sure… fire stuff； Governorand Robinson Crusoe； Junior is a cinch title。〃
〃Well； give Belmore as much dope as you've got； and see what he can work out。〃
They arose and stood by the counter to pay their checks。
〃If you want to see the rushes of that stuff we shot this morning be over to the projection room at five；〃 said Henshaw as they went out。 Neither had observed the rising young screen actor； Clifford Armytage； though he had coughed violently again as they left。 He had coughed most plausibly； moreover； because of the cigarettes。
At the cashier's window； no longer obstructed； he received his money； another five…dollar bill adorned with the cheerfully prosperous face of Benjamin Harrison and half that amount in silver coin。 Then； although loath to do this； he went to the dressing room and removed his make…up。 That grease paint had given him a world of confidence。
At the casting office he stopped to tell his friend of the day's camera triumph； how the director had seemed to single him out from a hundred or so revellers to portray facially the deadly effect of Broadway's night life。
〃Good work！〃 she applauded。 〃Before long you'll be having jobs oftener。 And don't forget； you're called again to…morrow morning for the gambling…house scene。〃
She was a funny woman； always afraid he would forget something he could not possibly forget。 Once more in the Patterson kitchen he pressed his suit and dreamt of new eminences in his chosen art。
The following morning he was again the first to reach the long dressing room； the first to be made up by the grumbling extra； the first to reach the big stage。 The cabaret of yesterday had overnight been transformed into a palatial gambling hell。 Along the sides of the room and at its centre were tables equipped for strange games of chance which only his picture knowledge enabled him to recognize。 He might tarry at these tables； he thought； but he must remember to look bored in the near presence of Henshaw。 The Spanish girl of yesterday appeared and he greeted her warmly。 〃I got some cigarettes this time；〃 he said； 〃so let me pay you back all those I smoked of yours yesterday。〃 Together they filled the golden case that hung from her girdle。
〃It's swell； all right；〃 said the girl； gazing about the vast room now filling with richly clad gamblers。
〃But I thought it was all over except the tenement…house scenes where Vera Vanderpool has gone to relieve the poor；〃 he said。
The girl explained。 〃This scene comes before the one we did yesterday。 It's where the rich old boy first sees Vera playing roulette； and she loses a lot of money and is going to leave her string of pearls； but he says it's a mere trifle and let him pay her gambling losses； so in a weak moment she does； and that's how he starts to get her into his power。 You'll see how it works out。 Say； they spent some money on this set； all right。〃
It was indeed a rich set； as the girl had said。 It seemed to Merton Gill that it would be called on the screen 〃One of those Plague Spots that Eat like a Cancer at the Heart of New York。〃 He lighted a cigarette and leaned nonchalantly against a pillar to smile a tired little smile at the pleasure…mad victims of this life who were now grouping around the roulette and faro tables。 He must try for his jaded look。
〃Some swell shack！〃 The speaker was back of him； but he knew her for the Montague girl； and was instantly enabled to increase the blighted look for which he had been trying。 〃One natty little hovel； I'll tell the world；〃 the girl continued。 〃Say； this puts it all over the Grand Central station； don't it？ Must be right smack at the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue。 Well； start the little ball rolling； so I can make a killing。〃 He turned his head slightly and saw her dance off to one of the roulette tables； accompanied by the middle…aged fop who had been her companion yesterday。
Henshaw and his assistant now appeared and began grouping the players at the various tables。 Merton Gill remained leaning wearily against his massive pillar； trying to appear blase under the chatter of the Spanish girl。 The groups were arranged to the liking of Henshaw； though only after many trials。 The roulette ball was twirled and the lively rattle of chips could be heard。 Scanning his scene； he noted Merton and his companion。
〃Oh； there you are； you two。 Sister； you go and stand back of that crowd around the faro table。 Keep craning to look over their shoulders； and give us your side view。 I want to use this man alone。 Here。〃 He led Merton to a round table on which were a deck of cards and some neatly stacked chips。 〃Sit here； facing the camera。 Keep one hand on the cards； sort of toying with 'em； see what I mean？〃
He scattered the piled chips loosely about the table； and called to a black waiter： 〃Here； George； put one of those wine glasses on his left。〃
The wine glass was placed。 〃Now kind of slump down in your chair； like you saw the hollowness of it allsee what I mean？〃
Merton Gill thought he saw。 He exhaled smoke； toyed contemptuously with the cards at his right hand and； with a gesture of repulsion； pushed the wine glass farther away。 He saw the hollowness of it all。 The spirit of wine sang in his glass but to deaf ears。 Chance could no longer entice him。 It might again have been suspected that cigarettes were ceasing to allure。
〃Good work！ Keep it up；〃 said Henshaw and went back to his cameras。
The lights jarred on； desperate gaming was filmed。 〃More life at the roulette tables；〃 megaphoned Henshaw。 〃Crowd closer around that left…hand faro table。 You're playing for big stakes。〃 The gaming became more feverish。 The mad light of pleasure was in every eye； yet one felt that the blight of Broadway was real。
The camera w
