merton of the movies-第39章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


m。〃

　Late　that　day　in　the　projection　room　Baird　and　the　Montague　girl　watched　the　〃rush〃　of　that　morning's　episode。

〃The　squirrel's　done　it；〃　whispered　the　girl　after　the　opening　scene。　It　seemed　to　her　that　Merton　Gill　on　the　screen　might　overhear　her　comment。

Even　Baird　was　low…toned。　〃Looks　so；〃　he　agreed。

〃If　that　ain't　Parmalee　then　I'll　eat　all　the　hard…boiled　eggs　on　the　lot。〃

Baird　rubbed　his　hands。　〃It's　Parmalee　plus；〃　he　corrected。

〃Oh；　Mother；　Mother！〃　murmured　the　girl　while　the　screen　revealed　the　actor　studying　his　photographs。

〃He　handled　all　right　in　that　spot；〃　observed　Baird。

〃He'll　handle　rightdon't　worry。　Ain't　I　told　you　he's　a　natural　born　trouper？〃

The　mail　was　abandoned　in　humorous　despair。　The　cigarette　lighted　in　a　flawless　Parmalee　manner；　the　smoke　idly　brushed　aside。　〃Poor；　silly　little　girls；〃　the　actor　was　seen　to　say。　The　girl　gripped　Baird's　arm　until　he　winced。　〃There；　old　Pippin！　There's　your　million；　picked　right　up　on　the　lot！〃

〃Maybe；〃　assented　the　cooler　Baird；　as　they　left　the　projection　room。

〃And　say；〃　asked　the　girl；　〃did　you　notice　all　morning　how　he　didn't　even　bat　an　eye　when　you　spoke　to　him；　if　the　camera　was　still　turning？　Not　like　a　beginner　that'll　nearly　always　look　up　and　get　out　of　the　picture。〃

〃What　I　bet；〃　observed　Baird；　〃I　bet　he'd　'a'　done　that　album　stuff　even　better　than　he　did　if　I'd　actually　put　his　own　pictures　in；　the　way　I'm　going　to　for　the　close…ups。　I　was　afraid　he'd　see　it　was　kidding　if　I　did；　or　if　I　told　him　what　pictures　they　were　going　to　be。　But　I'm　darned　now　if　I　don't　think　he'd　have　stood　for　it。　I　don't　believe　you'll　ever　be　able　to　peeve　that　boy　by　telling　him　he's　good。〃

The　girl　glanced　up　defensively　as　they　walked。

〃Now　don't　get　the　idea　he's　conceited；　because　he　ain't。　Not　one　bit。〃

〃How　do　you　know　he　ain't？〃

She　considered　this；　then　explained　brightly；　〃Because　I　wouldn't　like　him　if　he　was。　No；　nonow　you　listen　here〃　as　Baird　had　grinned。　〃This　lad　believes　in　himself；　that's　all。　That's　different　from　conceit。　You　can　believe　a　whole　lot　in　yourself；　and　still　be　as　modest　as　a　newhatched　chicken。　That's　what　he　reminds　me　of；　too。〃

　The　following　morning　Baird　halted　him　outside　the　set　on　which　he　would　work　that　day。　Again　he　had　been　made　up　by　the　Montague　girl；　with　especial　attention　to　the　eyebrows　so　that　they　might　show　the　Parmalee　lift。

〃I　just　want　to　give　you　the　general　dope　of　the　piece　before　you　go　on；〃　said　Baird；　in　the　shelter　of　high　canvas　backing。　〃You're　the　only　son　of　a　widowed　mother　and　both　you　and　she　are　toiling　to　pay　off　the　mortgage　on　the　little　home。　You're　the　cashier　of　this　business　establishment；　and　in　love　with　the　proprietor's　daughter；　only　she's　a　society　girl　and　kind　of　looks　down　on　you　at　first。　Then；　there's　her　brother；　the　proprietor's　only　son。　He's　the　clerk　in　this　place。　He　doesn't　want　to　work；　but　his　father　has　made　him　learn　the　business；　see？　He's　kind　of　a　no…good；　dissipated；　wears　flashy　clothes　and　plays　the　races　and　shoots　craps　and　drinks。　You　try　to　reform　him　because　he's　idolized　by　his　sister　that　you're　in　love　with。

〃But　you　can't　do　a　thing　with　him。　He　keeps　on　and　gets　in　with　a　rough　crowd；　and　finally　he　steals　a　lot　of　money　out　of　the　safe；　and　just　when　they　are　about　to　discover　that　he's　the　thief　you　see　it　would　break　his　sister's　heart　so　you　take　the　crime　on　your　own　shoulders。　After　that；　just　before　you're　going　to　be　arrested；　you　make　a　getawaybecause；　after　all；　you're　not　guiltyand　you　go　out　West　to　start　all　over　again〃

〃Out　there　in　the　big　open　spaces？〃　suggested　Merton；　who　had　listened　attentively。

〃Exactly；〃　assented　Baird；　with　one　of　those　nervous　spasms　that　would　now　and　again　twitch　his　lips　and　chin。　〃Out　there　in　the　big　open　spaces　where　men　are　menthat's　the　idea。　And　you　build　up　a　little　gray　home　in　the　West　for　yourself　and　your　poor　old　mother　who　never　lost　faith　in　you。　There'll　be　a　lot　of　good　Western　stuff　in　thisBuck　Benson　stuff；　you　know；　that　you　can　do　so　welland　the　girl　will　get　out　there　some　way　and　tell　you　that　her　brother　finally　confessed　his　crime；　and　everything'll　be　Jake；　see　what　I　mean？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　it　sounds　fine；　Mr。　Baird。　And　I　certainly　will　give　the　best　that　is　in　me　to　this　part。〃　He　had　an　impulse　to　tell　the　manager；　too；　how　gratified　he　was　that　one　who　had　been　content　with　the　low　humour　of　the　Buckeye　comedies　should　at　last　have　been　won　over　to　the　better　form　of　photodrama。　But　Baird　was　leading　him　on　to　the　set；　there　was　no　time　for　this　congratulatory　episode。

Indeed　the　impulse　was　swept　from　his　mind　in　the　novelty　of　the　set　now　exposed；　and　in　the　thought　that　his　personality　was　to　dominate　it。　The　scene　of　the　little　drama's　unfolding　was　a　delicatessen　shop。　Counters　and　shelves　were　arrayed　with　cooked　foods；　salads；　cheeses；　the　latter　under　glass　or　wire　protectors。　At　the　back　was　a　cashier's　desk；　an　open　safe　beside　it。　He　took　his　place　there　at　Baird's　direction　and　began　to　write　in　a　ledger。

〃Now　your　old　mother's　coming　to　mop　up　the　place；〃　called　Baird。　〃Come　on；　Mother！　You　look　up　and　see　her；　and　rush　over　to　her。　She　puts　down　her　bucket　and　mop；　and　takes　you　in　her　arms。　She's　weeping；　you　try　to　comfort　her；　you　want　her　to　give　up　mopping；　and　tell　her　you　can　make　enough　to　support　two；　but　she　won't　listen　because　there's　the　mortgage　on　the　little　flat　to　be　paid　off。　So　you　go　back　to　the　desk；　stopping　to　give　her　a　sad　look　as　she　gets　down　on　the　floor。　Now；　try　it。〃

A　very　old；　bent；　feeble　woman　with　a　pail　of　water　and　cloths　tottered　on。　Her　dress　was　ragged；　her　white　hair　hung　about　her　sad　old　face　in　disorderly　strands。　She　set　down　her　bucket　and　raised　her　torn　apron　to　her　eyes。

〃Look　up　and　see　her；〃　called　Baird。　〃A　glad　light　comes　into　her　eyes。　Rush　forwardsay　'Mother'　distinctly；　so　it'll　show。　Now　the　clench。　You're　crying　on　his　shoulder；　Mother；　and　he's　looking　down　at　you　first；　then　off；　about　at　me。　He's　near　crying　himself。　Now　he's　telling　you　to　give　up　mopping　places；　and　you're　telling　him　every　little　helps。

〃All　right；　break。　Get　to　mopping；　Mother；　but　keep　on　crying。　He　stops　for　a　long　look　at　you。　He　seems　to　be　saying　that　some　day　he　will　take　you　out　of　such　work。　Now　he's　back　at　his　desk。　All　right。　But　we'll　do　it　once　more。　And　a　little　more　pathos；　Merton；　when　you　take　the　old　lady　in　your　arms。　You　can　broaden　it。　You　don't　actually　break　down；　but　you　nearly　do。〃

The　scene　was　rehearsed　again；　to　Baird's　satisfaction；　and　the　cameras　ground。　Merton　Gill　gave　the　best　that　was　in　him。　His　glad　look　at　first　beholding　the　old　lady；　the　yearning　of　his　eyes　when　his　arms　opened　to　enfold　her；　the　tenderness　of　his　embrace　as　he　murmured　soothing　words；　the　lingering　touch　of　his　hand　as　he　left　her；　the　manly　determination　of　the　last　look　in　which　he　showed　a　fresh　resolve　to　release　her　from　this　toil；　all　were　eloquent　of　the　deepest　filial　devotion　and　earnestness　of　purpose。

Back　at　his　desk　he　was　genuinely　pitying　the　old　lady。　Very　lately；　it　was　evident；　she　had　been　compelled　to　play　in　a　cabaret　scene；　for　she　smelled　strongly　of　cigarettes；　and　he　could　not　suppose　that　she；　her　eyes　brimming　with　anguished　mother　love；　could　have　relished　these。　He　was　glad　when　it　presently　developed　that　his　own　was　not　to　be　a　smoking　part。

〃Now　the　dissipated　brother's　coming　on；〃　explained　Baird。　〃He'll　breeze　in；　hang　up　his　hat；　offer　you　a　cigarette；　which　you　refuse；　and　show　you　some　money　that　he　won　on　the　third　race　yesterday。　You　follow　him　a　little　way　from　the　desk；　telling　him　he　shouldn't　smoke　cigarettes；　and　that　money　he　gets　by　gambling　will　never　do　him　any　good。　He　laughs　at　you；　but　you　don't　mind。　On　your　way　back　to　the　desk　you　stop　by　your　mother；　and　she　gets　up　and　embraces　you　again。

〃Take　your　time　about　itshe's　your　mother；　remember。〃

The　brother　entered。　He　was　indeed　dissipated　appearing；　loudly　dressed；　and　already　smoking　a　cigarette　as　he　swaggered　the　length　of　the　shop　to　offer　Merton　one。　Merton　refused　in　a　kindly　but　firm　manner。　The　flashy　brother　now　pulled　a　roll　of　bills　from　his　pocket　and　pointed　to　his　winning　horse　in　a　racing　extra。　The　line　in　large　type　was　there　for　the　close…up〃Pianola　Romps　Home　in　Third　Race。〃

Followed　the　scene　in　which　Merton　sought　to　show　this　youth　that　cigarettes　and　gambling　would　harm　him。　The　youth　remained　obdurate。　He　seized　a　duster　and；　with　ribald　action；　began　to　dust　off　the　rows　of　cooked　food　on　the　counters。　Again　the　son　stopped　to　embrace　his　mother；　who　again　wept　as　she　enfolded　him。　The　scene　was　shot。

Step　by　step；　under　the　patient　coaching　of　Baird；　the　simple　drama　unfolded。　It　was　hot　beneath　the　lights；　delays　were　frequent　and　the　rehearsals　tedious；　yet　Merton　Gill　continued　to　give　the　best　that　was　in　him。　As　the　day　wore　on；　the　dissipated　son　went　from　bad　to　worse。　He　would　leave　the　shop　to　place　money　on　a　horse　race；　and　he　would　seek　to　induce　the　customers　he　waited　on　to　play　at　dice　with　him。　A　few　of　them　consented；　and　one；　a　coloured　man　who　had　come　to　purchase　pigs'…feet；　won　at　this　game　all　the　bills　which　the　youth　had　shown　to　Merton　on　entering。

There　were　moments　during　this　scene　when　Merton　wondered　if　Baird　were　not　relapsing　into　Buckeye　comedy　depths；　but　he　saw　the　inevitable　trend　of　the　drama　and　the　justification　for　this　bit　of　gambling。　For　the　son；　now　penniless；　became　desperate。　He　appealed　to　Merton　for　a　loan；　urging　it　on　the　ground　that　he　had　a　sure　thing　thirtyto…one　shot　at　Latonia。　At　least　these　were　the　words　of　Baird；　as　he　directed　Merton　to　deny　the　request　and　to　again　try　to　save　the　youth　from　his　inevitable　downfall。　Whereupon　the　youth　had　sneered　at　Merton　and　left　the　place　in　deep　anger。

There　followed　the　scene　with　the　boy's　sister；　only　daughter　of　the　rich　delicatessen　merchant；　who　Merton　was　pleased　to　discover　would　be　played　by　the　Montague　girl。　She　entered　in　a　splendid　evening　gown；　almost　too　splendid；　Merton　thought；　for　street　wear　in　daylight；　though　it　was　partially　concealed　by　a　rich　opera　cloak。　The　brother　being　out；　Merton　came　forward　to　wait　upon　her。

〃It's　like　this；〃　Baird　explained。　〃She's　just　a　simple　New　York　society　girl；　kind　of　shallow　and　heartless；　because　she　has　never　been　aroused　nor　anything；　see？　You're　the　first　one　that's　really　touched　her　heart；　but　she　hesitates　because　her　father　expects　her　to　marry　a　count　and　she's　come　to　get　the　food　for　a　swell　banquet　they're　giving　for　him。　She　says　where's　her　brother；　and　if　anything　happened　to　him　it　would　break　her　heart。　Then　she　orders　what　she　wants　and　you　do　it　up　for　her；　looking　at　her　all　the　time　as　if　you　thought　she　was　the　one　girl　in　the　world。

〃She　kind　of　falls　for　you　a　little　bit；　still　she　is　afraid　of　what　her　father　would　say。　Then　you　get　bolder；　see？　You　come　from　behind　the　counter　and　begin　to　make　love；　talking　as　you　come　outso…and…　so；　so…and…so；　so…and…soMiss　Hoffmeyer；　I　have　loved　you　since　the　day　I　first　set　eyes　on　youso…and…so；　so…and…so；　so…and…so；　I　have　nothing　to　offer　but　the　love　of　an　honest　manshe's　falling　for　i