merton of the movies-第44章

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〃Now　that's　nice　of　you；　my　boy。　It's　kind　and　generous。　Not　every　actor　of　your　talent　would　want　Jack　working　in　the　same　scene　with　him。　And　perhaps；　as　you　say；　some　day　he　can　save　up　enough　from　his　wages　to　have　his　eyes　fixed。　I'll　mention　it　to　him。　And　this　reminds　me；　speaking　of　the　cast；　there's　another　member　who　might　bother　some　of　these　fussy　actors。　She's　the　girl　who　will　take　the　part　of　your　city　sweetheart。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　she　isn't　exactly　the　type　I'd　have　picked　for　the　part；　because　she's　rather　a　large；　hearty　girl；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。　I　could　have　found　a　lot　who　were　better　lookers；　but　the　poor　thing　has　a　bedridden　father　and　mother　and　a　little　crippled　brother　and　a　little　sister　that　isn't　well；　and　she's　working　hard　to　send　them　all　to　schoolI　mean　the　children；　not　her　parents；　so　I　saw　the　chance　to　do　her　a　good　turn；　and　I　hope　you'll　feel　that　you　can　work　harmoniously　with　her。　I　know　I'm　too　darned　human　to　be　in　this　business〃　Baird　looked　aside　to　conceal　his　emotion。

〃I'm　sure；　Mr。　Baird；　I'll　get　along　fine　with　the　young　lady；　and　I　think　it's　fine　of　you　to　give　these　people　jobs　when　you　could　get　better　folks　in　their　places。〃

〃Well；　well；　we'll　say　no　more　about　that；〃　replied　Baird　gruffly；　as　one　who　had　again　hidden　his　too…impressionable　heart。　〃Now　ask　in　the　outer　office　where　that　Wayne　film　is　to…day　and　catch　it　as　often　as　you　feel　you're　getting　any　of　the　Edgar　Wayne　stuff。　We'll　call　you　up　when　work　begins。〃

He　saw　the　Edgar　Wayne　film；　a　touching　story　in　which　the　timid；　diffident　country　boy　triumphed　over　difficulties　and　won　the　love　of　a　pure　New　York　society　girl；　meantime　protecting　his　mother　from　the　insulting　sneers　of　the　idle　rich　and　being　made　to　suffer　intensely　by　the　apparent　moral　wreck　of　his　dear　little　sister　whom　a　rich　scoundrel　lured　to　the　great　city　with　false　promises　that　he　would　make　a　fine　lady　of　her。　Never　before　had　he　studied　the　acting　method　of　Wayne　with　a　definite　aim　in　view。　Now　he　watched　until　he　himself　became　the　awkward　country　boy。　He　was　primed　with　the　Wayne　manner；　the　appealing　ingenuousness；　the　simple　embarrassments；　the　manly　regard　for　the　old　mother；　when　word　came　that　Baird　was　ready　for　him　in　the　new　piece。

This　drama　was　strikingly　like　the　Wayne　piece　he　had　watched；　at　least　in　its　beginning。　Baird；　in　his　striving　for　the　better　things；　seemed　at　first　to　have　copied　his　model　almost　too　faithfully。　Not　only　was　Merton　to　be　the　awkward　country　boy　in　the　little　hillside　farmhouse；　but　his　mother　and　sister　were　like　the　other　mother　and　sister。

Still；　he　began　to　observe　differences。　The　little　sisterplayed　by　the　Montague　girlwas　a　simple　farm　maiden　as　in　the　other　piece；　but　the　mother　was　more　energetic。　She　had　silvery　hair　and　wore　a　neat　black　dress；　with　a　white　lace　collar　and　a　cameo　brooch　at　her　neck；　and　she　embraced　her　son　tearfully　at　frequent　intervals；　as　had　the　other　mother；　but　she　carried　on　in　her　kitchen　an　active　business　in　canning　fruits　and　putting　up　jellies；　which；　sold　to　the　rich　people　at　the　hotel；　would　swell　the　little　fund　that　must　be　saved　to　pay　the　mortgage。　Also；　in　the　present　piece；　the　country　boy　was　to　become　a　great　inventor；　and　this　was　different。　Merton　felt　that　this　was　a　good　touch；　it　gave　him　dignity。

He　appeared　ready　for　work　on　the　morning　designated。　He　was　now　able　to　make　up　himself；　and　he　dressed　in　the　country…boy　costume　that　had　been　provided。　It　was　perhaps　not　so　attractive　a　costume　as　Edgar　Wayne　had　worn；　consisting　of　loose…fitting　overalls　that　came　well　above　his　waist　and　were　fastened　by　straps　that　went　over　the　shoulders；　but；　as　Baird　remarked；　the　contrast　would　be　greater　when　he　dressed　in　rich　city　clothes　at　the　last。　His　hair；　too；　was　no　longer　the　slicked…back　hair　of　Parmalee；　but　tousled　in　country　disorder。

For　much　of　the　action　of　the　new　piece　they　would　require　an　outside　location；　but　there　were　some　interiors　to　be　shot　on　the　lot。　He　forgot　the　ill…fitting　overalls　when　shown　his　attic　laboratory　where；　as　an　ambitious　young　inventor；　sustained　by　the　unfaltering　trust　of　mother　and　sister；　he　would　perfect　certain　mechanical　devices　that　would　bring　him　fame；　fortune；　and　the　love　of　a　pure　New　York　society　girl。　It　was　a　humble　little　room　containing　a　work…bench　that　held　his　tools　and　a　table　littered　with　drawings　over　which　he　bent　until　late　hours　of　the　night。

At　this　table；　simple；　unaffected；　deeply　earnest；　he　was　shown　as　the　dreaming　young　inventor；　perplexed　at　moments；　then；　with　brightening　eyes；　making　some　needful　change　in　the　drawings。　He　felt　in　these　scenes　that　he　was　revealing　a　world　of　personality。　And　he　must　struggle　to　give　a　sincere　interpretation　in　later　scenes　that　would　require　more　action。　He　would　show　Baird　that　he　had　not　watched　Edgar　Wayne　without　profit。

Another　interior　was　of　the　neat　living　room　of　the　humble　home。　Here　were　scenes　of　happy　family　life　with　the　little　sister　and　the　fond　old　mother。　The　Montague　girl　was　a　charming　picture　in　her　simple　print　dress　and　sunbonnet　beneath　which　hung　her　braid　of　golden　hair。　The　mother　was　a　sweet　old　dear；　dressed　as　Baird　had　promised。　She　early　confided　to　Merton　that　she　was　glad　her　part　was　not　to　be　a　mopping　part。　In　that　case　she　would　have　had　to　wear　knee…pads；　whereas　now　she　was　merely；　she　said；　to　be　a　tired　business　woman。

Still　another　interior　was　of　her　kitchen　where　she　busily　carried　on　her　fruit…canning　activities。　Pots　boiled　on　the　stove　and　glass　jars　were　filled　with　her　product。　One　of　the　pots；　Merton　noticed；　the　largest；　had　a　tightly　closed　top　from　which　a　slender　tube　of　copper　went　across　one　corner　of　the　little　room　to　where　it　coiled　in　a　bucket　filled　with　water；　whence　it　discharged　its　contents　into　bottles。

This；　it　seemed；　was　his　mother's　improved　grape　juice；　a　cooling　drink　to　tempt　the　jaded　palates　of　the　city　folks　up　at　the　big　hotel。

The　laboratory　of　the　young　inventor　was　abundantly　filmed　while　the　earnest　country　boy　dreamed　hopefully　above　his　drawings　or　tinkered　at　metal　devices　on　the　work…bench。　The　kitchen　in　which　his　mother　toiled　was　repeatedly　shot；　including　close…ups　of　the　old　mother's　ingenious　contrivancesespecially　of　the　closed　boiler　with　its　coil　of　copper　tubingby　which　she　was　helping　to　save　the　humble　home。

And　a　scene　in　the　neat　living　room　with　its　old…fashioned　furniture　made　it　all　too　clear　that　every　effort　would　be　required　to　save　the　little　home。　The　cruel　money…lender；　a　lawyer　with　mean…looking　whiskers；　confronted　the　three　shrinking　inmates　to　warn　them　that　he　must　have　his　money　by　a　certain　day　or　out　they　would　go　into　the　streets。　The　old　mother　wept　at　this；　and　the　earnest　boy　took　her　in　his　arms。　The　little　sister；　terrified　by　the　man's　rough　words；　also　flew　to　this　shelter；　and　thus　he　defied　the　intruder；　calm；　fearless；　dignified。　The　money　would　be　paid　and　the　intruder　would　now　please　remember　that；　until　the　day　named；　this　little　home　was　their　very　own。

The　scoundrel　left　with　a　final　menacing　wave　of　his　gnarled　hand；　left　the　group　facing　ruin　unless　the　invention　could　be　perfected；　unless　Mother　could　sell　an　extraordinary　quantity　of　fruit　or　improved　grape　juice　to　the　city　folks；　or；　indeed；　unless　the　little　sister　could　do　something　wonderful。

She；　it　now　seemed；　was　confident　she　also　could　help。　She　stood　apart　from　them　and　prettily　promised　to　do　something　wonderful。　She　asked　them　to　remember　that　she　was　no　longer　a　mere　girl；　but　a　woman　with　a　woman's　determination。　They　both　patted　the　little　thing　encouragingly　on　the　back。

The　interiors　possible　on　the　Holden　lot　having　been　finished；　they　motored　each　day　to　a　remote　edge　of　the　city　where　outside　locations　had　been　found　for　the　humble　farmhouse　and　the　grand　hotel。　The　farmhouse　was　excellently　chosen；　Merton　thought；　being　the　neat；　unpretentious　abode　of　honest；　hard…working　people；　but　the　hotel；　some　distance　off；　was　not　so　grand；　he　thought；　as　Baird's　new　play　seemed　to　demand。　It　was　plainly　a　hotel；　a　wooden　structure　with　balconies；　but　it　seemed　hardly　to　afford　those　attractions　that　would　draw　wealthier　element　from　New　York。　He　forebore　to　warn　Baird　of　this；　however；　fearing　to　discourage　a　manager　who　was　honestly　striving　for　the　serious　in　photodrama。

His　first　exterior　scene　saw　him；　with　the　help　of　Mother　and　little　sister；　loading　the　one　poor　motor　car　which　the　family　possessed　with　Mother's　products。　These　were　then　driven　to　the　hotel。　The　Montague　girl　drove　the　car；　and　scenes　of　it　in　motion　were　shot　from　a　car　that　preceded　them。

They　arrived　before　the　hotel；　Merton　was　directed　to　take　from　the　car　an　iron　weight　attached　to　a　rope　and　running　to　a　connection　forward　on　the　hood。　He　was　to　throw　the　weight　to　the　ground；　plainly　with　the　notion　that　he　would　thus　prevent　the　car　from　running　away。　The　simple　device　was；　in　fact；　similar　to　that　used；　at　Gashwiler's　strict　orders；　on　the　delivery　wagon　back　in　Simsbury；　for　Gashwiler　had　believed　that　Dexter　would　run　away　if　untethered。　But　of　course　it　was　absurd；　Merton　saw；　to　anchor　a　motor　car　in　such　a　manner；　and　he　was　somewhat　taken　aback　when　Baird　directed　this　action。

〃It's　all　right；〃　Baird　assured　him。　〃You're　a　simple　country　boy；　and　don't　know　any　better；　so　do　it　plumb　serious。　You'll　be　smart　enough　before　the　show's　over。　Go　ahead；　get　out；　grab　the　weight；　throw　it　down；　and　don't　look　at　it　again；　as　if　you　did　this　every　time。　That's　it。　You're　not　being　funny；　just　a　simple　country　boy　like　Wayne　was　at　first。〃　He　performed　the　action；　still　with　some　slight　misgiving。　Followed　scenes　of　brother　and　sister　offering　Mother's　wares　to　the　city　folks　idling　on　the　porch　of　the　hotel。　Each　bearing　a　basket　they　were　caught　submitting　the　jellies　and　jams。　The　brother　was　laughed　at；　even　sneered　at；　by　the　supercilious　rich；　the　handsomely　gowned　women　and　the　dissipated　looking　men。　No　one　appeared　to　wish　his　jellies。

The　little　sister　had　better　luck。　The　women　turned　from　her；　but　the　men　gathered　about　her　and　quickly　bought　out　the　stock。　She　went　to　the　car　for　more　and　the　men　followed　her。　To　Merton；　who　watched　these　scenes；　the　dramatist's　intention　was　plain。　These　men　did　not　really　care　for　jellies　and　jams；　they　were　attracted　solely　by　the　wild…rose　beauty　of　the　little　country　girl。　And　they　were　plainly　the　sort　of　men　whose　attentions　could　mean　no　good　to　such　as　she。

Left　on　the　porch；　he　was　now　directed　to　approach　a　distinguished　looking　old　gentleman；　probably　a　banker　and　a　power　in　Wall　Street；　who　read　his　morning　papers。　Timidly　he　stood　before　this　person；　thrusting　forward　his　basket。　The　old　gentleman　glanced　up　in　annoyance　and　brutally　rebuffed　the　country　boy　with　an　angry　flourish　of　the　paper　he　read。

〃You're　hurt　by　this　treatment；〃　called　Baird；　〃and　almost　discouraged。　You　look　back　over　your　shoulder　to　where　sister　is　doing　a　good　business　with　her　stuff；　and　you　see　the　old　mother　back　in　her　kitchen；　working　her　fingers　to　the　bonewe'll　have　a　flash　of　that；　see？and　you　try　again。　Take　out　that　bottle　in　the　corner　of　the　bask