merton of the movies-第48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！


he　had　used　〃we〃　quite　as　if　it　were　a　community　name。

〃Well；　if　you　think　so〃　he　began　regretfully；　for　Clifford　Armytage　still　seemed　superior　to　the　indistinction　of　Merton　Gill。

〃Sure；　it's　a　lot　better；〃　she　went　on。　〃That　'Clifford　Armytage'　say；　it　reminds　me　of　just　another　such　feckless　dub　as　you　that　acted　with　us　one　time　when　we　all　trouped　in　a　rep　show；　playing　East　Lynne　and　such　things。　He　was　just　as　wise　as　you　are；　and　when　he　joined　out　at　Kansas　City　they　gave　him　a　whole　book　of　the　piece　instead　of　just　his　sides。　He　was　a　quick　study；　at　that；　only　he　learned　everybody's　part　as　well　as　his　own；　and　that　slowed　him。　They　put　him　on　in　Waco；　and　the　manager　was　laid　up；　so　they　told　him　that　after　the　third　act　he　was　to　go　out　and　announce　the　bill　for　the　next　night；　and　he　learned　that　speech；　too。

〃He　got　on　fine　till　the　big　scene　in　the　third　act。　Then　he　went　bloody　because　that　was　as　far　as　he'd　learned；　so　he　just　left　the　scene　cold　and　walked　down　to　the　foots　and　bowed　and　said；　'Ladies　and　gentlemen；　we　thank　you　for　your　attendance　here　this　evening　and　to…morrow　night　we　shall　have　the　honour　of　presenting　Lady　Audley's　Secret。'

〃With　that　he　gave　a　cold　look　to　the　actors　back　of　him　that　were　gasping　like　fish；　and　walked　off。　And　he　was　like　you　in　another　way　because　his　real　name　was　Eddie　Duffy；　and　the　lovely　stage　name　he'd　picked　out　was　Clyde　Maltravers。〃

〃Well；　Clifford　Armytage　is　out；　then；〃　Merton　announced；　feeling　that　he　had　now　buried　a　part　of　his　dead　self　in　a　grave　where　Beulah　Baxter；　the　wonder…woman；　already　lay　interred。　Still；　he　was　conscious　of　a　certain　relief。　The　stage　name　had　been　bothersome。

〃It　ain't　as　if　you　had　a　name　like　mine；〃　the　girl　went　on。　〃I　simply　had　to　have　help。〃

He　wondered　what　her　own　name　was。　He　had　never　heard　her　called　anything　but　the　absurd　and　undignified　〃Flips。〃　She　caught　the　question　he　had　looked。

〃Well；　my　honest…to…God　name　is　Sarah　Nevada　Montague；　Sarah　for　Ma　and　Nevada　for　Reno　where　Ma　had　to　stop　off　for　meshe　was　out　of　the　company　two　weeksand　if　you　ever　tell　a　soul　I'll　have　the　law　on　you。　That　was　a　fine　way　to　abuse　a　helpless　baby；　wasn't　it？〃

〃But　Sarah　is　all　right。　I　like　Sarah。〃

〃Do　you；　Kid？〃　She　patted　his　hand。　〃All　right；　then；　but　it's　only　for　your　personal　use。〃

〃Of　course　the　Nevada〃　he　hesitated。　〃It　does　sound　kind　of　like　a　geography　lesson　or　something。　But　I　think　I'll　call　you　Sarah；　I　mean　when　we're　alone。〃　〃Well；　that's　more　than　Ma　ever　does；　and　you　bet　it'll　never　get　into　my　press　notices。　But　go　ahead　if　you　want　to。〃

〃I　will；　Sarah。　It　sounds　more　like　a　true　woman　than　'Flips。'〃

〃Bless　the　child's　heart；〃　she　murmured；　and　reached　across　the　lunch　box　to　pat　his　hand　again。

〃You're　a　great　little　patter；　Sarah；〃　he　observed　with　one　of　his　infrequent　attempts　at　humour。

On　still　another　day；　while　they　idled　between　scenes；　she　talked　to　him　about　salaries　and　contracts；　again　with　her　important　air　of　mothering　him。

〃After　this　picture；〃　she　told　him；　〃Jeff　was　going　to　sew　you　up　with　a　long…time　contract；　probably　at　a　hundred　and　fifty　per。　But　I've　told　him　plain　I　won't　stand　for　it。　No　five…year　contract；　and　not　any　contract　at　that　figure。　Maybe　three　years　at　two　hundred　and　fifty；　I　haven't　decided　yet。　I'll　wait　and　see〃　she　broke　off　to　regard　him　with　that　old　puzzling　light　far　back　in　her　eyes　〃wait　and　see　how　you　get　over　in　these　two　pieces。〃

〃But　I　know　you'll　go　big；　and　so　does　Jeff。　We've　caught　you　in　the　rushes　enough　to　know　that。　And　Jeff's　a　good　fellow；　but　naturally　he'll　get　you　for　as　little　as　he　can。　He　knows　all　about　money　even　if　he　don't　keep　Yom　Kippur。　So　I'm　watching　over　you；　sonI'm　your　manager；　see？　And　I've　told　him　so；　plain。　He　knows　he'll　have　to　give　you　just　what　you're　worth。　Of　course　he's　entitled　to　consideration　for　digging　you　up　and　developing　you；　but　a　three…　year　contract　will　pay　him　out　for　that。　Trust　mother。〃

〃I　do；〃　he　told　her。　〃I'd　be　helpless　without　you。　It　kind　of　scares　me　to　think　of　getting　all　that　money。　I　won't　know　what　to　do　with　it。〃

〃I　will；　you　always　listen　to　me；　and　you　won't　be　camping　on　the　lot　any　more。　And　don't　shoot　dice　with　these　rough…necks　on　the　lot。〃　〃I　won't；〃　he　assured　her。　〃I　don't　believe　in　gambling。〃　He　wondered　about　Sarah's　own　salary；　and　was　surprised　to　learn　that　it　was　now　double　his　own。　It　was　surprising；　because　her　acting　seemed　not　so　important　to　the　piece　as　his。　〃It　seems　like　a　lot　of　money　for　what　you　have　to　do；〃　he　said。

〃There；〃　she　smiled　warmly；　〃didn't　I　always　say　you　were　a　natural…　born　trouper？　Well；　it　is　a　lot　of　money　for　me；　but　you　see　I've　helped　Jeff　dope　out　both　of　these　pieces。　I'm　not　so　bad　at　gagsI　mean　the　kind　of　stuff　he　needs　in　these　serious　dramas。　This　big　scene　of　yours；　where　you　go　off　to　the　city　and　come　back　a　wreck　on　Christmas　nightthat's　mine。　I　doped　it　out　after　the　piece　was　startedafter　I'd　had　a　good　look　at　the　truck　driver　that　plays　opposite　you。〃

Truck　driver？　It　appeared　that　Miss　Montague　was　actually　applying　this　term　to　the　New　York　society　girl　who　in　private　life　was　burdened　with　an　ailing　family。　He　explained　now　that　Mr。　Baird　had　not　considered　her　ideal　for　the　part；　but　had　chosen　her　out　of　kindness。

Again　there　flickered　far　back　in　her　eyes　those　lights　that　baffled　him。　There　was　incredulity　in　her　look；　but　she　seemed　to　master　it。

〃But　I　think　it　was　wonderful　of　you；〃　he　continued；　〃to　write　that　beautiful　scene。　It's　a　strong　scene；　Sarah。　I　didn't　know　you　could　write；　too。　It's　as　good　as　anything　Tessie　Kearns　ever　did；　and　she's　written　a　lot　of　strong　scenes。〃

Miss　Montague　seemed　to　struggle　with　some　unidentified　emotion。　After　a　long；　puzzling　gaze　she　suddenly　said：　〃Merton　Gill；　you　come　right　here　with　all　that　make…up　on　and　give　mother　a　good　big　kiss！〃

Astonishingly　to　himself；　he　did　so　in　the　full　light　of　day　and　under　the　eyes　of　one　of　the　New　York　villains　who　had　been　pretending　that　he　walked　a　tight…rope　across　the　yard。　After　he　had　kissed　the　girl；　she　seized　him　by　both　arms　and　shook　him。　〃I'd　ought　to　have　been　using　my　own　face　in　that　scene；〃　she　said。　Then　she　patted　his　shoulder　and　told　him　that　he　was　a　good　boy。

The　pretending　tight…rope　walker　had　paused　to　applaud。　〃Your　act's　flopping；　Bo；〃　said　Miss　Montague。　〃Work　fast。〃　Then　she　again　addressed　the　good　boy：　〃Wait　till　you've　watched　that　scene　before　you　thank　me；〃　she　said　shortly。

〃But　it's　a　strong　scene；〃　he　insisted。

〃Yes；〃　she　agreed。　〃It's　strong。〃

He　told　her　of　the　other　instance　of　Baird's　kindness　of　heart。

〃You　know　I　was　a　little　afraid　of　playing　scenes　with　the　cross…　eyed　man；　but　Mr。　Baird　said　he　was　trying　so　hard　to　do　serious　work；　so　I　wouldn't　have　him　discharged。　But　shouldn't　you　think　he'd　save　up　and　have　his　eyes　straightened？　Does　he　get　a　very　small　salary？〃

The　girl　seemed　again　to　be　harassed　by　conflicting　emotions；　but　mastered　them　to　say；　〃I　don't　know　exactly　what　it　is；　but　I　guess　he　draws　down　about　twelve　fifty　a　week。〃

〃Only　twelve　dollars　and　fifty　cents　a　week！〃

〃Twelve　hundred　and　fifty；〃　said　the　girl　firmly。

〃Twelve　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　a　week！〃　This　was　monstrous；　incredible。　〃But　then　why　doesn't　he　have　his　eyes〃

Miss　Montague　drew　him　to　her　with　both　her　capable　arms。　〃My　boy；　my　boy！〃　she　murmured；　and　upon　his　painted　forehead　she　now　imprinted　a　kiss　of　deep　reverence。　〃Run　along　and　play；〃　she　ordered。　〃You're　getting　me　all　nervous。〃　Forthwith　she　moved　to　the　centre　of　the　yard　where　the　tight…rope　walker　still　endangered　his　life　above　the　heads　of　a　vast　audience。

She　joined　him。　She　became　a　performer　on　the　slack　wire。　With　a　parasol　to　balance　her；　she　ran　to　the　centre　of　an　imaginary　wire　that　swayed　perilously；　and　she　swung　there；　cunningly　maintaining　a　precarious　balance。　Then　she　sped　back　to　safety　at　the　wire's　end；　threw　down　her　parasol；　caught　the　handkerchief　thrown　to　her　by　the　first　performer；　and　daintily　touched　her　face　with　it；　breathing　deeply　the　while　and　bowing。

He　thought　Sarah　was　a　strange　child〃One　minute　one　thing　and　the　next　minute　something　else。〃




CHAPTER　XVII

MISS　MONTAGUE　USES　HER　OWN　FACE


Work　on　the　piece　dragged　slowly　to　an　end。　In　these　latter　days　the　earnest　young　leading　man　suffered　spells　of　concern　for　his　employer。　He　was　afraid　that　Mr。　Baird　in　his　effort　to　struggle　out　of　the　slough　of　low　comedy　was　not　going　to　be　wholly　successful。　He　had　begun　to　note　that　the　actors　employed　for　this　purpose　were　not　invariably　serious　even　when　the　cameras　turned。　Or；　if　serious；　they　seemed　perhaps　from　the　earnestness　of　their　striving　for　the　worth…while　drama；　to　be　a　shade　too　serious。　They　were　often；　he　felt；　over…emphatic　in　their　methods。　Still；　they　were；　he　was　certain；　good　actors。　One　could　always　tell　what　they　meant。

It　was　at　these　times　that　he　especially　wished　he　might　be　allowed　to　view　the　〃rushes。〃　He　not　only　wished　to　assure　himself　for　Baird's　sake　that　the　piece　would　be　acceptably　serious；　but　he　wished；　with　a　quite　seemly　curiosity；　to　view　his　own　acting　on　the　screen。　It　occurred　to　him　that　he　had　been　acting　a　long　time　without　a　glimpse　of　himself。　But　Baird　had　been　singularly　firm　in　this　matter；　and　the　Montague　girl　had　sided　with　him。　It　was　best；　they　said；　for　a　beginning　actor　not　to　see　himself　at　first。　It　might　affect　his　method　before　this　had　crystallized；　make　them　self…conscious；　artificial。

He　was　obliged　to　believe　that　these　well…wishers　of　his　knew　best。　He　must　not；　then；　trifle　with　a　screen　success　that　seemed　assured。　He　tried　to　be　content　with　this　decision。　But　always　the　misgivings　would　return。　He　would　not　be　really　content　until　he　had　watched　his　own　triumph。　Soon　this　would　be　so　securely　his　privilege　that　not　even　Baird　could　deny　it；　for　the　first　piece　in　which　he　had　worked　was　about　to　be　shown。　He　looked　forward　to　that。

It　was　toward　the　end　of　the　picture　that　his　intimacy　with　the　Montague　girl　grew　to　a　point　where；　returning　from　location　to　the　studio　late；　they　would　dine　together。　〃Hurry　and　get　ungreased；　Son；〃　she　would　say；　〃and　you　can　take　an　actress　out　to　dinner。〃　Sometimes　they　would　patronize　the　cafeteria　on　the　lot；　but　oftener；　in　a　spirit　of　adventure；　they　would　search　out　exotic　restaurants。　A　picture　might　follow；　after　which　by　street…car　he　would　escort　her　to　the　Montague　home　in　a　remote；　flat　region　of　palm…lined　avenues　sparsely　set　with　new　bungalows。

She　would　disquiet　him　at　these　times　by　insisting　that　she　pay　her　share　of　the　expense；　and　she　proved　to　have　no　mean　talent　for　petty　finance；　for　she　remembered　every　item　down　to　the　street…car　fares。　Even　to　Merton　Gill　she　seemed　very　much　a　child　once　she　stepped　from　the　domain　of　her　trade。　She　would　stare　into　shop　windows　wonderingly；　and　never　failed　to　evince　the　most　childish　delight　when　they　ventured　to　dine　at　an　establishment　other　than　a　cafeteria。

At　times　when　they　waited　for　a　car　after　these　dissipations　he　suffered　a　not　unpleasant　alarm　at　sight　of　a　large…worded　advertisement　along　the　back　of　a　b