hr.thecarpetbaggers-第116部分

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！


　Aida　was　seated　on　the　couch；　a　tray　of　tea　and　cookies　on　the　table　before　her。　〃You　can　put　the　valise　with　the　others；　Mary。〃
　〃Yes'm；〃　the　maid　said。
　Jennie　turned　and　saw　the　maid　put　her　valise　next　to　some　others　standing　by　the　door。　She　turned　back　to　Aida。　A　newspaper　was　open　on　the　couch　beside　her；　the　big；　black　headlines　staring　up。
　
　STANDHURST　DEAD！
　
　Aida　got　up　and　took　her　hand；　gently　pulling　her　down　to　the　couch。　〃Sit　down；　my　dear；〃　she　said　softly。　〃I've　been　expecting　you。　We　have　plenty　of　time　for　a　cup　of　tea　before　we　go　to　the　train。〃
　〃To　the　train？〃
　〃Of　course；　my　dear；〃　Aida　said。　〃We're　going　to　Chicago。　It's　the　only　place　in　the　United　States　for　a　girl　to　start　her　career。〃
　
　12
　
　THE　BIG　TWENTY…FOUR　SHEET　FROM　THE　BILLBOARD　HUNG　OVER　THE　MAKESHIFT　STAGE　AT　THE　ARMY　CAMP。　It　was　an　enlargement　of　the　famous　color　photograph　from　the　cover　of　Life　magazine。　Looking　up　at　it；　Jennie　remembered　the　photographer　perching　precariously　on　the　top　rung　of　the　ladder　near　the　ceiling；　aiming　his　camera　down　toward　her　on　the　bed。
　From　that　angle；　her　legs　had　been　too　long　and　had　gone　out　of　the　frame；　so　he'd　turned　her　around　and　placed　her　feet　up　on　the　white　satin　tufted　headboard。　Then　the　flash　bulb　had　gone　off；　blinding　her　for　a　moment　as　they　always　did；　and　history　had　been　made。
　She'd　been　wearing　a　decorously　cut　black　lace　nightgown；　which　covered　her　pletely　from　throat　to　ankles。　Yet　it　had　clung　so　revealingly；　the　soft　tones　of　her　flesh　glowing　in　contrast　to　the　black　lace；　that　it　left　nothing　to　the　imagination　…　the　swollen　nipples；　irritated　by　the　material　across　her　jutting　breasts；　the　soft　curve　of　her　stomach；　and　the　sharply　rising　pubis；　which　couldn't　be　hidden　because　of　the　position　of　her　legs。　Her　long　blond　hair　spilled　downward　over　the　edge　of　the　bed　and　the　blinding　light　of　the　flash　bulb　had　thrown　a　sensual　invitation　into　her　eyes　as　she　smiled　at　the　invisible　onlooker；　upside　down；　from　the　lower…left…hand　corner。
　Life　had　published　the　photograph　with　but　one　word　emblazoned　in　white　block　letters　beneath　it：
　DENTON
　That　had　been　almost　a　year　ago；　in　October　of　1941；　about　the　time　The　Sinner　was　having　its　world　première　in　New　York。　She　remembered　the　surprise　she'd　felt；　walking　through　the　lobby　of　the　Waldorf；　with　Jonas　at　her　side；　ing　onto　rows　of　photographs　of　herself　hanging　across　the　newsstand　magazine　racks。
　〃Look；〃　she'd　said；　stopping　in　wonder。　Jonas　smiled　at　her　in　that　particular　way　which；　she　knew　by　now；　meant　he　was　particularly　pleased　with　something。　He'd　crossed　to　the　newsstand　and　throwing　a　coin　down　picked　up　the　magazine　from　the　rack。　He　handed　it　to　her　as　they　went　into　the　elevator。
　She　opened　the　magazine　on　the　way　up。　The　headline　loomed　over　the　text：　Spirituality　in　Sex。
　
　Jonas　Cord；　a　wealthy　young　man；　who　makes　airplanes；　explosives；　plastics　and　money　（see　Life；　Oct。　'39）　and；　when　the　spirit　moves　him；　occasionally　makes　a　motion　picture　（The　Renegade；　1930；　Devils　in　the　Sky；　1932）；　has　e　up　with　a　highly　personalized　version；　in　the　De　Mille　tradition；　of　the　story　of　Mary　Magdalene。　He　calls　it；　with　his　customary　frankness；　The　Sinner。
　Without　a　doubt；　the　single　most　important　factor　contributing　to　the　impact　of　this　motion　picture　is　the　impressive　performance　of　the　young　woman　Mr。　Cord　selected　to　play　the　title　role；　Jennie　Denton。
　Miss　Denton；　without　prior　experience　in　motion　pictures　or　at　acting；　has　a　most　newsworthy　effect　upon　audiences。　With　all　the　overtly　sexual　awareness　that　the　motions　of　her　body　（37…21…36）　seem　to　suggest；　the　viewer　is　at　the　same　time　aware　of　the　deeply　spiritual　quality　that　always　emanates　from　her。　Perhaps　this　stems　from　her　eyes；　which　are　wide…set　and　gray　and　deep　with　a　knowledge　and　wisdom　of　pain　and　love　and　death；　far　beyond　her　years。　In　some　strange　manner；　she　appears　to　project　the　paradoxical　contrasts　of　our　times　…　the　self…seeking　aggressions　of　man's　search　for　physical　satisfaction　and　his　desire　for　spiritual　values　greater　than　himself。
　
　The　elevator　door　opened　and　she　felt　Jonas'　hand　on　her　arm。　She　closed　the　magazine　and　they　walked　out　of　the　elevator。　〃My　God；　do　they　really　believe　that？〃
　He　smiled。　〃I　guess　they　do。　That's　one　magazine　you　can't　buy　for　advertising。　I　told　you　you　were　going　to　be　a　star；〃　he　said　as　they　walked　into　his　apartment。
　She　was　to　leave　for　the　Coast　immediately　after　the　première　to　begin　another　picture。　She　saw　the　script　lying　on　the　table　in　front　of　the　couch。　Jonas　walked　over　and　picked　it　up；　and　riffled　the　pages。　〃I　don't　like　it。〃
　〃I　don't　like　it；　either。　But　Maurice　says　it　will　make　a　mint。〃
　〃I　don't　care；〃　he　said。　〃I　just　don't　like　the　idea　of　you　being　in　it。〃　He　crossed　to　the　telephone。　〃Get　me　Mr。　Bonner　at　the　Sherry…Netherland。〃
　〃Maurice；　this　is　Jonas；〃　he　said　curtly；　a　moment　later。　〃Cancel　Stareyes。　I　don't　want　Denton　in　it。〃
　She　heard　Bonner's　excited　protest　all　the　way　across　the　room。　〃I　don't　care；〃　Jonas　said。　〃Get　someone　else　to　play　it。　。　。　。　Who？　。　。　。　Hayworth；　Sheridan。　Anyone　you　want。　And　from　now　on；　Denton　isn't　to　be　scheduled　for　any　picture　until　I　approve　the　script。〃
　He　put　down　the　telephone　and　turned　to　her。　He　was　smiling。　〃You　hear　that？〃
　She　smiled　back　at　him。　〃Yes；　boss。〃
　The　photograph　had　been　an　instant　success。　Everywhere　you　went；　it　stared　out　at　you　…　from　walls；　from　display　counters；　from　calendars　and　from　posters。　And　she；　too；　had　gone　on　to　fame。　She　was　a　star　and　when　she　returned　to　the　Coast；　she　found　that　Jonas　had　approved　a　new　contract　for　her。
　But　a　year　had　gone　by；　including　the　bombs　at　Pearl　Harbor；　and　still　she　had　made　no　other　picture。　Not　that　it　mattered。　The　Sinner　was　in　its　second　year　at　the　big　Norman　Theater　in　New　York　and　was　still　playing　limited…first…run　engagements　wherever　it　opened。　It　was　proving　to　be　the　biggest…grossing　picture　the　pany　had　ever　made。
　Her　routine　became　rigid　and　unvarying。　Between　publicity　appearances　at　each　première；　as　the　picture　opened　across　the　country；　she　remained　on　the　Coast。　Each　morning；　she'd　go　to　the　studio。　There　her　day　would　be　filled　…　dramatic　lessons　in　the　morning；　luncheon；　generally　with　some　interviewer；　voice；　singing　and　dancing　lessons　in　the　afternoon。　Her　evenings　were　generally　spent　alone；　unless　Jonas　happened　to　be　in　town。　Then　she　was　with　him　every　night。
　Occasionally；　she'd　have　dinner　with　David　and　Rosa　Woolf。　She　liked　Rosa　and　their　happy　little　baby；　who　just　now　was　learning　how　to　walk　and　bore　the　impressive　name　of　Henry　Bernard；　after　David's　father　and　uncle。　But　most　of　the　time　she　spent　alone　in　her　small　house　with　the　Mexican　woman。　The　word　was　out。　She　was　Jonas'　girl。　And　Jonas'　girl　she　remained。
　It　was　only　when　she　was　with　him　that　she　did　not　feel　the　loneliness　and　lack　of　purpose　that　was　looming　larger　and　larger　inside。　She　began　to　grow　restless。　It　was　time　for　her　to　go　to　work。　She　read　scripts　avidly　and　several　times；　when　she　thought　she'd　found　one　she　might　like　to　do；　she　got　in　touch　with　Jonas。　As　always；　he'd　promise　to　read　it　and　then　call　her　several　days　later　to　say　he　didn't　think　it　was　right　for　her。　There　was　always　a　reason。
　Once；　in　exasperation；　she'd　asked　him　why　he　kept　her　on　the　payroll　if　he　had　nothing　for　her　to　do。　For　a　moment；　he'd　been　silent。　When　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　cold　and　final。　〃You're　not　an　actress；〃　he　said。　〃You're　a　star。　And　stars　can　only　shine　when　everything　else　is　right。〃
　A　few　days　later；　Al　Petrocelli；　the　publicity　man；　came　to　her　dressing　room　at　the　studio。　〃Bob　Hope's　doing　a　show　for　the　boys　at　Camp　Pendleton。　He　wants　you　on　it。〃
　She　turned　on　the　couch　on　which　she　was　sitting　and　put　down　the　script　she'd　been　reading。　〃I　can　do　it？〃　she　asked；　looking　at　him。
　They　both　knew　what　she　meant。　〃Bonner　talked　to　Cord。　They　both　agreed　the　exposure　would　be　good　for　you。　Di　Santis　will　be　in　charge　of　whipping　up　an　act　for　you。〃
　〃Good；〃　she　said；　getting　to　her　feet。　〃It　will　be　great　having　something　to　do　again。〃
　And　now；　after　six　weeks　of　extensive　rehearsal　of　a　small　introductory　speech　and　one　song；　which　had　been　carefully　polished；　phrased　and　orchestrated　to　show　her　low；　husky　voice　to　its　greatest　advantage；　she　stood　in　the　wings　of　the　makeshift　stage；　waiting　to　go　on。　She　shivered　in　the　cool　night　air　despite　the　mink　coat　wrapped　around　her。
　She　peeked　out　from　behind　the　wings　at　the　audience。　A　roar　of　laughter　rolled　toward　her　from　the　rows　upon　rows　of　soldiers；　stretching　into　the　night　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see。　Hope　had　just　delivered　one　of　his　famous　off…color；　serviceman…only　kind　of　jokes　that　could　never　have　got　on　the　air　during　his　coast…to…coast　broadcasts。　She　pulled　her　head　back；　still　shivering。　〃Nervous；　eh？〃　Al　asked。　〃Never　worked　before　an　audience　before？　Don't　worry；　it'll　soon　pass。〃
　A　sudden　memory　of　Aida　and　the　routine　she'd　made　her　perform　before　a　small　but　select　group　of　wealthy　men　in　New　Orleans　flashed　through　her　mind。　〃Oh；　I've　worked　in　front　of　an　audience　before。〃　Then　when　she　saw　the　look　of　surprise　on　his　face；　〃When　I　was　in　college；〃　she　added　dryly。　She　turned　back　to　watch　Bob　Hope。　Somehow；　the　memory　made　her　feel　better。
　Al　turned　to　the　soldier　standing　next　to　him。　〃Now；　you　know　what　you　got　to　do；　Sergeant？〃
　〃I　got　it　down　perfect；　Mr。　Petrocelli。〃
　〃Good；〃　Al　said。　He　glanced　out　at　the　stage。　Hope　was　nearing　the　end　of　his　routine。　Al　turned　back　to　the　soldier；　a　twenty…dollar　bill　appearing　magically　in　his　hand。　〃She'll　be　going　on　any　minute；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　you　get　down　there　in　the　front　near　the　stage。　And　don't　forget。　Speak　up　loud　and　clear。〃
　〃Yes；　Mr。　Petrocelli；〃　the　soldier　said；　the　twenty　disappearing　into　his　pocket。
　〃There'll　be　another　after　the　show　if　everything　goes　right。〃
　〃For　another　twenty；　Mr。　Petrocelli；〃　the　soldier　said；　〃you　don't　have　to　worry。　They'll　hear　me　clear　to　Alaska。〃
　Al　nodded　worriedly　and　turned　toward　the　stage　as　the　soldier　went　out　and　around　the　wings。　Hope　was　just　beginn