hr.thecarpetbaggers-第55部分

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　〃Don't　bring　religion　into　it！〃　Norman　held　up　a　warning　hand。　〃You　know　my　policy。　Everybody's　the　same　as　everybody　else。　Somebody　wants　to　see　me；　they　talk　to　my　number…three　girl；　she　talks　to　my　number…two　girl；　my　number…two　girl　talks　to　my　number…one　girl。　My　number…one　girl　thinks　it　important　enough；　she　talks　to　me　and　the　next　thing　you　know；　you're　in　my　office！〃　He　snapped　his　fingers。　〃Like　that！　But　don't　e　sneaking　around　in　the　night；　looking　at　confidential　papers！　Now　go！〃
　〃O。K。〃　David　started　for　the　door。　He　should　have　known　better　than　to　try　to　do　anything　for　the　old　bastard。　〃I'm　going；〃　he　said　bitterly。　〃But　when　I　walk　out　this　door；　you　look　good　…　real　good；　because　you're　throwing　out　a　million　dollars　along　with　me！〃
　〃Wait　a　minute！〃　his　uncle　called　after　him。　〃I　like　to　be　fair。　You　said　you　had　something　important　to　tell　me？　So　tell　it。　I'm　listening。〃
　David　closed　the　door。　〃Next　month；　before　the　picture　opens；　Nevada　Smith　and　Rina　Marlowe　are　getting　married；〃　he　said。
　〃You're　telling　me　something？〃　His　uncle　glowered。　〃Who　cares？　They　didn't　even　invite　me　to　the　wedding。　Besides；　Nevada's　finished。〃
　〃Maybe；〃　David　said。　''But　the　girl　isn't。　You　saw　the　picture？〃
　〃Of　course　I　saw　the　picture！〃　Norman　snapped。　〃We're　sneaking　it　tonight。〃
　〃Well；　after　the　sneak；　she's　going　to　be　the　hottest　thing　in　the　business。〃
　His　uncle　looked　up　at　him；　a　respect　dawning　in　his　eyes。　〃So？〃
　〃From　the　papers；　I　see　nobody's　got　her　under　contract；〃　David　said。　〃You　sign　her　this　morning。　Then…　〃
　His　uncle　was　already　nodding　his　head。
　〃Then　you　tell　them　you　want　to　give　them　the　wedding。　As　a　present　from　the　studio。　We'll　make　it　the　biggest　thing　ever　to　hit　Hollywood。　It'll　add　five　million　to　the　gross。〃
　〃So　what　good　does　that　do　us？〃　Norman　asked。　〃We　don't　own　any　of　the　picture；　we　don't　share　in　the　profits。〃
　〃We　get　a　distribution　fee；　don't　we？〃　David　asked；　his　confidence　growing　as　he　saw　the　intent　look　on　his　uncle's　face。　〃Twenty…five　per　cent　of　five　million　is　one　and　a　quarter　million　dollars。　Enough　to　carry　half　the　cost　of　our　whole　distribution　setup　for　a　whole　year。　And　the　beautiful　thing　about　it　is　we　can　charge　all　our　expenses　for　the　wedding　to　publicity　and　slap　the　charge　right　back　against　the　picture。　That　way；　it　doesn't　cost　us　one　penny。　Cord　pays　everything　out　of　his　share　of　the　profit。〃
　Norman　got　to　his　feet。　There　were　tears　in　his　eyes。　〃I　knew　it！　Blood　will　tell！〃　he　cried　dramatically。　〃From　now　on　you're　working　for　me。　You're　my　assistant！　I'll　tell　the　girls　to　have　the　office　next　door　made　ready　for　you。　More　than　this　I　couldn't　ask　from　my　own　son　…　if　I　had　a　son！〃
　〃〃There's　one　more　thing。〃
　〃There　is？〃　Norman　sat　down　again。　〃What？〃
　〃I　think　we　should　try　to　make　a　deal　with　Cord　to　do　a　picture　a　year　for　us。〃
　Norman　shook　his　head。　〃Oh；　no！　We　got　enough　crazy　ones　around　here　without　him。〃
　〃He's　got　a　feeling　for　pictures。　You　can　see　it　in　The　Renegade。〃
　〃It　was　a　lucky　accident。〃
　〃No　it　wasn't；〃　David　insisted。　〃I　was　on　the　set　through　the　whole　thing。　There　wasn't　anything　in　the　picture　that　he　didn't　have　something　to　do　with。　If　it　wasn't　for　him；　Marlowe　would　never　be　the　star　she's　going　to　be。　He　has　the　greatest　eye　for　cunt　I　ever　saw　in　my　life。〃
　〃He's　a　goy；〃　Norman　said　deprecatingly。　〃What　do　they　know　about　cunt？〃
　〃The　goyim　knew　about　cunt　before　Adam　led　Eve　out　of　the　Garden　of　Eden。〃
　〃No；〃　Norman　said。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃That　kind　of　man　I　don't　want　around；〃　Norman　said。　〃He　won't　be　satisfied　just　to　make　a　picture。　Pretty　soon；　he'll　want　to　run　the　whole　thing。　He's　a　balabuss；　he's　not　the　kind　who　would　work　with　partners。〃
　He　got　up　and　walked　around　the　desk　toward　his　nephew。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃Him　I　won't　do　business　with。　But　your　other　ideas　I　like。　This　morning　we'll　go　out　and　get　the　girl's　signature　on　the　contract。　Then　we'll　tell　them　about　the　wedding。　Nevada　won't　like　it　but　he'll　do　it。　After　all；　he's　got　his　own　money　in　the　picture　and　he　won't　be　taking　any　chances！〃
　
　David　saw　to　it　that　a　special　print　of　the　newsreel　of　the　wedding　was　sent　on　to　Cord；　who　was　in　Europe　at　the　time。　When　Jonas　walked　into　the　small　screening　room　in　London；　where　he　had　arranged　for　it　to　be　run　off；　the　lights　immediately　went　down　and　a　blast　of　music　filled　the　room。　On　the　screen；　lettering　was　ing　out　of　a　turning　camera　until　there　was　nothing　else　to　be　seen。
　NORMAN　NEWSREEL
THE　FIRST　WITH
THE　FINEST　IN
PICTURES！
　The　dramatically　somber　voice　of　the　narrator　came　on　under　a　long　shot　of　a　church；　around　which　crowds　of　people　swirled。
　All　Hollywood；　all　the　world；　is　agog　with　excitement　over　the　fairy…tale　wedding　in　Hollywood　today　of　Nevada　Smith　and　Rina　Marlowe；　stars　of　the　forthing　Bernard　B。　Norman　release　The　Renegade。
　There　was　a　shot　of　Nevada　riding　up　to　the　church　resplendently　dressed　in　a　dark；　tailored　cowboy　suit；　astride　a　snow…white　horse。
　Here　is　the　groom；　the　world…famous　cowboy　Nevada　Smith；　arriving　at　the　church　with　his　equally　famous　horse；　Whitey。
　Nevada　walked　up　the　steps　and　into　the　church；　with　the　police　holding　back　mobs　of　screaming　people。　Then　a　black　limousine　drew　up。　Bernie　Norman　got　out　and　turned　to　assist　Rina。　She　stood　for　a　moment；　smiling　at　the　crowd；　then　taking　Norman's　proffered　arm；　began　to　walk　into　the　church；　as　the　camera　moved　in　for　a　close…up。
　And　here　is　the　bride；　the　lovely　Rina　Marlowe；　star　of　The　Renegade；　on　the　arm　of　Bernard　B。　Norman；　noted　Hollywood　producer；　who　will　give　the　bride　away。　Miss　Marlowe's　wedding　gown　is　ivory　Alen？on　lace；　designed　especially　for　her　by　Ilene　Gaillard；　famous　couturière；　who　also　designed　the　exciting　costumes　that　you　will　see　Miss　Marlowe　wear　in　the　Bernard　B。　Norman　picture　The　Renegade。
　The　camera　then　cut　to　the　exterior　of　Nevada's　Beverly　Hills　home；　where　there　was　a　tremendous　tent　with　throngs　of　people　milling　about　it。
　Here　on　the　lawn　of　the　palatial　home　of　Nevada　Smith　is　the　tent　erected　by　the　Bernard　B。　Norman　studio　workmen　as　their　tribute　to　the　famous　couple。　It　is　large　enough　to　shelter　and　feed　a　thousand　guests　and　is　the　largest　of　its　kind　ever　set　up　anywhere　in　the　world。　And　now　let　us　say　hello　to　some　of　the　famous　guests。
　The　camera　rolled　down　the　lawn　as　the　announcer　introduced　many　famous　stars　and　newspaper　columnists；　who　paused　in　the　midst　of　their　obviously　carefully　posed　groups　to　smile　and　bow　in　the　direction　of　the　camera。　The　camera　moved　on　up　the　steps　to　the　entrance　of　the　house　as　Nevada　and　Rina　appeared　in　the　doorway。　A　moment　later；　Norman　stood　between　them。　Rina　held　a　large　bouquet　of　roses　and　orchids　in　her　arms。
　Here　again　is　the　happy　bride　and　groom；　together　with　their　friend；　the　famous　producer　Bernard　B。　Norman。　The　bride　is　about　to　throw　her　bouquet　to　the　eagerly　waiting　crowd。
　There　was　a　shot　of　Rina　throwing　her　bouquet　and　a　scramble　of　pretty　young　girls。　The　flowers　were　finally　caught　by　a　red…haired；　sloe…eyed　girl　and　the　camera　moved　in　for　a　quick　close…up　of　her。
　The　bouquet　was　caught　by　Miss　Anne　Barry；　a　close　friend　of　the　bride's。　Miss　Barry；　a　beautiful　redhead；　also　has　an　important　role　in　The　Renegade　and　has　just　been　placed　under　contract　by　Norman　Pictures　for　her　fine　portrayal　in　that　part。
　The　camera　then　moved　in　for　a　final　close…up。　Rina；　Norman　and　Nevada　smiled　into　the　theater。　Norman　was　standing　between　them；　one　arm　placed　in　fatherly　fashion　around　Nevada's　shoulder；　the　other　hidden　from　view　behind　the　bride。　They　all　laughed　happily　as　the　scene　faded。
　Lights　in　the　screening　room　came　up　as　Jonas　got　to　his　feet　and；　unsmiling；　walked　out　of　the　room。　There　was　a　cold　feeling　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach。　If　that　was　the　way　Rina　wanted　it；　she　could　have　it。
　But　what　Jonas　didn't　see；　and　neither　could　anyone　else　who　had　been　looking　at　the　screen；　was　Bernie　Norman's　left　hand；　hidden　behind　Rina's　back。
　It　was　fortably　and　casually　exploring　the　rounded　contours　of　her　buttocks。
　
　16
　
　IT　HAD　BEEN　AFTER　EIGHT　O'CLOCK　WHEN　ILENE　HEARD　THE　DOOR　TO　HER　OUTER　OFFICE　OPEN。　She　put　down　the　small　palette　and　wiped　the　smudges　of　paint　from　her　hands　on　her　loose　gray　smock。　She　turned　toward　the　door　just　as　Rina　came　in。
　〃I'm　sorry　to　hold　you　up；　Ilene；〃　Rina　apologized。　〃We　went　overtime　on　the　set　tonight。〃
　Ilene　smiled。　〃It's　O。K。　I　had　some　work　to　finish　up；　anyway。〃　She　looked　at　Rina。　〃You　look　tired。　Why　don't　you　sit　down　and　rest　a　few　minutes？　I　heard　from　the　production　office　that　you'd　be　late　so　I　ordered　coffee　and　sandwiches。〃
　Rina　flashed　a　grateful　smile。　〃Thanks；〃　she　said；　dropping　onto　the　big　couch　and　kicking　off　her　shoes。　〃I　am　tired。〃
　Ilene　pushed　a　coffee　table　over　to　the　couch。　She　opened　a　small　refrigerator　and　took　out　a　tray　of　sandwiches；　which　she　set　down　in　front　of　Rina。　Opening　a　large　Thermos　of　black　coffee；　quickly　she　poured　a　cup　for　Rina。
　Rina　held　the　steaming　cup　to　her　lips。　〃This　is　good；〃　she　said　over　the　rim。　She　sipped　again；　then　leaned　her　head　against　the　back　of　the　couch。　〃I'm　really　so　pooped　I'm　not　even　hungry。〃
　〃You　have　a　right　to　be；〃　Ilene　answered。　〃You　haven't　had　a　week　off　in　the　year　since　you　finished　The　Renegade。　Three　pictures；　one　right　after　the　other；　and　next　week　you're　starting　another。　It's　a　wonder　you　haven't　collapsed。〃
　Rina　looked　at　her。　〃I　like　to　work。〃
　〃So　do　I；〃　Ilene　replied　quickly。　〃But　there's　a　point　where　you　have　to　draw　the　line。〃
　Rina　didn't　answer。　She　sipped　at　her　coffee　and　picked　up　a　copy　of　Variety。　Idly　she　turned　the　page。　She　stopped　at　a　headline；　read　for　a　moment；　then　held　the　paper　out　to　Ilene。　〃Have　you　seen　this？〃
　Ilene　glanced　down　at　the　paper。　The　headline　caught　her　eye。　It　was　typical　Varietese：
　
　THE　RENEGADE'S　BIGGEST　HAUL　…　BOX　OFFICE
　
　In　a　year　filled　with　cries　from　moaning　exhibitors　and　anguished　producers　about　the　seemingly　bottomless　pit　into　which　motion…picture　grosses　are　falling；　it's　encouraging　to　note　one　ray　of　sunshine。　It　was　reliably　learned　from　informed　sources　that　the　d