hr.thecarpetbaggers-第58部分

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　〃What？〃　David　asked。
　〃After　all　I　done　for　her；　the　way　she　spoke　to　me！〃　his　uncle　said　in　a　hurt　voice。　〃　'Take　your　hand　off　my　tits；'　she　says；　'and　furthermore；　if　I　don't　get　that　part；　you　can　shove　Scheherazade　up　your　fat　ass！'　Then　she　walks　out　the　door。　How　do　you　like　that？〃　Norman　asked　in　an　aggrieved　voice。　〃All　I　was　trying　to　do　was　calm　her　down　a　little。　Practically　everybody　in　Hollywood　she　fucks　but　me　she　talks　to　like　that！〃
　David　nodded。　He'd　heard　the　stories　about　her；　too。　In　the　year　since　she　had　broken　up　with　Nevada；　she　seemed　to　have　gone　suddenly　wild。　The　parties　out　at　her　new　place　in　Beverly　Hills　were　said　to　be　orgies。　There　was　even　talk　about　her　and　Ilene　Gaillard；　the　costume　designer。　But　as　long　as　nothing　got　into　print；　they'd　looked　the　other　way。　What　she　did　was　her　own　business　as　long　as　it　didn't　affect　them。　〃What　are　you　going　to　do　about　it？〃
　〃What　can　I　do　about　it？〃　Bernie　asked。　〃Give　her　the　part。　If　she　walked　out　on　us；　we'd　lose　twice　as　much　as　we're　losing　right　now。〃
　He　reached　for　a　cigar。　〃I'll　call　her　this　afternoon　and　tell　her。〃　He　stopped　in　the　midst　of　lighting　it。　〃No；　I　got　a　better　idea。　You　go　out　to　her　place　this　afternoon　and　tell　her。　I'm　damned　if　I'll　let　her　make　it　look　like　I'm　kissing　her　ass。〃
　〃O。K。；〃　David　said。　He　started　back　toward　his　own　office。
　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　his　uncle　called　after　him。
　David　turned　around。
　〃You　know　who　I　ran　into　in　the　Waldorf　my　last　night　in　New　York？〃　Bernie　asked。　〃Your　friend。〃
　〃My　friend？〃
　〃Yes；　you　know　who。　The　crazy　one。　The　flier。　Jonas　Cord。〃
　〃Oh；〃　David　said。　He　liked　the　way　his　uncle　put　it；　reminding　him　of　the　earlier　conversation　they　had　had　about　Cord　some　years　ago。　He　and　Cord　had　never　exchanged　so　much　as　a　word。　He　even　doubted　if　Cord　knew　he　was　alive。　〃How　did　he　look？〃
　〃The　same；〃　his　uncle　replied。　〃Like　a　bum。　Wearing　sneakers　and　no　tie。　I　don't　know　how　he　gets　away　with　it。　Anybody　else　they　would　throw　out；　but　him？　Shows　you　there's　nothing　like　goyishe　money。〃
　〃You　talk　to　him？〃　David　asked　curiously。
　〃Sure；〃　Norman　answered。　〃I　read　in　the　papers　where　he's　making　another　picture。　Who　knows；　I　says　to　myself；　the　schnorrer　might　get　lucky　again。　Besides；　with　prestige　like　we're　stuck　with；　we　could　use　him。　We　could　pay　a　lot　of　bills　with　his　money。
　〃It's　two　o'clock　in　the　morning　and　he's　got　two　courvehs　on　his　arm。　I　walk　over　and　say；　'Hello；　Jonas。'　He　looks　at　me　like　he's　never　seen　me　before　in　his　life。　'Remember　me；'　I　says；　'Bernie　Norman　from　Hollywood。'　'Oh；　sure；〃　he　says。
　〃But　I　can't　tell　from　his　face　whether　he　really　does　or　doesn't；　he　needs　a　shave　so　bad。　'These　two　little　girls　are　actresses；'　he　says　to　me；　'but　I　won't　tell　you　their　names。　Otherwise；　you　might　sign　them　up　yourself。　If　I　like　a　girl；'　he　says；　'I　put　her　under　contract　to　Cord　Explosives　now。　No　more　do　I　take　any　chances　and　let　them　get　away　from　me　the　way　you　signed　that　Marlowe　dame。'　With　that；　he　gives　me　such　a　playful　shot　in　the　arm　that　for　two　hours　I　can't　raise　my　hand。
　〃I　made　myself　smile　even　if　I　didn't　feel　like　it。　'In　our　business；　you　got　to　move　fast；'　I　says；　'otherwise　you　get　left　behind　the　parade。　But　that's　over　and　done　with。　What　I　want　to　do　is　talk　to　you　about　this　new　picture　I　hear　you're　makin'。　We　did　a　fantastic　job　for　you　on　your　last　one　and　I　think　we　should　set　up　a　meetin'。'
　〃　'What's　the　matter　with　right　now？'　he　asks。　'It's　O。K。　with　me；'　I　says。　He　turns　to　the　girls。　'Wait　right　here；'　he　says　to　them。　He　turns　back　to　me　an'　takes　my　arm。　'e　on；'　he　says；　draggin'　me　off。　'e　up　to　my　office。'
　〃I　look　at　him　in　surprise。　'You　got　an　office　here　in　the　Waldorf；'　I　ask　him。　'I　got　an　office　in　every　hotel　in　the　United　States；'　he　says。　We　get　on　an　elevator　an'　he　says　'Mezzanine；　please。'　We　get　off　and　walk　down　the　hall　to　a　door。　I　look　at　the　sign。　'Gentlemen；'　it　says。　I　look　at　him。　He　grins。　'My　office；'　he　says；　opening　the　door。　We　go　inside　an'　it's　white　and　empty。　There's　a　table　there　and　a　chair　for　the　attendant。　He　sits　down　in　the　chair　and　suddenly　I　see　he's　very　sober；　he's　not　smiling　now。
　〃　'I　haven't　decided　yet　where　I'm　going　to　release　the　picture；'　he　says。　'It　all　depends　on　where　I　can　get　the　best　deal。'　'That's　smart　thinking。'　I　says；　'but　I　really　can't　talk　until　I　know　what　your　picture　is　about。'　'I'll　tell　you；'　he　says。　'It's　about　the　fliers　in　the　World　War。　I　bought　up　about　fifty　old　planes　…　Spads；　Fokkers；　Nieuports；　De　Havillands　…　and　I　figger　on　havin'　a　ball　flyin'　the　wings　off　them。'
　〃　'Oh；　a　war　picture；'　I　says。　'That's　not　so　good。　War　pictures　is　dead　since　All　Quiet　on　the　Western　Front。　Nobody'll　e　to　see　them。　But　since　I　got　experience　with　you　and　we　was　lucky　together；　I　might　go　along　for　the　ride。　What　terms　you　looking　for？'　He　looks　me　in　the　eye。　'Studio　overhead；　ten　per　cent；'　he　says。　'Distribution；　fifteen　per　cent　with　all　expenses　deducted　from　the　gross　before　calculating　the　distribution　fees。'　'That's　impossible；'　I　says。　'My　overhead　runs　minimum　twenty…five　per　cent。'
　〃　'It　doesn't；'　he　says；　'but　I　won't　quibble　about　it。　I　just　want　to　point　out　some　simple　arithmetic　to　you。　According　to　your　annual　report；　your　overhead　during　the　past　few　years　averaged　twenty…one　per　cent。　During　that　period；　The　Renegade　contributed　twenty…five　per　cent　of　your　gross。　Deduct　that　from　your　gross　and　you'll　find　your　overhead's　up　to　almost　thirty…six　per　cent。　The　same　thing　applies　to　the　studio；'　he　says。　'Volume　governs　the　percentages　and　if　I　supply　the　volume；　I　shouldn't　be　burdened　with　ordinary　percentages。　I　want　some　of　the　gravy；　as　you　picture　people　call　it。'
　〃　'I　couldn't　afford　it；'　I　says。　'The　way　the　picture　business　is　going；'　he　says；　'you　can't　afford　not　to。'　'My　board　of　directors　would　never　approve　it；'　I　says。　He　gets　up；　smiling。　'They　will；'　he　says。　'Give　'em　a　couple　of　years　an'　they　will。　Why　don't　you　take　a　piss　long　as　you're　here；'　he　says。　I'm　so　surprised　I　walk　over　to　the　urinal。　When　I　turn　around；　he's　already　gone。　The　next　morning；　before　I　get　on　the　train；　I　try　to　locate　him　but　nobody　seems　to　know　where　he　is。　His　office　don't　even　know　he's　in　New　York。　He　disappeared　pletely。〃　Bernie　looked　down　at　his　desk。　〃A　real　meshuggeneh；　I　tell　you。〃
　David　smiled。　〃I　told　you　he'd　learn　fast。　His　arithmetic　is　right；　you　know。〃
　His　uncle　looked　up　at　him。　〃Don't　you　think　I　know　it's　right？〃　he　asked。　〃But　is　he　so　poor　that　I　have　to　give　him　bread　from　my　own　mouth？〃
　
　〃If　you'll　follow　me；　sir；〃　the　butler　said　politely。　〃Miss　Marlowe　is　in　the　solarium。〃
　David　nodded　and　followed　silently　up　the　staircase　and　to　the　back　of　the　house。　The　butler　halted　before　a　door　and　knocked。
　〃Mr。　Woolf　is　here；　mum。〃
　〃Tell　him　to　e　in；〃　Rina　called　through　the　closed　door。
　The　butler　held　the　door　open。　David　blinked　as　the　bright　California　sun　suddenly　spilled　down　on　him。　The　roof　of　the　room　was　a　clear　glass　dome　and　the　sides　were　of　glass；　too。
　There　was　a　tall　screen　at　the　far　end　of　the　room。　Rina's　voice　came　from　behind　it。　〃Help　yourself　to　a　drink　from　the　bar。　I'll　be　out　in　a　minute。〃
　He　looked　around　and　located　the　bar　in　the　corner。　There　were　casual；　canvas…covered　chairs　scattered　all　about　the　room　and　a　large　white　rug　over　most　of　the　floor。
　Ilene　Gaillard　came　out　from　behind　the　screen。　She　was　wearing　a　white　shirt　with　sleeves　rolled　to　just　above　her　elbows；　and　black　man…tailored　slacks　that　clung　tightly　to　her　narrow　hips。　Her　white…streaked　hair　was　brushed　back　in　a　severe　straight　line。
　〃Hello；　David。　Let　me　help　you。〃
　〃Thanks；　Ilene。〃
　〃Make　another　Martini　for　me；〃　Rina　called　from　behind　the　screen。
　Ilene　didn't　answer。　She　looked　at　David。　〃What　will　it　be？〃
　〃Scotch　and　water；〃　he　answered。　〃Just　a　little　ice。〃
　〃O。K。；〃　she　said；　her　hands　already　moving　deftly　behind　the　bar。　She　held　the　drink　toward　him。　〃There；　how's　that？〃
　He　tasted　it。　〃Great。〃
　〃Got　my　Martini　ready？〃　Rina　said　from　behind　him。
　He　turned。　She　was　just　ing　from　behind　the　screen；　tying　a　white　terry…cloth　robe　around　her。　From　the　glimpse　he　caught　of　the　tanned　thigh　beneath　the　robe　as　she　moved；　he　guessed　she　was　wearing　nothing　underneath。　〃Hello；　Rina。〃
　〃Hello；　David；〃　she　answered。　She　looked　at　Ilene。　〃Where's　my　drink？〃
　〃David's　obviously　here　on　business；〃　Ilene　said。　〃Why　don't　you　wait　until　after　you've　had　your　talk？〃
　〃Don't　be　so　bossy！〃　Rina　snapped。　〃Make　the　drink！〃　She　turned　to　David。　〃My　father　gave　me　Martinis　when　I　was　a　child。　I　can　drink　them　like　water。　Ilene　doesn't　seem　to　understand　that。〃
　〃Here。〃　Ilene's　voice　was　clipped。
　Rina　took　the　Martini　from　her。　〃Cheers；　David。〃
　〃Cheers；〃　David　replied。
　She　belted　down　half　her　Martini；　then　led　him　to　one　of　the　chairs。　〃Sit　down；〃　she　said；　dropping　into　another。
　〃Lovely　house　you　have；〃　he　said　politely。
　〃It　is　nice；〃　she　said。　〃Ilene　and　I　had　a　wonderful　time　furnishing　it。〃　She　reached　up　and　patted　Ilene's　cheek。　〃Ilene　has　the　most　wonderful　sense　of　color。　You　should　speak　to　your　uncle　about　letting　her　try　her　hand　at　art　direction。　I'm　sure　he'd　find　out　that　she　could　do　a　terrific　job。〃
　〃Rina；〃　Ilene　said；　a　happy　note　in　her　voice；　〃I'm　sure　David　didn't　e　here　to　talk　about　me。〃
　〃I'll　speak　to　Uncle　Bernie；〃　he　said　politely。　〃I'm　sure　she　could；　too。〃
　〃See？〃　Rina　said。　〃The　trouble　with　Ilene　is　that　she's　too　modest。　She's　one　of　the　most　talented　people　I　ever　met。〃
　She　held　up　her　empty　glass　toward　Ilene。　〃Refill。〃
　David　caught　a　glimpse　of　her　lush；　full　breasts。　It　would　take　more　than　massage　to　keep　her　weight　down　if　she　kept　on　drinking　like　that。
　Rina　cut　into　his　thoughts。　〃Did　the　old　bastard　decide　to　give　me　that　part　in　Sunspots？〃
　David　looked　at　her。　〃You　have　to　understand　my　uncle's　point　of　view；　Rina；〃　he　said　quickly。　〃You're　the　most　valuable　asset　the　pany　has。　You　can't　blame　him　if　he　doesn't　want　to　put　you　in　a　picture　that's　almost　certain　to　lay　an　egg。〃
　Rina　took　the　drink　from　Ilene。　〃What　it　all　boils　down　to；〃　she　said　belligerently；　''