hr.thecarpetbaggers-第59部分

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　Rina　took　the　drink　from　Ilene。　〃What　it　all　boils　down　to；〃　she　said　belligerently；　''is　that　he　thinks　I　can't　act。　All　I'm　good　for　is　walking　around　as　near　naked　as　he　can　get　me。〃
　〃He　thinks　you're　a　fine　actress；　Rina。　But　more　important；　you're　the　one　in　a　million　who　is　a　star。　He's　just　trying　to　protect　you；　that's　all。〃
　〃I'll　protect　myself；〃　she　snapped　angrily。　〃Do　I　get　the　part　or　don't　I？〃
　〃You　get　it。〃
　〃Good；〃　she　said；　sipping　her　drink。　She　got　out　of　her　chair　and　he　realized　that　she　was　slightly　drunk。　〃Tell　your　uncle　for　me　that　I　won't　wear　a　brassière　the　next　time　I　e　to　his　office。〃
　〃I'm　sure　that　will　make　him　very　happy。〃　David　grinned　at　her。　He　put　down　his　drink　and　got　to　his　feet。
　〃I　think　he　wants　to　fuck　me；〃　she　said；　weaving　slightly。
　He　laughed。　〃Who　doesn't？〃　he　asked。　〃I　can　name　at　least　sixty　million　men　who've　thought　about　it。〃
　〃You　don't；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　suddenly　looking　right　into　his。
　〃Who　says？〃
　〃I　do；〃　she　said　seriously。　〃You　never　asked　me。〃
　〃Remind　me　to　get　up　my　nerve　sometime。〃
　〃What's　the　matter　with　right　now？〃　she　asked；　pulling　at　the　sash　of　her　robe。　It　fell　open；　revealing　her　nude　body。　He　stared；　so　surprised　that　he　was　unable　to　speak。
　〃Go　downstairs；　Ilene；〃　Rina　said　without　taking　her　eyes　off　him。　〃And　see　to　it　that　dinner　is　on　time。〃
　David　caught　a　glimpse　of　Ilene's　eyes　as　she　hurried　past　him　and　out　the　door。　If　he　lived　to　be　a　hundred　years　old；　he　would　never　forget　the　depth　of　the　pain　and　anguish　he　saw　there。
　
　18
　
　UNTIL　HE　MET　RINA　MARLOWE；　CLAUDE　DUNBAR　HAD　BEEN　IN　LOVE　WITH　ONLY　THREE　THINGS　IN　HIS　LIFE　…　his　mother；　himself　and　the　theater　…　and　in　that　order。　His　Hamlet　in　modern　dress　was　the　most　successful　Shakespearean　production　ever　played　in　a　New　York　theater。　But　it　was　his　direction　of　Sunspots；　an　otherwise　mediocre　play；　that　lifted　him　to　the　pinnacle　of　his　career。
　Sunspots　was　a　three…character　play　dealing　with　two　prospectors；　living　isolated　lives　at　the　edge　of　a　great　desert；　and　a　young　girl；　an　amnesiac；　who　wandered　into　their　camp。　It　develops　into　a　struggle　between　the　men；　the　younger　trying　to　protect　the　girl　from　the　lechery　of　the　older；　only；　after　succeeding；　to　succumb　himself　to　the　lechery　in　the　girl。
　It　was　all　talk　and　very　little　action；　and　despite　a　year's　run　on　Broadway；　Dunbar　had　been　so　surprised　when　Norman　called　and　told　him　he　had　bought　the　play　and　wanted　him　to　direct　the　motion　picture　that　he　had　agreed　without　hesitation。　It　was　only　after　he　got　to　California；　however；　that　he　learned　who　was　to　play　the　lead。
　〃Rina　Marlowe！〃　he'd　said　to　Norman。　〃But　I　thought　Davis　was　going　to　play　it。〃
　The　producer　had　stared　at　him　blandly。　〃Warner　screwed　me；〃　he　said；　lowering　his　voice　to　a　confidential　whisper。　〃So　right　away　I　thought　of　Rina。〃
　〃But　isn't　there　anyone　else；　Mr。　Norman？〃　he'd　asked；　stammering　slightly　as　he　always　did　when　upset。　〃What　about　the　girl　who　played　it　on　the　stage？〃
　〃No　name；〃　Norman　said　quickly。　〃This　is　an　important　property；　this　play　of　yours。　We　have　to　protect　it　with　all　the　box　office　we　can　get。　Rina　never　made　a　picture　that　didn't　make　money。〃
　〃Maybe；〃　Dunbar　admitted。　〃But　can　she　act？〃
　〃There's　no　better　actress　in　Hollywood　than　that　girl。　You're　a　director。　Go　over　to　her　house　this　afternoon　with　the　script　and　see　for　yourself。〃
　〃Mr。　Norman…　〃
　But　Norman　had　already　taken　his　arm　and　was　leading　him　to　the　door。　〃Be　fair；　Mr。　Dunbar。　Give　the　girl　a　chance；　work　with　her　a　little。　Then　if　you　still　think　she　can't　do　it；　we'll　see。〃
　So　efficient　had　the　producer　been　in　getting　rid　of　him　that　he　hadn't　been　aware　of　it　himself　until　he　stood　outside　the　closed　door；　with　the　three　secretaries　staring　at　him。
　He　felt　his　face　flush　and　to　cover　his　embarrassment；　he　went　over　to　the　girl　at　the　desk　nearest　the　door。　〃Could　you　tell　me　where　Miss　Marlowe　lives？〃　he　asked。　〃And　how　to　get　there？〃
　The　secretary　smiled。　〃I　can　do　better　than　that；　Mr。　Dunbar；〃　she　said　efficiently；　picking　up　the　telephone。　〃I'll　arrange　for　a　car　to　pick　you　up　and　take　you　there。〃
　That　afternoon；　before　he　went　to　Rina's　house；　Claude　Dunbar　dropped　into　a　theater　that　was　playing　her　latest　picture。　He　watched　the　screen　in　a　kind　of　fascinated　horror。　There　was　no　doubt　that　the　girl　was　beautiful。　He　could　even　see　that　she　had　a　type　of　animalism　that　would　appeal　to　a　certain　type　of　audience。　But　she　wasn't　the　kind　of　girl　called　for　in　the　play。
　The　girl　in　the　play　was　somber；　introspective；　frightened。　As　she　tried　to　recapture　her　memory；　she　looked　as　she　felt　…　gaunt；　tortured　and　burned　out　by　the　heat　of　the　desert。　The　fact　that　she　was　female　caused　the　desire　in　the　men；　not　her　physical　appearance。　And　it　wasn't　until　the　very　climax　that　the　play　revealed　the　root　of　her　fears　to　be　her　own　capacity　for　lechery。
　On　the　screen；　Rina　was　exciting　and　bold；　aware　of　her　sexuality　and　continually　flaunting　it　before　the　audience；　but　there　was　no　subtlety　in　her　acting。　And　yet；　in　all　honesty；　he　felt　the　surge　of　vitality　flowing　from　her。　When　she　was　on　the　screen；　no　matter　who　else　was　in　the　scene；　he　could　not　take　his　eyes　off　her。
　He　left　the　theater　and　went　back　to　his　hotel；　where　the　car　was　going　to　pick　him　up。　As　was　usual　whenever　he　was　disturbed；　he　called　his　mother。　〃Do　you　know　who　they　want　to　play　in　the　picture；　Mother？〃
　〃Who？〃　his　mother　asked；　with　her　usual　calm。
　〃Rina　Marlowe。〃
　His　mother's　voice　was　shocked。　〃No！〃
　〃Yes；　Mother；〃　he　said。　〃Mr。　Norman　tells　me　they　couldn't　get　Bette　Davis。〃
　〃Well；　you　turn　right　around　and　e　home；〃　his　mother　said　firmly。　〃You　tell　Mr。　Norman　that　you　have　a　reputation　to　consider；　that　he　promised　you　Davis　and　you　won't　accept　that　blond　creature　as　a　substitute！〃
　〃But　I　already　told　Mr。　Norman　I'd　talk　to　Miss　Marlowe。　He　said　if　I　wasn't　satisfied　after　meeting　her；　he'd　try　to　get　someone　else。〃
　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃But　remember；　your　integrity　counts　far　more　than　anything　else。　If　you're　not　pletely　satisfied；　you　e　right　home。〃
　〃Yes；　Mother；〃　he　said。　〃Much　love。〃
　〃Much　love　and　take　care；〃　his　mother　replied；　pleting　their　farewell　ritual。
　
　Rina　entered　the　room　where　he　was　waiting；　wearing　a　black　leotard　that　covered　her　body　from　her　feet　to　her　neck。　Her　pale…blond　hair　was　pulled　back　straight　and　tied　in　a　knot　behind　her　head。　She　wore　no　make…up。
　〃Mr。　Dunbar；〃　she　said；　ing　toward　him　unsmiling；　her　hand　outstretched。
　〃Miss　Marlowe；〃　he　answered；　taking　her　hand。　He　was　surprised　at　the　strength　in　her　fingers。
　〃I've　looked　forward　to　meeting　you；〃　she　said。　〃I've　heard　a　great　deal　about　you。〃
　He　smiled；　pleased。　〃I've　heard　a　great　deal　about　you；　too。〃
　She　looked　up　and　smiled　for　the　first　time。　〃I'll　bet　you　have；〃　she　said　without　rancor。　〃That's　why　you're　out　here　the　first　day　you're　in　Hollywood。　You　probably　wonder　why　in　hell　I　should　want　to　play　in　Sunspots？〃
　He　was　startled　at　her　frank　admission。　〃Why　do　you；　Miss　Marlowe？　It　seems　to　me　you　wouldn't　want　to　rock　the　boat。　You've　got　a　pretty　good　thing　going　here。〃
　She　dropped　into　a　chair。　〃Screw　the　boat；〃　she　said　casually。　〃I'm　supposed　to　be　an　actress。　I　want　to　find　out　just　how　much　of　an　actress　I　am。　And　you're　the　one　director　who　can　make　me　find　out。〃
　He　stared　at　her　for　a　moment。　〃Have　you　read　the　script？〃
　She　nodded。
　〃Do　you　remember　the　first　lines　the　girl　speaks　when　she　wanders　into　the　camp？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Read　them　for　me；〃　he　said；　giving　her　the　script。
　She　took　the　script　but　didn't　open　it。　〃　'My　name　is　Mary。　Yes；　that's　it；　I　think　my　name　is　Mary。'　〃
　〃You're　saying　the　lines；　Miss　Marlowe；〃　he　said；　frowning　at　her；　〃but　you're　not　thinking　about　them。　You're　not　feeling　the　effort　that　goes　into　the　girl's　trying　to　remember　her　name。
　Think　it　through　like　this。　I　can't　remember　my　name　but　if　I　could；　it's　a　familiar　one。　It's　a　name　I've　been　called　all　my　life；　and　yet　it's　hard　for　me　to　remember　it。　Even　though　it's　a　name　that　is　mentioned　often　in　church　and　I　have　even　said　it　in　my　prayers。　It's　ing　back　now。　I　think　I've　got　it。　'My　name　is　Mary。　Yes；　that's　it。　I　think　my　name　is　Mary。'　〃
　Rina　stared　back　at　him　silently。　Then　she　got　up　and　walked　over　to　the　fireplace。　She　put　her　hands　up　on　the　mantelpiece；　her　back　toward　him。　She　tugged　at　the　knot　in　her　hair　and　it　fell　around　her　shoulders　as　she　turned　to　face　him。
　Her　face　was　suddenly　gaunt　and　strained　as　she　spoke。　〃　'My　name　is　Mary；'　〃　she　whispered　hoarsely。　〃　'Yes；　that's　it。　I　think　my　name　is　Mary。'　〃　
　He　felt　the　tiny　shivers　of　goose　flesh　rising　on　his　arms　as　he　looked　at　her。　It　was　the　same　thing　he　always　felt　whenever　something　great　in　the　theater　got　down　inside　him。
　
　Bernie　Norman　came　down　to　the　set　on　the　last　day　of　shooting。　He　shook　his　head　as　he　opened　the　door　and　walked　onto　the　big　shooting　stage。　He　should　have　known　better　than　ever　to　hire　that　faigele　to　direct　the　picture。　Worse　yet；　he　should　have　had　his　head　examined　before　he　ever　let　them　talk　him　into　buying　such　a　story。　Everything　about　it　was　crazy。
　First；　the　shooting　schedule　had　to　be　postponed　for　a　month。　The　director　wanted　thirty　days　to　rehearse　Rina　in　the　part。　Norman　had　to　give　in　when　Rina　insisted　she　wouldn't　go　on　before　Dunbar　said　she　was　ready。　That　cost　a　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　in　stand…by　salaries　alone。
　Then　the　director　had　insisted　on　doing　everything　like　they　had　done　it　on　stage。　To　hell　with　the　budget。　Another　fifty　thousand　went　there。　And　on　top　of　everything；　Dunbar　insisted　that　the　sound　in　each　scene　be　perfect。　No　looping；　no　lip…synching。　Every　word　perfect；　as　it　was　spoken　on　the　stage。　He　didn't　care　how　many　takes　were　necessary。　Why　should　he；　the　bastard？　Norman　thought。　It　wasn't　his　money。
　Three　months　over　the　schedule　the　picture　went。　A　million　and　a　half　thrown　down　the　drain。　He　blinked　his　eyes　as　he　came　onto　the　brilliantly　lighted　section　of　the　stage。
　Thank　God；　this　was　the　last　scene。　It　was　the　one　in　front　of　the　cabin　when　the　girl　opens　the