sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第35节

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em　on　the　cover　of　Time　and　LIFE　and　Newsweek　and　Paris　Match　and　OGGI　or　on　the　screen。　This　was　the　real　Hollywood。　These　were　the　picture　makers。　Jill　had　imagined　this　moment　a　thousand　times；　being　with　these　people；　talking　with　them。　Now　that　the　reality　was　here；　it　was　difficult　for　her　to　realize　that　it　was　actually　happening。　Toby　was　handing　her　a　glass　of　champagne。　He　took　her　arm　and　led　her　to　a　man　surrounded　by　a　group　of　people。　
　〃Sam；　I　want　you　to　meet　Jill　Castle。〃　
　Sam　turned。　〃Hello；　Jill　Castle；〃　he　said　pleasantly。　
　〃Jill；　this　is　Sam　Winters；　chief　Indian　of　Pan…Pacific　Studios。〃　
　〃I　know　who　Mr。　Winters　is；〃　Jill　said。　
　〃Jill's　an　actress；　Sam；　a　damned　clever　actress。　You　could　use　her。　Give　your　joint　a　little　class。〃　
　〃I'll　keep　that　in　mind；〃　Sam　said　politely。　Toby　took　Jill's　hand；　holding　it　firmly。　〃e　on；　honey；〃　he　said。　〃I　want　everybody　to　meet　you；〃　
　Before　the　evening　was　over；　Jill　had　met　three　studio　heads；　half　a　dozen　important　producers；　three　directors；　a　few　writers；　several　newspaper　and　television　columnists　and　a　dozen　stars。　At　dinner；　Jill　sat　at　Toby's　right。　She　listened　to　the　various　conversations；　savoring　the　feeling　of　being　on　the　Inside　for　the　first　time。　
　〃。。。　the　trouble　with　these　epics　is　that　if　one　of　them　flops；　it　can　wipe　out　the　whole　studio。　Fox　is　hanging　on　by　its　teeth；　waiting　to　see　what　Cleopatra　does。〃　
　〃。。。　have　you　seen　the　new　Billy　Wilder　picture　yet？　Sensational！〃　
　〃Yeah？　I　liked　him　better　when　he　was　working　with　Brackett。　Brackett　has　class。〃　
　〃Billy　has　talent；〃　
　〃。。。　so；　I　sent　Peck　a　mystery　script　last　week；　and　he's　crazy　about　it。　He　said　he'd　give　me　a　definite　answer　in　a　day　or　two。〃　
　〃。。。　I　received　this　invitation　to　meet　the　new　guru；　Krishi　Pramananada。　Well；　my　dear；　it　turned　out　I'd　already　met　him；　I　attended　his　bar　matzah。〃　
　〃。。。　the　problem　with　budgeting　a　picture　at　two　is　that　by　the　time　you　have　an　answer　print；　the　cost　of　inflation　plus　the　god　damned　unions　has　pushed　it　up　to　three　or　four。〃　
　Millions；　Jill　thought　excitedly。　Three　or　four　millions。　She　remembered　the　endless　penny…ante　conversations　at　Schwab's　where　the　hangers…on；　the　Survivors；　avidly　fed　each　other　crumbs　of　information　about　what　the　studios　were　doing。　Well；　the　people　at　this　table　tonight　were　the　real　survivors；　the　ones　who　made　everything　in　Hollywood　happen。　These　were　the　people　who　had　kept　the　gates　shut　against　her；　who　had　refused　to　give　her　a　chance。　Any　person　at　this　table　could　have　helped　her；　could　have　changed　her　life；　but　none　of　them　had　had　five　minutes　to　spare　for　Jill　Castle。　She　looked　over　at　a　producer　who　was　riding　high　with　a　big　new　musical　picture。　He　had　refused　to　give　Jill　even　an　interview。　At　the　far　end　of　the　table；　a　famous　edy　director　was　in　animated　conversation　with　the　star　of　his　latest　film。　He　had　refused　to　see　Jill。　Sam　Winters　was　talking　to　the　head　of　another　studio。　Jill　had　sent　a　telegram　to　Winters；　asking　him　to　watch　her　performance　on　a　television　show。　He　had　never　bothered　answering。　They　would　pay　for　their　slights　and　insults；　they　and　everybody　else　in　this　town　who　had　treated　her　so　shabbily。　Right　now；　she　meant　nothing　to　the　people　here；　but　she　would。　Oh；　yes。　One　day　she　would。　
　The　food　was　superb；　but　Jill　was　too　preoccupied　to　notice　what　she　ate。　When　dinner　was　over；　Toby　rose　and　said；　
　〃Hey！　We　better　hurry　before　they　start　the　picture　without　us。〃　
　Holding　Jill's　arm；　he　led　the　way　to　the　large　projection　room　where　they　were　to　watch　a　movie。　The　room　was　arranged　so　that　sixty　people　could　fortably　view　the　picture　in　couches　and　easy　chairs。　An　open　cabinet　filled　with　candy　bars　stood　at　one　side　of　the　couch。　A　popcorn　machine　stood　on　the　other　side。　Toby　had　seated　himself　next　to　Jill。　She　was　aware　that　all　through　the　screening　his　eyes　were　on　her　rather　on　the　movie。　When　the　picture　ended　and　the　lights　went　up；　coffee　and　cake　were　served。　Half　an　hour　later；　the　party　began　to　dissolve。　Most　of　the　guests　had　early　studio　calls。　Toby　was　standing　at　the　front　door　saying　good　night　to　Sam　Winters　when　Jill　walked　up；　wearing　her　coat。　
　〃Where　are　you　going？〃　Toby　demanded。　〃I'm　gonna　take　you　home。〃　
　〃I　have　my　car；〃　Jill　answered；　sweetly。　〃Thank　you　for　a　lovely　evening；　Toby。〃　
　And　she　left。　Toby　stood　there　in　disbelief；　watching　her　drive　away。　He　had　made　exciting　plans　for　the　rest　of　the　evening。　He　was　going　to　take　Jill　upstairs　to　the　bedroom　andhe　had　even　picked　out　the　tapes　he　was　going　to　play！　Any　woman　here　tonight　would　have　been　grateful　to　jump　into　my　bed；　Toby　thought。　They　were　stars；　too；　not　some　dumb　bit　player。　Jill　Castle　was　just　too　damned　stupid　to　know　what　she　was　turning　down。　It　was　over　as　far　as　Toby　was　concerned。　He　had　learned　his　lesson。　He　was　never　going　to　talk　to　Jill　again。　
　
　Toby　telephoned　Jill　at　nine　o'clock　the　next　morning；　and　he　was　answered　by　a　tape…recorded　message。　
　〃Hello；　this　is　Jill　Castle。　I'm　sorry　I'm　not　at　home　now。　If　you'll　leave　your　name　and　telephone　number；　I'll　call　you　back　when　I　return。　Please　wait　until　you　hear　the　signal。　Thank　you。〃　
　There　was　a　sharp　beep。　Toby　stood　there　clutching　the　telephone　in　his　hand；　then　slammed　down　the　receiver　without　leaving　a　message。　He　was　damned　if　he　was　going　to　carry　on　a　conversation　with　a　mechanical　voice。　A　moment　later；　he　redialed　the　number。　He　listened　to　the　recording　again　and　spoke。　
　〃You've　got　the　cutest　voice　over　in　town。　You　should　package　it。　I　don't　usually　call　back　girls　who　eat　and　run；　but　in　your　case；　I've　decided　to　make　an　exception。　What　are　you　doing　for　dinner　to　？〃　
　The　phone　went　dead。　He　had　talked　too　long　for　the　god　damned　tape。　He　froze；　not　knowing　what　to　do；　feeling　like　a　fool。　It　infuriated　him　to　have　to　call　back　again；　but　he　dialed　the　number　for　the　third　time　and　said；　〃As　I　was　saying　before　the　rabbi　cut　me　off；　how　about　dinner　tonight？　I'll　wait　for　your　call。〃　He　left　his　number　and　hung　up。　
　Toby　waited　restlessly　all　day　and　did　not　hear　from　her。　By　seven　o'clock；　he　thought；　to　hell　with　you。　That　was　your　last　chance；　baby。　And　this　time　it　was　final。　He　took　out　his　private　phone　book　and　began　to　thumb　through　it。　rhere　was　no　one　in　it　who　interested　him。　
　
　It　was　the　most　tremendous　role　in　Jill's　life。　She　had　no　idea　why　Toby　wanted　her　so　much　when　he　could　have　any　girl　in　Hollywood；　nor　did　the　reason　matter。　The　fact　was　that　he　did。　For　days　Jill　had　been　able　to　think　of　nothing　but　the　dinner　party　and　how　everyone　there　　all　those　important　people　　had　catered　to　Toby。　They　would　do　anything　for　him。　Somehow；　Jill　had　to　find　a　way　to　make　Toby　do　anything　for　her。　She　knew　she　had　to　be　very　clever。　Toby's　reputation　was　that　once　he　took　a　girl　to　bed；　he　lost　interest　in　her。　It　was　the　pursuit　he　enjoyed；　the　challenge。　Jill　spent　a　great　deal　of　time　thinking　about　Toby　and　about　how　she　was　going　to　handle　him。　Toby　telephoned　her　every　day　and　she　let　a　week　go　by　before　she　agreed　to　have　dinner　with　him　again。　He　was　in　such　a　euphoric　state　that　everyone　in　the　cast　and　crew　mented　on　it。　
　〃If　there　were　such　an　animal；〃　Toby　told　Clifton；　〃I'd　say　I　was　in　love。　Every　time　I　think　about　Jill；　I　get　an　erection。〃　He　grinned　and　added；　〃And　when　I　get　an　erection；　pal；　it's　like　putting　up　a　billboard　on　Hollywood　Boulevard。〃　
　The　night　of　their　first　date；　Toby　picked　Jill　up　at　her　apartment　and　said；　〃We　have　a　table　at　Chasen's。〃　He　was　sure　it　would　be　a　treat　for　her。　
　〃Oh？〃　There　was　a　note　of　disappointment　in　Jill's　voice。　
　He　blinked。　〃Is　there　some　place　else　you'd　rather　go？〃　It　was　Saturday　night；　but　Toby　knew　he　could　get　a　table　anywhere：　Perino's；　the　Ambassador；　the　Derby。　〃Name　it。〃　
　Jill　hesitated；　then　said；　〃You'll　laugh。〃　
　〃No；　I　won't。〃　
　〃Tommy's。〃　
　Toby　was　getting　a　poolside　massage　from　one　of　the　Macs；　while　Clifton　Lawrence　looked　on。　
　〃You　wouldn't　believe　it；〃　Toby　marveled。　〃We　stood　in　line　at　that　hamburger　joint　for　twenty　minutes。　Do　you　know　where　the　hell　Tommy's　is？　Downtown　Los　Angeles。　The　only　people　who　go　downtown　Los　Angeles　are　wetbacks。　She's　crazy。　I'm　ready　to　blow　a　hundred　bucks　on　her　with　French　champagne　and　the　whole　bit；　and　the　evening　costs　me　two　dollars　and　forty　cents。　I　wanted　to　take　her　to　Pip's　afterward。　Do　you　know　what　we　did　instead？　We　walked　along　the　beach　at　Santa　Monica。　I　got　sand　in　my　Guccis。　No　one　walks　along　the　beach　at　night。　You　get　mugged　by　scuba　divers。〃　He　shook　his　head　in　admiration。　〃Jill　Castle。　Do　you　believe　her？〃　
　〃No；〃　Clifton　said　dryly。　
　〃She　wouldn't　e　back　to　my　place　for　a　little　nightcap；　so　I　figured　I'd　get　in　the　cup　at　her　place；　right？〃　
　〃Right。〃　
　〃Wrong。　She　doesn't　even　let　me　in　the　door。　I　get　a　kiss　on　my　cheek　and　I'm　on　my　way　home；　alone。　Now　what　the　hell　kind　of　night　out　on　the　town　is　that　for　Charlie…　superstar？〃　
　〃Are　you　gonna　see　her　again？〃　
　〃Are　you　demented？　You　bet　your　sweet　ass　I　am！〃　
　
　After　that；　Toby　and　Jill　were　together　almost　every　night。　When　Jill　would　tell　Toby　she　could　not　see