sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第39节
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now they had to be destroyed。
She went after Sam Winters； the man who had told Toby she had no talent。 She never said a word against him； on the contrary； she praised him to Toby。 But she always praised other studio heads just a little bit more。。。。 The other studios had properties better suited for Toby。。。 directors who really understood him。 Jill would add that she could not help thinking that Sam Winters did not really appreciate Toby's talent。 Before long； Toby began feeling the same way。 With Clifton Lawrence gone； Toby had no one to talk to； no one he could trust； except Jill。 When Toby decided to make his movies at another studio； he believed that it was his own idea。 But Jill made certain that Sam Winters knew the truth。 Retribution。
There were those around Toby who felt that Jill could not last； that she was simply a temporary intruder； a passing fancy。 So they tolerated her or treated her with a thinly veiled contempt。 It was their mistake。 One by one； Jill eliminated them。 She wanted no one around who had been important in Toby's life or who could influence him against her。 She saw to it that Toby changed his lawyer and his public…relations firm and she hired people of her own choosing。 She got rid of the three Macs and Toby's entourage of stooges。 She replaced all the servants。 It was her house now and she was the mistress of it。
A party at the Temples' had bee the hottest ticket in town。 Everyone who was anybody was there。 Actors mingled with socialites and governors and heads of powerful corporations。 The press was always there in full force； so that there was a bonus for the lucky guests。 Not only did they go to the Temples' and have a wonderful time； but everyone knew that they had been to the Temples' and had a wonderful time。 When the Temples were not hosts； they were guests。 There was an avalanche of invitations。 They were invited to premieres； charity dinners； political affairs； openings of restaurants and hotels。 Toby would have been content to stay at home alone with Jill； but she liked going out。 On some evenings； they had three or four parties to attend； and she rushed Toby from one to the other。
〃Jesus； you should have been a social director at Grossinger's；〃 Toby laughed。
〃I'm doing it for you； darling；〃 Jill replied。
Toby was making a movie for MGM and had a grueling schedule。 He came home late one night； exhausted； to find his evening clothes laid out for him。
〃We're not going out again； baby？ We haven't been home one night the whole fucking yearl〃
〃It's the Davises' anniversary party。 They'd be terribly hurt if we didn't show up。〃
Toby sat down heavily on the bed。 〃I was looking forward to a nice hot bath and a quiet evening。 Just the two of us。〃 But Toby went to the party。 And because he always had to be 〃on〃； always had to be the center of attention； he drew on his enormous reservoir of energy until everyone was laughing and applauding and telling everyone else what a brilliantly funny man Toby Temple was。 Late that night； lying in his bed； Toby was unable to sleep； his body drained； but his mind reliving the triumphs of the evening line by line； laugh by laugh。 He was a very happy man。 And all because of Jill。 How his mother would have adored her。
In March they received an invitation to the Cannes Film Festival。
〃No way；〃 Toby said； when Jill showed him the invitation。 〃The only Cannes I'm going to is the one in my bathroom。 I'm tired； honey。 I've been working my butt off。〃
Jerry Guttman； Toby's public…relations man； had told Jill that there was a good chance that Toby's movie would win the Best Picture Award and that it would help if Toby were there。 He felt that it was important for Toby to go。
Lately； Toby had been plaining that he was tired all the time and was unable to sleep。 At night he took sleeping pills； which left him groggy in the morning。 Jill counteracted the feeling of tiredness by giving him benzedrine at breakfast so that Toby would have enough energy to get through the day。 Now； the cycle of uppers and downers seemed to be taking its toll on him。
〃I've already accepted the invitation；〃 Jill told Toby； 〃but I'll cancel。 No problem； darling。〃
〃Let's go down to the Springs for a month and just lie around in the soap。〃
She looked at him。 〃What？〃
He sat there； very still。 〃I meant sun。 I don't know why it came out soap。〃
She laughed。 〃Because you're funny。〃 Jill squeezed his hand。 〃Anyway； Palm Springs sounds wonderful。 I love being alone with you。〃
〃I don't know what's wrong with me；〃 Toby sighed。 〃I just don't have the juice anymore。 I guess I'm getting old。〃
〃You'll never get old。 You can wear me out。〃 He grinned。 〃Yeah？ I guess my pecker will live long after I die。〃 He rubbed the back of his head and said； 〃I think I'll take a little nap。 To tell the truth； I'm not feeling so hot。 We don't have a date tonight； do we？〃
〃Nothing that I can't put off。 I'll send the servants away and cook dinner myself tonight。 Just us。〃
〃Hey； that'll be great。〃 He watched her leave； and he thought； Jesus； I'm the luckiest guy who ever lived。
They were lying in bed late that night。 Jill had given Toby a warm bath and a relaxing massage； kneading his tired muscles； soothing away his tensions。
〃Ah； that feels wonderful；〃 he murmured。 〃How did I ever get along without you？〃
〃I can't imagine。〃 She nestled close to him。 〃Toby； tell me about the Cannes Film Festival。 What's it like？ I've never been to one。〃
〃It's just a mob of hustlers who e from all over the world to sell their lousy movies to one another。 It's the biggest con game in the world。〃
〃You make it sound exciting；〃 Jill said。
〃Yeah？ Well； I guess it is kind of exciting。 The place is filled with characters。〃 He studied her for a moment。 〃Do you really want to go to that stupid film festival？〃
She shook her head quickly。 〃No。 We'll go to Palm Springs。〃
〃Hell； we can go to Palm Springs anytime。〃
〃Really； Toby； it's not important。〃 He smiled。
〃Do you know why I'm so crazy about you？ Any other woman in the world would have been pestering me to take her to the festival。 You're dying to go； but do you say anything？ No。 You want to go to the Springs with me。 Have you canceled that acceptance？〃
〃Not yet； but〃
〃Don't。 We're going to India。〃 A puzzled look came over his face。 〃Did I say India？ I meant Cannes。〃
When their plane landed at Orviy； Toby was handed a cablegram。 His father had died in the nursing home。 It was too late for Toby to go back for the funeral。 He arranged to have a new wing added to the rest home； named after his parents。
The whole world was at Cannes。 It was Hollywood and London and Rome； all mixed together in a glorious； many…tongued cacophony of sound and fury； in Technicolor and Panavision。 From all over the globe； picture makers nocked to the French Riviera； carrying cans of dreams under their arms； rolls of celluloid made in English and French and Japanese and Hungarian and Polish； that were going to make them rich and famous overnight。 The croisette was packed with professionals and amateurs； veterans and tyros； ers and has…beens； all peting for the prestigious prizes。 Being awarded a prize at the Cannes Film Festival meant money in the bank； if the winner had no distribution deal； he could get one； and if he already had one； he could better it。 Every hotel in Cannes was filled； and the overflow had spilled up and down the coast to Antibes； Beaulieu； Saint' Tropez and Menton。 The residents of the small villages gaped in awe at the famous faces that filled their streets and restaurants and bars。 Every room had been reserved for months ahead； but Toby Temple had no difficulty getting a large suite at the Carlton。 Toby and Jill were feted everywhere they went。 News photographers' cameras clicked incessantly； and their images were sent around the world。 The Golden Couple； the King and Queen of Hollywood。 The reporters interviewed Jill and asked for her opinions on everything from French wines to African politics。 It was a far cry from Josephine Czinski of Odessa； Texas。
Toby's picture did not win the award； but two nights before the festival was to end； the Judges mittee announced that they were presenting a Special award to Toby Temple for his contribution to the field of entertainment。 It was a black…tie affair； and the large banquet hall at the Carlton Hotel overflowed with guests。
Jill was seated on the dais next to Toby。 She noticed that he was not eating。
〃What's the matter； darling？〃 she asked。
Toby shook his head。 〃Probably had too much sun today。 I feel a little woozy。〃
〃Tomorrow I'm going to see that you rest。〃
Jill had scheduled interviews for Toby with Paris Match and the London Times in the morning； luncheon with a group of television reporters； followed by a cocktail party。 She decided she would cancel the least important。
At the conclusion of dinner； the mayor of Cannes rose to his feet and introduced Toby。
〃Mesdames； messieurs； et invites distingues； c'est un grand privilege de vow presenter un homme dont Poeuvre a donne plaisir et bonheur all monde entier。 fai Phonnew de ltd presenter cette medaille specvde； un signs de notre affection et de notre a
