hr.thecarpetbaggers-第110节

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　〃But；　Jonas。　I　brought　Bonner　into　New　York。〃
　〃That's　fine；〃　I　said。　〃But　you　get　him　back　to　the　studio　and　tell　him　I'll　see　him　there。　That's　the　only　place　to　handle　a　picture。〃
　〃O。K。；　Jonas；〃　he　said；　a　faint　disappointment　in　his　voice。　〃You　flying　out？〃
　〃Yeah。　I　think　I　can　make　the　ICA　two…o'clock　flight。　That　way；　I'll　be　in　California　tomorrow　morning。〃
　〃Give　Rosa　a　call；　will　you；　Jonas？　She'd　be　pleased　to　hear　from　you。〃
　〃I　will；　David；〃　I　said。　〃By　the　way；　how　do　I　get　in　touch　with　that　Jennie　Denton？　I　think　I　ought　at　least　to　meet　the　girl　who's　going　to　play　the　lead　in　The　Sinner。〃
　〃She's　in　Palm　Springs；　at　the　Tropical　Flower　Hotel；　registered　under　the　name　of　Judy　Belden。〃
　〃Thanks；　David；〃　I　said。　〃Good…by。〃
　〃Have　a　safe　trip；　Jonas。〃
　
　It　was　11：30　a。m。；　California　time；　the　next　day；　when　I　parked　my　convertible　in　the　driveway　of　the　Tropical　Flower　Hotel　in　Palm　Springs。　I　checked　at　the　desk　and　walked　down　to　Cottage　No。　5。　When　I　knocked　on　the　door；　there　was　no　answer。　But　the　door　was　unlocked；　so　I　walked　in。　〃Miss　Denton？〃　I　called。
　There　was　no　answer。　Then　I　heard　the　shower　running　in　the　bathroom。　I　walked　through　and　opened　the　bathroom　door。　I　could　see　the　outline　of　her　body　against　the　opaque　shower　curtain。　She　was　singing　in　a　low；　husky　voice。
　I　closed　the　bathroom　door　behind　me　and　sat　down　on　the　can。　I　lit　a　cigarette　while　I　watched　her　through　the　shower　curtain。　I　didn't　have　to　wait　long。
　She　turned　off　the　water　and　I　could　hear　her　sniff　at　the　cigarette　smoke。　Her　voice；　from　behind　the　curtain；　was　calm。　〃If　that's　one　of　the　bellboys　waiting　out　there；　he'd　better　go　before　I　e　out；〃　she　said；　〃or　I　report　him　to　the　desk。〃
　I　didn't　answer。
　She　stuck　her　head　through　the　shower　curtain；　groping　for　a　towel。　I　reached　over　and　put　one　in　her　hand。　Through　the　curtain；　I　could　see　her　wrap　it　around　herself；　then　the　curtain　slid　back　and　she　stared　at　me。　Her　eyes　were　dark　gray　and　unafraid。　〃The　bellboys　in　this　hotel　are　the　worst；〃　she　said。　〃They　walk　in　on　you　at　the　oddest　times。〃
　〃You　could　try　locking　your　door。〃
　She　stepped　out　of　the　tub。　〃What　for？　They　all　have　passkeys。〃
　I　got　to　my　feet。　〃Jennie　Denton？〃
　〃It's　Judy　Belden　on　the　register。〃　A　questioning　look　came　over　her　face。　〃You　the　law？〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃No。　I'm　Jonas　Cord。〃
　She　looked　up　at　me；　a　slow　smile　spreading　over　her　face。　〃Well；　hey！　I've　been　waiting　to　meet　you。〃
　I　smiled　back　at　her。　〃What　for？〃
　She　came　very　close　to　me　and　reached　up　to　put　her　arms　around　my　neck。　She　drew　my　face　down　and　the　towel　slipped　from　her　body　to　the　floor　as　she　stretched　up　to　her　tiptoes　and　kissed　me。　Then　she　leaned　her　head　back　and　looked　up　at　me　with　mischievous；　laughing　eyes。
　〃Boss；〃　she　whispered；　〃ain't　it　about　time　you　signed　my　contract？〃
　
　6
　
　IT　WAS　THE　SAME　BUNGALOW　OFFICE　　I'D　USED　TEN　years　ago；　when　we　were　making　The　Renegade。　Nothing　had　changed　except　the　secretaries。　〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Cord；〃　they　trilled　in　unison　as　I　came　in。
　I　said　good　morning　and　walked　through　to　my　office。　Bonner　was　pacing　up　and　down　nervously。　Dan　Pierce　was　seated　on　the　long　couch　underneath　the　window。　I　looked　at　him　for　a　moment；　then　without　speaking；　walked　behind　my　desk　and　sat　down。
　〃I　asked　Pierce　to　e　over　and　help　convince　you；〃　Bonner　said。　〃You　can't　make　a　picture　costing　this　much　without　a　name。〃
　〃Dan　couldn't　convince　me　to　go　to　the　can　if　I　had　the　runs。〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；　Jonas；〃　Dan　said　quickly。　〃I　know　how　you　feel。　But　believe　me；　I'm　only　looking　out　for　your　good。〃
　I　turned　to　him。　〃Like　you　did　when　you　sold　your　stock　to　Sheffield　without　checking　with　me？〃
　〃The　stock　was　mine；〃　he　said　hotly。　〃I　didn't　have　to　check　with　anybody。　Besides；　who　could　get　in　touch　with　you？　Everybody　knew　that　you　didn't　give　a　damn　about　the　pany；　that　you　were　unloading　part　of　your　own　stock。〃
　I　reached　for　a　cigarette。　After　a　moment；　I　nodded。　〃You're　right；　Dan；〃　I　said。　〃The　stock　was　yours；　you　didn't　owe　me　anything。　You　did　your　job　and　I　paid　you　for　it　…　in　full；　for　the　five　years　your　contract　still　had　to　run。〃　I　leaned　back　in　the　chair　and　dragged　on　the　cigarette。　〃I　just　made　a　mistake。　You　were　a　good　agent　when　I　met　you。　I　should　have　left　well　enough　alone。〃
　〃I'm　trying　to　keep　you　from　making　another　mistake；　Jonas。　When　the　script　of　The　Sinner　was　written；　it　was　a　vehicle　for　a　big　star　…　Rina　Marlowe。　She　was　the　biggest　there　was。　You　can't　just　take　a　girl　with　no　experience；　and　who　nobody's　heard　of；　and　put　her　in　a　picture　without　stars　to　support　her。　They'll　laugh　you　out　of　the　theater。〃
　I　looked　up　quizzically。　〃What　do　you　think　I　ought　to　do；　then？〃
　I　could　see　the　quick　look　of　confidence　e　into　his　eyes。　〃Get　a　couple　of　big　names；〃　he　said。　〃Use　the　girl　if　you　want　but　back　her　up。　Bogart。　Tracy。　Colman。　Gable。　Flynn。　Any　one　of　them　insures　it　for　you。〃
　〃I　suppose　you　can　get　them　for　me？〃
　He　missed　the　sarcasm。　〃I　think　I　could　help；〃　he　said　cautiously。
　〃Well；　bless　your　little　bleeding；　ten…per…centing　heart。　That's　very　kind　of　you。〃　I　got　to　my　feet。　〃Get　out；　Dan。　Get　out　before　I　throw　you　out。　And　don't　ever　e　back　on　this　lot　while　I'm　on　it。〃
　He　stared　at　me；　his　face　turning　white。　〃You　can't　talk　to　me　like　that；〃　he　blustered。　〃I'm　not　one　of　your　flunkies　who　you　can　buy　and　sell。〃
　〃I　bought　you　and　I　sold　you；〃　I　said　coldly。　〃You're　the　same　guy　you　were　when　you　tried　to　dump　Nevada's　show　for　Buffalo　Bill's。　You'd　sell　your　own　mother　if　there　was　anything　in　it　for　you。　But　you're　not　selling　me　any　more。　I'm　not　buying。〃
　I　pressed　the　buzzer　on　my　desk　and　one　of　the　secretaries　came　in。　〃Yes；　Mr。　Cord？〃　she　asked　from　the　open　doorway。
　〃Mr。　Pierce　was　just　leaving…　〃
　Dan's　face　was　livid　with　rage。　〃You'll　regret　this；　Jonas。〃
　The　door　slammed　behind　him　and　I　turned　to　Bonner。　〃I'm　sorry；　Jonas；〃　he　stammered。　〃I…　didn't　know…　〃
　〃That's　O。K。；〃　I　said　easily。　〃You　didn't　know。〃
　〃But　the　way　the　picture　is　shaping　up　now；　it's　going　over　three　million　dollars。　I'd　feel　better　if　we　had　some　stars　in　it。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Stars　are　great；　I'm　not　fighting　them。　But　not　this　time。　We're　doing　a　story　based　on　the　Bible。　When　somebody　looks　up　at　that　screen　at　John　or　Peter；　I　want　them　to　see　John　or　Peter；　not　Gable；　Tracy　or　Bogart。　Besides；　the　girl　is　the　important　thing。〃
　〃But　nobody　ever　heard　of　the　girl。〃
　〃So　what？〃　I　asked。　〃What　have　we　got　a　publicity　department　for？　By　the　time　this　picture　es　out；　there　won't　be　a　man；　woman　or　child　in　the　world　who　won't　know　her　name。　You　thought　enough　of　her　to　make　the　test；　didn't　you？　And　all　you　knew　about　her　was　that　she　was　a　girl　you　met　at　a　party。〃
　A　curiously　embarrassed　look　came　over　Bonner's　face。　〃That　was　different。　It　was　almost　a　gag。　I　never　thought　anybody　would　take　it　seriously。〃
　〃David　saw　the　test　and　took　it　seriously。　So　did　I。〃
　〃But　a　test　isn't　a　whole　picture。　Maybe　she　can't　sustain…　〃
　I　cut　him　short。　〃She'll　sustain；〃　I　said。　〃And　you　know　it。　You　knew　it　when　you　asked　her　to　make　the　test。〃
　He　looked　at　me　with　his　ugly　horse　face。　Nervously　his　hand　scratched　at　himself。　〃She…　she　told　you　about　the　party？〃　he　asked　hesitantly。
　I　nodded。　〃She　told　me　how　you'd　watched　her　all　evening；　how　you　came　over　and　asked　her　to　take　the　test。〃　I　laughed。　〃You　guys　beat　me。　You　find　a　Lana　Turner　at　a　soda　fountain。　You　find　Jennie　at　a　dinner　party。　How　do　you　do　it？〃
　A　puzzled　look　came　into　his　eyes。　He　started　to　say　something　but　the　telephone　on　my　desk　rang。　I　picked　it　up。　It　was　one　of　the　secretaries。　〃Miss　Denton　is　finished　in　Hairdressing。　Do　you　want　her　to　e　down？〃
　〃Yes。〃　I　put　down　the　phone　and　turned　back　to　Bonner。　〃I　sent　Jennie　up　to　Hairdressing。　I　had　an　idea　I　wanted　to　try　out。〃
　The　door　opened　and　Jennie　came　in。　She　moved　slowly；　almost　hesitantly；　to　the　center　of　the　office。　She　stopped　in　front　of　my　desk。　She　spun　slowly；　her　long　hair　no　longer　a　pale　brown　but　a　sparkling　champagne。　It　swirled　down　around　her　neck　and　shoulders；　spilling　a　translucent　radiance　around　her　tanned　face。
　Bonner's　voice　was　an　eerie　whisper。　〃My　God！〃
　I　looked　at　him。　There　was　a　strange　look　on　his　face。　His　lips　moved　silently；　his　eyes　were　fixed　on　her。　〃It's　as　if…　as　if　she　was　standing　here。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　I　said　slowly。　I　looked　back　up　at　Jennie。　I　began　to　feel　a　pressure　in　my　heart。　Rina。
　〃I　want　Ilene　Gaillard　to　dress　her；〃　I　said　softly　to　Bonner。
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃She's　retired。　She's　moved　back　East。　Boston；　I　think。〃
　I　remembered　the　forlorn；　white…haired　figure　kneeling　by　Rina's　grave。　〃Send　her　a　picture　of　Jennie。　She'll　e。〃
　Bonner　walked　over　to　the　desk　and　stood　next　to　Jennie；　looking　down　at　me。　〃By　the　way；　I　heard　from　Austin　Gilbert。　He　likes　the　script。　He's　ing　over　to　see　the　test　this　afternoon。　If　he　likes　the　girl；　he'll　do　the　picture。〃
　〃Good；〃　I　said。　That　was　the　way　it　was　with　big　directors。　The　two　hundred　grand　you　paid　them　meant　nothing；　they　could　get　that　on　any　picture。　The　important　thing　was