merton of the movies-第13节

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That　was　actuality；　in　a　way。　But　here　it　was　in　full　measure；　without　mental　subterfuge　or　vain　imaginings。　Had　he　not　beheld　from　this　posthe　was　pretty　sure　he　hadMiss　Baxter　herself；　swathed　in　costly　furs；　drive　a　robin's…egg…blue　roadster　through　the　gate　without　even　a　nod　to　the　warder？　Indeed；　that　one　glimpse　of　reality　had　been　worth　his　ten　days　of　waitingworth　all　his　watching　of　the　gate　and　its　keeper　until　he　knew　every　dent　in　the　keeper's　derby　hat；　every　bristle　in　his　unkempt　mustache；　every　wrinkle　of　his　inferior　raiment；　and　every　pocket　from　which　throughout　the　day　he　would　vainly　draw　matches　to　relight　an　apparently　fireproof　cigar。　Surely　waiting　thus　rewarded　could　not　be　called　barren。　When　he　grew　tired　of　standing　he　could　cross　the　street　and　rest　on　a　low　bench　that　encircled　one　of　the　eucalyptus　trees。　Here　were　other　waiters　without　the　pale；　usually　men　of　strongly　marked　features；　with　a　tendency　to　extremes　in　stature　or　hair　or　beards　or　noses；　and　not　conspicuously　neat　in　attire。　These；　he　discovered；　were　extras　awaiting　employment；　many　of　them　Mexicans　or　strange…appearing　mongrels；　with　a　sprinkling　of　Negroes。　Often　he　could　have　recruited　there　a　band　of　outlaws　for　desperate　deeds　over　the　border。　He　did　not　fraternize　with　these　waifs；　feeling　that　his　was　another　plane。

He　had　spent　three　days　thus　about　the　studio　gate　when　he　learned　of　the　existence　of　another　entrance。　This　was　a　door　almost　opposite　the　bench。　He　ventured　through　it　and　discovered　a　bare　room　with　a　wooden　seat　running　about　its　sides。　In　a　partition　opposite　the　entrance　was　a　small　window　and　over　it　the　words　〃Casting　Director。〃　One　of　the　two　other　doors　led　to　the　interior；　and　through　this　he　observed　pass　many　of　the　chosen。　Another　door　led　to　the　office　of　the　casting　director；　glimpses　of　which　could　be　obtained　through　the　little　window。

The　waiting　room　itself　was　not　only　bare　as　to　floor　and　walls；　but　was　bleak　and　inhospitable　in　its　general　effect。　The　wooden　seat　was　uncomfortable；　and　those　who　sat　upon　it　along　the　dull…toned　walls　appeared　depressed　and　unhopeful；　especially　after　they　had　braved　a　talk　through　the　little　window　with　someone　who　seemed　always　to　be　saying；　〃No；　nothing　to…day。　Yes；　perhaps　next　week。　I　have　your　address。〃　When　the　aspirants　were　women；　as　they　mostly　were；　the　someone　back　of　the　window　would　add　〃dear〃　to　the　speech：　〃No；　nothing　to…day；　dear。〃

There　seemed　never　to　be　anything　to…day；　and　Clifford　Armytage　spent　very　little　of　his　waiting　time　in　this　room。　It　made　him　uncomfortable　to　be　stared　at　by　other　applicants；　whether　they　stared　casually；　incuriously；　or　whether　they　seemed　to　appraise　him　disparagingly；　as　if　telling　him　frankly　that　for　him　there　would　never　be　anything　to…day。

Then　he　saw　that　he；　too；　must　undergo　that　encounter　at　the　little　window。　Too　apparently　he　was　not　getting　anywhere　by　loitering　about　outside。　It　was　exciting；　but　the　producers　would　hardly　look　there　for　new　talent。

He　chose　a　moment　for　this　encounter　when　the　waiting　room　was　vacant；　not　caring　to　be　stared　at　when　he　took　this　first　step　in　forming　a　connection　that　was　to　be　notable　in　screen　annals。　He　approached　the　window；　bent　his　head；　and　encountered　the　gaze　of　a　small；　comely　woman　with　warm　brown　eyes；　neat　reddish　hair；　and　a　quick　manner。　The　gaze　was　shrewd；　it　seemed　to　read　all　that　was　needed　to　be　known　of　this　new　candidate。

〃Yes？〃　said　the　woman。

She　looked　tired　and　very　businesslike；　but　her　manner　was　not　unkind。　The　novice　was　at　once　reassured。　He　was　presently　explaining　to　her　that　he　wished　to　act　in　the　pictures　at　this　particular　studio。　No；　he　had　not　had　much　experience；　that　is；　you　could　hardly　call　it　experience　in　actual　acting；　but　he　had　finished　a　course　of　study　and　had　a　diploma　from　the　General　Film　Production　Company　of　Stebbinsville；　Arkansas；　certifying　him　to　be　a　competent　screen　actor。　And　of　course　he　would　not　at　first　expect　a　big　part。　He　would　be　glad　to　take　a　small　part　to　begin　with　almost　any　small　part　until　he　could　familiarize　himself　with　studio　conditions。　And　here　was　a　bunch　of　stills　that　would　give　any　one　an　idea　of　the　range　of　parts　he　was　prepared　to　play；　society　parts　in　a　full…dress　suit；　or　soldier　parts　in　a　trench　coat　and　lieutenant's　cap；　or　juveniles　in　the　natty　suit　with　the　belted　coat；　and　in　the　storm…king　model　belted　overcoat。　And　of　course　Western　stuffthese　would　give　an　idea　of　what　he　could　docowboy　outfit　and　all　that　sort　of　thing；　chaps　and　spurs　and　guns　and　so　forth。　And　he　was　prepared　to　work　hard　and　struggle　and　sacrifice　in　order　to　give　the　public　something　better　and　finer；　and　would　it　be　possible　to　secure　some　small　part　at　once？　Was　a　good　all…round　actor　by　any　chance　at　that　moment　needed　in　the　company　of　Miss　Beulah　Baxter；　because　he　would　especially　like　such　a　part；　and　he　would　be　ready　to　start　to　work　at　any　timeto…morrow；　or　even　to…　day。

The　tired　little　woman　beyond　the　opening　listened　patiently　to　this；　interrupting　several　times　to　say　over　an　insistent　telephone；　〃No；　nothing　to…day；　dear。〃　She　looked　at　the　stills　with　evident　interest　and　curiously　studied　the　face　of　the　speaker　as　she　listened。　She　smiled　wearily　when　he　was　through　and　spoke　briskly。

〃Now；　I'll　tell　you；　son；　all　that　is　very　nice；　but　you　haven't　had　a　lick　of　real　experience　yet；　have　you？and　things　are　pretty　quiet　on　the　lot　just　now。　To…day　there　are　only　two　companies　shooting。　So　you　couldn't　get　anything　to…day　or　to…morrow　or　probably　for　a　good　many　days　after　that；　and　it　won't　be　much　when　you　get　it。　You　may　get　on　as　an　extra　after　a　while　when　some　of　the　other　companies　start　shooting；　but　I　can't　promise　anything；　you　understand。　What　you　do　nowleave　me　your　name　and　address　and　telephone　number。〃

〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　said　the　applicant；　and　supplied　these　data。

〃Clifford　Armytage！〃　exclaimed　the　woman。　〃I'll　say　that's　some　warm　name！〃

〃Well；　you　see〃he　paused；　but　resolved　to　confide　freely　in　this　friendly　seeming　person〃you　see；　I　picked　that　out　for　a　good　name　to　act　under。　It　sounds　good；　doesn't　it？　And　my　own　right　name　is　only　Merton　Gill；　so　I　thought　I'd　better　have　something　that　sounded　a　little　morewell；　you　know。〃

〃Sure！〃　said　the　woman。　〃All　right；　have　any　name　you　want；　but　I　think　I'll　call　you　Merton　when　you　come　again。　You　needn't　act　with　me；　you　know。　Now；　let's　seename；　age；　height；　good　general　wardrobe；　house　address；　telephone　numberoh；　yes；　tell　me　where　I　can　find　you　during　the　day。〃

〃Right　out　here；〃　he　replied　firmly。　〃I'm　going　to　stick　to　this　studio　and　not　go　near　any　of　the　others。　If　I'm　not　in　this　room　I'll　be　just　outside　there；　on　that　bench　around　the　tree；　or　just　across　the　street　where　you　can　see　through　the　gate　and　watch　the　people　go　through。〃

〃Say！〃　Again　the　woman　searched　his　face　and　broke　into　her　friendly　smile。　〃Say；　you're　a　real　nut；　aren't　you？　How'd　you　ever　get　this　way？〃

And　again　he　was　talking；　telling　now　of　his　past　and　his　struggles　to　educate　himself　as　a　screen　actorone　of　the　best。　He　spoke　of　Simsbury　and　Gashwiler　and　of　Lowell　Hardy　who　took　his　stills；　and　of　Tessie　Kearns；　whose　sympathy　and　advice　had　done　so　much　to　encourage　him。　The　woman　was　joyously　attentive。　Now　she　did　more　than　smile。　She　laughed　at　intervals　throughout　the　narrative；　though　her　laughter　seemed　entirely　sympathetic　and　in　no　way　daunted　the　speaker。

〃Well；　Merton；　you're　a　funny　oneI'll　say　that。　You're　so　kind　of　ignorant　and　appealing。　And　you　say　this　Bughalter　or　Gigwater　or　whatever　his　name　is　will　take　you　back　into　the　store　any　time？　Well；　that's　a　good　thing　to　remember；　because　the　picture　game　is　a　hard　game。　I　wouldn't　discourage　a　nice　clean　boy　like　you　for　the　world；　but　there　are　a　lot　of　people　in　pictures　right　now　that　would　prefer　a　steady　job　like　that　one　you　left。〃

〃It's　Gashwilerthat　name。〃

〃Oh；　all　right；　just　so　you　don't　forget　it　and　forget　the　address。〃

The　new　applicant　warmly　reassured　her。

〃I　wouldn't　be　likely　to　forget　that；　after　living　there　all　those　years。〃

When　he　left　the　window　the　woman　was　again　saying　into　the　telephone；　〃No；　dear；　nothing　to…day。　I'm　sorry。〃

It　was　that　night　he　wrote　to　Tessie　Kearns：

Dear　Friend　Tessie：

Well；　Tessie；　here　I　am　safe　and　sound　in　Hollywood　after　a　long　ride　on　the　cars　that　went　through　many　strange　and　interesting　cities　and　different　parts　of　the　country；　and　I　guess　by　this　time　you　must　have　thought　I　was　forgetting　my　old　friends　back　in　Simsbury；　but　not　so；　I　can　assure　you；　for　I　will　never　forget　our　long　talks　together　and　how　you　cheered　me　up　often　when　the　sacrifice　and　struggle　seemed　more　than　any　man　could　bear。　But　now　I　feel　repaid　for　all　that　sacrifice　and　struggle；　for　I　am　here　where　the　pictures　are　made；　and　soon　I　will　be　acting　different　parts　in　them；　though　things　are　quiet　on　the　lot　now　with　only　two　companies　shooting　to…day；　but　more　companies　will　be　shooting　in　a　few　days　more　and　then　will　come　the　great　opportunity　for　me　as　soon　as　I　get　known；　and　my　different　capabilities；　and　what　I　can　do　and　everything。

I　had　a　lo