merton of the movies-第22节
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you were； and he's to give you that same look。 Got that cigarette going？ All ready。 Lights！ Camera！〃 Merton was achieving his first close…up。 Under the hum of the lights he was thinking that he had been a fool not to learn dancing； no matter how the Reverend Otto Carmichael denounced it as a survival from the barbaric Congo。 He was also thinking that the Montague girl ought to be kept away from people who were trying to do really creative things； and he was bitterly regretting that he had no silver cigarette case。 The gloom of his young face was honest gloom。 He was aware that his companion leaned vivaciously toward him with gay chatter and gestures。 Very slowly he inhaled from a cigarette that was already distastefuladding no little to the desired effectand very slowly he exhaled as he raised to hers the bored eyes of a soul quite disillusioned。 Here； indeed； was the blight of Broadway。
〃All right； first rate！〃 called Henshaw。 〃Now get this bunch down here。〃 The camera was pushed on。
〃Gee； that was luck！〃 said the girl。 〃Of course it'll be cut to a flash； but I bet we stand out； at that。〃 She was excited now； no longer needing to act。
From the table back of Merton came the voice of the Montague girl： 〃Yes； one must suffer for one's art。 Here I got to be a baby…vamp when I'd rather be simple little Madelon； beloved by all in the village。〃
He restrained an impulse to look around at her。 She was not serious and should not be encouraged。 Farther down the set Henshaw was beseeching a table of six revellers to give him a little hollow gayety。 〃You're simply forcing yourselves to have a good time；〃 he was saying； 〃remember that。 Your hearts aren't in it。 You know this night life is a mockery。 Still； you're playing the game。 Now； two of you raise your glasses to drink。 You at the end stand up and hold your glass aloft。 The girl next to you there； stand up by him and raise your face to histurn sideways more。 That's it。 Put your hand up to his shoulder。 You're slightly lit； you know； and you're inviting him to kiss you over his glass。 You others； you're drinking gay enough； but see if you can get over that it's only half…hearted。 You at the other end thereyou're staring at your wine glass； then you look slowly up at your partner but without any life。 You're feeling the blight； see？ A chap down the line here just did it perfectly。 All ready； now！ Lights！ Camera！ You blonde girl； stand up； face raised to him； hand up to his shoulder。 You others； drinking； laughing。 You at the end； look up slowly at the girl； look awayabout therebored； weary of it allcut！ All right。 Not so bad。 Now this next bunch； Paul。〃
Merton Gill was beginning to loathe cigarettes。 He wondered if Mr。 Henshaw would mind if he didn't smoke so much； except； of course； in the close…ups。 His throat was dry and rough； his voice husky。 His companion had evidently played more smoking parts and seemed not to mind it。
Henshaw was now opposite them across the dancing floor； warning his people to be gay but not too gay。 The glamour of this night life must be a little dulled。
〃Now； Paul； get about three medium shots along here。 There's a good tableget that bunch。 And not quite so solemn； people； don't overdo it。 You think you're having a good time； even if it does turn to ashes in your mouthnow； ready； lights！ Camera！〃
〃I like Western stuff better；〃 confided Merton to his companion。 She considered this； though retaining her arch manner。 〃Well； I don't know。 I done a Carmencita part in a dance…hall scene last month over to the Bigart； and right in the mi'st of the fight I get a glass of somethin' all over my gown that practically rooned it。 I guess I rather do this refined cabaret stuffat least you ain't so li'ble to roon a gown。 Still and all； after you been warmin' the extra bench for a month one can't be choosy。 Say； there's the princ'ples comin' on the set。〃
He looked around。 There； indeed； was the beautiful Muriel Mercer； radiant in an evening frock of silver。 At the moment she was putting a few last touches to her perfect face from a make…up box held by a maid。 Standing with her was another young woman； not nearly so beautiful； and three men。 Henshaw was instructing these。 Presently he called through his megaphone： 〃You people are excited by the entrance of the famous Vera Vanderpool and her friends。 You stop drinking； break off your talk； stare at hersee what I mean？she makes a sensation。 Music； lights； camera！〃
Down the set； escorted by a deferential head…waiter； came Muriel Mercer on the arm of a middle…aged man who was elaborately garnished but whose thin dyed mustaches； partially bald head； and heavy eyes； proclaimed him to Merton Gill as one who meant the girl no good。 They were followed by the girl who was not so beautiful and the other two men。 These were young chaps of pleasing exterior who made the progress laughingly。 The five were seated at a table next the dancing space at the far end。 They chatted gayly as the older man ordered importantly from the head…waiter。 Muriel Mercer tapped one of the younger men with her plumed fan and they danced。 Three other selected couples danced at the same time； though taking care not to come between the star and the grinding camera。 The older man leered at the star and nervously lighted a gold…tipped cigarette which he immediately discarded after one savage bite at it。 It could be seen that Vera Vanderpool was the gayest of all that gay throng。 Upon her as yet had come no blight of Broadway； though she shrank perceptibly when the partially bald one laid his hand on her slender wrist as she resumed her seat。 Food and wine were brought。 Vera Vanderpool drank； with a pretty flourish of her glass。
Now the two cameras were moved forward for close…ups。 The older man was caught leering at Vera。 It would surely be seen that he was not one to trust。 Vera was caught with the mad light of pleasure in her beautiful eyes。 Henshaw was now speaking in low tones to the group； and presently Vera Vanderpool did a transition。 The mad light of pleasure died from her eyes and the smile froze on her beautiful mouth。 A look almost of terror came into her eyes； followed by a pathetic lift of the upper lip。 She stared intently above the camera。 She was beholding some evil thing far from that palace of revels。
〃Now they'll cut back to the tenement…house stuff they shot last week；〃 explained the Spanish girl。
〃Tenement house？〃 queried Merton。 〃But I thought the story would be that she falls in love with a man from the great wind…swept spaces out West； and goes out there to live a clean open life with him that's the way I thought it would beout there where she could forget the blight of Broadway。〃
〃No； Mercer never does Western stuff。 I got a little girl friend workin' with her and she told me about this story。 Mercer gets into this tenement house down on the east side； and she's a careless society butterfly； but all at once she sees what a lot of sorrow there is in this world when she sees these people in the tenement house； starving to death； and sick kids and everything； and this little friend of mine does an Italian girl with a baby and this old man here； he's a rich swell and prominent in Wall Street and belongs to all the clubs； but he's the father of this girl's child； only Mercer don't know that yet。 But she gets aroused in her better nature by the sight of all this trouble； and she almost falls in love with another gentleman who devotes all his time to relieving the poor in these tenementsit was him who took her therebut still she likes a good time as well as anybody； and she's stickin' around Broadway and around this old guy who's pretty good company in spite of his faults。 But just now she got a shock at remembering the horrible sights she has seen； she can't get it out of her mind。 And pretty soon she'll see this other gentleman that she nearly fell in love with； the one who hangs around these tenements doing good he'll be over at one of them tables and she'll leave her party and go over to his table and say； 'Take me from this heartless Broadway to your tenements where I can relieve their suffering；' so she goes out and gets in a taxi with him； leaving the old guy with not a thing to do but pay the check。 Of course he's mad； and he follows her down to the tenements where she's relieving the poorjust in a plain black dressand she finds out he's the real father of this little friend of mine's child； and tells him to go back to Broadway while she has chosen the better part and must live her life with these real people。 But he sends her a note that's supposed to be from a poor woman dying of something； to come and bring her some medicine； and she goes off alone to this dive in another street； and it's the old guy himself who has sent the note； and he has her there in this cellar in his power。 But the other gentleman has found the note and has follered her； and breaks in the door and puts up a swell fight with the old guy and some toughs he has hired； and gets her off safe and sound； and so they're married and live the real life far away from the blight of Broadway。 It's a swell story； all right； but Mercer can't act it。 This little friend of mine can act all around her。 She'd be a star if only she was better lookin'。 Y
