hr.thecarpetbaggers-第71部分

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　Nevada　picked　up　his　cup　and　extended　it　across　the　table　to　Rina。　She　lifted　the　silver　coffeepot　and　poised　it　over　the　cup。　Professionally　and　automatically；　the　smiles　came　to　their　lips。
　They'd　gone　through　the　whole　routine。　The　picture　of　Rina　frying　bacon　and　eggs　while　he　looked　over　her　shoulder　at　the　stove；　the　burned…toast　bit；　the　popping　of　food　into　each　other's　mouth。　Everything　the　readers　of　fan　magazines　had　e　to　expect　from　movie　stars。　This　was　supposed　to　give　them　the　homey　touch。
　There　was　an　awkward　silence　for　a　moment　after　the　photographers　picked　up　their　gear　and　left。　Nevada　spoke　first。　〃I'm　glad　that's　over。〃
　〃So　am　I；〃　Rina　said。　She　hesitated；　then　looked　up　at　the　wall　clock。　〃I'd　better　get　started。　I'm　due　in　make…up　at　seven　thirty。〃
　She　started　to　get　up　but　the　telephone　near　her　began　to　ring。　She　sat　down　again　and　picked　it　up。　〃Hello。〃
　Nevada　could　hear　a　voice　crackle　through　the　receiver。　Rina　shot　him　a　funny　look；　then　spoke　into　the　telephone　again。
　〃Good　morning；　Louella；〃　she　said　in　a　sweet　voice。　〃No；　you　didn't　wake　me　up。　Nevada　and　I　were　just　having　breakfast。　。。。　Yes；　that's　right　…　The　Girl　on　the　Flying　Trapeze。　It's　a　wonderful　part。　。。。　No；　Norman　decided　against　borrowing　Gable　from　Metro。　He　says　there's　only　one　man　who　could　do　the　part　justice。　。。。　Of　course。　Nevada；　it's　a　natural　for　him。　Wait　a　minute；　I'll　put　him　on　and　let　him　tell　you　himself。〃
　She　covered　the　mouthpiece　with　her　hand。　〃It's　Parsons；〃　she　whispered　quickly。　〃Bernie　decided　yesterday　he　wanted　you　to　play　the　part　of　the　stunt…rider。　Louella's　checking　on　the　story。〃
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Nevada　asked　dryly。　''Wouldn't　MGM　lend　him　Gable？〃
　〃Don't　be　silly！　Get　on　the　phone。〃
　〃Hello；　Louella。〃
　The　familiar；　sticky…sweet　voice　chewed　at　his　ear。　〃Congratulations；　Nevada！　I　think　it's　just　wonderful　that　you're　to　play　opposite　your　lovely　wife　again！〃
　〃Wait　a　minute；　Louella。〃　He　laughed。　〃Not　so　fast。　I'm　not　making　the　picture。〃
　〃You're　not？〃　Another　Parsons　scoop　was　in　the　making。　〃Why？〃
　〃I've　already　agreed　to　go　out　on　the　road　with　my　Wild…West　show；〃　he　said；　〃And　that　will　keep　me　tied　up　for　at　least　six　months。　While　I'm　away；　Rina　will　look　for　another　house　for　us。　I　think　we'll　both　be　more　fortable　in　a　smaller　place。〃
　Her　voice　was　businesslike　now。　〃You're　selling　Hilltop？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃To　Thalberg？〃　she　questioned。　〃I　heard　he　was　interested。〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　he　said。　〃Several　people　have　expressed　interest。〃
　〃You'll　let　me　know　the　moment　you　decide？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃There's　no　trouble　between　you　two？〃　she　asked　shrewdly。
　〃Louella！〃　He　laughed。　〃You　know　better　than　that。〃
　〃I'm　glad！　You're　both　such　nice　people；〃　she　said。　She　hesitated　a　moment。　〃Keep　in　touch　if　there's　any　news。〃
　〃I　will；　Louella。〃
　〃Good　luck　to　both　of　you！〃
　Nevada　put　down　the　telephone　and　looked　across　the　table。　He　hadn't　meant　for　it　to　e　out　this　way；　but　there　was　nothing　that　could　be　done　about　it　now。
　Rina's　face　was　white　with　anger。　〃You　could　have　told　me　about　it　before　you　told　the　whole　world！〃
　〃Who　had　the　chance？〃　he　retorted；　angry　despite　himself。　〃This　is　the　first　time　we've　talked　in　months。　Besides；　you　might　have　told　me　about　the　picture。〃
　〃Bernie　tried　to　get　you　all　day　yesterday　but　you　never　came　to　the　phone。〃
　〃That's　a　lot　of　crap；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　home　all　day　and　he　never　called。　Besides；　I　wouldn't　have　his　handouts　…　or　yours　either；　for　that　matter。〃
　〃Maybe　if　you　took　your　nose　out　of　that　damn　stable　once　in　a　while；　you'd　find　out　what　was　going　on。〃
　〃I　know　what's　going　on；〃　he　said　angrily。　〃You　don't　have　to　start　acting　like　a　movie　star。〃
　〃Oh；　what's　the　use？〃　she　said　bitterly。　〃What　did　you　ever　marry　me　for？〃
　〃Or　you　me？〃　he　asked；　with　equal　bitterness。
　As　they　stared　at　each　other；　the　truth　suddenly　came　to　both　of　them。　They　had　married　because　they　both　knew　they　had　lost　each　other　and　wanted　desperately　to　hold　onto　what　was　already　gone。　With　the　knowledge；　the　anger　dissipated　as　quickly　as　it　had　e。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said。
　She　looked　down　at　the　coffeepot。　〃I　am；　too。　I　told　you　I　was　a　spoiler；　that　I　wouldn't　be　any　good　for　you。〃
　〃Don't　be　silly；〃　he　said。　〃It　wasn't　your　fault。　It　would　have　happened；　anyway。　The　business　is　changing。〃
　〃I'm　not　talking　about　the　business；〃　Rina　answered。　〃I'm　talking　about　you　and　me。　You　should　have　married　someone　who　could　have　given　you　a　family。　I've　given　you　nothing。〃
　〃You　can't　take　all　the　blame。　We　both　tried　in　our　own　way　but　neither　of　us　had　what　the　other　really　needed。　We　just　made　a　mistake；　that's　all。〃
　〃I　won't　be　able　to　file　for　a　divorce　until　after　I　finish　this　next　picture；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃It's　all　right　with　me　if　you　want　to　file　before　then。〃
　〃No；　I　can　wait；〃　he　said　calmly。
　She　glanced　up　at　the　wall　clock。　〃My　God！　I'm　late！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I'll　have　to　hurry。〃
　At　the　door；　she　stopped　and　looked　back　at　him。　〃Are　you　still　my　friend？〃
　He　nodded　his　head　slowly　and　returned　her　smile；　but　his　voice　was　serious。　〃I'll　always　be　your　friend。〃
　She　stood　there　for　a　moment　and　he　could　see　the　sudden　rush　of　tears　to　her　eyes；　then　she　turned　and　ran　from　the　room。
　He　walked　over　to　the　window；　and　lifting　the　curtain；　looked　out　onto　the　front　drive。　He　saw　her　e　running　from　the　house；　saw　the　chauffeur　close　the　door。　The　car　disappeared　down　the　hill　on　its　way　to　the　studio。　He　let　the　curtain　fall　back　into　place。
　Rina　never　came　back　to　the　house。　She　stayed　that　night　at　Ilene's　apartment。　The　next　day；　she　moved　into　a　hotel　and　three　months　later　filed　for　divorce　in　Reno。　The　grounds　were　inpatibility。
　And　that；　except　for　the　legalities；　was　the　way　it　ended。
　
　17
　
　DAVID　HEARD　THE　VIOLENT　SLAM　OF　THE　DOOR　IN　HIS　UNCLE'S　OFFICE。　He　got　to　his　feet　quickly　and　walked　to　the　connecting　door。　He　opened　it　and　found　his　uncle　Bernie　seated　in　his　chair；　red　faced　and　angry；　gasping　for　breath。　He　was　trying　to　shake　some　pills　out　of　the　inverted　bottle　in　his　hand。
　David　quickly　filled　a　glass　with　water　from　the　carafe　on　the　desk　and　handed　it　to　Norman。　〃What　happened？〃
　Norman　swallowed　the　two　pills　and　put　down　the　glass。　He　looked　up　at　David。　〃Why　didn't　I　go　into　the　cloak…and…suit　business　with　my　brother；　your　uncle　Louie？〃
　David　knew　no　answer　was　expected；　so　he　waited　patiently　until　Norman　continued。　〃Fifty；　a　hundred　suits　they　make　a　day。　Everything　is　calm；　everything　is　quiet。　At　night；　he　goes　home。　He　eats。　He　sleeps。　No　worries。　No　ulcers。　No　aggravations。　That's　the　way　a　man　should　live。　Easy。　Not　like　a　dog。　Not　like　me。〃
　David　asked　again；　〃What　happened？〃
　〃As　if　I　haven't　got　enough　troubles；〃　Norman　plained；　〃our　stockholders　say　we're　losing　too　much　money。　I　run　to　New　York　to　explain。　The　union　threatens　to　strike　the　theaters。　I　sit　down　and　work　out　a　deal　that　at　least　they　don't　close　the　theaters。　Then　I　get　word　from　Europe　that　Hitler　took　over　all　our　German　properties；　offices；　theaters；　everything！　More　than　two　million　dollars　the　anti…semiten　stole。　Then　I　get　a　plaint　from　the　underwriters　and　bankers；　the　pictures　ain't　got　no　prestige。　So　I　buy　the　biggest；　most　artistic　hit　on　Broadway。　Sunspots　the　name　of　it　is。　It's　so　artistic；　even　I　don't　understand　what　it's　all　about。
　〃Now　I'm　stuck　with　an　artistic　bomb。　I　talk　to　all　the　directors　in　Hollywood　about　it。　I'm　not　so　dumb　altogether　that　it　don't　take　me　long　to　find　out　they　don't　understand　it　neither；　so　I　hire　the　director　who　did　the　play　on　the　stage；　Claude　Dunbar；　a　faigele　if　I　ever　saw　one。　But　fifty　thousand　he　gets。
　〃A　hundred　and　fifty　I'm　in　already　and　no　box　office。　So　I　call　up　Louie　and　say　lend　me　Garbo。　He　laughs　in　my　face。　You　ain't　got　enough　money；　he　says。　Besides；　we　got　her　in　prestige　of　our　own。　Anna　Christie　by　Eugene　O'Neill　she's　making。　Good…by；　I　says　and　call　up　Jack　Warner。　How　about　Bette　Davis？　Wait　a　minute；　he　says。　I　sit　on　the　phone　ten　minutes。
　〃The　pisher　thinks　I　don't　know　what　he's　doin'？　He's　calling　his　brother　Harry　in　New　York；　that's　what　he's