hr.thecarpetbaggers- 第42部分

　
　10
　
　WE　PLETED　THE　PICTURE　IN　FOUR　WEEKS。　Nevada　knew　what　was　happening　but　he　never　said　a　word。　Two　weeks　after　that；　we　held　the　first　sneak　preview　at　a　theater　out　in　the　valley。
　I　got　there　late　and　the　studio　publicity　man　let　me　in。　〃There　are　only　a　few　seats　left　on　the　side；　Mr。　Cord；〃　he　apologized。
　I　looked　down　at　the　orchestra。　There　was　a　section　roped　off　in　the　center　for　studio　guests。　It　was　jammed。　Everybody　at　the　studio　from　Norman　on　down　was　there。　They　were　all　waiting　for　me　to　fall　on　my　ass。
　I　went　up　into　the　balcony　just　as　the　lights　went　down　and　the　picture　came　on。　I　found　my　way　in　the　dark　to　a　seat　in　the　middle　of　a　bunch　of　youngsters　and　looked　up　at　the　screen。
　My　name　looked　funny　up　there。
　
　JONAS　CORD　PRESENTS…　
　
　But　the　feeling　left　when　the　credits　were　over　and　the　picture　began。　After　ten　minutes　had　passed　I　started　to　sense　a　restlessness　in　the　kids　around　me。　〃Aw；　shit；〃　I　heard　one　of　them　whisper。　〃I　thought　this　was　gonna　be　somethin'　different。　It's　just　another　friggin'　Western。〃
　Then　Rina　came　on　screen。　Five　minutes　later；　when　I　looked　around　me；　the　kids'　faces　were　staring　up　at　the　screen；　their　mouths　partly　open；　their　expressions　rapt。　There　wasn't　a　sound　except　their　breathing。　Next　to　me　sat　a　boy　holding　a　girl's　hand　tightly　in　his　lap。　When　Rina　finally　pulled　Nevada　down　onto　the　bed　with　her；　I　could　feel　the　kid　squirm。　He　whispered；　〃Jesus！〃
　I　reached　for　a　cigarette　and　began　to　smile。　Nobody　had　to　tell　me　this　picture　was　box　office。　When　I　came　down　into　the　lobby　after　it　was　over；　Nevada　was　standing　in　the　corner　surrounded　by　kids　and　signing　autographs。　I　looked　for　Rina。　She　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　lobby　surrounded　by　reporters。　Bernie　Norman　was　hovering　over　her　like　a　proud　father。
　Dan　was　standing　in　the　center　of　a　circle　of　men。　He　looked　up　as　I　came　over。　〃You　were　right；　Jonas；〃　he　cried　jubilantly。　〃She　creamed　'em。　We'll　gross　ten　million　dollars！〃
　I　gestured　and　he　followed　me　out　to　my　car。　〃When　this　is　over；〃　I　said；　〃bring　Rina　to　my　hotel。〃
　He　stared　at　me。　〃It's　still　eating　yuh；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Don't　lecture　me；　just　do　as　I　say！〃
　〃What　if　she　won't　e？〃
　〃She'll　e；〃　I　said　grimly。　〃Just　tell　her　it's　collection　day！〃
　It　was　one　o'clock　in　the　morning　and　I　was　halfway　through　a　bottle　of　bourbon　when　the　knock　came　on　the　door。　I　went　over　and　opened　it。
　Rina　walked　into　the　room　and　I　closed　the　door。　She　turned　to　face　me。　〃Well？〃
　I　gestured　toward　the　bedroom。　She　looked　at　me　for　a　moment；　then　shrugged　her　shoulders　and　nonchalantly　started　for　the　bedroom。　〃I　told　Nevada　I　was　ing　here；〃　she　said　over　her　shoulder。
　I　spun　her　around　violently。　〃What　the　hell　did　you　do　a　damnfool　thing　like　that　for？〃
　Her　eyes　appraised　me　calmly。　〃Nevada　and　I　are　going　to　get　married。　I　told　him　I　wanted　to　be　the　first　to　tell　you。〃
　I　couldn't　believe　my　ears。　〃No！〃　I　shouted　hoarsely。　〃You　can't。　I　won't　let　you。　He's　an　old　man；　he's　through。　You'll　be　the　biggest　star　in　the　business　when　this　picture　es　out。〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃If　you　know；　then　why？　You　don't　need　him。　You　don't　need　anybody。〃
　〃Because　when　I　needed　him；　he　helped　me；〃　she　said　evenly。　〃Now　it's　my　turn。　He　needs　me。〃
　〃He　needs　you？　Why？　Because　he　was　too　proud　to　do　his　own　crawling？〃
　〃That's　not　true　and　you　know　it！〃
　〃Making　you　a　star　was　my　idea！〃
　〃I　didn't　ask　you　for　it；〃　Rina　said　angrily。　〃I　didn't　even　want　it。　Don't　think　I　didn't　see　what　you　were　doing。　Cutting　down　his　part　in　his　own　picture；　building　me　up　as　a　monument　to　your　own　ego　while　you　were　ruining　him！〃
　〃I　didn't　see　you　trying　to　stop　me；〃　I　said。　〃We　both　know　he's　on　the　way　out。　There's　a　new　kind　of　cowboy　over　at　one　of　the　studios。　A　singing　cowboy。　He　uses　a　guitar　instead　of　a　gun！〃
　〃You　know　everything；　don't　you！〃　Her　hand　slashed　angrily　out　at　my　face。　I　could　feel　its　sting　even　as　she　spoke。　〃That's　why　he　needs　me　more　than　ever！〃
　I　exploded　and　grabbed　her　by　the　shoulders；　shaking　her　violently。　〃What　about　me？　Why　do　you　think　I　went　into　this？　Not　for　Nevada。　For　you！　Did　you　ever　stop　to　think　that　when　I　came　rushing　up　here　to　see　you；　that　maybe　I　needed　you？〃
　She　stared　into　my　eyes　angrily。
　〃You'll　never　need　anybody；　Jonas；　only　yourself。　Otherwise；　you　wouldn't　have　left　your　wife　down　there　all　by　herself。　If　you　had　any　feelings　at　all；　even　pity；　you'd　have　gone　down　there；　or　had　her　e　up　here。〃　
　〃You　leave　my　wife　out　of　this！〃
　She　turned　to　pull　away　and　the　front　of　her　dress　tore　down　to　her　waist。　I　stared　at　her。　Her　breasts　rose　and　fell　and　I　could　feel　the　fever　climb　up　in　me。　〃Rina！〃　I　crushed　my　mouth　down　on　hers。　〃Rina；　please。〃
　Her　mouth　moved　for　a　moment　as　she　struggled　to　get　away　from　me；　then　she　was　pressing　herself　closer　and　closer；　her　arms　around　my　neck。　That's　the　way　we　were　when　the　door　behind　me　opened。　〃Get　outa　here！〃　I　said　hoarsely；　without　bothering　to　turn　around。　
　〃Not　this　time；　Jonas！〃
　I　gave　Rina　a　shove　toward　the　bedroom；　then　turned　around　slowly　to　face　my　father…in…law　and　another　man。　Behind　them　was　Monica；　standing　in　the　doorway。　I　stared　at　her。　She　had　a　belly　way　out　to　here。
　The　hollow　echo　of　triumph　was　in　Amos　Winthrop's　voice　as　he　spoke。　〃Ten　grand　was　too　much　to　give　me　to　send　her　away　before。〃　He　chuckled　quietly。　〃How　much　do　you　think　it'll　cost　you　to　get　rid　of　her　now？〃
　As　I　stared　at　Monica；　I　began　to　curse　myself　silently。　No　wonder　Amos　Winthrop　could　laugh。　I'd　known　Monica　for　less　than　a　month　before　we　got　married。　Even　to　my　untrained　eyes；　she　was　at　least　five　months'　pregnant。　That　meant　she　was　two　months　gone　when　she　married　me。
　I　cursed　myself　again。　There's　no　fool　like　a　young　fool　…　my　old　man　always　used　to　say。　And；　as　usual；　my　father　was　right。
　That　wasn't　my　cake　she　was　baking　in　her　oven。
　
　
　The　Story　of　
RINA　MARLOWE
　…
　Book　Four
　
　1
　
　CAREFULLY　RINA　CLOSED　THE　MAGAZINE；　turning　down　the　corner　of　the　page　that　she　had　been　reading；　and　let　it　drop　on　the　white　sheet　that　covered　her。
　〃Did　you　want　something；　dear？〃　Ilene's　voice　came　from　the　deep　armchair　near　the　bed。
　Rina　turned　to　look　at　her。　Ilene's　face　was　thinned　by　concern。　〃No；〃　Rina　said。　〃What　time　is　it？〃
　Ilene　looked　down　at　her　watch。　〃Three　o'clock。〃
　〃Oh；〃　Rina　said。　〃What　time　did　the　doctor　say　he'd　e？〃
　〃Four；〃　Ilene　answered。　〃There's　nothing　I　can　get　for　you？〃
　Rina　shook　her　head。　〃No；　thanks。　I'm　fine。〃　She　picked　up　the　magazine　again；　riffled　through　the　pages；　then　threw　it　back　on　the　coverlet。　〃I　wish　to　hell　they'd　let　me　out　of　here！〃
　Ilene　was　out　of　the　chair　now。　She　looked　down　at　Rina　from　the　side　of　the　bed。　〃Don't　fret；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃You'll　be　out　soon　enough。　Then　you'll　wish　you　were　still　here。　I　heard　that　the　studio's　just　waiting　for　you　to　get　out　so　they　can　put　you　to　work　in　Madame　Pompadour。〃
　Rina　sighed。　〃Not　that　old　chestnut　again。　Every　time　they　get　stuck　for　a　picture；　they　take　that　one　down　off　the　shelf　and　dust　it　off。　Then　they　make　a　big　announcement　and　as　soon　as　they　get　all　the　trade　stories　and　publicity　they　can；　back　it　goes　on　the　shelf。〃
　〃Not　this　time；〃　Ilene　said　earnestly。　〃I　spoke　to　Bernie　Norman　in　New　York　yesterday。　He　has　a　new　writer　on　it　and　said　the　script　was　shaping　up　great。　He　says　it's　got　social　significance　now。〃
　Rina　smiled。　〃Social　significance？　Who's　writing　it　…　Eugene　O'Neill？〃
　Ilene　stared　at　her。　〃You　knew　all　the　time。〃　
　Rina　shook　her　head。　〃No；　I　didn't。　It　was　just　a　wild　guess。　Has　Bernie　really　got　O'Neill？〃
　Ilene　nodded。　〃He　expects　to　have　a　copy　of　the　script　sent　over　to　you　as　soon　as　O'Neill　is　finished。〃
　Despite　herself；　Rina　was　impressed。　Maybe　this　time；　Bernie　really　meant　it。　She　felt　a　surge　of　excitement　flow　into　her。　O'Neill　was　a　writer；　not　an　ordinary　Hollywood　hack。　He　could　make　something　of　the　story。　Then　the　excitement　drained　out　of　her；　leaving　her　even　more　weary　than　before。　Social　significance。　Everything　that　was　done　these　days　bore　the　tag。　Ever　since　Roosevelt　took　office。　
　〃What　time　is　it？〃　
　〃Ten　after　three；〃　Ilene　answered。
　Rina　leaned　back　against　the　pillow。　〃Why　don't　you　go　out　and　get　a　cup　of　coffee？〃　
　Ilene　smiled。　〃I'm　all　right。〃　
　〃You've　been　here　all　day。〃　
　〃I　want　to　be　here；〃　Ilene　answered。　
　〃You　go。〃　Rina　closed　her　eyes。　〃I　think　I'll　take　a　little　nap　before　the　doctor　es。〃
　Ilene　stood　there　for　a　moment；　until　she　heard　the　soft；　shallow　breath　of　rest。　Then　gently　she　straightened　the　covers　and　looked　into　Rina's　face。　The　large　eyes　were　closed；　the　cheeks　thin　and　drawn　tightly　across　the　high　cheekbones。　There　was　a　faintly　blue　pallor　beneath　the　California　tan。　She　reached　down　and　brushed　the　white…blond　hair　back　from　Rina's　forehead；　then　quickly　kissed　the　tired　mouth　and　left　the　room。
　The　nurse　seated　in　the　outer　room　looked　up。　〃I'm　going　down　for　a　cup　of　coffee；〃　Ilene　said。　〃She's　sleeping。〃
　The　nurse　smiled　with　professional　assurance。　〃Don't　worry；　Miss　Gaillard；〃　she　said。　〃Sleep　is　the　best　thing　for　her。〃
　Il