sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第10部分

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to　men　like　Dallas　Burke；　for　without　him　and　his　kind　there　would　have　been　no　industry。　
　At　eight　o'clock　the　following　morning；　Sam　Winters　drove　up　under　the　portico　of　the　Beverly　Hills　Hotel。　A　few　minutes　later；　he　was　threading　his　way　across　the　Polo　Lounge；　nodding　to　friends；　acquaintances　and　petitors。　More　deals　were　made　in　this　room　over　breakfast；　lunch　and　cocktails　than　were　consummated　in　all　the　offices　of　all　the　studios　bined。　
　Mel　Foss　looked　up　as　Sam　approached。　〃Morning；　Sam。〃　
　The　two　men　shook　hands　and　Sam　slid　into　the　booth　across　from　Foss。　Eight　months　ago　Sam　had　hired　Foss　to　run　the　television　division　of　Pan…Pacific　Studios。　Television　was　the　new　baby　in　the　entertainment　world；　and　it　was　growing　with　incredible　rapidity。　All　the　studios　that　had　once　looked　down　on　television　were　now　involved　in　it。　The　waitress　came　to　take　their　orders；　and　when　she　had　left；　Sam　said；　
　〃What's　the　good　news；　Mel？〃　
　Mel　Foss　shook　his　head。　〃There　is　no　good　news；〃　he　said。　〃We're　in　trouble。〃　
　Sam　waited；　saying　nothing。　〃We're　not　going　to　get　a　pickup　on　〃The　Raiders'。〃　
　Sam　looked　at　him　in　surprise。　〃The　ratings　are　great。　Why　would　the　network　want　to　cancel　it？　It's　tough　enough　to　get　a　hit　show。〃　
　〃It's　not　the　show；〃　Foss　said。　〃It's　Jack　Nolan。〃　
　Jack　Nolan　was　the　star　of　〃The　Raiders〃；　and　he　had　been　an　instant　success；　both　critically　and　with　the　public。　
　〃What's　the　matter　with　him？〃　Sam　asked。　He　hated　Mel　Foss's　habit　of　forcing　him　to　draw　information　from　him。　
　〃Have　you　read　this　week's　issue　of　Peek　magazine？〃　
　〃I　don't　read　it　any　week。　It's　a　garbage　pail。〃　He　suddenly　realized　what　Foss　was　driving　at。　〃They　nailed　Nolan！〃　
　〃In　black　and　white；〃　Foss　replied。　〃The　dumb　son　of　a　bitch　put　on　his　prettiest　lace　dress　and　went　out　to　a　party。　Someone　took　pictures。〃　
　〃How　bad　is　it？〃　
　〃Couldn't　be　worse。　I　got　a　dozen　calls　from　the　network　yesterday。　The　sponsors　and　the　network　want　out。　No　one　wants　to　be　associated　with　a　screaming　fag。〃　
　〃Transvestite；〃　Sam　said。　He　had　been　counting　heavily　on　presenting　a　strong　television　report　at　the　board　meeting　in　New　York　next　month。　The　news　from　Foss　would　put　an　end　to　that。　Losing　〃The　Raiders〃　would　be　a　blow。　Unless　he　could　do　something。　
　When　Sam　returned　to　his　office；　Lucille　waved　a　sheaf　of　messages　at　him。　
　〃The　emergencies　are　on　top；〃　she　said。　〃They　need　you　　〃　
　〃Later。　Get　me　William　Hunt　at　IBC。〃　Two　minutes　later；　Sam　was　talking　to　the　head　of　the　International　Broadcasting　pany。　Sam　had　known　Hunt　casually　for　a　number　of　years；　and　liked　him。　Hunt　had　started　as　a　bright　young　corporate　lawyer　and　had　worked　his　way　to　the　top　of　the　network　ladder。　They　seldom　had　any　business　dealings　because　Sam　was　not　directly　involved　with　television。　He　wished　now　that　he　had　taken　the　time　to　cultivate　Hunt。　When　Hunt　came　on　the　line；　Sam　forced　himself　to　sound　relaxed　and　casual。　
　〃Morning；　Bill。〃　
　〃This　is　a　pleasant　surprise；〃　Hunt　said。　〃It's　been　a　long　time；　Sam。〃　
　〃Much　too　long。　That's　the　trouble　with　this　business；　Bill。　You　never　have　time　for　the　people　you　like。〃　
　〃Too　true。〃　
　Sam　made　his　voice　sound　offhand。　〃By　the　way；　did　you　happen　to　saw　that　silly　article　in　Peek？〃　
　〃You　know　I　did。〃　Hunt　sa'd　quietly。　〃That's　why　we're　canceling　the　show；　Sam。〃　The　words　had　a　finality　to　them。　
　〃Bill；〃　Sam　said；　〃what　would　you　say　if　I　told　you　that　Jack　Nolan　was　framed？〃　
　There　was　a　laugh　from　the　other　end　of　the　line。　〃I'd　say　you　should　think　about　being　a　writer。〃　
　〃I'm　serious；〃　Sam　said；　earnestly。　〃I　know　Jack　Nolan。　He's　as　straight　as　we　are。　That　photograph　was　taken　at　a　costume　party。　It　was　his　girlfriend's　birthday；　and　he　put　the　dress　on　as　a　gag。〃　Sam　could　feel　his　palms　sweating。　
　〃I　can't〃　
　〃I'll　tell　you　how　much　confidence　I　have　in　Jack；〃　Sam　said　into　the　phone。　〃I've　just　set　him　for　the　lead　in　Laredo；　our　big　Western　feature　for　next　year。〃　
　There　was　a　pause。　〃Are　you　serious；　Sam？〃　
　〃You're　damn　right　I　am。　It's　a　three…million…dollar　picture。　If　Jack　Nolan　turned　out　to　be　a　fag；　he'd　be　laughed　off　the　screen。　The　exhibitors　wouldn't　touch　it。　Would　I　take　that　kind　of　gamble　if　I　didn't　know　what　I　was　talking　about？〃　
　〃Well。。。〃　There　was　hesitation　in　Bill　Hunt's　voice。　
　〃e　on；　Bill；　you're　not　going　to　let　a　lousy　gossip　sheet　like　Peek　destroy　a　good　man's　career。　You　like　the　show；　don't　you？〃　
　〃Very　much。　It's　a　damned　good　show。　But　the　sponsors　　〃　
　〃It's　your　network。　You've　got　more　sponsors　than　you　have　air　time。　We've　given　you　a　hit　show。　Let's　not　fool　around　with　a　success。〃　
　〃Well。。。〃　
　〃Has　Mel　Foss　talked　to　you　yet　about　the　studio's　plans　for　'The　Raiders'　for　next　season？〃　
　〃No。。。〃　
　〃I　guess　he　was　planning　to　surprise　you；〃　Sam　said。　〃Wait　until　you　hear　what　he　has　in　mind。　Guest　stars；　bigname　Western　writers；　shooting　on　locationthe　works！　If　〃The　Raiders'　doesn't　skyrocket　to　number　one；　I'm　in　the　wrong　business。〃　There　was　a　brief　hesitation。　Then　Bill　Hunt　said；　
　〃Have　Me！　phone　me。　Maybe　we　all　got　a　little　panicked　here。〃　
　〃He'll　call　you；〃　Sam　promised。　
　〃And；　Sam　…　you　understand　my　position。　I　wasn't　trying　to　hurt　anybody。〃　
　〃Of　course　you　weren't；〃　Sam　said；　generously。　〃I　know　you　too　well　to　think　that；　Bill。　That's　why　I　felt　I　owed　it　to　you　to　let　you　hear　the　truth。〃　
　〃I　appreciate　that。〃　
　〃What　about　lunch　next　week？〃　
　〃Love　it。　I'll　call　you　Monday。〃　
　They　exchanged　good…byes　and　hung　up。　Sam　sat　there；　drained。　Jack　Nolan　was　as　queer　as　an　Indian　dime。　Someone　should　have　taken　him　away　in　a　net　long　ago。　And　Sam's　whole　future　depended　on　maniacs　like　that。　Running　a　studio　was　like　walking　a　high　wire　over　Niagara　Falls　in　a　blizzard。　Anyone's　crazy　to　do　this　job；　Sam　thought。　He　picked　up　his　private　phone　and　dialed。　A　few　moments　later；　he　was　talking　to　Mel　Foss。　
　〃　'The　Raiders'　stays　on　the　air；〃　Sam　said。　
　〃What？〃　There　was　stunned　disbelief　in　Foss's　voice。　
　〃That's　right。　I　want　yon　to　have　a　fast　talk　with　Jack　Nolan。　Tell　him　if　he　ever　steps　out　of　line　again；　I'll　personally　ran　him　out　of　this　town　and　back　to　Fire　Island！　I　mean　it。　If　he　gets　the　urge　to　suck　something；　tell　him　to　try　a　banana！　〃　Sam　slammed　the　phone　down。　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　thinking。　He　had　forgotten　to　tell　Foss　about　the　format　changes　he　had　ad…libbed　to　Bill　Hunt。　He　would　have　to　find　a　writer　who　could　e　up　with　a　Western　script　called　Laredo。　The　door　burst　open　and　Lucille　stood　there；　her　face　white。　
　〃Can　you　get　right　down　to　Stage　Ten？　Someone　set　it　on　fire。〃　
　
　
　〃Mrs。　Tanner；　people　talk　about　your　school　and　the　wonderful　plays　you　put　on　here。　I'll　bet　you　have　no　idea　of　the　reputation　this　place　has。〃　
　She　studied　him　a　moment。　〃I　do　have　an　idea。　That's　why　I　have　to　be　careful　to　keep　out　phonies。〃　
　Toby　felt　his　face　begin　to　redden；　but　he　smiled　boyishly　and　said；　〃I'll　bet；　a　lot　of　them　must　try　to　crash　in　here。〃　
　''Quite　a　few；〃　Mrs。　Tanner　agreed。　She　glanced　at　the　card　she　held　in　her　hand。　
　〃Toby　Temple。〃　
　〃You　probably　haven't　heard　the　name；''　he　explained；　〃because　for　the　last　couple　of　years；　I've　been　　〃　
　〃Playing　repertory　in　England。〃　
　He　nodded。　〃Right〃　
　Alice　Tanner　looked　at　him　and　said　quietly；　〃Mr。　Temple；　Americans　are　not　permitted　to　play　in　English　repertory。　British　Actors　Equity　doesn't　allow　it。〃　
　Toby　felt　a　sudden　sinking　sensation　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach。　〃You　might　have　checked　first　and　saved　us　both　this　embarrassment。　I'm　sorry；　but　we　only　enroll　professional　talent　here。〃　She　started　back　toward　her　desk。　The　interview　was　over。　
　〃Hold　it！　〃　His　voice　was　like　a　whiplash。　She　turned　in　astonishment。　At　that　instant；　Toby　had　no　idea　what　he　was　going　to　say　or　do。　He　only　knew　that　his　whole　future　was　hanging　in　the　balance。　The　woman　standing　in　front　of　him　was　the　stepping…stone　to　everything　he　wanted；　everything　he　had　worked　and　sweated　for；　and　he　was　not　going　to　let　her　stop　him。　
　〃You　don't　judge　talent　by　rules；　lady！　Okayso　I　haven't　acted。　And　why？　Because　people　like　you　won't　give　me　a　chance。　You　see　what　I　mean？〃　It　was　W。　C。　Fields's　voice。　Alice　Tanner　opened　her　mouth　to　interrupt　him；　but　Toby　never　gave　her　the　opportunity。　He　was　Jimmy　Cagney　telling　her　to　give　the　poor　kid　a　break；　and　James　Stewan　agreeing　with　him；　and　Clark　Gable　saying　he　was　dying　to　work　with　the　kid　and　Cary　Grant　adding　that　he　thought　the　boy　was　brilliant。　A　host　of　Hollywood　stars　was　in　that　con！　and　they　were　all　saying　funny　things；　things　that　Toby　Temple　had　never　thought　of　before。　The　words；　the　kes　poured　out　of　him　in　a　frenzy　of　desperation。　He　was　man　drowning　in　the　darkness　of　his　own　oblivion；　clinging　via　life　raft　of　words；　and　the　words　were　all　that　were　keep　him　afloat。　He　was　soaked　in　perspiration；　running　around　the　room；　imitating　the　movement　of　each　character　who　was　Bring。　He　was　manic；　totally　outside　of　himself；　forgetting　here　he　was　and　what　he　was　here　for　until　he　heard　Alice　Tanner　saying；　
　〃Stop　it！　Stop　it！〃　Tears　of　laughter　were　streaming　down