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第16章

merton of the movies-第16章

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old friends; but I am not homesick; only sometimes I would like to be back there; as there are not many people to chat with here and one would almost be lonesome sometimes if they could not be at the studio。 But I must remember that work and struggle and sacrifice are necessary to give the public something better and finer and become a good screen actor。 So no more at present; from your old friend; and address Clifford Armytage at above number; as I am going by my stage name; though the lady at the Holden lot said she liked my old name better and called me that; and it sounded pretty good; as I have not got used to the stage name yet。

He felt better after this chat with his old friend; and the following morning he pressed a suit in the Patterson kitchen and resumed his vigil outside the gate。 But now from time to time; at least twice a day; he could break the monotony of this by a call at the little window。

Sometimes the woman beyond it would be engrossed with the telephone and would merely look at him to shake her head。 At others; the telephone being still; she would engage him in friendly talk。 She seemed to like him as an occasional caller; but she remained smilingly skeptical about his immediate success in the pictures。 Again and again she urged him not to forget the address of Giggenholder or Gooshswamp or whoever it might be that was holding a good job for him。 He never failed to remind her that the name was Gashwiler; and that he could not possibly forget the address because he had lived at Simsbury a long time。 This always seemed to brighten the woman's day。 It puzzled him to note that for some reason his earnest assurance pleased her。

As the days of waiting passed he began to distinguish individuals among the people who went through the little outer room or sat patiently around its walls on the hard bench; waiting like himself for more companies to start shooting。 Among the important…looking men that passed through would be actors that were now reaping the reward of their struggle and sacrifice; actors whom he thrilled to recognize as old screen friends。 These would saunter in with an air of fine leisure; and their manner of careless but elegant dress would be keenly noted by Merton。 Then there were directors。 These were often less scrupulously attired and seemed always to be solving knotty problems。 They passed hurriedly on; brows drawn in perplexity。 They were very busy persons。 Those on the bench regarded them with deep respect and stiffened to attention as they passed; but they were never observed by these great ones。

The waiting ones were of all ages; mostly women; with but a sprinkling of men。 Many of the women were young or youngish; and of rare beauty; so Merton Gill thought。 Others were elderly or old; and a few would be accompanied by children; often so young that they must be held on laps。 They; too; waited with round eyes and in perfect decorum for a chance to act。 Sometimes the little window would be pushed open and a woman beckoned from the bench。 Some of them greeted the casting director as an old friend and were still gay when told that there was nothing to…day。 Others seemed to dread being told this; and would wait on without daring an inquiry。 Sometimes there would be a little flurry of actual business。 Four society women would be needed for a bridge table at 8:30 the next morning on Stage Number Five。 The casting director seemed to know the wardrobe of each of the waiters; and would select the four quickly。 The gowns must be smartit was at the country house of a rich New Yorkerand jewels and furs were not to be forgotten。 There might be two days' work。 The four fortunate ladies would depart with cheerful smiles。 The remaining waiters settled on the bench; hoping against hope for another call。

Among the waiting…room hopefuls Merton had come to know by sight the Montague family。 This consisted of a handsome elderly gentleman of most impressive manner; his wife; a portly woman of middle age; also possessing an impressive manner; and a daughter。 Mr。 Montague always removed his hat in the waiting room; uncovering an abundant cluster of iron…gray curls above a noble brow。 About him there seemed ever to linger a faint spicy aroma of strong drink; and he would talk freely to those sharing the bench with him。 His voice was full and rich in tone; and his speech; deliberate and precise; more than hinted that he had once been an ornament of the speaking stage。 His wife; also; was friendly of manner; and spoke in a deep contralto somewhat roughened by wear but still notable。

The daughter Merton did not like。 She was not unattractive in appearance; though her features were far off the screen…heroine model; her nose being too short; her mouth too large; her cheekbones too prominent; and her chin too square。 Indeed; she resembled too closely her father; who; as a man; could carry such things more becomingly。 She was a slangy chit; much too free and easy in her ways; Merton considered; and revealing a self…confidence that amounted almost to impudence。 Further; her cheeks were brown; her brief nose freckled; and she did not take the pains with her face that most of the beautiful young women who waited there had so obviously taken。 She was a harum…scarum baggage with no proper respect for any one; he decided; especially after the day she had so rudely accosted one of the passing directors。 He was a more than usually absorbed director; and with drawn brows would have gone unseeing through the waiting room when the girl hailed him。

〃Oh; Mr。 Henshaw; one moment please!〃

He glanced up in some annoyance; pausing with his hand to the door that led on to his proper realm。

〃Oh; it's you; Miss Montague! Well; what is it? I'm very; very busy。〃

〃Well; it's something I wanted to ask you。〃 She quickly crossed the room to stand by him; tenderly flecking a bit of dust from his coat sleeve as she began; 〃Say; listen; Mr。 Henshaw: Do you think beauty is a curse to a poor girl?〃

Mr。 Henshaw scowled down into the eyes so confidingly lifted to his。

〃That's something you won't ever have to worry about;〃 he snapped; and was gone; his brows again drawn in perplexity over his work。

〃You're not angry with poor little me; are you; Mr。 Henshaw?〃

The girl called this after him and listened; but no reply came from back of the partition。

Mrs。 Montague; from the bench; rebuked her daughter。

〃Say; what do you think that kidding stuff will get you? Don't you want to work for him any more?〃

The girl turned pleading eyes upon her mother。

〃I think he might have answered a simple question;〃 said she。

This was all distasteful to Merton Gill。 The girl might; indeed; have deserved an answer to her simple question; but why need she ask it of so busy a man? He felt that Mr。 Henshaw's rebuke was well merited; for her own beauty was surely not excessive。

Her father; from the bench; likewise admonished her。

〃You are sadly prone to a spirit of banter;〃 he declared; 〃though I admit that the so…called art of the motion picture is not to be regarded too seriously。 It was not like that in my day。 Then an actor had to be an artist; there was no position for the little he… doll whippersnapper who draws the big money to…day and is ignorant of even the rudiments of the actor's profession。〃

He allowed his glance to rest perceptibly upon Merton Gill; who felt uncomfortable。

〃We were with Looey James five years;〃 confided Mrs。 Montague to her neighbours。 〃A hall show; of coursehadn't heard of movies then doing Virginius and Julius Csesar and such classics; and then starting out with The Two Orphans for a short season。 We were a knock…out; I'll say that。 I'll never forget the night we opened the new opera house at Akron。 They had to put the orchestra under the stage。〃

〃And the so…called art of the moving picture robs us of our little meed of applause;〃 broke in her husband。 〃I shall never forget a remark of the late Lawrence Barrett to me after a performance of Richelieu in which he had fairly outdone himself。 'Montague; my lad;' said he 'we may work for the money; but we play for the applause。' But now our finest bits must go in silence; or perhaps be interrupted by a so…called director who arrogates to himself

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