merton of the movies-第59章
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zed that you were a serious artist; and you came in the nick of time; just when I was wanting to be serious myself; to get away from that slap…stick stuff into something better and finer。 You came when I needed you。 And; look here; Merton; I signed you on at forty a week〃
〃Yes; sir: I was glad to get it。〃
〃Well; I'm going to give you more。 From the beginning of the new picture you're on the payroll at seventy…five a week。 No; no; not a word〃 as Merton would have thanked him。 〃You're earning the money。 And for the picture after thatwell; if you keep on giving the best that's in you; it will be a whole lot more。 Now take a good rest till we're ready for you。〃
At last he had won。 Suffering and sacrifice had told。 And Baird had spoken of the Montague girl as his leading ladyquite as if he were a star。 And seventy…five dollars a week! A sum Gashwiler had made him work five weeks for。 Now he had something big to write to his old friend; Tessie Kearns。 She might spread the news in Simsbury; he thought。 He contrived a close…up of Gashwiler hearing it; of Mrs。 Gashwiler hearing it; of Metta Judson hearing it。
They would all be incredulous until a certain picture was shown at the Bijou Palace; a gripping drama of mother…love; of a clean…limbed young American type wrongfully accused of a crime and taking the burden of it upon his own shoulders for the sake of the girl he had come to love; of the tense play of elemental forces in the great West; the regeneration of a shallow society girl when brought to adversity by the ruin of her old father; of the lovers reunited in that West they both loved。
And somehowthis was still a puzzlethe very effective weaving in and out of the drama of the world's most popular screen idol; played so expertly by Clifford Armytage who looked enough like him to be his twin brother。
Fresh from joyous moments in the projection room; the Montague girl gazed at Baird across the latter's desk; Baird spoke。
〃Sis; he's a wonder。〃
〃Jeff; you're a wonder。 How'd you ever keep him from getting wise?〃
Baird shrugged。 〃Easy! We caught him fresh。〃
〃How'd you ever win him to do all those falls on the trick spurs; and get the close…ups of them? Didn't he know you were shooting?〃
〃Oh!〃 Baird shrugged again。 〃A little talk made that all jake。 But what bothers mehow's he going to act when he's seen the picture?〃
The girl became grave。 〃I'm scared stiff every time I think of it。 Maybe he'll murder you; Jeff。〃
〃Maybe he'll murder both of us。 You got him into it。〃
She did not smile; but considered gravely; absently。
〃There's something else might happen;〃 she said at last。 〃That boy's got at least a couple of sides to him。 I'd rather he'd be crazy mad than be what I'm thinking of now; and that's that all this stuff might just fairly break his heart。 Think of itto see his fine honest acting turned into good old Buckeye slap…stick! Can't you get that? How'd you like to think you were playing Romeo; and act your heart out at it; and then find out they'd slipped in a cross…eyed Juliet in a comedy make…up on you? Well; you can laugh; but maybe it won't be funny to him。 Honest; Jeff; that kid gets me under the ribs kind of。 I hope he takes it standing up; and goes good and crazy mad。〃
〃I'll know what to say to him if he does that。 If he takes it the other way; lying down; I'll be too ashamed ever to look him in the eye again。 Say; it'll be like going up to a friendly baby and soaking it with a potato masher or something。〃
〃Don't worry about it; Kid。 Anyway; it won't be your fault so much as mine。 And you think there's only two ways for him to take it; mad or heart broken? Well; let me tell you something about that ladhe might fool you both ways。 I don't know just how; but I tell you he's an actor; a born one。 What he did is going to get over big。 And I never yet saw a born actor that would take applause lying down; even if it does come for what he didn't know he was doing。 Maybe he'll be madthat's natural enough。 But maybe he'll fool us both。 So cheerio; old Pippin! and let's fly into the new piece。 I'll play safe by shooting the most of that before the other one is released。 And he'll still be playing straight in a serious heart drama。 Fancy that; Armand!〃
CHAPTER XV
A NEW TRAIL
One genial morning a few days later the sun shone in across the desk of Baird while he talked to Merton Gill of the new piece。 It was a sun of fairest promise。 Mr。 Gill's late work was again lavishly commended; and confidence was expressed that he would surpass himself in the drama shortly to be produced。
Mr。 Baird spoke in enthusiastic terms of this; declaring that if it did not prove to be a knock…outa clean…up picturethen he; Jeff Baird; could safely be called a Chinaman。 And during the time that would elapse before shooting on the new piece could begin he specified a certain study in which he wished his actor to engage。
〃You've watched the Edgar Wayne pictures; haven't you?〃
〃Yes; I've seen a number of them。〃
〃Like his work?that honest country…boy…loving…hismother…and… little…sister stuff; wearing overalls and tousled hair in the first part; and coming out in city clothes and eight dollar neckties at the last; with his hair slicked back same as a seal?〃
〃Oh; yes; I like it。 He's fine。 He has a great appeal。〃
〃Good! That's the kind of a part you're going to get in this new piece。 Lots of managers in my place would say 'No…he's a capable young chap and has plenty of talent; but he lacks the experience to play an Edgar Wayne part。' That's what a lot of these Wisenheimers would say。 But menot so。 I believe you can get away with this part; and I'm going to give you your chance。〃
〃I'm sure I don't know how to thank you; Mr。 Baird; and I'll try to give you the very best that is in me〃
〃I'm sure of that; my boy; you needn't tell me。 But nowwhat I want you to do while you got this lay…off between pieces; chase out and watch all the Edgar Wayne pictures you can find。 There was one up on the Boulevard last week I'd like you to watch half…a…dozen times。 It may be at another house down this way; or it may be out in one of the suburbs。 I'll have someone outside call up and find where it is to…day and they'll let you know。 It's called Happy Homestead or something snappy like that; and it kind of suggests a layout for this new piece of mine; see what I mean? It'll suggest things to you。
〃Edgar and his mother and little sister live on this farm and Edgar mixes in with a swell dame down at the summer hotel; and a villain tries to get his old mother's farm and another villain takes his little sister off up to the wicked city; and Edgar has more trouble than would patch Hell a mile; see? But it all comes right in the end; and the city girl falls for him when she sees him in his stepping…out clothes。
〃It's a pretty little thing; but to my way of thinking it lacks strength; not enough punch to it。 So we're sort of building up on that general idea; only we'll put in the pep that this piece lacked。 If I don't miss my guess; you'll be able to show Wayne a few things about serious actingespecially after you've studied his methods a little bit in this piece。〃
〃Well; if you think I can do it;〃 began Merton; then broke off in answer to a sudden thought。 〃Will my mother be the same actress that played it before; the one that mopped all the time?〃
〃Yes; the same actress; but a different sort of mother。 Sheshe's more enterprising; she's a sort of chemist; in a way; puts up preserves and jellies for the hotel。 She never touches a mop in the whole piece and dresses neat from start to finish。〃
〃And does the cross…eyed man play in it? Sometimes; in scenes with him; I'd get the idea I wasn't really doing my best。〃
〃Yes; yes; I know。〃 Baird waved a sympathetic hand。 〃Poor old Jack。 He's trying hard to do something worth while; but he's played in those cheap comedy things so long it's sort of hard for him to get out of it and play serious stuff; if you know what I mean。〃
〃I know what you mean;〃 said Merton。
〃And he's been with me so long I kind of hate to discharge him。 You see; on account of those eyes of his; it would be hard for him to get a job as a serious actor; so I did think I'd give h