merton of the movies-第61章
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The scoundrel left with a final menacing wave of his gnarled hand； left the group facing ruin unless the invention could be perfected； unless Mother could sell an extraordinary quantity of fruit or improved grape juice to the city folks； or； indeed； unless the little sister could do something wonderful。
She； it now seemed； was confident she also could help。 She stood apart from them and prettily promised to do something wonderful。 She asked them to remember that she was no longer a mere girl； but a woman with a woman's determination。 They both patted the little thing encouragingly on the back。
The interiors possible on the Holden lot having been finished； they motored each day to a remote edge of the city where outside locations had been found for the humble farmhouse and the grand hotel。 The farmhouse was excellently chosen； Merton thought； being the neat； unpretentious abode of honest； hard…working people； but the hotel； some distance off； was not so grand； he thought； as Baird's new play seemed to demand。 It was plainly a hotel； a wooden structure with balconies； but it seemed hardly to afford those attractions that would draw wealthier element from New York。 He forebore to warn Baird of this； however； fearing to discourage a manager who was honestly striving for the serious in photodrama。
His first exterior scene saw him； with the help of Mother and little sister； loading the one poor motor car which the family possessed with Mother's products。 These were then driven to the hotel。 The Montague girl drove the car； and scenes of it in motion were shot from a car that preceded them。
They arrived before the hotel； Merton was directed to take from the car an iron weight attached to a rope and running to a connection forward on the hood。 He was to throw the weight to the ground； plainly with the notion that he would thus prevent the car from running away。 The simple device was； in fact； similar to that used； at Gashwiler's strict orders； on the delivery wagon back in Simsbury； for Gashwiler had believed that Dexter would run away if untethered。 But of course it was absurd； Merton saw； to anchor a motor car in such a manner； and he was somewhat taken aback when Baird directed this action。
〃It's all right；〃 Baird assured him。 〃You're a simple country boy； and don't know any better； so do it plumb serious。 You'll be smart enough before the show's over。 Go ahead； get out； grab the weight； throw it down； and don't look at it again； as if you did this every time。 That's it。 You're not being funny； just a simple country boy like Wayne was at first。〃 He performed the action； still with some slight misgiving。 Followed scenes of brother and sister offering Mother's wares to the city folks idling on the porch of the hotel。 Each bearing a basket they were caught submitting the jellies and jams。 The brother was laughed at； even sneered at； by the supercilious rich； the handsomely gowned women and the dissipated looking men。 No one appeared to wish his jellies。
The little sister had better luck。 The women turned from her； but the men gathered about her and quickly bought out the stock。 She went to the car for more and the men followed her。 To Merton； who watched these scenes； the dramatist's intention was plain。 These men did not really care for jellies and jams； they were attracted solely by the wild…rose beauty of the little country girl。 And they were plainly the sort of men whose attentions could mean no good to such as she。
Left on the porch； he was now directed to approach a distinguished looking old gentleman； probably a banker and a power in Wall Street； who read his morning papers。 Timidly he stood before this person； thrusting forward his basket。 The old gentleman glanced up in annoyance and brutally rebuffed the country boy with an angry flourish of the paper he read。
〃You're hurt by this treatment；〃 called Baird； 〃and almost discouraged。 You look back over your shoulder to where sister is doing a good business with her stuff； and you see the old mother back in her kitchen； working her fingers to the bonewe'll have a flash of that； see？and you try again。 Take out that bottle in the corner of the basket； uncork it； and try again。 The old man looks up…he's smelled something。 You hold the bottle toward him and you're saying so…and…so； so…and…so； so…and…so； 'Oh； Mister； if you knew how hard my poor old mother works to make this stuff！ Won't you please take a little taste of her improved grape juice and see if you don't want to buy a few shillings' worth'so…and…so； so…and…so； so…and… sosee what I mean？ That's it； look pleading。 Think how the little home depends on it。〃
The old gentleman； first so rude； consented to taste the improved grape juice。 He put the bottle to his lips and tilted it。 A camera was brought up to record closely the look of pleased astonishment that enlivened his face。 He arose to his feet； tilted the bottle again； this time drinking abundantly。 He smacked his lips with relish； glanced furtively at the group of women in the background； caught the country boy by a sleeve and drew him farther along the porch。
〃He's telling you what fine stuff this grape juice is；〃 explained Baird； 〃saying that your mother must be a wonderful old lady； and he'll drop over to meet her； and in the meantime he wants you to bring him all this grape juice she has。 He'll take it； she can name her own price。 He hands you a ten dollar bill for the bottle he has and for another in the basketthat's it； give it to him。 The rest of the bottles are jams or something。 You want him to take them； but he pushes them back。 He's saying he wants the improved grape juice or nothing。 He shows a big wad of bills to show he can pay for it。 You look glad nowthe little home may be saved after all。〃
The scene was shot。 Merton felt that he carried it acceptably。 He had shown the diffident pleading of the country boy that his mother's product should be at least tasted； his frank rejoicing when the old gentleman approved of it。 He was not so well satisfied with the work of the Montague girl as his innocent little sister。 In her sale of Mother's jellies to the city men； in her acceptance of their attentions； she appeared to be just the least bit bold。 It seemed almost as if she wished to attract their notice。 He hesitated to admit it； for he profoundly esteemed the girl； but there were even moments when； in technical language； she actually seemed to 〃vamp〃 these creatures who thronged about her to profess for her jams and jellies an interest he was sure they did not feel。
He wondered if Baird had made it plain to her that she was a very innocent little country girl who should be unpleasantly affected by these advances。 The scene he watched shot where the little sister climbed back into the motor car； leered at by the four New York club…men； he thought especially distasteful。 Surely the skirt of her print dress was already short enough。 She needed not to lift it under this evil regard as she put her foot up to the step。
It was on the porch of the hotel； too； that he was to have his first scene with the New York society girl whose hand he won。 She proved to be the daughter of the old gentleman who liked the improved grape juice。 As Baird had intimated； she was a large girl； not only tall and stoutly built； but somewhat heavy of face。 Baird's heart must have been touched indeed when he consented to employ her； but Merton remembered her bedridden father and mother； the little crippled brother； the little sister who was also in poor health； and resolved to make their scenes together as easy for her as he could。
At their first encounter she appeared in a mannish coat and riding breeches； though she looked every inch a woman in this attire。
〃She sees you； and it's a case of love at first sight on her part；〃 explained Baird。 〃And you love her； too； only you're a bashful country boy and can't show it the way she can。 Try out a little first scene now。〃
Merton stood； his basket on his arm； as the girl approached him。 〃Look down；〃 called Baird； and Merton lowered his gaze under the ardent regard of the social butterfly。 She tossed away her cigarette and came nearer。 Then she mischievously pinched his cheek as the New York men had pinched
