snub.
'It means exactly this,' he said, smiling at me. 'My contract runs out on Saturday, and it isn't going to be renewed. Don't you read the gossip columns? It's no secret. I'm washed-up. I'm a drunk, kid, and no one wants a drunk these days. That means on Saturday I stay home. I owe money everywhere. They'll sell me up. The house, the cars: everything will go. I'm up to my eyes in debts. So long as I remain chief producer of the Pacific Picture Corporation, my creditors will hold off because they always hope for a miracle, but at the end of the week, when I've quit, they'll move in like a flock of vultures.' He got out of the car and stood staring up at the blue sky, feeling the sun on his face. 'What do I care? I've had fun. I've travelled. I've owned a Rolls. I've married the loveliest woman in Hollywood. What more can a guy want? Now it's time to pay up: that's okay. I'll pay what I can, and they'll have to whistle for the rest of it.' He put his hand on my shoulder and gently rocked me to and fro, not looking at me, but beyond me, his mouth in a hard, bitter smile. 'And she's going to be one of them who'll have to whistle. That's the only way I can get even with her for leading me the life she has led me. Even now I would get down on hands and knees and lick her shoes for one kind word from her.' He shifted his eyes so he looked right at me. 'Corny dialogue, isn't it, kid? Right out of a B picture. Listen, I've never struck a spark from her: not once. What was it Hemingway said? The earth never moved for us. Know what I mean? Loving her was as sordid and as horrifying as loving a dead body.' He turned abruptly and walked into the reception hall.
I got back into the car, lit a cigarette and drove slowly down the drive-in and on to the highway. To get his tragic, hopeless face out of my mind I forced myself to think of the three hundred and fifty grand I might pick up if he died. But somehow I didn't get a bang out of it as I should have done.
I had snapped out of my mood by the time I got into town. At least I now had something for my trouble. Two thousand six hundred dollars wasn't a bad start. I parked the car and took out his cheque and looked to see where his bank was. I was going to take his advice and cash the cheque right now.
The teller at Dester's bank looked surprised when I pushed the cheque across the counter. He went away to the back and I saw him checking a ledger. Finally he convinced himself and he paid over the money.
I took it to a bank across the way and opened an account for myself. It was nice to own a chequebook again.
I drove back to the house, changed out of my uniform and, having nothing better to do, I got out the big power-mower and settled down to a long spell of lawn cutting.
It wasn't until after one o'clock when I decided I'd better dig up some lunch for myself that I saw Helen coming from the house.
She came to the edge of the lawn and waited. I manoeuvred the mower so that I should pass close to her and as I came up to her I cut the engine.
'Did you want me, madam?'
'I want you to take me to the Palm Grove Club tonight and then pick me up at one o'clock. Mr. Dester won't be going out.'
I met her eyes and I got a shock. The hostility I had expected to see wasn't there. Instead the green eyes were warm.
'I don't like driving at night,' she went on. 'You needn't wear your uniform, Nash. As you will have a long wait, you might care to take in a movie or something.'
I was so surprised I just stared at her.
'And, Nash, since you insist on staying here, it might be amusing for both of us if we become more amicable.'
The long, slow look she gave me could only mean one thing. I've kicked around long enough with all kinds of women not to recognize that look and the invitation that lay behind it.
'Yes, madam,' I said.
She suddenly smiled, and the smile made her look younger and even more lovely.
My heart was pounding as I watched her walk away towards the garage.
chapter
'It means exactly this,' he said, smiling at me. 'My contract runs out on Saturday, and it isn't going to be renewed. Don't you read the gossip columns? It's no secret. I'm washed-up. I'm a drunk, kid, and no one wants a drunk these days. That means on Saturday I stay home. I owe money everywhere. They'll sell me up. The house, the cars: everything will go. I'm up to my eyes in debts. So long as I remain chief producer of the Pacific Picture Corporation, my creditors will hold off because they always hope for a miracle, but at the end of the week, when I've quit, they'll move in like a flock of vultures.' He got out of the car and stood staring up at the blue sky, feeling the sun on his face. 'What do I care? I've had fun. I've travelled. I've owned a Rolls. I've married the loveliest woman in Hollywood. What more can a guy want? Now it's time to pay up: that's okay. I'll pay what I can, and they'll have to whistle for the rest of it.' He put his hand on my shoulder and gently rocked me to and fro, not looking at me, but beyond me, his mouth in a hard, bitter smile. 'And she's going to be one of them who'll have to whistle. That's the only way I can get even with her for leading me the life she has led me. Even now I would get down on hands and knees and lick her shoes for one kind word from her.' He shifted his eyes so he looked right at me. 'Corny dialogue, isn't it, kid? Right out of a B picture. Listen, I've never struck a spark from her: not once. What was it Hemingway said? The earth never moved for us. Know what I mean? Loving her was as sordid and as horrifying as loving a dead body.' He turned abruptly and walked into the reception hall.
I got back into the car, lit a cigarette and drove slowly down the drive-in and on to the highway. To get his tragic, hopeless face out of my mind I forced myself to think of the three hundred and fifty grand I might pick up if he died. But somehow I didn't get a bang out of it as I should have done.
I had snapped out of my mood by the time I got into town. At least I now had something for my trouble. Two thousand six hundred dollars wasn't a bad start. I parked the car and took out his cheque and looked to see where his bank was. I was going to take his advice and cash the cheque right now.
The teller at Dester's bank looked surprised when I pushed the cheque across the counter. He went away to the back and I saw him checking a ledger. Finally he convinced himself and he paid over the money.
I took it to a bank across the way and opened an account for myself. It was nice to own a chequebook again.
I drove back to the house, changed out of my uniform and, having nothing better to do, I got out the big power-mower and settled down to a long spell of lawn cutting.
It wasn't until after one o'clock when I decided I'd better dig up some lunch for myself that I saw Helen coming from the house.
She came to the edge of the lawn and waited. I manoeuvred the mower so that I should pass close to her and as I came up to her I cut the engine.
'Did you want me, madam?'
'I want you to take me to the Palm Grove Club tonight and then pick me up at one o'clock. Mr. Dester won't be going out.'
I met her eyes and I got a shock. The hostility I had expected to see wasn't there. Instead the green eyes were warm.
'I don't like driving at night,' she went on. 'You needn't wear your uniform, Nash. As you will have a long wait, you might care to take in a movie or something.'
I was so surprised I just stared at her.
'And, Nash, since you insist on staying here, it might be amusing for both of us if we become more amicable.'
The long, slow look she gave me could only mean one thing. I've kicked around long enough with all kinds of women not to recognize that look and the invitation that lay behind it.
'Yes, madam,' I said.
She suddenly smiled, and the smile made her look younger and even more lovely.
My heart was pounding as I watched her walk away towards the garage.
chapter
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