facing a financial jam. Most of the studios are. Four have closed already this year, and Paramount recently filed for bankruptcy protection. Fox would’ve gone under if Shirley Temple hadn’t rescued them with her damn dimples. The public’s desire for talking pictures forced us to invest heavily in sound equipment and hire actors who can act and writers who understand dialogue. If that isn’t enough, enforcement of the Hays Code will require fundamental changes. The next few years will see mergers and takeovers. Only a few powerful studios will survive. We want to be one of those.”
“I’m sure Miss Wilson wants to be part of your future success.”
The old man returned to the desk, easing into his leather chair. “Eric doesn’t take criticism well. It’s my fault. After his mother went away, the boy left in search of her. A year later, he came crawling back. He never told me whether he found her. Anyway, he was more interested in movies than before. He showed me a screenplay he wrote about a man struggling to deal with his parents’ death. We made the movie, and it did quite well. He’s penned more over the years, but he’s never tackled a comedy until
Midnight Wedding
.”
“Your son is far more experienced than I am. What makes you think I can improve on the screenplay?”
“Dashiell Hammett. He told me you’re a master at characters and dialogue. He’s a big fan of you, and your writing. So am I.”
Dashiell said that?
I blew out a breath of frustration. Not only was I not qualified to work on a screenplay, if I accepted the challenge, Laura would despise my being on the set. This was her time and place to shine. I’d merely come along to support her, not to get involved in her movie!
He steepled his fingers. “You can do this. You’re an expert.”
Expert? Hardly. “I’m honored, of course. You’re a pioneer in this industry, but I have a deadline for the next Blackie Doyle novel.”
A red-faced frown spread. He snapped forward. “I’m through flattering you, buster.”
Buster?
Norman finished his drink. “I mentioned the Hays Code earlier. The public now expects actors’ behavior to reflect the nation’s morality. My studio has a responsibility to ensure its employees conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the code.”
I knew where this conversation was going and didn’t like it one bit. Carville was using the code to get what he wanted.
“Laura Wilson is a beautiful young woman, a talented comedian, and a terrific singer. She possesses a sweet naïveté, a rare quality in Hollywood. If I were younger and in better health, I probably would’ve made a pass at her already.”
“Your support of the Hays Code only goes so far.”
He looked ready to explode.
I’d had enough confrontations for one evening. “We’re engaged.”
Clearly surprised, he gripped the arms of his chair. “How convenient. When did this happen?”
Almost an hour ago, but I wouldn’t tell him that. “Recently.”
“Well, of course, I can’t prevent the two of you from having feelings for each other, but unless you’re married, the studio can’t condone you living in sin—”
“You’re lecturing me about sin?”
“—as long as Laura’s under contract. Have you read the morality clause, Article 15f in her contract?”
“We’ll get separate rooms, we’ll…”
“She already violated her contract. The two of you just shared a compartment on a train from New York.”
How did he know? I couldn’t help myself. “You’re a real son of a bitch!”
“Leave my mother out of this. As much as it would pain me to do so, I could call your fiancée back in and fire her on the spot. Of course, I’d explain your refusal to help got her fired.”
“You’d be forced to replace one of the leads in your movie and still be stuck with a second-rate screenplay.”
“Quite right, quite right.” He smiled. “So, you agree with my assessment of the script?”
“You fire her, your loss
“I’m sure Miss Wilson wants to be part of your future success.”
The old man returned to the desk, easing into his leather chair. “Eric doesn’t take criticism well. It’s my fault. After his mother went away, the boy left in search of her. A year later, he came crawling back. He never told me whether he found her. Anyway, he was more interested in movies than before. He showed me a screenplay he wrote about a man struggling to deal with his parents’ death. We made the movie, and it did quite well. He’s penned more over the years, but he’s never tackled a comedy until
Midnight Wedding
.”
“Your son is far more experienced than I am. What makes you think I can improve on the screenplay?”
“Dashiell Hammett. He told me you’re a master at characters and dialogue. He’s a big fan of you, and your writing. So am I.”
Dashiell said that?
I blew out a breath of frustration. Not only was I not qualified to work on a screenplay, if I accepted the challenge, Laura would despise my being on the set. This was her time and place to shine. I’d merely come along to support her, not to get involved in her movie!
He steepled his fingers. “You can do this. You’re an expert.”
Expert? Hardly. “I’m honored, of course. You’re a pioneer in this industry, but I have a deadline for the next Blackie Doyle novel.”
A red-faced frown spread. He snapped forward. “I’m through flattering you, buster.”
Buster?
Norman finished his drink. “I mentioned the Hays Code earlier. The public now expects actors’ behavior to reflect the nation’s morality. My studio has a responsibility to ensure its employees conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the code.”
I knew where this conversation was going and didn’t like it one bit. Carville was using the code to get what he wanted.
“Laura Wilson is a beautiful young woman, a talented comedian, and a terrific singer. She possesses a sweet naïveté, a rare quality in Hollywood. If I were younger and in better health, I probably would’ve made a pass at her already.”
“Your support of the Hays Code only goes so far.”
He looked ready to explode.
I’d had enough confrontations for one evening. “We’re engaged.”
Clearly surprised, he gripped the arms of his chair. “How convenient. When did this happen?”
Almost an hour ago, but I wouldn’t tell him that. “Recently.”
“Well, of course, I can’t prevent the two of you from having feelings for each other, but unless you’re married, the studio can’t condone you living in sin—”
“You’re lecturing me about sin?”
“—as long as Laura’s under contract. Have you read the morality clause, Article 15f in her contract?”
“We’ll get separate rooms, we’ll…”
“She already violated her contract. The two of you just shared a compartment on a train from New York.”
How did he know? I couldn’t help myself. “You’re a real son of a bitch!”
“Leave my mother out of this. As much as it would pain me to do so, I could call your fiancée back in and fire her on the spot. Of course, I’d explain your refusal to help got her fired.”
“You’d be forced to replace one of the leads in your movie and still be stuck with a second-rate screenplay.”
“Quite right, quite right.” He smiled. “So, you agree with my assessment of the script?”
“You fire her, your loss
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