sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第7章

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　along　as　she　fitted　the　Oil　Ladies　and　turned　bolts　of　fairy　cloth　into　stunning　evening　gowns。　The　Oil　People　liked　Josephine　because　she　was　a　polite；　friendly　child；　and　they　liked　themselves　for　liking　her。　They　felt　it　was　democratic　of　them　to　allow　a　poor　kid　from　the　other　side　of　town　to　ate　with　their　children。　Josephine　was　Polish；　but　she　did　look　lovely；　and　while　she　could　never　be　a　member　of　the　Club；　they　were　happy　to　give　her　visitors'　privileges。　Josephine　was　allowed　to　play　with　the　Oil　Children　and　share　their　bicycles　and　ponies　and　hundred…dollar　dolls；　so　that　she　came　to　live　a　dual　life。　There　was　her　life　at　home　in　the　tiny　clapboard　cottage　with　battered　furniture　and　outdoor　plumbing　and　doors　that　sagged　on　their　hinges。　Then　there　was　Josephine's　life　in　beautiful　colonial　manions　on　large　country　estates。　If　Josephine　stayed　overnight　at　Cissy　Topping's　or　Lindy　Ferguson's；　she　was　given　a　large　bedroom　all　to　herself；　with　breakfast　served　by　maids　and　butlers。　Josephine　loved　to　get　up　in　the　middle　of　the　night　when　everyone　was　asleep　and　go　down　and　stare　at　the　beautiful　things　in　the　house；　the　lovely　paintings　and　heavy　monogrammed　silver　and　antiques　burnished　by　time　and　history。　She　would　study　them　and　caress　them　and　tell　herself　that　one　day　she　would　have　such　things；　one　day　she　would　live　in　a　grand　house　and　be　surrounded　by　beauty。　But　in　both　of　Josephine's　worlds；　she　felt　lonely。　She　was　afraid　to　talk　to　her　mother　about　her　headaches　and　her　fear　of　God　because　her　mother　had　bee　a　brooding　fanatic；　obsessed　with　God's　punishment；　weling　it。　Josephine　did　not　want　to　discuss　her　fears　with　the　Oil　Children　because　they　expected　her　to　be　bright　and　gay；　as　they　were。　And　so；　Josephine　was　forced　to　keep　her　terrors　to　herself。　
　On　Josephine's　seventh　birthday；　Brubaker's　Department　Store　announced　a　photographic　contest　for　the　Most　Beautiful　Child　in　Odessa。　The　entry　picture　had　to　be　taken　in　a　photograph　department　of　the　store。　The　prize　was　a　gold　cup　inscribed　with　the　name　of　she　winner。　The　cup　was　placed　in　the　department…store　window；　and　Josephine　used　to　e　by　the　window　every　day　to　stare　at　it。　She　wanted　it　more　than　she　had　ever　wanted　anything　in　her　life。　
　Josephine's　mother　would　not　let　her　enter　the　contest　　〃Vanity　is　the　devil's　mirror；''　she　said　　but　one　of　the　Oil　Women　who　liked　Josephine　paid　for　her　picture。　From　that　moment　on；　Josephine　knew　that　the　gold　cup　was　hers。　She　could　visualize　it　sitting　on　her　dresser。　She　would　polish　it　carefully　every　day。　When　Josephine　found　out　that　she　was　in　the　finals；　she　was　too　excited　to　go　to　school。　She　stayed　in　bed　all　day　with　an　upset　stomach；　her　happiness　too　much　for　her　to　bear。　This　would　be　the　first　time　that　she　had　owned　anything　beautiful。　The　following　day　Josephine　learned　that　the　contest　had　been　won　by　Tina　Hudson；　one　of　the　Oil　Children。　Tina　was　not　nearly　as　beautiful　as　Josephine；　but　Tina's　father　happened　to　be　on　the　board　of　directors　of　the　chain　that　owned　Brubaker's　Department　Store。　
　When　Josephine　heard　the　news；　she　developed　a　headache　that　made　her　want　to　scream　with　pain。　She　was　afraid　for　God　to　know　how　much　that　beautiful　gold　cup　meant　to　her；　but　He　must　have　known　because　her　headaches　continued。　At　night　she　would　cry　into　her　pillow；　so　that　her　mother　could　not　hear　her。　
　A　few　days　after　the　contest　ended；　Josephine　was　invited　to　Tina's　home　for　a　weekend。　The　gold　cup　was　sitting　in　Tina's　room　on　a　mantel。　Josephine　stared　at　it　for　a　long　time。　When　Josephine　returned　home；　the　cup　was　hidden　in　her　overnight　case。　It　was　still　there　when　Tina's　mother　came　by　for　it　and　took　it　back。　Josephine's　mother　gave　her　a　hard　whipping　with　a　switch　made　from　a　long；　green　twig。　But　Josephine　was　not　angry　with　her　mother。　The　few　minutes　Josephine　had　held　the　beautiful　gold　cup　in　her　hands　had　been　worth　all　the　pain。　
　
　Hollywood；　California；　in　1946；　was　the　film　capital　of　the　world；　a　magnet　for　the　talented；　the　greedy；　the　beautiful；　the　hopeful　and　the　weird。　It　was　the　land　of　palm　trees　and　Rita　Hayworth　and　the　Holy　Temple　of　the　Universal　Spirit　and　Santa　Anita。　It　was　the　agent　who　was　going　to　make　you　an　overnight　star；　it　was　a　con　game；　a　whorehouse；　an　orange　grove；　a　shrine。　It　was　a　magical　kaleidoscope；　and　each　person　who　looked　into　it　saw　his　own　vision。　To　Toby　Temple；　Hollywood　was　where　he　was　meant　to　e。　
　He　arrived　in　town　with　an　army　duffel　bag　and　three　hundred　dollars　in　cash；　moving　into　a　cheap　boardinghouse　on　Cahuenga　Boulevard。　He　had　to　get　into　action　fast；　before　he　went　broke。　Toby　knew　all　about　Hollywood。　It　was　a　town　where　you　had　to　put　up　a　front。　Toby　went　into　a　haberdasher　on　Vine　Strtet；　ordered　a　new　wardrobe；　and　with　twenty　dollars　remaining　in　his　pocket；　strolled　into　the　Hollywood　Brown　Derby；　where　all　the　stars　dined。　
　The　walls　were　covered　with　caricatures　of　the　most　famous　actors　in　Hollywood。　Toby　could　feel　the　pulse　of　show　business　here；　sense　the　power　in　the　room。　He　saw　the　hostess　walking　toward　him。　She　was　a　pretty　redhead　in　her　twenties　and　she　had　a　sensational　figure。　She　smiled　at　Toby　and　said；　〃Can　I　help　you？〃　Toby　could　not　resist　it。　He　reached　out　with　his　two　hands　and　grabbed　her　ripe　melon　breasts。　A　look　of　shock　came　over　her　face。　As　she　opened　her　mouth　to　cry　out；　Toby　fixed　his　eyes　in　a　glazed　stare　and　said　apologetically；　〃Excuse　me；　miss　　I'm　not　a　sighted　person。〃　〃Oh！　I'm　sorry！〃　She　was　contrite　for　what　she　had　been　thinking；　and　sympathetic。　She　conducted　Toby　to　a　table；　holding　his　arm　and　helping　him　sit　down；　and　arranged　for　his　order。　When　she　came　back　to　his　table　a　few　minutes　later　and　caught　him　studying　the　pictures　on　the　wall；　Toby　beamed　up　at　her　and　said；　〃It's　a　miracle！　I　can　see　again！〃　He　was　so　innocent　and　so　funny　that　she　could　not　help　laughing。　She　laughed　all　through　dinner　with　Toby；　and　at　his　jokes　in　bed　that　night。　
　Toby　took　odd　jobs　around　Hollywood　because　they　brought　him　to　the　fringes　of　show　business。　He　parked　cars　at　Oro's；　and　as　the　celebrities　drove　Toby　would　open　the　car　door　with　a　bright　smile　and　　apt　quip。　They　paid　no　attention。　He　was　just　a　parking　boy；　and　they　did　not　even　know　he　was　alive。　Toby　watched　the　beautiful　girls　as　they　got　out　of　the　cars　in　their　expensive；　tight…fitting　dresses；　and　he　thought　to　himself；　If　you　only　knew　what　a　big　star　I'm　going　to　be；　you'd　drop　all　those　creeps。　
　Toby　made　the　rounds　of　agents；　but　he　quickly　learned　that　he　was　wasting　his　time。　The　agents　were　all　star…fuckers。　You　could　not　look　for　them。　They　had　to　be　looking　for　you。　The　name　that　Toby　heard　most　often　was　Clifton　Lawrence。　He　handled　only　the　biggest　talent　and　he　made　the　most　incredible　deals。　One　day；　Toby　thought；　Clifton　Lawrence　is　going　to　be　my　agent。　Toby　subscribed　to　the　two　bibles　of　show　business：　Daily　Variety　and　the　Hollywood　Reporter。　It　made　him　feel　like　an　insider。　Forever　Amber　had　been　bought　by　Twentieth　Century…Fox；　and　Otto　Preminger　was　going　to　direct。　Ava　Gardner　had　been　signed　to　star　in　Whistle　Stop　with　George　Raft　and　Jorja　Curtright；　and　Life　with　Father　had　been　bought　by　Warner　Brothers。　Then　Toby　saw　an　item　that　made　his　pulse　start　pounding。　〃Producer　Sam　Winters　has　been　named　Vice…President　in　Charge　of　Production　at　Pan…Pacific　Studios。〃
　When　Sam　Winters　returned　from　the　war　his　job　at　Pan…Padfic　Studios　was　waiting　for　him。　Six　months　later；　there　was　a　shakeup。　The　head　of　the　studio　was　fired；　and　Sam　was　asked　to　take　over　until　a　new　production　head　could　be　found。　Sam　did　such　a　good　job　that　the　search　was　abandoned；　and　he　was　officially　made　Vice…President　in　Charge　of　Production。　It　was　a　nerve…racking；　ulcer…making　job；　but　Sam　loved　it　more　than　he　loved　anything　in　the　world。　Hollywood　was　a　three…ring　circus　filled　with　wild；　insane　characters；　a　minefield　with　a　parade　of　idiots　dancing　across　it。　Most　actors；　directors　and　producers　were　selfcentered　megalomaniacs；　ungrateful；　vicious　and　destructive。　But　as　far　as　Sam　was　concerned；　if　they　had　talent；　nothing　else　mattered。　Talent　was　the　magic　key。　Sam's　office　door　opened　and　Lucille　Elkins；　his　secretary；　came　in　with　the　freshly　opened　mail。　Lucille　was　a　permanent　fixture；　one　of　the　petent　professionals　who　stayed　on　forever　and　watched　her　bosses　e　and　go。　
　〃Clifton　Lawrence　is　here　to　see　you；〃　Lucille　said。　
　〃Tell　him　to　e　in。〃　
　Sam　liked　Lawrence。　He　had　style。　Fred　Alien　had　said；　〃All　the　sincerity　in　Hollywood　could　be　hidden　in　a　gnat's　navel　and　there'd　still　be　room　for　four　caraway　seeds　and　an　agent's　heart。〃　Cliff　Lawrence　was　more　sincere　than　most　agents。　He　was　a　Hollywood　legend；　and　his　clients　ran　the　gamut　of　who's　who　in　the　entertainment　field。　He　had　a　one…man　office　and　was　constantly　on　the　move；　servicing　clients　in　London；　Switzerland；　Rome　and　New　York。　He　was　on　intiate　terms　with　all　the　important　Hollywood　executives　and　played　in　a　weekly　gin　game　that　included　the　production　heads　of　three　studios。　Twice　a　year；　Lawrence　chartered　a　yacht；　gathered　half　a　dozen　beautiful　〃models〃　and　invited　top　studio　executives　for　a　week's　〃fishing　trip〃。　Clifton　Lawrence　kept　a　fully　stocked　beachhouse　at　Malibu　that　was　available　to　his　friends　anytime　they　wanted　to　use　it。　It　was　a　symbiotic　relationship　that　Clifton　had　with　Hollywood；　and　it　was　profitable　for　everyone。　
　Sam　watched　as　the　door　opened　and　Lawrence　bounced　in；　elegant　in　a　beautifully　tailored　suit。　He　walked　up　to　Sam；　extended　a　perfectly　manicured　hand　and　said；　
　〃Just　wanted　to　say　a　quick　hello。　How's　everything；　dear　boy？〃　
　〃Let　me　put　it　this　way；〃　Sam　said。　〃If　days　were　ships；　today　would　be　the　Titanic。〃　
　Clifton　Lawrence　made　a　miserating　noise。　
　〃What　did　you　think　of　the　preview　last　night？〃　Sam　asked。　
　〃Trim　the　first　twenty　minutes　and　shoot　a　new　ending；　and　you've　got　yourself　a　big　hit。〃　
　〃Bull's…eye。〃　Sam　smiled。　〃That's　exactly　what　we're　doing。　Any　clients　to　sell　me　today？〃　
　Lawrence　grinned。　〃Sorry。　They're　all　working。〃　And　it　was　true。　Clifton　Lawrence's　select　stable　of　top　stars；　with　a　sprinkling　of　directors　and　producers；　were　always　in　demand。　〃See　you　for　dinner　Friday；　Sam；〃　Clifton　said。　
　〃Czao。〃　
　He　turned　and　walked　out　the　door。　Lucille's　voice　came　over　the　inter。　
　〃Dallas　Burke　is　here。〃　
　〃Send　him　in。〃　
　〃And　Mel　Foss　would　like　to　see　you。　He　said　it's　urgent。〃　Mel　Foss　was　head　of　the　television　division　of　PanPadfic　Studios。　Sam　glanced　at　his　desk　calendar。　
　〃Tell　him　to　make　it　breakfast　tomorrow　morning。　Eight　o'clock。　The　Polo　Lounge。〃　
　In　the　outer　office；　the　telephone　rang　and　Lucille　picked　it　up。　〃Mr。　Winter's　office。〃　An　unfamiliar　voice　said；　
　〃Hello　there。　Is　the　great　man　in？〃　
　〃Who's　calling；　please？〃　
　〃Tell　him　it's　an　old　buddy　of　his　　Toby　Temple。　We　were　in　the　army　together。　He　said　to　look　him　up　if　I　ever　got　to　Hollywood；　and　here　I　am。〃　
　〃He's　in　a　meeting；　Mr。　Temple。　Could　I　have　him　call　you　back？〃　
　〃Sure。〃　He　gave　her　his　telephone　number；　and　Lucille　threw　it　into　the　wastebasket。　This　was　not　the　first　time　someone　had　tried　th