cb.coldheart canyon-第12章

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fortunate　carcass：　his　fingernails　were　manicured　with　obsessive　precision；　his　personal　barber　trimmed　his　dyed　hair　every　morning；　having　shaved　him　first　with　a　straight　razor。
　 There　had　been　countless　prayers　offered　up　to　that　razor　over　the　years；　entreating　it　to　slip！　But　Eppstadt　seemed　to　live　a　charmed　life。　He'd　gone　from　strength　to　strength　as　he　moved　around　the　studios；　claiming　the　paternity　of　every　success；　and　blaming　the　failures　on　those　who　stood　immediately　behind　him　on　the　ladder；　whom　he　promptly　fired。　It　was　the　oldest　trick　in　the　book；　but　it　had　worked　flawlessly。　In　an　age　in　which　corporations　increasingly　had　the　power；　and　studios　were　run　by　mittees　of　business…school　graduates　and　lawyers　with　an　itch　to　have　their　fingers　in　the　creative　pie；　Eppstadt　was　one　of　the　old　school。　A　powermonger；　happiest　in　the　pany　of　somebody　who　needed　his　patronage；　whom　he　could　then　abuse　in　a　hundred　subtle　ways。　That　was　his　pleasure；　and　his　revenge。　What　did　he　need　beauty　for；　when　he　could　make　it　tremble　with　a　smiling　maybe！　
　
　 He　was　in　a　fine　mood　when　he　and　Todd；　with　Maxine　in　attendance；　met　for　lunch　on　Monday。　Paramount　had　carried　the　weekend　with　a　brutal　revenge　picture　that　Eppstadt　had　taken　a　hand　in　making；　firing　the　director　off　the　project　after　two　unpromising　preview　screenings；　and　hiring　somebody　else　to　shoot　a　rape　scene　and　a　new　ending；　in　which　the　violated　woman　terrorized　and　eventually　dispatched　her　attacker　with　a　hedge…cutter。
　 〃Thirty…two　point　six　million　dollars　in　three　days；〃　he　preened。　〃In　January。　That's　a　hit。　And　you　know　what？　There's　nobody　in　the　picture。　Just　a　couple　no…name　TV　stars。　It　was　all　marketing。〃
　 〃Is　the　picture　any　good？〃　Todd　asked。
　 〃Yeah；　it's　fucking　Hamlet；〃　Eppstadt　said；　without　missing　a　beat。　〃You're　looking　weary；　my　friend；〃　he　went　on。　〃You　need　a　vacation。　I've　been　taking　time　at　this　monastery…〃
　 〃Monastery？〃
　 〃Sounds　crazy；　right？　But　you　feel　the　peace。　You　feel　the　tranquility。　And　they　take　Jews。　Actually；　I've　seen　more　Jews　there　than　at　my　nephew's　Bar　Mitzvah。　You　should　try　it。　Take　a　rest。〃
　 〃I　don't　want　to　rest。　I　want　to　work。　We　need　to　set　a　start…date　for　Warrior。〃
　 Eppstadt's　enthusiastic　expression　dimmed。　〃Oh；　Christ。　Is　that　what　this　little　lunch　is　all　about；　Maxine？〃
　 〃Are　you　making　it　or　not？〃　Todd　pressed。　〃Because　there's　plenty　of　other　people　who　will　if　you　won't。〃
　 〃So　maybe　you　should　take　it　to　one　of　them；〃　Eppstadt　said；　his　gaze　hooded。　〃You　can　have　it　in　turnaround；　if　that's　what　you　want。　I'll　get　business　affairs　on　it　this　afternoon。〃
　 〃So　you're　really　ready　to　let　it　go？〃　Maxine　said；　putting　on　an　air　of　indifference。
　 〃Perfectly　ready；　if　that's　what　Todd　wants。　I'm　not　going　to　stand　in　the　way　of　you　getting　the　picture　made。　You　look　surprised；　Maxine。〃
　 〃I　am　surprised。　A　package　like　that。。。it's　a　huge　summer　movie　for　Paramount。〃
　 〃Frankly　I'm　not　sure　this　is　the　right　time　for　the　pany　to　be　making　that　kind　of　picture；　Maxine。　It's　a　very　hard　market　to　read　right　now。　And　these　expensive　pictures。　I　mean；　this　is　going　to　e　in　at　well　north　of　a　hundred　thirty　million　by　the　time　we've　paid　for　prints　and　advertising。　I'm　not　sure　that　makes　solid　fiscal　sense。〃　He　tried　a　smile；　it　was　lupine。　〃Look；　Todd：　I　want　to　be　in　business　with　you。　Paramount　wants　to　be　in　business　with　you。　Christ；　you've　been　a　gold…mine　for　us　over　the　years。　But　there's　a　generation　ing　up…and　you　know　the　demographics　as　well　as　I　do…these　kids　filling　up　the　multiplexes；　they　don't　have　any　loyalty　to　the　past。〃
　 Eppstadt　knew　what　effect　his　words　were　having；　and　he　was　savoring　every　last　drop　of　it。
　 〃You　see；　in　the　good　old　days；　the　studios　were　able　to　carry　stars　through　a　weak　patch。　You　had　a　star　on　a　seven…year　contract。　He　was　being　paid　a　weekly　wage。　You　could　afford　a　year　or　two　of　poor　performance。　But　you're　expensive；　Todd。　You're　crucifyingly　expensive。　And　I've　got　Via's　shareholders　to　answer　to。　I'm　not　sure　they'd　want　to　see　me　pay　you　twenty　million　dollars　for　a　picture　that　might　only　gross。。。what　did　your　last　picture　do？　Forty…one　domestic？　And　change？〃
　 Maxine　sighed；　a　little　theatrically。　〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　that；　Gary。〃
　 〃Look；　Maxine；　I'm　sorry　to　be　having　to　say　it。　Really　I　am。　But　numbers　are　numbers。　If　I　don't　believe　I　can　make　a　profit；　what　am　I　doing　making　the　movie？　You　see　where　I'm　ing　from？　That　simply　doesn't　make　sense。〃
　 Maxine　got　up　from　the　table。　〃Will　you　excuse　me　a　minute？　I've　got　to　make　a　call。〃
　 Eppstadt　caught　the　fire　in　Maxine's　voice。
　 〃No　lawyers；　Maxine。　Please？　We　can　do　this　in　a　civilized　manner。〃　Maxine　didn't　reply。　She　simply　stalked　off　between　tables；　snarling　at　a　waiter　who　got　in　her　way。　Eppstadt　ate　a　couple　of　mouthfuls　of　rare　tuna；　then　put　down　his　fork。　〃It's　times　like　this　I　wish　I　still　smoked。〃　He　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　looked　hard　at　Todd。　〃Don't　let　her　start　a　pissing　petition；　Todd；　because　if　I'm　cornered　I'm　going　to　have　to　stand　up　and　tell　it　like　it　is。　And　then　we'll　all　have　a　mess　on　our　hands。〃
　 〃Meaning　what？〃
　 〃Meaning。。。〃　Eppstadt　looked　pained；　as　though　his　proctologist　was　at　work　on　him　under　the　chair。　〃You　can't　keep　massaging　numbers　so　your　price　looks　justified　when　we　all　know　it　isn't。〃
　 〃You　were　saying　I'd　been　a　gold…mine　for　Paramount。　Just　two　minutes　ago　you　said　that。〃
　 〃That　was　then。　This　is　now。　That　was　Keever　Smotherman；　this　is　post…Keever　Smotherman。　He　was　the　last　of　his　breed。〃
　 〃So　what　are　you　saying？〃
　 〃Well。。。let　me　tell　you　what　I'm　not　saying；〃　Eppstadt　replied；　his　tone　silky。　〃I'm　not　saying　you　don't　have　a　career。〃
　 〃Well　that's　nice　to　hear。〃　Todd　said　sharply。
　 〃I　want　to　find　something　we　can　do　together。
　 〃But。。。〃
　 〃But？〃
　 Eppstadt　seemed　to　be　genuinely　considering　his　reply　before　he　spoke。　Finally；　he　said：　〃You've　got　talent；　Todd。　And　you've　obviously　built　a　loyal　fan…base　over　the　years。　What　you　don't　have　is　the　drawing　power　you　had　back　in　the　old　days。　It's　the　same　with　all　of　you　really　expensive　boys。　Cruise。　Costner。　Stallone。〃　He　took　a　moment；　then　leaned　closer　to　Todd；　dropping　his　voice　to　a　conspiratorial　whisper。　〃You　want　the　truth？　You　look　weary。　I　mean；　deep　down　weary。〃　Todd　said　nothing。　Eppstadt's　observation　was　like　being　doused　in　ice…cold　water。　〃Sorry　to　be　blunt。　It's　not　like　I'm　telling　you　something　you　don't　already　know。〃
　 Todd　was　staring　at　his　hand；　wondering　what　it　would　feel　like　to　make　a　fist　and　beat　it　against　Eppstadt's　face；　over　and　over　and　over。
　 〃Of　course；　you　can　have　these　things　fixed；〃　Gary　went　on　chattily。　〃I　know　a　couple　of　guys　older　than　you　who　went　to　see　Bruce　Burrows　and　looked　ten　years　younger　when　he　was　finished　working　on　them。〃
　 Still　idly　contemplating　his　hand；　Todd　said：　〃Who's　Bruce　Burrows？〃
　 〃Well；　in　many　people's　opinion　he's　the　best　cosmetic　surgeon　in　the　country。　He's　got　an　office　on　Wilshire。　Very　private。　Very　expensive。　But　you　can　afford　it。　He　does　it　all。　Collagen　replacements；　lifts；　peels；　lipo…sculpture。。。〃
　 〃Who　went　to　see　him？〃
　 〃Oh；　just　about　everybody。　There's　nothing　to　be　ashamed　of：　it's　a　fact　of　life。　At　a　certain　age　it's　harder　to　get　the　lovehandles　to　melt。　You　get　laugh…lines；　you　get　frown　lines；　you　get　those　little　grooves　around　your　mouth。〃
　 〃I　haven't　got　grooves　around　my　mouth。〃
　 〃Give　it　time；〃　Eppstadt　said；　a　touch　avuncular　now。
　 〃How　long　does　it　take？〃
　 〃I　don't　know。　I've　never　had　any　of　it　done。　If　I　went　in　there；　I'd　never　get　out　again。〃
　 〃Too　much　to　fix。〃
　 〃I　think　it's　bad　taste　to　jump　on　somebody　else's　self…deprecation；　Todd。　But　I　forgive　you。　I　know　it　hurts　to　hear　this。　The　fact　is；　I　don't　have　to　have　my　face　out　there　fifty　feet　high。　You　do。　That's　what　they're　paying　for。〃　He　pointed　at　Todd。　〃That　face。〃
　 〃If　I　was　to　get　something　done。。。〃　Todd　said　tentatively；　〃about　the　lines；　I　mean？〃
　 〃Yes？〃
　 〃Would　you　make　Warrior　then？〃
　 He　had　opened　the　door　to　Eppstadt's　favorite　word：　〃Maybe。　I　don't　know。　We'd　have　to　see。　But　the　way　I　look　at　it；　you　haven't　got　much　to　lose　getting　the　work　done　anyway。　You're　a　heart…throb。　An　old…fashioned　heart…throb。　They　want　to　see　you　kick　the　shit　out　of　the　bad　guy　and　get　the　girl。　And　they　want　their　heart…throb　perfect。〃　He　stared　at　Todd。　〃You　need　to　be　perfect。　Burrows　can　do　that　for　you。　He　can　make　you　perfect　again。　Then　you　get　back　to　being　King　of　the　Hill。　Which　is　what　you　want；　I　presume。〃
　 Todd　admitted　it　with　a　little　nod；　as　though　it　were　a　private　vice。
　 〃Look；　I　sympathize；〃　Eppstadt　went　on；　〃I've　seen　a　lot　of　people　just　fold　up　when　they　lose　their　public。　They　e　apart　at　the　seams。　You　haven't　done　that。　At　least　not　yet。〃　He　laid　a　hand　on　Todd's　arm。　〃You　go　have　a　word　with　Doctor　Burrows。　See　what　he　can　do　for　you。　Six　months。　Then　we'll　talk　again。〃
　
　 Todd　didn't　mention　his　discussion　about　Doctor　Burrows　to　Maxine。　He　didn't　want　the　decision　process　muddied　by　her　opinion。　This　was　something　he　wanted　to　think　through　for　himself。
　 Though　he　didn't　remember　having　heard　of　Burrows　before；　he　was　perfectly　aware　he　was　riving　in　the　cosmetic　surgery　capitol　of　the　world。　Noses　were　fixed；　lips　made　fuller；　crow's　feet　erased；　ears　pinned　back；　laugh…lines　smoothed；　guts　tucked；　butts　lifted；　breasts　enhanced。　Just　about　any　piece　of　the　anatomy　which　gave　its　owner　ego　problems　could　be　improved；　sometimes　out　of　all　recognition。　Traditionally　of　course；　it　had　been　women　who　were　the　eager　and　grateful　recipients　of　such　handiwork；　but　that　had　changed。　One　of　the　eighties　muscle…men；　who'd　made　a　fortune　parading　a　body　of　superhuman　proportions　some　years　before；　but　had　begun　to　lose　it　to　gravity；　had　returned　to　the　screen　last　year　looking　more　pumped　than　ever；　his　perfect　abdominals　and　swelling　pectorals…even　his　sculpted　calf　muscles…surgically　implanted。　The　healing　had　taken　a　little　while；　given　the　extensiveness　of　the　remodeling。　He'd　been　out　of　mission　for　five　months…hiding　in　Tuscany；　the　gossip　went…while　he　mended。　But　it　had　worked。　He'd　left　the　screen　looking　like　a　beaten…up　catcher's　mitt；　and　e　back　spanking　new。
　 Todd　began　by　making　some　very　circuitous　inquiries；　the　sort　of　questions　which　he　hoped　would　not　arouse　suspicion。　The　word　came　back　that　the　procedures　were　far　from　painless。　Even　legendary　tough　guys　had　ended　up　wishing　they'd　never　invited　the　doctors　to　mess　with　them；　the　process　had　been　so　agonizing。　And　of　course　once　you　began；　if　you　didn't　like　what　you　saw　you　had　to　let　Burrows　make　some　more　fixes；　wounds　on　wounds；　pain　on　pain。
　 But　Todd　wasn't　discouraged　by　the　news。　In　fact　in　a　curious　way　it　made　the　idea　of　undergoing　the　procedures　more　palatable　to　him；　playing　as　it　did　both　into　his　machismo　side　and　a　deep；　unexplored　vein　of　masochism。
　 Besides；　was　there　any　pain　on　God's　green　earth　as　agonizing　as　reading　Daily　Variety　and　finding　that　once　again　you　weren't　in　its　pages？　That　other　actors…names　sometimes　you'd　never　heard　of…were　getting　the　scripts；　the　parts　and　the　deals　tha