Let me hear from you.
David
"Get me McAllister, in Reno," David said into the telephone. He looked up at Rosa and smiled.
She smiled back and returned to her chair.
"Hello, Mac," David said, his voice firm and forceful. "Two questions you can answer for me." A feeling of pride began to run through her.
She was glad she'd come down to the studio.
This was a facet of her husband she had never known before. "First," David said into the telephone, "can I sign an actress to a contract with Cord Explosives?
I have specific reasons for not wanting to sign her with us.
Important reasons." David relaxed slightly.
"Good. Next question.
I have some film I want Jonas to see right away.
Can you get it to him?" He waited a moment. "Can't ask for anything more than that.
I'll have the film at your L.A. office in two hours.
Thanks, Mac.
Good-by."
He pressed down the bar on the telephone and raised it again.
"Miss Wilson, get me Jess Lee in printing and developing, then come right in here." He held onto the telephone and reached for a cigarette. He put it in his mouth. She leaned across the desk with a match. He drew in on the cigarette and smiled at her.
"Jess," he said, as the door opened and his secretary came in. "I’m shooting down a buck slip to you.
I want you to photograph it on the title card and splice it onto the end of the Jennie Denton test, right away." David covered the mouthpiece with his hand.
"Take that buck slip down to Jess Lee yourself," he said to the secretary, indicating the paper on his desk.
She picked it up silently and walked out. "I know it's a wild test, Jess," he said into the phone. "Make up one print with my buck slip and shoot it right over to Mr. McAllister's secretary at Cord Aircraft.
It's got to be there by noon."
"You've made up your mind?"
He nodded.
"I'm playing a long shot," he said.
"If I’m wrong, it won't matter which of them wins.
I lose."
Rosa smiled.
"There comes a time like that in every operation.
You're the surgeon, you hold the knife and the patient is open before you.
According to the book, there are many things you can do, many ways you can go. But you have only one way to go – the right way. So you make the decision.
Your way.
No matter what the pressures are, no matter what the books say.
You have to go your own way." She looked at him, still smiling. "Is that what you're doing, David?" she asked gently.
"Going your own way?"
He looked at her, marveling at her insight and knowledge. "Yes," he said unhesitantly. "I'm going my own way."
He had never thought of it quite like that. She was right, though.
He was on his own now.
Jennie was sitting at her desk in the living room, writing checks for the monthly bills, when the door chime rang.
She heard the Mexican woman waddle past her on the way to answer it. She frowned, looking down at the desk.
She'd been a fool, she thought bitterly, letting herself be talked into that screen test.
She should have known the John was only shooting his mouth off.
Now they were laughing their heads off all over Hollywood.
At least four other Johns had called her up, sarcastically congratulating her on her screen test.
They'd all seen it.
She had known she wasn't an actress.
Why the hell had she fallen for the gag? Just like every stage-struck kid that came out here.
But she thought she was too wise. She'd never fall into a trap like that.
Then she'd gone for it, just like all the others.
She should have known the moment she stood in front of the cameras that it wasn't for her.