The Picture Show Annual (1931)

Picture Show Annual 75 Jack was glued to his chair with surprise. " Oh, Miss Crayford, how wonderful of you ! " he stammered. To play opposite this marvellous creature at her own special request! Carita rose. " You will be told by Mr. Myams to- morrow, but 1 wanted to be the first to share the news with you. Jack. He was standing also, and she came close to him and held out her hand. He took it and she felt his trembling. " Miss " " Carita," she corrected. " We're friends MICKEY MOUSE'S COLUMN " Carita, I—I could kiss you for doing this for me," he burst out, then stopped abruptly. She smiled disarmingly. " You may. By way of thanks," she answered. % r He bent forward and pecked her on the cheek \—_ and then stood back as if a sergeant had shouted attention. " That's what I call a disappointment," she observed, opening her eyes after a moment or so. " I don't think much of that, thank you. You'll have to do better in my picture, my lad. If I hadn't thought you could kiss better than that I'd never have recommended you. I'm afraid you'll be a very lukewarm lover. She smiled mischievously at him, and the taunting tone stung him, as she had anticipated. " Will I ? " he said, and, putting his arms round her waist, held her close and pressed his lips on hers until she pushed him away. " There ! " he said, and looked into her blue eyes. " How's that ? " You'll do," she answered, as she unloosened his arm from her waist. " A trifle clumsy, but practice will improve that. No ' —she laughed as he took a step towards her—" not now. I've got an appointment, so you'd better go. But come and have tea with me tomorrow, and we'll discuss the picture. Mickey The new picture was more than half-finished and the studio was beginning to lose its vivid interest in the realism displayed by the star and her young leading man in the love scenes, and conjecturing how much longer he would hold her attention. They had been nightmare weeks to Myra, for she had been cast as Carita's sister. Her part was small, and, following her usual habit, she had been on the set watching when not actually working, and could not avoid hearing the pithy com- ments passed when Carita and Jack were working together. At first she had resolutely blinded herself, but it had been no use, and she was forced to admit it was true. She saw Jack scarcely at all outside the studio now, and when she met him inside he was always too hurried to speak to her. Twice he had snubbed her before other people, once when Carita and Peter T'.orne were present, and The Girl Friend Not to men- tion the cow. although she still carried her head high, and was apparently indifferent to the affair beyond the ordinary onlooker's interest, Peter, more sensitive and observant, had noticed the occasional wistful glances at Jack and her tightened hps when he had watched her playing a scene with the other two. Rumours were filtering through about Jack Rayner Smith outside the studio. He had an expensive flat, an American-Oxford accent, and was running round with Carita's rather rackety set, besides being up to the ears in debt. He must be, thought Myra, on hearing this last item, for he had not bragged about any rise in pay, and his ten pounds a week would not be enough for his mode of living, although he had given up his lessons. The Jack she had known and liked so very much had completely disappeared. The climax came one evening. Myra's part was finished, and she was working in Peter Thome's new picture. She left the set earlier than usual, and saw, to her dismay, Jack and Carita standing just outside the star's dressing- room door, which she had to pass. " Don't forget, then," she heard Carita say ; " ten o'clock at my place. It'll be a hot party, too. Babs and Blick and all that crowd. Get a good thirst up." "Am I likely to forget?" Jack replied, and the next moment the door had shut and he was coming towards her. She felt she must make one more effort to try to get back the old Jack. " Why, hello ! " she said, trying to appear casual. " How's work going ? " " Good evening," replied Jack, with his best brand of cold politeness, and would have walked past her, but she stopped him. " Jack—listen. I must say this. Jack, I heard Carita ask you round to her place to- night. Jack, don't go! You know what Babs and Blick and that crowd are like. They spend money like water, and gamble for much higher stakes than you can afford. Drop it. Jack. You don't kid anyone by your attitude. And it doesn't do your work any good. That's what's worrying me, Jack, that and yourself. You're not the old Jack everyone liked. You high-hat all the studio hands and the prop men and the technical men and the extras and everyone beneath your leading man's position, and they're not going to help you for that. I know you can't help liking anyone, and I'm not jealous about Carita, but don't let your career go all to pieces over her. She's not worth it. Oh, Jack " She paused, a lump in her throat. " Really," said Jack, surprised out of his accent. " I " Myra waited breathlessly at this sudden human glimpse. Then Carita's door opened. Oh, Jack-ee—come a little early," she called, and blew him a kiss. " Because Neville says he is going to be very punctual."