The Picture Show Annual (1931)

120 Picture Show Annual department. Then one highly satisfactory interview with Montgomery, and Penny danced out of the mana- gerial office with a two-year contract and every prospect of stardom before her. Dora was waiting for her at the foot of the stairs leading into the big studio. " Oh, my dear, she said, " how marvellous ! Don't let it turn your head, Penny. The girl shot her a swift, sidelong glance. Not me, she said. " I ve seen tod much of that." There was a touch of sadness in her voice which the othei girl was quick to recognise. I sav, ' she said, " I suppose you've heard about the high and mighty Christopher ? No. Penny paused in her flight upstairs and came back slowly. Dora did not mince matters. He s a wash-out, she said. " Going on to small parts until his contract expires—then he 11 be left in the cold, I expect. Penny turned pale and her blue eyes were very grave. ' The talkie tests ? ' she murmured. That s it, with a vengeance. Fourteen trials, my dear, and failed every one of them. They say his voice sounds like a kitten squeaking under a blanket. I saw him just now, she went on casually. " He came out of the monitor-room and went on to the old comedy set. No one s up there—he wanted to be alone, I guess. Penny made no answer. She was already half-way across the studio leading to the long corridor which fed the various stock sets which Bnto-Semitic were in the habit of using for their less important scenes. Christopher Gordon was seated on the Victorian settee which had been used in comedies for the past five years, his elbows on his knees, his chin resting in his hands. He did not seem to hear Penny's step as she paused on the threshold of the set and looked in at him. Some of her old diffidence came over her at first; he had snubbed her so soundly that evening at the dance. Suddenly he rose to his feet, an expression of utter misery on his handsome young face, and turning, caught sight of her. He started, reddened, and strove valiantly to pull himself together. Hallo, Penny ! ' he said. " Congratulations ! The girl came towards him. " Oh, you've heard, she said. " It's only a little contract. Mavbe I'll be an aw ful flo p—rennv Pla in, you know. He laughed at the old nickname. " Not at all, he said gallantly. " You ve grown posi- tively beautiful." She smiled at him as she settled herself on the settee. That's the hairdresser and the costume man and old Mr. Weber with his pots of make-up," she confessed. Come and tell me about yourself, Chris. He did not sneak, but stood with his back to her, his shoulders rigid. She caught hold of his arm and drew him gently down beside her. Tell me, she said softly. He turned and looked at her, and tried to smile. He looked absurdly young, and his misery was heartrending. I'm a flop," he said briefly. " That's all." There was silence for a moment or two between them, the girl making up her mind v. hit to say and finding it very difficult. Suddenly the boy went on speaking. He had turned his face away from her and his naturally husky voice made the mumbled words almost inaudible. It's not that I care about the job really," he said. I can go back into my father's office. And it's not much fun being a film star for a man. You have to think too much about the look of yourself; but, oh, Penny, I've been such a simp. The adulation got me down. I put on side everywhere, and now I'll look such an idiot." There was a little pause. You saw me like that once, didn t you, at that dance affair in the spring? Penny put her arm round his shoulders and rubbed her cheek against his arm. I didn't notice it," she lied complacently. He turned to her. Penny, you re a marvel," he said. " When I m back in my office I suppose you'll send me tickets for trade shows ? You're going to be the big English star of the future." Penny d>id not move her arm, and suddenly his cynicism broke down completely. Oh, my dear," he said, " don't you see why I'm sore ? I chucked away everything to be a star. We were just beginning to fall in love that evening by the coffee stall when old D'Avril came along, weren't we ? And I deliberately threw it all away for the sake of my beastly career. I say, hadn t you better leave me alone ? I'm making an awful fool of myself. Penny took a deep breath. I'll go if you like," she said ; " but you're wrong about me, anyhow. I had fallen in love. I'm still in love. You didn't chuck it away—you couldn't. I kept it safe." For a moment he stared at her. Then his arms closed round her and he held her close. " You mean it. Penny ? he said. She nodded. " And you ? I love you," he said, and whatever the film experts thought. Penny found his husky voice the most attractive thing in the world. THE END.