Radio and television mirror (Nov 1939-Apr 1940)

THE ROMANTIC STORY OF ORSON WELLES' IMPETUOUS LOVE THEY stood there, backstage at the theater, locked in each other's arms. Virginia in her long velvet Juliet gown; Orson Welles in Romeo's doublet and hose. It had all been so sudden, this realization that they loved each other. For up until that moment, when she had tripped and almost fallen, Virginia had been no more than a playmate to Orson — someone it was fun to be with. Now, suddenly, he was blurting out thoughts he'd hardly known were in his mind. Asking her to marry him. Virginia did not say a word. It was a long time before he realized she was crying. Then she turned her head away and said: "Oh — Orson. I want to — but I can't." For a long moment he stood looking at her. Then his hands dropped to his sides. His voice came harshly. "But Virginia — why not?" Her cheeks flamed. "It's just that — I promised my family I wouldn't fall in love with you. Mother — asked me last night — and I — I promised I wouldn't." "But why, Virginia — why?" "Because — " her voice was a frantic whisper now. In a few moments the curtain would rise upon another scene. "Oh, Orson, it's because they don't want me to marry an actor. They — they want me to make my debut, and be — rich — and . . . oh, I can't explain." Her voice broke into a little sob, and without another word she turned from him, and ran into the shadows. He stood there looking after her, too dazed, for a moment, to move. Then hurt gave way to anger — and anger to a fierce determination. So that was it. They did not want their little Virginia to marry an actor. They wanted her to marry society instead. Well — he would show them. He loved Virginia more than anything in the world. He knew it now. An hour ago, she had been a dream, a lovely girl he enjoyed being with. Now she was a woman, who might be taken from him. She was his destiny, and he must fight for her. 28 By LUCILLE FLETCHER All the other things he had fought for — success in the theater, adventure, the chance and the ability to express himself — all these things were suddenly unimportant. His vivid and checkered career, up to this moment, now seemed shoddy and fruitless. For what had he gone charging off to Ireland, to Africa, to the ends of the earth, when he should have been at home, working to create the self that Virginia would be proud to marry? Tall, and a little overgrown in his Romeo's costume, he stood there backstage, feeling resolution harden in his mind. From somewhere the whisper came: "Curtain going up in five minutes!" He walked quickly to his dressing-room, changed his clothes, hurried back to the wings. He went through the play, outwardly absorbed. That night, he drove Virginia out in the old jalopy to a place where ■ A lovely family portrait — The Orson Welles' pose with their newly-born baby girl. they could be alone. And he told of his decision. "Virginia — if you love me, you'll have to break with them all. You'll have to marry me now, and come with me to New York. We'll start life over again — by ourselves." Virginia's young face was very white and still in the moonlight. She trembled against him. "Oh, Orson," she said. "I'm afraid." "Why?" he asked. "Are you afraid of me?" "No. But I'm afraid they'll be angry with me. I love them, and I wouldn't want to hurt them. And Mother says she's only doing it for my own good. She — she said she didn't want me to be poor or unhappy— ever. . . ." "So she thinks you'll be poor and unhappy with me?" "No, Orson, no!" Afraid to hurt him, Virginia denied what she knew was the truth. "And what about you? Do you believe in me, Virginia?" "Yes, Orson, you know I do. With all my heart." "Then that's all that matters. Come. We can be married and leave for New York tomorrow!" But poor little 19-year-old Virginia was too frightened by the idea. The suddenness of it, she said. The shock. He pleaded with her, argued with her, but still she held firm. "No," she insisted. "I'll go, but not so soon. Wait — wait till this fall — a little while — until I make my debut. Then I'll come." "You'll never come if you don't come now!" Orson insisted gloomily. But he promised to bide his time. They made plans. He would go to New York and find a wonderful job in the theater. A glamorous, glittering successful role that would impress her family beyond a doubt. She would stay in Chicago and make her debut. Then at the psychological time, he would fly back from New York, the knight in shining armor, and whisk her away for good. But somehow things didn't work out that way, when he reached New York. Somehow, when he got back RADIO AND TELEVISION MIRROR