sidneysheldon.astrangerinthemirror-第14部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

if　we　were　the　fellows　who　are　going　to　write　your　Jokes。　The　answer　is　no。　This　isn't　a　jokes。　What　we　are　going　to　do　is　show　you　what　you've　to　do　to　use　It。　We're　going　to　tailor　a　character　for　you。　What　do　you　say？〃　
　Toby　glanced　from　one　to　the　other；　grinned　happily　and　said；　〃I　…　let's　up　our　sleeves　and　go　to　work。〃　
　That　day　Toby　had　lunch　with　O'HanIon　and　Rainger。　
　
　This　Twentieth　Century…Fox　missary　was　an　atrium　room　wall…to…wall　filled　with　stars。　On　any　table　one　could　see　Tyrone　Power　and　Loretta　Young　and　Alice　Faye　and　Richard　and　Victor　Mature　and　the　Marx　Brothers。　Some　were　seated　at　tables　in　the　large　room；　some　in　the　smaller　executive　dining　room　which　ajoined　the　main　missary。　Toby　loved　watching　them　all　…　in　a　short　time；　he　would　be　one　of　them；　people　would　be　mad　for　his　autograph。　He　was　on　his　way；　and　he　was　going　to　get　more　than　any　of　them。　
　Alice　Tanner　was　thrilled　by　what　was　happening　to　Toby。　〃Oh；　you're　going　to　make　it；　darling。　I'm　so　proud　of　you。〃　
　Toby　and　O'Hanlon　and　Rainger　had　long　discussions　out　the　new　character　Toby　was　to　be。
　　〃He　should　think　he's　a　sophisticated　man　of　the　world；〃　O'Hanlon　said。　〃But　every　time　he　es　to　that；　he　lays　as　if　
　〃What's　his　job？〃　asked　Rainger。　〃Mixing　metaphors？〃　
　〃This　character　should　live　with　his　mother。　He's　in　love　with　a　girl；　but　he's　afraid　to　leave　home　to　marry　her。　He's　engaged　to　her　for　five　years。〃　
　〃Ten　is　a　funnier　number。〃　
　〃Right！　Make　it　ten　years。　His　mother　shouldn't　happen　a　dog。　Every　time　Toby　wants　to　get　married；　his　mother　develops　a　new　disease。　Time　Magazine　calls　her　every　week　to　find　out　what's　happening　in　medicine。〃　
　Toby　sat　there　listening；　fascinated　by　the　fast　flow　of　dialogue。　He　had　never　worked　with　real　professionals　before；　and　he　enjoyed　it。　Particularly　since　he　was　the　center　of　attention。　It　took　O'Hanlon　and　Rainger　three　weeks　to　write　first　act　for　Toby。　When　they　finally　showed　it　to　him　he　was　thrilled。　It　was　good。　He　made　a　few　suggestions；　they　added　and　threw　out　some　lines；　and　Toby　Temple　was　ready。　Clifton　Lawrence　sent　for　him。　
　〃You're　opening　Saturday　night　at　the　Bowling　Ball。〃　Toby　stared　at　him。　He　had　had　expectations　of　being　booked　into　Giro's　or　the　Trocadero。　
　〃What'swhat's　the　Bowling　Ball？〃　
　〃A　little　club　on　south　Western　Avenue。〃　
　Toby's　face　fell。　〃I　never　heard　of　it。〃　〃
　And　they　never　heard　of　you。　That's　the　point；　dear　boy。　If　you　should　bomb　there；　no　one　will　ever　know　it。〃　Except　Clifton　Lawrence。　
　
　The　Bowling　Ball　was　a　dump。　There　was　no　other　word　to　describe　it。　It　was　a　duplicate　of　ten　thousand　other　sleazy　little　bars　scattered　throughout　the　country；　a　watering　hole　for　losers。　Toby　had　played　there　a　thousand　times；　in　a　thousand　does。　The　patrons　were　mostly　middle…aged　males；　blue…collar　workers　indulging　in　their　ritual　get…together　with　their　buddies；　ogling　the　tired　waitresses　in　their　tight　skirts　and　low…cut　blouses；　exchanging　dirty　jokes　over　a　shot　of　cheap　whiskey　or　a　glass　of　beer。　The　floor　show　took　place　in　a　small　cleared　area　at　the　far　end　of　the　room；　where　three　bored　musicians　played。　A　homosexual　singer　opened　the　show；　followed　by　an　acrobatic　dancer　in　a　leotard；　and　then　a　stripper　who　worked　with　a　somnolent　cobra。　
　Toby　sat　at　a　table　in　the　back　of　the　room　with　Clifton　Lawrence　and　O'Hanlon　and　Rainger；　watching　the　other　acts；　listening　to　the　audience；　trying　to　gauge　its　mood。　
　〃Beer　drinkers；〃　Toby　said　contemptuously。　
　Clifton　started　to　retort；　then　looked　at　Toby's　face　aad　checked　himself。　Toby　was　scared。　Clifton　knew　that　Toby　had　played　places　like　this　before；　but　this　time　was　different。　This　was　the　test。　Clifton　said　gently；　
　〃If　you　can　put　the　beer　drinkers　in　your　pocket；　the　champagne　crowd　will　be　a　pushover。　These　people　work　hard　all　day；　Toby。　When　they　go　out　at　night；　they　want　their　nickel's　worth。　If　you　can　make　them　laugh；　you　can　make　anyone　laugh。〃　
　At　that　moment；　Toby　heard　the　bored　voice　announce　his　name。　
　〃Give　'em　hell；　tiger！　〃　O'Hanlon　said。　Toby　was　on。　
　
　He　stood　on　the　stage；　on　guard　and　tense；　appraising　the　audience　like　a　wary　animal　sniffing　for　danger　in　a　forest。　An　audience　was　a　beast　with　a　hundred　heads；　each　one　different；　and　he　had　to　make　the　beast　laugh。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　Love　me；　he　prayed。　He　went　into　his　act。　And　no　one　was　listening　to　him。　No　one　was　laughing。　Toby　could　feel　the　flop　sweat　begin　to　pop　out　on　his　forehead。　The　act　was　not　working。　He　kept　his　smile　pasted　on　and　went　on　talking　over　the　loud　noise　and　conversation。　He　could　not　get　their　attention。　They　wanted　the　naked　broads　back。　They　had　been　exposed　on　too　many　Saturday　nights　to　too　many　talentless；　unfunny　edians。　Toby　kept　talking；　in　the　face　of　their　indifference。　He　went　on　because　there　was　nothing　else　he　could　do。　He　looked　out　and　saw　Clifton　Lawrence　and　the　boys；　watching　him　with　worried　expressions。　Toby　continued。　There　was　no　audience　in　the　room；　people；　talking　to　one　another；　discussing　their　problems　their　lives。　For　all　they　cared；　Toby　Temple　could　have　been　a　million　miles　away。　Or　dead。　His　throat　was　dry　now　for　fear；　and　it　was　being　hard　to　get　the　words　out。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Toby　saw　the　manager　start　toward　the　bandstand。　He　was　going　to　begin　the　music；　pull　the　plug　on　him。　It　was　all　over。　Toby's　palms　were　wet　and　his　bowels　had　turned　to　water。　He　could　feel　hot　urine　trickle　down　his　leg。　He　was　so　nervous　that　he　was　beginning　to　mix　tip　his　words。　He　did　not　dare　look　at　Clifton　Lawrence　or　the　writers。　He　was　too　filled　with　shame。　The　manager　was　at　the　bandstand；　talking　to　the　musicians。　They　glanced　over　at　Toby　and　nodded。　Toby　went　on；　talking　desperately；　wanting　it　to　be　over；　wanting　to　run　away　somewhere　and　hide。　A　middle…aged　woman　seated　at　a　table　directly　in　front　of　Toby　giggled　at　one　of　his　jokes。　Her　panions　stopped　to　listen。　Toby　kept　talking；　in　a　frenzy。　The　others　at　the　table　were　listening　now；　laughing。　And　then　the　next　table。　And　the　next。　And；　slowly；　the　talking　began　to　the　down。　They　were　listening　to　him。　The　laughs　were　starting　to　e；　long　and　regular；　and　they　were　getting　bigger；　and　building；　and　building。　The　people　in　the　room　had　bee　an　audience。　And　he　had　them。　He　fucking　had　them！　It　no　longer　mattered　that　he　was　in　a　cheap　saloon　filled　with　beer…drinking　slobs。　All　that　mattered　was　their　laughter；　and　their　love。　It　came　out　on　Toby　in　waves。　First　he　had　them　laughing；　then　he　had　them　screaming。　They　had　never　heard　anything　like　him；　not　in　this　crummy　place；　not　anywhere。　They　applauded　and　they　jeered　and　before　they　were　through；　they　damned　near　tore　the　place　apart。　They　were　witnessing　the　birth　of　a　phenomenon。　Of　course；　they　could　not　know　that。　But　Clifton　Lawrence　and　O'Hanlon　and　Rainger　knew　it。　And　Toby　Temple　knew　it。　God　had　finally　e　through。　
　
　Reverend　Damian　shoved　the　blazing　torch　into　Josephiine's　face　and　screamed；　〃O　God　Almighty；　burn　away　the　evil　in　this　sinful　child；〃　and　the　congregation　roared　〃Amen！〃　And　Josephine　could　feel　the　flame　licking　at　her　face　and　the　Reverend　Damian　yelled　out；　〃Help　this　sinner　exorcise　the　Devil；　0　God。　We　will　pray　him　out；　we　will　burn　him　out；　we　will　drown　him　out；〃　and　hands　grabbed　Josephine；　and　her　face　was　suddenly　plunged　into　a　wooden　tub　of　cold　water；　and　she　was　held　under　while　voices　chanted　into　the　night　air；　beseeching　the　Almighty　One　for　His　help；　and　Josephine　struggled　to　get　loose；　fighting　for　breath；　and　when　they　finally　pulled　her　out；　half…conscious；　the　Reverend　Damian　declared；　〃We　thank　you；　sweet　Jesus；　for　your　mercy。　She　is　saved！　She　is　saved！〃　And　there　was　great　rejoicing；　and　everyone　was　raised　in　spirit。　Except　Josephine；　whose　headaches　became　worse。　
　　
　〃I've　gotten　you　a　booking　in　Las　Vegas；〃　Clifton　Lawice　told　Toby。　〃I've　arranged　for　Dick　Landry　to　work　on　ur　act。　He's　the　best　nightclub　director　in　the　business。〃　
　〃Fantastic！　Which　hotel？　The　Flamingo？　The　Thunderbird？〃　
　〃The　Oasis。〃　
　〃The　Oasis！〃　Toby　looked　at　Cliff　to　see　if　he　was　ang。　
　〃I　never　〃　。　
　〃I　know。〃　Cliff　smiled。　〃You　never　heard　of　it。　Fair　enough。　They　never　heard　of　you。　They're　really　not　booking　youthey're　booking　me。　They're　taking　my　word　that　u're　good。〃　
　〃Don't　worry；〃　Toby　promised。　〃I　will　be。〃　
　Toby　broke　the　news　to　Alice　Tanner　about　his　Las　Vegas　booking　just　before　he　was　to　leave。　
　〃I　know　you're　to　be　a　big　star；〃　she　said。　〃It's　your　time。　They'll　prey　you；　darling。〃　She　hugged　him　and　said；　〃When　do　we　go；　and　what　do　I　wear　to　the　opening　night　of　a　young　ic　genius？〃　
　Toby　shook　his　head　ruefully。　〃I　wish　I　could　take　you；　honey。　The　trouble　is　I'll　be　working　night　and　day　thinking　a　lot　of　new　material。〃　
　She　tried　to　conceal　her　disappointment。　〃I　understand。〃　
　it　held　him　tighter。　〃How　long　will　you　be　gone？〃　
　〃I　don't　know　yet。　You　see；　it's　kind　of　an　open　booking。〃　
　She　felt　a　small　stab　of　worry；　but　she　knew　that　she　was　being　silly。　〃Call　me　the　moment　you　can；〃　she　said。　Toby　kissed　her　and　danced　out　the　door。　
　
　It　was　as　though　Las　Vegas；　Nevada；