_Chapter II_ LEADING ROLES
Miss Williams smiled pleasantly as she looked up from the now slenderpile of sheets with the tryout parts.
"Afraid I was going to forget you?" she asked.
"We were commencing to worry," admitted Janet, "for after all there'sonly one senior play."
"Right. And I'm determined that 'The Chinese Image' be the best everproduced by Clarion High."
The electric gong that heralded the opening of school banged its lustytone through the hall.
"Never mind about opening assembly," said Miss Williams. "I'll explain tothe principal that I detained you."
The dramatics instructor looked quizzically at Janet and Helen.
"You make a good team, don't you?"
"Well, we don't exactly fight," smiled Helen, "but there are times whenwe don't agree."
"Of course. That's only human. What I mean is that when you get togetherwith a goal in mind, you work hard to attain that goal. When Janet wentout for editor of the _Weekly Clarion_ last fall, you were working hardfor her to win."
"I did my best," admitted Helen.
"And it had a lot to do with my winning out over Margie Blake," saidJanet whole-heartedly.
"Which is just the kind of spirit I'm looking for to put across thesenior play. I'll have to make a little confession or you'll wonder whyI'm so intensely interested in the success of this special play. Adramatic producing company has made me a tentative offer, but their finaldecision will be made after one of their representatives has seen thesenior play."
"But that would mean leaving Clarion," protested Helen.
"I'm afraid it would, and while I wouldn't like that, the opportunityoffered by this company, if it finally develops, would be such that Ijust couldn't afford to reject it."
"I suppose there isn't a whole lot of money in teaching dramatics in ahigh school," said Janet.
"Not enough so I want to make it a life career," replied Miss Williams."But this isn't getting along with my plan. Helen, I'm assigning you fora tryout for the leading role. Here's your part. Read it over carefullyand be ready tomorrow afternoon at 4:15 o'clock."
Miss Williams handed the mimeographed sheets to the astounded Helen.
"They won't bite," she smiled.
"But the lead? I never dreamed you would want me to try out for that."
"Why not? It calls for a brunette with ability and brains and I think youanswer that description."
Miss Williams turned to Janet.
"Here's your role, Janet. It's the second lead. You play a jittery littleblond who hasn't a brain in her head and probably never will have."
"Does that role fit me?" asked Janet, her eyes twinkling.
"Well, hardly, but I think you'll have a lot of fun working on such apart. Margie Blake is going to try for it, also."
"Who will be trying for the part you've assigned me?" asked Helen.
"Cora Dean. I expect that with such competition both of you will beforced to do your best to win the part. Maybe it's a little mean of me tomatch you against each other this way, but I've got to have a superlativecast for the play."
"You'll get it," promised Janet, "for Helen and I are going to do ourbest to win these roles. Why Helen's father is planning on coming backfor graduation week and Helen's got to make the play."
"Is he really coming?" asked Miss Williams, almost incredulously, for thename of Henry Thorne was a magic word in Clarion.
"He's promised, and both mother and I are counting on it. We haven't seenhim since last fall."
"Then I know one dramatics teacher who is going to be doubly nervous thenight of the play. Just think of it--Henry Thorne, star director of thegreat Ace Motion Picture Company, watching a high school play. I'm afraidthe cast may go all to pieces, they'll be so nervous."
"But Dad's so entirely human," said Helen. "That's just the trouble.Because he's made a success in films, people think he must be some kindof a queer individual who goes around with his head in the air thinkinghe is better than anyone else. He's just like Janet's father and when hegets home he likes nothing better than getting his old fishpole out,digging a can of worms, and going out along the creek to fish and doze."
"I suppose you're right, but his pictures have been so outstanding itseems that directing them must be some sort of a genius. I've never quiteunderstood why you and your mother stayed on here, though."
Miss Williams had often wanted to ask that question just to satisfy herown curiosity, but the opportunity had never opened before.
"Dad's working under pressure on the coast, long hours and a terrificstrain, and he says some of the things that are said about Hollywood aretrue. Most of the people are fine and hard working, but a small, wildcrowd gives the rest a bad name and he doesn't want to take any chance onmy getting mixed up with that bunch."
"But you wouldn't," said Miss Williams.
"I don't think so, but Dad thinks it best for us to stay here in Clarionand mother and I are happy here with all of our friends. Of course wedon't see a whole lot of Dad, but when he does get home or we go outthere, we have an awfully good time."
Miss Williams glanced at her watch.
"It's 9:10. You'd better go down to assembly. I'll explain why you werelate. Don't forget, tryouts for both of you tomorrow afternoon and I'mcounting on you to do your best."
"We'll try," promised Janet, as they picked up the sheets with the tryoutparts and left the chemistry auditorium.
In the hall Helen, her dark eyes aglow with excitement, turned to Janet.
"Just think; I've got a chance at the leading role. Of course Cora willprobably get it, but at least Miss Williams is considering me."
"Now let's stop right here," said Janet firmly, "and get one thingstraight. You have a chance at the leading role." Helen nodded.
"Cora has a chance at the lead." Again Helen nodded.
"But," went on Janet, "you are going to win the lead."
"Oh, do you really think so?" There was a tinge of desperation in Helen'svoice.
"I know you are." Janet spoke with a definiteness that she didn't quitefeel, for Cora was a splendid little actress. But Helen needed some realencouragement and Janet knew that if Helen felt confident from the starthalf of the battle was won.
The morning passed in a whirl of routine classes, but Janet found time tostudy her tryout sheets for several minutes.
"The Chinese Image" was ideally suited for a senior play, with anexcellent mystery story to carry the action. A whole lot of dramaticability was unnecessary for the rapid tempo of the story would carryalong the interest of the audience.
The synopsis Miss Williams had prepared was brief and Janet read ittwice.
"The Chinese Image" centered about a strange little figure which had beenbrought back from China in 1851 by Ebenezer Naughton, then captain of oneof the clipper ships which had sailed out of Salem for far-away ports inthe Orient. The strange, squat little figure had remained in the Naughtonfamily ever since for Captain Ebenezer, in his will, had stipulated thatit must never be given away or sold.
"When grave troubles befall my family, turn to 'The Chinese Image,'" hehad written, "and therein you will find an answer."
But the Naughtons had prospered and the will had been almost forgottenuntil the family came upon hard times and its fortune dwindled. Twograndsons of Captain Ebenezer, now heads of their own families, quarreledbitterly and in the ensuing family feud the image became involved. Itfinally fell to the lot of Abbie Naughton, the role played by Janet, tosolve the mystery of the image, which she did in as thorough a manner asmight have been expected of the light-headed Abbie.
Janet chuckled over the lines she was to read in the tryout. The part ofAbbie should be great fun, for Abbie did about every nonsensical thingpossible and the giddier the part could be made, the better, decidedJanet.
Helen's role was more serious, for she was supposed to be in love withone of the boys of the other branch of the
family and many were thetrials and tribulations of their love affair. It was a delicate role,with much sweetness and tenderness, and it should prove ideal for Helen.Janet couldn't conceive of Cora Dean, who had a certain harshness abouther, getting the part. But then, Cora was capable and she might be ableto play the role to perfection.
Just before noon the sky, grey since morning, turned a more desolateshade and the clouds disgorged their burden of snow. It was dry and fineand tons of it seemed to be coming down.
Janet met Helen in the hall.
"What about lunch?"
"I'm going to stay at school and have mine in the cafeteria," repliedHelen. "How about you?"
"I don't relish the long walk home, but I didn't bring any money withme."
Helen smiled. "You wouldn't accept a loan, would you?"
"I might," conceded Janet, "because I'm more than a little hungry."
"I've got fifty cents. That ought to buy enough food to last until we gethome tonight."
"But we're not going home," Janet reminded her companion. "Have youforgotten about the roller skating party at Youde's?"
Helen flushed. "To tell the truth, I had. I've been thinking so muchabout the play I completely forgot the party."
"Better not. It will be lots of fun."
"I don't know whether I ought to go. If I do, I won't have much time tostudy over my tryout part."
"There'll be an hour after school and you haven't more than twoparagraphs to memorize."
"I know them now," said Helen.
"Then come on and go to the party. The bus is leaving school at fiveo'clock. We'll be at Youde's in an hour and there'll be a hot supper andthe skating party afterward."
"It's snowing hard," observed Helen, gazing out into the swirling grey.
"You think of everything," expostulated Janet. "Of course, it's snowing,but the road to Youde's is paved part of the way. If it gets too thick wecan turn around and come back."
Both Janet and Helen had one open period in the afternoon which came atthe same hour and they went into the library to study their tryout parts.
Janet read her lines, stopping several times to chuckle over thenonsensical words which Abbie Naughton was required to say in the play.
"This is going to be great fun," she told Janet. "How is your partgoing?"
"It's a grand role, and lots of fun. I know the lines, but I'm supposedto be in love."
"That shouldn't be a hard part then. You rather like Jim Barron, don'tyou?"
"Yes, but what's that got to do with my part?"
"I heard this noon that Jim was trying out opposite you."
"Honestly?"
"Honest true. Of course he may not get it."
"Jim's a grand fellow."
"Seems to me I've heard you say that before," chuckled Janet. "I have ahunch you'll get that part all right."
Helen went through her role while Janet looked on with critical eyes,suggesting several minor changes which she thought would improve hercompanion's chances.
The bell for the final class period sounded and they folded up theirparts and hastened back to the assembly. Their last class for the day washonors English, a group of advanced English students who also served asthe editors and reporters for the _Weekly Clarion_, writing and editingall of the high school news which appeared each Friday in the _Times_,the afternoon daily paper published in Clarion.
It was the honors English class which was sponsoring the roller skatingparty at Youde's and Jim Barron, the sports editor, was in charge of theplans.
There were seventeen in the class, including Cora Dean and Margie Blake,who wrote the girls' athletic news. Miss Bruder, the instructor, wassmall and dark, but somehow she managed to keep her high-tempered classunder control.
This was a mid-week period and the entire time was devoted to writingstories, which were turned over to Janet for final editing. It wasJanet's task to write the headlines, a job at which she had becomeexceedingly proficient.
Promptly at 3:30 o'clock the final bell sounded and writing materialswere shoved hastily aside.
Jim Barron stood up.
"I'm counting on everyone being at the party. The bus will be here atfive o'clock. We'll stop at Whet's drug store on the way out of town topick up any of you who aren't here when we start. Remember, we're takingthe money for the party out of the profit we've made from the _WeeklyClarion_ and it won't cost you a cent. Wear old clothes and plenty ofwarm ones. See you here at five."
The class scattered, some of them remaining at school to finish up oddtasks, others hurrying home to change clothes and prepare for the party.
"Going home?" asked Helen.
"Right now. I'm certainly not going to fall down in these clothes whileI'm skating. I've got an old tweed suit and boots I'm going to wear. Whydon't you change to your corduroys?"
"I thought I'd stay on and work on my part."
"You know that almost to perfection now. Better get into some olderclothes."
Helen acquiesced and they donned their winter school coats and starteddown the hill toward home. The snow was still coming down steadily, asfine and dry as ever.
"I'm glad there's no wind. This would drift terribly if there was," saidJanet, kicking her way through the fine spume.
Janet Hardy in Hollywood Page 2