Chapter Twelve
THE PREVIEW
The girls stared hard at Henry Thorne. It was so like him to toss off animportant statement in an off-hand manner that it left them almostgasping for breath.
"Why, Dad, what do you mean?" demanded Helen.
"Just what I said," smiled her father. "How would you and Janet like togo to Radio City for several weeks?"
"I'd like it fine," put in Janet quickly and Helen chorused her ownagreement.
"Now tell us what it's all about," insisted Helen.
"I'm a little vague on it myself," admitted her father, "except that thestudio is planning an extensive promotion stunt to boost my lastpicture, 'Kings of the Air,' and the general manager, Mr. Rexler, isgoing to send a part of the cast to New York City where they'll put on aradio drama based on the action in the new picture. The whole idea is towhet the appetites of the film fans by giving them just enough of thestory over the air to make them rush to the nearest theater and see theactual picture."
"But where do we come in?" asked Janet. "We were only very minor membersof the cast."
"True enough, but some of the principals are now working on otherpictures and it would be impractical to release them and send them eastfor a promotional stunt so some of the lesser members of the companywill make the trip."
"Maybe we're lucky to be lesser members," smiled Helen. "When do westart?"
"I don't know exactly. The release date for 'Kings' is next month, so Iexpect you'll leave here in a few weeks."
"That will give me just time enough to try the scenario for BillyFenstow," said Janet. "Maybe I'd better start work on it tonight."
"You look pretty tired. Better wait until morning when you'll bethoroughly rested," advised Helen's father.
They adjourned to the living room where they gathered around a largetable and discussed possible story plots that Janet could use. She madeseveral notes and then, with Helen, retired early.
A second night of sleep found the girls feeling greatly refreshed. HenryThorne loaned Janet his own portable typewriter and she set it on a lowtable beside the swimming pool, found some yellow copy paper in thehouse, rolled a fresh sheet into the typewriter, and sat down waitingfor an idea to pop into her head.
"Hello, author!" said someone from behind her and she swung about toface Curt Newsom, who had walked up unheralded.
"Hello, Curt. Sit down. My, but I'm glad to see you. Are you all rightafter the fire?"
The cowboy smiled. "As right as I'll ever be. I was scared half to deaththat night. Say, I saw Billy Fenstow this morning. The picture's alltogether now and they're going to screen it at the Bijou down the streetafter the regular feature. Better be there tonight."
"I'll be there in fear and trembling," smiled Janet.
"Oh, I wouldn't feel that way about it. I think you did a lot betterthan most of the girls I've had in the company."
"Thanks, Curt. That was nice of you to say that, but I realize I havevery definite limitations as an actress."
"Well, I'm not so hot as an actor," he admitted. "About all I have to dois stick on a horse and shoot a gun loaded with blank cartridges."
"That isn't all and you know it," reproved Janet.
Curt looked at the typewriter and the blank sheet of paper.
"I'm keeping you from your work. I only dropped in to tell you about thepreview tonight. I've got to get along."
"I'm supposed to be generating ideas for Mr. Fenstow's next script,"confessed Janet, "but the mental generator seems to have gone on astrike."
"What's the story going to be about?"
"You guess," smiled Janet.
"Well, why don't you have a young heiress, pretty much spoiled, who ownsa ranch. She's never seen it so she goes west for a trip and while therelearns that most of her fortune has been wiped out through the decliningvalue of securities and by embezzlement of some of her trustees. Aboutall she has left is the ranch and a brother who is pretty muchworthless."
"It's a grand idea," exulted Janet. "Then of course we could have acattle war, some rustling, maybe a vein of gold found on the ranch, andplenty of action."
"You're supposed to write the story," chided Curt. "Well, I must getalong."
"Thanks for the help. I'll make you coauthor," called Janet as Curtstrode toward the street.
Curt's suggestion gave her the nucleus of her story. It would be alittle different treatment of the western theme. Janet started working,her fingers flowing rhythmically over the keys. She wrote simply. Allthat was required of her was a good, comprehensive outline of the story.The studio writers would put in the dialogue.
But Janet's interest grew as the story progressed and she found herselfputting in conversation and bits of description of the characters. Shewas so absorbed that Helen came and stood beside her for several minutesbefore she was aware of her presence.
"Going strong?" she asked.
Janet, barely interrupting the smooth flow of her story, nodded.
"Preview's tonight at the Bijou after the regular feature. Curt Newsomstopped to tell us."
"Then you'd better stop writing now. You've been at it steadily for morethan hour. You want to feel peppy tonight when we go to see thepreview."
Janet finished the paragraph and pulled the sheet of copy from themachine. She had written eight pages and the top and bottom margins werenarrow. She wanted to keep on writing, but knew that Helen's advice wassound. She wanted to be rested enough to enjoy "Water Hole," to seeherself, for probably the only time in her life, as the leading lady ofa motion picture.
They met Billy Fenstow at the box office and he handed them tickets fora few seats which had been reserved for his friends.
"Nervous?" he asked Janet.
"A little. How is it?"
"Wait and see. Here comes Mr. Rexler."
The girls turned in time to see the taciturn general manager of the Acestudio stride into the lobby. Close behind him was Helen's father. Janetfelt her heart sink. Here was the chief of the studio on hand topronounce final judgment on the picture. But Bill Fenstow seemedunperturbed and she forced herself to be calm.
They all went in together. The feature was a south sea love dramaproduced by a rival studio and it was typical program picture withnothing to make it outstanding in interest.
Then the picture they had been waiting for flashed on the screen."'Water Hole,' directed by Billy Fenstow, starring Curt Newsom andproduced by the Ace Motion Picture Corp." Then came the credits for thestory, photography, etc., and finally the cast of characters with Curt'sname at the top. Janet felt her heart stop for one breathless moment,Her name--_Janet Hardy_--was the second in the cast and directly underthat was Helen's.
Then the picture zoomed away to a fast start with the action that alwayscharacterized a Billy Fenstow production. Janet tried to be critical,but she couldn't help enjoying the picture and her voice didn't sound soterribly bad as it came out of the loudspeakers.
The picture ended all too suddenly. The house lights came up and Janetfound herself staring at the others, waiting for their verdict.
Rexler was the first to speak. He leaned over and tapped Billy Fenstowon the shoulder.
"Nice show, Billy. Got the girl signed up?"
Billy turned to Janet.
"How about it; want to sign a contract to stay with my unit?"
Suddenly Janet knew that she didn't. It had been a wonderful summer,climaxed in the picture she had just seen with herself as leading lady,but now she was just a little homesick. Then, too, there was the trip toRadio City.
"Not right now," she told the director. "Later, perhaps, but not now."
The general manager looked at her strangely.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it is the smartest thing you could do. Ifyou change your mind, let me know."
He stood up and stalked down the aisle, but Janet knew now that shewould never change her mind.
Janet Hardy in Radio City Page 12