Evening star., 1946-12-11

ssA@s NsAksANJ E<AA 0RESS$ 0AA Ia w
planes bound for Hollywood. AT
aloud question that was on hi
mind.
"I am on my way to do q screen
script Of Rome Hanks for Metro
Goldwyn-Mayer," he said. That's
q nice assignment. But what
bothers me Is this: Metro has owned
the script of that novel for several
years. It has been resting there on
q library shelf. Apparently, no one
has given 1t thought since it was
purchased. Can some one tell me
how it is that, like lighting, some
one picks UP Rome Hanks decides
to produce 1t, and wires me to be in
Hollywood within 48 hours. Why
this life or death suddenness after
all those years?"
No one at the table. could answer
Ripley'S question.
But" some one did suggest, Sup
pose you find out when you get
there and let us know the answer. !"
That is price writers frequently
pay for asking questions and Ripley
agreed to pay. When his answer
comes, this department will print it,
which makes Ripley hero of the first
continued story ever to appear here.
What made Ripley so sharply
aware of the lapse Of time since he
last thought Of Rome Hanks" was
that he could not buy a copy any
where in New York or Washington
"I've sort of forgotten the detail" ;"
said the man whose "Jezebel" was
story not unlike the one he will
adapt. I'D like to read it on the
plane on the way out. Bless me,
II can find copy Of It,"
Carter Barron, anticipating just
such q need on Ripley's part, had
. copy.
q Ripley, a Charleston, s. c., author
who looks suavely like one Of that
community's first citizens, Is no
longer surprised by Hollywood's4
ways. A bit bewildered, to be sure,
not never genuinely surprised.
He got over the latter IL years ago
when he had his first experience
with the movies.
I was just growing out Of being
q pulp magazine writer" he recalls.
ct had sold my first novelette, to one
of the larger slicks which had paid
me the big sum Of $3.50. That was
big money and my wife and were
both mighty set up about 1t.
Then few days later, my agent
called. I was not home, but when
/ got the message I knew it was
about Hollywood deal for the story.
We talked it over. My wife, sudden
ly stricken with pride in my ability,
made me promise wouldn't take
cent less than $500 for the story.
I promised, although I told myself
that I would take $1,000, or maybe
even $780,"
Ripley got the agent on long dis
tance. He was right about the call
relating to Hollywood deal. But
he was insanely out Of line on what
Hollywood was willing to pay.
'I couldn't believe my agent when
he said the first bidder was offering |
$780," Ripley says. II asked him
to spell it out for me. He did and
for a minute I couldn't talk. Finally.
I sputtered that he was not to letl
the studio man out of the ofnce
without getting a contract. did not
know there was that much money
in the world" Il
The agent did know it, however.
He left the Ripleys unhinged by tell
ing them that he wouldn't close the
deal.
IT thought the man had lost his
mind" Ripley remembers. Il called
him back and told him so. All he
did was tell me to be calm and hang
up on me-"
A few days later, the agent called
back to say the offer had been hiked
to $4,000.
This time, Ripley really was fit to
be tied. When the agent still in
sisted upon holding out, he threat
ened to take the deal into his own
hands, but the agent warned him
that he was not to answer any tele-
phone calls, kilograms or letters.
That was his job under the contract.
the agent warned the writer.
Next time," Ripley recalls, 'he
called to tell me the offer was $22,-
500. I did not argue with him. got
on a train and went to New York.
When I got there, the agent was not
In his Office. His secretary said she
did not know where he was. I looked
for him a couple of days and then
concluded the whole thing was a
nightmare and that I might as well
20 into the nearest saloon and for
get it. called my wife and she said
she thought that was fine idea"
On Monday, however, the agent
showed up, this time with final
contract disposing Of the story for
$4,000.
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II