The Wilmington morning star., 1947-05-14
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"a waiter went back and forth
with iced drinks.
Watching for Rufus to come up
the driveway, Diane was con-
scious of a protective feeling to-
ward him that was almost tender.
He was different, as Page had
said; these others, waiting, might
not recognize that he was a very
swell person.
He came in a battered, dusty
Ford that drew a little Shrek from
Vicky. Look, look, all of you!
Isn't that just too antediluvian?''
When he joined them Diane saw
Vicky run her eyes over his not
too well-fitting blue serge suit.
There was a little dust en- the
shoulders of his coat. She wanted
to brush it off. She kept her hand
under his arm as she introduced
him to those of the group he had
not met.
whats yours, Kent?" Ross
asked. And she fancied a little
condescension in Ross manner.
But Rufus was taking a chair in
their circle with complete ease.
Nothing, thanks" he answered
Ross. my working day isn't over.
Pleasant here, isn't it?" He looked
eft over the panorama Of rolling
green, appreciatively, then back
to the papers in Lois hand. THAT
the works? What do I do?"
Read it to Kent" suggested
Ross.
Diane watched Rufus face while
Loi read the script. Though it
gave no sign, he must be thinking
if was awful tripe, she thought,
and was secretly embarrassed and
sorry she had asked him to come
into it. Danny and the others were
not looking quite SO confident of
themselves.
Lois finished and RUFUS said,
slowly, as if he were turning it
over in his mind: Something Of a
satire, isn't IT."
They hadn't thought of it as
such. But Immediately they claim
ed to have known it was that. OF
course! Ross said, briskly: Lets
get to work now" They mad start
ed it simply to find amusement
in a new quarter, to see them
selves filmed in motion, but now
it was a satire that must be done
well!
They went down to the grassy
terrace adjoining the clubhouse,
Ross commanding them with the
crisp authority of a seasoned di-
rector.
You're all in the first scene,
all but Kent. You've gotten to-
gether for cocktails. after swim
ming. Di, you're the life of the
party. Thad's at your elbow, mad
about you, hooked. Along comes
Kent. You meet him for the first
time, Di. He's game from a new
quarter and you want to bag him.
You'll know how to work that out.
Now, all of you, get into i'll"
They got into it, with spirit.
They had the wide veranda to
themselves. A few watched curl
ouslv from the veranda but they
cid not let that distract them.
Diane threw herself into her role,
was gay and laughing and pos
sessive of Thad until Runs came
on the scene, when she turned her
wiles on him. 1.-The perfect vamp,
Dill" Danny called to her. God
help us poor men!"
While Ross put Wilma and Thad
through a scene, she went to the
shade of a tree at the edge of the
terrace and sat down. Rufus saun-
tered over to her. Watching him
come, she wished she might speak
of what Page had told her. She did
pat his hand when he sat Gown
beside her. Il know" the gesture
and her smile said, warmly.
I'm a natural, don't you
Think" Rufus laughed.
Porn for Hollywood"
They laughed at the roles they
were going to play. With amused
interest they watched Wilma and
Ihad go through their scene Lois
come on, Danny. Diane had not
dreamed Rufus would enter into
it like this. On a sudden thought
she sat a little straighter. Did
you mean that this is a satire-on
the way we play around?' But
she didn't say it defensively; at
the moment Rufus seemed one of
them.
He looked at her with a half
smile, shook his head. Il guess all
l meant was that it was the cock
eyet way most Of US mix up our
values. There you'll be-" he waved
his hand toward the terrace. up
setting your CARLOAD of pretty
golden apples because my worth
less mug takes your fancy-there
. ~ 4hror,i,,- ~ 49,, L.~--.