1980 - You Can Say That Again Read Online Free Page B

thought of my mother: a kind, homely body without a brain in her head, but with a God fearing conscience.
    ‘My mother wouldn’t have drugged a man and kidnapped him,’ I said coldly. ‘Let us leave her out of this.’
    She played with the poodle’s ear.
    ‘One never knows with mothers,’ she said, still smiling. ‘In trouble, they can rise to unexpected things.’
    This was beginning to bore me. I shrugged and said nothing.
    ‘I want you to believe, Mr. Stevens, that I do admire your work and your talent,’ she said. ‘It makes me very happy that you have agreed to cooperate. Your help will be more than appreciated.’
    ‘I’m getting well paid,’ I said woodenly.
    ‘Yes. I understand that money is important to you.’
    ‘Isn’t it to most people?’
    ‘I’m afraid you are still a little hostile, Mr. Stevens. Do please relax. You will be doing a most helpful job and when it is over, you will have quite a lot of money.’
    She smiled. ‘I am doing this for my son. Please understand.’
    But I couldn’t relax. There was something about this old woman that scared me as Durant scared me, but I made an effort. I forced a smile.
    She nodded.
    ‘That’s better.’ She patted the poodle. ‘I’ve so often thought, when watching your movies, what a nice smile you have, Mr. Stevens.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    ‘Well, now, let us get down to business as my son so often says. You have been kind enough to give us your whole hearted cooperation.’ For a brief moment, her smile became fixed, and the steel in the dark blue eyes showed. ‘That is right, isn’t it?’
    ‘Frankly, I’m getting bored with that phrase,’ I said. ‘I told Mr. Durant, I agreed to his terms. Do we have to go over and over it again?’
    She gave a light little laugh.
    ‘You must forgive an old woman, Mr. Stevens. Old women are inclined to be repetitive. Oh, incidentally, do call me Harriet. Let us be informal. May I call you Jerry?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘This afternoon, Jerry, we will begin. I have a good make-up man who will transform you as nearly as possible to resemble my son. Please be patient with him. He is a perfectionist and I must admit, a little tiresome. We want to be sure that you will resemble my son so closely no one viewing you from a distance won’t know you are not my son. Is that understood?’
    ‘That’s okay with me.’
    ‘Do call me Harriet.’
    ‘Okay, Harriet.’
    She lifted one of the poodle’s ears, rubbed it between her fingers making the dog whine with pleasure.
    ‘Then there will be other sessions. There will be other things for you to learn, but I am sure you are a quick study. Most actors are.’ She smiled at me.
    ‘I’ll do my best,’ I said.
    ‘Of course you will. Nothing difficult, but it is important.’ She paused, then went on, ‘Are you married, Jerry?’
    This unexpected question surprised me.
    ‘Divorced,’ I said curtly.
    ‘So many people in the film world are divorced. Where is your wife?’
    ‘Does that matter?’
    She shook her head and gave me a playful smile.
    ‘Please, Jerry, be cooperative. I need your answers to the questions I am going to ask.’
    ‘She’s in New York. She married again.’
    ‘You don’t see her?’
    ‘I haven’t seen her for the past five years.’
    ‘Children?’
    ‘None.’
    ‘Your mother is dead. Your father?’
    ‘He’s dead too.’
    ‘Your relations? Brothers? Sisters?’
    I began to get a creepy feeling up my spine.
    ‘Now that you mention it,’ I said. ‘I have no relations.’
    ‘How sad!’ She didn’t look sad. ‘So you are quite on your own.’
    ‘That’s it.’
    She nodded.
    ‘Now, an attractive man like you must have a girlfriend. Tell me about her.’
    ‘An actor worth one dollar and thirty cents doesn’t have a girlfriend.’
    Again she nodded.
    ‘Yes, of course, but very soon, Jerry, with thirty thousand dollars in your bank, you will have many girlfriends. It is all a matter of patience.’
    She was right there.