The Last Tycoon / Последний магнат. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Her value lay in such ordinary assets as the bare fact that she was a woman and adaptable, quick and trustworthy, “knew the game”[60 - knew the game – (разг.) знала правила игры] and was without egotism. She had been a great friend of Minna’s, and over a period of years Stahr had managed to stifle what amounted to a sharp physical revulsion.

She and Wylie waited in silence – occasionally addressing a remark to Miss Doolan. Every few minutes Reinmund, the supervisor, called up from his ofifce, where he and Broaca, the director, were waiting.

After ten minutes Stahr’s button went on, and Miss Doolan called Reinmund and Broaca; simultaneously Stahr and the actor came out of Stahr’s ofifce with Stahr holding the man’s arm. He was so wound up now that when Wylie White asked him how he was he opened his mouth and began to tell him then and there.

“Oh, I’ve had an awful time,” he said, but Stahr interrupted sharply.

“No, you haven’t.

Now you go along and do the role the way I said.”

“Thank you, Monroe.”

Jane Meloney looked after him without speaking.

“Somebody been catching flies on him?” she asked – a phrase for stealing scenes.

“I’m sorry I kept you waiting,” Stahr said. “Come on in.”

* * *

It was noon already and the conferees were entitled to exactly an hour of Stahr’s time. No less, for such a conference could only be interrupted by a director who was held up in his shooting; seldom much more, because every eight days the company must release a production as complex and costly as Reinhardt’s[61 - Reinhardt – Макс Рейнхард (Голдман) (1873–1943), театральный режиссер, актер, продюсер] Miracle.

Occasionally, less often than five years ago, Stahr would work all through the night on a single picture. But after such a spree he felt badly for days. If he could go from problem to problem, there was a certain rebirth of vitality with each change.

And like those sleepers who can wake whenever they wish, he had set his psychological clock to run one hour.

The cast assembled included, besides the writers, Reinmund, one of the most favored of the supervisors, and John Broaca, the picture’s director.

Broaca, on the surface, was all engineer – large and without nerves, quietly resolute, popular.