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〃Morning； Bill。〃
〃This is a pleasant surprise；〃 Hunt said。 〃It's been a long time； Sam。〃
〃Much too long。 That's the trouble with this business； Bill。 You never have time for the people you like。〃
〃Too true。〃
Sam made his voice sound offhand。 〃By the way； did you happen to saw that silly article in Peek？〃
〃You know I did。〃 Hunt sa'd quietly。 〃That's why we're canceling the show； Sam。〃 The words had a finality to them。
〃Bill；〃 Sam said； 〃what would you say if I told you that Jack Nolan was framed？〃
There was a laugh from the other end of the line。 〃I'd say you should think about being a writer。〃
〃I'm serious；〃 Sam said； earnestly。 〃I know Jack Nolan。 He's as straight as we are。 That photograph was taken at a costume party。 It was his girlfriend's birthday； and he put the dress on as a gag。〃 Sam could feel his palms sweating。
〃I can't〃
〃I'll tell you how much confidence I have in Jack；〃 Sam said into the phone。 〃I've just set him for the lead in Laredo； our big Western feature for next year。〃
There was a pause。 〃Are you serious； Sam？〃
〃You're damn right I am。 It's a three…million…dollar picture。 If Jack Nolan turned out to be a fag； he'd be laughed off the screen。 The exhibitors wouldn't touch it。 Would I take that kind of gamble if I didn't know what I was talking about？〃
〃Well。。。〃 There was hesitation in Bill Hunt's voice。
〃e on； Bill； you're not going to let a lousy gossip sheet like Peek destroy a good man's career。 You like the show； don't you？〃
〃Very much。 It's a damned good show。 But the sponsors 〃
〃It's your network。 You've got more sponsors than you have air time。 We've given you a hit show。 Let's not fool around with a success。〃
〃Well。。。〃
〃Has Mel Foss talked to you yet about the studio's plans for 'The Raiders' for next season？〃
〃No。。。〃
〃I guess he was planning to surprise you；〃 Sam said。 〃Wait until you hear what he has in mind。 Guest stars； bigname Western writers； shooting on locationthe works！ If 〃The Raiders' doesn't skyrocket to number one； I'm in the wrong business。〃 There was a brief hesitation。 Then Bill Hunt said；
〃Have Me！ phone me。 Maybe we all got a little panicked here。〃
〃He'll call you；〃 Sam promised。
〃And； Sam … you understand my position。 I wasn't trying to hurt anybody。〃
〃Of course you weren't；〃 Sam said； generously。 〃I know you too well to think that； Bill。 That's why I felt I owed it to you to let you hear the truth。〃
〃I appreciate that。〃
〃What about lunch next week？〃
〃Love it。 I'll call you Monday。〃
They exchanged good…byes and hung up。 Sam sat there； drained。 Jack Nolan was as queer as an Indian dime。 Someone should have taken him away in a net long ago。 And Sam's whole future depended on maniacs like that。 Running a studio was like walking a high wire over Niagara Falls in a blizzard。 Anyone's crazy to do this job； Sam thought。 He picked up his private phone and dialed。 A few moments later； he was talking to Mel Foss。
〃 'The Raiders' stays on the air；〃 Sam said。
〃What？〃 There was stunned disbelief in Foss's voice。
〃That's right。 I want yon to have a fast talk with Jack Nolan。 Tell him if he ever steps out of line again； I'll personally ran him out of this town and back to Fire Island！ I mean it。 If he gets the urge to suck something； tell him to try a banana！ 〃 Sam slammed the phone down。 He leaned back in his chair； thinking。 He had forgotten to tell Foss about the format changes he had ad…libbed to Bill Hunt。 He would have to find a writer who could e up with a Western script called Laredo。 The door burst open and Lucille stood there； her face white。
〃Can you get right down to Stage Ten？ Someone set it on fire。〃
〃Mrs。 Tanner； people talk about your school and the wonderful plays you put on here。 I'll bet you have no idea of the reputation this place has。〃
She studied him a moment。 〃I do have an idea。 That's why I have to be careful to keep out phonies。〃
Toby felt his face begin to redden； but he smiled boyishly and said； 〃I'll bet； a lot of them must try to crash in here。〃
''Quite a few；〃 Mrs。 Tanner agreed。 She glanced at the card she held in her hand。
〃Toby Temple。〃
〃You probably haven't heard the name；'' he explained； 〃because for the last couple of years； I've been 〃
〃Playing repertory in England。〃
He nodded。 〃Right〃
Alice Tanner looked at him and said quietly； 〃Mr。 Temple； Americans are not permitted to play in English repertory。 British Actors Equity doesn't allow it。〃
Toby felt a sudden sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach。 〃You might have checked first and saved us both this embarrassment。 I'm sorry； but we only enroll professional talent here。〃 She started back toward her desk。 The interview was over。
〃Hold it！ 〃 His voice was like a whiplash。 She turned in astonishment。 At that instant； Toby had no idea what he was going to say or do。 He only knew that his whole future was hanging in the balance。 The woman standing in front of him was the stepping…stone to everything he wanted； everything he had worked and sweated for； and he was not going to let her stop him。
〃You don't judge talent by rules； lady！ Okayso I haven't acted。 And why？ Because people like you won't give me a chance。 You see what I mean？〃 It was W。 C。 Fields's voice。 Alice Tanner opened her mouth to interrupt him； but Toby never gave her the opportunity。 He was Jimmy Cagney telling her to give the poor kid a break； and James Stewan agreeing with him； and Clark Gable saying he was dying to work with the kid and Cary Grant adding that he thought the boy was brilliant。 A host of Hollywood stars was in that con！ and they were all saying funny things； things that Toby Temple had never thought of before。 The words； the kes poured out of him in a frenzy of desperation。 He was man drowning in the darkness of his own oblivion； clinging via life raft of words； and the words were all that were keep him afloat。 He was soaked in perspiration； running around the room； imitating the movement of each character who was Bring。 He was manic； totally outside of himself； forgetting here he was and what he was here for until he heard Alice Tanner saying；
〃Stop it！ Stop it！〃 Tears of laughter were streaming down her face。 〃Stop it！〃 she repeated； gasping for breath。 And slowly； Toby came down to earth。 Mrs。 Tanner had taken out a handkerchief and was wiping her eyes。 〃Youyou're insane；〃 she said。 〃Do you know that？〃
Toby stared at her； a feeling of elation slowly filling him； exalting him。 〃You liked it； huh？〃
Alice Tanner shook her head and took a deep breath to hold her laughter and said； 〃Not not very much。〃
Toby looked at her； filled with rage。 She had been laughg at him； not with him。 He had been making a fool of himself。
〃Then what were you laughing at？〃 Toby demanded。
She smiled and said quietly； 〃You。 That was the most Frenetic performance I've ever seen。 Somewhere； hidden beneath all those movie stars； is a young man with a lot of talent。 You don't have to imitate other people。 You're naturally any。〃
Toby felt his anger begin to seep away。
〃I think one day you could be really good if you're willing to work hard