The Last Don - Mario Puzo [61]
Athena interrupted him. “Melo, don’t spell it out.”
“I feel I must,” Melo said.
He gazed at her fondly. He himself, usually so impervious, had fallen in love with Athena at the beginning, but since she had never acted seductively, he had taken the hint and not revealed his feelings. She was, after all, a valuable piece of property that would in the future earn him millions.
“Are you trying to tell me that I’m supposed to jump on his bones the first time we’re alone?” Athena said dryly. “Isn’t my great talent enough?”
“Absolutely not,” Melo said. “And absolutely. A great actress is a great actress, no matter what. But you know how someone becomes a great star in film? At some time they have to get the great part at exactly the right moment. And this is that great part for you. You cannot afford to miss it. And what’s so hard about falling in love with Steven Stallings? A hundred million women all over the world love him, why not you? You should be flattered.”
“I’m flattered,” Athena said coolly. “But if I really hate him, then what?”
Melo popped another tea sandwich into his mouth. “What’s to hate? He’s really a sweet man, I swear to you. But at least dally with him until they’ve shot you enough in the picture so they can’t cut you out.”
“What if I’m so good they won’t want to cut me?” Athena said.
Melo sighed. “To tell the truth, Steven won’t wait that long. If you’re not in love with him after three days, you’ll be out of the picture.”
“That’s sexual harassment,” Athena said, laughing.
“There can be no sexual harassment in the movie business,” Melo said. “In one form or another you’re offering your ass for sale by just going in.”
“I meant the part where I have to fall in love with him,” Athena said. “Straight screwing is not enough for Steven?”
“He can get all the screwing he wants,” Melo said. “He’s in love with you so he wants love in return. Until the shoot is over.” He sighed. “Then you’ll both fall out of love because you’ll be too busy working.” He paused for a moment. “It won’t be insulting to your dignity,” he said. “A star like Steven indicates his interest. The recipient, yourself, responds or shows a lack of interest in that interest. Steven will send you flowers the first day. The second day after rehearsal he invites you to dinner to study the script. There’s nothing forced about it. Except, of course, that you will be cut from the picture if you don’t go. With a full payoff, I can do that for you.”
“Melo, don’t you think I’m good enough to make it without selling my body?” Athena said with mock reproach.
“Of course you are,” Melo said. “You’re young, only twenty-five. You can wait two or three, even four or five years. I have absolute faith in your talent. But give it a chance. Everybody loves Steven.”
It went exactly as Melo Stuart predicted. Athena received flowers the first day. The second day they rehearsed with the whole company. It was a dramatic comedy where laughter led to tears, one of the hardest things to do. Athena was impressed with Steven Stallings’s skill. He read his part in a monotone with no effort to impress but still the lines came alive, and on the variations he invariably picked the one most true. They played one scene a dozen different ways and responded to each other, followed each other like dancers. At the end, he muttered, “Good, good,” and smiled at her with respectful acknowledgment that was purely professional.
At the end of the day Steven finally turned on his charm.
“I think this may be a great movie because of you,” he said. “How about getting together tonight and really doing a number on this script?” He paused for a moment and then said with a boyish smile that was endearing, “We were really good together.”
“Thank you,” Athena said. “When and where?”
Immediately Steven’s face expressed a polite, playful hor-ror. “Oh, no,” he said. “Your choice.”
At that moment Athena decided to accept her role and to play it as a true professional. He was the superstar.