The Mystery of the Rogues' Reunion - Marc Brandel [10]
“Because that’s what they called me.”
“Yes, but why?”
“That’s what it said in the script.”
Milton Glass’s smile dimmed by fifty watts for just a moment.
It was Jupe’s turn next.
“And who were you?” Milton Glass demanded jovially.
Jupe smiled back at him.
“I’m J—J—Jupiter Jones,” he stammered.
“Yes, that’s who you are now. But who were you then?”
“J—J—Jupiter Jones. I’ve always been Jupiter J—J—Jones.”
Jupe’s forehead was creased with a puzzled frown. As an investigator he had often found it useful to pretend to be stupid. It was a role he was good at. But he had never played it as skilfully as he did now. He put all his acting talent into appearing too dumb to understand some of the questions that were put to him. When Milton Glass asked him what part he had played in the Wee Rogues comedies, Jupiter looked blank and shook his head.
“I was just a b—b—baby,” he stammered at last. “I don’t remember m—m—much about it.”
The talk show host finally had to make the introduction himself.
“Jupiter Jones was Baby Fatso,” he announced. “And many people think he was the finest actor among the Wee Rogues.”
With the introductions over, Milton Glass began to ask his guests what they were doing now.
“I’m a receptionist,” Peggy told him, “in San Francisco.”
“I’m sure you’re a very good one. It must give people a big lift to walk into an office and see your pretty face. You must get a lot of friendly smiles.”
“Not me.” Peggy shook her head. “Did you ever see anyone smile in a dentist’s office?”
Glass seemed to have come to a dead end. He tried another tack.
“So you didn’t pursue your career in show business.” He beamed. “You gave all that up?”
“It gave me up,” Peggy contradicted him quietly. “I haven’t been offered a job in movies since I was ten years old.”
“I expect your parents wanted you to go to school and live an ordinary life…”
Peggy shook her head again. “No, they didn’t. They were always trying to push me back into acting. Anyway, by then it was impossible for me to live an ordinary life.”
Glass didn’t ask her why. Peggy told him anyway.
“For years people kept recognizing me on the street. Aren’t you Pretty Peggy? I remember you. Oh, you were so cute.’ Until I was afraid to go out of the house. And it was even worse in school. Would you like me to tell you the truth?”
Her host nodded, still smiling, although there was a look in his eyes that made Jupe think that the truth was the last thing Milton Glass wanted to be told.
“If I ever have a child, I’d sooner see it become a gravedigger than an actor. It’s steadier
work and there’s more future in it.”
“Speaking of the future,” the talk show host said, grabbing at the chance to change the subject, “have you any special plans for your future, Peggy?”
For once Peggy smiled back at him. There was a wistful eagerness in her smile.
“Yes,” she said. “I’d like to go to college if I can ever get enough money together. I’m sick of being just a pretty face. I’d like to develop my mind so I can do something interesting and useful with my life.”
“I’m sure you will.”
With a beam of relief, Glass swivelled in his chair so that he was facing Bonehead.
If he had expected to have an easier, jollier time with Bonehead than he had with Peggy, he was soon disappointed. It turned out that Bonehead was now working as a mechanic in a garage. He insisted on describing his job in some detail.
“I lie flat on my back under other people’s cars and the oil drips in my eyes and the grease gets under my fingernails and my arms get so tired reaching up with those wrenches …”
“How would you feel about getting back into movies?” Glass was trying to steer him on to a more cheerful subject. “After all, you said yourself you were a pretty good actor as a kid.”
“Acting!” Bonehead seemed to spit the word at him. “You know how many actors are out of work in this town?”
Apparently Milton Glass didn’t. Or if he did, he didn’t want to talk about it.
“Did you ever have the same kind of trouble as Peggy?” he asked instead. “Being recognized on the street?”
Bonehead had