RANSVESTIA

"You'll have to think of it, however. Won't you, dear?" Jean's eyes were brooding.

"What do you mean?" Angie's eyes were wide open with horror. "You know I can't possibly accept this engagement. I even tried to tell them that, but they just refused to listen.'

"Why, can't you take it?" asked Jean in surprise. Then she raised her hand as Angie appeared to unleash a torrent of words upon her. "Oh, yes! I can guess what some of your scrupples might be, but let's be frank about this. I'm not getting any younger," she stopped to drain the last dregs of her coffee, "and it's obvious that my talent isn't going to give Cam and Margot the place in the sun we want for our children. So let's face it, Angelo, you're the breadwinner of this family." She smiled, "Come to bed now. Your wife wants to celebrate a little of your good fortune with you in bed tonight."

*****

Robert Cort completed his overview of the rushes from Pacific's current comedy production. He left the projection room most satisfied. Arthur Mayer met him as he was leaving.

"Well, Arthur," said Cort jovially. "You should see your protegee now. Her acting abilities have been a phenomenal surprise to everyone here, excepting yourself of course. We've already built up Angie Saunders' part three times."

"Angie Saunders." Mayer's expression betrayed nothing of his in- ner thoughts. "Ah yes, how is the delightful Miss Saunders behaving herself."

Cort led Mayer into his office, just behind the projection rooms, in reality his private theatre. "Arthur, don't you hear me?" Cort beamed upon him. "I couldn't be more ecstatic over one of your finds. Your bonus will be considerable for this one."

"Oh," said Mayer. He sat down quietly across the room from Cort's large glass-topped, mahoghany desk.

Cort went to his drink cabinet, flicking the lighting switch which brought up the wall lights to a comfortable glow and closed the drapes, shutting out the high-rise lights of the city.

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