RANSVESTIA

Berin thinks I'm trying to pull a fast one on him, using an actress called 'Gloria Sand', who has a slight resemblance to Curt, to do the female impersonator part, while I slipped you, Curt, in just for the last unmasking scene. Alex Barker already told him what a great lay Gloria is, and of course, the crew thinks Gloria was a real woman. Now Berin actually believes Barker and the crew." He eyed the astonished look on their faces. "Now you know what kind of a creep Barker really is. If I tried to prove Gloria was really Curt, it'd hurt Alex bad, particularly since it's in the gossip columns for the week- end. It's Alex's way of laying siege to a woman." Arnold's tone con- tinued in the same bitter vein. "Sooner or later, the woman's supposed to shrug and give in, and if she doesn't, Alex's reputation just keeps on growing any way." He sighed. "If I hurt Alex at all, you can bet I'd be out on my ear, too, from the network. Sorry Curt, I just can't do anything to set the record straight. And you acted so well, you deserve an Emmy for what you did."

"So this check is worthless," Fennell had at last found his voice.

Arnold shook his head. “No, it's okay, so long as it's made out to Gloria Sand. You see," his face became even more bleak, "the Rita Ronay segment will be screened if I cut off the unmasking scene and put in a new ending, likely a tender goodbye scene with Alex Barker, as Berin suggested." He shook his head. "It's the cost, you see. I feel I have to go along now that we've spent so much money. But I won't force you to come back to the set, Curt. If you don't want to go through with it, I'll figure out another ending."

Fennell was already shaking his head to indicate that he wouldn't be back when Pamela Wood spoke up, excitement in her voice. “And you could these other offers after all." She opened the folder, and stared at the scripts within.

"What's that?" Arnold was puzzled. As Pamela told him of the offers of parts for Gloria Sand, his moon-like face became flushed with

anger.

"It's Barker," he said harshly. "Those are his friends. He's trying to set Gloria up." He stopped abruptly and sat up in the chair. "And why don't you take him on, Curt? After a while, I'll show him who his latest girl friend really is. He won't be able to expose you at all. He'll be too involved. And you'll be set up for good. Oh," he stopped the flow of words and his animation faded.