"The Hunters" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morrison William)

think, your teacher might actually have been a famous actress! However, in my
day, there were many coarse people on the stage, and the life of the theater was
not attractiveЧbut perhaps we'd better not speak of that. At any rate, I know
the principles of the dramatic art very well."
"God knows what I'll have to go through," said Curt. "And I don't see how I can
take it sober."
"I don't see how they can take you drunk," replied Carol.
"Why go through with it at all? Why not call the whole thing quits?"
"Because people are depending on you. You always want to call quits whenever you
run into something you don't like. You may as well call quits to your contract
if that's the way you feel."
"And to your ten per cent, darling."
"You think I'd mind that. I work for my ten per cent, Curt, sweetheart. I work
too damn hard for that ten per cent."
"You can marry me and take it easy. Honest, Carol, if you treated me better, if
you showed me I meant something to you, I'd give up drinking."
She made a face. "Don't talk nonsense. Take your outfit, and let's get ready to
go. Unless you want to change here, and walk around dressed as a lion hunter."
"Why not? I've walked around dressed as worse. A drunk."
"Drunks don't attract attention. They're too ordinary."
"But a drunken lion hunterЧthat's something special." He went into the next room
and began to change. "Carol," he called. "Do you like me?"
"At times."
"Would you say that you liked me very much?"
"When you're sober. Rarely."
"Love me?"
"Once in a blue moon."
"What would I have to do for you to want to marry me?"
"Amount to something."
"I like that. Don't you think I amount to something now? Women swoon at the
sight of my face on the screen, and come to life again at the sound of my
voice."
"The women who swoon at you will swoon at anybody. Besides, I don't consider
that making nitwits swoon is a useful occupation for a real man."
"How can I be useful, Carol? No one ever taught me how."
"Some people manage without being taught."
"I suppose I could think how if I had a drink inside me."
"Then you'll have to do without thinking."
He came into the room again, powerful, manly, determined-looking. There was an
expression in his eye which indicated courage without end, a courage that would
enable him to brave the wrath of man, beast, or devil.
"How do I look?"
"Your noble self, of course. A poor woman's edition of Rudolph Valentino."
"I feel terrified. I don't know how I'm going to face those kids. If they were
boys it wouldn't be so bad, but a bunch of little girls!"
"They'll grow up to be your fans, if you're still alive five years from now.
Meanwhile, into each life some rain must fall."
"You would talk of water, when you know how I feel."
"Sorry. Come on, let's go."