The Stand-In by Evelyn Piper Read Free Book Online Page B

not.”
    â€œIt got a big play in Hoppa Heada’s column.”
    â€œI beg your pardon?”
    â€œWhat? Oh, Hoppa Heada? That’s my American joke. Hedda Hopper, Hoppa Heada, a bad joke and out of date, too. I mean the Wind sale was in Eunice Merson’s column, plus a not libelous but clear hint that Coral’s husband was going to show up poor old Nube. Okay, kids, go on back to the St. Georges. Happy dreams while you still can dream, Bran!”
    â€œBoy, you can come on strong, can’t you, Nube?”
    â€œYou bet I can, Bran, and don’t forget it. There’s teeth in the old mongrel yet!”
    Bran stood there trying to think of a good answer, but then Coral yanked him away and they left the big room and went to the hall where they were handed their things. When they got outside Bran said, “Nube’s running scared, Coral. That sarcasm was because he’s running scared.”
    But she was running down the curved road to the gate.
    They were both out of breath by the time they reached the back road where he’d been told to park the red Ferrari. All cars and buses were on the back road so that they wouldn’t interfere with the shooting, but the Ferrari was the farthest away because he had been one of the last to arrive.
    Coral kept saying, “Where is it? Where is it?”
    As if it was his fault that she had gone off with Nube and left him to tag after. She had treated him like a zero, so his car was off in left field. For the benefit of the chauffeurs, he opened the door for her even though he was still sore at that crack about spitting in his eye for directing her. He expected Nube to come on strong, but his own wife? But when this kidnap scare was over and she was telling the reporters about it, she would give him credit. “I fell apart,” she would say. “If not for my husband directing, the whole crowd at the party would have known we were in trouble !” She would kiss him. “You were wonderful, Bran.” And Lady St. Shit calling him Mr. Reid! Bran got in the Ferrari and backed out slowly. He had to drive carefully because the high hedges made it hard to see around the curves, and at first he didn’t hear what Coral was shouting.
    â€œThat’s why they took her, Bran! It’s your fault. It wasn’t enough to buy the rights to Wind , you had to charm Hoppa Heada into putting it in her column!”
    â€œWhich is syndicated in just about every paper in England. And stop calling her Hoppa Heada. Even Nube knows it’s out of date and so is he. What he doesn’t know about what’s been happening in directing would fill a book.”
    â€œI mean that now every criminal in England knows that Cornie’s father can toss away fifty thousand pounds!”
    Toss away. Did you hear that? He refused to answer her.
    â€œWere you the charm boy with Eunice Merson! Did you lay it on thick!”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with publicity?”
    â€œYou dare ask me that now? Now that they’ve taken my baby because they think we’re loaded.” She realized this was unfair. “I know how tough it was on you, Bran. I know it was eating on you that I’m the star now. I pitied you when Nube rode you. Everyone else lets it slide off, but not you. Look, I’m for you. When Nube said I was out of my cotton-picking mind, I told him it was my career and my money and my husband, but this is my baby, Bran!”
    â€œThis is my baby, too,” he said. At last she had come out and said that it was only pity. She didn’t believe in him. What did he care if she believed in him? When he got the Oscar she’d believe. Best director. Best supporting role. Now she was crying.
    â€œI’m sorry, Bran. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’m saying. Please excuse me, Bran.”
    â€œThis picture is for you, too, Coral. You don’t know what can happen to a career, but I do. Nube talks big but