The McBain Brief by Ed McBain Read Free Book Online

of my left breast, and I wondered if you wanted to touch it up or anything.”
    â€œWe’ll see about that when we come to it,” I said.
    â€œActually, the beauty spot will make you look even more natural,” Solly said.
    â€œWe’ll see when you take off your clothes,” Ben said.
    â€œWill I be taking off my clothes tonight?”
    â€œYes, in the first scene you take off your clothes,” Solly said.
    â€œBecause I feel a little funny about taking off my clothes in a room full of men, in front of a camera.”
    â€œWell, there’s only us,” I said.
    â€œStill.”
    â€œAnd remember that millions and millions of people will be seeing you naked when this picture is released. And we’ll all make millions and millions of dollars,” I added.
    â€œYes,” she said, “but still.”
    â€œI wish we could begin,” Solly said.
    â€œAre you ready?” I asked her.
    â€œI guess so,” she said, “but if I seem a little embarrassed at first, I hope that’ll be all right.”
    â€œThat’s perfect for the part,” Solly said. “Don’t worry about it.”
    â€œAm I supposed to wear just my own clothes?” the girl said.
    â€œYes, that’s part of it too,” I said. “We want this to be as natural as we can make it, without a lot of fancy costumes and such.”
    â€œI thought I’d have maybe a special wardrobe.”
    â€œWell,” I said, “we’ve picked out some very beautiful and tasteful lingerie for you to wear later on in the picture, and also some attractive costumes with leather and buckles and such, that will set you off to fine advantage, but that’s later. In the beginning scenes, in these opening scenes where you apply for a job in the film, we want you to look as natural as possible.”
    â€œIf I’d known you wanted me to look so natural, I wouldn’t have worn a bra,” she said.
    â€œNo, the bra is good,” I said. “For some strange reason, men enjoy seeing a girl in her underwear, the bra will be fine.”
    â€œWell, okay,” she said. “But it isn’t even my best bra.”
    â€œI’m sure it’ll be fine,” I said.
    â€œWell, okay,” she said.
    â€œAre we ready to begin,” I said. “Harry? Are you ready?”
    â€œI’m ready,” Harry said, “though if there’s any sex stuff in these opening scenes, I don’t know if I’m ready for that. ”
    â€œLet me explain the scene to you, okay?” I said.
    â€œI mean, a person can’t just perform on cue, you know what I mean?” Harry said.
    â€œYes, I know just what you mean,” the girl said, and smiled athim. “I’ll tell you the truth, I’m very excited about this being the first day of shooting and all—the first night of shooting, I should say—but I’m not excited that way, I mean I’m not too terribly physically or sexually excited at this given moment. Are you?”
    â€œNo,” he said, “I’m not excited at all. In fact, I’m not even excited about it being the first night of shooting. I had a terrible day today, this man came in with his car almost totalled, and he insisted . . .”
    â€œCould we please begin?” Solly said. “Please?”
    â€œPeople?” I said. “Are we ready?”
    â€œReady,” Ben said.
    â€œReady,” the girl said.
    â€œSure,” Harry said, and shrugged.
    I explained the first scene to them. In this scene, the girl is supposed to come up to the loft and audition for the three producers of the film, who are also serving respectively as script writer, cameraman, and director. They have arranged for the girl to meet her leading man, and in a tasteful and artistic setting, they ask that she take off her clothes so that they can judge whether or not she will be physically suited to the role.
    â€œWell,