“I hadn’t noticed,” she said. “Sally is away on location filming so much. I expected you’d be with her.”
He crimsoned. “I have been away with her several times. I’m proud of you tonight.”
“Thank you,” she said politely.
“I suppose you have someone to share your triumph?”
“Does it matter to you?”
“Very much,” he said earnestly. “There’ll soon be some interesting news in the papers.”
“Really?”
“Yes,” the young doctor said. “Even Lew Meyers now agrees that marriage was a mistake. Sally is going to Reno and taking up residence there to file suit for a divorce. It will be breaking in the newspapers in a few days.”
“What about you?” she asked.
“I’m staying on in Hollywood for a while longer,” the young doctor said. “I hope we can see each other when the smoke clears away.”
Nita eyed him sadly. “You made your choice when you married Sally.”
“Hardly of my own making,” he protested.
“That could be argued,” she said. “I also have my own life to lead.”
“Is the gossip about you and Eric Gray true?”
“You should know better than to ask that,” she said.
“Studio demands,” Phillip said with a thin smile. “They rule our lives.”
“If I had a degree in medicine they wouldn’t rule mine,” Nita said sharply. “I’d get away from this crazy town as soon as I could!”
“I’ll gladly do that if you’ll come with me!”
“Sorry,” she said. “Your offer comes too late.”
She was glad when the Rudolf Von Eltz interrupted them. He clicked his heels, bowed, took her hand and kissed it and, studying her with a sly look, asked, “Do you still think me a monster?”
Nita was forced to smile in return. “Yes. But let us say — a talented monster.”
“That is all I ask,” Von Eltz said. “I heard Meyers is at last aware of your possibilities. You’ll be an international star when ‘Enslaved’ is distributed around the world. Eric is going to the New York area to make personal appearances.”
Nita was surprised. “He didn’t tell me.”
“I have just arranged it with Meyers,” Von Eltz said. “And I hear you are going into the new film, ‘Bondage’.”
“Slavery seems to pursue me,” she agreed.
“I’d do it. A role like that could capitalize on your appearance in my film,” Von Eltz said. “Who knows — we may work together again one day.” And with another formal bow, he strode away.
Richard Wright saw her back to the cottage. Then she began the vigil of waiting for Eric to make his promised visit. It was after two-thirty in the morning when he arrived, still debonair but looking weary.
He kissed her and explained, “I have only just rid myself of Barbara.”
“Do you want a drink?” she asked.
“No,” he said. “How about some coffee?”
She kissed him again and smiling winsomely said, “We’re getting so settled, just like two married folk.”
He followed her into the small kitchen and sat at the table. “That’s what we’re going to be very soon.”
As she went about making the coffee, she said, “Von Eltz told me you’re going East on a personal appearance tour for the film.”
“I promised,” Eric said. “And Lew Meyers agreed. He’s so impressed by your performance that he’s agreed to let me ammounce that Barbara and I are separating while I’m in New York.”
She crossed to him eagerly. “He’s really agreed to that?”
“Yes,” Eric smiled. “I told him I want to marry you. He suddenly seems to feel you’re going to be more valuable to him than Barbara.”
“He’d have to think so before he gave permission. He’s a stern man. He enjoys the hold he has over all of us. By the way did you know that Dr. Phillip Watters and Sally Stark are also getting a divorce?” Nita asked.
“No. Are you sure?”
“Phillip told me so tonight.”
Eric raised an eyebrow. “There are a lot of changes in the wind.”
She brought him his coffee and poured for both of them. Then she sat with him again. “How long will you be gone in the East?”
“The tour will take about two months,” he said. “And there’s the journey there and back. Say close to ten weeks.”
“I’ll miss you,” she said, smiling at him dreamily.
He leaned forward and kissed her. “I’ll phone you every day.”
They made love before he left at dawn. Two days later Eric left for New York on the publicity tour, and Nita was seated in Lew Meyers’ office with Richard Wright, who was to act as her agent.
Lew Meyers glared at Nita and Richard across his desk. “You’re trying to hold me up,” he said angrily. “The money is too big. I can still keep Nita under her original contract.”
Richard proved there was nothing weak about him in a business deal. He smiled suavely and shook his head. “You would be making a mistake, Mr. Meyers. Nita’s original contract stipulates explicitly that it is only for bit roles and minor supporting parts. In the event that she stars, as you wish her to do now, the contract must be renegotiated.”
Lew Meyers sat back in his chair and clasped his hands on his pot belly. “You’ve read all the fine print, young man.”
“Whenever I do anything, I try to do it right,” Richard said, his smile revealing pure white teeth in sharp contrast to his tanned face.
Nita spoke up. “I think the salary is fair, in view of what Master is paying Barbara Lamont and others.”
The little film magnate sighed. “All right. Your terms, but I retain control of Nita’s roles and an option on her services for the next six years.”
Richard turned to her. “What do you say?”
“I’ll go along with that,” she said. “I trust Mr. Meyers when it comes to selecting stories and I’ve enjoyed working at Master.”
“Then we’ll sign,” Richard Wright said.
When she and Richard had drinks together at the Beverly Wiltshire afterwards, he told her across the table, “You’re going straight to the top and I’m going with you.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am,” he said confidently. “And there’s no need to go on living in a cottage at Gardenia Court. You can buy yourself a real home in Beverly Hills and have it ready for Eric when he gets back. He won’t be living with Barbara again.”
“You think I dare go ahead and spend that kind of money?”
He nodded. “Your contract will cover whatever you spend.”
“I think I’ll stay on at Gardenia Court for a while,” Nita said. “When Eric calls I’ll mention the possibility of buying a house and see what he’d prefer.”
Richard laughed. “I know Eric. He’ll end up putting the choice right back on your shoulders.”
“At least I’ll discuss it with him,” she said. “And I’ll tell him what an excellent manager you’ve turned out to be.”
“I’d like that,” Richard said.
Eric called two or three times a week. “Enslaved” was going well and the public had received him with tremendous adulation. Nita told him about her new contract and he was jubiliant. She also mentioned buying a house and he seemed to think that would be a good idea.
“Why not a place with a view of the ocean?” he asked.
“You’d like that?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll see what I can find,” she said. “I haven’t too much time now. I’m on the set of ‘Bondage’ from early morning to late afternoon, then when I return home I’m too tired for house hunting.”
“Wait until I come back,” he suggested. “I’ll help you.”
“I think that would be best,” she agreed.
“I’m giving the story of Barbara’s and my separation to the press on Monday next,” Eric added.
“Does Barbara know?”
“Yes,” Eric said. “Lew Meyers called her in and told her after I left. I love you, my darling! You’ve reshaped my life and I can’t wait to begin the future with you!”
Nita was deliriously happy. Not only had she found a man who needed and appreciated her love, she was looked on as the brightest new star of Celluloid Town, and she had made new friends in Jack Steel, her new leading man, and his wife, Joyce. Jack Steel had been active in westerns until Lew Meyers had seen his potential and groomed him for society leading man parts. Joyce, his young red-haired wife, was almost a double for Clara Bow in looks and was just as much a play girl.
The two had a fine home on Malibu Beach and they urged Nita to buy a house near them. She promised she would consider it as soon as Eric returned. The two held many parties which Nita attended whenever her strict work schedule would allow.
She returned home from the studio one night to find a taxi waiting outside her door. When she stepped out of her car a young woman got out of the car and came to greet her. It took her a moment to recognize the thin, shabby girl as Thelma Stone. Her face was pale and huge, sad eyes dominated her lovely face.
Nita embraced her and then said, “You’ve been ill!”
“Yes,” Thelma said nervously. “Back East.”
“You must stay with me for a few days,” Nita said. “Send the taxi away.”
“I can’t,” Thelma said in near panic. “Not now. I can come back tomorrow. Right now I have to go back to my hotel. But I needed to see you first.”
Nita was puzzled by the girl’s nervous behavior and her shabby clothes. She said, “At least come inside for a moment. I have so many things to tell you.”
She unlocked the door and they went inside. Thelma made no move to sit down but stood by the door in the same anxious manner.
Nita said, “What is wrong?”
“I need money! Cash! Right away! Please let me have two hundred dollars!” Thelma begged her.
She was shocked. “What do you need it for?”
“I can’t tell you!” Thelma’s voice broke on a sob.
Nita hesitated. “I may have that much here. I don’t know. But I’ll surely not let you leave here in this state without knowing what’s wrong.”
Thelma closed her eyes in despair and turned her back on her. “I’m hooked,” she said in a choked voice.
“Hooked?”
“On heroin,” the girl went on. “Alma Rubens and I have been shooting up together in New York. She went South and I ran out of money and work and came back here.”
“Oh, no!” Nita cried, horrified.
Thelma turned to her, the once lovely face pathetically faded and thin. “It began with Wally Reid. I thought when I went East I’d break the habit. Then Alma came along and I mixed with her gang and soon I was hooked worse than ever.”
“How could you do this to yourself?” Nita reproached her.
“I’m going to beat the habit,” the girl protested. “I only need enough to pay my dealer and get a last fix! I swear I’ll quit tomorrow!”
Nita stared at her. “I don’t know what to say!”
“I can’t wait,” Thelma sobbed. She lifted the sleeve of her dress and revealed her bare, pitted arm, scarred hypodermic needles. “If I don’t get a fix I’ll go mad! I’ll kill myself!”
Nita considered and said, “I’ll give you the money on one condition only. That tomorrow you’ll put yourself in the hands of a doctor.”
“I will! I will!” the girl promised.
“A doctor of my choice,” she insisted. “And that you go along with whatever treatment he suggests.”
“Give me the money! I’ll agree to anything!”
Nita was sick at the sight of the girl begging. She went to her room and found the money, then came back with the bills in her hand. Before she passed the money over, she said, “I have to know where you’re staying.”
“The Palm Court,” Thelma said, her eyes on the bills. “Room 406.”
Nita gave her the money. “I’ll come to you with a doctor tomorrow. I’m working but I’ll get off somehow!”
“Thank you, Nita!” The other girl said, tears in her eyes. “You look so well! I knew I could depend on you!” And she hurried out to the waiting taxi and was driven away.
It was the first time Nita had been brought face to face with the terrifying damage caused by drugs. She had heard stories but she had never seen anyone so ravaged as poor Thelma.
She searched the phone book and found Dr. Phillip Watters’ private number. She tried it several times but received no reply.
Around eight o’clock she tried his number again and this time she reached him, “Phillip! I must talk to you!” she said urgently.
“I’ll be there at once,” he promised.
The very fact of his coming to see her and sharing the burden of her knowledge made Nita relax a little. She had a difficult day of filming ahead and the camera magnified every weary line in one’s face. She lay down but could not sleep. Then the doorbell rang and it was Phillip.
She let him in and told him the story, ending with, “I must help her.”
Phillip had listened gravely and now he said, “I can fully understand your being upset. But it’s doubtful at this stage if anything can be done for the girl.”
“You can’t mean that!”
“I’m afraid it’s all too true. From your description I’d say her health is probably already ruined. It is just a matter of how long it takes for her to die. People like her also lack the will to accept treatment. She’d have to be placed in a padded cell as Wally Reid was. And that means the risk of death during withdrawal.”
“She must be helped!” Nita persisted.
“I’ll do what I can for her,” he said.
“I want to be with you, to persuade her to take treatment,” Nita said. “I’ll call the studio and say I’m ill.”
“Wait!” Phillip objected. “You mustn’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“You’re at a critical point in your career. You can’t afford a set-back.”
“It would only mean a few hours.”
“I’m not thinking of that,” Phillip told her. “I’m worrying that something might happen. Drug addicts are notoriously unstable. You might find yourself involved in a scandal which would cause bad publicity.”
She eyed him in bewilderment. “Thelma is my friend! I can’t desert her.”
“I don’t ask you to desert her,” he said. “I say leave it in my hands. As a doctor, I’m not taking the same chances as you. The newspapers have only a marginal interest in me, especially now that Sally is divorcing me. You’d better remain in the background and let me carry out your wishes.”
“You honestly think that is best?”
“I do.”
She sighed. “Very well. I want you to see her and send her to some good private hospital for treatment. I’ll pay the bills.”
“The one in the hills that Wally Reid went to is the best,” he said.