Chapter Twenty-three
JANET PINCH HITS
Janet and Helen found that Jim Hill was extremely pleasant and likeable,but he appeared to be laboring under some severe nervous strain andJanet noticed that his hands shook when he picked up a glass of milk.
"This script for your broadcast has about got me down," he confessed."I've got to keep lots of punch in the action and yet I can't give awaythe actual plot of the film. On top of that old Adolphi is a regularcrab and it doesn't seem like anything will suit him. This whole show ofyours has to be okayed Saturday night by the Ace film people and if theydon't like it they can cancel out and give it to another company."
"Is there any danger of that?" asked Janet.
"I'll say there is. This is a juicy contract and two other chains wouldlike to get it on their networks. Believe me, there is some intenserivalry in getting big contracts like this. Why the Acme and the SkyHigh chains would be willing to pay a large sum just to see us fizzlethe rehearsal Saturday night."
Janet was silent for a time. She had sensed the tension in the studiowithout knowing exactly what was behind it. Now she knew what was wrong.
Jim Hill was speaking again.
"Both of you girls are from the original film company on the coast,aren't you?" he asked.
Helen nodded in agreement.
"Then perhaps you would have some suggestions that might help me out ofthis tangle," suggested the continuity writer.
"Mr. Adolphi suggested that several days ago and I worked one wholeafternoon on it, but someone stole the manuscript I had finished out ofmy room," explained Janet.
Jim whistled softly to himself.
"So that's how it stands." Janet and Helen weren't sure whether he wastalking to them or to himself.
The continuity writer pushed back his chair and stared at themappraisingly.
"I wish you'd help me and I'll promise that your script won't be stolenfrom your hotel room. What do you say?"
Janet looked at Helen, and her companion nodded approvingly. Thedecision was easy to make for Jim was likeable and both of the girlswanted the broadcast to be a success.
"All right, we'll do it," said Janet.
"You mean you'll do it," Helen corrected her. "I'm not good as a writerand you can fairly make a typewriter talk. I'll just hang around andgive you whatever advice I can and try not to be a nuisance."
"Say, that's great," said the continuity writer. "When can you begin?"
"As soon as we are through rehearsing this afternoon," promised Janet.
"How long will it take?"
"I don't know," she confessed. "Radio continuity is something new forme. I'll simply do the rough stuff and you'll have to smooth it over."
"Then suppose you come to my office as soon as you're through and youcan work right on into the evening. Helen and I will see that you arewell supplied with coffee, sandwiches and whatever you want in the wayof eats."
"I'll be there," promised Janet. "Now we've got to get back to thestudio."
At rehearsal that afternoon neither their director nor Rachel Nesbitwere in a good mood and Rachel made it obvious that despite Curt'sexplanation she still blamed Janet and Helen for being taken off thecontinuity work on the script.
"It was the chance of a lifetime," Janet overheard her telling anothergirl in the company. "What if there is a clause about keeping the scriptsecret. I'd know it as soon as the final chapter is placed in the handsof the company for rehearsal."
"But we won't get the final chapter until Saturday afternoon," repliedthe other. "They're taking no chances about any leaks on this program soany of the other companies can interfere with their contract for thisbig film broadcast."
Janet had no idea just how much the broadcast of their program wouldmean to the World Broadcasting Company, but from all the talk in thestudio, she knew that it must be an exceedingly large sum. The vicepresident in charge of programs dropped into the studio that afternoonand watched them work for over an hour. At the end of that time, whenthe director called a brief recess, Janet saw him conferring with Mr.Adolphi. Whatever passed between them evidently was not pleasant to thedirector for he called them back at once and they started all overagain, the director driving them with an intensity that approached awhite-hot fury.
At last the rehearsal was over and most of them were completely wornout. Janet, fortunately, had been spared most of the director'scriticism while poor Helen had come in for several bitter attacks fromhim.
"I'm going on to the hotel, take a shower and crawl into bed," saidHelen. "Another day like this will put me in bed for a week."
"I'll be along later," said Janet. "Get the mail at the desk and ifthere are any letters for me, leave them on my bed."
They parted, Helen taking the elevator down and Janet turning toward thesuite of rooms where the continuity writers worked. At the end of a longcorridor, she found Jim Hill's office, a tiny cubby that contained onlya desk, chair and typewriter stand.
"I thought you'd forgotten all about this writing date," said Jim,looking up. "I've patched up the sequence that Adolphi objected to thisafternoon, but I'm still in a mess over the last episode. It's got tocarry a lot of punch and this is the chapter we've got to guard untilthe last afternoon of rehearsal. There are more leaks in a big studiolike this than you can shake a fist at."
"But who would give away this information?" asked Janet.
"That's not hard to guess," replied Jim. "It could be someone jealous ofanother member of the company, or someone who wanted a job with anotherbroadcasting outfit and who figured that by double crossing his or herpresent employer, a better job could be obtained."
Jim stood up and motioned for Janet to take his place at the typewriter.Briefly he explained what he had been trying to work out and Janetthought his ideas sounded good. But somewhere the winning punch waslacking.
She scanned the last pages of script which he had written. Then sherolled a fresh sheet of copy paper into the typewriter and started work.A new interest took possession of her and the fatigue of the day droppedaway as she got into the swing of the writing.