Perhaps. ••
Chapter Two
he didn’t seem to be much of a lawyer, Norvie Bligh told himself on the way back to his office, but at least this fellow Mundin probably wouldn’t charge much. Arnie had as much as promised him that; Arnie had said, “You go see my brother, Norvie. Del’s quite an important man and, if you don’t mind my saying so, one of the most powerful minds in government today. He’ll put you on the track of somebody good. And he’ll make the price right, too.”
Anyway, who needed a legal eagle to put adoption papers through? The whole thing was pretty silly. If only Ginny weren’t so touchy lately, you could explain to her that it was just an unwarranted expense, nobody was going to take Alexandra away from them; there wasn’t even any question about inheriting if he died.
He tasted that for a moment. Virginia had certainly seemed to take that part of it seriously, he thought. She had mentioned it half a dozen times: “Don’t forget to ask him about inheriting.” And, of course, he had forgotten. Well, there would be another chance on Friday.
And you couldn’t blame Virginia if she was a little, well, insecure. Life with that Tony must have been pure hell, living in Belly Rave from hand to mouth, no future, no security. That was why she was such a devoted wife now.
Of course she was a devoted wife now, he told himself.
Right now, though, the important thing was whether Candella was going to say anything about his being fifteen minutes
late. Candella was pretty difficult lately. Of coufte, you couldn’t blame him; he was naturally jumpy with the big fall Field Day coming up and all.
Of course you couldn’t blame Candella. Of course you couldn’t blame Virginia, or Arnie when his promises didn’t jell, or Alexandra when she was a little touchy, like any ten-year-old, of course.
Of course you couldn’t blame anybody for anything. Not if you were Norvell Bligh.
Fortunately, Candella didn’t notice what time he came back from lunch. But hi the middle of the afternoon his secretary came worriedly out to Nome’s desk and said, “Mr. Candella would like to discuss your Field Day program with you.”
He went in with a feeling of uneasiness, well justified.
Old Man Candella slapped the papers down and roared:
“Bligh, maybe you think a Field Day is a Boy Scout rally where the kids shoot arrows and run footraces around the tennis court. Is that right? Maybe you think it’s a Ladies’ Aid pink tea. Maybe you just don’t know what a Field Day is supposed to be, Bligh. Is that it?”
Norvie swallowed. “No, sir,” he whispered.
” ‘No, sir,'” Candella mimicked. ” ‘No, sir.’ Well, if you do know what a Field Day is, why doesn’t it show? Why isn’t there at least one good, exciting idea in this whole bloody script? I take back that word ‘bloody,’ Bligh. I got to give you that, nobody would say this script was bloody. There might be some complaints in the other directioivbut I guarantee there wouldn’t be any complaints that tl^^^was too much blood.” He jabbed at the program with S^ajry forefinger. “Listen to this. ‘Opening pageant: Procession of jeeps through gauntlet of spearmen. First spectacle. Fifty girl wrestlers versus fifty male boxers. First duet: Sixty-year-old men with blowtorches.’ Ah, what’s the use of going on? This is supposed to be the big event of the year, Bligh, did you know that? It isn’t a Friday-night show in the off season. This is the one that counts. It’s got to be special.”
Norvie Bligh shifted miserably. “Gosh, Mr. Candella, I—I thought it was. It’s a classical motif, do you see? It’s like——”
“I can tell what it’s like,” Candella bellowed. “I’ve been producing these shows for fifteen years. I don’t need anybody to tell me whether a script will play or it won’t And I’m
telling you this one won’t.” He stabbed a button on his console. Norvie felt the seat lurch warningly underneath him, and scrambled to his feet as it disappeared into the wall. ‘Take this script away,” Candella growled. “We’ve got to start casting on Monday. Let’s see if we can have something above the level of an Odd Fellows’ smoker tomorrow night.” He didn’t even look up as Norvie cringed out the door.