Chapter 5 chapter Five

Julia was now looking at a picture of herself in her wedding dress. Jesus, how strange I look. They decided to keep their engagement a secret, and Julia only told Jimmy.Langton, and two or three girls from the troupe, and her dress-maker.She swore them not to tell, but she couldn't understand how it seemed that the whole troupe knew in less than forty-eight hours. Julia couldn't be happier.She was more madly infatuated with Michael than ever, and would have liked to marry him on the spot, but his reason prevailed.They were now nothing more than a couple of mainland actors, and to start the struggle for the conquest of London as a married couple would have ruined their chances of success.Julia tried to make it as obvious as possible to him, and indeed made it very obvious, that she would be happy to be his mistress, but he flatly refused.He is a gentleman, and he refuses to take advantage of her.

Ah, I wouldn't love you so much, if I didn't love glory more, He is convinced that if they live together before marriage, they will regret it deeply when they get married.Julia was proud of his firm principles.He was a kind, tender lover, but it didn't take long for him to seem to take her a little for granted as his wife, in such an intimate yet casual way that you would have thought they had been married for years.Yet he allowed Julia to be affectionate with him, showing his meekness and easy-going character.She loved sitting close to him, with his arms around her waist, her cheek against her cheek, and the happiest moment was when she could press her hungry mouth tightly against his thin lips.Even though he liked to talk about the characters they were working on or discuss future plans when they sat side by side like this, he still made her laugh.She never tires of admiring his beauty.She told him how elegant his nose was, and how lovely his tawny curly hair was. At this moment, she felt his arms around her waist tightening a little, and seeing the gentle look in his eyes, she was fascinated up.

Baby, you're going to make me proud. It would be foolish to pretend that you are not perfectly beautiful. Julia thought he was exceedingly handsome, and she said he was beautiful because she liked to say that he was beautiful, but she also said it because she knew he liked to hear it.He liked her, he adored her, he felt free with her, and he trusted her, but she knew very well that he was not in love with her.She comforted herself that he could only love her so far, and she thought that when they were married and they slept together, her own passion would arouse the same passion in him.For the moment she tries to use her cunning, play it by ear, and try to restrain herself.She knew not to bore him.She knew that she must not be made to feel like a burden or a responsibility to him.He would abandon her for a round of golf, or to go out to dinner with a casual friend, but she never let him see that she was unhappy.She had a vague sense that her success as an actress was helping to strengthen his affection for her, and she tried desperately to pull off the trick.

More than a year after their engagement, an American theater executive who was looking for talent heard about Jimmy.Langton's repertory troupe arrives in Middlepool and takes an interest in Michael.He sent him a note asking him to meet him at his hotel the next afternoon.Overjoyed and choked with excitement, Michael hastened to show Julia the note; it could only mean that the American manager was going to ask him to play some part.Her heart sank, but she pretended to be as excited as him, and accompanied him to the hotel the next day.She waited in the hall while Michael met with the big man.

Wish me luck, he said softly as he turned away from her and entered the elevator, this thing is too good to be true. Julia sat on a large leather sofa and hoped that Michael would refuse the part that the American manager wanted him to play, or that he would not accept it because he thought the salary was too low for his dignity.Or, he asked Michael to read his lines from the character he had in mind, and concluded that he wasn't up to the mark.But half an hour later, when she saw Michael walking towards her, his eyes shining and his steps brisk, she knew he had succeeded.She felt like throwing up for a moment, and when she forced an eager, happy smile on her face, she felt her muscles tense and hard.

No problem.He said it was a good character, a boy character, nineteen years old.First perform in New York for eight to ten weeks, and then go on tour.Steady forty weeks and John.Drew (Note: Born in a family of actors in the United States, Mei Fengzi, good at comedy and social drama.) Together.Two hundred and fifty dollars a week. Ah, baby, this is so good for you. Apparently he accepted.The thought of rejection never crossed his mind. But me, she thought, even if they offered me a thousand dollars a week, I wouldn't go if it meant parting from Michael. Sad disappointment seized her.There was nothing she could do.She had to pretend to be as happy as he was.He couldn't sit still with excitement, and dragged her straight to the busy street.

This is a rare opportunity.Of course, the United States is expensive, but I should be able to live on fifty dollars a week at most, and I have heard that Americans are very hospitable, and I often eat without spending money.I see no reason why I couldn't save $8,000 over forty weeks, which would be £1,600. (He doesn't love me. He doesn't care about me at all. I hate him. I want to kill him. Damn America Manager.) If he hired me again the next year, I'd get three hundred dollars a week.That is to say, I could earn nearly four thousand pounds in two years.Almost enough to start running a theater.

the first year!Julia lost control for a moment, full of tears, and her voice was heavy.You mean, you're going to go for two years? Oh, and of course I'll be back in the summer.They paid for my travel expenses, and I prepared to go home for the summer without spending a dime. I don't know how to live without you by my side. She spoke very lightly, which sounded flattering yet casual. Well, we could have a nice summer together, and you know a year, two years at the most, well, flies by like lightning. Michael walked casually, but Julia unknowingly led him in the direction of her heart.Now they were in front of the theatre.She stopped.

See you later.I got to see Jimmy at the theater. He listened, and his face sank. You can't leave me at this time!I have to have someone to talk to.I thought we could go get something to eat together before the show. I am so sorry.Jimmy.Langdon is waiting for me, you know what he is. Michael smiled sweetly and kindly at her. Well, good, then you go.I don't blame you for disappointing me once in a while. He walked forward, and she entered the theater through the backstage door.Jimmy.Langton had arranged for himself a small suite under the roof, accessible from the balcony.She rang the bell on the front door, and he answered it himself.He was surprised and delighted to see her.

Hello, Julia, come in. She walked past him without a word, and they entered his living room, which was very untidy, littered with typescripts of scripts, books and other clutter, and his simple meal. The remnants of lunch were still on a plate on the desk.She turned to face him.She clenched her teeth tightly and frowned. You devil! She stretched out her hand in a flash, rushed in front of him, twisted the collar of his loose shirt with both hands, and shook him violently.He tried his best to break free, but she was so strong that she went mad again. stop.stop. You wretch, you pig, you vile, dirty bastard.

He waved his arms and slapped her loudly with his open palm.Unconsciously, she let go of her hand, and pressed her cheek with one hand, because it hurt so much from him hitting her.She burst into tears. You bastard.You mad dog beat up women. Put away your nonsense, honey.Don't you know that when a woman hits me, I always hit me back? I didn't hit you. Damn it, you almost strangled me. deserve it.Hey my god, I really want to kill you. Come on, sit down, kiss, and I'll give you a scotch to calm you down.Then you can tell me exactly what's going on. Julia looked around for a large chair in which to sit comfortably. Jesus, this place is like a pigsty.Why on earth don't you get a handyman? With one irritating movement she threw all the books in an armchair to the floor, sat down on her own, and began to cry earnestly.He poured her a glass of strong whiskey, added a splash of sparkling water, and taught her to drink it. Well, why are you acting like Tosca? (Note) Tosca is the heroine in the opera of the same name by Italian opera writer Puccini.She is a female singer who is in love with the painter Mario.Ma is arrested for covering for his buddy, a fugitive political prisoner.The police chief coveted Tosca's beauty and said that if she obeyed, he could release the horse and help them both leave the country, but he would have to perform a false execution on the horse.She feigned yes and stabbed him to death while he was issuing passports for them.It was about dawn, and she rushed to the execution ground to meet Ma, but unexpectedly Ma had been shot.At the same time, her murder of the chief of police has been discovered; when the military police chased her, she committed suicide by jumping over the wall. Michael is going to America. Yeah? She broke free from his arm around her shoulder. how can youHow can you do this? I have nothing to do with this matter. you are lying.Presumably you haven't even heard of that dirty American manager in Middlepool.It must be a good thing for you.You did this on purpose, on purpose to tear us apart. Ah, dear, you have wronged me.In fact, I might as well tell you that I told him that he could have anyone in our troupe he wanted, with the only exception being Michael.gosling. Julia did not notice the look in Jimmy's eyes when he told her this, and if she had, she would have wondered why he was so triumphant, as if he had succeeded in a neat little trick. Even me?she says. I know he doesn't want girls.They have their own merits.What they need is a well-dressed leading man who doesn't spit in the living room. Oh Jimmy, don't let Michael go.I can't stand it. How can I stop him?His contract expires at the end of this season.This is his rare opportunity. But I love him.I need him.Suppose he had a crush on someone in America?Suppose an American heiress fell in love with him? If his love for you is so unreliable, then I think you'd better throw him away. This remark reignited her anger. You goddamn old eunuch, what do you know about love? These bitches, Jimmy sighed, if you wanna go to bed with them they say you're a dirty old goat, and if you don't go to bed with them they say you're a goddam old eunuch. Alas, you don't understand.He is so remarkably beautiful that they will fall at his feet one after another, and my poor little darling is so vulnerable to flattery.Anything can happen in two years. What happened to two years? If he succeeded, he would stay another year. Phew, don't worry about it.He'll be back by the end of the season, and never again.The manager only saw him in Miss Conti.It's the only role he's played reasonably well.Take my word for it, and it won't be long before they find out they've been duped.He's doomed. What do you know about acting? understand everything. I can't wait to gouge out your eyeballs. I warn you, if you try to touch me, I'm not going to give you a soft blow, I'm going to give you such a hard blow on the jawbone that you won't be able to eat comfortably for a week. Gosh, I believe you can do it.Do you call yourself a gentleman? I wouldn't call myself classy when I was drunk. Julia giggled, and Jimmy thought the worst of the quarrel was over. You know as well as I do that your acting skills will blow him away.I tell you, you will be Mrs. Kendall Manager.) Greatest actress ever.Why would you stand in your own way for a man who will forever be a millstone around your neck?You want to run the theater, and he wants to be the lead actor with you.He's determined not to play well, my dear. He has great looks.I can take him. You think you're great, don't you?But you are wrong.If you want to be successful, you can't have an unqualified leading man with you. I do not care.I'd rather marry him and fail than succeed and marry someone else. are you a virgin Julia giggled again. I suppose it's none of your business, but in fact I am. I know you are.Well, unless you have any qualms, why don't you go to Paris with him for a fortnight while we're out of the show?He doesn't leave until August.That way you can rest assured of him. Oh, he won't.He is not that kind of person.You know he's going to be a gentleman. Even the upper classes pass on the seeds. You don't understand, Julia said proudly. I don't think you understand either. Julia didn't bother to answer him.She was really depressed. I can't live without him, I tell you.He left, what should I do? Stay with me.I'll give you another year's contract, I have a lot of new roles I want to play for you, and I have another guy in mind, a rookie.You'll be amazed at how much less effort you can have when you have someone who can really support you.You can get twelve pounds a week. Julia came up to him and fixed his eyes sharply. Are you doing this because you want me to continue acting here for a year?Did you break my heart and ruin my whole life just to keep me in your lousy theater? I swear there is no such thing.I like you, I adore you.Our business has been better these past two years than it has ever been in the past.But damn it, how could I play such a trick on you! You liar, you shameless liar. I swear I'm telling the truth. Then show proof, she said gruffly. How can I prove it?You know I do behave. Give me fifteen pounds a week and I'll believe you. Fifteen pounds a week?You know how much we earn.How can I pay?Oh well, that counts.But I shall have to take three pounds out of my own pocket. I don't care.