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do about it； nothing he could tell them。 It was as if the corporation lay suspended in shock； awaiting the transfusion that would send new vitality coursing through its veins。
And now； at last； Cord sat there； a half…empty bottle of bourbon in front of him； a tortured； hollow shell of the man they had seen just a few short weeks ago。 He was thinner and exhaustion had etched its weary lines deeply into his cheeks。 But it was only when you looked into his eyes that you realized it wasn't a physical change that had taken place。 The man himself had changed。
At first； David couldn't put his finger on it。 Then； for a brief moment； the veil lifted and suddenly he understood。 He sensed the man's unique aloneness。 It was as if he were a visitor from another world。 The rest of them had bee alien to him； almost like children； whose simple desires he had long ago outgrown。 He would tolerate them so long as he found a use for them； but once that purpose was served he would withdraw again into that world in which he existed alone。
The three of them had been silent as they came down in the elevator after leaving Cord's suite。 It wasn't until they stepped out into the lobby and mingled with the crowd that was ing in for the midnight show on the Starlight Roof that McAllister spoke。 〃I think we'd better find a quiet spot and have a little talk。〃
〃The Men's Bar downstairs。 If it's still open；〃 Pierce suggested。
It was and when the waiter brought their drinks； McAllister lifted his glass。 〃Good luck；〃 they echoed； then drank and placed their glasses back on the table。
McAllister looked from one to the other before he spoke。 'Well； from here on in； it's up to us。 I wish I could be more direct in my contribution；〃 he said in his somewhat stilted； formal manner。 〃But I'm an attorney and know almost nothing about motion pictures。 What I can do； though； is to explain the reorganization plan for the pany that Jonas approved before the deal was actually consummated。〃
It wasn't until then that David had got any idea of how farseeing Jonas had been … retiring the old mon stock in exchange for new shares； the issuance of preferred stock to meet certain outstanding debts of the corporation and debentures constituting a mortgage lien on all the real properties of the pany； including the studio and theaters； in exchange for his putting up a million dollars' working capital。
The next item McAllister covered was their pensation。 David and Dan Pierce would be offered seven…year employment contracts with a salary starting at sixty…five thousand dollars and increasing thirteen thousand dollars each year until the expiration of the agreement。 In addition； each would be reimbursed pletely for his expenses and bonused； if there were profits； to the amount of two and one half per cent； which could be taken either in stock or in cash。
〃That's about it；〃 McAllister said。 〃Any questions？〃
〃It sounds good；〃 Dan Pierce said。 〃But what guarantee have we got that Jonas will keep us in business once the million dollars is gone？ None at all。 But he's pletely covered by his stock and debentures。〃
〃You're right；〃 McAllister agreed。 〃You have no guarantee； but then； neither has he any guarantee about what his stock will be worth if your operation of the pany should prove unsuccessful。 As I see it； it's up to you two to make it work。〃
〃But if the study David made is correct；〃 Dan continued； 〃we won't be halfway through our first picture before we'll be unable to meet our weekly payroll。 I don't know what got into Jonas。 You can't make million…dollar pictures without money。〃
〃Who says we have to make million…dollar pictures？〃 David asked quietly。
Suddenly； the whole pattern was very clear。 Now he was beginning to understand what Jonas had done。 At first； he had felt a disappointment at not being put in charge of the studio。 He would have liked the title of President on his door。 But Cord had cut through the whole business like a knife through butter。 In reality； the studio was only a factory turning out the product of the pany。 Administration； sales and theaters were under his control and that was where the money came from。 Money always dictated studio policy and he controlled the money。
〃For a million bucks； we can turn out ten pictures。 And be taking in revenue from the first before the fifth goes into production。〃
〃Not me；〃 Dan said quickly。 〃I haven't e this far in the business just to make quickies。 That's for Republic or Monogram。〃
〃Columbia； Warners and RKO aren't too proud；〃 David said； a new hardness ing into his voice。
〃Let them if they want to；〃 Dan snapped。 〃I've got a reputation to maintain。〃
〃Don't give me that crap；〃 David exploded。 〃The only thing this business respects is success。 And they don't care how you get it so long as it adds up at the box office。 The whole industry knows you maneuvered Cord into buying the pany so you could bee a producer。 You won't have any reputation left if you walk out。〃
〃Who said anything about walking out？〃
David relaxed in his chair。 A new feeling of power came over him。 Now he understood why his Uncle Bernie had found it so difficult to let go。 He shrugged his shoulders。 〃You heard what Cord said。 If you won't do it； somebody else will。〃
Pierce stared at him for a moment； then looked at McAllister。 The attorney's face was impassive。 〃That's all very well for you to say；〃 Pierce grumbled。 〃But while I'm out there getting my brains kicked in； what're you going to be doing？〃
〃Seeing to it that we survive long enough for you to get your production program working；〃 David answered。
〃How？〃 McAllister asked； an interested look ing over his face。
〃Tomorrow I'm laying off forty per cent of personnel throughout the pany。〃
〃That's pretty drastic；〃 McAllister said。 〃Will you be able to function under those conditions？〃
David watched the attorney's face。 This was another kind of test。 〃We'll be able to function；〃 he said quietly。
〃That's no way to make friends；〃 Pierce injected。
〃I couldn't care less；〃 David replied caustically。 〃I'm not trying to win a popularity contest。 And that will be only the beginning。 I don't care who gets hurt … the pany is going to survive。〃
For a moment； the attorney stared at him。 Then David saw a frosty glimmer of a smile lurking deep in his eyes。 McAllister turned to Dan。 〃What do you think？〃
Dan was smiling。 〃I think we'll make it。 Why do you think Jonas wanted him to stick around？〃
McAllister reached into his brief case。 〃There's your contract；〃 he said to David。 〃Jonas wants you to sign it tonight。〃
David stared at the lawyer。 〃What about Dan？〃
McAllister smiled。 〃Dan signed his the day of the board meeting。〃
For a moment； David felt anger climbing up inside him。 The whole thing had been an act。 They had put him through the wringer just to see what would happen。 Then he drew in his breath。 What difference did it make？ He reached for the fountain pen the attorney held out toward him。
This was only the beginning。 They were still outsiders and it would be a long time before they knew as much about the pany as he did。 And by that time； it wouldn't matter any more。
Once he signed the contract； he was in charge。
The connecting door between his room and his uncle's opened and light spilled through into the darkness。 〃Are you in there； David？〃
He sat up on the bed and swung his feet to the floor。 He reached out and turned on the lamp next to the bed。 〃Yes； Uncle Bernie。〃
Norman came into the room。 〃Nu？〃 he said。 〃You saw him？〃
David nodded； reaching for a cigarette。 〃I saw him。〃 He lit the cigarette。 〃He looks terrible。 Rina's death must have hit him pretty hard。〃
The old man laughed。 〃Sorry for him I can't feel；〃 he said bitterly。 〃Not after what he's done to me。〃 He took a cigar from his pocket and stuck it into his mouth unlit。 〃He offered you a job； no？〃
David nodded。
〃What job？〃
〃Executive vice…president。〃
His uncle raised his eyebrows。 〃That so？〃 he asked interestedly。 〃Who's president？〃
〃Dan Pierce。 He's going to make the pictures。 I'm to run everything else … administration； sales and theaters。〃
The cigar bobbed up and down excitedly in the old man's mouth。 A broad smile c