STORY "A Pretty Face" - The Last Chapter
Telling
The Truth
After an hour and a half. Mike Morrison
leaves Todd Marin’s study and comes out of the house. He and the playwright are
smiling, and Mike is saying “Thank you.”
They talk for two or three
minutes and Zoe watches them from behind the bush. She is amazed.
“What’s happening?” she thinks. “Why
are they so friendly?”
After a minute or two more, they
shake hands.
The Todd M?arin goes back into
the house and Mike Morrison walks away. Mike sees Kate lawson waiting for him.
“Oh, hello.” He says nervously. He
is surprised to see her so soon. “Are you waiting for me?”
“Yes,” she says impatiently, “I’m
waiting for your interview.”
“Look, I can’t lie to you.” He
replies. “There’s no interview for Yes! magazine. Mr.Marin always refuses to
talk to reporters from gossip magazines.”
“But what…?” kate begins.
“What can two people talk about
for an hour and a half?”
Mike says, laughing. “About
writing, about characters and about plot. Nothing for yes! magazine. I’m
afraid.”
“Oh, I have my list of questions
and Mr.Morrison’s answers, but my interview is for the Newport Weekly News. And
I know a lot more about writing plays now. He’s very interested in my play.”
“Your play?” Kate says furiously.
“Yes, I’m writing a play for tv,”
Mike says, “And Mr.Morrison wants to read it. He can help me with the
characters and the plot.”
“Well, that’s nice,” she says. “Say
hello to Mike Morrison, the famous playwright! He writes stupid reviews for the
Newport Weekly News but his plays are ok.”
“You’re angry.” Mike says. “Listen,
I’m sorry about the interview for Yes!”
Kate laughs. “No, it’s ok,” she
says. “I’m not angry.” And then she does something very strange.
She takes off her hair.
“She’s wearing a wig!” Mike
thinks, amazed.
Next, she takes off her glasses
find she smiles at Mike. And now he knows her.
He begins to laugh, “You’re not
Kate Lawson!” he says. “You’re…”
“That’s right,” Zoe says. “I’m a
seventeen-year-old girl in an older woman’s costume, Mr.Mike Morrison, review
writer for the Newport Weekly News!”
Mike’s face is very red now. He feels
embarrassed. “What a trick! So there is no Kate lawson, editor of Yes!
magazine.” He says.
“No, there isn’t,” Zoe says,
laughing, “What do you think now? Does this prove something? Am I a good
actress?”
“Yes, you are a good actress,”
Mike says, laughing with her. “And I’m going to put that in the Newport Weekly
News.”
“Are you?” Zoe says.
“Yes, and thanks for making me go
and see Todd Marin,” Mike tells her. He doesn’t feel embarrassed any more.
“Now I can get help with my play.”
He says. “Come on. Let’s get a cup of coffee; and I’m paying!”
“Well, I can’t refuse a free
coffee!” Zoe says, and she laughs.***
The end
