The sidewalk outside of Grauman’s Theatre was packed that evening as our family pulled up in several cars. There hadn’t been enough money for Papa to rent searchlights, so it wasn’t as bright and impressive as the night Spencer and I had attendedGold Diggersof Broadway, but there were still hundreds of people in attendance, and Grauman’s had rolled out the red carpet.
I sat inside a rented automobile with Mama, Papa, and Vicky as a driver tried to maneuver through the traffic to the curb outside the theater. The four of us had driven over from Bennett Studios, where we had met up with everyone else to arrive at Grauman’s at the same time. Spencer was the only person who hadn’t come to the studio, but he had assured Papa he would be there by the time we arrived.
Mama wasn’t watching the crowd, though, and didn’t seem too concerned about the movie.
She had her eyes on me.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Ally?” Mama asked. “Tomorrow is your birthday, and if you stay there, you won’t be coming back here.”
“I know.” We’d spent most of the day crying and talking and discussing all the possibilities. I had been back to 1849 twice since seeing Bess, and I had been true to my word and hadn’t told Sam about finding her. I wasn’t sure why it was so important, but I had said I would trust her. Sam still didn’t know what my final decision would be because I was afraid if I told him too soon, he would find out about Bess. But tomorrow, when I woke up in 1849, it was the first thing I planned to tell him.
“I’ve known my whole life that today was coming,” I told Mama.
“But it’s finally here.” She lifted a handkerchief to her cheek to wipe a stray tear.
I put my hand on her knee. “I’m sorry—”
“Don’t be sorry.” Mama took a deep breath. “You have nothing to apologize for. This is just—” She shook her head. “Selfishly, I want you to stay. But I would rather you be happy away from me than sad with me. It will be so hard to say good-bye, but I know Sam will love you and take care of you, and you’ll have Hazel and Johnnie to raise, and a city to build, and a father to care for into his old age.” She twisted her handkerchief in her hands. “I just hope they know how fortunate they are to get you.”
Papa’s eyes were misty with tears, but he was stoic as he looked out the window. Vicky was silent as she sat beside me.
“I’m thankful everyone has each other here,” I told them. “I just wish I could have done more to help with Bennett Stu—”
“You’ve done more than enough.” Papa finally turned to look at me. “The gold was what we needed to get the movie to this stage. Our prescreening audiences and critics have raved about the movie, saying it’s our best one yet.” He smiled through his tears. “Andif this is the last one Bennett Studios makes, I’m proud beyond measure that we did it so well.”
“Papa and I have made a decision,” Mama said to me and Vicky. “The financial forecast is ominous right now, and we’ve accepted that it’s time to close Bennett Studios.”
“No.” I sat forward as the fans outside the car took notice of our arrival and began to cheer. Even though I’d tried to prepare myself for this decision, I still couldn’t accept it. “Not after all you’ve done to keep it going.”
“Sometimes in life, you have to accept the death of a dream or a business or your own plans.” Papa pressed his hands onto his knees. “I haven’t wanted to accept it, and so I have strung it along until there was no life left. The stock market crash is beyond us and our ability to fight. I must acknowledge that God is calling us to something different.” He let out a sigh as he took Mama’s hand, a sad smile on his face. “We are thankful for what we’ve given to the film industry. But it’s changing, and we need to be content knowing that our part was to lay the foundation. Other people will build upon what we’ve done.”
“What will you do for work?” Vicky asked.
“Warner Brothers has asked me to join them as a director,” Papa said. “I’ve already turned down Mr. Mayer several times because I can’t imagine working for him. But when Harry Warner asked me to come onboard, I knew I couldn’t pass up the offer. The Warner brothers are good people, with integrity and vision.”
“Papa is excited to keep doing what he loves,” Mama explained, “without the pressure of paying the bills.”
“And Warner Brothers has offered to purchase most of our equipment and props, which will help with our debt,” Papa added. “Harry said he would like both of you onboard, as well. Of course—” He paused and had to swallow as he looked down at his hands. “He doesn’t know Ally won’t be with us. But, Vicky, he wants you to join his cast of actors.”
It was Vicky’s turn to look uncomfortable. She readjusted the purse on her lap and glanced out at the crowd before saying, “Iaccepted an offer to go under contract for Mr. Mayer. Spencer arranged it for me. Mr. Mayer is going to pay me fifty thousand a year.”
“Vicky!” Mama said, though I couldn’t tell if she was upset or only surprised.
“It’s time I set out on my own.” Vicky lifted her chin. “I appreciate all you’ve done for me, Papa, but I’m ready to make my own way.”
“If you think that’s best,” Papa said.
“I do.”
Mama put her hand on Vicky’s knee. “Then we’re happy for you.”
The crowd suddenly went wild, and a man on a loudspeaker was talking, though it was hard to understand what he was saying.
But when Spencer appeared next to the automobile and opened the door for Vicky, I knew what had happened.
The crowd cheered again as the announcer said, “And here is Victoria Bennett, who plays Meg March, the oldest of the March sisters. Vicky, as she’s known by friends and family, has had a long and illustrious career in the movies. We believe you will be charmed by her performance as Meg.”
As Vicky stepped aside, Spencer turned back to the vehicle and held out his hand to me. “One more time?”
