LESLI E EPSTE IN
37
Norman was a lready leaning forward again. His handkerchief, I
thought, looked as white as a flower. "The answer to the second part of
yo ur question is Warner Brothers."
There was a pause, whether of puzzlement or shock ) cou ld not say.
Then someone cried, "Oh, my
God!"
The next thing I heard was laugh–
ter, ripples of it, then a roar of it. Mr. Walter was ca lling for sil ence, to
no effect. Stanley had his hand cupped to Norman's ear and was shout–
ing something. Someone's microphone was making a ringing sou nd. A
policeman moved in front of the photographers, as if to block with the
bulk of his body the rays from their flashing bulbs. I saw Betty with her
head back, laughing. A vei l, pocked with dark dots, had fallen over
Lotte's face, so that it was impossible to know if she were laughing too.
"What's
subversive?"
asked Barton. "Is it something funny?"
A Mr. Frank Tavenner had the word
Consul
on his nameplate. He
was the one banging the gave l. "Come to order! Come to order!" he
shouted. "Come to order or we' ll clear the room!"
The noise, if it did not stop, subsided.
"Did you wish to say something, Mister Jackson?" Mr. Walter asked .
") just wanted to say that everyone knows Mister Norman Jacobi is
a great humorist. I've had my share of fun at his films, too. But this is
not the time for cut-ups, sir. The country is in danger. Do you wish to
answer our questions or do you want to play the wiseacre? Because if
he's going to be a wiseacre, Mister Chairman, I'd just as soon dismiss
the witness without further testimony."
That sobered the crowd. In the ensuing sil ence Norman sa id , " I am
sorry, Congressman. It's a flaw I have. You correctly bring attention to
it-that even at the most inappropriate times I can't resist. I'm afraid
that what Chairman Walter said about Jack, about Mister Warner: well,
I think he named everyone on the lot he couldn't get under contract. I
apologize. I let my feelings run away with me."
I felt, at those words, a ho ll ow sensation in the pit of my stomach, as
if Gorgeous George had butted it with hi s head.
Apologize?
To
them?
I
could not believe it. I watched my father wipe his hands on the side of
his pants and then, under the hot li ghts of the television cameras, use his
handkerchief to wipe hi s brow.
It
was like a flag of surrender.
Mr. Jackson: " I think I speak for the membership when I say we
understand how in times like these feelings run high. We appreciate your
patriotism and your spirit of cooperation. ow Mister Tavenner has
told us that in executive session you expressed your conviction that the
United States of America is under attack and that its enemies are under–
mining our institutions and our Constitution."
