After ten minutes a young man with hair the color of canary (канарейка) feathers (перо) hurried (поспешить) down to the gate (ворота, калитка).
«Come in, Miss Hoyt. Mr. Brady’s on the set (съёмочная площадка), but he’s very anxious to see you (очень хочет увидеться с вами). I’m sorry you were kept waiting, but you know some of these French dames (дамочка) are worse about pushing themselves in – »
The studio manager opened a small door in the blank wall of stage building and with sudden glad familiarity Rosemary followed him into half darkness. Here and there figures spotted the twilight, turning up ashen (пепельно-бледный) faces to her like souls in purgatory (чистилище) watching the passage of a mortal (мертвый) through. There were whispers and soft voices and, apparently from afar, the gentle tremolo (дрожь) of a small organ. Turning the corner made by some flats, they came upon the white crackling (треск; потрескивание) glow (отсвет) of a stage, where a French actor – his shirt front, collar, and cuffs tinted (тонированный) a brilliant pink (розовый) – and an American actress stood motionless (неподвижный) face to face (лицом к лицу). They stared (уставиться) at each other with dogged (упрямый, упорный, настойчивый) eyes, as though (как будто) they had been in the same position for hours (часами); and still for a long time nothing happened, no one moved. A bank (ряд устройств; блок) of lights went off with a savage (дикий) hiss (шипение), went on again; the plaintive (заунывный) tap (стук) of a hammer begged (просить, умолять) admission (пропуск) to nowhere in the distance; a blue face appeared among the blinding (слепящий) lights above, called something unintelligible (не разборчивое) into the upper blackness. Then the silence was broken by a voice in front of Rosemary.
«Baby, you don’t take off the stockings, you can spoil ten more pairs. That dress is fifteen pounds.»
Stepping backward (отступая назад) the speaker ran against Rosemary, whereupon (на что) the studio manager said, «Hey, Earl – Miss Hoyt.»
They were meeting for the first time. Brady was quick and strenuous (напряженный). As he took her hand she saw him look her over from head to foot, a gesture she recognized and that made her feel at home (комфортно), but gave her always a faint (слабый) feeling of superiority (превосходство) to whoever made it. If her person was property (собственнность) she could exercise (осуществлять) whatever advantage was inherent (присущий, неотъемлемый) in its ownership.