Read Online Three Women in a Mirror by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, Alison Anderson - Free Book Online

suffocating. Since the plastic surgery that had moved his lips had also made them rigid, Dr. Sinead articulated behind a mask.
    â€œAnny? Anny, please!”
    Anny understood that she must quit speculating and return to reality. Ethan had told her what Dr. Sinead represented in Los Angeles, so she prepared herself as if for an audition.
    â€œYes. Here I am. I’m coming to . . . ”
    â€œIt’s about time! Can we have a look at your injuries?”
    â€œMake yourself at home.”
    Anny realized she was just as curious as the servile assistants who were listening to Sinead’s explanations, because she didn’t know anything about her injuries. Legs, arms, ribs, bruises, wounds, gashes, burns: everything was displayed and commented upon. Judging from Sinead’s remarks, Anny had been very lucky to get off so lightly after such an extraordinary plunge.
    â€œThere is a god for artists, Miss Lee.”
    â€œYou think so? In Hollywood there is only one God and his name is Money.”
    He laughed politely at the hackneyed joke.
    â€œYou will go on honoring that god, Miss Lee: you’ll soon be gracing the set again.”
    He thought he was giving her comforting news. But in fact he was informing her that because of her fall she would not be returning to the set of the feature film she’d been in the middle of making. She was suddenly filled with anxiety: had they stopped production? How much would it cost her? Or, worse yet: had they replaced her?
    Upset, she gave a grimace of farewell to the departing medical team. Her heart was pounding. She was soaked in sweat.
    â€œJohanna! Johanna!”
    Instinctively, she called out for her press agent. But naturally she wasn’t there, and no one heard Anny shouting. Never mind! She pounded the mattress, thumped her fist on the wall, tried to smash the plaster cast that had her leg in traction, and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Johanna!”
    Ethan came in, looking worried.
    â€œAnny, what’s going on? Are you in pain?”
    On seeing that fair face, radiant with goodness, Anny did not hesitate for one second.
    â€œYes! I’m in terrible pain.”
    â€œWhere?”
    Her face contorted convincingly, she enumerated all the places on her body that Dr. Sinead had examined, then concluded in a croaking voice, “Please, help me.”
    â€œI . . . uh . . . ”
    â€œKnock me out.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œPut me in a coma, I can’t take it . . . ”
    â€œAnny, calm down. I’ll increase the dose of morphine.”
    Having gotten her way, Anny nearly abandoned her playacting; fortunately, she knew to hide her joy and she went on sobbing.
    â€œGod, the pain! I’ll never make it . . . ”
    â€œYes you will. The painkiller will soon take effect.”
    â€œNo, it hurts too much. I’m going to die.”
    â€œDon’t exaggerate. Everything will be fine.”
    â€œI’m dying! I demand to see my agent.”
    â€œCome on, now. Just let me get the dose . . . ”
    â€œI want my agent!”
    No matter what Ethan did to try to make her feel better, Anny did not stop moaning until the nurse had written down the agent’s number and promised to contact her so that she would come to Anny’s bedside.
    Then she abandoned herself to the painkiller, and drifted delightedly away into the sweet anesthesia.
    Â 
    The following morning, Johanna Fisher, also known as The Shark, was sitting by Anny’s bed in a tight anthracite suit. Her famous toothy smile broke through a heavy layer of foundation.
    â€œMy word, darling, you really had us worried! Well, anyway, apparently you’re going to get better. I’ve been calling for updates every hour for three days. By the way, did you get my flowers? If you don’t like them, the office will send you different ones, don’t hesitate. Lilacs, roses, peonies, irises, whatever you want. Okay, let’s not waste a