Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 3, No. 1. 1940
Dark Victory (adapted from Saroyan)
Dark Victory (adapted from Saroyan).
In front, to my left, to my right, behind, unseen spinsters are sniffling. A tear flashes. Bette Davis, screen idol of millions, almost blind, has staggered up the stairs. You know what's going to happen - she knows\- Hollywood knows - it's well- known....but they still sniffle.
A fiendish "toomer", which the doctor discovered before the married her, is the cause. The scene is their backblocks home, where he romantically plays Pasteur. But could Romance go on? No; tragedy must have its way.
Little Bette Davis has staggered up the stairs. She can't see! The "toomer" is blinding her. Alone in her despair, she closes the door. For her sake, for her husband's sake, for God's sake, for your sake and my sake, she's got to do it. More sniffles.
What's happening? Ah, the old servant opens the door. She goes in, and millions of us in the rest of the world, all go in. Thank God it's not done yet. Mournful music dirges as the old servant leaves. Darkness! Little Bette Davis, about to quit the world, is praying. Symphonic music and sniffles! I am nearly drenched by the enthusiastic orgy of the female on my right. Then it is the end; a merciful Hollywood has released us from the ordeal of being in at the death
Diary of a Passenger on an Atlantic Liner: "Last night took a blue pill. This morning passed an iceberg".