But moving picture work is not at all easy, and actors and actresses have to do more disagreeable and dangerous "stunts" than merely falling into a muddy stream. The demand of the public for realism often goes to extremes, and more than once performers have risked their lives at the behest of some enthusiastic manager.
Mr. Pertell was not that sort, however, though he did insist on his players doing a reasonable amount of hard work—and often disagreeable work, as in this case.
But aside from getting wet and muddy, which conditions could be remedied by a bath and dry clothes, the actor suffered no great hardship, except to his pride, and perhaps he had too much of that, anyhow.
"Come on!" cried the manager. "Crawl out of that, and keep on with the chase."
"Keep on—in this condition! Do you mean it?" Mr. Towne asked.
"Certainly I do. The play must go on. Just because you fell in the ditch is no excuse for stopping it. Keep on! Right along the path. Crawl out and run on."
"But—but look at my clothes!" complained Mr. Towne. "They are—they're muddy!"
"There is a little mud on them, to be sure," agreed Mr. Pertell. "But don't worry. It will wash off."
"A little mud!" spluttered the actor. "I—I—"
"Keep on!" cried the manager. "You are delaying the play!"