At this point we decided once more to try to get back to business. "Tell us about the movie you're writing." "I'm working on it with a fellow named Burt Lane," John explained. "We write down in the warehouse where he works. He'll probably get fired if they read this." John also sold another script to the movies, a story about swordfishermen. For background on that he used to go up to Massachusetts ever week end and go out early in the morning on the fishing boats. "Did you always want to be an actor?" we asked. John shook his head. "I was an English major in college," he said, "but I wanted to be a baseball player. I was with the Puttsburgh Pirates in spring training; then I broke my collarbone. You can also say I'm a Baltimore Oriole fan. No one else in New York City is!"

JOHN CASSAVETES, who's scored in tough-guy roles, is a mild-mannered 27-year-old, a little on the inhibited side. Of Greek descent, John took up acting to aid his writing career, did such a great job in Crime in the Streets in TV playhouse that he got to do it in films. A New Yorker, he's married.

We made one last attempt to get back to the serious business of the interview. "I hear you have made a movie already." "Yes," said John. "I made Terror In The Night for Columbia. Give them a plug too." "Since you're writing a script on bullfighting," we inquired, "would you like to try some yourself." John closed his eyes and shuddered. "Bullfighting? Are you kidding? I'd be scared to death! Besides, I'm not so much interested in the bullfight as in the people who do it." We managed somehow, reluctantly, to tear ourselves away from John and Gena. I tripped over the tiger as we left, jumped a little and mumbled an uneasy apology. The tiger just stared; but as we stood at the door waving goodby—it may have been the light—but I could have sworn that the tiger waved back.