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THE REAL ROOT OF EVIL 107
fi nally cracked the New York best-seller lists, a milestone Rand had long
anticipated. Both were notable feats for a book released two years earlier,
and Rand capped off the year by approving a syndicated comic book
version of the novel that appeared in newspapers nationwide. With each
piece of good news her motivation to write a new book for publicity’s
sake dwindled.
Moreover, she was distracted by the idea for a new novel. As with The
Fountainhead, inspiration had come all at once. In New York Rand and
Isabel Paterson had been chatting about current events and the need for
Rand to spread her ideas. Rand was indignant at the idea that she was
obligated to write for anyone. Perhaps thinking of the new labor militancy
that was sweeping the country, she asked Paterson, “What if I went
on strike?” From there a story unfolded instantly in her mind. What if
the all creators in the world went on strike, much like her father had in
Russia? What would happen next? It was a refi nement of the confl ict
she had dramatized through Dominique. Rand galloped ahead with this
new idea, once alert to it seeing the concept of the strike everywhere. 19
Her screenwriting job, however, permitted Rand little time to pursue
either project. She was the fi rst writer Hal Wallis had hired, and he was
eager to make immediate use of her talents. Because Rand lived so far
from Hollywood and gas rationing was still in effect, Wallis allowed her
to work from home, coming in only when needed for story conferences.
He put her to work rewriting properties he already owned, and her fi rst
two assignments, Love Letters and You Came Along, were both released
as successful fi lms in 1945. Next Wallis asked her to develop ideas for a
movie based on the atomic bomb. Rand began a careful investigation of
the Los Alamos project, even securing an extensive audience with the
atomic scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, head of the Manhattan Project.
The fi lm was never produced, but Rand’s encounter with Oppenheimer
provided fuel for a character in her developing novel, the scientist Robert
Stadler.
While Rand busied herself with writing and networking, Frank thrived
in California. The purchase of the Chatsworth property had been his
decision, for Rand was unconcerned with where they lived. After carefully
researching the local market, Frank determined that the outskirts
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