Alias Nick Beal Page #6

will pay off about three votes

to the dollar.

You gave him fifty thousand dollars?

Where did you get it?

From me.

Joseph!

It was only a loan. I'll pay it back

when I can.

Quiet! Quiet everybody!

We have some important news!

We just got a flash.

Kennedy concedes the election!

Speech, Governor, speech!

I only want to say

you've worked harder than any group

I've ever known.

You've been swell.

And I won't forget it.

Pardon me.

Congratulations, Governor.

A wonderful night, Governor,

a wonderful night!

Let me explain.

- Good night, Joseph

Don't worry.

They'll come around.

I wonder.

Of course, they will.

They don't understand.

You're elected, darling.

You're governor.

Now you can do all

the wonderful things you want to

and prove how wrong they were.

How about a celebration? This doesn't

happen every day.

Of course, we'll celebrate.

That's the ticket.

Listen everybody

We're having a party at the Gold Room.

Music, floor show, all the trimmings.

It's on me. Coming, Foster?

I've never danced with a governor.

Yes, I'm coming. With bells on.

That's the spirit.

Hello.

Yes. just a moment.

Who is it?

Mrs. Foster on the phone.

Tell her the governor is in conference.

Oh, no, no.

You heard me. 33.

Let's get on with it.

- Yes, Governor.

Mr. Beal is here.

Send him in.

Get this right.

It has to last two years.

Maybe four.

- Hello, Nick.

Have you seen the early edition

of the Globe?

No, I haven't

Something in there might interest you.

Read it.

Independent Party disowns Foster.

In a move unparalleled

in political history

the Independent Party today renounced

its connection with

governor elect, Joseph Foster.

Superior Judge Ben Hobson disclosed that

Foster's misuse of unauthorized

campaign contributions

Let me see that!

That hypocritical old goat.

I'll ram that committee of his

down his throat.

Hello, Joseph.

I'm glad someone will talk to me.

I've been wanting to.

What happened to Ben and the committee?

Not one of them will see me.

I think you know.

Though I believe they would have

overlooked the Faulkner arrangement

if you hadn't lied about it.

I didn't lie. I said I didn't make

the deal and I didn't.

But you agreed to it.

But Tom,

You and Ben and the others

have known me for

more than twenty years and you know

there's nothing to worry about

when I'm governor.

I'll have to throw

a few scraps to Faulkner but

that's all. Nothing has changed.

You've changed, Joseph.

- How?

Your clothes for one.

Well, what are clothes?

And there are

there are rumors about you and

Miss Allen.

I know I shouldn't mention them.

Or the story that

You and Martha are estranged.

Is it true?

In a way.

What's my personal trouble

got to do with it?

They're all indications of change.

Then there's the influence of this

Nick Beal seems to have over you.

Influence nothing. He loaned me some

money and I'll pay it back.

That's all.

I wonder.

Have you signed anything with him?

Any sort of contract?

Of course not.

What are you driving at?

I don't know exactly.

But there's something strange about him.

Something eery.

It's a pose to impress people.

How did he get out of your house

the night you were there?

Why was he afraid to read the Bible?

Are you serious?

I know I can't be.

But I am.

And there's another thing.

Somewhere I've seen a portrait of him.

A medieval drawing or woodcut.

I'm trying to remember where.

Drawing as what?

Lucifer.

We're in the twentieth century, Tom.

Nobody believes in such things since

the Salem witch burnings.

Besides

aren't there a few items missing?

Where's the tail and the horns?

Where's the smell of sulphur

and brimstone?

And where's the contract

you're talking about

signed in blood and promising

the delivery of one slightly used soul?

Maybe the devil knows it's the

twentieth century too, Joseph.

I'm sorry about Martha.

And if people are talking about us

Well, I'm sorry about that too.

Well, I'm not.

You're the one thing

I'm not sorry about.

But Ben and the others that hurts.

I know, Joseph.

The trouble is I can't give up.

I must justify the position I've taken.

I suppose there are other reasons too.

The idea of being governor

the flattery of having people know you.

The authority and the power

I sound egotistical, don't I?

Selfish too.

No, because

I know you'll do the best job you can.

I wonder.

There's Faulkner.

- He's nothing.

And Nick Beal.

Yes, there is Nick.

How do you feel about him?

I don't know, Joseph.

He gives me the creeps.

Someone else said that.

In other words.

Joseph, I wish I...

You better go now.

Will I see you tomorrow?

Of course.

And don't you worry.

Don't let other people

make your decisions.

You make them yourself.

Promise me?

I promise.

Going soft?

Where did you come from?

Down the chimney.

What's the idea?

He's in trouble.

You bet he is.

Nick, what's he ever done to you?

Nothing.

Then why do you want to destroy him?

He's good and he's decent.

Why don't we forget him?

Why don't we go off together?

Just you and me.

Let him make his own decisions.

You and I could have

a lot of fun together.

Don't touch me.

Don't ever touch me.

Why?

Are you afraid of me?

You stupid tramp.

I ought to toss you back

in the gutter where you belong.

Keep in line.

I'll talk to him tomorrow.

You won't need to.

I'm taking care of him myself.

Tonight.

Joseph?

Yes?

The inauguration Thursday,

I won't be there.

Why not?

I think you know.

But Martha,

There needn't be any talk.

You can say I'm ill.

I don't want to say anything.

I want you there.

No you don't.

We're strangers, almost enemies.

For the last two months you

haven't even known I'm alive.

I guess that's so.

I'm sorry.

- So am I.

I've been thinking tonight.

I'm trying to figure out

what's changed everything.

I can tell you.

Mr. Beal.

That's what everybody says

but it's not Beal it's me.

I don't seem to want the things

I used to want.

It isn't too late to change back.

I'm going to be governor

no matter what happens.

I want you to be governor.

To be a good governor.

With no shoddy alliances.

You sound like that reform committee.

Well, I don't feel like it.

I feel sad.

All of the wonderful things

that we've had are gone.

Do you remember the good times

we used to have on twenty dollars a week

when you were going to law school?

And all the problems we used to share?

I know this isn't fair.

I'm just saying these things

to prove to you

that I want only the best for you.

I know you do.

Then you must believe me when I tell you

that Beal is dangerous.

Alright.

I'll get rid of him.

You owe him $50,000.

I know.

Martha

Would you be very angry

if I sold the house?

No, I'd be pleased.

And if that isn't enough, I've got the

bonds Mother left me.

I don't deserve you.

Promise me one thing.

Don't see him again.

I don't know that I can exactly

This is the first really important thing

I've ever asked of you.

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