All About Eve Page #11

---

WOMAN #1

Margo, darling!

WOMAN #2

Darling!

MARGO:

(passing)

Darlings...

She arrives at the landing just as Addison comes up with

Miss Caswell. Margo takes a drink from a passing tray.

MARGO:

(to Addison)

I distinctly remember striking your

name from the guest list. What are

you doing here?

ADDISON:

Dear Margo. You were an unforgettable

Peter Pan - you must play it again,

soon. You remember Miss Caswell?

MARGO:

I do not. How do you do?

MISS CASWELL:

We never met. That's why.

ADDISON:

Miss Caswell is an actress. A graduate

of Copacabana School of Dramatic

Arts.

(his glance is

attracted by Eve

coming downstairs)

Ah... Eve.

EVE:

(deferentially)

Good evening, Mr. deWitt.

MARGO:

I had no idea you knew each other.

ADDISON:

This must be, at long last, our formal

introduction. Until now we have met

only in passing...

MISS CASWELL:

That's how you met me. In passing.

MARGO:

(smiles)

Eve, this is an old friend of Mr.

deWitt's mother - Miss Caswell, Miss

Harrington...

(the two girls say

hello)

Addison, I've been wanting you to

meet Eve for the longest time-

ADDISON:

(murmurs)

It could only have been your natural

timidity that kept you from mentioning

it...

MARGO:

You've heard of her great interest

in the Theater-

ADDISON:

We have that in common.

MARGO:

Then you two must have a long talk-

EVE:

I'm afraid Mr. deWitt would find me

boring before too long.

MISS CASWELL:

You won't bore him, honey. You won't

even get to talk.

ADDISON:

(icily)

Claudia dear, come closer.

(she does, and he

points)

This is Max Fabian. He is a producer.

Go do yourself some good.

MISS CASWELL:

(sighs)

Why do they always look like unhappy

rabbits?

ADDISON:

Because that is what they are. Go

make him happy.

Miss Caswell drapes her coat over the rail, heads for Max.

Addison puts Eve's arm in his.

ADDISON:

(to Margo)

You mustn't worry about your little

charge. She is in safe hands.

MARGO:

Amen.

Eve smiles uncertainly at Margo as he leads her away. Margo

looks after them. She downs her drink...

INT. MARGO'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

It's many Martinis later. Most of the guests have gone. The

party has reached that static state - everyone's assumed

more or less permanent places.

Birdie passes, carrying a cup of coffee. CAMERA FOLLOWS her

to the piano where Margo sits on the bench beside the pianist.

He is just finishing "Liebestraum" and she stares moodily

into a Martini. Birdie halts beside her with the coffee.

Margo looks up. Birdie holds out the coffee. Margo takes the

onion out of the Martini, drops it into the coffee and waves

Birdie away. Birdie goes. "Liebestraum" comes to an end. The

pianist tries to ease into a more sophisticated rhythm. Margo

stops him.

MARGO:

(quietly)

"Liebestraum."

PIANIST:

I just played it.

MARGO:

Play it again.

PIANIST:

But that was the fourth straight

time.

MARGO:

Then this will be five. I suppose

you think I'm too drunk to count.

PIANIST:

No. You're just crazy about

"Liebestraum."

MARGO:

"Liebestraum."

PIANIST:

Look, Miss Channing... it's kind of

depressing. If you don't mind my

saying so, everybody's kind of dying

on the vine...

MARGO:

My dear Horowitz. In the first place,

I'm paying you union scale. Second,

it's my piano. Third, if everybody

doesn't like kind of dying on the

vine, they can get off the vine and

go home. "Liebestraum."

Unhappily, he plays "Liebestraum." Margo sips her Martini,

stares down into it again. Bill tiptoes up.

BILL:

(whispers)

Many of your guests have been

wondering when they may be permitted

to view the body. Where has it been

laid out?

MARGO:

(somberly)

It hasn't been laid out, we haven't

finished with the embalming. As a

matter of fact, you're looking at

it. The remains of Margo Channing.

Sitting up. It is my last wish to be

buried sitting up.

BILL:

(trying to kid her

out of it)

Wouldn't you feel more natural taking

a bow?

MARGO:

You know nothing about feelings,

natural or unnatural.

BILL:

Then without feeling, your guests

were also wondering whether the music

couldn't be a shade more on the -

shall we say, happier side?

MARGO:

If my guests do not like it here, I

suggest they accompany you to the

nursery where I'm sure you will all

feel more at home.

Bill is about to get mad - when Max bustles up.

MAX:

Margo. You by any chance got

bicarbonate of soda in the house?

MARGO:

(sympathetic)

Poor Max. Heartburn?

(Max nods)

It's that Miss Caswell. I don't know

why she doesn't give Addison

heartburn.

BILL:

No heart to burn.

MARGO:

Everybody has a heart - except some

people.

(she finishes her

drink, stands up)

Of course I've got bicarb. There's a

box in the pantry. We'll put your

name on it. Max Fabian. It'll stay

there. Always. Just for you.

MAX:

(touched)

Let the rest of the world beat their

brains out for a buck. It's friends

that count. And I got friends.

MARGO:

I love you, Max. I really mean it.

I love you. Come to the pantry.

She takes off. Max waits to set Bill straight.

MAX:

She loves me like a father. Also,

she's loaded.

He starts off after Margo. As the CAMERA PANS with Bill we

see Margo going into the pantry with Max following her. Bill

joins Addison and Miss Caswell on the stairs.

INT. PANTRY - NIGHT

It's a good sized one. In the b.g., the caterers are packing

dishes, glassware, etc. Margo crosses to a cupboard. She

finds the bicarb.

MARGO:

Here you are, Maxie dear. One good

burp and you'll be rid of that Miss

Caswell...

MAX:

The situation I'm in ain't the kind

you can belch your way out. I made

a promise...

MARGO:

Miss Caswell?

(Max nods)

What?

MAX:

An audition for the part we're

replacing. What's-her-name, your

sister...

He adds water to the bicarb.

MARGO:

Well, if she can act, she might not

be bad. She looks like she might

burn down a plantation...

MAX:

(mixing)

I feel right now like there's one

burning in me.

MARGO:

When's the audition?

MAX:

A couple of weeks.

MARGO:

I tell you what. Why don't I read

with her?

MAX:

Would you?

MARGO:

Anything to help you out, Max.

MAX:

This is real cooperation. I appreciate

it.

MARGO:

Not at all. And you could do me a

big favor, if you would-

MAX:

All you got to do is name it.

MARGO:

Give Eve Harrington a job in you

office.

Max burps.

MARGO:

You get quick action, don't you?

MAX:

Margo, I wouldn't think of taking

that girl away from you...

MARGO:

You said yourself my inventory was

in good shape - all of my merchandise

put away. To keep her here with

nothing to do - I'd be standing in

her way... and you need her, Max.

MAX:

But what could she do?

MARGO:

She'd be a great help - read scripts,

interview people you have to see,

get rid of the ones you don't have

to... you'd be a man of leisure-

MAX:

Well...

MARGO:

Think of your health, Max - more

time to relax out in the fresh air

at a race track...

MAX:

I don't know if this would be a wise

move...

MARGO:

Promise.

MAX:

I promise.

MARGO:

(happily)

That's my Max.

Lloyd enters, looking for her.

LLOYD:

There you are, both of you. Max,

Karen has decided it's time to go.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote