All About Eve Page #19

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KAREN:

(leading her on)

And you felt just like that talking

to Addison.

EVE:

(nods)

In a way. You find yourself trying

to say what you mean, but somehow

the words change - and they become

his words - and suddenly you're not

saying what you mean, but what he

means-

KAREN:

(sharply)

Do you expect me to believe that

you didn't say any of those things -

that they were all Addison?

EVE:

No! I don't expect you to believe

anything. Except that the

responsibility is mine. And the

disgrace.

KAREN:

Let's not get over-dramatic.

EVE:

(smiles grimly)

You've really got a low opinion of

me, haven't you? We'll I'll give you

some pleasant news. I've been told

off in no uncertain terms all over

town. Miss Channing should be happy

to hear that. To know how loyal her

friends are - how much more loyal

they are than she had a right to

expect me to be...

She turns away from Karen. Karen's embarrassed.

KAREN:

Eve... don't cry.

EVE:

(turned away)

I'm not crying.

KAREN:

Tell me. How did your lunch turn out -

with the man from Hollywood?

EVE:

Some vague promises of a test, that's

all - if a particular part should

come along, one of those things-

KAREN:

But the raves about your

performance-

EVE:

An understudy's performance.

KAREN:

Well. I think you're painting the

picture a little darker than it is,

really. If nothing else - and don't

underestimate him - you have a

powerful friend in Addison.

EVE:

He's not my friend. You were my

friends...

KAREN:

He can help you.

EVE:

I wish I'd never met him, I'd like

him to be dead... I want my friends

back.

This time she does cry. Softly, miserably. Karen looks about.

A pause. She puts an arm around Eve.

KAREN:

Eve. I - I don't think you meant to

cause unhappiness. But you did.

More to yourself, perhaps - as it

turned out - than to anyone else...

EVE:

I'll never get over it.

KAREN:

(smiles)

Yes, you will. You Theater people

always do. Nothing is forever in the

Theater. Love or hate, success or

failure - whatever it is, it's here,

it flares up and burns hot - and

then it's gone.

EVE:

I wish I could believe that.

KAREN:

Give yourself time. Don't worry too

much about what people think, you're

very young and very talented...

(she gets up, her

hand still on Eve's

shoulder)

...and, believe it or not, if there's

anything I can do-

Eve has reached up to take Karen's hand. She holds it now,

as she turns slowly to face her.

EVE:

There is something.

Karen stares down at her. Eve's eyes burn into tears. Karen

is caught, fascinated by them.

KAREN:

I think I know...

EVE:

Something most important you can do.

KAREN:

You want to play "Cora." You want me

to tell Lloyd I think you should

play it.

EVE:

If you told him so, he'd give me the

part. He said he would.

KAREN:

After all you've said... don't you

know the part was written for Margo?

EVE:

It could have been - fifteen years

ago. It's my part now.

KAREN:

You talk just as Addison said you

did.

EVE:

"Cora" is my part. You've got to

tell Lloyd it's for me.

KAREN:

I don't think anything in the world

could make me say that.

She turns away again, but Eve's grip is like a vise.

EVE:

Addison wants me to play it.

KAREN:

Over my dead body...

EVE:

(cold, relentless)

That won't be necessary. Addison

knows how Margo happened to miss

that performance - how I happened to

know she'd miss it in time to call

him and notify every paper in town...

(Karen stops struggling)

...it's quite a story. Addison could

make quite a thing of it - imagine

how snide and vicious he could get

and still write nothing but the truth.

I had a time persuading him...

(she smiles, now)

...you'd better sit down. You look a

bit wobbly.

(Karen sits)

If I play "Cora," Addison will never

tell what happened - in or out of

print. A simple exchange of favors.

And I'm so happy I can do something

for you - at long last...

(Karen covers her

face with her hands)

Your friendship with Margo - your

deep, close friendship - what would

happen to it, do you think, if she

knew the cheap trick you'd played on

her - for my benefit? And you and

Lloyd - how long, even in the Theater,

before people forgot what happened -

and trusted you again?

(now Eve gets up)

No... it would be so much easier on

everyone concerned, if I were to

play "Cora." And so much better

theater, too...

Karen looks up slowly.

KAREN:

A part in a play. You'd do all that

just for a part in a play.

EVE:

(smiles)

I'd do much more - for a part that

good.

She leaves. Karen is alone.

INT. CUB ROOM - NIGHT

Eve enters and slides in beside Addison.

ADDISON:

Hungry?

EVE:

Just some coffee.

ADDISON:

(pours)

I'm not surprised. After all that

humble pie...

EVE:

Nothing of the kind. Karen and I had

a nice talk.

ADDISON:

Heart to heart? Woman to woman?

Including a casual reference to the

part of "Cora" - and your hopes of

playing it.

EVE:

I discussed it very openly. I told

her that I had spoken to Lloyd - and

that he was interested.

ADDISON:

She mentioned, of course, that Margo

expects to play the part?

EVE:

Oddly enough - she didn't say a word

about Margo. Just that she'll be

happy to do what she can to see that

I play the part.

Addison puffs at his cigarette, bemused.

ADDISON:

Just like that, eh?

EVE:

Just like that.

ADDISON:

(thoughtfully)

Do you know, Eve - sometimes I think

you keep things from me.

Eve's feelings are hurt.

EVE:

I don't think that's funny.

ADDISON:

It wasn't meant to be.

EVE:

I confide in you and rely on you

more than anyone I've ever known!

To say a thing like that now - without

any reason - when I need you more

than ever...

ADDISON:

(breaks in)

I hope you mean what you say, Eve.

I intend to hold you to it.

Their eyes meet.

ADDISON:

We have a great deal in common, it

seems to me...

They both look as Karen passes them on her way back to her

table.

GROUP, as Karen joins them. Another bottle of champagne has

come and almost gone - there's a fine, cheery feeling among

them. Margo, in particular, is cheery. A pause. Karen downs

a glass of champagne.

LLOYD:

Well? What happened?

KAREN:

Nothing much. She apologized.

MARGO:

With tears?

KAREN:

With tears.

MARGO:

But not right away? First the business

of fighting them off, chin up, stout

fella...

KAREN:

Check.

MARGO:

Very classy stuff, lots of technique-

LLOYD:

You mean - all this time - she'd

done nothing but apologize? What'd

you say?

KAREN:

Not much.

MARGO:

Groom-

(Bill says "huh?")

may I have a wedding present?

BILL:

What would you like? Texas?

MARGO:

I want everybody to shut up about

Eve. Just shut up about Eve, that's

all I want. Give Karen more wine...

(blissfully)

...never have I been so happy. Isn't

this a lovely room? The Cub Room.

What a lovely, clever name. Where

the elite meet. Never have I seen so

much elite - and all with their eyes

on me. Waiting for me to crack that

little gnome over the noggin with a

bottle. But not tonight. Even Eve. I

forgive Eve... there they go.

They all look.

ADDISON AND EVE, they get up and go without looking back.

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