All About Eve Page #21

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No answer except the opening and closing of drawers.

KAREN:

What would you do if, instead of

Eve, the leading man had called up

to say her was hysterical?

Still no answer. Her tension increasing, Karen goes back to

the table, snubs out the fresh cigarette, then strides swiftly

back to the open door.

KAREN:

Lloyd, I don't want you to go!

Now Lloyd appears. He's in flannels, and a sport shirt with

no tie. He's confused and guilty and tortured.

LLOYD:

I didn't think you would! It seems

to me, Karen, that for some time,

now, you've been developing a deep

unconcern for the feeling of human

Beings in general-

KAREN:

I'm a human being, I've got some!

LLOYD:

(goes right on)

and for my feelings in particular!

For my play, my career - and now for

a frightened, hysterical girl on the

eve of her first night in the Theater!

He goes back into his room.

KAREN:

Have you forgotten about Eve? What

she is, what she's done?

LLOYD:

Old wives' tales, born of envy and

jealousy! And a phobia against truth!

KAREN:

Then tell me this isn't true! That

your concern for your play and career

is one thing - and that poor

frightened hysterical girl another -

and that your concern for her has

nothing to do with either your play

or your career!

Lloyd comes out wearing a jacket. He crosses to the door,

Karen after him.

KAREN:

That first, last, and foremost -

your reason for going now is that

you want to be with Eve! Three in

the morning or high noon - play or

no play - wife or no wife!

(Lloyd stops at the

door)

Isn't it true, Lloyd?

Lloyd goes out. Karen looks after him, despairing.

EXT. SHUBERT THEATER - NEW HAVEN - DAY

The theater is but a few doors from the TAFT HOTEL. The

marquee announces a new play by Lloyd Richards, presented by

Max Fabian, opening tonight.

Addison and Eve stand before the theater admiring her photo

on a lobby display. None of the actors are starred.

ADDISON'S VOICE

To the Theater world - New Haven,

Connecticut, is a short stretch of

sidewalk between the Shubert Theater

and the Taft Hotel, surrounded by

what looks very much like a small

city. It is here that managers have

what are called out-of-town openings -

which are openings for New Yorkers

who want to go out of town...

They start for the hotel - Eve's arm through Addison's.

EVE:

What a day - what a heavenly day...

ADDISON:

D-day.

EVE:

Just like it.

ADDISON:

And tomorrow morning you will have

won your beachhead on the shores of

Immortality...

EVE:

(grins)

Stop rehearsing your column...

Isn't it strange, Addison? I thought

I'd be panic-stricken, want to run

away or something. Instead, I can't

wait for tonight to come. To come

and go...

ADDISON:

Are you that sure of tomorrow?

EVE:

Aren't you?

ADDISON:

Frankly - yes.

They've arrived in front of the hotel.

EVE:

It'll be a night to remember. It'll

bring to me everything I've ever

wanted. The end of an old road - and

the beginning of a new one...

ADDISON:

All paved with diamonds and gold?

EVE:

You know me better than that.

ADDISON:

Paved with what, then?

EVE:

Stars.

She goes in. Addison follows her.

INT. CORRIDOR - TAFT HOTEL - DAY

Addison accompanies Eve along the corridor to her door.

EVE:

What time?

ADDISON:

Almost four.

EVE:

Plenty of time for a nice long nap -

we rehearsed most of last night...

ADDISON:

You could sleep, too, couldn't you?

EVE:

Why not?

They've arrived at her door. She opens it.

ADDISON:

The mark of a true killer.

(he holds out his

hand)

Sleep tight, rest easy - and come

out fighting...

EVE:

Why'd call me a killer?

ADDISON:

Did I say killer? I meant champion.

I get my boxing terms mixed.

He turns to go. After a few steps-

EVE:

(calling)

Addison-

(he pauses)

Come on in for just a minute, won't

you? There's... I've got something

to tell you.

Addison turns curiously, and enters behind her.

INT. EVE'S SUITE - TAFT HOTEL - DAY

Old-fashioned, dreary and small. The action starts in the

living room and continues to the bedroom.

Addison closes the door, crosses to a comfortable chair.

ADDISON:

Suites are for expense accounts.

Aren't you being extravagant?

EVE:

Max is paying for it. He and Lloyd

had a terrific row but Lloyd

insisted... well. Can I fix you a

drink?

She indicates a table elaborately stocked with liquor,

glasses, etc. Addison's eyebrows lift.

ADDISON:

Also with the reluctant compliments

of Max Fabian.

EVE:

Lloyd. I never have any, and he likes

a couple of drinks after we finish -

so he sent it up...

ADDISON:

Some plain soda.

(Eve starts to fix it)

Lloyd must be expecting a record run

in New Haven...

EVE:

That's for tonight. You're invited.

We're having everyone up after the

performance.

ADDISON:

We're?

EVE:

Lloyd and I.

She carries the soda to him, sits on an ottoman at his feet.

ADDISON:

I find it odd that Karen isn't here

for the opening, don't you?

He sips his soda and puts away, carefully avoiding a look at

Eve. As he looks back-

EVE:

Addison...

ADDISON:

(blandly)

She's always been so fantastically

devoted to Lloyd. I would imagine

that only death or destruction

could keep her-

EVE:

(breaks in)

Addison, just a few minutes ago.

When I told you this would be a night

to remember - that it would bring me

everything I wanted-

ADDISON:

(nods)

Something about an old road ending

and a new one starting - paved with

stars...

EVE:

I didn't mean just the Theater.

ADDISON:

What else?

Eve gets up, crosses to look out over the Common.

EVE:

(her back to him)

Lloyd Richards. He's going to leave

Karen. We're going to be married.

For just a flash, Addison's eyes narrow coldly, viciously.

Then they crinkle into a bland smile.

ADDISON:

So that's it. Lloyd. Still just the

Theater, after all...

EVE:

(turns; shocked)

It's nothing of the kind! Lloyd loves

me, I love him!

ADDISON:

I know nothing about Lloyd and his

loves - I leave those to Louisa May

Alcott. But I do know you.

EVE:

I'm in love with Lloyd!

ADDISON:

Lloyd Richards is commercially the

most successful playwright in

America-

EVE:

You have no right to say such things!

ADDISON:

And artistically, the most promising!

Eve dear, this is Addison.

Eve drops her shocked manner like a cape. Her face lights up -

she crosses back to the ottoman.

EVE:

Addison, won't it be just perfect?

Lloyd and I - there's no telling how

far we can go... he'll write great

plays for me, I'll make them be great!

(as she sits)

You're the only one I've told, the

only one that knows except Lloyd and

me...

ADDISON:

...and Karen.

EVE:

She doesn't know.

KAREN:

She knows enough not to be here.

EVE:

But not all of it - not that Lloyd

and I are going to be married.

ADDISON:

(thoughtfully)

I see. And when was this unholy

alliance joined?

EVE:

We decided the night before last,

before we came up here...

ADDISON:

(increasingly tense)

Was the setting properly romantic -

the lights on dimmers, gypsy violins

off stage?

EVE:

The setting wasn't romantic, but

Lloyd was. He woke me up at three

in the morning, banging on my door -

he couldn't sleep, he told me - he's

left Karen, he couldn't go on with

the play or anything else until I

promised to marry him... We sat and

talked until it was light. He never

went home...

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