All About Eve Page #9

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ADDISON:

Well done. I see your career rising

in the East like the sun...

(to Bill)

...you were saying?

BILL:

I was saying that the Theater is

nine-tenths hard work. Work done the

hard way - by sweat, application and

craftsmanship. I'll agree to this -

that to be a good actor, actress, or

anything else in the Theater, means

wanting to be that more than anything

else in the world...

EVE:

(abruptly)

Yes. Yes, it does.

BILL:

(goes on)

It means concentration of ambition,

desire, and sacrifice such as no

other profession demands... And I'll

agree that the man or woman who

accepts those terms can't be ordinary,

can't be - just someone. To give so

much for almost always so little...

Eve speaks almost unaware of what she says. She looks at no

one in particular, just off...

EVE:

So little. So little, did you say?

Why, if there's nothing else - there's

applause. It's like - like waves of

love coming over the footlights and

wrapping you up. Imagine... To

know, every night, that different

hundreds of people love you... they

smile, their eyes shine you've pleased

them, they want you, you belong.

Just that alone is worth anything...

She becomes aware of Addison's strange smile, of Bill's looks

of warm interest. She's embarrassed, she turns away - then

scrambles to her feet as Margo approaches with Lloyd from

the direction of the pantry.

Margo's had too much to drink. Her fake smile fades as Eve

gets up. She's unpleasant and depressed.

MARGO:

Don't get up. And please stop acting

as if I were the queen mother.

EVE:

(hurt)

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-

BILL:

(sharply)

Outside of a beehive, Margo, your

behavior would hardly be considered

either queenly or motherly!

MARGO:

You're in a beehive, pal, didn't you

know? We're all busy little bees,

full of stings, making honey

day and night-

(to Eve)

aren't we, honey?

KAREN:

Margo, really...

MARGO:

Please don't play governess, Karen,

I haven't your unyielding good taste,

I wish I'd gone to Radcliffe

too but father wouldn't hear of it -

he needed help at the notions

counter...

(to Addison)

I'm being rude now, aren't I? Or

should I say "ain't I"?

ADDISON:

You're maudlin and full of self pity.

You're magnificent.

Max has come up with Miss Caswell's drink.

LLOYD:

How about calling it a night?

MARGO:

And you pose as a playwright. A

situation pregnant with possibilities -

and all you can think of is everybody

to go to sleep...

BILL:

It's a good thought.

MARGO:

It won't play.

KAREN:

As a nonprofessional, I think it's

an excellent idea. Undramatic, but

practical...

As she speaks, she makes her way to Lloyd's side.

MARGO:

Happy little housewife...

BILL:

Cut it out.

MARGO:

This is my house, not a theater! In

my house you're a guest, not a

director-!

KAREN:

Then stop being a star - start

treating your guests as your

supporting cast!

ADDISON:

Hear, hear...

LLOYD:

Now let's not get into a big hassle-

KAREN:

It's about time we did! It's about

time Margo realized that what's

attractive on stage need not

necessarily be attractive off.

MARGO:

(suddenly)

All right! I'm going to bed.

(to Bill)

You be the host. It's your party.

Happy Birthday, welcome home, and we-

who-are-about-to-die-salute-you.

She starts upstairs.

BILL:

Need any help?

MARGO:

(pauses, smiles)

To put me to bed? Take my clothes

off, hold my head, tuck me in, turn

off the lights, tiptoe out...? Eve

would. Wouldn't you, Eve?

EVE:

If you'd like.

MARGO:

I wouldn't like.

She goes up, exits out of sight. A pause. Miss Caswell reaches

up to take the drink out of Max's hand.

MAX:

I forgot I had it.

MISS CASWELL:

I didn't.

Bill gets up and goes after Margo...

ADDISON:

Too bad! We'll miss the third act.

They're going to play it off stage.

Eve turns away abruptly, in sudden tears.

LLOYD:

Coming?

KAREN:

In a minute...

She crosses to Eve, puts an arm around her.

KAREN:

You mustn't mind Margo too much,

even if I do...

EVE:

But there must be some reason,

something I've done without knowing...

KAREN:

The reason is Margo and don't try to

figure it out. Einstein couldn't.

EVE:

If I thought I'd offended her, of

all people-

KAREN:

Eve. I'm fond of Margo too. But I

know Margo. And every now and then

there is nothing I want to do so

much as to kick her right square in

the pants.

EVE:

(smiles)

Well - if she's got to pick on

someone, I'd just as soon it was me.

Karen smiles back. She joins Lloyd and Max.

LLOYD:

Max is going to drop us...

ADDISON:

I've often wondered, Max, why you

bother with a chauffeur and limousine

in New York City.

MAX:

In my case it's necessary. Too many

taxi drivers write plays.

ADDISON:

And too many of them are produced.

MISS CASWELL:

Let's go sit by the piano.

ADDISON:

You have me confused with Dan Dailey.

You go sit by the piano.

(to Eve)

And you come sit by me.

(to the others)

Good night.

They laugh, say "good night," and start downstairs. As Eve

crosses to Addison:

EVE:

Karen...

(Karen pauses)

...you won't forget, will you?

What we talked about before?

KAREN:

(smiles)

No, Eve, I won't forget...

She follows the men downstairs. CLOSE UP of an old engraving

of Mrs. Siddons as 'The Tragic Muse' which hangs among other

theatrical mementos on the stair wall...

INT. DINING HALL - SARAH SIDDONS SOCIETY - NIGHT

The applause continues. Margo sits back in her chair now,

picking at a bit of fingernail polish...

MARGO'S VOICE

Bill's welcoming-home-birthday

party... a night to go down in

history. Like the Chicago Fire - or

the Massacre of the Huguenots. Even

before the party started, I could

smell disaster in the air...

INT. MARGO'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

The same night as the previous sequence, but before the party

has started. Margo is all dressed except for jewelry. She

stands before her dressing table putting it on. She sips at

an enormous Martini...

MARGO'S VOICE

I knew it, I sensed it even as I

finished dressing for that blasted

party...

Birdie comes in.

BIRDIE:

You all put together?

MARGO:

My back's open.

(Birdie goes to work

on it)

Did the extra help get here?

BIRDIE:

There's some loose characters dressed

like maids and butlers. Who'd you

call - the William Morris Agency?

MARGO:

You're not being funny, I could get

actors for less. What about the food?

BIRDIE:

The caterer had to back for hors

d'oeuvres-

(she zips Margo)

Voila.

MARGO:

(laughs)

That French ventriloquist taught you

a lot, didn't he?

BIRDIE:

There was nothing he didn't know.

(she starts tidying

the room)

There's a message from the bartender.

Does Miss Channing know we ordered

domestic gin by mistake?

MARGO:

The only thing I ordered by mistake

is the guests.

(Birdie cackles)

They're domestic, too, and they don't

care what they drink as long as it

burns... where's Bill? He's late.

BIRDIE:

Late for what?

MARGO:

Don't be dense. The party.

BIRDIE:

I ain't dense. And he's been here

twenty minutes.

MARGO:

Well, I certainly think it's odd he

hasn't even come up...

Her glance meets Birdie's. She turns and strolls out.

INT. THIRD FLOOR LANDING - NIGHT

Margo speeds up going down the stairs.

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