All the King's Men Page #11

ANNE:

Maybe we'd better stop seeing each

other.

WILLIE:

No. No, we won't stop seeing each

other, will we?

ANNE:

(slowly)

No.

WILLIE:

Because you believe in what I tell

you.

ANNE:

(puts her hand on his)

Because I believe what you tell me.

Sadie approaches.

SADIE:

Good evening, Governor Stark.

(looks at Anne, but

talks to Willie)

I thought you might like to know

that Judge Stanton kept his promise.

(directly to Willie)

He gave the story to every paper in

town.

WILLIE:

Sugar, meet me at the hotel as soon

as you can.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

NEWSPAPER HEADLINE

ATTORNEY GENERAL RESIGNS:

STANTON ACCUSES STARK OF

QUASHING PILLSBURY GRAFT

Interior:
State Legislature Assembly Room, Day

Duffy stands in the forground, looking in on the uproar and

confusion of the assembly.

SENATOR:

These are serious charges that Judge

Stanton has given to the press. This

legislature is entitled to a complete

and full report on the Pillsbury

affair. Let the truth be known.

2ND SENATOR

Let it come out.

3RD SENATOR

I move that we adjourn.

4TH SENATOR

I second the motion.

CHAIRMAN:

All those in favor, say aye... Motion

carried. The house is adjourned.

As Duffy turns and walks away, other senators rise up in

their seats in protest.

DISSOLVE TO:

MONTAGE:
PILLSBURY SCANDAL

Sign on building reads: CITIZENS COMMITTEE MEETING, Subject:

PILLSBURY SCANDAL, 8 P.M. Tonight -- Town Hall.

A man pastes a strip across the sign: CANCELED.

A man is making a speech to a small group of people.

MAN:

If you let Willie Stark get away

with the Pillsbury graft, there's no

telling...

Thugs break up the meeting. The speaker is beaten up. Jack

Burden turns through the pages of the little black book.

DISSOLVE TO:

Interior:
Stark's Hotel Suite, Day

Willie is lying on the bed. Jack is seated. Sadie and Sugar

Boy stand nearby.

JACK:

But we beat the Pillsbury rap...

It's over.

WILLIE:

These things are never over. I'll

tell you what I want you to do, Jack.

I want you to start a new page in

that black book of yours... under

then name of Judge Stanton.

JACK:

You're crazy. There's nothing on the

Judge.

SADIE:

Why? Because his name is Stanton?

WILLIE:

Ssshhh, easy.

JACK:

What if I won't do it?

WILLIE:

You know, some of this has rubbed

off on you.

JACK:

What are you going to do? Have me

shot?

WILLIE:

No... no... but I'll have to get

myself a new boy.

JACK:

I tell you there's nothing on the

Judge.

WILLIE:

Jack, there's something on everybody.

Man is conceived in sin and born in

corruption.

JACK:

It's a waste of time.

WILLIE:

What's the matter, Jack? Are you

afraid you might find something out?

Jack stares at him.

DISSOLVE TO:

Exterior:
Burden's Landing Ferry, Night

Jack's car is seen coming across on the ferry.

JACK:

(voice over)

I kept saying to myself that Willie

was wrong about the Judge. If there

was anything left at Burden's Landing,

it was honor. I had to believe that.

DISSOLVE TO:

Interior:
Stanton Living Room, Night

Jack and Anne stand together in the living room.

JACK:

Anne, I want to ask you a question.

Was the Judge ever broke? Really

broke?

ANNE:

Why do you want to know?

JACK:

I don't want to know, but I've got

to.

ANNE:

Did he tell you --

JACK:

Did who tell me?

ANNE:

I don't know. I... how should I know

if the Judge was ever broke?

She walks away from him. Adam enters, carrying bundles of

food and two wine bottles.

STANTON:

Hello... Come on, Anne, take this

food and start cooking. I'm hungry.

Anne takes the grocery bundles. Jack grabs the wine.

JACK:

Me, I'm on the thirsty side. Bring

some glasses, Anne, quick.

He joins Adam, who has opened the piano.

STANTON:

(laughing)

It's been a long time since I played

this thing. What do you say we wake

up the ghosts, huh?

JACK:

(calling to Anne)

Another glass, Anne, for a ghost.

STANTON:

(starting to play)

Remember the last time I played this?

You and Anne were dancing?

Anne returns with three glasses. Jack grabs her around the

waist and whirls her around.

JACK:

Shall we dance?

ANNE:

Let's... let's have a drink first.

Adam starts to pour the wine.

JACK:

No, no... keep playing. Anne and I

want to hear this, don't we, Anne?

(Jack pours the wine)

Adam... ghost... and me.

STANTON:

What shall we drink to?

JACK:

To the ghost?... To Adam, to the

director of the new medical center.

STANTON:

(bangs the piano keys)

Don't you ever stop working for him?

ANNE:

Adam!

STANTON:

I came up here to get away...

JACK:

I'm sorry, Adam.

ANNE:

Well, I'm not. What's wrong with

being the director of the new medical

center?

STANTON:

Nothing, except that I'm not going

to take it.

JACK:

Why? Because your uncle resigned?

STANTON:

That's partly it. There are other

things.

ANNE:

What other things?

STANTON:

(looks at her)

You too?

ANNE:

Yes, me too.

JACK:

Anne, if Adam doesn't want to discuss

it, let's not.

STANTON:

All right, let's discuss it.

ANNE:

But calmly.

STANTON:

Calmly. Go ahead, Jack. Why do you

think he wants me?

JACK:

Because you're the best man for the

job.

STANTON:

It could have nothing to do with my

name being Stanton?

JACK:

It could have. Let's grant that.

STANTON:

That's your answer.

JACK:

No, it's not. If that were the only

answer I wouldn't be with him any

more. There's another side of it.

I've learned something from him. You

can't make an omelet without cracking

eggs.

STANTON:

Or heads.

ANNE:

But at least a hospital will be built,

and the sick will be cared for.

STANTON:

At what price?

JACK:

At any price.

STANTON:

Do you really believe that, Jack?

JACK:

I really believe that Stark wants to

do good. You do too. It's a matter

of method. Many times out of evil

comes good. Well, pain is an evil.

As a doctor you should know that.

STANTON:

Pain is an evil; it is not evil. It

is not evil in itself. Stark is evil.

JACK:

The people of the state don't think

so.

STANTON:

How would they know? The first thing

he did was to take over the newspapers

and the radio stations. Why be so

afraid of criticism? If Stark is

interested in doing good, he should

also be interested in the truth. I

don't see how you can separate the

two. No, Stark is not for me.

ANNE:

(upset)

No, Stark is not for you. Well, what

is for you? Pride. Pride, that's all

it is... foolish, stupid pride. All

you've ever talked about is what you

could do if... if somebody would

tear down and build. All right, all

right, somebody has, and he's given

it to you. But he's not for you. No,

he's not for you.

She throws down her glass and runs crying from the room.

Adam goes after her.

STANTON:

Anne... Anne...

Interior:
Stanton Hallway and Stairs, Night

Anne runs upstairs and Adam follows. The Judge comes out of

his room to see what has happened, sees Jack standing at the

foot of the stairs, hesitates a moment, and then goes back

to his room without speaking.

DISSOLVE TO:

Interior:
County Recorder Room, Day

Jack enters and speaks to a clerk, who then directs him to

one of the files. He starts to look through the files marked

MORTGAGES DEFAULTED.

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