An American in Paris Page #2

Do you mind if I look...

...or will you chew

my head off too?

Go ahead.

You're okay.

Thank you.

She's a third-year girl

that gripes my liver.

Third-year girls?

You know, American college kids.

They come here to take their third

year and lap up some culture.

They give me a swift pain.

Why?

They're harmless enough.

They're officious and dull.

They always make profound

observations they've overheard.

Say, do you have

a cigarette?

- I think so.

- Thanks.

Don't you like criticism?

Who does? Tough enough getting

it from those who know.

My first today.

My guess is the business

isn't very good.

Your guess is

right on the nose.

You know...

...I like these two.

Thanks. So do I.

I want to buy them.

How much are they?

Gee, I don't know.

You don't know?

I never thought I'd come to the point

where that would be an issue.

Offer me something.

For each.

Will that be satisfactory?

That'll be

good and satisfactory.

You sure you know what you're doing?

What do you care?

That's about $50 apiece,

isn't it?

I don't know.

I haven't changed money lately.

Oh, dear!

- What's the matter?

- I haven't got enough with me.

Come back tomorrow.

It's a cinch they'll still be here.

Why don't you come to the hotel?

I can pay you there.

Fine. Is it far?

Would you care if it were?

- What's your name?

- Jerry Mulligan. Yours?

Milo Roberts.

- Milo?

- Yeah, as in "Venus de".

Venus de.

Is this yours?

Maybe I should have

charged you more.

I'll be back.

Make yourself at home.

Here.

Thanks.

- Would you like some sherry?

- All right.

How'd you come by

these worldly possessions?

A rich husband or father?

A father.

- What's he do?

- Oil.

I should have known.

Suntan oil.

Really? I didn't know

there was so much in that racket.

-There's a lot of red skin in America.

- There must be.

Let's see now.

Where shall I hang these?

Maybe over on...

Here's a good place.

Good light.

Not too much sun.

That'll be fine.

By golly, you know, these are good!

I've seen hundreds of paintings

by young artists...

...and not one has

impressed me till these!

I'm glad.

Makes it easier to give up.

Give up?

It's kind of hard

for an artist to sell.

A writer, a composer can

buy a copy of what they create.

With a painter,

it's the original that counts.

Once that's gone,

it's out of his life.

I never thought of that.

Excuse me for a minute.

Hello, Tommy.

No, dear.

Don't come up.

Be a darling and wait

for me in the dining room.

I'll be right down.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to stay long.

Don't apologize.

I wanted you to.

I wish we had more time to talk.

Goodbye, and thanks again.

By the way...

...what are you going to do tonight?

Why?

I'm giving

a small party here.

There'll be an extra girl.

Why not come?

I don't know.

Do you have a date?

Well, then come.

You'll find the company very easy.

Nothing formal.

- Be here at eight.

- Okay.

My car can take you home.

He has nothing to do.

Thanks.

Me, me!

Jerry, do you have any bubble gum?

"Demain." Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

- Rptez aprs moi. "Door."

- Door!

- Street.

- Street!

- Lady.

- Lady!

- Window.

- Window!

- Flowers.

- Flowers!

"Monsieur le" wise guy.

A very hard word.

Massachusetts!

An American song.

- I got.

- I got.

Good.

Charleston!

Choo-choo train!

Soldier!

Napoleon!

Cowboy!

Hopalong Cassidy!

- Charles!

- Charlie Chaplin!

Airplane!

More!

- Good evening. I'm sorry I'm late.

- Good evening.

The moment I went to dress...

...the phone started ringing

like a steeple on Sunday.

Would you like one of these?

Fine, fine.

I've never seen so many

Americans in Paris before.

The Champs Elyse looks

just like Main Street.

Do you live here

all the time?

I usually go home to Baltimore

for Christmas and Thanksgiving.

That's quite a dress

you almost have on.

- Thanks.

- What holds it up?

Modesty.

- Cheers.

- Cheers.

I see it's a formal brawl

after all.

What makes you think that?

The more formal the party is,

the less you have to wear.

No, you're quite wrong.

It's most informal.

Where is everybody?

Here.

Downstairs?

No, here in this room.

What about that extra girl?

That's me.

- The party's you and me?

- That's right.

I see. It's kind of

a little joke, isn't it?

In a way.

Well, lady...

...here's your dough back. I'll

take my pictures and run along.

Wait a minute.

Wait, my foot!

You must be

out of your mink-lined head!

I know I need dough, but

I don't need it this badly.

If you're hard up for companionship...

...they have guys in town who

do this for a living.

Call one of them.

What's so funny?

You! You're so righteous.

Stop defending your honor

so assiduously...

...and listen to me for a minute.

I don't need a paid escort.

And I'm not trying to rob you

of your precious male initiative.

I'm interested in your work

and want to know you better.

Is that such a crime?

Well, it certainly is

a roundabout way to do it.

Would you have accepted

a normal invitation?

I want to help you.

I think you have

a great deal of talent.

It doesn't hurt to have

somebody rooting for you, does it?

- It'll be the first time anybody ever did.

- Then let me.

Please?

How's the food downstairs?

- Very good.

- And probably very expensive.

Would it embarrass you

if I signed the check?

Let's go someplace I can afford.

How about the Caf Flodair

on Montparnasse?

I feel like "jazz hot".

It's not expensive.

It better not be.

I'd like to show a little profit

at the end of the day.

How long did it last?

About two years.

I lost him in the war.

I'm sorry.

To another woman.

Somebody he met in California

while he was in training.

If he was the dog you

said he was...

...you must have been glad

to be rid of him.

I was, I guess, except that I...

Except it would have been

more satisfactory...

...if you could have kissed him off.

I guess.

You should get married again.

You need it.

- Why?

- Everybody does.

Everybody must

have someone to account to.

Especially when you don't work.

It keeps the personality together.

No, thank you.

Not for me.

- Besides, I have work to do.

- What?

Well, for the moment, you.

I want to bring you

to the attention of dealers.

They know me.

I'm a big customer.

We have a large collection at home.

I could sponsor you...

...talk about you, encourage you.

When you've done enough canvases

I could arrange your first show.

That is, if you'll let me.

It sounds great,

but what's in it for you?

Just the excitement of

helping somebody I believe in...

...and finding out if I'm right.

- Milo, darling.

- Tommy! I knew you'd turn up here.

This is Jerry Mulligan.

This is Tommy Baldwin.

He's on the "Paris Telegram".

Milo, I'm showing the Jansens

around and need your help.

What do you say?

Shall we go to his rescue?

Anything you like.

Follow me. You need radar to

find your way in this smoke.

- Who are the Jansens?

- Magazine illustrators.

- What're they like?

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes