Beloved Infidel Page #3

He ran out of money

and went on an epic drunk.

And now the irony

of this whole situation...

Here's Scott, one of the most

distinguished novelists in America,

working in Hollywood,

taking on any assignment,

just struggling to make enough money

to pay the medical bills

and keep his daughter in school.

Would you care to order now?

Oh... What do you want?

Oh, um... I don't mind.

A fruit salad or something...

Greetings, friends.

I got your message about lunch.

I was tied up with Stan Harris.

Thanks for not making it.

I had her all to myself.

I'll see you back at the fleabag, huh?

- Have you had lunch?

- Not yet.

I'm due at MGM. I'm interviewing Gable.

Wow. Well, I'll see you to your car.

Any news?

I got the assignment!

Darling, that's wonderful.

I knew you would.

The fantastic part of it is

it's a story I've loved for years.

I've finally got a screenplay to work on

that I think could really turn out.

And you know what else is in it

for Fitz-whatsit?

Money. Plenty money.

- Nothing but money.

- Oh, Scott, it sounds so exciting.

- When do you start?

- Bright and early Monday.

- Let's go somewhere for the weekend.

- Oh, that's a lovely idea.

Isn't there some desert out there,

some mountains or Mexico

or something or other?

You've got yourself a date.

Ho-ho!

Oh! Look at them.

Hey, muchachos!

Go on.

Oh, look.

Come on, come on.

Come on!

They say an author reveals himself

subconsciously in his writings.

- Do you, Scott?

- I suppose I do.

I know so little about you really.

Do you know I have never read

a single thing you've written?

And you've been presented at Buckingham

Palace to the king and queen of England

with such a gap in your education?

We'll have to take care of that

right away.

- Hello.

- Can I help you?

Do you have any of the novels

of F. Scott Fitzgerald?

No, I'm sorry, nothing in stock.

I can try to get them for you.

Oh...

- Do you have any calls for them?

- Once in a while.

Not for some time, though.

Novels. Who reads good novels today?

Now all it is is politics,

yogi, cookbooks...

I've got a beautiful set of Balzac

out back that the mice are enjoying.

Do you like Fitzgerald?

Yes, I'm a great admirer

of Mr. Fitzgerald.

- A good novelist, in your opinion?

- Oh, yes, in my opinion.

Well, mine too.

Which ones were you interested in?

The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise,

Tender is the Night.

Well, if there's none about, I can order

them from the publisher for you

if you'll give me your name and address.

F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Garden of Allah.

My, oh, my. So it is. Mr. Fitzgerald,

I should have recognised you.

This is an honour,

a real honour for me.

Thank you very much.

How many years since your last novel?

Five, six?

That's about right.

You must give us more. Many, many more.

Even though the public's a bit slow

in buying you now, they'll wake up.

They'll come back.

I've seen it happen over and over.

- Thank you very much. Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

Come in, Sheil-o.

- Hello, darling.

- Hello, Pancho.

I'm just finishing up.

It'll take me one minute.

Mm-hm!

My! 16 pages of screenplay in one day -

I am very impressed.

It's going all right.

Not too bad, not too bad.

You look more attractive every day.

Today you look like tomorrow.

- Have you got any plans for us tonight?

- Yes. The same as last night.

To be with you.

There is one thing I want to show you.

Here in the drama section,

Ed Schallert's column.

There's a play tonight

at the Pasadena Playhouse.

It's from a short story

I wrote years ago...

A Diamond as Big as the Ritz.

Darling, how marvellous!

Let's go!

- Would you like to?

- Of course! I'd love to!

I've never read it. It might not be much.

Darling, the Playhouse puts on wonderful

things. It might go to Broadway.

Oh, Scott, let's go.

We'll do it right.

You wear that beaded gown.

Yes, all right.

I'll wear black tie.

Dinner at the Trocadero.

Of course.

And a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce.

- As big as the Ritz.

- Bigger.

Did I have the date wrong?

It doesn't look much like

an opening night.

No, it does look rather dark.

Look, here's someone. Let's ask.

Boy, oh, boy!

Would you like to have that.

- Oh, young man?

- Yes, sir?

Is there a performance tonight

of A Diamond as Big as the Ritz?

Oh, yes, sir. We're putting it on...

The students. You know, for the students.

Upstairs in the Bandbox.

Oh, I see.

I guess you could go up if you like.

I'm sure no one would mind.

It's a lovely play.

Is it?

- What part do you play?

- Kismine.

Oh, that's nice.

Who plays your sister Jasmine?

Oh, you know the play?

Well, yes. I happen to be the author.

The author? F. Scott Fitzgerald?

But I thought... I'm very pleased

to meet you, Mr. Fitzgerald.

Pleased to meet you, Mr. Fitzgerald.

Come on, Billy.

Really, I'm sure it would be all right...

Scott Fitzgerald.

For crying out loud, was I surprised.

I'm glad I caught myself in time.

I thought he was dead.

Come on, Scott.

Scott?

Oh, Scott!

The water is wonderful.

Why don't you come in?

No...

I'm a land animal.

- You look very special.

- Oh, that's the ocean, darling.

How many times

have you been in love, Sheil-o?

Oh, darling...

I can't remember in this heat.

- Why?

- Curiosity.

Well, let's see, now.

Well, there was a titled gentleman,

and he sent me roses.

There was, uh... a captain of industry.

He invested my money.

And there was a sailor,

and he took me boating.

You're angry, Scott?

Don't stop now.

You're up to the sailor.

- Well, I... I was just joking.

- Well, go on.

Well... Darling, it was all so many

years ago and I was just a silly girl.

You know me, you know how I exaggerate.

Exaggerate? I actually lie...

now and then.

I just wanted to see how you'd react.

It's all right. I've been to college.

I can stand a few small truths.

Oh, come on, Scott. Be nice.

All right... Nice.

What kind of a girl were you when

you were growing up? I mean, before...

the sailor took you boating.

Scott!

Graham. What kind of a name is that?

Is it a Scotch name? German?

I... I don't know.

Your father, what was he in? Business?

And your mother,

what kind of a woman was she?

She died when you were 17.

That's what you said, isn't it?

Yes.

- London?

- Yes.

- What part of London?

- The... the West End.

Well, were you... were you a...

a little little girl

or a big little girl?

Did you wear pigtails

with ribbons on them?

Did you go to nice schools?

- What sort of schools...?

- Stop it! Stop it!

Sheil-o!

Sheil-o, I'm sorry.

If there's something you don't

want to tell me, then don't tell.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Leave me alone.

Why do you keep questioning me?

Sheil-o, because I love you. Because

I want to know everything about you.

Oh, God...

I cannot... I cannot go on lying to you.

Not any more.

I was brought up in an orphanage.

I was born in a slum.

When I was 17

I went to work as a kitchen maid.

It's all made up.

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