BUtterfield 8 Page #3

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I see. Aren't you Weston Liggett?

No, I'm Whistler's father.

There's nothing I love better

than a great kidder.

Oh, it's a lost art.

But he's one of the greatest.

El Morocco's right around this corner.

You drove right by it!

That's right.

Now, look!

Now, you look.

I'm tired of looking and listening.

Nobody treats me like this.

Oh, you mean big Weston Liggett,

the wealthy.

I mean, me.

Weston Liggett, the man.

- There was such a person?

- In spades, honey.

I wasn't cut out to be a chauffeur...

...a rented escort...

...a straight man for your

nightclub repartee.

Now, you mustn't run yourself

down like that.

And the next time you

get angry, sweetheart...

...just remember, you sent for me.

I didn't send for you.

Take one of these out

for me, will you?

Like hell, you didn't send for me.

Now what?

Are you going to drag me off

to your cave?

My apartment is three minutes away.

Oh, no.

Not your apartment.

Absolutely not.

It was all right for you last night.

But last night my sense of direction

was slightly impaired by gin.

Okay, I've got caves

all over the place.

You can straighten up now.

We've made the curve.

But I don't want to.

Hello.

Hello.

Happy? Happy!

Good evening!

Good evening.

- Good evening.

- Lf it isn't Mr. Liggett.

I see you're all filled up.

Oh, well, I wouldn't be Happy

if I wasn't.

We always have room

for two more weary travelers.

If you'll excuse me,

I need rest.

Oh, sure.

I know, I know.

Hey, I've got a new joke for you!

- It's crazy and there's some words...

- Now, please!

- But there were these two old maids...

- Some other time. Later.

A man's got to get his rest.

He's got to get it regular.

Honey, there was a time

I could've worn that coat.

- Happy was in vaudeville once.

- In vaudeville? I was vaudeville.

You should see my scrapbooks!

You're liable to end up

psychologically famous.

A case history in a medical book.

- You writing it?

- No.

But I tell my psychiatrist everything.

Even down to the smallest...

...darkest details.

That's a set of notes

I'd like to read.

But why do you need a psychiatrist?

I've never met anyone as direct

and uninhibited as you.

You know that Latin motto,

sic transit g/oria?

I'm the g/oria, and in my case

the sic is for real sick.

I'm not too sure about the transit.

I think it's about my car.

Gloria...

You're wonderful.

"Wild" is the word.

First genuine wildness

I've come across in a woman.

Have you stopped to think

that perhaps...

...you bring out the wildness in me?

With you, who has time to think?

Take five.

- Waitress, some more french fries?

- Coming up.

Gloria, where do we go from here?

That's a good question.

Why don't we go on a long trip

to faraway places...

...exploring?

Exploring what?

What else?

Each other.

Here's the overture.

Theme.

Where's the theme?

I'll get it.

- You're working. I'll drop by later.

- No, come on in.

We've finished.

Sit down.

I'll have the last 16 bars

and the tag for you tomorrow.

- About noon.

- See you, Steve.

Now...

I found your message and came over.

I wanted to thank you

for the birthday gift.

It was ordered a long time ago.

They sent it automatically.

And a few days early at that.

I've missed seeing you.

- This place is a wreck.

- I guess so.

I've been busy.

Here, let me take your coat.

Thank you.

- The story of my life.

- What is?

My simple cloth coat hanging

in your closet, next to Gloria's mink.

- At least mine's paid for.

- This is not her coat.

She borrowed it.

I don't know where she is.

I've been calling Butterfield 8.

They don't know either.

- I do.

- Where?

She's way out in another world.

Give me my coat.

I'll be on my way.

- You just got here.

- It was a mistake.

- Norma.

- I thought when I found your message...

...that you'd made up your mind,

but you haven't. No, thanks!

- Norma, sit down.

- I don't want to.

Norma, sit down and listen.

Every time we see each other,

we fight about Gloria.

Without raising our voices...

...let me explain Gloria

to you once and for all.

That's quite a job.

We grew up in the same area.

I've known her all my life.

We went to the same school.

Her father died when she was little.

Her mother went to work.

So I sort of became her family.

I have to look after her.

I'm gonna do it for

as long as it takes.

Will you try to understand?

- I understand.

- I knew you would.

I understand that it's

much worse than I thought.

You're in love with her,

and you don't even know it.

Steve...

...is she not a tramp?

- I never liked that word.

- She's the biggest tramp in the city.

- I don't like to hear you use it.

Suppose you make up your mind

to marry me someday?

We marry and have kids. Do you want

her hanging around, babysitting?

Nipping brandy in the morning

and telling them the story...

...of Red Riding Hood and the

Three Lecherous Bears in a hotel?

Do we keep a room where

she can sleep off her hangovers?

- All I know is, I worry about her.

- But does she worry about you?

- Does she?!

- I don't know or care!

This is something I'm gonna do

whether you like it or not!

Steve...

...I withdraw my ultimatum.

This fight is far too important

for me to run away.

If I'm going to lose...

...it's only gonna be because

I'm thoroughly beaten.

If you don't kiss me,

I'm going to kiss you.

That's where I was born.

- Right behind that window up there.

- It's not what I pictured.

It isn't what my mother

pictured either.

We couldn't even afford a doctor.

My father delivered me.

- He must have been a courageous man.

- He was an inventor.

Can you think of

anything more useless...

...in a small town like this?

- Not if he invented a way to get out.

- He did.

Oh, with some gimmick or other.

And he made money. Not a lot,

but enough to set us up comfortably.

He was very proud of me

when I graduated law school.

He was certain I'd go

a long way in this world.

And you did, didn't you?

- The head of a big chemical company.

- I'm just another hired hand.

The company belongs

to my wife's family.

My wife is a fact that I can't avoid.

She's the center of a spiderweb

of family, money...

...country clubs and time-killing

childish employments.

Fall into it once...

- What will the neighbors think?

- The worst.

You know, that's exactly

what I'm thinking now.

I want to kiss you right here...

...on Chestnut Street at noon

in the worst possible way.

You know, I'm glad

you're in chemicals.

Annie?

- Annie.

- Did you play?

Quite a while ago.

There!

You can't be out of clubs.

Well, what did I play?

Your heart. And I can hear yours

pounding right across the table.

I'm sorry, Franny.

Let's forget the game.

No, no, no. I'll pay attention.

Now, let's play.

I'd rather you put your troubles

on the table.

I don't wanna burden you with them.

So what am I your friend for?

Your money?

Or maybe I want to steal your husband?

You think I don't know you haven't

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