Chicago Deadline Page #3

---

Don't be silly.

How do you find these people?

I have visions.

Adams!

Look, Mr. Howard. I don't like privileged people.

And I don't like being kicked around.

So far I've just been digging.

But I'm beginning to get a pretty dirty smell

in both of my nostrils.

Ed, without the paper behind you

you're no better than any other witness.

Okay, if you want to look like the big clown of all times,

go ahead, pinch me.

I'll talk to you later, Adams.

Yes, sir.

Well, Howard, if you can't control this man

perhaps the publisher can.

Yes?

Boss, that was no act. I meant what I said.

Give me a break, will you?

Stall them until I can talk to you.

Er... I'm afraid I'll have to break the appointment,

Miss Lee.

Yeah, I'm going to be a bit busy here for some time.

Thanks, boss.

It's Rosita, isn't it?

Yes.

Thanks.

Look, Tommy, I can get names, dates and facts easily,

enough to write a story.

But that's not going to tell Rosita's side of it.

On the other hand, if you talk a little,

I'll give her every break I can.

How about the chance to make her warm,

human, alive?

Instead of a dame with the wrong people.

How do I know I can trust you?

I saw her just a few minutes after she died, Tommy.

She was your sister, wasn't she?

Yes.

Were you born here in Chicago?

Yes.

Live here all your life?

No, my father died when we were kids

and we moved away.

Amarillo, Texas.

How did you know?

Is your mother still alive, Tommy?

No.

Have you a picture of Rosita?

This was taken, oh, years ago.

Just before she was married.

Tell me about Amarillo.

There isn't much, we had a little ranch outside of town.

Rosita didn't like it there. She ran away.

She was only about seventeen.

My mother and I were crazy, wondering and worrying about her.

Then we got a letter from her. She was in San Francisco.

She had a job there.

That's where this picture was taken in Frisco.

I went up there as soon as we heard from her

She was a pretty kid, wasn't she?

More than that.

There was something about her, always.

I don't know what it was.

Sort of a challenge to every man she'd meet.

But then, she looked so young...

That's what hit me first when I found her.

In Frisco?

Yeah.

Her boarding house people sent me

to a roller-skating rink.

A big place down in Divisadero Street.

She wasn't hard to pick out in the crowd.

You know how you can spot someone that you're fond of.

She was just eighteen then. She wore her hair like that.

She was with Paul Jean D'Ur.

I didn't know who he was then, of course,

and I was so glad to see her I didn't pay much attention.

I didn't even think until later how she smiled at him,

hung on to his arm like there were no one else in the building

but that guy.

Oh, Paul isn't it wonderful?

What?

Everything.

I'm so happy it scares me.

Well, suppose being as lonely as you were

you'd met someone else.

It could have happened, you know?

What would have gone on then?

Nothing. A complete zero.

That's my point. Zero, zero, zero.

Stop talking like an architect.

Well.

Tell me we're going to be happy.

We're going to be happy.

Tell me everything's going to be fine.

You're the only thing in the world, Rosita.

Trust me.

I do.

Rosita!

Tommy!

Tommy! Oh, I don't believe it.

Why didn't you let me know?

How are you?

Oh, Tommy, I'm fine.

Mom's all right?

Oh, sure, sure.

You're worried about me.

Well, naturally.

Thanks, Tommy. Thanks for coming.

Oh, Paul, this is my brother.

Paul Jean D'Ur.

Hello.

He seemed like a nice enough fellow

and I had nothing against him really, but...

it hit me hard when she said

they were going to be married the next Sunday.

I don't know why, but I had a funny feeling about it.

Good night.

Good night.

You're not asking me,

you've made up your mind already.

Tommy, everything in the world is tied up here for me.

He's fine and good, I'm sure.

We've talked and talked, I know all about him.

We found that we want the same things.

Look.

Remember the fan you gave me?

He painted it for me.

Isn't it beautiful?

He wanted to be an artist. He tried very hard.

But he says he hasn't got it. That hurt him terribly.

I felt so sorry for him.

What's this job of his in New York?

In an architect's office.

He's a draughtsman now, but he'll be an architect.

He'll take Paul on.

Tommy...

we're awfully in love.

We need each other.

Good luck, kid.

She said she wanted an impressive ceremony.

I guess it was. It was a big church.

You should have seen Rosita. She looked like she thought

no one had ever gotten married before.

Well, we piled her into that junk he called his car.

I honestly didn't think they'd make the Bay Bridge.

But it didn't worry them.

They didn't have any money, that didn't worry them either.

Paul did pretty well in New York. I had a job travelling

but I'd hear from them occasionally.

And then...

Yes?

Paul was killed in an automobile accident.

When was that?

About four years ago.

Did they have any children?

No.

If they had, it might have been different.

Something had happened between them before he died.

I don't know what it was.

She never talked about it.

Then she came here.

But she stayed pretty much to herself.

She had jobs in a movie house, hat store...

But they never lasted long.

Did she usually quit?

There always seemed to be the wrong guy around.

Then she got a job in an art store. She liked that.

She knew a lot about paintings.

I...

I can't tell you any more.

Tommy, it's better than my trying to guess.

No. I can't.

Tell me just her side of the story.

Did you ever see her here in Chicago?

On my birthday.

Always. She'd never forget it.

Even if I hadn't seen her in a year.

What is it?

I was thinking.

Why don't you get married again?

I'm afraid.

Why?

I'd like you to understand...

but you can't.

But give me a chance.

When you see a marriage die, Tommy, it's ugly.

When one of you stops being in love,

or whatever you want to call it...

If it could just be snuffed out quickly for you both

at the same time...

But it isn't.

Cut the cake, Tommy.

Then the next time, this year, we were both broke.

We'd been laughing about it.

Until I looked up and saw her standing at the window,

looking at the rain.

It's not going to let up.

Why don't you let me get you a room here tonight?

Rosita, honey! What's the matter?

We're such fools, the both of us.

We're too sorry for people.

Our trouble is we see the other guys' side.

Are we weak, Tommy? Is that what's wrong with us?

Let's spit in their eyes for a change, huh?

Tommy, why are we different from other people?

All I ever wanted was a little happiness

and someone to love.

We'll go away, honey. I'll get a new job someplace.

I'm tired of running away.

That was the last time I talked with her.

But I saw her again. At least I think I did.

One afternoon on the elevated platform.

I didn't recognize her at first. She looked so tired.

I guess she was ill.

But I'm sure it was Rosita.

Rosita!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes