David Golder

---

1

Watch out.

Golder is a scoundrel.

Golder is a great man.

Mr. Marcus

is waiting in your study.

I thought you and he

had a falling-out.

My dear Soifer...

are you having dinner

with me tonight?

I'd love to.

I'm in no hurry

to head home to Mrs. Soifer.

What now?

I told you no yesterday

before I left for London.

Wasn't that enough for you?

Come now, David.

We've been partners

for 26 years.

It's been fifty-fifty

down the line...

and yet...

now...

Your memory's failing you.

What about

that Mexican oil deal last year?

Have you forgotten

all those millions

that made their way

from my pocket to yours?

And yet we were partners.

Oh, you know

how business is!

Now you need old Golder.

You know the Soviets

will negotiate with him.

Don't deny that for a year now

you've been negotiating a deal

with General Petroleum

behind my back.

The Soviets are going to negotiate

with General Petroleum.

No.

General Petroleum

had an option,

but it ran out last night.

So you know about that too?

You see?

General Petroleum

is finished.

The Russians will sign

with Tbingen and me.

Fifty-fifty, Golder!

I need money desperately.

Everyone needs money,

my friend.

So you mean...

you'd ruin me financially?

I don't care.

Bastard!

That's right.

Isn't Mr. Soifer tired

of walking on his tiptoes?

It's a habit now.

This way

I don't wear out the soles.

- May we eat now?

- Yes, sir. It's ready.

Does a Jew

need all this to live?

What were you doing

in London?

I was buying emeralds.

Splendid ones!

Now, that's money!

Better than

all your filthy paper.

Diamonds neatly

locked up in a safe.

You sit on your millions

like an old hen.

And you throw

your millions away.

I enjoy it.

Sure. Today a billionaire,

and tomorrow as poor as

As Soifer!

Or as young Golder arriving

from Poland 40 years ago

with his frockcoat

and sidelocks.

That's life!

What about...

Marcus?

That's taken care of.

You work too much.

You should rest.

Yes...

I'm a bit tired.

And I'm fed up.

I'm leaving for Biarritz

tomorrow.

Ten days of rest

or I'll collapse.

Is your wife

down there now?

Yes...

with Joyce.

I haven't seen

your daughter in a long time.

How old is she?

Seventeen.

I hope she doesn't look

like her father.

She's a beauty.

She'll make a good match.

Yes...

she'll have money.

How's business?

I just had a bad setback...

but in 12 days I'll be meeting

with Tbingen in Berlin.

Then I'll see

the Soviets in Baku...

and old Golder

will be back on top.

A telegram.

Here's the sort of news

my wife has sent me

for the last 30 years.

NEED MONEY GLORIA

150,000 for rent on this place.

One million for furniture.

And who lives here?

Just me.

They never come here.

But they'll go to Deauville,

Biarritz, Cairo, Venice.

It's the fate of all men:

We work ourselves to death

so our wives can get rich.

Take my wife.

The other day

she buys a new hat.

Seventy-two francs...

for an upside-down pot.

If at least she got

some use out of it,

but she won't wear it

for more than two seasons.

And at her age!

What's that?

It can't be!

What is it? Bad news?

The idiot!

You don't just go kill yourself.

Marcus!

Didn't you have a tiny part

in causing his ruin?

His ruin?

Ruin! Hah!

You start over again!

I've started over 20 times!

Is this why

we knock ourselves out?

To come to this?

What a fool!

Whose car is this?

It's Madame's new Rolls.

She was tired

of the Hispano.

Miss Joyce isn't here?

No, Miss Joyce has guests.

Too weak, Fred.

More gin.

Yes, Miss Joyce.

You still owe me a fox-trot,

you know.

No, my little Fishl.

Why not?

I don't like old men.

Hey, now!

Well...

you'll come around.

Give me a Manhattan.

Come to my place tonight?

I'm too tired.

But you're never too tired

for Joyce.

You're being ridiculous,

my friend.

You prefer them

young and dashing, eh?

Be quiet!

Men my age

are more reliable.

Alec!

I'm going to get some air.

Fishl!

Take my place?

And the amazing thing is...

she believed him!

Gloria!

Yes?

I swear.

Stories like that

make me thirsty.

- Monsieur just arrived.

- Very well.

You wouldn't happen to have

a little spare change?

- You lost again?

Lady Luck is certainly not

on your side.

I forgot to tell you, sir:

Your room is taken.

Madame said to put Monsieur

in the laundry room.

Flatterer!

Go to my room

and get my handbag.

It's on the dressing table.

- No, I want Mumm.

- I'm all out, sir.

No Mumm?

What a joint!

Well, go on then.

I'm tired of seeing you

with that crazy old Lady Rovenna.

You know

you're all that matters.

Play one

of those new waltzes,

like last night at the casino.

Yes, Miss Joyce.

I love you

more than you know

I'll follow wherever you go

How can my heart

not rejoice

To hear your sultry voice

If my caresses you refuse

And another you choose

I love you so

I'd kneel to kiss

Your feet as you go

You call this caviar?

It's not fresh!

It stinks like fish!

Say, Golder!

How's business?

Bad.

Pass.

Well, I'm fine.

Things are going well.

That pearl fishery

in Monaco

didn't they throw you

in prison for that?

They did indeed.

Appeals court and all that.

But things are better now.

Daddy!

Who's that old lady?

Which old lady?

The one dressed up

like a jewelry store.

Who is she?

That's my wife.

Hello, sweetie.

Hello, Daddy.

I'm so glad to see you.

I'm sure you are.

You need money, right?

Of course.

It just slips through my fingers.

Listen, I didn't see you

at the airfield.

I simply couldn't go,

with all these people here.

It's like a country inn

when there's a fair.

Alec...

this is Daddy.

Do you like him?

He's nice.

He's a prince, you know.

They'll call me

"your highness."

Would that suit me?

Splendidly.

"Your imperial highness."

A port.

This place is going downhill.

First time here?

So you're a regular?

I'm the fool

who pays for it all.

Hello, David.

I must talk to you.

Did you find it?

- Yes.

Hello, David.

You still here?

You know me:

Part of the furniture.

Who's this Alec?

Good-looking, huh?

I mean where's he from?

He's the nephew

of King Alexandre,

son of Pierre de Carlu

who was assassinated in '18.

Gloria,

I'm going to go change.

Shall we go for a dip?

Sure! My bathing suit

is downstairs.

You all right?

You didn't answer

my telegram from last Thursday.

How do I look?

I lost some weight.

You look terrible.

You're pale as death.

Are you tired?

Yes.

Get some rest.

How's business going?

So-so.

You know

I really need money.

Again?

"Again"?

How you annoy me

when you say things like that!

You think

all this costs nothing?

Your daughter, first of all.

Your Joyce!

That girl!

Money burns a hole

in her pocket.

But you always

have money for her.

You think only of her.

You live only for her.

I don't count, right?

I'm supposed to live

on thin air.

That's right.

Anything interesting

in the works?

Yes.

What is it?

What is it?

You're getting on my nerves!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes