Dinner at Eight Page #8

Stealing from Brown, the Thompson

business, and gypping old man Clarke...

and now this Jordan thing.

When I tell about those,

it will raise a pretty stink.

Politics? You couldn't get into politics.

You couldn't get in anywhere.

You couldn't even get in the men's room

at the Astor.

Why, you poisonous

little rattlesnake, you...

Listen. I've got to go

to this Ferncliffe dinner tonight.

Ferncliffe means more to me than you do.

I'm clearing out of here after tonight.

You can sit here and get flowers

from your soul mate. We're through.

No, you ain't!

Now you're going to listen to me

while I run off at the mouth.

You're going to let that Jordan stock

stay right where it is...

because if you don't,

I'll broadcast the whole rotten deal.

And if I open my trap,

they can hear me clean back in Montana.

It's the first chance I ever got

with decent society people...

to see my name in the paper

with somebody that ain't mixed...

in your dirty politics, and if I miss it,

you'll pay for it with everything you got.

- So you'd make a sucker out of me?

- I certainly ain't trying to make...

a gentleman out of you,

but I'm gonna be a lady if it kills me.

- Why, you dirty little...

- Don't say it.

So-and-so.

- Tina.

- Yes, ma'am?

Pick that bracelet up. It fell.

- My, it's pretty, ain't it?

- Give it to me.

Look, it just fits me.

Give it here, will you?

You got so many bracelets.

I don't see how you can use them all.

What are you driving at?

Nothing. Only, I thought

with you having so many...

maybe you might want to give me one.

Come in.

Where have you been?

You know I was waiting here, you silly...

Larry, I brought up Mr. Stengel.

This is Larry Renault, Mr. Stengel.

Larry, this is Joe Stengel.

- How do you do, Mr. Stengel?

- Mr. Renault.

This is quite an occasion.

The meeting of two celebrities.

- We should have the newsreel men here.

- Yes.

Of course I didn't realize

it was a full-dress affair.

I just came as I was.

Mr. Renault has got a dinner date

with some of his Park Avenue friends.

You know, these big picture boys,

they're pretty social.

Yes. I've heard. Look, Mr. Renault.

I haven't got an awful lot of time.

Larry, suppose we get down

to brass tacks.

All right, my dear fellow.

Stengel, you're going

to produce this play...

and you want me to act in it?

- Well, I...

- Larry, this is just getting acquainted.

He's just crazy to play the part.

Just a minute. Let's get this thing straight.

I understand from Mr. Kane here

that you wanted to know if I'd be willing...

to portray the beachcomber in this thing.

- Wait a minute. Not so fast there.

- Now, Larry.

In the first place, if I consent

to play this part, and I don't say I will...

it will have to be built up.

Built up? The fellow's got one scene...

and they find him dead on the beach.

This isn't a play about spiritualism.

Don't forget, I'm Larry Renault.

- Larry, for heaven's sake!

- Shut up!

Now, listen, Stengel.

I'm a name, and I know it, and so do you.

And I'm not going on to play

second fiddle to any cheap English ham.

$8,000 a week. That's what I got,

and I was going to get $10,000...

till the talkies came in.

So don't think you're doing me a favor

by asking me to play in your ratty show...

because I'm doing you one.

I think maybe we're keeping you

from your dinner, Mr. Renault.

- Joe, he doesn't mean...

- Yes, I do!

And just because it's Mr. Joe Stengel,

it don't mean a thing to me.

I'm still good, better than I ever was.

Good night, Mr. Renault.

Listen to me, old-timer.

I'm drunk, and I know I'm drunk...

but I know what I'm talking about.

For heaven's sake, Mr. Stengel.

It's all right. I'll see you tomorrow.

I wouldn't be in your rotten show.

Not Larry Renault. You know why?

Because I'm an important artist,

and you're a cheap pushcart producer.

Pushcart!

You cockeyed, drunken fool.

I bring him up here.

I go down on my hands and knees to do it.

And you! You...

Well, that's that.

Wait a minute.

I got something to say to you, too.

Telling him I was crazy to play the part.

You got this play away from Baumann

and you gave it to Stengel...

you double-dealing chiseler.

I've been suspicious of you all along.

You're in with the managers.

You've been taking my money

and working for them.

You don't say.

I'm working for the managers, huh?

Taking your money.

Me? Me that you're into for $500

in touches.

You think I've been lying to you

all the time?

All right.

You're going to get the truth now.

Renault, you're through.

Get out.

I'll get out and I'll stay out...

but get this first.

I never worked so hard in my life

to put anybody over as I did you.

You think I told you

all the things that I tried?

No! Because I couldn't come to you

and tell you what they said.

I felt too sorry for you.

You were sorry for me?

Vaudeville.

Every time I walked into a booking office,

they leaned back and they roared.

They called me

"Mac, the Grave Snatcher. "

Last night, I sent another telegram

to the Coast.

I knew it was no use, but I sent it anyway.

You want to see the answer?

No.

"Thank you. When we're in the market

for bit players, we will let you know. "

You're trying to throw a scare into me.

Oh, no.

I'm just telling you the truth.

You know, you never were an actor.

You did have looks, but they're gone now.

You don't have to take my word for it.

Just look in any mirror. They don't lie.

Take a good look.

Look at those pouches under your eyes.

Look at those creases.

You sag like an old woman.

Get a load of yourself.

Wait till you start tramping around

the offices, looking for a job...

because no agent's going to handle you.

Sitting in those anterooms hour after

hour, giving your name to office boys...

that never even heard of you.

You're through, Renault.

You're through in pictures and plays

and vaudeville...

and radio and everything.

You're a corpse, and you don't know it.

Go get yourself buried.

They don't want that junk.

They wouldn't give me nothing on it.

Why, it's a silver frame.

The buckle's solid gold.

You take them. I lugged them

to every pawnshop on Sixth Avenue.

You little liar.

You never took them anyplace.

Say, who you calling a liar,

you down-and-out ham?

You filthy little rat,

how dare you talk to me like that?

- Okay.

- Wait a minute.

I didn't mean that. I'm sorry.

Listen. I got to have some liquor. I'm sick.

Lay it out for me like a good kid.

I'll pay you back.

What kind of a sucker do you think I am?

I got to have it. I got to.

I'll pay you back tomorrow.

Baloney.

How do you do, Mr. Renault?

I've not met you before,

though you've been with us for some time.

I'm Mr. Fitch, the manager.

Mr. Renault, we find ourselves

in a very awkward predicament.

We've just had a communication

from some very old clients of ours...

Mr. And Mrs. Sherman Montgomery.

They've always occupied

this particular suite.

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