Elmer Gantry Page #10

this is Dr Gantry - uh, Mr. Gantry. Who?

Elmer, honey? It's Lulu.

- Who?

- I just called to say thanks

for gettin' me out of that jam last night.

What's the address?

Mr. Gantry, I just had to congratulate you.

You were marvellous last night.

Last night? Oh. Yes.

- Get hold of Benny.

- Now, wait a minute.

- This Gantry bum's a preacher.

- Get hold of Benny.

OK.

Are these pictures for

divorce or blackmail?

- Benny, come on!

- Remember, position is everything.

No!

Without any flash powder, you gotta get

this guy to freeze for a couple of seconds.

Time exposure takes time.

So keep him still... and quiet.

- But that's so dull!

- And keep the radio playin'.

- So he don't hear this.

- (camera clicks)

- OK?

- OK.

OK, OK. Let's go!

Hey, chick. This preacher fella.

You think you could get him into bed?

- Are you kiddin'?

- (knocking at door)

Hey, Benny. Come on!

(knocking)

(knocking)

(knocking)

- You look swell, kid.

- Likewise.

Just swell.

- Sorry about last night.

- Forget it.

- If I'd known I'd run into you, I'd have...

- Oh, that's OK.

- What the hell's the big idea?

- Elmer, honey...

- You think I'll sit still for a shakedown?

- How could I put the squeeze on you?

- Who'll take the word of a hooker?

- The old badger game, huh?

- I only wanted to see you for...

- For what?

- Well, for...

- For what?

Gee, honey, look. Look, I'm almost

packed. The cops gave me notice.

I got a ticket on the midnight bus.

I got no beef against you.

I only wanted to see you once more,

kick around some old memories,

maybe have a few laughs.

Go on.

Who am I kiddin'?

When you first hit town, I figured

you could go to hell without my help.

When you came bustin' in last night

like God Almighty wearin' a tin star,

I got mad, boilin' mad. All I could think of

was how you took me and ditched me.

That's all I could think of.

Me, little Miss Lulu, the dumb pushover.

And when the cops said

"Get out of town in 24 hours",

all I wanted to do was spit in your eye,

blackmail you, a shakedown -

anything to hurt you.

But...

But when you walked in just now...

Gee, honey...

it was like the first time

between us all over again.

All goose pimples and...

You'd better beat it.

I'm sorry I phoned.

I won't make any trouble.

Not even if I could.

Please go now.

I did run out on you

back there in Kansas, didn't I?

It's nobody's fault.

Except maybe my old man's.

- Ever hear from him?

- Once, last Christmas.

The letter said "Daughter, read

I looked it up. It said "And the dogs

in the street shall eat Jezebel. "

My old man and his Bible.

Tell me...

how is it some people can

only find hate in the Bible?

- Where will you be going to?

- I think I'll go tramping through Paris.

Can you use some cash?

Sort of tide you over?

Just... just kiss me goodbye.

Just once.

What's she doin'?

Stay awhile.

Talk to me.

Oh, don't go yet. Please don't go.

Tell me anything.

Tell me a good, strong lie

I can believe, but hold me.

Just hold me like you used to.

Please.

- No use, Lu.

- Why?

Because I...

- I don't know. I...

- Because of what? Because of her?

That Bible broad?

I'm sorry. No hard feelings.

- Please. Don't go yet.

- Lu, I...

You know, I... I could use

some of that cash after all.

Why, sure. Maybe I could send you some

from time to time. Till you get a job, or...

or maybe meet some nice

respectable man, huh?

I meet nice respectable men every night.

The best bank in America.

- Take care of yourself.

- Likewise, hon.

Class. She's got real class.

Wake up! Wake up, Miss Katie Jones!

You see before you the captain of the

SS Happiness, fishing boat extraordinary.

All aboard for a glorious,

carefree, happy cruise.

Fun, fish, frolic... and romance.

Guaranteed.

(knocking at door)

(knocking)

(persistent knocking)

Bill! Not one word, not one, about legal

documents, tents, moneys or lost souls.

We're going on a picnic, see,

and if you squeal, we'll rub you out.

Do you think I'd rat on a couple of pals?

It will be all right, won't it, for one day?

In that outfit, the fish'll jump

into the boat to look at you.

Yes.

We're going! We're going on a picnic!

I've been promising

to take her on a picnic.

You got that look, Bill. What's the matter?

Elmer the Great. Elmer the Grifter.

The con man conned with

the oldest badger game in the world.

- I don't want Shara to see these.

- She'll have to.

Bill, I'll do anything you say.

I'll... I'll quit. I...

- Don't let Shara see these.

- She's got to see them.

Darling, don't you think we ought

to take Bill on the picnic with us?

I...

- I suppose they're for sale?

- $25,000.

Two o'clock today. Cash. In small bills.

And she wants Shara

to bring her the money, nobody else.

Her name is Lulu Bains.

Get the money.

One more thing. She wants you to bring

the money to 721 Lombard Street.

That's where she worked

before it was raided.

(woman) Sammy! Get out of the water!

(# honky-tonk piano)

(cat yowls)

Make yourself right at home, honey.

Be right there!

(cat meows)

(yowls)

I've brought the money.

May I have the negatives, please?

Extra, Jack!

Yeah. Yeah, I read the story,

I saw the pictures.

- Thank you very much.

- Did you see this?

I saw it.

- Did you see this?

- Yeah.

Now, I understand she brought

these pictures to you first.

- Yeah.

- And you turned her down?

Mm-hm.

Why?

These pictures prove only one thing -

that Gantry's as human as anybody else.

It's the obligation of a free press to print...

You're right, Mr. Eddington. A free press

can print anything, including lies.

And that's exactly what

that pornography is: blackmailing lies.

(# "Abide With Me")

Why don't those men take off their hats?

First time I've seen

Reverend Pengilly up there.

First time they've ever

been in trouble up there.

Thank you for coming here tonight.

You have every right to an explanation.

I will try to give it to you.

Tell us about sin, Sister!

(woman) Antichrist! You Judas, you!

- You false prophet!

- You faker, you!

- Boo!

- Yeah!

- Liar! Damn your own soul, Mr. Gantry!

- You call yourself a preacher?

Come on, Rachel.

Rachel, you've gotta get outta here.

(trumpeter plays jazz version

of "Onward Christian Soldiers")

Hey, Mr. Gantry!

(phones ringing)

- Hello?

- My name is Mrs. Welmer

I go to church every Sunday

You tell that Sister Sharon

- Get outta town, preacher woman!

- Go home, Sister!

- Poor Sister!

- (laughter)

O my God...

why hast thou forsaken me?

We'll take you home.

Why'd you do it?

Did... did she show with the money?

Well?

Yes.

Why didn't you go through with it? Why?

You wouldn't understand.

I know. You took

the pictures to the paper

cos they were gonna pay you more, huh?

How much did you get for 'em?

Nothing.

I didn't sell them.

You were never gonna sell 'em...

not even to that Sister woman, were you?

You hate Gantry that much?

Or do you love him that much?

And you're no good to me.

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