Fallen Angel Page #7

but I can't let it end now.

I must give us every chance.

I hardly know him yet.

We've said so little to each other,

we're practically strangers.

- Together, maybe he'll change.

- He won't change.

Maybe not. But at least

I'll have tried...

done everything I could.

- [Door Opens]

- Good-bye, Clara.

- Eric, there's a train leaving

in a half hour, and I thought-

- Forget about the honeymoon.

I'm beating it- alone.

I'll make better time.

- You're running away?

- What do you want me to do?

Stick around here?

Get framed?

My face punched in.

You bet I'm running away.

Won't it look bad if-

if they want you?

That's for Mr. Judd to figure out. If he wants

to pin it on me, he'll have to find me first.

- Where will you go?

- What do you want to know for?

Because I want to

go with you.

You'll need me to get the money

in San Francisco.

- Who asked you for money?

- You'll need it.

You mean you're

giving me the money?

No. No, I'm not giving it to you.

It belongs to both of us.

All right. But when this thing blows over

I'll pay it back to you-every cent.

- Very well. I'll get the car.

- No.

And we can't take the train.

Or the bus either.

Judd'll have them

all watched.

We've gotta get on the highway

without being seen.

We'll hitchhike to San Francisco-

and no luggage.

It's gotta look as if we were just out

taking a walk. Come on.

[Ship Horn Blows]

- [Horn Honks]

- [Trolley Bell Dinging]

Good evening.

- In and out. Out and in.

- Sorry.

One right after the other.

Can't even wait till the room's ready.

I never saw such a rush.

Everybody getting married.

What a dump.

It isn't so bad.

- Tired?

- Maybe I am-

waiting for

something to happen.

Nothing's going to happen.

Shut if off, will you?

I just thought

you might like a drink.

I sure would.

But not that.

Well, there's a bar downstairs,

and we still have a little money left.

What do you want me to do?

Walk right into his arms?

- He probably isn't after you at all.

- Not much.

Must have sent a description

of me to all the papers.

Maybe we missed an edition.

Couldn't be in the papers yet.

It's too early.

- There's no reason to be afraid.

- Sure. A murder rap's nothing.

Let's just up and go home

so he can pin it on me.

I didn't say

we ought to go home.

Oh, you didn't say it,

but you meant it.

The room's not good enough.

Why don't you go on, tell me?

- I got you into this. You're sorry you ever came.

- But I'm not sorry. I wanted to.

What for? So you could drive me nuts

with that quiet way of yours?

- Eric.

- Why'd I ever bring you anyway?

I don't need your dough. Wouldn't have to

wait around here, hang around this dump.

If I'd been alone I could have

kept right on going.

Maybe I will.

[Swing On Speakers]

[Swing On Speakers]

Double scotch, please.

Better make it a single.

- I'll settle for a beer.

- Better make up your mind, mister.

It is made up. A beer.

[Continues]

[Cash Register Bell Dings]

[Shower Water Running]

- [June]Eric?

- Yes.

[Shower Water Stops]

Would you give me a towel, please?

They're on the bed.

- Here.

- Thank you.

Eric, would you get me my coat?

It's in the closet.

Here.

I, uh...

thought I'd bring you

one of these.

Thank you.

And this.

Help you pass the time.

That's very sweet of you.

Ah, I thought it would say it

better than I could, that-

- I'm sorry. Just nerves, I guess.

- I understand.

All I mean is there's nothing in it for you,

chasing around like this. You ought to go home.

- No.

- Why do you waste your money on a guy like me?

I'm not wasting my money.

It's yours as well.

I don't care what you do with it.

Burn it up, tear it up,

do anything you want with it!

Take it easy.

I only meant it for your sake.

If you had any consideration at all,

you wouldn't even mention the money.

Okay. But anytime you want to,

you can always pull out. Remember that.

They'll fix you up with a divorce

just for the asking.

Just tell them how I lied, that I only married

you for your money. I'm wanted for murder-

- You didn't murder that girl.

- Maybe I did. You didn't even ask me.

- I didn't have to. I knew you didn't.

- What do you know about me?

All I know is that I love you.

I love you, Eric. I love you!

[Sobbing]

I could go on for the rest of the night

telling you about my batting average-

how many times

I've struck out.

Even when I hit a home run,

it isn't any different.

Like the time in New York

just before I came west.

I'd started a publicity office.

Like always, it was

great in the beginning.

Guy comes along, wants to buy the business,

offered me 8,000 bucks on the line.

I took it. We had

a big celebration that night.

In a couple ofhours

I'd lost halfof it back-

to him and his friends.

I knew the dice were loaded,

but I couldn't prove it.

Anyway, I came west.

Chicago for a while.

Then Omaha.

Las Vegas. That's where I dropped

the other half of the dough.

When I was kicked off of that bus

at Walton, I only had one dollar left.

And then-

Ah, but why go on?

I want to know

everything about you.

It all adds up to

only one thing:
a washout.

That's what you're looking at.

A complete washout at 30.

Yeah. I'm finished okay.

-You're not finished, Eric.

- Sure I am.

I'm tired- like I was

a million years old...

with a million jobs behind me.

And girls.

Chances I never followed up.

Eric...

did you care

very much for Stella?

I don't know.

I guess I did.

I even promised her

I'd marry her.

I can't figure it out now.

Would have lasted

a couple of weeks.

Maybe less.

Anyway, that's all gone.

Just as if it died with her.

Yeah. That's over too.

Up in smoke,

like everything in my life.

My school. The publicity game.

Easy come, easy go.

I got everything by talking fast

in a world that goes for talkin'...

and end up with

exactly nothing.

Perhaps we can find what you want

when this is all cleared up.

If it's cleared up.

Eric, wouldn't it look better

not to run away?

- To go back to Walton?

- Sure. Go back to the chair.

Or is it the gas chamber

in California?

If you're innocent,

there's nothing to worry about.

Maybe that's the way

it works in your books...

but even when I was a kid I was always

being beaten up for something I didn't do.

That's when I learned

to run away before it was too late.

You're tired.

Come. Lie down.

- [Sighs]

- Tomorrow we'll go wherever you want to go.

June, why don't you

just go on home?

We're married. Remember?

Besides, I- I want to

be with you.

Why?

I need you, Eric.

- You need me?

- Yes.

You're my husband,

and I'm your wife.

Right out of a book.

Again.

Yes. Out of a book.

"We were born to tread

the Earth as angels...

to seek out a heaven

this side of the sky...

but they who race alone shall stumble

in the dark and fall from grace."

Go on. Sounds good.

"Then love alone can make

the fallen angel rise...

for only two together

can enter paradise."

Four-and-a-half-minute eggs. I certainly

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