Gilda Page #2

Oh, you don't congratulate the bride.

You congratulate the husband.

JOHNNY:

Really? What are you supposed

to say to the bride?

BALLIN:

You wish her good luck.

Good luck.

Thank you. My husband tells me

you're a believer in luck.

BALLIN:

We make our own luck,

Johnny and I.

I'll have to try that sometime.

I'll try it right now.

Tell him to come to dinner

with us tonight.

BALLIN:

It's an order.

Come along, Johnny.

We'll let Gilda get dressed.

Look your best. This will be

the casino's first glimpse of you.

I'll look my very best, Ballin. I want

all the hired help to approve of me.

Glad to have met you, Mr. Farrel.

His name is Johnny.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Johnny is such a hard name

to remember, and so easy to forget.

Johnny.

There.

See you later, Mr. Farrel.

That's right, Mrs. Mundson.

I'll see Johnny downstairs.

I'll see him at the casino.

[JAZZ MUSIC TURNS BACK ON]

For some reason, she doesn't like you.

Really?

What makes you think that?

I know my wife.

You do?

Why would she form an instant

antagonism like that?

Maybe it's chemical.

She'll get over it.

Sure.

When did you meet her?

The day I left for the interior.

When did you get married?

The day after that.

Quick.

You should know

that when I want something, I...

You buy it quick.

Do you know anything about her at all?

It's an odd coincidence, Johnny.

Listen to this. She told me

she was born the night she met me.

All three of us with no pasts,

just futures.

Isn't that interesting?

I think it's fascinating.

What's the matter with you?

We agreed that women

and gambling didn't mix.

My wife does not come under

the category of "women," Johnny.

I could've made a mistake.

You did. Don't make it again.

It starts already.

What's this?

Tact.

GILDA:

Ballin, will you come up and help me

into this thing like a darling?

See you at the casino.

In an hour.

GILDA:

Ballin.

JOHNNY:

It was all I could do to walk away.

I wanted to go back in that room

and hit her.

What scared me was

I wanted to hit him too.

I wanted to go back and see them

together with me not watching.

I wanted to know.

I can never get a zipper to close.

Maybe that stands for something.

What do you think?

I think you were very rude to him.

To whom?

Johnny.

Was I? Oh, dear.

That's one of the things you'll have

to teach me, Ballin. Good manners.

I want you to like him.

You sure about that?

What do you mean?

He's a very attractive man,

if you like the type.

He's a boy.

Boys have the darndest way

of growing up, Ballin.

Almost when you're not looking.

But I'll be looking.

Your shoes.

JOHNNY:
About time.

Do you wish me to put them

on your feet?

For how much?

The charge is slight

because I find this

always a revealing vantage point.

A worm's-eye view

is so often the true one.

Quite a philosopher, aren't you?

One hears rumors.

Really?

In my department

comes all the gossip.

Heh, heh. Really?

One hears she is very beautiful.

And very young, and American.

You are also young and American.

It will be interesting to watch.

Maybe you should be fired

right out on your ear.

Johnny.

Hmm?

Mr. Mundson says to tell you he's...

They're here.

Thanks.

Say, have you seen her?

[WHISTLES]

Cut that!

What did I do?

You whistled. I heard you.

After all, she is Mrs. Mundson.

So mind your manners, see.

Yes, it will be interesting to watch.

[CHATTERING]

CROUPIER:

Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.

Place your bets.

[CROUPIER SPEAKS IN SPANISH]

Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.

Place your bets.

[SPEAKS IN FRENCH]

[SPEAKS IN SPANISH]

Number two.

No more bets.

Number two, black.

[CROUPIER SPEAKS IN FRENCH

THEN SPANISH]

Number two, black.

Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.

Place your bets.

Take over.

Friend of yours?

No, Mr. Farrel.

Going into business for yourself?

Orders, Mr. Farrel.

Not my orders.

No.

BALLIN:

Johnny, I've been looking for you.

Gambling is illegal in Argentina, right?

Isn't right, but true.

Is that the reason for the pay-off?

Pay-off?

Naturally.

Why doesn't it show on the books?

Why doesn't it come out of my cut?

You have my complete confidence.

Ask any questions you wish.

I just asked one.

Let's have dinner. I was forced to leave

Gilda alone while I looked for you.

Gilda's too beautiful to be left alone.

You changed the subject.

I've changed the subject.

[]

I found him, Gilda.

Very elusive chap, our Johnny.

Sit down, Johnny.

Good evening.

You're looking very beautiful.

Good evening, Mrs. Mundson.

Can't you return the compliment?

You're looking very beautiful.

Why, thank you.

If there's anything I love, it's

a spontaneous compliment like that.

Because you're so nice,

I'll show you something.

My husband gave it to me

for a coming-home present.

Isn't it cute?

Fifty thousand pesos, and it's cute.

Isn't she fabulous, Johnny?

Fabulous.

Wait, Johnny, let's drink to us.

To the three of us.

To the three of us.

What's the matter, Johnny?

I get confused.

Confused? Why?

Well, just a few weeks ago

we drank a toast to the three of us.

Well, who was the third one then?

Should I be jealous?

Hardly, darling. Just a friend of mine.

It is a him or a her?

That's a very interesting question.

What do you think, Johnny?

A her.

Ohh.

Why that conclusion?

Because it looks like one thing,

then right in front of your eyes,

it becomes another thing.

Well, you haven't much faith

in the stability of women, then.

JOHNNY:
That's right.

One wonders who the woman was

who brought our Johnny

to this pretty pass.

Doesn't one, Gilda?

One does.

Let's hate her, shall we, Ballin?

Let's. Shall we, Johnny?

Let's. Now, that I'll drink to.

[SPEAKING IN GERMAN]

Pardon me for a moment.

Anything I can do, Ballin?

No, I'll be right back.

Now, isn't this something?

It's a small world in Argentina, isn't it?

Isn't it? Why did you marry him?

My husband's a very attractive man.

You don't love him.

What was that word again, Johnny?

You married him for his money.

That happened to come with him.

Well, that's a great way

to make a living.

That wouldn't be the big pot

calling the little kettle black, would it?

I was down and out.

He picked me up, put me on my feet.

Now, isn't that an amazing

coincidence, Johnny?

That's practically the story of my life.

Hello.

DELGADO:
Good evening.

I am Captain Delgado. I would like to

ask permission to dance with your lady.

The answer is no.

The answer is yes. I'd love it.

But the young man...

The young man would love it too,

but he can't afford it.

Women can be extremely annoying.

You're in again.

Maurice Obregon, at your service.

So that's your name.

I've been watching you for weeks now.

That makes us even.

You don't gamble, you don't drink.

What do you hang around here for?

The atmosphere has always

interested me.

Now it positively fascinates me.

You could be a professional dancer.

I am. I mean, I was.

Uh, that's against our union rules.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote