His Girl Friday Page #31

MAYOR:

No, they wouldn't -- they'd gain

one! And I guarantee that they'll

graduate with highest honors!

PINKUS:

(lured)

Yeah?

HARTMAN:

(into phone)

Hold your horses -- will you, Olsen?

Hurry up, Fred!

MAYOR:

Now what do you say?

PINKUS:

This puts me in a peculiar hole.

MAYOR:

No, it doesn't.

(hands him the reprieve)

Now, remember:
you never delivered

this.

(rushing him to the

door)

You got caught in the traffic, or

something.

(opening door)

Now, get out of here and don't let

anybody see you.

PINKUS:

But how do I know...?

MAYOR:

Come in and see me in my office

tomorrow. What's your name?

PINKUS:

Pinkus.

MAYOR:

(taking out his wallet)

All right, Mr. Pinkus, all you've

got to do is lay low and keep your

mouth shut. Here!

(he hands him a card)

Go to this address. It's a nice,

homey little place, and they'll take

care of you for the night. Just tell

'em Fred sent you. And here's fifty

dollars on account.

He pushes money into Pinkus's hand and pushes him through

the door. Pinkus goes.

HARTMAN:

(into phone,

desperately)

Will you wait, Olsen? I'll tell you

in a minute!

The door opens again and Pinkus comes back in.

PINKUS:

You forgot to tell me what a City

Sealer has to do.

MAYOR:

(turning hastily toward

Pinkus)

I'll explain it tomorrow!

PINKUS:

Is it hard?

MAYOR:

No! It's easy -- it's very easy!

HARTMAN:

(pleadingly, into

phone)

Just one second --

PINKUS:

That's good, because my health ain't

what it used to be.

MAYOR:

(pushing him out the

door)

We'll fix that, too.

(he closes the door

after him)

HARTMAN:

(into phone -- one

more plea)

Just -- one -- second!

He turns to the Mayor with a gesture of appeal. The Mayor

closes the door and turns to Hartman.

MAYOR:

(huskily)

All right. Tell 'em to shoot to kill.

HARTMAN:

What?

MAYOR:

Shoot to kill, I said.

HARTMAN:

I don't know, Fred. There's that

reprieve if they ever find out.

MAYOR:

Nobody reprieved that policeman he

murdered. Now, do as I tell you.

HARTMAN:

(into phone)

Hello, Olsen... Listen...

(his voice is weak)

Shoot to kill... That's the orders

pass the word along... No! We dont

want him! And listen, Olsen, five-

hundred bucks for the guy that does

the job... Yes, I'll be right out

there.

(hangs up)

Well, I hope that's the right thing

to do.

MAYOR:

Now take that guilty look off your

face, Pete -- and stop trembling

like a horse.

HARTMAN:

(mopping his brow)

If we didn't have election Tuesday

I'd have this on my conscience.

INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE PRESS ROOM MED. SHOT

Louie comes from the direction of the stairs and crosses

toward door to Press Room. He pauses a moment, puts his hand

in his pocket, pulls out some bills, counts them and opens

the door.

INT. PRESS ROOM MED. SHOT

Hildy is still pacing, pounding her hands together and

glancing every so often at the clock on the wall. Suddenly

she crosses to her phone, picks up transmitter --

HILDY:

(into phone)

Will you try --

LOUIE'S VOICE

Hildy.

HILDY:

(wheeling towards

door)

Louie!

She drops the phone and hurries towards him.

HILDY:

Have you got my dough?

LOUIS:

Oh, sure. The boss sent me over with

it. Four hundred dollars, wasn't it?

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