Love Me or Leave Me Page #8

You're gonna work here.

You're gonna open this joint.

And there's gonna be a sign:

"Martin Snyder presents Ruth Etting. "

That way, everybody'll know who's boss.

Like you know. Like you better know...

no matter how much you scream

and holler and carry on.

What's the matter, Marty?

Are you afraid you're losing your grip?

You come back here!

What are you gaping at? Get to work!

Ruthie! Get the car!

No, she's not here.

What's the matter, Marty?

Did she run away?

Keep away from her. If I catch you

hanging around her, I'll kill you.

She has to walk out on you herself.

If she ever gets the guts to do it,

I will be hanging around.

I'm just telling you

so you'll know where to find me.

- Where now, Marty?

- Home.

I'm gonna get my rest.

She's the one putting on a big act,

let her be the one that don't sleep.

You say there's nobody registered there

that looks like that?

Are you sure?

What time did you come on duty?

All right, keep your shirt on.

Marty, why don't you lay down awhile?

She's gotta be someplace.

What's she doing this for?

Hello? Hello, Ruthie? What...

What did you say, miss?

All right, I'll be there.

Barney's office.

She wants to meet me there in an hour.

Marty, why don't you take a shower?

I guarantee you'll feel better.

You know, you always feel better

after a shower.

You got a lot of time.

Where you been?

Why a meeting all of a sudden? Why here?

If we got something to straighten out,

it's between us.

Why drag Barney into it?

- Because he's a good friend of both of us.

- So?

You can have anything you want,

any kind of settlement.

What're you talking about?

- I want a divorce.

- What?

- We've got to put an end to this!

- What do you mean, put an end to it?

How can you put an end

to a thing like this?

We have to. It isn't worth living this way.

It hasn't been.

You think you can stand there

and tell me...

I can't anymore.

Look, Marty,

she can't help the way she feels.

What a way to wind it up.

A girl, a secretary calls you on the phone

and tells you you've got an appointment.

I've tried. You know I've tried,

but I can't go on any longer.

- What's the use if we're both miserable?

- It's that guy, ain't it?

- No!

- Yeah!

I was on the stage last night.

I ain't Georgie.

I've seen your face when you look at him.

Right from Chicago

you been two-timing me, the both of you.

- That's not true!

- It is true!

It's been him all the time, ain't it?

No, it's you! It's because of you!

All right.

You want to call it a day? Fine.

Get a lawyer. Get it started.

Anything you say.

Anything to make you happy.

I did an awful lot for that girl.

She don't realize.

- Isn't that right, Barney?

- That's right.

You can tell the truth.

You can level with both of us.

Didn't I do wonders for her?

The contracts I got her.

All right, so I couldn't handle everyone

with kid gloves.

But it's push or get pushed.

You see what I mean, Barney?

Sure, I understand.

Now go home and get some rest.

We'll talk later. You're all keyed up.

Maybe this is the best thing

that could happen.

I mean that serious. Let her see

how she gets along without me.

If she does, fine.

You won't hear one squawk out of me.

But she'll come running back so fast,

believe me, it won't even be funny.

Well, I gotta go.

I got things to do.

Thanks, Barney.

What happened? What did she want?

Nothing. You know how they are.

They get notions.

- Splitting up?

- Splitting up? That's crazy.

- She'd be lost without me.

- Sure. It figures.

- Where are we going now?

- To the club, where else?

You think I'm going to let things fall apart

just 'cause she gets a notion?

You're funny, no kidding.

Look at you. The puss on you.

You're tired, Georgie.

I've been taking advantage,

running your feet off.

No, I ain't tired.

You know,

what most people don't appreciate...

it's a tough business, show business.

You gotta have somebody tough

on your side.

She'll come running back.

It's a foregone thing, that's what it is.

A foregone thing.

A little faster. Roll them.

- Speed.

- Playback.

All right, cut! Hold the playback.

You'll have to step down.

We have some mechanical difficulty.

Help her down, Tony.

- Thank you.

- Very nice, darling.

Joe!

Are you all right? He came

to my place last night looking for you.

- What happened?

- It has nothing to do with you.

- Have you left him? Have you?

- Please, it isn't any of your business.

That's a lie. He knows it, if you don't.

Have you left him, Ruth? I've got to know.

Yes, I've left him.

It doesn't make any difference.

You've got to stay away from me, please.

- Did you see her?

- They wouldn't let me in.

I know she's there.

They been shooting two days already.

What's the matter with you?

Why didn't you barge in through the gate?

I did, Marty. They threw me out.

You know what?

I ran into Barney Loomis at the studio.

He says the musicians' union,

unless you get some dough up...

they won't let the band open.

He's gotta talk to you.

He'll talk to me when I talk to him later.

Everybody telling me all the time

what to do.

Marty, listen, we've been pals a long time.

Since we were kids, practically.

It ain't Ruth's fault.

It's him, that piano player.

He's got an influence on her.

If it's him, or if it ain't him,

what's the difference? It's all done.

Can't you forget about her?

We got a club to open here in three days.

All the dough you got in the world

is tied up in this joint.

- Marty, I tell you the truth, I worry.

- That's the bunk.

- I'll take care of you. Didn't I always?

- Yeah, only...

- Only what?

- Mr. Snyder...

you want to look at the initials

on the drapes before I hang them?

You're paid to put them up! Put them up!

Don't ask me so much!

He's in his office, if you want to...

Later, I said! Let me alone, will you?

Go away! Like flies. Like leeches!

My own place, they can't let me alone.

Sure, I can forget.

People die. People go away.

Once it's finished...

you don't go around

knocking yourself against a stone wall.

Once it's finished.

Hello.

Where have you been the last few days?

- You said you didn't want to see me.

- I know I did...

but I didn't think

you'd stop coming to the set.

With so many people around

and everything...

there's no harm in that, is there?

There's not much point, either.

I'm sorry.

- Is this car for you?

- Yes.

Cancel it. Let me drive you home.

Look, darling,

I just talked with Barney Loomis.

He says Marty's taking this thing

a lot better than you are.

Wait a minute. Let me finish.

I'm not asking you

to change your mind about anything.

All I'm asking is let me drive you home.

But I can't. I can't take the chance.

- Good night.

- Please, Johnny.

For what it's worth, I love you.

- Good night, Miss Etting.

- Good night.

Johnny, what are you doing here?

Darling, after what you said back there...

Good night.

Good night, darling.

He had it coming to him.

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