Mildred Pierce Page #10

l can't marry you. l won't go on

taking tips from you as l used to.

Of course, if l owned a share

in your business--

l see. l think l understand now.

How much of a share

would your pride require?

Don't put it that way.

lt hurts me to do this.

-l'm doing it--

-How much of a share?

One-third.

All right.

Sold.

One Beragon.

-Hello, Lottie.

-Why, Mr. Pierce.

ls Mrs. Pierce--?

Mrs. Beragon, is she in?

She's in there.

l mean, this way, please.

-Thank you.

-lt's nice to see you again.

-lt's nice to see you, Lottie.

-lt's been such a long time. Follow me.

No, no, no. l'm supposed to announce

everybody. You stay there. Pardon, please.

Please pardon.

Mr. Albert Pierce!

-Lottie, not so loud.

-No?

Hello, Bert. lt's nice to see you.

Thanks. l thought l'd drop in.

l hope you don't mind.

Of course not. Come in, sit down.

-Want a drink?

-No, thanks.

-My hours are too long these days.

-Let's sit over here.

-This is quite a nifty place.

-We just finished redecorating.

-You didn't come to the wedding.

-l read about it.

lt was informal.

Just Monte's family and friends.

l probably have a lot of nerve to ask

this, but do you really love this guy?

-l married him, didn't l?

-That doesn't answer my question.

-Monte's okay.

-That still doesn't answer me.

Are you in love with this guy?

No, Bert.

l'm not exactly in love with him.

But Monte and l understand each other.

l thought if l moved from that

other house and fixed this place up...

-...l thought, maybe--

-Veda would come back.

l thought that was why.

l know you think l'm a fool, Bert.

But l can't help it.

l'd do anything to get her back. l couldn't

leave her where she was, could l?

No, l guess not.

Anyhow, that's all l wanted to know.

l guess we'll always fight about her.

Mildred,

l brought you a wedding present.

A wedding present?

Take a look out that window.

-Bert! Did you ask her to come?

-No. She called me up.

She pretended it was something

else. But l got the truth out of her.

She wanted to come home, Mildred.

Tell her to come in.

Veda.

l wanted to come home weeks ago.

When it was Christmas,

l couldn't stay away.

-l'm so glad, darling.

-l'll change, Mother. l promise.

-l'll never say mean things to you again.

-l said mean things too.

-Mother, this is a beautiful place.

-Bert.

l forgot to thank your father.

-Bert, l'm very grateful.

-That's all right, Mildred.

l don't believe it.

l simply don't believe it.

The prodigal returneth.

We'll have the fatted calf for dinner.

-Hello, Monte!

-Hey. Tears of joy at seeing me again?

-Of course.

-You look lovely, prodigal.

lt's about time you came to see us.

Veda's come home.

She's going to stay with us.

-lf Monte doesn't mind.

-l think it's wonderful.

Just don't call me ''Father.''

-Blow, darling, come on.

-Make a wish.

-Make a wish first.

-You can do better than that.

Three is all you get.

Three is all you get.

Happy birthday, Veda.

Be careful how you pour

that champagne. That's from 1 927.

-ls that better than '28?

-lt's the newest we could get.

lsn't this a beautiful night?

l just love parties, don't you?

-l beg your pardon?

-Thank you kindly.

Yes? Hello. This is the Beragon

residence. Who shall l say is calling?

Yes, yes, Miss Mildred. l'll call her.

Business is business, Mr. Jones.

-Just take a look at this receipt.

-Hello, lda. This is Mildred.

-How's the party?

-Fine. Veda just cut the cake.

-Get your clients to agree to more time.

-Out of the question.

l'll be delayed a little.

What's going on? Are you in trouble?

You sound so funny.

No, l'll tell you about it later.

Keep the party going, will you?

Okay, Mildred.

Get here as soon as you can.

-Was that Mother?

-Yes. She's at the office.

l'm worried. l think

she's in some sort of business trouble.

lt happens in the best of families.

You've got canary feathers

all over your face.

Business and money is all she

thinks about. How about that drink?

-Beauty calls. Excuse us.

-lt's a pleasure.

My clients demand an accounting.

You must satisfy your creditors

or show cause why Mildred's lnc...

...should not be taken away from you.

lf you resist, your creditors force you

into bankruptcy. lt's as simple as that.

Can they do it?

-l'm sorry, Mrs. Beragon.

-Yes, so am l.

l haven't a cent of ready cash in any

of the restaurants. So that's that.

l hoped you'd scrape up enough dough

to get yourself out of this.

-You can still manage the business.

-That's very nice.

Stealing the business from me

and then letting me run it.

l'm not enjoying this.

l haven't any choice.

You've bled this business to live

the way you have since Veda came home.

-l know.

-Okay.

You let a few bills go by.

Pretty soon you're in trouble.

The creditors want your hide.

l can't stop them.

-Another month like this, and we're all out.

-As it is, only l am, right?

lt looks that way. You'd be all right

if Monte hadn't forced it.

Monte? What's he got to do with this?

This was his idea. He wants to sell his share.

l gotta go along or l'm out. Didn't you know?

No.

-You married him. l didn't.

-Good night, Mrs. Beragon.

l'm sorry this happened. lf

l do say it, as perhaps l shouldn't....

l think Mr. Beragon acted badly.

Very badly indeed. Good night, Mrs. Beragon.

Good night, Jones.

Hello, lda.

l want to speak with Monte.

He isn't here. He drove off 20 minutes

ago, just after the party broke up.

l see.

Mildred! Mildred!

l went to the house.

Monte was alone. And l killed him.

You're lying. We know you weren't

alone in the house with him.

We have proof of that.

And various other things.

Okay, now. Yes.

We've had a slant on you from

the beginning. You were the key.

We had to put the pressure on you.

The key turned. The door opened.

And there was the murderer.

We picked her up at the airport, off

a plane for Arizona. She didn't like it much.

-l don't understand.

-You will. We know all about it.

Your mother told us everything.

Why did you kill him?

You promised not to tell.

You said you'd help me.

-Don't say anything more!

-Too late. That's all we needed.

You left at 1 1 :1 5 with Beragon.

Your mother left her office at 1 1 :45.

You were at the beach house

when she got there after midnight.

lsn't that right, Mrs. Beragon?

Yes.

l didn't know Veda was there

when l came in.

I expected Monte to be alone.

We weren't expecting you, Mildred,

obviously.

lt's just as well you know.

l'm glad you know.

How long has this been going on?

Since l came home and even before.

He never loved you. lt's always been me.

l've got what l wanted. Monte's going

to divorce you and marry me.

No, Veda!

There's nothing you can do about it.

Mildred!

Use your head.

This won't solve anything.

Just where did you get the idea

l'm going to marry you?

-Don't joke like that.

-l'm not joking.

lf you think l'm going to marry you,

you're mistaken.

You told me over and over again

that you loved me.

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes