Mildred Pierce Page #4

that restaurant and work and work.

Just like you been sleeping all night,

only you ain't.

-lt keeps me thin.

-Beg pardon?

lt don't do nothing for me.

I was doing all right.

I was doing fine.

I was able to afford an expensive

singing teacher for Veda...

...and a good dancing school for Kay.

One thing worried me. That some day

Veda would find out I was a waitress.

-Good afternoon.

-Everything go all right?

-l had a busy day today.

-That's good.

-Where did you get that uniform?

-Miss Veda.

She makes me wear it in case

l have to answer the doorbell.

Miss Veda gave it to you?

l told her you wouldn't like it.

l told her right off.

But she hollered and went on,

so l put it on just to keep her quiet.

-ls that what you learned at ballet?

-Do you like it?

-What have you got on your face?

-lt's just some lipstick.

-Lottie!

-Yes?

Take Kay upstairs and wash her face

and give her a good scrubbing.

My face don't need scrubbing.

l washed it this morning.

-Go on, hurry up.

-lt can stand more soap and water.

-Veda.

-Yes, Mother, what is it?

-Where did you find the uniform?

-l was looking for a handkerchief.

-ln my closet?

-l looked everywhere.

Your handkerchiefs are always in your

top drawer. Why were you in my closet?

You're making quite a fuss about

something which doesn't matter.

lf you bought the uniform for Lottie,

and l can't imagine who else it would it be for...

...then why shouldn't she wear it?

You've been snooping since l got this

job trying to find out what it is.

And now you know, don't you?

Know what? Know what, Mother?

You knew that uniform was mine,

didn't you?

-Your uniform?

-Yes. l'm waiting tables downtown.

My mother. A waitress.

l took that job so you and your sister

could eat, sleep and have clothes.

Did you have to degrade us?

-Don't talk like that!

-l'm not surprised.

You've never spoken of your people,

where you came from, so perhaps it's natural.

Maybe that's why Father--

l'm sorry l did that.

l'd have rather cut off my hand.

l'd never have taken the job

if l hadn't wanted to keep us all together.

Besides, l wanted to learn

the business the best way possible.

-What kind of business?

-The restaurant business.

l'm planning on opening a place of my own.

There's money in a restaurant.

-You mean we'll be rich?

-Some people have gotten rich that way.

I didn't know what to do next,

but suddenly it hit me.

Why not open a restaurant?

ln the 7th, give me five

across the board on Materialize.

Hello. Grab a seat.

What? l know it's a dog,

but l happen to like red horses.

Call me back, will you?

-Well, well, well.

-Hello, Wally.

-lt's good to see you.

-lt's nice to see you. Sit down.

-l haven't seen enough of you lately.

-This is all business.

lf you keep on refusing me,

l'm gonna think you're stubborn.

Laugh? No laugh?

What's all this?

-l'm going to open a restaurant.

-You are?

-And you're going to help me.

-l am? l mean, am l?

Please, Wally.

l guess l am. What's the score?

l found the location. An old house

that hasn't been lived in for years.

lt's on a busy intersection.

So it's good for drive-in trade.

l clocked an average

of 500 cars an hour.

Do you realize what that means? And,

there isn't another restaurant in five miles.

lt listens good. What's the address?

-35904 Glen Oaks Blvd.

-35904 Glen Oaks Blvd?

-Who owns it?

-l don't know, but there's a ''For Sale'' sign.

-Let's see.

-l need help in getting this place.

You know the angles. l want

that house. Please get it.

All right. 35907, 35904.

There we are!

lt's listed at $ 1 0,000.

They'll take eight or less.

They want to move the property.

-And it's owned by the Beragon Estate.

-Do you know them?

No. They're some wealthy Pasadena family

got property here. Beragon Manor.

Beragon Estate. There.

-Well, what do you know.

-What is it? Tell me.

Beragons have lost two properties

because of back taxes.

lt sounds as if they're broke. Using

your gams all day hasn't hurt them.

Hello! Hello! Mr. Beragon, please.

Now watch your Uncle Wally go to work.

How do you do? This is

Wallace Fay of Fay Real Estate.

l've been looking forward

to calling you for some time.

lt's regarding your property

on Glen Oaks Boulevard.

l've succeeded in interesting a client

in the possibility of a purchase.

-Well, how about...?

-This afternoon.

Yeah. How about this afternoon?

Good. We'll be right down.

Fay is the name. No, Fay.

That's right. Goodbye.

He's sweating blood already.

Come on, let's go.

And, remember,

let me do all the talking.

Wally, you're wonderful!

This is all business, remember?

Yep! This is it.

Will you wait here, please?

Mr. Beragon, l talked to you

on the phone.

This is Mrs. Pierce, the client.

-How do you do?

-How do you do?

Would you like a drink?

-l'm trapped. You talked me into it.

-Mrs. Pierce?

As l see it, she wants the house

but doesn't want to pay.

Well, that's about it. Mrs. Pierce

needs time to get started.

But once successful,

she'll buy the property outright.

l see. A very unusual proposition.

-How long do you need, Mrs. Pierce?

-l'd say about a year.

-You think you can make $ 1 0,000?

-Yes, l have it all--

lf the place is successful,

it'll be very successful.

lf it isn't, you'll get your

property back in better condition.

lt's a gamble,

but you can't lose much.

l like to gamble, Mr. Fay.

But the odds are against me.

-l'm afraid l'm not interested.

-Please, listen to me.

This is a gamble for me too.

l'm putting every cent

l have into this place. l haven't much.

l can't afford to lose.

l've got all the information.

l know what it will cost

and how much l can make.

l know l can do it. l know l can!

Very well. lt's a deal.

Great! l'll draw up the papers.

One more thing.

-We'll need a pre-dated transfer of ownership.

-You want it immediately?

Yeah. We'll give you a note,

you give us the deed.

You take care of the details.

Well, how does it feel to be

the owner of a white elephant?

lt feels wonderful!

How about Uncle Wally?

-Nice guy.

-Very. Good-looking too.

-Maybe, but no brains.

-What do you mean?

You conning him out of the deed

without putting down a cent.

-Sure!

-You leave the angles to Uncle Wally.

-There's one other thing to do.

-What's that?

Sorry.

l don't feel romantic this afternoon.

No, nothing like that.

lt's serious. lt's about Bert.

-What's on your mind?

-You won't like it.

You'll have to get a divorce

if you want to open that restaurant.

What's that got to do with it?

ln California, they got

a community property law.

-Half of what's Bert's is yours.

-What's half of nothing?

lt works two ways.

Half of what you own is Bert's.

You open that restaurant and Bert's

creditors will be saying, ''Give me.''

-ls a divorce the only answer?

-Why?

-lt takes a year to get a divorce.

-Are you getting cold feet?

Why bother if it takes a year?

lt takes a year to be final. Once

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