Notorious Page #9

PRESCOTT:

Professor Wilhelm Otto Rensler is working

here in Brazil.

BEARDSLEY:

One of Germany's scientific wizards.

BARBOSA:

I didn't know he was here.

PRESCOTT:

Oh, yes. He's living and experimenting in

Sebastian's house. They call him Doctor

Anderson.

A KNOCK at the door.

BARBOSA:

Entree.

A young man, RIBIERO, enters.

RIBIERO:

Excuse me, sir. Miss Huberman wishes to see

Captain Prescott or Mister Devlin.

PRESCOTT:

What do you mean, she's here?

RIBIERO:

Yes, sir.

BEARDSLEY:

Well, show her in, Ribiero.

RIBIERO:

Yes, sir.

He goes to fetch her.

PRESCOTT:

I don't like this. I don't like her cominghere.

BEARDSLEY:

She's had me worried for some time. A woman

of that sort.

DEVLIN:

(to Beardsley)

What sort is that, Mr. Beardsley?

BEARDSLEY:

Oh, I don't think any of us have any illusionsabout her character, have we Devlin?

DEVLIN:

(bitterly ironic)

Not at all, not the slightest. Miss Hubermanis first, last, and always not a lady. Shemay be risking her life, but when it comesto being a lady, she doesn't hold a candleto your wife, sir, sitting in Washingtonplaying bridge with three other ladies ofgreat honor and virtue.

PRESCOTT:

Take it easy, Dev.

DEVLIN:

(to Prescott)

Sorry.

BEARDSLEY:

I think those remarks about my wife areuncalled for.

DEVLIN:

(to Beardsley)

Withdrawn. Apologized, sir.

The door opens and a dazed Alicia is shown into the office.

PRESCOTT:

How do you do, Miss Huberman?

ALICIA:

How do you do?

PRESCOTT:

(introduces the others)

This is Mister Beardsley and Senor JulioBarbosa. Care to sit down?

ALICIA:

(sits)

Thank you.

BARBOSA:

You have the esteem of my government,

Senorita.

BEARDSLEY:

But we are worried about you visitingthis office.

ALICIA:

I promise not to break the rules again,

but I need some advice and I couldn't

find Mister Devlin. In fact, I need itbefore lunch.

PRESCOTT:

Something happened?

ALICIA:

Yes, something rather confusing. Mister

Sebastian has asked me to marry him.

BEARDSLEY:

What?

PRESCOTT:

Well, well.

ALICIA:

He... he wants me to marry him right awayand I am to give him my answer at lunch.

And I didn't know what the department mightthink about such a step.

PRESCOTT:

Are you willing to go this far for us, MissHuberman?

ALICIA:

(to Prescott)

Yes, if you wish.

PRESCOTT:

What do you think of this, Devlin?

DEVLIN:

Oh, I think it's a useful idea.

BEARDSLEY:

(to Devlin)

Well, you know the situation better thanany of us.

DEVLIN:

(to Alicia)

May I ask what inspired Alex Sebastian togo this far?

ALICIA:

He's in love with me.

DEVLIN:

And he thinks you're in love with him?

ALICIA:

(more to Devlin than the others)

Yes, that's what he thinks.

BARBOSA:

(delighted)

Gentlemen, it's the cream of the jest.

ALICIA:

(looks straight at Devlin)

Then... then, it's all right?

Prescott sees the look pass between Alicia and Devlin but doesn't know whatto make of it.

PRESCOTT:

Well. Yes, I-I'd say so. Of course, it's

a perfect marriage... for us.

DEVLIN:

There's only one thing. Won't it delay us a bit?

PRESCOTT:

What do you mean?

DEVLIN:

Well, Mister Sebastian is a very romantic

fellow, isn't he, Alicia?

ALICIA:

Yes.

DEVLIN:

Then he'll probably want to take his bride

away for a long honeymoon. Won't that hold

us up?

BEARDSLEY:

Devlin's got a point there.

PRESCOTT:

Oh, I don't know. I think we can rely on

Miss Huberman to get back into the house,

quickly.

ALICIA:

(quietly)

Yes, I think I can manage that.

Devlin abruptly begins leaving the room to cover his emotion.

DEVLIN:

Well, everything seems to be nicely arranged.

I don't think you need me here anymore,

do you, Captain Prescott?

Devlin closes the door on his way out, leaving a drained Alicia with theothers.

PRESCOTT:

I do want to thank you, Miss Huberman, very

much. I think so far everything has been

managed with great intelligence.

BARBOSA:

Yes. Thank you very much.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. MME. SEBASTIAN'S BEDROOM - DAY

Not long after, Sebastian stands, watching his seated mother doing herneedlepoint.

MME. SEBASTIAN

Are you quite sure she didn't come down

here to see you? To capture the rich Alex

Sebastian for a husband?

SEBASTIAN:

Oh, don't be absurd, mother. She didn't

even know I was here.

MME. SEBASTIAN

We will discuss it more fully tonight.

SEBASTIAN:

We will not discuss it tonight. You know,

all these carping questions are merely

the expression of your own jealousy --

just as you've always been jealous of any

woman I've ever shown any interest in. In

this case, there's nothing more to discuss.

MME. SEBASTIAN

You mean, then, you are going ahead with

this marriage?

SEBASTIAN:

I mean that the wedding will be next week.

It'll be private. We shall both be pleased

to have you present, if you wish.

Sebastian leaves the room, closing the door behind him. Mme. Sebastian

sits alone.

FADE OUT:

EXT. SEBASTIAN'S MANSION - NIGHT

FADE IN on Sebastian's limousine as it arrives at the MANSION some weeks

later.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SEBASTIAN'S FRONT STEPS - NIGHT

Sebastian and his wife Alicia, arm in arm, exit the limo and mount theFRONT STEPS, moments later.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THE ENTRY HALL - NIGHT

In the darkened ENTRY HALL, Joseph the butler goes to answer the KNOCKING atthe front door. He checks the peephole and is surprised to see thenewlyweds. He hurriedly lets them in.

JOSEPH:

Oh. Good evening, sir. Madame.

ALICIA:

Good evening, Joseph.

SEBASTIAN:

Joseph.

(seeing the darkness)

Joseph, it doesn't look very cheerful in here.

JOSEPH:

I'm sorry, sir. Madame Sebastian wasn't

certain you'd be back tonight.

SEBASTIAN:

Why not? I telegraphed her.

Joseph turns on some lights.

JOSEPH:

Madame Sebastian said we were all to

retire, sir.

SEBASTIAN:

Where is my mother?

Joseph takes their wraps.

JOSEPH:

Madame Sebastian went to bed very early, sir.

SEBASTIAN:

(to Alicia)

I'm sorry, my dear, I'm afraid this isn't a

very bright homecoming for you.

ALICIA:

That's all right, Alex.

SEBASTIAN:

Well, what shall we do? Shall we have Joseph

arrange a little food for us?

ALICIA:

Not unless you want to, I'm rather tired

myself.

SEBASTIAN:

We'll go right up then?

ALICIA:

(to Joseph)

Good night.

JOSEPH:

Good night.

Sebastian and Alicia go up the grand staircase.

FADE OUT:

INT. ALICIA'S BEDROOM - DAY

FADE IN on Alicia and the household staff moving her things into the mansion,

the next morning.

ALICIA:

(to a maid)

I'd like to have all my dresses put out

on the bed here. Don't hang anything up,

I'd like to know where everything goes.

(to Joseph)

Oh, Joseph, did you have the closets aired?

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