Once Upon a Time in America Page #8

---

Trying to get your courage up?

We're only bringing in

a shipment of booze.

It's got so you're even

scared to do that.

Maybe you just better

stay home tonight.

With Eve.

Hey, Maxie, everywhere you go,

I go too. Remember that.

Maybe Sharkey was right.

Maybe I ought to just dump you.

- You're really crazy.

- Never say that.

Don't say it!

Max made fools of us, Noodles.

He wanted to die.

Did you know his old man

died in the nut house?

Max didn't want to

end up the same way.

So he put the idea

in our heads to tip off the cops.

And when they stopped the truck,

Max started shooting first...

...just to get himself killed.

What is this?

Opening night.

Fifteen years ago.

Who's this?

Patron saint of the place.

And some actress.

Do you know her?

No.

Hello, Deborah.

Aren't you gonna say anything?

What is someone

supposed to say after...

...more than 30 years.

Well, how about, "How you doing?

You're looking good. "

Or, "I was hoping I'd never

see you again. "

I never thought I would.

There's a difference.

At least you recognized me,

that's something.

Actresses have good memories.

You want a drink?

I'm having one.

Margo.

- Yes, miss?

- That's all for now. You can go.

All right, miss.

She called you "miss. "

You never got married?

No.

You live alone?

No.

Where were you?

I was out of town.

Have you been back long?

A couple of days.

Are you staying?

That depends.

Why do you want to see me?

Two reasons.

Wanted to see if you did the right thing,

turning me down to become an actress.

Well?

You did. You're terrific.

"Age cannot wither her. "

It's like the play

was written for you.

What was the other reason?

The other reason...

...is to decide whether I should go

to a party tomorrow night

Party?

Yeah, on Long Island.

A Secretary Bailey.

Do you know Secretary Bailey?

No.

But I was invited anyway.

If you don't know each other,

why were you invited?

I don't know.

I thought you might know why.

Me?

Why me?

Because you know him.

- Who is it?

- It's me, David.

- No, David.

- Can I come in?

No. Just wait outside, I'll call you.

Okay, I'll be right here.

- What does Bailey want from me?

- You came to ask me that?

- Why'd he send me an invitation?

- I don't know.

Why should I know about your

invitations? I don't know anything.

What do you want?

Why did you come here? I know nothing.

Now you're a lousy actress.

Who is Secretary Bailey?

Secretary Bailey is a rich businessman.

He came to the United States as

an immigrant and made a lot of money...

...in San Francisco and L.A.,

where he's lived for 30 years.

I know all that. It's all in the papers.

What else is there?

He married a very wealthy woman.

They had a child.

She died when the child was born.

A few years ago, he went into politics.

Moved here.

That's history. I'm not talking

about that. I'm talking about now.

Right now he's in trouble.

Just tell me you've been living with him

all these years, and you're his lover.

Age can wither me, Noodles.

We're both getting old.

All that we have left now

are our memories.

If you go to that party on Saturday

night, you won't have those anymore.

Tear up that invitation.

There's an exit back this way.

Noodles, go through it.

Keep walking.

Don't turn around.

Please, Noodles.

I'm begging you. Please.

Are you afraid that I'll turn

into a pillar of salt?

If you go out that door, yes.

This is Secretary Bailey's son.

His name's David, just like yours.

Please go in.

What are you waiting for?

I don't understand, Mr. Bailey.

Sit down, Noodles.

Make yourself comfortable.

I'm glad you accepted my invitation.

Well, I was curious.

So many important people in one place.

Yes. Well, the rats usually

desert a sinking ship.

But in my case, they appear to be

flocking onboard.

Yeah, well, I read about

your troubles in the newspapers.

But a man in your position, with all

your power and all your privileges...

...has to assume a certain amount

of responsibility...

...a certain amount of risk.

Why'd you ask me

to come here, Mr. Bailey?

That invitation doesn't mean

a goddamn thing, and you know it.

All that counts is what

was in that suitcase.

The money and the contract.

It didn't say who the contract

was on, though.

Haven't you figured that out yet?

You, Mr. Bailey?

I haven't had a gun in my hand

for many, many years.

My eyes aren't too good,

even with my glasses. My hands shake.

- And I wouldn't want to miss.

- Cut the bullshit, Noodles.

I'm already a dead man.

At least give me the chance

to settle the debt that I owe to you.

I'll never make it before

the investigating committee.

They're scared I'll implicate

the whole bunch of 'em.

They gotta get rid of me.

Today is as good a day as any.

You do it, Noodles.

You're the only person

I can accept it from.

You see, I found out where you were.

I brought you back here for this.

To even the score between you and me.

You can get out through there.

It leads right down to the street.

Nobody will see you.

I don't know what you're talking about.

You don't owe me a thing.

Your eyes were too full of tears to see

it wasn't me burned up on that street.

It was somebody else.

You were too shocked to realize

that the cops were in on it too.

That was a syndicate operation, Noodles.

You're crazy.

You said that to me once before,

a long time ago.

My mind was never as clear

as it was at that moment.

I took away your whole life from you.

I've been living in your place.

I took everything.

I took your money.

I took your girl.

All I left for you was 35 years of grief

over having killed me.

Now, why don't you shoot?

It's true,

I have killed people, Mr. Bailey.

Sometimes to defend myself.

Sometimes for money.

And many people used to come to us.

Business partners, rivals...

...lovers.

Some of the jobs we took,

and some we didn't.

Yours is one we would never touch.

Is this your way of getting revenge?

No.

It's just the way I see things.

It's 10:
25...

...and I've got nothing left to lose.

When you've been betrayed by a friend,

you hit back.

Do it.

You see, Mr. Secretary...

...I have a story also.

A little simpler than yours.

Many years ago I had a friend,

a dear friend.

I turned him in to save his life...

...but he was killed.

But he wanted it that way.

It was a great friendship.

It went bad for him,

and it went bad for me too.

Good night, Mr. Bailey.

I hope the investigation

turns out to be nothing.

It'd be a shame to see

a lifetime of work go to waste.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes