Out of the Past Page #5

Francisco, don't you?

Yeah, I was there once at a party.

- WHIT:
Then you get around.

- Like the monkey and the weasel.

We'll put you on a

train this afternoon.

- Right now, I'd like to get some sleep.

- WHIT:
Find Joe. He'll show you to your room.

And don't start worrying.

Why should I?

(DOORKNOB CLICKING)

Jeff, I had to come back.

What else could I do?

You can never help

anything, can you?

You're like a leaf that the wind

blows from one gutter to another.

You can't help anything

you do, even murder.

- You can't say it was that.

- I can say one thing. I buried him.

- What did you tell him? About us?

- Uh...

- But you couldn't help it, could you?

- He looked right into me and he knew it.

- How much?

- What, Jeff?

About Fisher. Did he look

into you for that too?

No, I didn't tell that.

- Don't lie to me.

- I didn't.

I wouldn't tell him that.

I wouldn't tell anyone that.

I swear it, Jeff. Believe me.

Sure. Sure, I believe you.

I didn't know what to do.

I was always afraid of him

and afraid of what I'd done.

I couldn't live that way

anymore. I couldn't stand it.

Oh, Jeff, I've missed you.

I've wondered about you and

prayed you'd understand.

Can you understand?

You prayed, Kathie?

Can't you even feel sorry for me?

- I'm not going to try.

- Jeff...

Look, just get out, will you?

I have to sleep in this room.

Let's just leave it where

it all is. Get out.

(DOOR CLOSES)

- Meta Carson?

- Yes.

- My name is Bailey.

- Come in.

- I was expecting you.

- Well, I wasn't expecting you.

- Should I take that as a compliment?

- Whit told me you'd be charming.

Really? Would you

like a gin and tonic?

- That'd be nice.

- You may have whiskey, if you like.

That'd be even nicer.

Miserable weather

we're having, isn't it?

- Are you acquainted with San Francisco?

- We were quite intimate.

- Indeed?

- We lived together.

It's a nice apartment

you have here.

Yes, these old houses can be amusing

when they're remodeled, can't they?

I used to live in one in

New York that was old.

It wasn't very amusing.

- I've never been to New York.

- You take a trip there sometime.

You'll see one reason why

I'm in San Francisco.

Whit said you'd tell me the other.

You know, you're rather charming yourself,

but I'm afraid I don't quite understand you.

If you'll drop this

Junior League patter...

we may get the conversation

down where it belongs.

- You worried about something?

- I don't know. Should I be?

- Not if you do what you're told.

- That's why I'm here. I do what I'm told.

People trust me. Whit even

trusts me twice. Do you?

Just as far as I have to.

Can you find your way

to 114 Fulton Street?

- When?

- Tonight.

I'll be there in the apartment of

an attorney named Leonard Eels.

You can call for me

at 8 and look around.

I can depend on that.

We'll leave together.

In a day or so, he'll

take some papers home.

I'll let you know.

Then you get them.

He won't be there.

Where will he be?

With me. I'm his secretary.

- Well, it sounds simple enough.

- It is.

- Like two and two make four.

- That's right.

Just remember, I'm coming out of

this in one piece, Miss Carson.

Do you always go around leaving your

fingerprints on a girl's shoulder?

Not that I mind particularly.

You've got nice strong hands.

- Jeff.

- Petey, how are you?

Where you been? You

marry an honest dame?

- I went in the gasoline business.

- But you're looking for me now, ain't you?

I went out of business. Come on,

let's take a ride in your hack.

Buddy, you look like

you're in trouble.

- Why?

- Because you don't act like it.

I think I'm in a frame.

Don't sound like you.

I don't know. All I

can see is the frame.

I'm going in there now

to look at the picture.

- I don't have to tell you to wait.

- You don't have to tell me nothing.

(BUZZES)

My name is Jeff Bailey.

Oh, yes, Miss Carson said you'd

pick her up. I'm Leonard Eels.

- How do you do?

- META:
Bring him out here, Leonard.

JEFF:
Thank you.

META:
Hello, Jeffrey.

I always wanted my favorite

cousin to meet my favorite boss.

- LEONARD:
Apple martini?

- Thanks.

Meta talked about you like you're

the ninth wonder of the world.

- She skipped one.

- Meta must be the eighth.

All women are wonders because they

reduce all men to the obvious.

META:
And so do martinis.

So nice here, I hate to go.

Don't then. Why don't you

both stay and have dinner?

Yes, why don't we?

We can't, Jeffrey. We promised

the Bigelows, remember?

JEFF:
Oh, call them up.

We can see them anytime.

We can't, Jeffrey.

I'm sorry, Leonard.

Some other time. How long will

you be in town, Mr. Bailey?

- I don't really know.

- LEONARD:
You're on business?

- You might call it that.

- Where are you from? The South?

- No. Tahoe.

- We must go, Jeff.

JEFF:
All right.

Your, uh, cousin is a

very charming young lady.

No, he isn't. His name is Norman and

he's a bookmaker in Cleveland, Ohio.

- Where did you say you were from?

- Tahoe...

where we worry as much about

the income tax as anybody.

Frankly, you don't make sense.

Neither does my being her cousin...

or my being brought up here...

to, uh, leave my

fingerprints around.

On the other hand, maybe it does.

You know, it could be that I'm the

patsy, and you're on the spot.

- META:
Coming, Jeff?

- Right away.

Keep the martinis

dry, I'll be back.

I'm glad you could

come, both of you.

- Mr. Eels, you make a great martini.

- Thank you.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night, Leonard.

- Good night.

For a man who appears to be

clever, you can act like an idiot.

That's one way to be

clever:
Look like an idiot.

He looked like an underweight

ghost. What did you say to him?

I told him he made a great martini.

- You are an idiot.

- So is he.

- You think so?

- Why not? He's in love with you.

Mason Building.

Doesn't your conscience bother

you, crossing a nice guy like that?

Maybe he isn't such a nice guy.

Maybe he crosses people too.

- Do I go alone?

- No, you go back to your hotel and wait.

Yes, ma'am.

- Nice.

- Awfully cold around the heart. Let's go.

Hold it.

Drive around the block

and stop right here.

Follow her, Petey, then wait for

me at Eels' apartment house.

(BUZZES)

- I lost her.

- She's worth losing.

I jumped a signal and I got

stopped by a gabby cop.

Here. You finish it.

- Shall I pick up her hack?

- No.

- Where to?

- Telegraph Hill.

Did you have some bad luck?

Yeah. My timing was

a few minutes off.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING AND LAUGHING)

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING ON PIANO)

(PHONE RINGING)

(DOORKNOB CLICKING)

- TILLOTSON (OVER PHONE): Hello?

- Mr. Tillotson.

- TILLOTSON:
Yes.

- This is Mr. Eels' secretary.

I'm worried about Mr. Eels.

I know he's home, but he

doesn't answer his phone.

- Would you see if he's all right?

- TILLOTSON:
Maybe he went out.

No, he was to wait for my call.

I don't want to be a nuisance, but

I'm sure he's there and I'm worried.

- Would you call me right back?

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