Platinum Blonde Page #15

Stew enters the speakeasy and mingles with patrons, who

offer congratulations. He comes to a stop by the table.

She looks up, forcing a smile.

STEW:

Well, well, well! Gallagher, old

pal! There you are. What did you

run away for?

GALLAGHER:

I didn't run away.

Stew draws out the other chair at the table and sits down.

CLOSER SHOT OF THE TWO

He looks across at her, grinning boyishly, utterly unaware

that what he has done has hurt her deeply.

STEW:

Sure, you ran away. Aren't you

going to congratulate a guy?

GALLAGHER:

(with sincerity)

Sure. I wish you all the luck in

the world, pal.

She puts her hand tenderly on his.

STEW:

Thanks, thanks.

GALLAGHER:

I hope you'll be very happy.

Stew expands under the comradeship of Gallagher. He wants

to talk.

STEW:

Oh sure, we'll be happy. What's

the matter with your eyes?

GALLAGHER:

It's the smoke.

STEW:

(calling to bartender)

Joe! A little snifter.

(returning his

attention to

Gallagher)

Say, wasn't I a lucky guy to fall

into a girl like that, huh?

(he notices the

newspaper, which

Gallagher has been

reading)

Look at that! I don't know how I

rate that, Gallagher. Gosh, there's

a swell girl. I want you to meet

her.

GALLAGHER:

Who me? She wouldn't want to meet

me. I'm just an old load of hay.

CLOSE SHOT - STEW

As his drink is served.

STEW:

Ah! Thank you, Joe.

(returning his

attention to

Gallagher)

Tell you what - we'll have one of

those parties down at your house -

one of those spaghetti parties,

you know. Gee, we haven't had one

of those in a long time, have we

Gallagher?

CLOSE SHOT OF THE TWO

GALLAGHER:

(quietly)

Not since you broke into society.

STEW:

(waxing reminiscent)

Remember the time we had a spaghetti

party, and while I was serving the

spaghetti I dropped it on the floor,

and while those mugs weren't

looking, I picked it up and served

it to them anyway! Remember that?

Yes, Anne would love that.

CLOSE SHOT - GALLAGHER

Looking across at him.

GALLAGHER:

Do you think your wife would walk

up three flights of stairs just to

eat out of paper plates?

105. DOUBLE SHOT

STEW:

Who - Anne? Sure, Anne would love

that.

GALLAGHER:

Remember, she's a Schuyler.

STEW:

Now get this, Gallagher - Smith.

That's the name.

GALLAGHER:

(murmurs)

My error.

STEW:

Well, if she doesn't want to come,

I'll come down alone.

GALLAGHER:

(shaking her head)

Oh no, you won't, Mr. Smith. You're

a married man now. Mother always

warned me never to run around with

married men.

STEW:

(resentfully)

Say, what kind of a pal are you?

You're not going to leave me flat?

Gallagher tries to be elaborately casual.

GALLAGHER:

Oh, I'll call you up some time.

And if your social duties permit -

why -

STEW:

Cut that out. Just because I'm

married - there's no reason for

that.

Gallagher looks up and off, seeing something that startles

her.

106. MED. SHOT

Conroy, the City Editor, entering the speakeasy.

CONTINUATION SCENE 105

Stew and Gallagher.

GALLAGHER:

(interrupting in a

whisper)

Hey, ixnay - here's the ossbay.

Stew looks around, also startled.

107. MED. SHOT

Stew buries his head in the newspaper, in pretense of

looking for something. Conroy appears at the table and

stops. He indicates Stew.

CONROY:

What's the Benedict looking for in

the newspaper - his lost freedom?

Stew slowly sticks his head up over the top of the table,

looking up.

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