Platinum Blonde Page #17

STEW:

I'm not quitting!

CONROY:

No?

STEW:

No!

CONROY:

(singing)

'For he's only a bird in a gilded

cage, a beautiful sight to see—'

(he waves his hand)

Tweet, tweet - ha, ha—

He laughs loud and raucously and exits.

112. CLOSE SHOT - STEW AND GALLAGHER

Stew glares after Conroy.

STEW:

(under his breath)

Laugh - laugh, you hyena!

Gallagher realizes that Conroy has hit home with the truth

and is sorry for Stew. She puts her hand over his

sympathetically.

GALLAGHER:

Don't pay attention to him, Stew.

He doesn't know what he's talking

about.

STEW:

Pay attention? I'm not paying any

attention to him. You think that

guy could get me upset? Hah! Not

that mug. He's a tough mug - hard,

cynical. He doesn't know the fine

things in life - that guy.

(he swirls his drink,

thinking)

A bird in a gilded cage, huh?

It's getting so a guy can't step

out without being called a magnolia.

Stew Smith, a magnolia! Not me.

Say, I'm not going to hang around

and be a speakeasy rat all my life!

I'll tell you that. Not me, not

me. I'm going to step out and mean

something in this world. You watch

me.

(he swirls his drink,

clearly bothered,

lost in his own

thoughts)

Say, am I a lucky guy to be near

Anne Schuyler? I've been hit with

a carload of horseshoes, and believe

me I know it. Lucky, I'll say I'm

lucky!

(pause)

Don't you think I'm lucky,

Gallagher?

GALLAGHER:

Sure - I think so, Stew.

STEW:

I knew you would, pal.

(clearly bothered)

A bird in a gilded cage, eh?

GALLAGHER:

How is her family going to feel

about it?

STEW:

Her family? Oh, they'll be all

right. I'll bring them around.

(swirling his drink)

Gilded cage?! Besides, I'm not

marrying her family. Stew Smith in

a gilded cage! Stew Smith? Ha!

(clearly bothered)

That mug. What does he know?

LAP DISSOLVE TO:

INT. SCHUYLER DRAWING ROOM - DAY

MED. FULL SHOT

Another jury scene. This time it is Anne who's on the

carpet. Grayson, in correct afternoon attire, his hands

behind his back and his head sunk, is pacing back and forth

in a very depressed and gloomy fashion.

Anne is seated, her demeanor betokening sullen defiance.

Michael is pacing, nervously smoking a cigarette.

MICHAEL:

I don't know what you need me here

for - it isn't my funeral.

Mrs. Schuyler stands by a table, staring at a spreadout

newspaper which is laid out on the table. She flings the

newspaper aside.

MRS. SCHUYLER

You stay right here, Michael. Some

day you'll be head of this family,

but thank heaven I shan't be here

when it happens. And I hope you

never have a daughter who gives

you gastritis as Anne has me!

She pulls the bell rope for the butler.

ANNE:

Now Mother, calm yourself. There's

no use in getting so excited.

114. MEDIUM SHOT

Mrs. Schuyler is vastly agitated.

MRS. SCHUYLER

Oh, isn't there?

(as Anne starts to

get up)

Sit down!

(looking off)

Smythe!

The butler appears in the doorway.

MRS. SCHUYLER

(in a weak, agonized

voice)

Some bicarbonate - quick!

SMYTHE:

Double strength!

The butler bows and exits. She passes a nervous hand over

her eyes. Anne comes up to her.

ANNE:

Mother, if you keep this up, you'll

have a nervous breakdown before

you go to Europe.

115. CLOSER SHOT

Anne, Grayson and Mrs. Schuyler.

MRS. SCHUYLER

It's a good thing your father passed

away before he saw insanity ravage

the family. I can't imagine what

made you do such a thing. A

reporter! Of all things, a reporter!

A barbarian who lets his socks

come down!

ANNE:

Mother, I promise you that he won't

be a reporter much longer. Once I

get him away from that atmosphere

and get him away from a man named

Gallagher—

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