Platinum Blonde Page #4

STEW:

Impossible. Put it on again.

BINGY:

Hey, make up your mind, will you?

Bingy hurriedly puts his hat back on as he disappears.

INT. SCHUYLER DRAWING ROOM - DAY - MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT

By the door which leads out into the hall. The butler enters

and stops, standing stiffly. Bingy enters behind him,

shambling awkwardly. He stops in some consternation as he

sees:

25. MEDIUM SHOT (FROM HIS ANGLE)

The Schuyler jury. Grayson, Mrs. Schuyler, Anne and Michael,

all surveying him in varying degrees of unfriendliness.

CONTINUATION, SCENE 24

Bingy hesitates uneasily as he regards this impressive

assemblage. Quickly, he takes his hat back off. Then he

smiles nervously and starts forward.

BINGY:

Hi, folks!

CONTINUATION, SCENE 25

Grayson comes forward to meet him, attempting to be very

cordial. Bingy is seized by a sudden impulse to sneeze. He

does so, violently. There is awkward silence. Mrs. Schuyler

throws off a visible shudder.

BINGY:

What's the matter? Isn't there a

'bless you' in the crowd?

GRAYSON:

You're the Tribune man?

BINGY:

Yeah, hello. How are you?

Bingy extends his hand. Grayson pointedly ignores it.

GRAYSON:

(cordially)

Fine. Have a seat.

BINGY:

Thanks, I will.

Bingy crosses the room, taking note of the beauteous Anne.

GRAYSON:

This way.

BINGY:

Oh, man!

Bingy sits gingerly on the edge of a handsome chair.

BINGY:

Oh, boy!

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT

Bingy and Grayson. Grayson picks up a very flossy and

expensive cigarette box from the small end table beside

the chair. It is made of gold and semi-precious stones are

inset in the cover. Grayson opens the lid and takes out a

cigarette, but pointedly does not offer one to Bingy.

Grayson remains standing before the reporter, who is very

uncomfortable and ill at ease.

GRAYSON:

Fine newspaper the Tribune.

BINGY:

Well, I should say!

GRAYSON:

I knew your managing editor very

well.

BINGY:

Is that so?

GRAYSON:

Yale '21, I believe.

BINGY:

(uncomprehending)

Huh?

GRAYSON:

We were classmates.

CLOSE SHOT - MRS. SCHUYLER

She clears her throat menacingly, as she looks sternly at

Grayson.

MRS. SCHUYLER

Ahem!

BINGY:

What's the matter? She got a cold?

CONTINUATION, SCENE 26

Bingy and Grayson. Both look over. Grayson gives her a

quick reassuring glance, as though to say "leave it to me

now." He continues his conversation with the reporter.

GRAYSON:

I got him his job on the paper.

I'm a stock-holder, you know.

BINGY:

Is that so?

GRAYSON:

As one Tribune man to another—

He laughs.

BINGY:

(laughs)

Yeah!

GRAYSON:

But right now I'm acting in the

capacity of Mrs. Schuyler's

attorney.

BINGY:

Oh, that's all right with me. I

won't hold it against you. But you

see, I'm here to find out about—

GRAYSON:

I know, I know. But there's no

truth in the story whatsoever.

BINGY:

Oh yeah?

28. MEDIUM SHOT

Grayson and Bingy. He takes Bingy by the arm and leads him

over to a corner of the room, assuming a confidential pose.

GRAYSON:

(speaking as they

walk)

However, I've taken the trouble to

prepare a little statement. Here

it is. Here.

CLOSER TWO SHOT:

Grayson and Bingy. Grayson takes an envelope out of his

pocket and hands it to Bingy. Bingy opens the flap and

sees the contents.

INSERT:
ENVELOPE

The corner of a fifty dollar bill protrudes.

BACK TO SCENE:

Bingy quickly shuts the envelope up. Grayson is watching

him closely.

GRAYSON:

So, you see how silly that rumor

is?

BINGY:

Why, sure. It's a lotta hooey.

GRAYSON:

That's what I wanted to say, but I

couldn't think of it.

Grayson starts leading him toward the door. CAMERA PANS

WITH THEM as Grayson leads him toward the door, talking as

they walk.

GRAYSON:

Thank you very much.

BINGY:

All right, all right, don't mention

it.

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