Playback Page #20

He starts towards the door.

MARGO:

One of these days, you're going to

wake up in the middle of the night

and find that you've cut your

throat.

CLARENDON:

How clumsy. I'd never forgive

myself. Good night my dear.

MARGO:

You could have got in that room,

just as you got in here. How do I

know you didn't kill Larry?

CLARENDON:

With what motive?

MARGO:

Nastiness. You're nasty with words.

Why wouldn't you be nasty with

deeds once in a while? You hated

him--and I know why.

CLARENDON:

He was very easy to hate. If you'll

look in your mirror, when you are

in a better temper- you'll know

why.

Margo just stares at him.

CLARENDON:

Very silly of me, isn't it? I'm

not as well-off as I was once- and

I'm used to my little comforts.

He exits. Margo looks after him, thunderstruck.

EXT. ROYAL HOTEL - PENTHOUSE - TERRACE -- NIGHT

Killaine is standing at wall, looking out over view. He is

smoking. He points up with cigarette.

KILLAINE:

That star up there is Alphard.

"The lonely", they call him. I

wonder why he's lonely? Perhaps

he's a policeman--a celestial

policeman?

CAMERA PULLS BACK to include Betty, who is staring at him.

He turns slowly.

KILLAINE:

Well, that's not getting us

anywhere. You won't tell me who

you are, or give any account of

yourself. You won't even give me

your address in the United States.

Why? Unhappy marriage?

BETTY:

Who told you I was married?

KILLAINE:

There's the clear mark of a wedding

ring on your finger.

She turns, walks abruptly away, then back into the living

room. Killaine follows.

INT. ROYAL HOTEL - PENTHOUSE - LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

As Killaine enters. Betty is already inside. She sits down.

BETTY.

I want a cigarette.

KILLAINE:

The room's full of cigarettes.

But of course one would have to be

handed to you.

He goes to her, takes out sliver case, and opens it. She

takes one, is about to return the case to his pocket when:

BETTY:

Let me see that.

He holds case out to her. There is an inlaid design on it.

BETTY:

Your family coat of arms, Mr.

Killaine?

KILLAINE:

(crossly)

Regimental! Seaforth Highlanders.

BETTY:

I'm sorry.

KILLAINE:

Stop saying you're sorry. I want

information, not regrets.

BETTY:

Would you be satisfied if I said I

shot him?

Killaine jerks the wrapped gun out of his pocket and thrusts

it in front of her.

KILLAINE:

What this?

BETTY:

Yes.

KILLAINE:

Where's you get it?

BETTY:

A graduation present.

Killaine puts the gun back in his pocket.

KILLAINE:

That's a rather inferior grade

humor. But since you're being so

frank, would you mind telling me

why all the labels have been removed

from your clothes?

Betty is jarred. She doesn't answer.

KILLAINE:

An unhappy marriage hardly seems a

sufficient reason for that.

BETTY:

Why don't you arrest me and be

done with it.

KILLAINE:

I probably shall--after I've

tortured you a little more.

SOUND OF ROOM DOOR OPENING OFF: Killaine looks towards it.

Brandon comes in and shuts door, throws hat and coat to

one side.

BRANDON:

How are you two getting along?

KILLAINE:

Delightfully. Every time Miss

Mayfield says something, I know

less than I did before.

(a beat)

Well, I may as well knock off for

tonight.

(turns to Betty)

Good night, Miss Mayfield. Do let

me thank you for your cooperation.

BETTY:

There's one thing I may as well

tell you. You'll find it out anyhow.

I tried to run away--when I found

him out there on the balcony. There

wasn't any plane.

BRANDON:

You didn't have to tell him that.

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