Playback Page #3

He turns and goes. She looks after him, puzzled and rather

attracted. Then his mood passes and she relapses again

into her listless, hopeless manner. She reaches for the

magazine and starts to leaf through its pages indifferently,

as we

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ROYAL HOTEL -- DAY

LONG SHOT:

It is a massive brick and sandstone building, set in

beautiful gardens which slope down towards Puget Sound.

CLOSER SHOT - THE ENTRANCE

A taxi drives up, Larry Mitchell and Betty get out, PORTER

comes forward, takes their luggage etc. Larry pays taxi

and they start in through entrance.

INT. ROYAL HOTEL - LOBBY - THE DESK -- DAY

Larry and Betty come up to it, BELLHOP carrying luggage.

HOTEL CLERK:

Good afternoon, Mr. Mitchell.

Have a mice trip? Glad to see you

back.

MITCHELL:

Fine, thanks. This is Miss Betty

Mayfield. You have a reservation

for her.

CLERK:

Miss Mayfield. Yes, indeed. A

balcony room on the top floor,

Magnificent view. Nothing above it

but the penthouse.

He pushes registration pad towards Betty, and she signs.

Mitchell turns, looks out across lobby. A malicious smile

move his lips.

MITCHELL'S POV

One side of the lobby is a glassed-in-terrace. It is tea

time and a couple of large tea wagons are being pushed

around among the guests by FOOTMEN in uniform. With each

tea wagon are two neat MAIDS, who set out cups, pass

sandwiches, cakes, etc., While the FOOTMAN pours the tea.

CLOSER SHOT:

A tea wagon beside a table at which sit MR. CLARENDON and

MARGO WEST. Mr. Clarendon is elegant, white-haired,

aristocratic-looking, a cane and spats type. Margo is

handsome, thirty-ish, almost overpoweringly well-dressed.

Obviously money, obviously been around. Margo is studying

her face in a pocket mirror. Tea wagon and maids move away.

MARGO:

I'm getting positively haggard.

In a couple of years people will

be describing me as well preserved.

CLARENDON:

(looking off)

I see out friend Larry Mitchell is

with us again.

Margo's hand stops in mid-air, holding mirror. She looks

up slowly.

MARGO:

I couldn't care less.

Just the same, she sees in which direction. Clarendon is

looking and starts to turn.

CLARENDON:

And with a very beautiful girl, if

my eyes don't deceive me at this

distance.

Margo reacts and swings around, CAMERA PANNING.

Larry and Betty have turned away from the desk and are

going towards elevators, BELLHOP behind them. Larry is

bending towards Betty intimately. Margo turns back to

Clarendon. Her face is frozen with a controlled emotion.

MARGO:

I don't think I want any tea.

She picks up her bag and stands up. Goes out of shot.

Clarendon looks after her with a malicious smile.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. ROYAL HOTEL - MARGO'S SUITE - LIVING ROOM -- DAY

Its is very spacious, obviously expensive. It is empty at

the moment. Margo unlocks door from outside, comes in,

shuts and c*cks door, walks swiftly into room, throws her

bag viciously on the desk, yanks her hat off, throws it on

chair. She goes over to the balcony window, takes cigarette

out of box on the desk, her hand shakes as she lights it

with lighter. She puffs at it furiously, looking out of

window. After a moment, she snubs out in an ashtray, moves

across to telephone, picks it up.

MARGO:

(into phone)

Mr. Larry Mitchell, please

(a beat, she changes

her mind)

No, never mind.

She puts telephone back in cradle and goes back to cigarette

box, lights another cigarette in the same nervous, jerky

manner, and puffs again. There is a KNOCK ON THE DOOR. She

spins around, walks quickly to door, throws it open.

Mitchell comes in. She says nothing as he moves in past

her. She shuts the door.

MITCHELL:

I'm afraid you're not very glad to

see me, Margo.

MARGO:

(between her teeth)

With your charm? How could I help

it? Have a nice trip?

MITCHELL:

So-so.

MARGO:

Who's the girl?

MITCHELL:

Her name's Mayfield. Betty Mayfield.

MARGO:

Nice.

MITCHELL:

She's just a girl I met on the

train. You don't mind do you?

MARGO:

(tartly)

Why should I mind?

MITCHELL:

You shouldn't. You washed me up

very thoroughly.

MARGO:

As thoroughly as I could. It wasn't

easy. But you are helping me.

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