Playback Page #9

The man chuckles, Margo looks around at him.

MARGO:

What's so funny?

Killaine wipes the smile off his face.

KILLAINE:

(imitating boy)

I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. West.

As she stares at him, he takes his monocle out of his

pocket, polishes it, sticks it in his eye.

MARGO:

Oh, the Coldstream Guards.

(a beat)

Don't you take your hat off in

elevators?

KILLAINE:

(pleasantly)

I never wear a hat.

(his face changes

to consternation)

Oh, so I am. I forgot.

(he takes his hat

off)

I guess I'm terribly sorry again,

Mrs. West.

Elevator stops.

ELEVATOR BOY:

Penthouse floor, please.

Margo sweeps out, Killaine follows her.

INT. ROYAL HOTEL - PENTHOUSE FLOOR - LOBBY -- NIGHT

As they cross to the Penthouse door.

KILLAINE:

May I?

He pushes the button.

MARGO:

May you what?

KILLAINE:

Oh nothing.

MARGO:

Are you always this witty?

Killaine laughs as the door opens. Brandon stands in it.

BRANDON:

Hi Margo. Hello Killaine. You two

come together?

MARGO:

In the same elevator. It is a public

conveyance.

CAMERA TAKES THEM INTO THE ROOM the door starts to close.

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

Brandon, Killaine and Margo standing by the door.

BRANDON:

Let me introduce you. Mr. Killaine,

Mrs. West.

MARGO:

(not looking at

Killaine)

Fascinated.

Her eyes roam the room. She picks out Mitchell. Her

expression freezes.

MARGO'S POV

WHAT SHE SEES -- Betty is sitting in her chair in a corner

and Mitchell is standing over her, his hand on the back of

the chair. Her expression is wooden. His is a mixture of

insolence and pleading.

CAMERA RETURNS TO MARGO, BRANDON AND KILLAINE as they cross

to the bar.

At the same time Mitchell leaves Betty, also crosses to

the bar, reaches it about the same time as Margo. Margo

gives Mitchell a long, cool, empty stare. Mitchell smiles

a little sheepishly, embarrassed even in his drunkenness.

At the same time Mitchell leaves Betty, also crosses to

the bar, reaches it about the same time as Margo. Margo

gives Mitchell a long, cool, empty stare. Mitchell smiles

a little sheepishly, embarrassed even in his drunkenness.

BRANDON:

What'll you have, Margo?

MARGO:

(without looking at

him)

Martini.

BRANDON:

(to Killaine)

You, Killaine?

KILLAINE:

Scotch and plain water, I think.

MARGO:

(not looking at him)

Warm water, no doubt.

BRANDON:

What?

KILLAINE:

A private joke.

He gets the monocle out and sticks it in his eye again.

KILLAINE:

It goes with this... cold houses

and warm drinks...the effete

Englishman.

BRANDON:

You're not English.

Bartender serves drinks. Margo puts her bag down on the

bar. It makes a heavy CLUNKING SOUND. KILLAINE'S eyes go

to it, without too much expression. Mitchell reacts more.

To him the clunking sound has a meaning. He starts to reach

for the bag. Margo pointedly moves it away from him.

MITCHELL:

(to Margo thickly)

I'm sorry. I forgot about calling

for you.

MARGO:

It's quite unimportant, Mr.

Mitchell. After all, you got what

you wanted.

MITCHELL:

Be nasty.

MARGO:

I have no intension of being nasty,

Mr. Mitchell.

MITCHELL:

In that case, there's someone here

I'd like to introduce to you. Over

there.

Margo looks towards Betty. She reacts.

MARGO:

(almost to herself)

She is beautiful. And young.

(she turns back to

Mitchell)

No thank you.

MITCHELL:

(aggressively)

I say YES!

Margo quietly turning her back on him and reaching for her

glass.

MARGO:

You're not the type to be masterful,

darling. It takes character.

Mitchell reaches for her shoulder and spins her around,

causing her to slop some of her drink out on the bar.

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