Ruthless Page #8

Buck's got me in such a tight spot.

I know.

McDonald has every cent he can

raise behind me, but it's not enough.

If Buck keeps holding that stock

down .. we're overextended.

I've been thinking

about it for a long time.

I can help.

Hello, darling.

I suppose the obvious thing would be for

me to say that I can explain everything.

Well, I can't .. not now.

It's quite alright.

I think I understand.

Susan.

Christa, if you will

excuse us for a moment.

He'll probably make you pay

someday because you saw this.

I imagine this is no

time for clever remarks.

It had to happen.

I'm just sorry you were here.

It doesn't matter, darling.

Christa.

Hmm?

Darling.

Oh.

What's the matter?

You are beautiful, Christa.

Put on the light.

No, please.

Turn it on. I want to get up.

Why did you wake me when

I was finally able to sleep?

Now I'll have a headache until morning.

Buck, sometimes you have

utterly no consideration.

Christa, darling.

Please give me that negligee.

And don't hang over me.

I don't want to be touched.

Not even by me?

I'm sorry, Christa.

I love you so much that

sometimes it just wells up in me.

And I can't control it.

You understand, don't you?

I don't expect you to love

me as much as I love you.

How could you?

And yet that is the very

thing that frightens me.

I want to build a cage around you.

A cage of gold and precious stones.

That's exactly what you've done.

I've been in a cage ever since

you bought me from father.

Along with this land the other chattels.

Darling.

What is it?

I've offended you?

No. You haven't offended me.

You'd rather die than hurt my feelings.

Yes.

I know that .. and you've a

collection of French tapestries.

You would be ill if something

happened to one of them.

I don't know what you mean.

Yes you do.

I don't want to be a collector's item.

Darling.

Your headache.

Please. Please got back to bed.

No .. because now I've the

courage to tell you a lot of things.

I may not have it in the morning.

You have nothing to tell me.

I've educated you.

I've surrounded you

with love and luxury.

I've given you everything.

Not youth!

You knew I'd see it someday.

You couldn't always guard me from it.

Well I have seen it, and

I don't want to let it go.

I'm leaving you.

You tell me after.

Not before.

Yes.

Is it someone I know?

I think you know him very well.

He just had the best of

you in a business deal.

Vendig?

And you're the one ..

Who betrayed me with that land deal.

Buck, I can't trust for my

affection and not my loyalty.

Christa.

Can he love you more than I do?

Can he give you more?

He gives me youth, life.

The things I've needed.

You know what he's like.

You can reach up and pull his hair

and he laughs and fights back.

He's fun, he's alive .. he's like me.

Do you think you could keep me now?

Look!

Look!

Look at yourself!

[ Off ]

"Buck, can you hear me?

This is Ted Mallard."

Who can find a virtuous woman?

[ Off ]

"Will you please sign

this power of attorney."

Who value fire above rubies.

[ Door knocks ]

The heart of her husband trusted in her.

She doeth him good.

Not evil.

All the days of her life.

And all her household

are clothed in the scarlet.

[ Off ]

Buck!

Wait.

Wait!

Let me first find out.

Have the hounds dragged me down yet?

How do we stand?

If you sign over every

control you have ..

You may yet save some

of the board's directors.

It's a little too late to save yourself.

Here's the proof.

Never mind.

The touch of happiness in your voice.

Is all the proof I need.

33. Up.

Well, hello.

Hello, Christa. How was Paris?

Friendly, Vic. Very friendly.

That must have been nice.

44. Vendig Incorporated.

Your floor, Mr Lambdin.

Thanks.

A very warm sort of homecoming.

So many thousands of people down

at the pier to kiss me ashore.

That I couldn't find my own husband.

He's quite preoccupied

these days, Christa.

The market is in a bad way.

Be sure to be with him

on judgment day, Vic.

He'll need you to plead his case.

It's nice to see you back,

Mr Lambdin. We've missed you.

Thanks. It's fine to be welcomed.

I'll wait in my office until Mr Vendig

is free. Let me know, will you.

Yes, sir.

Mr McDonald. How are you, sir?

Rather tired.

Are you in town for another

flying visit, Mr Lambdin?

Yes, I got in late last night.

I'm going to pull out again after

I've had a few talks with Horace.

I've spoken to him on the phone, but I

haven't seen the old pirate in months.

How is he?

A pirate.

I'm very serious, Mr Lambdin.

I've been sitting here for

four days waiting to see him.

I think your partner is

making me walk the plank.

Four days?

And for ten days prior to that.

I called him repeatedly.

He was either out or

too busy to speak to me.

Oh, there must be some mistake.

Are you aware that this is

Mr McDonald of Montgomery Trust?

Why wasn't he shown in to Mr Vendig?

Sorry, Mr Lambdin.

Mr Vendig is extremely busy.

He gave strict orders that ..

What's the trouble? What do

you want to see him about?

My bank needs a loan.

Five million or our

depositors are wiped out.

That bad?

It's very simple.

Too much of our resources

were Dorchester's stock.

Sold to us before this panic.

As part of Vendig's carefully

prepared short-selling campaign.

But he wouldn't do that. Not to you.

We can't even discuss that point.

He's already done it.

It's all my fault.

I'm personally responsible

for what's happened to us.

I allowed my friendship towards him to

blind me to his peculiar ethical code.

Well, he's see you now or you're

going to witness a head-on collision.

Tell Mr Vendig I've arrived.

Yes?

"Mr Lambdin has arrived sir.

He wants to see you."

Just a moment.

Do you wish to carry this on in Vic's

presence, or rather keep it private?

Tell him come in in

just about half a minute.

"Yes, sir."

You've already told this to Vic.

I could see it in his face.

As a matter of fact,

I haven't told him a word.

Now let's see .. where were we?

Oh yes .. you were in Paris.

That boy in Paris was

nothing but a protge.

He paints divinely.

I thought of a very pretty speech

of your own in which you said ..

"People with no creative talent

ought to help those who have it."

Christa .. are you trying to

appeal to my sense of humour?

No, you've never had one.

I asked you to come here because I don't

intend for you to go back to the house.

Everything that belongs to

you is ready and waiting.

As soon as you've

checked into a hotel ..

Let me know and I'll tell my

lawyers where they may serve you.

And with that, may I

consider myself dismissed?

If you care to put it that way.

And without even the

customary 2-weeks notice?

Don't try sarcasm on me, Christa.

I might pull out your Paris record.

How did you expect me to behave?

Like a woman who had a

husband she loved and respected?

Have you given me a better life

than I had with Buck Mansfield?

I left him because I needed you.

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