Sweet Smell of Success Page #10

Hunsecker has started his speech lightly, but it has built

up to enough cold contempt and feeling to embarrass and

intimidate the others at the table. In conclusion,

Hunsecker, his eyes on Sidney, picks up a cigarette and

waits expectantly...

HUNSECKER:

(quietly)

Match me, Sidney...

SIDNEY:

(coolly)

Not just this minute, J.J....

Amused, Hunsecker lights his own cigarette, turns towards a

man who comes up to the table.

HUNSECKER:

A single close up, to intercut with the above.

SIDNEY:

A matching single; Sidney's reaction to Hunsecker and to the

others at the table.

THE AGENT, THE GIRL AND THE SENATOR

To intercut with the above; their reactions of embarrassment.

GROUP SHOT:

A florid MAN comes up to the table, obviously anxious to

catch Hunsecker's attention. Hunsecker, in the act of

lighting, his own cigarette, scarcely looks at the man as he

dismisses him:

HUNSECKER:

I know - that loafer of yours opens

at the Latin Quarter next week.

(more sharply)

Say goodbye, Lester!

The florid man retreats. To cover the embarrassment, the

Senator makes a sally in Sidney's direction.

SENATOR:

May I ask a naive question, Mr.

Falco? Exactly how does a press

agent work...?

SIDNEY AND HUNSECKER

Sidney doesn't answer.

HUNSECKER:

Why don't you answer the man,

Sidalee? He's trying to take you

off the hook.

SIDNEY:

(to the Senator)

You just had a good example of it.

A press agent eats a columnists

dirt and is expected to call it

manna.

RESUME THE AGENT, THE GIRL AND THE SENATOR

GIRL:

What's manna?

RESUME HUNSECKER AND SIDNEY

Hunsecker glances spitefully at the Girl.

HUNSECKER:

Heaven dust.

RESUME THE AGENT, THE GIRL AND THE SENATOR

The Senator continues to Sidney:

SENATOR:

But don't you help columnists by

furnishing them with items?

RESUME SIDNEY AND HUNSECKER

Sidney leans forward, indicating to the Senator some of the

items of paper that litter the table in front of Hunsecker;

these are both handwritten notes and mimeograph sheets,

scraps of assorted items from professional and amateur

agents who supply the columnist. Sidney fingers some of them.

SIDNEY:

Sure, columnists can't get along

without us. Only our good and

great friend, J.J., forgets to

mention that. We furnish him with

items -

Sidney lifts a mimeographed sheet, as an example.

HUNSECKER:

What, some cheap, gruesome gags?

SIDNEY:

(to Hunsecker now)

You print them, don't you?

HUNSECKER:

Yes, with your clients' names

attached. That's the only reason

those poor slobs pay you - to see

their names in my column all over

the world! Now, as I make it out,

you're doing ME a favor!

SIDNEY:

I didn't say that, J.J.

HUNSECKER:

The day that I can't get along

without press agents' handouts,

I'll close up shop, lock, stock and

barrel and move to Alaska.

THE AGENT, THE GIRL AND THE SENATOR

The Agent makes the mistake of trying to agree with Hunsecker.

AGENT:

(nodding)

Sweep out my igloo, here I come.

CAMERA pulls back as Hunsecker leans forward across the

table. He vents upon the unfortunate Agent some of the

annoyance prompted by Sidney's impertinence.

HUNSECKER:

(to the Agent)

Look, Manny, you rode in here on

the Senator's shirt tails, so shut

your mouth!

The Senator doesn't like this treatment of others and his

manner and face show it.

SENATOR:

(slowly)

Now, come, J.J., that's a little

too harsh. Anyone seems fair game

for you tonight.

HUNSECKER:

(not as harsh, but -)

This man is not for you, Harvey,

and you shouldn't be seen with him

in public. Because that's another

part of a press agents life - he

digs up scandal among prominent men

and shovels it thin among the

columnists who give him space.

SENATOR:

He finds Hunsecker's manner disturbing, but addresses him

frontally.

SENATOR:

There is some allusion here that

escapes me...

HUNSECKER:

HUNSECKER:

(an edge of threat)

We're friends, Harvey - we go as

far back as when you were a fresh

kid Congressman, don't we?

RESUME SENATOR:

SENATOR:

Why does everything you say sound

like a threat?

RESUME HUNSECKER

He leans back, speaking more quietly, enjoying himself.

HUNSECKER:

Maybe it's a mannerism - because I

don't threaten friends, Harvey.

But why furnish your enemies with

ammunition? You're a family man.

Someday, with God willing, you may

wanna be President. Now here you

are, Harvey, out in the open where

any hep person knows that this one...

AGENT:

Hunsecker leans into shot pointing directly at the Agent.

HUNSECKER:

(continuing)

...is toting THAT one...

Hunsecker points to the Girl and the CAMERA makes a slight

crab movement to include the Girl as Hunsecker points in

turn to her.

HUNSECKER:

(continuing)

...around for you...

Another CAMERA movement. Now Hunsecker is directly

challenging the Senator.

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