Sweet Smell of Success Page #20

Sidney stops briskly up the stairs into the corridor.

Evans, angry, is stalled for a moment of delay action by

mention of the magic name of Hunsecker.

EVANS:

(after hesitation)

Listen, you bull artist - !

TEMPLE:

Let him go, Al...

SIDNEY:

But Sidney has already stepped to the phone booth and is

dialing.

SIDNEY:

(to phone)

Hello? Mary, let me speak to J.J.,

please...it's Sidney Falco...

REVERSE ANGLE:

Shooting past Sidney in foreground onto Temple and Evans

beyond, they watch him, open-mouthed. Sidney notes their

reaction.

SIDNEY:

(to phone)

Tell him it's important...

INT. SIDNEY'S APARTMENT - DAY

Gloria is at her desk, bewildered as she speaks into the

phone.

GLORIA:

What? Is this Sidney?...

RESUME BACKSTAGE OF PALACE THEATRE

SIDNEY:

(to phone)

Sure, I'll wait...

While doing so, he glances back with disinterest at Evans

and Temple. The comedian and the agent exchange looks.

Evans is uneasy; he comes up the steps into the corridor to

address Sidney with a deflated manner.

EVANS:

(hesitant)

Look, nobody hired you! We didn't

talk any deal, and -

With his hand over the mouthpiece, Sidney addresses Evans

with contempt.

SIDNEY:

Relax, lump! I told you I'm not

selling fish...

(abruptly reverting

to the phone)

J.J...Sidney!...How are you,

sweetheart?

(laughing)

Yeah...

(then seriously)

Listen, I know it's late, J.J., but

is it too late to add something

important to the column?

(grinning)

No, not a relative, but important...

RESUME - GLORIA IN INT. OF SIDNEY'S APARTMENT

Shaking her head, Gloria places the phone down on the desk,

looks at it as it chatters away. She considers returning to

her typing, but, worried, picks the phone up again. Sidney's

chattering voice is barely audible: "You know Herbie Temple,

the comic...? What about him? He's at the Palace and he's

great. That's what about him. And you'd do me a big bunny

basket of a favor if you would say it in tomorrow's column.

RESUME BACKSTAGE PALACE THEATRE

Temple and Evans are now staring at Sidney with considerable

respect.

REVERSE ANGLE:

The comedian and the agent in foreground, Sidney still on

the phone beyond.

SIDNEY:

Yeah, if you got a pencil there

I'll suggest a word or two.

Uh...uh...

The comedian and the agent in foreground, Sidney still on

the phone beyond.

SIDNEY:

(to phone, continuing)

If there's a funnier man in the

world than Herbie Temple at the

Palace...uh...pardon us for not

catching the name, we were too busy

laughing. No, make that 'screaming'.

(then)

It's sweet of you, J.J., thanks.

Probably see you at Twenty One

tonight. No, for supper, late.

Right. 'Bye...

TEMPLE:

Speak to this lad, Al, ... to Mr.

Falco.

SIDNEY:

See me in my office.

He turns and walks away down the corridor. As he vanishes,

Temple starts after him.

CORRIDOR:

Sidney walks off in the direction of the exit -- (not so

fast that he can't be overtaken). Temple hurries into the

corridor and comes after him. Evans also follows, though

not so eagerly.

TEMPLE:

Wait a minute.

(turning back to

encourage Evans)

Speak to him, Al.

(to Sidney, apologetically)

Al makes all my deals.

Sidney permits himself to be detained.

SIDNEY:

(coolly, looking

toward Evans)

I don't like a guy that's quick

with the hands.

(to Temple)

Temple, you've been three passes

behind for twenty years. This

could start you off big - T.V. and

anywhere.

Evans, not as wholly convinced as the comedian, comes up to

join them. Temple looks at the agent.

TEMPLE:

And it would cost a pretty penny,

huh?

SIDNEY:

(to Evans)

You tell him, I stutter!

EVANS:

(shrewdly)

Uh...Why don't we wait till tomorrow?

Sidney, shrugging, makes a negligent exit.

SIDNEY:

(as he goes)

Wait as long as you like - you know

where my office is.

They look after him. Evans face is cold and suspecting, but

Temple's face contains fresh warmth.

DISSOLVE TO:

STAIRS OUTSIDE SIDNEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Sidney comes briskly up the stairs. Outside his door he

pauses, listens, hearing the murmur of voices inside. Then

he walks in casually.

INT. SIDNEY'S OFFICE - DAY

Sidney steps in, closing the door. He pretends surprise as

he sees...

ANOTHER ANGLE:

...Steve and D'Angelo waiting for him. Sidney comes into

SHOT. Sally remains at her desk while Steve and D'Angelo

are silent, looking at Sidney.

SIDNEY:

(perkily)

What is here, a wake?

D'Angelo rises from the couch, crossing to Sidney to hand

him a copy of the tabloid, The Record. It is folded open at

Elwell's column. As he passes it to Sidney, D'Angelo marks

with his thumbnail an item near the bottom of the column.

Sidney takes the paper and reads. (He reads a little too

quickly.) Then he hands it back to D'Angelo.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Steve notes Sidney's too-perfunctory reading.

STEVE:

You read as you run, don't you?

Sidney turns on Steve, coldly:

SIDNEY:

It's a habit with me. So now I'm

briefed. So what?

STEVE:

(glancing at D'Angelo)

Frank thinks I shouldn't have come

here -

D'ANGELO

(a quick correction)

Excuse me, Steve. I said namely

you shouldn't go around wild,

blaming people without justification.

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