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Sweet Smell of Success Page #22
- NOT RATED
- Year:
- 1957
- 96 min
- 740 Views
SIDNEY:
You know, Sally, sometimes I get
the impression you think you live
in Star-Bright Park. This is life,
kid - get used to it!
Sidney comes to the phone on her desk. He dials. Then he
glances swiftly at Sally and, carrying the phone, walks into
the bedroom, dragging the long cord behind him.
INT. BEDROOM
When the phone comes alive, Sidney pushes the bedroom door
shut. The gesture is as casual as he can contrive to make
it. Keeping his voice fairly low so that it cannot be heard
in the other room, he says:
SIDNEY:
(to phone)
Nikko, is Mr. Hunsecker there?
This is Mr. Falco. Well, have him
call me as soon as he can. It's
important.
He sets the phone down on the bedside table, looks at it
thoughtfully before he goes back to the bedroom door, opens
it and goes back into the office.
INT. OFFICE
Sidney stands on the threshold, studying Sally. His manner
is now more sympathetic as he asks:
SIDNEY:
Did you send my folks in Philly the
check...?
SALLY:
Yes.
Leaving the bedroom door open, Sidney comes up to her,
watches her shrewdly, cautiously.
SIDNEY:
(softly)
Chickie...
SALLY:
(low-voiced)
I know you do, Sidney.
SIDNEY:
Don't judge a situation where you
don't know what's involved...
Sally is putting paper in the typewriter, trying to hold her
head up.
SALLY:
I'm not judging...
Sidney comes closer to her. He puts his hand on the nape of
her neck, carrassing her. Under his touch, the girl is
unhappy, and yet at the same time, responsive. Sidney still
has power over her but she is disturbed by feelings of shame.
Feeling her relaxed, Sidney bends and kisses her on the side
of the throat with more than negligence, for something about
her always excites him; his aggression tune in with her
submissiveness.
SALLY:
(pathetically)
I swear, Sidney, I can't help it -
sometimes I wonder what I see in
you...
SIDNEY:
(murmuring)
That's no way to talk...
SALLY:
Or what you see in me, for that
matter...
SIDNEY:
Stay down town tonight. Maybe
we'll take in a show, etc.
SALLY:
If you want me to -
The phone in the bedroom rings. Sidney, reacting sharply,
forgets his advances to Sally as he turns towards the bedroom.
SIDNEY:
(exhilarated)
You see? Hunsecker's gotta phone ME!
He goes into the bedroom, closing the door as he goes.
Sally looks at the closed door.
INT. BEDROOM
Sidney has picked up the phone.
SIDNEY:
(calmly)
Hello, J.J....I presume you saw the
Elwell smear.
(smiling)
No, no medals - not yet. Oh, it's
worse than that - Aunty Van Cleve
is firing them...from the horse's
mouth... They were just here - in a
panic...
INT. HUNSECKER'S PENTHOUSE - THE STUDY - DAY
Hunsecker wears a dressing gown as he sits at his breakfast
table. Behind him are the big glass windows to the terrace
overlooking the Manhattan skyline. The papers are at
Hunsecker's elbow; his manner is crisp and cold:
HUNSECKER:
Who was just there?
(then)
You'll be the death of me. Sidalee!
Why? Didn't you just tell me that
they've already traced this smear
to you? All they have to do now is
to put two and two together and I'm
a chicken in a pot!
RESUME SIDNEY'S APARTMENT
Sidney smiles confidently, answers calmly:
SIDNEY:
J.J., peace on earth, good will to
men - it's working out just the way
I planned. Yeah, I guarantee this
bomb will pop right on schedule,
but you have to play your part -
you be a Saint and let me be the
Devil. But I wanna talk to you
first...
RESUME HUNSECKER'S PENTHOUSE
Hunsecker pauses, eyes full of cold voltage.
HUNSECKER:
Don't come here. Susie is up and
about.
(listening)
He called her? You'd better see me
He bangs down the phone, tense thought in his manner.
INT. SIDNEY'S APARTMENT
Sally is busy with her typing again, but in a depressed mood
when Sidney comes out of the bedroom to put the phone down
on her desk again. He seems satisfied with himself, smug.
Sally watches him for a moment. Then:
SALLY:
What are you going to do?
Sidney prepares to leave the apartment. His tone is full of
confidence, self-assertive. (For once Sidney is certain
that he is smarter, more cunning than even Hunsecker).
SIDNEY:
(the wise one)
they're smart. You watch. They're
dumb:
they'll do the work for me!Just watch.
Sidney makes for the door, goes out.
Susan buys paper - DOLLY with her - toward elevator - she
gets in.
INT. HUNSECKER'S LIVING ROOM
J.J. has not moved; he is thoughtful and morose. Nikko, the
Japanese butler, comes in to remove the breakfast table.
HUNSECKER:
The table can wait. No calls. I
have to think about my TV show.
NIKKO:
Pleased to do. I will come back
later.
HUNSECKER:
(abruptly)
Did you put the bread out on the
terrace for the birds?
NIKKO:
Yes, but they don't come no more
this time of year.
Smiling, Nikko leaves. Hunsecker picks up a pencil and
makes a note on a pad, about birds no doubt. Abruptly he
looks up, calling:
HUNSECKER:
Susie! Come in a minute, dear...
She has been trying to pass unnoticed to her room. She
comes forward to him; her manner is serious and wary. His
act is one of a tasteful Mammy singer, but he is watchful,
too.
HUNSECKER:
Susie, you're very much in my
thoughts today.
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"Sweet Smell of Success" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 Sep. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/sweet_smell_of_success_524>.
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