Sweet Smell of Success Page #23

SUSAN:

Why?

HUNSECKER:

What a question, dear, with that

newspaper in your hand...

SUSAN:

(pausing)

Did Sidney tell you about it?

HUNSECKER:

Yes, he phoned. I don't know this

boy too well. Anything in these

charges?

She shakes her head.

HUNSECKER:

Not being partial, are you?

SUSAN:

(with quiet certainty)

No, I'm not. I'm not!

He soothes, smiles indulgent, but watchful:

HUNSECKER:

Susie, take it easy. I'll trust

your judgment - you don't have to

protest with me.

With a paternal gesture of affection, he holds out his arms,

inviting her into his comforting embrace. Not wanting to,

she walks into his open waiting arms.

HUNSECKER:

Why are you trembling, dear...?

SUSAN:

History repeats itself. Everything

that happened to Alan Leslie...began

with a smear like this...

Hunsecker considers this gravely, as if it was a new and

troubling thought.

HUNSECKER:

Yes...

She leaves his arms; he watches keenly.

SUSAN:

(incoherent)

It's just as if I've seen a ghost

today...

HUNSECKER:

(quickly)

But that wasn't your fault, dear,

what happened to Leslie. I've told

you that a million times...

He goes to her gently; she appraises both him and her

wrenched life with brooding, frightened eyes.

SUSAN:

Then whose fault was it, J.J.? It

was someone's fault, wasn't it?

HUNSECKER:

(gravely)

I wouldn't have called the boy

exactly balanced...

SUSAN:

(stronger)

Alan was not...unbalanced when I

married him. And he was

not...'indifferent to women' no

matter what they said!

HUNSECKER:

(simply)

I'm not fighting with you, puss...

She gets up and walks around in considerable agitation.

SUSAN:

He never would have killed himself

if I hadn't gone through with the

annulment. Don't you see that made

all the rumors seem true? I should

have stood up for him...not run out.

She turns to Hunsecker, her manner firmer.

SIDNEY:

J.J., I want you to get them back

their job, Steve and the Quintet.

HUNSECKER:

("incredulously")

You mean they've been fired already,

on the basis of this crude smear?

He walks away with a wag of indignation, but turns, asking:

HUNSECKER:

Susie, you're sure there isn't some

fire where there's this much smoke?

Susan shakes her head emphatically.

SIDNEY:

(earnestly)

I know Steve. No.

HUNSECKER:

Then maybe you can tell me if he's

as solid as you say, why does he

rap me every chance he gets?

SUSAN:

(involuntarily)

Sidney is a liar!

HUNSECKER:

Who said Sidney?

SUSAN:

(defiantly)

I said Sidney!...

Staring, he pauses; then he deftly changes the subject.

HUNSECKER:

You know, dear, we're drifting

apart, you and I, and I don't like

that.

SUSAN:

I thought we were talking about

Sidney?

HUNSECKER:

(with rasp)

Let me finish, dear. You had your

say, now let me have mine...

SUSAN:

(interrupting)

I haven't said anything yet, J.J.,

but if -

Susan hesitates. Hunsecker waits for her to continue. But

she isn't yet sure enough of herself or of the point she

means to make. She turns away.

HUNSECKER:

(gently)

I started to say we're drifting

apart. A year ago, in your wildest

dreams, would you have walked by

that door without taking up this

situation with me? Today I had to

call you in!

SUSAN:

I'm taking up the situation with

you now...

HUNSECKER:

(interrupting)

Susie, I want to help you--,

there's nothing I won't do for you.

You're all I've got in the whole,

wide world.

Hunsecker strides about, elaborately playing on a note of

disillusion and pain.

HUNSECKER:

(continuing)

Well, what have I got? Alimony to

a pair of tramps? They're of no

concern to me. It's you who count,

but don't get me wrong - I don't

intend to let you break your neck

again!

SIDNEY:

J.J., you said you want to help

me - prove it!

HUNSECKER:

(quietly)

How?

SIDNEY:

Get Steve back his job...please...

HUNSECKER:

(pausing)

He means that much to you...?

SIDNEY:

(simply)

Yes.

(then)

With your "prestige" it only takes

a minute - ten cents worth of

American Tel and Tel.

HUNSECKER:

You're picking up my lingo, hon.

SIDNEY:

(levelly)

I read your column every day...

He looks at her with pursed lips and, for a change, some

real interest. Her level, straightforward manner has pinned

him down completely; he shows a slow, charming grin, as he

goes for a private phone book:

HUNSECKER:

Susie, I like this new attitude of

yours. You're growing up and I

like it! I don't like it when

you're limp and dependent, when

you're odd and wayward. This gives

you a chance for real survival in a

very lousy world. Because, don't

forget, dear, you won't always have

me with you, will you...?

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