Sweet Smell of Success Page #24

SIDNEY:

No, I won't...

He crosses to the white desk phone, delaying dialing for a

moment:

HUNSECKER:

This Dallas boy must be good for

you. Why not bring him around

today, before the show? This time

I'll clean my glasses for a better

look.

Susan doesn't like this idea, is evasive:

SIDNEY:

I'm not sure I can reach him in time.

HUNSECKER:

(easily)

Sure you can if you want to, and I

know you'll want to...

(then)

By the way, what's your beef

against little Sidney?

SUSAN:

(steadily)

When I'm certain, I'll let you

know...

HUNSECKER:

A man couldn't ask for a squarer

shake.

(into phone)

Let me have Billy Van Cleve...

(then)

Don't ever tell anyone, Susie, how

I'm tied to your apron strings...

(to phone)

Billy! J.J.! What's this about

that boy? What boy? Where are we,

lug, in a drawing room comedy?

You're brain is warming up,

sweetheart - yeah, Dallas!...

(then)

No, don't explain your point of

view, but...

EXT. TV THEATRE - DAY

CAMERA SHOOTS TOWARDS the entrance to the TV theatre. A

line of people are queuing for Hunsecker's TV Broadcast

which is advertised by large posters beside the entrance. A

taxi drives up in foreground; Susan Hunsecker gets out.

SIDNEY:

Sidney comes up Sixth Avenue towards the theatre. As he

reaches the corner of the building, he halts, having seen...

SUSAN:

Susan is seen in the act of paying the driver. As the taxi

pulls away, Susan walks CAMERA left.

TV THEATRE:

Susan pauses, deciding not to enter the theatre; turning she

looks about her and waits on the sidewalk outside.

SIDNEY:

Sidney decides that this is not the moment to approach Susan.

He glances down the sidestreet then moves off in that

direction.

SIDESTREET:

Sidney moves down the sidestreet towards a stage entrance,

through which are emerging some TV technicians. He slips

inside.

INT. TV STATION

Hunsecker is standing at a table, stop watch in hand,

reading aloud from a script which he is rehearsing and

timing. Beside him sits Mary busy typing more of the

material from Hunsecker's handwritten note. Mary is calm,

but he is irritable, trying to concentrate despite the

bustle around him.

An old movie star, MILDRED TAM, sits waiting in one of the

canvas-backed chairs supplied for the guests on the show.

BURTON, a manager, also waits, deadpan, at Hunsecker's elbow.

Hunsecker clicks his stop watch as he reads:

HUNSECKER:

"I was reminded of it this morning,

when I noticed that the birds had

gone South. We want the same kind

of freedom for ourselves - that's

what the man said!

(he clicks the watch,

pauses to underline

the phrase, continues:)

A man has the right to face his

accusers! That's the American Way!

Who said? The man said! From..."

He turns in exasperation to Burton.

HUNSECKER:

Burton, don't stand around. If I

go over I'll cut some items off the

tail...

Burton departs. Mary whips a second sheet out of the

typewriter, hands it to Hunsecker. As he accepts it,

Hunsecker looks off towards the auditorium.

SIDNEY:

SHOOTING towards the auditorium, from Hunsecker's viewpoint.

Sidney mounts the steps onto the stage. Seeing that the

columnist is surrounded but knowing that J.J. wants to talk

to him privately, Sidney loiters so that J.J. can join him

as soon as he chooses to. CAMERA PULLS BACK to include

Hunsecker. Only momentarily distracted by private

considerations connected with Sidney's arrival, Hunsecker

returns to the business of timing the script. He clicks the

watch again...

HUNSECKER:

"From Washington through to

Jefferson, from Lincoln and F.D.R.

right up to today - the Democratic

Way of Life! That's what the man

said! Nowadays it doesn't export

to well...

(then, concluding)

But you know...and I know...that

our best secret weapon is D-E-M-O-

C-R-A-C-Y.

(dropping to a modest tone)

Let's never forget it, ladies and

gentlemen."

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Sidney lingers beside the old movie star who is listening,

rapt, to Hunsecker's words. Sidney is less impressed with

J.J.'s eloquence. At the conclusion, Mildred applauds

lightly. She stands up and moves towards J.J. J.J. wants

to talk to Sidney but is frustrated by the old movie star.

MILDRED TAM:

That's grand, just grand, J.J.!

(then, anxiously)

Is my makeup all right? You know,

despite the scads of movies I've

made, I've never appeared on TV

yet...

HUNSECKER:

(cutting her short)

Of course, Mildred. Of course.

You look fine.

(swiftly summoning Mary)

Mary, help Miss Tam - anything she

wants; she's our star today.

Under the pretense of studying the typed script, J.J. walks

away across the stage. Sidney strolls after him.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

A TRACKING SHOT. Sidney comes up beside Hunsecker, falls

into step beside him. As they cross towards a water cooler

at the back of the stage, they talk in rapid undertone.

HUNSECKER:

I got that boy coming over here.

(a glance at Sidney)

What's so funny?

SIDNEY:

(who is smiling faintly)

With a pocket fulla firecrackers -

good.

HUNSECKER:

(narrowly)

I think you loused this up but good.

If I can trust my eyes, and I think

I can, Susie knows all about your

dirty work.

SIDNEY:

(shrugging)

Can't hurt...

HUNSECKER:

(incredulously)

Can't hurt? I had to get him back

his job.

SIDNEY:

(smugly)

I like that, too.

(closer, faster)

Look, J.J., we can wrap this up in

one neat bundle, addressed to the

dumps - to oblivion. We're going

great, but please play it my way.

I cased this kid.

Know his ins and outs...He's fulla

juice and vinegar, just begging for

some big shot like you to give him

a squeeze. Do little Sidney a

favor:
squeeze! - You know, J.J. -

the porcupine bit - needles.

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