Sweet Smell of Success Page #31

STEVE:

Why did you call me?

SUSAN:

Would you buy me a cup of coffee?

In there...

REVERSE ANGLE:

Susan nods in the direction of the door into the little cafe.

STEVE:

Sure.

As he walks with her towards the cafe:

STEVE:

We're on our way to Robard's for a

benefit. I've only got five

minutes...

INT. CAFE

As they enter the cafe, the Counterman looks up from counting

the day's take at the far end.

COUNTERMAN:

Too late for service.

STEVE:

Just two cups of java.

COUNTERMAN:

(with a twinkle)

We serve here only moka coffee.

STEVE:

(smiling faintly)

Make it moke.

The Counterman goes to the urn for the coffee.

SUSAN AND STEVE:

A closer angle. They talk in quiet undertones. Steve waits

for her to speak first; she starts slowly, hesitantly, with

difficulty:

SUSAN:

Steve...what you tried to do

today...you tried to take me up on

a high mountain...I couldn't go all

the way...I failed you...

(a pause)

Will you forgive me?

(then)

Have I lost you, Steve? Have I...?

STEVE:

Well, maybe I was wrong, too... But

there's no doubt, Susie, that we

have to face some serious things...

SUSAN:

No one's ever stood up to my

brother the way you did.

STEVE:

(quietly, to the point)

But you didn't do much about it,

Susie. You walked out, and there I

was...solo...and not too good at

that.

SUSAN:

I just didn't think that I could

antagonize him, Steve -- for OUR

sake, I mean.

STEVE:

STEVE:

Susie, I was there for OUR sake,

too. But what a world it would be

if we were all afraid to learn to

walk and talk because it might

offend poppa! By the way, I think

your brother was completely

responsible for the smears...

SUSAN:

This accusation is made lightly, in passing. But Susan

reacts to it, trying to interject:

SUSAN:

Steve, I...

STEVE:

(overriding her)

But I don't care about that now.

He knew what he was doing today.

He was laying down the conditions

under which he MIGHT consent to our

marriage - if I would bend to every

whim of his, like Sidney! I

couldn't do that, Susie...

SUSAN:

After a pause, she says:

SUSAN:

You're saying goodbye, aren't you?

SUSAN AND STEVE:

Steve flares up.

STEVE:

No! I'm saying that for your sake

you have to make a clean break with

your brother!

SUSAN:

(wrenched)

But, please, Steve, please - one

step at a time! I was born only

yesterday!...

STEVE:

(pausing, softer)

I told your brother I couldn't be

his accomplice. I can't be yours

either, Susie, and encourage him to

go on pulverizing you. I know what

type - he's my old man all over

again!

Susan, pathetically despairing, fingers the handle of her

coffee cup, which she has not touched. The coat slips from

her shoulders...

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Steve stoops to pick it up, replaces it on her shoulders.

STEVE:

This beautiful coat is more than

just a coat... I hate it! It's a

mink straight-jacket!

Susan turns to him. She is deflated, lacking all will power.

SUSAN:

(drooping)

Steve, I feel exhausted...what do

you want me to do?

STEVE:

(not sure of himself)

Not what you're doing now. At

least don't ask me - don't ask him.

You're fighting for your life!

What do YOU want to do?

SUSAN:

(pausing, woodenly)

You are saying goodbye, aren't

you...?

STEVE:

He reacts vigorously, protesting:

STEVE:

(impatiently)

That's fish four days old...! I

can't buy it, Susie! Right out of

that mouth I love, like you're a

ventriloquist's dummy, your BROTHER

is saying goodbye! Gee!...you want

me to be honest, don't you?!

SUSAN:

A despairing cry:

SUSAN:

No, Steve, I don't. I don't. Not

if it KILLS me I don't!...

SUSAN AND STEVE:

It takes her a moment to recover. When she does so, she

gets up, leaving the counter.

SUSAN:

(without luster)

Let's not talk any more...you have

to go...

She moves towards the exit into the hallway; he follows.

HALLWAY:

D'Angelo is waiting for them. Silently they come up to join

him, very depressed. Susan looks towards D'Angelo, speaks a

little pathetically:

SUSAN:

Goodbye, Mr. D'Angelo. Take care

of Steve.

D'ANGELO

(softly)

I will, Miss Hunsecker.

He walks a little way down the corridor, again leaving them

alone.

SUSAN AND STEVE:

She smiles at him, trying to smile, trying to make a joke.

SUSAN:

Say something funny...Mr.

Hasenfeffer.

Steve steps to her quickly, kisses her. Then he turns and

swiftly walks off down the corridor without a backward

glance. He goes past D'Angelo, who walks quietly after him

towards the exit in background.

SUSAN:

She remains just in the attitude in which he left her.

EXT. BRILL BUILDING - NIGHT

Steve comes out of the door, pauses without looking back.

D'Angelo comes up behind him.

STEVE:

(after a moment)

Look back, Frank, see if she's

still standing there...

D'Angelo looks discreetly over his shoulder.

SUSAN:

From D'Angelo's point of view. She is still standing where

Steve left her.

RESUME STEVE AND D'ANGELO

D'Angelo turns back to Steve.

D'ANGELO

Still there...

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