Sweet Smell of Success Page #36

Shaken, Sidney decides to ridicule the implied threat.

SIDNEY:

Honey, I'll just have to smile at

that.

He walks past CAMERA.

RESUME SUSAN:

Sidney walks into shot, going past her on his way to the door.

SIDNEY:

(as he goes)

It's late and I'm going home...

Susan, in foreground, remains quite still, says nothing. In

background, Sidney slows down, his confidence failing him;

he looks back at her.

SIDNEY:

He can't go. Probably, she's bluffing. But he can't be

certain. He is suddenly angry.

RESUME SUSAN AND SIDNEY

He strides back towards her.

SIDNEY:

Susie, whatever problems you have

with J.J. - I didn't invent them!

What're you blaming me for? If you

learned to let out your hatred you

would be better off!

SUSAN:

Like you?

SIDNEY:

Yeah! Like me! I don't choke on

my own gall - I fight back! Let

THEM choke, not me!

SUSAN:

I'm not a man, Sidney, I'm -

SIDNEY:

I know that bit - you're a girl;

you need a man to give you strength!

So what do you pick such weak

sisters for? Don't you know yet

that you fight fire with fire, not

with tear drops?

SUSAN:

I could almost forgive you if what

you did to Steve came from jealousy

and love...

SIDNEY:

(quickly)

I didn't do anything!

SUSAN:

...but you did it for greed,

Sidney - and that's pathetic.

She moves past him. He grips her, turning her around.

SIDNEY:

Don't run away - I was always the

man for you! I'm talking to you

out of two years of silence -

listen to what I say! Inside of

six months -

SUSAN:

(helplessly)

Please, Sidney, I can't stand this -

CAMERA HOLDS Sidney and Susan in foreground. But it is now

shooting towards the door of the apartment. A PANNING

movement has included a figure at the other end of the big

room...

HUNSECKER:

He is taking off his overcoat near the door of the apartment.

We don't know how long he has been there, how much he has

overheard. Without appearing to be consciously spying,

Hunsecker is listening to Sidney's voice over scene.

SIDNEY:

(over scene)

Listen to me, lunatic! All your

life you've been doing penance for

crimes you never committed! I

could change that, I'd teach you,

I'd show you - !

CAMERA PANS round with Hunsecker who strolls across the

room, making his presence known. Sidney breaks off, drops

his hands, releasing the girl. Susan turns towards Hunsecker.

Hunsecker lays his briefcase and papers on the table. He

addresses Susan without looking at her.

HUNSECKER:

Go to bed, Susie. It's late...

Susan makes no move. Hunsecker glances at her, sees Sidney

but treats Sidney as if he were invisible.

HUNSECKER:

(to Susan)

What is he doing here?

Susan walks towards Hunsecker.

SUSAN:

I called him.

Sidney moves forward also.

SIDNEY:

(carefully)

She was depressed - she heard about

Dallas.

Hunsecker still ignores his existence, he walks past Susan

carrying his papers to the desk. Susan turns, watching him.

HUNSECKER:

("controlling" his feelings)

That subject it might be better not

to start me on.

(angry)

He's made all the papers tonight.

Hunsecker studies the item in the paper.

SUSAN:

She is staring at her brother. Suddenly, she is unable to

suffer his authoritative air; she goes to him; he ignores

her...

HUNSECKER AND SUSAN

Childishly, she snatches the paper from his hand, throws it

to the floor. He looks at her. Patiently, as with a

hysterical infant, he stoops, recovers the paper.

HUNSECKER:

("mildly")

Is there something you wanted to

say...?

(as she does not

answer, continuing

with growing viciousness)

I've put up with a lot of your

guff, Susie, because you were a

child. But you're a woman now and

I suspect, despite my best

intentions, more than a bit of a

slut...

SUSAN:

Her head comes up sharply at the insult.

HUNSECKER AND SUSAN AND SIDNEY

Hunsecker glances at Sidney, clearly reminding them of the

compromising situation in which they were found. Sidney

moves to answer.

SIDNEY:

(quickly)

J.J., if you think -

SUSAN:

(cutting in)

Don't explain, Sidney... It doesn't

matter now...

HUNSECKER:

(continuing)

Whose arms will I have to pry you

out of next? Not that I don't

think you didn't invite it! I know

that look of yours, that pose of

being wronged - and how it arouses

the crusading instinct in even a

Sidney Falco -

Hunsecker's rising tide of brutality is having some effect

on Susan, and Sidney, fearing for her, tries to intervene.

SIDNEY:

I was trying to build her up, not

tear her down -

HUNSECKER:

(viciously)

Is that why you were romancing her,

you mutt!

(turning back to Susan)

Let's call it quits, my dear. I'd

like it fine if you found another

home. That means the front door is

open! Pack your things, rent a

moving van and GIT!

(pacing the room)

And as for marriage, let me hit you

with a few choice facts: you aren't

ready for marriage! You're

incompetent - a capricious and

shaky frail with a sick fatality

for frail and useless men!

Susan is staring sightlessly at the floor near Hunsecker's

feet. After a moment she turns and moves to the door of her

bedroom; her walk is a little unsteady; she goes inside,

closes the door in Hunsecker's face.

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