Sweet Smell of Success Page #6

RITA:

I don't know - it's a big apartment.

But I wasn't interviewed. In fact,

I was totally unprepared for what

happened.

SIDNEY:

(grimacing)

We're old friends, Chickie - quit

it! A big columnist comes in this

room, without his ball-and-chain

and you make like a delicatessen

counter! What did you think would

happen in his house?

RITA:

(with a nod)

But, Sidney darling, the man must

be out of his mind - it was only

eleven o'clock in the morning!

Despite himself, Sidney chuckles; but she is distressed.

RITA:

For a moment I was so taken aback

that I said anything that popped

into my sleepy head. If I'm not

mistaken, I even ordered the man

out of his own house.

Sidney's eyes have been caught by something at the other end

of the big room.

STEVE AND SUSAN:

From Sidney's viewpoint. Susan has come back into the club

with Steve and seems to be taking leave of him. She starts

to walk through the club on her way out.

RESUME SIDNEY AND RITA

Sidney, with half his attention on Susan and Steve, listens

to Rita's rueful protest.

RITA:

(rapidly)

He was furious and, by the time I

could have put on a Tropical Island

mood, I was out on the street!...

(dolefully)

That night Mr. Van Cleve calls me

into his office here. He's got

nothing against me, he says but he

can't afford to antagonize

columnists. I told him I still

have Sonny at military academy, but

Van Cleve's made of ice...

Aware that Sidney is moving to leave her so that he can

catch Susan, Rita detains him with an appeal:

RITA:

(tentative)

Do you think you could do something,

Sidney?

SIDNEY:

(a quick nod)

That's what I'm thinking, Rita.

Maybe...

Rita is anxious to cement the offer. Delicately, she asks:

RITA:

Do you still keep your key under

the mat?

SIDNEY:

(eyeing her)

Can you be there by two-thirty?

She drops her eyes, nods. Sidney pats her arm and is gone.

She looks after him.

SIDNEY AND SUSAN

Sidney overtakes Susan at the front entrance in time to open

the door for her. He has now reverted to another mood in

which he appears to be sulking over the insult delivered to

him by Steve. He goes out ahead of her.

BANDSTAND:

The quintet are resuming their positions on the stand.

Steve lingers a moment, his guitar already in his hand while

he talks to D'Angelo.

STEVE:

Frank, I don't want any secrets

from you. I proposed to Susie

tonight.

D'Angelo hides his feelings, asks:

D'ANGELO

Did she accept?

STEVE:

You don't like it, do you. I think

she will accept, but I'm not sure.

She may be too dependent on her

brother.

He mounts the bandstand.

D'ANGELO

(solemnly)

Lots of good people in this town

are dependent on her brother...

Steve sits on the stool, quietly gives the beat to his group

and begins at once the guitar opening of a very simple and

lonely melody. (The Sage.)

ANOTHER ANGLE:

While D'Angelo watches him, the boy continues. CAMERA

tracks slowly back through the club as the chatter and

babble of the customers begins to diminish in appreciation

of the quiet melancholy of the music.

OUTSIDE THE ELYSIAN ROOM

Susan is standing beside the poster which features Steve,

listening to the music from inside the club. Sidney comes

to join her. He is now pretending to be hurt.

SUSAN:

You're touchy, Sidney - don't be so

touchy...

SIDNEY:

(gruffly)

I wasn't looking for a brawl. I

came to bring him a present.

(then)

Wanna bite to eat?

Susan shakes her head. She looks up as she hears the

doorman's whistle off screen. Sidney moves forward to

escort her to the taxi.

LONGER SHOT:

They cross the sidewalk and get into the cab. It starts off

and CAMERA PANS with it.

INSIDE CAB:

Susan is relaxed, content but thoughtful. Sidney flicks her

a quick, anxious look. Finally, gloomily:

SIDNEY:

Feels like a Monday night, don't

it...?

SUSAN:

(softly)

Not to me. Sometimes, the world

feels like a cage. Then someone

comes along and opens the door...and

it's never Monday night again...

(turning to Sidney)

I wish you and Steve could like

each other.

SIDNEY:

(grimacing)

We stick in each others craw.

SUSAN:

Yes, but why?

SIDNEY:

Well, for one thing, he thinks J.J.

is some kind of monster.

SUSAN:

Quizzically, she studies Sidney.

SUSAN:

Don't you?

SIDNEY:

He looks up sharply, (he is momentarily startled at Susan's

insight.) Swiftly, he assumes a protesting air.

SIDNEY:

Susie, your brother's one of my

best friends, and -

RESUME SUSAN:

She is not totally convinced by this performance. She

smiles skeptically.

SUSAN:

I know. But someday I'd like to

look into your clever mind and see

what you REALLY think of him -

RESUME SIDNEY AND SUSAN

Sidney makes a show of indignation.

SIDNEY:

Where do you come off to make a

remark like that?

SUSAN:

(quietly)

Who could love a man who keeps

jumping through burning hoops, like

a trained poodle?

Sidney doesn't immediately answer. Susan drops her eyes,

becoming absorbed in her own problems. Cautiously, Sidney

lets the momentary silence continue. Then:

SUSAN:

(thoughtfully)

Do you think J.J. likes Steve...?

SIDNEY:

(glibly)

Frankly, yes, to my surprise. He

thinks he's very gifted - those

boys'll go a big mile, he thinks.

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