Ten North Frederick Page #5

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I had to prove to you that he was worthless.

Alright.

That's my good girl.

Alright!

It was going to be such a wonderful baby.

Strong... and noisy.

Dark.

Talented.

Such a strange baby to be born..

...at 10 North Frederick Street.

I can't live here anymore.

I'm going away.

We'll talk about it later, when you're stronger.

No. It's already decided.

Going somewhere.

Me off... somewhere.

Yes, Ann.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, dear Ann.

Goodnight, my lovely daughter.

Personally, I think we missed a bet.

We could have had one good

musician in the family anyway.

Gentlemen. This is my friend, Joe Chapin.

Mr. Chapin.

I think you know almost everybody

here Joe.

I think so.

And you all know Lloyd Williams, of course.

Hello Loyd.

If you sit down gentlemen, I think

we're ready to begin.

Now Mr. Chapin.

In this room we're all realists. We don't

kid ourselves, we don't kid each other.

I don't exaggerate when I tell you,

that in this election.

We could lose this state, New Jersey,

Pennsylvania..

...the whole eastern seaboard.

I think I can trust you not to repeat that.

Nothing said in this room

is for repetition.

We understand.

Now Mr. Chapin.

The party is deeply grateful..

...for your generous, your extremely

generous contribution.

But please ask yourself.

Can we afford to gamble this year on a

man who is not a proven vote-getter?

Or..

...forgive me for saying this..

...on a man who has had an unhappy

occurrence in his family..

...that might become a public scandal

at any time?

Well, that's our question. And

we're leaving the answer up to you.

Of course, you don't have to give it

to us right now. We can wait.

Gentlemen, I withdraw.

I told them Joe.

I told them class would tell.

Pow! Right in the chairman's lap.

It was a good punch.

Reminded of the old days

in the coal mine.

After he quit.

What was the good of that?

Now, Edith, we're talking about Joe Chapin.

You don't think he'd hang around where he

wasn't wanted?

"Gentlemen, I withdraw!"

That's Joe Chapin in three words.

Exactly!

Where do you think he is now?

Where I'd be in his place. Off somewhere

treating my wounds with alcohol.

Edith.

Oh, leave me alone.

I'll leave you alone.

Go easy on him Edith, when he comes back.

He's got nothing left now, except you.

Get out!

Come in.

Oh, pardon me. Where's the party?

What party?

But they said there was a party at 315.

Oh.

This is 215.

You've got the wrong floor.

My mistake.

Say, what you doing? Getting drunk

all by yourself?

That's the general idea.

It isn't good for a gentleman to

drink by himself.

Well, why don't you join me.

Don't mind if I do.

I guess a gentleman gets lonely on the road.

What do you travel in?

What do I travel in?

You know. What do you sell?

You're a salesman aren't you?

Oh. Yes, yes. I'm a salesman.

At least I was until a few hours ago.

I just... quit.

Well, what were you selling?

Myself.

Oh you're kidding.

Why, is there any law against selling yourself?

Now look mister, you got me wrong.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply

anything like that. I'm very sorry.

I just meant I was trying to get a job.

And it fell through?

It fell through... and how.

Say.

You broke or something?

No. not in that sense of the word, no.

Well. Then you've got nothing to worry about.

A big strong, handsome man like you.

I'm Stella. What's your name honey?

What's my name?

My name is "Chump".

"Chump"?

"Chump".

"Joseph B. Chump".

Now you're kidding again.

You know what a "chump" is don't you?

He is someone who thinks he can get

anything he wants..

...by reaching out and grabbing it.

Just like that.

Now that's alright for a kid.

But when a man of fifty does it,

he is a chump.

And a useless chump.

You're hurting my arm,

Sorry, I..

I frequently hurt people without meaning to.

It's my specialty.

Look, mister..

You think you can buy anything you want.

All you have to do is put down the money

and it is yours.

Like dropping a nickel on a pile of newspapers

and walking off with the paper you want.

You think everything is for sale!

Everything in the world!

Your daughter's husband, the highest

office in the land. Everything!

All you need is a... nickel.

I'm making a funny joke.

Why don't you laugh?

Yeah, well.

It's been nice knowing you, mister.

Real nice.

Don't go.

I'm enjoying our "conservation".

Our con-ver-sation.

Well, you see, I'd promised these

gentlemen that I'd show..

I'm sorry my dear, I've been

most inconsiderate.

Here. Wait a minute.

Here. For your time and the pleasure

of your company.

But this is a hundred bucks!

Go spend it on your heart's desire.

Buy yourself some happiness!

Gee, thanks. Thanks a lot Mr. Chump.

Where have you been?

Hotel in town. I got... drunk.

It never occurred to you to let

me know where you were?

It occurred to me.

Were you alone?

Yup.

Oh.

Did I have a woman with me? As a

matter of fact, I did, yes,

I thought so.

No, no Edith.

She just happened to walk in by mistake.

I gave her a drink, and sent her away.

I can just picture that.

The way I was feeling.

I just wanted to be alone.

I remember at one time, you were

angry with me. We were in New York.

Oh. Long ago..

Fifteen years.

That long?

Yes. I guess it was.

You stayed overnight in New York.

Remember that?

Without me.

I remember it... very well.

Well, that time you wanted to be by yourself.

And this time I wanted to be by myself.

You're lying.

I never asked you what you did.

Maybe you should have asked me.

What are you trying to say, Edith?

Have I aroused your curiosity?

Well, that's something anyway.

You've always been so smugly

complacent about me.

I don't call it being "smugly complacent".

I call it:
"trusting you".

I always have, and I still do.

And it would be unthinkable for me

to have anything to do with another man?

Yes. I guess it would.

Why?

Yes, I'd say that.

Why?!

Why?

Because you're not that kind of a person.

What kind of a person am I?

How long is it since you've given

any thought to me, as a person?

You have good reason to know

that I'm not a cold woman and..

...wouldn't it take the wind out of your sails

to hear that somebody else knows that too.

Are you trying to say that you've had

affairs with other men?

Yes! I have!

One affair. That time in New York.

Edith.

Why did you decide to tell me this, now?

Just, at this moment?

Because..

Because you let those politicians walk

all over you.

And because, just at this moment..

...I despise you enough to tell

you what I really think of you!

I've wasted my life! I've wasted my

life... on a failure!

You're right Edith.

But you don't know why I'm a failure.

You'll never understand that.

What are you talking about?`

About a damned fool who never, until this

minute, learned what was important in life.

And what wasn't.

I wouldn't have made much

of a President but..

...I could have at least been a good

father. That's where I failed.

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