The Apartment Page #12

SHELDRAKE:

You don't know what it's like --

standing next to you in that

elevator, day after day -- Good

morning, Miss Kubelik -- Good

night, Mr. Sheldrake -- I'm still

crazy about you, Fran.

FRAN:

(avoiding his eyes)

Let's not start on that again,

Jeff -- please. I'm just beginning

to get over it.

SHELDRAKE:

I don't believe you.

FRAN:

Look, Jeff -- we had two wonderful

months this summer -- and that was

it. Happens all the time -- the

wife and kids go away to the

country, and the boss has a fling

with the secretary or the

manicurist -- or the elevator girl.

Comes September, the picnic is

over -- goodbye. The kids go back

to school, the boss goes back to

the wife, and the girl --

(she is barely able

to control herself)

They don't make these shrimp like

they used to.

SHELDRAKE:

I never said goodbye, Fran.

FRAN:

(not listening)

For a while there, you try kidding

yourself that you're going with an

unmarried man. Then one day he

keeps looking at his watch, and

asks you if there's any lipstick

showing, then rushes off to catch

the seven-fourteen to White Plains.

So you fix yourself a cup of

instant coffee -- and you sit there

by yourself -- and you think -- and

it all begins to look so ugly --

There are tears in her eyes. She breaks off, downs what's

left of the daiquiri.

SHELDRAKE:

How do you think I felt -- riding

home on that seven-fourteen train?

FRAN:

Why do you keep calling me, Jeff?

What do you want from me?

SHELDRAKE:

(taking her hand)

I want you back, Fran.

FRAN:

(withdrawing her hand)

Sorry, Mr. Sheldrake -- I'm full up.

You'll have to take the next

elevator.

SHELDRAKE:

You're not giving me a chance, Fran.

I asked you to meet me because -- I

have something to tell you.

FRAN:

Go ahead -- tell me.

SHELDRAKE:

(a glance around)

Not here, Fran. Can't we go some

place else?

FRAN:

No. I have a date at eight-thirty.

SHELDRAKE:

Important?

FRAN:

Not very -- but I'm going to be

there anyway.

She takes out an inexpensive square compact with a fleur de

lis pattern on it, opens it, starts to fix her face. The

waiter comes up with a couple of menus.

WAITER:

You ready order dinner now?

FRAN:

No. No dinner.

SHELDRAKE:

Bring us two more drinks.

CUT TO:

EXT. MAJESTIC THEATRE - EVENING

It is 8:
25, and there is the usual hectic to-do -- taxis

pulling up, people milling around the sidewalk and crowding

into the lobby. In the middle of this melee, buffeted by the

throng, stands Bud, in raincoat and hat, looking anxiously

for Fran.

CUT TO:

INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT - EVENING

Fran and Sheldrake, in the booth, are working on the second

round of drinks.

SHELDRAKE:

Fran -- remember that last weekend

we had?

FRAN:

(wryly)

Do I. That leaky little boat you

rented -- and me in a black negligee

and a life preserver --

SHELDRAKE:

Remember what we talked about?

FRAN:

We talked about a lot of things.

SHELDRAKE:

I mean -- about my getting a divorce.

FRAN:

We didn't talk about it -- you did.

SHELDRAKE:

You didn't really believe me, did

you?

FRAN:

(shrugging)

They got it an a long playing

record now - Music to String Her

Along By. My wife doesn't understand

me -- We haven't gotten along for

years -- You're the best thing that

ever happened to me --

SHELDRAKE:

That's enough, Fran.

FRAN:

(going right on)

Just trust me, baby -- we'll work

it out somehow --

SHELDRAKE:

You're not being funny.

FRAN:

I wasn't trying.

SHELDRAKE:

If you'll just listen to me for a

minute --

FRAN:

Okay. I'm sorry.

SHELDRAKE:

I saw my lawyer this morning -- I

wanted his advice -- about the

best way to handle it --

FRAN:

Handle what?

SHELDRAKE:

What do you think?

FRAN:

(looking at him for a

long moment - then)

Let's get something straight,

Jeff -- I never asked you to leave

your wife.

SHELDRAKE:

Of course not. You had nothing to

do with it.

FRAN:

(her eyes misting up again)

Are you sure that's what you want?

SHELDRAKE:

I'm sure. If you'll just tell me

that you still love me --

FRAN:

(softly)

You know I do.

SHELDRAKE:

Fran --

He takes her hand, kisses it. The bar has been filling up,

and now two couples are seating themselves in a nearby booth.

One of the women is Miss Olsen.

FRAN:

(pulling her hand

away gently)

Jeff -- darling --

She indicates the other customers. Sheldrake glances over

his shoulder.

SHELDRAKE:

It is crowding up. Let's get out of

here.

They rise. Sheldrake leaves some money on the table, leads

Fran toward the entrance. As they pass Miss Olsen's booth,

she turns around slowly, and putting on her glasses, looks

after them.

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