The Bad and the Beautiful Page #7

hot summer here? It doesn't matter.

Someday, I know we'll get to travel

and see all those wonderful places.

So don't you ever feel one bit sorry

you didn't say yes, James Lee.

Does a trip to Hollywood

mean that much to you?

Me?!

After all, it was only for two weeks,

all expenses paid.

It's not like Mr. Shields

wanted me to write a screenplay.

All he wanted was to talk,

to get my ideas on his ideas.

- Is this everything?

- Yeah, that's all.

Mrs. Bartlow, is this bungalow

all right with you?

- It's completely enchanting!

- Good.

- The studio car is yours for the stay.

- Thank you.

I have to meet a guy from the syndicate.

He's a nice guy,

but he hated our last two pictures.

- Bye.

- When do I see the great man?

Jonathan? Drop around the studio

tomorrow. Not too early, not too late.

Bye, Mrs. Bartlow.

James Lee, come here.

Hurry up.

Hurry up!

Come on.

It's Georgia Lorrison...

...living in the very next bungalow.

Now, what do you know?

That night Rosemary

wrote 32 postcards.

Next morning I mailed them,

and we went to the studio.

Look here, James Lee.

The dining room at Round Oak...

...just the way we saw it

when you wrote it.

Just the way I saw it when I read it.

Look at that chandelier.

- It's Waterford, isn't it?

- Yes, it is.

You write in motion-picture terms.

You like movies?

- The good ones.

- Would you like to write the script?

- No.

- Why not?

You look much younger than I thought.

- Must take good care of yourself.

- I do.

So do I. I'm here for two weeks only.

Get your money's worth out of that.

There's never been such silver,

not even in Richmond.

I wouldn't have missed this for anything.

Mr. Shields, James Lee didn't think

it proper for me to come along today.

The professor's a man of rigid ideas.

We're delighted to have you with us.

See, darling. I knew it was plain

sociable for me to come and say hello.

Don't worry, Mr. Shields.

I won't be a nuisance.

When James Lee is busy with you,

I'll be busy with my own work.

- What kind of work is that?

- It's nothing, really.

But I did promise the symposium

I'd do a paper on Hollywood.

I realize in two weeks I can't do more

than barely scratch the surface.

Get the feel of things,

and then we'll get together.

- Shall I phone you?

- No, let me phone you.

Thank you, Mr. Shields.

It was wonderful fun.

I like being an author's wife.

It took time to learn the secret:

His work comes first.

- Visit us again.

- Thank you. Goodbye.

"His work comes first."

She would buy dark glasses

with his first salary check.

No wonder it took him seven years

to write a book.

Do you have to have him

to write your script?

Do you think you can keep him

in Hollywood?

He kept me, all right. Two weeks later

I signed with Shields Productions...

... to write a treatment of

The Proud Land.

- So you like my ideas?

- Yes.

- All of them?

- No.

- Who is that? His picture is all over.

- That's my father.

Angry little man, wasn't he?

I'm not used to an office. I'm

used to a portable and a soft rocker.

- Superstitious mind?

- No.

Supersensitive rear.

I had them flown out.

I thought it'd make you happy.

- I gather I failed.

- You were pretty sure of yourself.

- Pretty sure I'd stay.

- Yes, I was.

I know the legend. Jonathan Shields...

...the man will do anything

to get what he wants.

Thanks.

Shields Pictures Incorporated.

Well, I'm flattered you want me

and bitter you got me.

Where do I start?

Just read these scripts.

See how it's done.

Rough out a storyline,

and then we'll get to work.

Don't worry.

Some great movies...

...are made by people

who hate each other.

- Then we should make a great movie.

- I usually do.

What about your last two?

I liked them.

I started to work.

Look!

How do you like it?

I'll be right down.

I started to work.

Hello.

What is it, Rosemary?

But, dear, I told you I can't.

I know it's Sunday, but I've only

written half a page all week.

All right, Rosemary.

Where is it?

Yes.

And?

Not so fast.

Walking out that way.

You were rude.

I don't care how you feel about Shields...

...if you are a gentleman, there is

no justification for boorishness!

He asked me how my work was going.

What was I supposed to say? Great?

Who was that overgrown bullfighter

you danced with?

You mean Victor Ribera? Gaucho?

Why, I only danced with him twice.

- An hour each time.

- You do get nasty when you're jealous.

Like the time you carried on

in St. Daniels...

...over that charming

young governor's aide.

- He was too charming.

- He meant nothing at all!

You were even jealous

at that Swiss exchange professor...

...just because he was polite!

He was too polite.

Rosemary, let's get some sleep.

James Lee Bartlow, take a good look

at yourself in that mirror.

You've changed

since you've come to Hollywood...

...and I don't mind telling you,

it's no change for the better.

Have I changed too?

I dare say I am getting

a little too big for my breeches.

They're pretty breeches.

James Lee, you have

a very naughty mind...

...I'm happy to say.

Get me Gaucho.

Harry?

Oh, call Arrowhead.

Long distance, please.

Lake Arrowhead, California.

I'm going up the lake with James Lee.

We'll get this treatment written.

- When are you leaving?

- In an hour.

- The bank wants to talk to you.

- Tell them I said you could do it.

- They're getting tough.

- You're getting too old.

You got something there.

Hello, Gaucho?

Just a minute.

- Harry, you take care of it, will you?

- All right, I'll see what I can do.

Gaucho. Qu tal?

Muy bien.

How are you booked for social life?

Well, get yourself unbooked.

How would you like to squire

a genuine Virginia dame?

I said "squire."

Mrs. James Lee Bartlow.

Mister is going up the lake with me.

IKKeep her occupied, Gaucho,

so she doesn't get in our hair.

I started to work.

I worked all day from 7:00 till noon,

from 2:
00 to 5:00.

There were no interruptions.

In the evenings,

we worked together.

Jonathan, that's my best scene!

You've cut it down to three lines!

Look, Jonathan,

I don't think you understand.

The boy's going away, probably to be

killed! So when the mother speaks...

She doesn't speak.

We move the camera in close.

She opens her mouth,

but is too emotional to speak.

What she feels

we let the audience imagine.

They'll imagine it better than any

words you and I could write.

All right with you?

Yes, professor.

Now for that last scene.

- Proud of yourself?

- A little.

Should be. Not a weak scene

in the whole treatment.

I'm proud of Rosemary too.

She didn't interrupt the whole time.

Pleasant, wasn't it?

To tell you the truth,

I missed her interruptions.

Even when she's a bother, she does it

in a gay, naive, Southern belle way.

Why didn't you try to put her

on paper as a woman in your book?

- I did try.

- Just wouldn't write?

Funny.

Maybe you just don't know her

well enough.

Check the radiator too.

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