The Cat's-Paw Page #8

---

An evening spent with you

benefits me...

like an evening

talking to my friend Tien Wang.

The Chinaman? Oh.

Oh, well, that's great.

You mean you enjoy my mind?

Oh, I do.

I find it quite first-rate.

It's much better than going out

with a beautiful woman.

I hear all you say.

Perhaps you'd enjoy it

even more...

if we spent the evening

on the telephone.

Oh, well, no.

But it would be charming

talking to you on the telephone.

And save a lot of walking.

We could take turns

dropping nickels.

Yeah, that'd be very amusing.

Wouldn't it, though?

And thrilling!

I can hardly wait.

I believe we're arriving

at our destination.

Oh, well, after all,

beauty's only skin deep.

Oh, Mr. Cobb?

- Mr. Cobb!

- Yes?

I must see you right away.

May I?

Well, l...

Why, it's Miss Skin Deep

herself.

Oh, it's so terribly important.

I must talk to you.

Please! Please!

Enter the thrush,

exit the crow.

You don't mind?

Oh, no.

I'm gonna read a book.

To improve my mind, you know.

We must be alone.

Where can we go?

But we are alone.

We might be interrupted

out here in the street.

Let's go inside!

But-Just a moment!

Maybe I'm a fool to do this.

I don't know.

I don't know anything!

Well, that's

quite possible, but...

Uh... Wait a minute!

But what are we doing in here?

Yes!

This is my bedroom.

It is?

Oh, I know you think

this is bold of me.

And I'm not really bold,

Mr. Cobb, if you knew me.

Well, as I remember you

at our last meeting...

you were not exactly timid.

Who's that?

Don't open the door!

Well, why not?

They mustn't see me.

What would they think?

Send them away!

Cobby!

J-just a minute!

Don't let him in, please!

- Cobby!

- Please!

Well, very well.

Now, don't worry.

- Cobby!

- Yes, yes.

Say, I want to talk to you.

Just a minute.

Let's go down to the parlor.

It's much more

comfortable there.

Well, I wouldn't be comfortable

no matter where we were.

Yeah, well,

there's a draft in here.

You might catch something.

We'll... we'll go down

to the parlor.

Is there anything the matter?

There must be.

Now, listen, Cobby,

the town's hot with rumors.

They're saying that you got

a slice of that company...

that you gave

the street cleaning job to.

That your graft is making

Morgan look like a piker.

Why, they've even called out

the grand jury...

and they've got 'em

pointed right at you.

They got something on you

and you know it!

Maybe you know

a lot of things.

Say, if you got a split

in that company...

you must've grabbed off

50 grand.

Ah, no wonder

you vetoed Morgan's bill.

And you preaching to me

about honesty.

I guess

I'm pretty dumb after all.

Yeah,

he's too smart for you, Jake.

Say...

Well, what do you mean?

He's got a mind, he has.

What a mind.

Why, to figure out

a nifty little double-cross...

is just child's play for him.

Double-cross? Him?!

Why not?

Gravy's gravy, you know.

They even put it on chop suey.

Why, you little...

If I wasn't a gentleman, I'd...

Him? A crook?

Why he hasn't got brains enough

to be crooked.

Well, that's true.

But if he did have,

he wouldn't be.

If ever a white man

was dead on the level...

you're lookin' at one

right there.

Are you sure of that?

You can bet your life

I'm sure of it!

Well, then I can go back

to my book.

Yeah. You...

Now, don't you worry, Cobby.

They can't fool me

with their rumors.

It's just that...

Say, will you listen to me?

Oh, y-yes, of course.

Aw, never mind.

Forget it and go to bed.

Now, I'll take care of

everything.

- Bed!

- I know their game.

I played it myself.

It's a big bluff.

Just a big play

for public feeling.

Uh, yes, of course.

But it's a cinch...

they haven't got anything

on you so far...

because I've been stickin'

too close to you.

And from now on, son,

I'm a porous plaster...

because we gotta be careful.

Now, don't you go out tonight.

I'll see you at the office

first thing in the morning.

So far, so good.

Now, don't forget.

Go right to bed.

Yes, right away!

At least almost right away.

Oh, Mr. Cobb, save me!

The fighting mayor! Look out!

Hurry!

Oh, thank you, Mr. Cobb!

You're so brave!

Oh, close the window quick!

They may come back!

Uh, l... I hope

they didn't hurt you.

No. They were after

these letters.

Oh, how can I explain?

My honor is at stake!

Your honor?

I'm so afraid.

I know they'll follow me...

and if they ever steal

these letters...

l... I can't bear to think of it!

Now, now, please...

Mr. Cobb, you have

a safety deposit box...

in the bank, haven't you?

Yes, but...

Then keep this for me, please!

Keep it as a sacred trust.

Now, if you don't mind,

I'd rather...

Oh, it means so much to me!

It means my honor! My life!

It means...

Oh, the shame of it all!

Well, now...

Oh, very well.

I shall deposit it.

Darling!

Yes, but now it's much against

my better judgment.

That makes it so much

sweeter of you, you dear man!

Yes, now if I may bid you

good night.

Promise you'll put

that envelope...

in your safety deposit box

first thing in the morning?

Yes, I will.

On your way to the office?

- Yes, yes.

- Promise!

Yes, I shall promise.

Oh, darling!

Pet...

Well, that's one thing

you can't do over the telephone.

But... but the lady was merely

expressing her gratitude...

for a small favor that...

Favor? You flatter yourself.

Miss Pet,

I would like to explain.

Wipe the lipstick off your mouth

and go to bed!

Miss Pet!

This makes me realize

a very important fact.

Yes? What?

Well, I can't shout it

through a closed door.

Then keep it to yourself.

But I must tell you!

I find I'm profoundly

attached to you.

I believe I love you.

In fact, I know I love you!

I'd like you to marry me.

Would you marry me, Miss Pet?

I love you!

Go to bed, you idiot!

Listen, Neal, this grand jury

stuff's a bluff.

It's all a bluff.

I know that Morgan sicced you

on the kid...

and you'd try to get

something on him...

but you ain't got nothin' yet

and you never will have.

Nevertheless,

I'm going to challenge him...

to turn over to me the key

to his safety deposit box...

in the National Bank.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

And if he refuses,

I'll get out a court order...

permitting me to open it.

Well, you won't have to.

You can open it

any time you want...

and that's how much

I'm sold on that kid. Yeah?

Mayor Cobb is calling you,

Mr. Mayo.

Oh. Hello, Cobby.

I'm down in the lobby, Mr. Mayo.

Yes, I'll be a little late

for that conference.

I've got to buy some cigarettes.

Oh, you can see her tonight.

Come right up, will you?

The district attorney's here.

No, wait a minute.

Meet me at the bank right away.

I'm coming down there with

a couple of friends of mine.

Now, Mr. Neal,

I'm just gonna call your bluff.

Well, since

you're so confident...

perhaps you'd like to have

the newspapermen present.

Sure, bring 'em along.

They can publish a story...

that'll squash your dirty rumors

once and for all.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes