The Cat's Meow Page #8

- Why didn't anyone call me?

- Hell, we wanted to,

but Tom said

not to bother you.

He's fine.

Dr. Goodman is taking him home.

Where's Marion and Lolly?

Ah... they looked after Tom

during his difficulties.

You know,

Lolly has an ulcer herself.

They were up half the night.

They're both still resting.

Which...

given the delay,

means that we have to cut

our journey short here in San Diego.

- You're kidding.

Oh, no.

Don't worry,

I've already got cars for everyone.

We must go up

and visit the birthday boy.

That's a splendid idea.

However, there is one thing

I want to ask you,

and I can't say this

with enough seriousness.

To our eyes,

Tom Ince left this boat

with a bout of angry ulcers.

But I can't begin to imagine

what the press is going to make up.

Wild birthday party,

illegal alcohol, orgies...

Reputations are...

so fragile.

Just terrible.

They'll link

Tom's innocent ulcers

to every secret

everyone of us ever kept.

And drag us all down.

So,

I'm asking you to join me

in uh...

in an oath of silence.

Just a little one.

You were asleep,

you left early,

any excuse you like.

But you do not know

what happened to Tom Ince

aboard this boat.

I would love

to take an oath... any oath.

Me too!

Let's make it in blood.

Rather dramatic, WR,

but I'll take an oath to that.

Of course, why not?

Good. Thank you all.

Marion?

Oh, Charlie...

Are you all right?

What the hell

is going on here?

I'm sure I speak for Tom when I say

thank you all for coming

and making his birthday

such a memorable event.

Why don't we all pack

and meet on deck in an hour?

WR!

Did all this happen

before or after I saw you?

Saw me? When?

Last night, in the corridor.

You didn't see me, Tom.

It's George, and...

All you have to do is get

in that limousine and go home.

But he doesn't

even look like me!

He... he... put on your hat,

it was dark...

Willie...

Jesus!

Excuse me, Mr. Hearst.

Are you sure Tom's all right?

He's just fine.

Everybody is talking about noises...

sounds, gunshots...

I haven't had the chance to tell you

you're quite a fine actress.

Thank you, but if Tom

wasn't feeling well...

Please, don't worry,

he's getting the best of care.

We need to meet at the studio.

God, you're good!

I saw that picture that you did

and you played the... uh...

the lovely young woman,

what was it called?

Oh, I can't remember the title,

but you were splendid.

What about next week?

Friday? How's that?

Oh...

Friday. Uhm...

I... I want you to know

that Tom spoke

very lovingly about you

and he wanted you

to know that

he's very sorry

about what happened.

Why wasn't I awakened?

Didn't he want me to accompany him?

Accompany him?

Child, you're his mistress.

You can't accompany him home

to greet his wife and children.

I'll see you Friday.

What are you waiting for?

Let's get off this bloody boat!

- You have things to do.

- I just bet he does.

Okay, WR, here I am.

Easier to hit than a seagull.

You left this in his room.

There's something

for your scrapbook, Charlie.

I sure as hell didn't get

Tom Ince's blood on it!

You two are the reason

for that blood!

Haven't you

any sense of responsibility?

Did I pull the trigger

or shoot him in the head?!

That version of events

can be arranged, Charlie.

I can produce three witnesses

on this boat alone.

You see?

It's better for everyone

if Tom Ince

had an ulcerous attack.

And you, Marion?

Better for you?

Only Marion

knows what's best for her.

As long as it agrees

with her master's voice.

No.

All I want

is to see Marion happy.

That's what I devoted my life to

for the past seven years.

And all the years

I've got left.

Can you promise that, Charlie?

If he can, Marion,

and if you can believe him...

then go.

Go.

Good luck to both of you.

Come on.

For how long?

For now, forever,

for as long as you want!

For as long as you want.

You're not telling me

that this...

attempted murder has

rekindled your love for Willie?

Just leave, Charlie.

Leave with me.

I love you.

Old goat's really got you,

hasn't he?

No...

I've got me.

I am not here.

Ma'am?

Like others with

tiny bullets hiding in their skulls,

Thomas Ince held on

unconscious for two days

before dying in his own bed.

There was plenty of misinformation

in the days following his death,

much of it coming straight

from the Hearst press machine,

which inexplicably reported

that Ince was "stricken unconscious"

while visiting Hearst

at his upstate ranch!

Three weeks later,

the San Diego District Attorney

conducted an obligatory

investigation and was,

"satisfied that the death

of Thomas H. Ince

was caused by heart failure

as a result of acute indigestion."

He did not examine the body because

Ince had been cremated immediately,

and except for Dr. Goodman,

no member of the boating party

was ever questioned,

including Hearst.

The San Diego DA suggested

that the Los Angeles office

continue the investigation.

They politely declined.

Marion.

Hello.

Charlie, what are you doing,

you dope?

Don't you have a ride?

I just...

I wanted to see you.

Here I am.

He's...

dead, Charlie.

I know.

I know.

I move to Mexico

in a couple of days.

Mexico?

Another try

at the old marriage game.

How bad can it be?

Come on, Charlie.

Get in.

And go where?

I've got arrangements to make,

avoiding the press

and that kind of fun stuff.

Come on, I'm not as pathetic

as all that, am I?

Goodbye, Charlie.

I'll send you a postcard.

"Love and Kisses

from me and the missus."

To this day,

no two accounts of that

weekend cruise are the same,

including who, in fact,

was on the boat.

There are no logs, you see,

no records or photographs of any kind.

And not a single person involved

wrote or spoke about that weekend...

that is... until significantly

after the old man's death,

and even then only in riddles.

Soon after Tom's death,

Margaret Livingston's salary

inexplicably jumped from $300

to $1,000 dollars a week.

Eventually, she retired to manage

her husband, Paul Whiteman,

the bandleader who popularized

the Charleston.

Lolly got her lifetime contract,

and for the next 30 years,

became the most powerful and feared

gossip columnist in America.

Three days after Tom's funeral,

Charlie married Lita Grey in Mexico.

It lasted two years.

He did, however,

recast her role in "The Gold Rush,"

and re-shoot all her scenes.

Despite costing a small fortune,

the picture was a smashing success.

It took three more years for WR

to let Marion do a full-fledged comedy.

As Charlie predicted,

she triumphed.

She retired in 193 7,

but stayed by Hearst's side

until his death

at the age of 88.

I've had

a recurring dream recently...

I'm back on the Oneida,

having a glorious time.

But I'm watching how ridiculous

everyone else looks

and I wonder why

they don't realize it.

Then I see that, in fact,

I too look like a fool.

Yet, it's so much fun...

that none of us can stop.

Rate this script:3.0 / 2 votes