The Damned Don't Cry Page #6

It's too soon to judge yet.

We'll have to see in which direction

your capabilities lie.

You're asking for trouble, aren't you?

I never got anything yet worthwhile

without trouble.

Only don't take this

for anything more than it's worth.

It might be worth more than you think.

- Which one is Mr. Blackford?

- Right over here.

Here you are, Marty. Another one.

- That's a beaut.

- I wonder who that's from.

Marty, if this doesn't stop soon...

you're gonna spend

your first year's take in tips alone.

Listen to this everyone:

"All best wishes to the big bookkeeper

from the little bookies."

Marty, you've come a long way, fast.

I've got a high-powered motor.

- Hello, George.

- Grady, Martin.

Mr. Castleman.

- Congratulations. It looks splendid.

- Thank you, sir.

- Good evening, Miss Whitehead.

- Good evening.

I hope you won't think

I've spent too much.

You never know until you start buying

how things run up.

Typewriters, adding machines,

Comptometers.

- Makes me nervous just to think of it.

- Then why think about it?

Whatever it costs to make our business

efficient, we'll spend cheerfully.

If you want to see something

that really is efficient, this way.

Yes.

Here we are.

The thing I like about the setup is...

the clientele comes in

the regular reception room.

And when they come through there

and open those doors, bank night.

Pretty neat, ain't it?

Who selected that?

Me. I furnished the whole room myself.

Well, put a calendar on it

and hang it in your living room.

Take it down.

What do you think of it?

- I think you're quite right...

- No, I mean the room.

- For what it's intended, I'm sure it's fine.

- Good.

Suppose we unveil your inner sanctum.

Now this is in good taste.

I detect no traces whatever

of the Grady influence here.

Miss Whitehead decorated this room.

My compliments, Miss Whitehead.

It's important the impression one makes.

Important in the commercial sense.

Martin, tomorrow morning...

I want you to begin a detailed analysis

of our West Coast branch.

That's Mr. Prenta's territory, isn't it?

That seems to be the way he regards it.

It's possible he considers his own pocket

one of the syndicate's operating costs.

However, we'll know more

after Grady's been out there a while.

- He's leaving tomorrow.

- I am?

- Your health hasn't been good lately.

- I never felt better in my life.

You'll develop a cough

by the time you get there.

I spoke to Prenta long distance and

told him your doctor ordered you west...

perhaps for a year.

But, George, a year in all that sun?

You're not going to have

very much time for the sun.

You'll be busy

keeping your eyes and ears open.

Well, Marty, the best of luck to you.

And I'll be waiting for that report.

Now, let's have a drink with the boys.

- Ethel.

- Yes?

May I speak to you for a moment, please?

Will you excuse me, please?

Now that I have a private office,

there's something private I'd like to say.

Here.

What's this?

When I was a kid

they used to call it an engagement ring.

I've been wanting to say it a long time.

This just makes it official.

I can't.

You mean you can't now?

I mean I can't ever.

But why?

I always thought we...

As soon as we got what we wanted,

you and l...

You don't need me anymore.

You're on your way, you're a success.

Go find yourself another girl,

a girl as nice as you are.

I don't want another girl. I want you.

- I'm no good for you.

- I never said you were.

It's too late for that.

I want you to marry me.

I'm sorry, Marty.

You're sorry?

What kind of an answer is that?

Why did you do this to me?

This office, this wire room,

the whole stinking business.

Did you think I wanted it?

I hate it. I hate every part of it.

I only did it because of you. I did it for you.

I thought it was the only way

I could have you.

- You had no right to think that.

- You made me think it.

I didn't make you do anything.

You didn't have to take all this.

If you don't want it, you can still leave.

Nobody's holding you,

nobody's twisting your arm.

You couldn't have

done this to me deliberately.

You couldn't have planned it this way.

There's somebody else, isn't there?

That's it, isn't it? Tell me.

Yes.

He's promised me the world, Marty,

and I've got to have it.

This world he promised...

does it include this?

I didn't ask. I'm not even sure it matters.

Maybe someday it will.

But right now, all I can think of

are the years I've wasted.

The years I've got to make up for.

Don't you see, Marty?

A woman has only a short time

when life can be exciting for her...

when she can enjoy being a woman.

I want that time. I want it desperately.

I'm gonna drain everything

out of those years there is to get.

I'm gonna squeeze them dry.

Try to understand, will you?

Don't look at me like that.

I can't help it. I can't help myself.

I'm afraid I'll have to be

going along, Marty.

I thought, if Miss Whitehead was leaving,

I could give her a lift.

Good night.

- Miss Whitehead?

- Yeah.

I'm Patricia Longworth.

A mutual friend told me

I might find you here.

May I join you?

Yeah, sure. Sit down.

Thank you.

Our friend tells me you're interested

in a new apartment, new clothes, etc.

He thought I might be able

to offer some helpful advice.

If George thinks I need advice,

why doesn't he give it to me himself?

Or doesn't he want to be

seen with me in public?

My dear Miss Whitehead,

I happen to know...

that George sees

rather great potentialities in you.

So far as being seen with you in public...

you must remember he is a married man...

and he does occupy a position

of some importance in the community.

Okay, I'll buy that.

But just who are you

and how do you fit in?

A moment ago, when I mentioned

I was Patricia Longworth...

you never batted an eye.

That proves conclusively that you

didn't spend your youth in this city.

Or if you did, you didn't waste your time

reading the society page.

I was too busy reading the want ads.

- What are you selling?

- My old contacts.

Some of them are still open.

And they have a certain market value

to some of my newer contacts...

people such as our friend.

Cigarette?

Thanks.

Waiter.

I'm having a bourbon and soda.

What'll you have?

Vermouth cassis.

- She'll have a...

- Vermouth cassis, please.

Let's start with your name.

Ethel Whitehead.

I wonder if we couldn't find something

a little more provocative?

This is really one of our nicest apartments.

It'll do.

We redecorate the bedrooms,

change the lighting fixtures...

and redo the terrace. Is that clear?

We can redecorate Radio City

if you want to spend the money.

- We do.

- In whose name shall we write the lease?

Mrs. Forbes. Mrs. Lorna Hansen Forbes.

Forbes. Yes, of course.

- Steel, isn't it, or is it tobacco?

- No, oil.

That's why I'm leaving.

Derricks everywhere, even the backyard.

Mrs. Forbes, it is a privilege

to have as our tenant...

a representative

of such a celebrated family.

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