The Damned Don't Cry Page #7

He isn't here, Patricia.

Mrs. Forbes, I have a car here for you.

Right this way.

- George.

- Welcome home, Mrs. Forbes.

What's happened to your discretion?

- In front of all these people.

- What people?

Then there was the Riviera.

We arrived at the peak of the season.

Late summer we went to Amalfi

and then St. Moritz in the fall.

And of course, Paris in the spring.

It was enchanting, George.

The most wonderful experience

imaginable.

But I never want to be

that far away from you again.

Alfred, I think Mr. Castleman

would like a brandy.

No, thank you, Alfred.

Mr. Castleman needs no stimulation.

His head's already swimming.

He's hypnotized, stupefied,

drugged, and bewildered.

Whatever became of Ethel Whitehead?

Haven't you heard?

She ran away with Joe Caveny.

They got married

and lived happily ever after.

They deserved each other.

I'm interested in the Castlemans

and the Forbes.

What about their future?

They're a different breed. Cigarette?

Thank you.

I beg your pardon, Mrs. Forbes.

A gentleman to see Mr. Castleman.

A Mr. Martin Blackford.

I give you my word, Lorna.

I left explicit instructions

that I wasn't to be disturbed. I'm sorry.

That's all right, darling.

Show him in, please, Alfred.

Marty's worse about business than I am.

I sincerely believe

he thinks of nothing else.

- Hello, Marty.

- Good evening, Martin.

Sorry to interfere with your evening

like this, Mr. Castleman...

but something came up that couldn't wait.

- Let's have it.

- Won't you sit down, Martin?

No thanks, Ethel. I'll only be a moment.

I think we better call her Lorna.

I'm sorry.

It's about Grady. Nick Prenta's

been trying to reach you long distance.

He finally got me.

- What about Grady?

- He's been killed.

Killed? How?

Automobile accident.

It happened last night.

They found him this morning.

He'd evidently been drinking.

He must have lost control of the car.

- Who says he was drinking?

- Prenta. They found a bottle in the wreck.

Prenta lied. Grady didn't drink.

He was murdered.

- They fixed it to look like an accident.

- You don't know that...

I know Prenta. Grady was

on the track of something.

Prenta found out. That's why he killed him.

The rotten thug.

I pulled him out of a garbage pail.

Gave him the richest territory in the setup.

Before I'm through with him, I'm gonna

dump him back into that garbage pail.

- That presents quite a problem, doesn't it?

- Why should it?

I met Mr. Prenta the first time

I was invited to your home.

He didn't strike me as a man

you could dump into a garbage pail.

I don't care how he struck you.

You don't think I'm afraid of him, do you?

I didn't say that. But I thought

we are a legitimate business.

And an old-fashioned gang war

was to be avoided at all cost.

Why should it come to that?

George, you're head of the organization.

If Prenta's stepped out of line, replace him.

You don't replace Nick Prentas.

You eliminate them.

You don't do that till you find out

what's going on. Others may be involved.

That'll be a problem, too, won't it?

Sending somebody else out

to check on him, after he's been alerted.

Yeah, unless it was someone

he'd never suspect.

- Lorna.

- You can't be serious.

I don't know anyone

I'd have more confidence in.

Anyone more perfect for the job.

You can do it, Lorna.

You're the one person who can do it.

You really want me to go out there?

Why not? Nick's a setup for you.

He's always hanging around caf society.

A good-looking widow, lots of money,

her name in all the papers.

He'll be pouring his whole life

out to you in a week.

It's insane. You can't risk it. He's a killer.

- He's a man first.

- It's too dangerous. If he finds out...

I pay you to take care of my accounts,

not tell me what I'm going to do.

Did it ever occur to you

I might have something to say about this?

Of course, dear. I'm sorry.

You can leave us.

- George, I...

- Good night.

Good night.

What did you want to say?

First, I want to get things clear.

You want me to ingratiate myself...

with this "rotten thug

from a garbage pail," as you put it...

to the point where he'll tell me

what you want to know. Is that it?

That's it.

From what I've heard tonight,

he isn't likely to pour out his life story...

without very strong inducements.

There must be a limit to how far

you want me to go to induce him.

Lorna, stop coloring it.

You can handle yourself.

I wouldn't ask you to go

if I thought there'd be complications.

But I've got to know

what's going on out there.

Would you send your wife?

- Why bring my wife into this?

- Why bring me into it?

Because my wife is incompetent

for this job and you're not.

I equipped you for it.

Every step up the ladder, every Paris label,

they can all pay off now.

I see.

What am I, George?

Another wire service you've underwritten?

A new racetrack you've bought into?

Is that what I mean to you?

Is that all I've ever meant,

just another investment?

- You know better than that.

- Do I?

All right. Forget it.

Forgive me.

I wasn't very flattering.

I'm afraid I didn't stop to think.

I simply took for granted

that you were part of me...

and the things that concern me.

I know now, I had no right

to take that much for granted.

You had every right.

But don't ask me to believe

you've ever regarded me as a part of you.

We've both had to wait, Lorna.

It won't be much longer.

If you do this one job for me, I promise

you, when you come back, I'll be free.

Will you go?

I learned a long time ago, George,

that the customer is always right.

- Will tonight be soon enough to start?

- Tonight?

You're guest of honor at a party

I'm giving at the Hacienda Club.

You've invited Mr. Prenta, of course?

He didn't have to be invited.

He owns the Hacienda.

Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.

Number 13, black.

Make your bets, ladies and gentlemen.

What's happened

to that system of yours, darling?

I thought you quit

while you were still ahead.

I've been experimenting with a new one:

Stay to the bitter end.

If you'll write out the obituary,

I'll give you my check.

Certainly, Mrs. Forbes.

- You can make it out over there.

- Thank you.

Number 25, red.

What's happened to your Mr. Prenta?

We can't wait for him forever.

He'll be here.

I made sure he knew you'd be here.

Either your communication system

is faulty...

or you've overestimated

my drawing power.

Here you are, Mrs. Forbes.

Better luck next time.

Make your bets, ladies and gentlemen.

- Your check's no good, Mrs. Forbes.

- My check's good anywhere.

Except here.

That's right. I'm fresh.

But I'm also generous.

Tonight, you're the guest of the house.

Tomorrow night, that's different.

Tomorrow night, you can lose your shirt.

I'll even pay to see that.

I'm Nick Prenta.

For a moment, you had me frightened.

Because if there's anything good

about me, it's my credit.

There's more than that good about you.

Could I show you around?

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