The Damned Don't Cry Page #8

Excuse me, Mr. Prenta,

but she's my guest.

Okay, we'll share her.

I never understood

that picking up a check...

gave one an automatic entre

into a private party.

- No offense, of course.

- Of course not.

A woman from a glossy family like yours

has to be careful who she's seen with.

Do you also intrude

into your customers' background?

Only when they start flapping

their background in my face.

I'd be delighted to see your place,

Mr. Prenta.

You knocked the wind out of me just now,

Mrs. Forbes.

- I'll be able to say thank you in a minute.

- Don't be fooled.

I only did that to discourage you

from enquiring into my background.

Or have you done that already?

Not yet, but I'm considering it.

Shall we dance?

One newspaper calls you

an Oklahoma oil heiress.

The other said you're from Wyoming.

Which is it?

Are you this inquisitive

with everyone you meet?

It's a habit I picked up from my business.

The people I deal with

I want to know about.

In what way do you feel

you're dealing with me?

Right now, I'm just showing you around.

As for the future,

I had something more like this in mind.

You'd better change your mind...

because you'll be spending your future

with somebody else.

Hold out on that for one day.

We're having a little charity party

here tomorrow. Diving exhibition.

I want you to sit at my table.

How clear must I make myself,

Mr. Prenta?

My friends call me Nick.

I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to try

to break into your little circle of friends.

Why not? I moved into yours.

You shouldn't be so presumptuous, either.

Thank you for the tour.

Your club is very nice.

I had a hunch that was too plain.

Try this.

I was going to send them to your house.

I figured this would save time.

You're supposed to wear them.

You're very thoughtful, but I don't care

for orchids in the afternoon.

Now look,

what did I do that was so terrible?

Don't tell me no one's

ever made a pass at you before.

Well, not like that before.

Mrs. Forbes, when I do something

that isn't in the rule books, I admit it.

I have the notion that you've never

admitted a mistake in your life...

even to yourself.

And to admit one in front of others

would really be a catastrophe, wouldn't it?

All right, I'm sorry. I acted like a mug.

I've done worse than that to people

like you and never been called for it.

If I had, it wouldn't have mattered.

With you, it does.

- Did that hurt so much?

- Plenty.

But if you want me to,

I'll do it all over again.

Please sit down, Mr. Prenta.

Thank you.

All right, go!

That's enough.

That completes a reel

of the best-looking scenery in the West.

At least, it's the best-looking

swimming pool in the West.

Yeah.

I spent $20,000 for it.

Never been in it

more than half a dozen times.

It just doesn't seem safe...

not having orange peelings

and tin cans floating around on it.

That's the kind of water

I learned to swim in.

Right off the end of a pier.

I think you'd make

a national shrine out of it...

a constant reminder

of the things you've attained.

A constant reminder

of the things I've been able to buy.

There are some things a man can't buy.

Some things I may never be able to have.

Excuse me, Mr. Prenta.

Long distance calling. Detroit.

I'll be right back, darling. Business.

Hello.

Yeah.

I'll take this call later.

Could I have a cigarette?

There's half a dozen boxes

around the pool filled with cigarettes.

There must be

more than half a dozen women...

who could be calling you on long distance.

You're jealous. I can't believe that.

There are a lot of things

I can't believe, either...

things about you.

I have a friend who has a friend

who's heard rumors.

I know what you've heard.

There've been others, sure.

But they were just women.

Not like you.

I'm not talking about the treatment

you give your friends.

It's the treatment you give your enemies

that disturbs me.

Your old man made his money in oil

and that made you an heiress.

I never knew my father,

or anybody I could call that.

I had to make mine myself.

Well, I'm making it.

But there's someone

who is always trying to take it away.

You either protect what you've got

or you've got nothing.

Everyone tries to protect

what he has, Nick.

The difference is in how he does it.

The difference is in the people

you have to deal with.

In your crowd, a polite no is enough.

In mine, it isn't.

The only kind of a no they understand

is from the end of a gun.

You mean you've actually had men killed?

You don't like what you're hearing,

do you?

That's because you've never

had to be a part of it.

You've never had to watch yourself

24 hours a day...

against somebody

trying to cut you down...

against the stooges

sent out to trip you up...

against people you can't trust.

Suppose you couldn't trust me,

would you have me killed?

No.

I'd do that myself.

Thank you, Nick.

No. Save it for tonight.

I can't make it tonight.

That long-distance call, huh?

Maybe.

No, some people are coming over.

Strictly business.

Don't you believe me?

Maybe.

Depends on what kind of business it is.

I've been waiting for you.

You have a visitor from out of town.

- George?

- Martin Blackford.

- Marty? Here?

- No, the Palm Inn.

He's expecting you. Ask for Mr. Baldwin.

What are you doing here?

I go where George sends me.

He sent me out here

to check on one of his investments.

He hasn't heard from you in some time.

He hasn't heard from me

because I've had nothing to report.

I guess he just didn't understand.

He knows you've been busy.

He's had reports on that.

I was ordered to ingratiate myself

with Nick Prenta.

That's exactly what I've done,

no more, no less.

George thinks you've been

taking his orders too literally.

I'm inclined to agree with him.

Your agreement or disagreement

doesn't interest me.

No? You'd be amazed to learn

how highly my opinions are regarded.

I'm a very important fellow now.

That's why I'm in a position

to offer you some sound advice.

Don't hold out on George. If you do...

Are you absolutely certain

you've learned nothing?

Nothing he didn't already know.

Prenta did have Grady killed.

- What else?

- Nothing else.

In all the times you've been with him,

all the hours alone...

you've learned nothing else?

Not even the people he talks to?

- Sometimes there are calls, long distance.

- From whom?

- I don't know.

- From where?

- There was one from Detroit.

- When?

- This afternoon.

- What about?

Nothing.

He's expecting some people tonight.

Business, a meeting.

- Go on, what's the rest?

- That's all I know, all I want to know.

You're upset.

I thought you were enjoying your work.

Or has Mr. Prenta

suddenly become important to you?

- What do you mean?

- Has he promised you the world, too?

He means nothing to me.

Except, he's a human being

and he trusts me.

Don't tell me that disturbs you.

Taking advantage of a man's trust.

At any rate, you better forget

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