The Front Page #3

because you do what you can do.

You know, I...

I got to ask you.

Did you see my new script?

Marvelous.

It's even better

than the last one.

Well, you should

see the next one.

It's very exciting for me

to watch a new talent emerging.

May I ask you

a personal question?

Sure, feel free.

Why did you

start writing so late?

Well... Because,

in order to write-

Excuse me.

You got to get experience,

and you got to live,

and life is experience...

So I had to, you know,

get that experience.

Well, here in the city?

You do come from here,

don't you?

Yeah, I come from here,

but I bummed around a lot.

I was a boxer and a seaman,

and all that stuff

you got to be to write.

What, you don't believe me?

Well, should I?

No, but I did bum around a lot.

What about you?

Not a lot.

No, I didn't mean it that way,

you know.

Where are you from?

Connecticut.

That's... That's very ritzy.

It's very proper, anyway.

I was very well-bred.

We're the kind of family

where the biggest sin

was to raise your voice.

Oh, yeah?

In my family, the biggest sin

was to buy retail.

Well, do you guys laugh a lot?

Who?

You know,

you and the stockbroker.

Yes.

Thank you.

The character of the girl

in your script...

You write about women so well,

with such understanding.

Hey, uh...

This is all a la carte.

So, what about tomorrow night?

I'd have to tell him.

I don't know

if I'm ready for that.

Come on.

So you go out with me once,

and then you'll know better.

What? What are you

laughing at?

You're so unexpected.

Well, I didn't

expect you, either.

You call yourself a writer?

Modern American writing

started with

Huckleberry Finn, dummy.

It did?

Hemingway said that.

How about Hemingway?

You're low

on the moderns-

Faulkner, Sherwood Anderson,

Fitzgerald.

All right, give me-

give me two Hemingways

and a Faulkner.

Faulkner.

Hemingway, Heming-

There we are.

The Russians-

Brothers Karamazov.

No more Dostoyevsky?

What else you got?

Diary of a Writer.

Oh, yeah?

I can use that.

Remember, Howard,

you got to pay for these.

No credit.

Don't worry.

Listen, Danny,

I got hit very hard last week.

Long shots come in

like relatives.

Well-Well, soon.

Soon is soon.

Tomorrow, the day after.

Wha-Danny,

what are you mad about?

It's a promise. Trust me.

Come on, Myer.

Jesus, I'm still an unknown.

What am I talking about?

Five thousand, probably.

You're making as much as I am.

That's how much you know.

Where's taxes and agents?

I got to buy books and paper...

Money goes through you

like Epsom salts.

You're a sick individual.

I'll pay you back.

I just sold another script.

Don't play me

for a sucker, Howard.

A man earns

and he still borrows?

First you pay back what you owe.

My dad's in the study.

You want a drink?

Me? No, thanks.

You look tired.

Yeah, this was a tough one.

Sh*t, they're all tough.

But it turned out good, I think.

Yeah? You really

work hard, don't you?

It's a terrible thing,

that blacklist.

You know, you having

to work like this.

I always work like this.

To work.

I was thinking, there must be

a lot of writers

who are blacklisted.

So how do they get along?

Why?

I don't know.

You know, it must be hard.

Yeah, it's hard.

You know, it's funny.

I got them so snowed.

I mean, two writers

wouldn't be any harder than one.

Oh, yeah? You think not?

What do you have to know?

It's a cinch.

Why not three?

Yeah, even three.

10% each.

Well, I don't know.

I could do three for 25%.

Well, I wouldn't want you

to feel cheated.

All right, make it 10% each.

Oh. What's the matter?

You don't think that's fair?

Oh, no, I think it's a bargain.

Hey, I got the time.

You know writers who need help.

I'm willing to help.

Oh, cut the crap, Howard.

Why? I'm running around

every place.

I got to take taxis.

You know, I got

to keep up appearances.

You want the money.

Come on, I'm offering a deal.

What, are you

some kind of romantic?

You know, that's

the trouble with leftos.

You got a thing about money.

You want the deal?

I want it, but I know you.

You're going to take off

and fly right up your own ass.

I'm willing to help.

Take advantage.

All I can say, Howard,

is thanks.

Yeah, it's no trouble.

I'm a Communist, Howard.

I want you to know that

right off the bat.

The Committee asked me,

I took the Fifth.

It's none of their business,

but I'm telling you.

It's none of my business.

Well, I think you should know

who you're fronting for.

I don't have to know.

They're trying to sell

the Cold War, Howard.

They're using the blacklist

against anyone who won't buy.

Herb, he doesn't need a lecture.

I'll send you some pamphlets.

I'll break your arm.

Leave him alone.

He knows who he's mixed up with.

Who's mixed up?

What Herb means is

we're not blacklisted

because we're kind

to dumb animals

or because somebody

lied about us

or made a mistake.

I know, you're out of work.

That's all I have to know.

What about taxes?

That's going to be a problem.

You need a deductible?

Take my advice-

natural gas.

Yeah?

I heard cattle.

Cattle is also good.

Filet of sole.

Vegetable cutlet.

Mushroom omelet.

Protose steak.

Eat in good health.

All right, the network pays him,

he pays us, less the 10%, right?

Then we just pay all the taxes

that we owe.

Nothing illegal.

No tricks.

Everybody declares

exactly what he earned.

What's he paying us for?

He's got to put something down.

We're his collaborators.

If anyone reads the returns,

connects him with us...

Can't we protect him better?

The IRS isn't going to care

as long as

the right tax is paid.

The FBI will,

and they've been

looking at tax returns.

Only in political cases.

He's not political.

You guys kill me.

They're beating your brains out,

and you're worried about taxes?

We're worried about you.

Don't worry about me, okay?

Just write the script.

I'll take care of my end.

Five pounds, sweetheart.

Have a nice day.

Cash?

Three hundred?

Howard, have an orange.

Thanks, Uncle Howard.

Thank you, Uncle Howard.

Thank you, Howard.

But I'm Harry Stone, the actor.

The other Harry Stone, the

director, he's the one you want.

I'm blacklisted because

they think I'm him.

I understand.

I never joined anything.

A terrible mistake

has been made.

I sympathize.

Unfortunately,

I can only help people

willing to make a clean breast

of what they've done.

But I haven't done anything.

That's why I can't help you.

Mr. Hampton

from the network.

Thank you. Yes, Torn?

Yes, I've got a report

on Howard Prince.

No, no proof he's a member

of the Party.

Of course,

no proof that he isn't.

I suggest I keep investigating.

Well, no, I don't have to.

I can send you a bill right now

and forget about it.

You're the one who has to answer

to the American people.

Exactly.

That's all I'm saying.

You can't be too careful

these days.

No, I don't suppose

anyone can object

if you keep using him.

Nothing to object to...

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