The Front Page #9

I'm practically illiterate.

You never wrote anything?

Hey... Jesus.

Don't get

shell-shocked.

I'm not confessing to a murder.

Look at you.

Look, you're all white.

Let me get you a drink.

I don't want a drink.

You know, you should

put your head

between your legs, I think.

You let me think

that you were-

Well, why not?

What did you want me to do?

For God's sake,

I was like a spy.

Did you want to?

Did I want to?

Of course I wanted to.

You think I liked lying to you?

Come on, Florence,

you know that lying

is not in my nature.

I don't believe

this is happening.

I have to testify.

Try and keep your mind on that.

But it's like

you're a complete stranger.

So we got off on the wrong foot.

The wrong foot?

I was sworn to secrecy.

For God's sake,

we're on the same side.

Didn't you trust me?

I wasn't allowed.

Well, did you think

I'd lose interest in you?

You were in love with a writer.

Interested in you?

I don't even know you.

You know, I shouldn't

have said anything

because now you're

totally hysterical.

Nobody is hysterical.

When were you going

to mention it?

When we were 90?

I mentioned it tonight.

Because you're in trouble.

Yes, I'm in trouble,

for a very good reason.

Who was I spying for, Hitler?

I was helping

blacklisted writers.

Think about that for a minute.

You lied to me.

What are you really, a druggist?

You want to know what I was?

I ran a cash register.

You were a cashier?

That's exactly

what I mean. See?

Unless it's a writer

or an artist,

you know, catch you

in bed with a cashier...

That's not fair.

You wouldn't have

looked twice at me.

It is not what someone does,

it is who he is.

And you don't even know

who I am.

Did you ever give me the chance?

I'm giving you right now.

All right.

Who are you?

What?

I still don't know who you are.

I only know who you're not.

Who is Howard Prince?

Hey, Florence,

I got to tell you,

you know, it's not easy

being in love with you.

You know why?

Because what you're

looking for all the time

is, like, a knight

on a horse or something,

which is not Howard Prince.

You know who Howard Prince is?

I'll tell you.

Howard Prince is his own man.

What does that mean?

Well, I think

you're going to find out

when I come back

from the committee tomorrow.

What am I going to find?

You said it was all fixed.

Well, I've been

thinking about it.

You know, everybody's

telling me what to do.

But, you know,

I don't see why I have to.

What are you going to do?

Well, I'll work something out.

Are you going to tell them

that you're not a writer?

I'm going to tell them

exactly what

I want to tell them.

Howard, that committee

is dangerous.

They're out for blood.

You can't fool around.

Take my word for it.

All those people, Allie

and Sussman and everything,

they're wrong,

because I can

beat that committee,

and I can beat them my own way.

How?

Hey, what's the difference?

I'm telling you,

I'm not going to wind up

back at that cash register.

Take my word for it.

And I'm not going to do anything

that makes you ashamed of me.

Trust me.

Can you trust me?

And we would like

to thank this committee

for allowing Mr. Prince

to appear

and voice his approval

of the great work

that you're doing

for our country.

Communist subversion

is a real and present danger,

and you can rest assured

that it will never be tolerated

on the network

that both

Mr. Prince and I

have the honor to represent.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, sir.

This committee is here

to help keep America

just as pure

as we possibly can make it.

Well, I can't think

of anything more important.

Well, I would like

to commend this committee

on the job that they're doing.

Thank you.

Counsel...

Just a few questions,

Mr. Prince.

We know you're a busy man.

Mr. Prince,

do you happen to know

an Alfred Miller?

Who'?

Alfred Miller.

Why?

If you'd just

tell the committee...

So I can't know why?

Mr. Prince,

you don't have to worry.

Anyone that comes here

and tells the truth

has got nothing to worry about.

Which Alfred Miller?

Do you know Alfred Miller,

the writer?

Uh, when you say "know,"

uh... you know, can you ever

really know a person?

I think, you know-

I grew up with an Alfred Miller,

but do I know him?

Would you say, do I know him?

Can you know-

In a biblical sense, know him?

Am I right?

Would that be the same

Alfred Miller

you met with several times

in Hammer's Dairy Restaurant?

Who says I did?

Is it or is it not true?

No, I asked you first.

Is it true?

I don't understand. Is anybody

accusing me of anything?

If you would

answer the question...

Which question?

You asked one question.

I answered that question,

and then-

Do you know Alfred Miller?

You already asked that question.

Howard, what are you doing?

What do you mean?

I'm handling it.

Don't worry.

You're under oath.

If you don't answer,

they can hold you for contempt.

Well, I am answering.

I'm just not replying,

that's all.

Oh, don't split hairs.

But they can only get me

if I don't answer.

If I answer without replying,

I got them.

But you're getting them mad.

So what? What can

they do, throw me out?

Do you know Alfred Miller?

Hey, are you guys aware

of the fact

that every week,

busloads of communists

are coming in over the border?

I mean, is anybody

doing anything about that?

We are not concerned

at this time

with anything other

than the communist conspiracy

in the entertainment world.

But how come?

Why aren't we doing

something about it?

I mean,

why isn't everybody armed?

You know, everybody

should learn to use a gun.

I think it's a big mistake

that anyone who goes

to military school-

You send them there

when they're bad.

Mr. Prince, this committee

is just as concerned

about the threat of communism

as you are.

Since your memory is unclear

about Alfred Miller,

do you know any of these

other people?

William Phelps...

Herbert Delaney...

Florence Barrett...

Hershel Brownstein,

also known as Hecky Brown?

He's dead.

Did you know him?

Mr. Prince...

Now, you came here

to cooperate today,

did you not?

Will you excuse us a moment,

Mr. Prince?

John.

I thought we had an arrangement.

With the network.

I think he's

doing this by himself.

Why don't we

hit him with contempt?

He's not giving us grounds.

We can't let him get away

with this.

He hasn't even

taken an amendment.

There's got to be something

you can nail him on.

Okay-

Mr. Prince,

let me ask you another question.

Do you know a Patrick Callahan?

Who'?

Bartender

at the Friendly Tavern,

where, I believe,

you once worked

as a night cashier.

I did?

Do you know Daniel LaGattuta?

Doesn't he sell fruit?

You placed bets for Mr. Callahan

and Mr. LaGattuta,

did you not?

In... In a-

In a strictly friendly way.

I remind you that placing bets

is a crime.

Howard, is this true?

You were a bookmaker?

Not professionally.

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