The Grifters Page #10

2ND CLERK

It is.

CLERK:

Troubleshooter from the main

office. Came out here right after

you went into the hospital, and he

ain't had a kind word for anybody

yet.

3RD CLERK

Nobody knows anything but him.

CLERK:

He chopped off half a dozen

salesmen; won't wholesale to them

any more.

2ND CLERK

What kind of sense does that make?

They're all on commission.

ROY:

(unworried)

You think he'll chop me?

CLERK:

If he does, he's crazy.

2ND CLERK

Here he comes!

The clerks all hurry back to their desks as Kaggs enters. He

crosses to Roy, hand stuck out.

KAGGS:

Kaggs. Home office.

ROY:

(taking his hand)

Roy Dillon.

KAGGS:

(keeping Roy's hand)

I know that. Knew it when I saw you

out there. The best salesman here,

which isn't saying much. Want to

talk to you, Dillon.

Kaggs moves toward the gate in the rail, still holding Roy's

hand, to move him along. Roy stands still, which yanks Kaggs

back. Kaggs frowns at him, releases his hand.

KAGGS (CONT'D)

What's up?

ROY:

That was a pretty backhanded

compliment. If I let people get

away with things like that, I

wouldn't be a good salesman.

KAGGS:

(brisk)

You're right. I apologize. But I

still want to talk to you.

ROY:

Lead on.

Kaggs leads the way through the rail.

INT. KAGGS' OFFICE - DAY

Small, crowded, efficient, with interior windows showing the

aisles of bins. Kaggs leads Roy in, shuts the door, gestures

at the second chair as he goes behind the desk.

KAGGS:

Take a seat.

They both sit, Roy amused and observant.

KAGGS:

When I said you being the best

salesman here didn't say much, I

meant for us. I know your record

with Sarber and Webb, and I'd say

you're a top-flight man, but you've

had no incentive. No one walking on

your heels. Just a lot of half

asses, so the tendency's been not

to stretch yourself. I'm bouncing

the slobs, incidentally.

ROY:

(dry)

So I heard.

KAGGS:

Makes no difference to me if

they're only on commission. If they

don't make good money, they're not

giving us good representation, and

we can't afford to have them

around. Ever supervise salesmen?

ROY:

Just myself.

KAGGS:

That's right, you've had to

supervise yourself. This place

needs a sales manager. Somebody

who's proved he's a salesman and

can handle other salesmen. He'd

have a lot of deadwood to clear

out, new men to hire. What do you

think?

Roy doesn't yet know he's being offered the job.

ROY:

Sounds like a good Idea.

KAGGS:

I don't know offhand what your best

year's been, we can look it up. The

idea is, we'll top it by fifteen

percent.

Now Roy gets it. He's startled, almost scared, thinks

automatically of escape.

ROY:

What? Me?

KAGGS:

That's just the first year. If you

aren't worth a lot more than that

the second year, I'll kick you out.

What do you say?

ROY:

Well, uh... No.

KAGGS:

(astonished)

No?

ROY:

I can't take that job! I mean, I

mean, I can't take it right away.

I'm still recuperating, I just

dropped in to say hello, see

everybody --

KAGGS:

I didn't realize. Yeah, you do look

a little pale. How soon will you be

ready? A week?

ROY:

But you need a man right now. It

wouldn't be fair to you to --

KAGGS:

I take care of the being-fair-to-me

department. Things've gone to hell

this long, they can go a little

longer.

ROY:

(trapped)

Well...

Kaggs gets to his feet, terminating the meeting.

KAGGS:

See you in a week, Roy. I can call

you Roy?

ROY:

(rising)

Oh, sure. Fine.

Kaggs sticks his hand out for another shake. Roy obliges.

KAGGS:

And I'm Perk. Short for Percy, I'm

afraid.

ROY:

(distracted)

Perk.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

Roy's place. Roy enters from the bedroom, carrying a

suitcase, which he drops on the sofa. He goes to one of the

box-framed clown pictures, takes it off the wall, puts it

face down on the coffee table, removes two wing nuts holding

the back, lifts off the back, and reveals stacks of money

hidden inside. He takes two wads of money out, counting them,

putting them on the coffee table, then fits the back in

place, reattaches the wing nuts, and hangs the picture on the

wall. Stuffing the wads of money into the suitcase, he

leaves.

EXT. UNION STATION - DAY

A cab pulls up to discharge passengers. Roy and the DRIVER

get out. Roy pays the driver, who opens the trunk to take out

several pieces of luggage. Myra leans hesitantly out, as

though afraid it's raining out there.

ROY:

This really is it. Union Station.

Myra comes out of the cab. She's feeling testy. Roy's in a

good mood and ignores her bad temper.

MYRA:

I don't see why we have to take the

train.

ROY:

Because it's comfortable.

Myra and Roy burden themselves with the luggage.

MYRA:

What if we want to drive somewhere

while we're there?

ROY:

We'll rent a car.

They start for the station.

MYRA:

Big spender.

ROY:

You ain't seen nothin.

INT. TRAIN DAY

AN ANGLE from outside the passenger car through the window at

Myra, mulish, watching the scenery go by. Beyond her Roy's

easy, content. He moves to get up.

TWO SHOT, within the train. Myra looks questioningly at Roy

as he stands.

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