The Last of Robin Hood Page #3

"Fasten your seat belts,

it's going to be a bumpy night?"

It was, "I'd like to kiss you,

but I just washed my hair."

And then, five, her first film.

The Story of Nylon, Technicolor.

She's just... She was born

to be a performer.

You don't have to convince me, Flo.

I saw it right away.

She's one of the brightest,

most unaffected,

natural talents, I have seen in years.

- Oh, please, sit down, won't you?

- Oh, thank you.

The thing is...

If there's a way,

I would really like to help her.

- You know, get her career going full-steam.

- Really?

There's so many people in this town,

friends of mine who have influence,

you know, that I could introduce her to.

And I could say, "This is my discovery.

My protge, so to speak."

That is, with your approval.

- Of course.

- Splendid.

I never got you your drink.

There is one thing, Florence.

The other day,

my assistant told me that...

he thought he remembered Beverly from

high school and that she's not yet 18.

Is that true?

Yes.

- How old is she?

- She's 15, Errol.

You know, that could be

very dangerous for Beverly.

If the studios found out that

she's underage, she could be blackballed.

Blackballed?

Oh, yes. They're real sticklers for the

rules these days. Not like in my time.

- Well, they won't find out.

- No?

No, she has a birth certificate

that says she's 18.

- It's a good one, too.

- Is it?

Yes, she was dancing in Vegas

when she was 13

and no one ever suspected anything

and she could pass for 20 now.

Well, that's exactly

the age I took her for.

It occurs to me that if I were

to take Woodsey under my wing,

we'd naturally be seen

around town a lot.

And the press in this country,

the free press is...

Well, they have such filthy minds,

they could make it rather difficult for us.

- Even when nothing is going on?

- Oh, yes. Oh, yes.

Well, that's frustrating.

I mean, that's not fair.

No, it's not. But I've had an idea, Flo.

What if you were to come along

with us, when we're out?

You know, be a part of the group.

- Well, that's a swell idea.

- You are her mother, after all.

We'd just be...

We'd just be three friends,

out on the town,

having a wonderful time.

Well, that sounds like fun.

Splendid.

Are you out of your f***ing mind?

Yeah, you bet.

And loving every minute of it.

Does the mother even know

what's going on?

Well, you know, mothers see

what mothers want to see.

Here you are, sport.

Oh, you're flying too close

to the sun, my friend.

Your wings will get burned,

you're gonna fall down to earth,

and you're gonna land in this

nasty little place called jail,

which you barely escaped in '42.

That was a show trial,

I was a big star then, I'm not anymore,

so the DA doesn't care about me.

And I don't give a damn about him.

And besides, Beverly is not a gold digger,

like those girls were.

But she is underage

and the public never forgets.

You don't have to remind me, sport.

I live with it every day.

"In like Flynn." It'll be my epitaph.

That's exactly why they're gonna

throw the book at you.

And the studio

can't protect you anymore.

Belli, you're a lawyer and I pay you

quite handsomely to think like that.

But at the end of the day,

I don't give a damn.

Do you know what doctor once told me,

that if I didn't give up the drink

and the drugs and the wild ways,

I'll have six months to live.

That was 10 years ago,

and I've lived every day and night

as if it was my last.

That's what I love about you, Baron.

I really do.

But now you're gonna listen to me.

Statutory rape, that's hard time.

Look at that...

I began to see that there was a real

chemistry between Errol and Beverly.

He was so eager to please her,

to do things for her

like she was a big star

and he was her youthful admirer.

I went everywhere with them and met

the best Hollywood had to offer.

The crme de la crme.

- Hello?

- Hello, Woodsey.

Oh, hi, Errol, I love the music box,

it's so sweet.

I'm so glad. Something about it

made me think of you.

Listen, my love, is this is a good time?

- Sure.

- Put her on.

Mom, pick up.

Hello.

Florence, hi. Listen,

I hope I'm not interrupting your dinner.

Oh. No, no, not at all,

we just finished.

How are you? Bev, hang up the phone.

How are you doing?

Not well, Florence, not well at all.

I have to leave on Monday for New York.

- Oh, really?

- It's that damn play.

I've committed myself to it and I'm stuck.

I really don't want to go.

But, listen, I've had an idea,

why don't you take some clothes

and things and throw them in a suitcase,

take the baby by the hand and join me,

there in New York, soon as possible.

Errol, stop joking.

No, I'm not joking at all,

I'm deadly serious.

I want to launch Beverly's career

in New York.

You'll be there as a chaperone.

I'll take care of everything of course.

That's a very generous idea, but...

I have to give it some thought.

No, no, don't think about it really,

Florence. Just do it, come on.

Come as soon as you can. It'll be wonderful

for Beverly, I mean just think of it.

New York? What are you talking about?

There are some people

who took interest in Bev

and they could really

move her career along.

Yeah, like who?

Errol Flynn.

What?

Yeah, he's been helping

her out with her career.

She's 15 years old.

I mean, Lord knows what's gone on.

Oh, nothing's gone on.

It's perfectly innocent.

- I've been there, I've seen them together.

- Flo. Flo, Flo.

Errol Flynn is a walking penis.

- Oh, no that's not...

- He can't keep his hands off of young girls.

- Okay, so he's interested in her talent?

- Yes.

Oh, wake up, woman.

She's a chorus girl,

she's a so-so singer and she's...

- She can't act her way out of a paper bag.

- You know, you don't know anything.

I know. I'm not letting you

take Beverly to New York,

to be served on a platter

to a man like Errol Flynn.

Listen, Beverly's whole life has been

about one thing and one thing only,

and that's show business.

You don't understand the difference

that just a little helping hand

from a director or a producer

or a big star like Errol can make.

It makes the difference between

those who make it, who really make it

and those that are left behind on the

garbage heap, the has-beens, the wannabes.

This is her shot, you can't say no.

If you do, she's gonna resent you

for the rest of her life,

and I will, too.

You owe me this.

Oh, Flo.

You always had your way with that girl.

You kept me out...

I never kept you out of it,

you weren't in it because...

Let me finish!

Damn you!

Take her if you want.

But that's it.

I'll wash my hands of the both of you.

You're on your own.

Oh, look, Bev. I've always wanted

to come to New York.

You know, not many mothers

would do what I'm doing.

I know.

I love you, Mom.

Oh, I love you too, baby.

Mom.

Errol wanted me to talk to you

about the sleeping arrangements.

Okay.

He wanted me to tell you that I'd be

sleeping in his room most nights.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes