The Razor's Edge Page #9

you're wasting your time.

She stopped drinking.

You're the most gullible person

I've ever known.

She'll never stop drinking.

Sophie wallows in the gutter because

she likes it. A blind person could see that.

Well, just the same, I do wish you'd be nice

to her, Isabel. We're going to be married.

What?

- Married?

- Yes, that's right. It's all settled.

You're not serious.

You can't be.

But I am.

- Aren't you going to congratulate me?

- I am not.

I think you're... You're...

What's kept you?

You've been hours.

I came the instant I got your call.

What's happened?

It's about Larry and Sophie.

The idiot. The stupid, blind idiot.

He must be mad.

If you'd calm down, I might make

head or tail of what you're trying to say.

- He's going to marry her!

- Uh... Oh. How do you know?

How should I know? He just

called me on the phone. Oh, I'm frantic.

So,lsee.

He even had the effrontery to

ask me to be nice to her.

- Well, it's his own affair, isn't it?

- She's an awful woman.

She's bad, bad, bad!

She's soused

from morning till night.

That doesn't necessarily

mean she's bad.

Quite a number of respectable citizens

get drunk and do silly things.

There are bad habits, like biting one's nails,

but I don't know if they're worse than that.

I call a person bad who lies and cheats

and is unkind.

If you're going to take her part,

I'll kill you.

- I'd prefer it if you gave me a cup of tea.

- Oh, help yourself.

He's seen a lot of her since we were at that

dive that night. He says she's quit drinking.

The fool thinks he's cured her.

- Have you forgotten what he did for Gray?

- That had nothing to do with it.

Thanks. Gray wanted to be cured.

She doesn't.

How do you know?

Because I know women. Do you think

she'll stick to Larry? Of course not.

Sooner or later she'll break out.

It's in her blood.

It's a brute she wants.

That's what excites her.

It's a brute she'll go after.

She'll leave Larry to hell.

It's very probable,

but I don't see what you can do about it.

I can do nothing about it.

But you can.

L'.

Larry likes you,

and he listens to what you say.

You know the world. Go and tell him

he can't make such a fool of himself.

Tell him it'll ruin him.

He'd only tell me it's none of my business.

And he'd be right.

- It may not turn out so badly as you think.

- Oh, you make me tired!

She's rotten to the core!

Do you think I've sacrificed myself

only to let Larry fall into the hands

of a woman like that?

How did you sacrifice yourself?

I gave up Larry for one reason only,

because I didn't want to stand in his way.

[ Laughs] Come off it, Isabel.

You gave him up for a square-cut diamond

and a sable coat.

Oh!

-[ Exhales]

- Oh.

You know, your... Your Uncle Elliott

wouldn't have thanked you

if you'd broken

one of his Crown Derby plates.

They were made for the Duchess of Dorset.

They're priceless.

Pick up that bread and butter!

Pick it up yourself.

And you call yourself an English gentleman.

No. That's one thing

I've never done.

Ooh! Get out of here. I never want to

see you again. I hate the sight of you.

I'm sorry for that, because the sight

of you always gives me pleasure.

Have you ever been told that your nose

is exactly like that of the Psyche

in the Museum of Naples?

And that's the loveliest representation

of virginal beauty that ever existed.

You've got exquisite legs,

so long and shapely.

I can't cease to be surprised at them

because they were thick

and lumpy when I first saw you.

- I can't imagine how you've managed it.

- An iron will.

But of course, your most

fascinating feature are your hands.

They're so slim and elegant.

I was under the impression

you thought them too big.

Not for your height and build.

I'm always amazed at the infinite grace

with which you use them. Ah?

Whether by nature or by art,

you never make a gesture

without imparting beauty to it.

They're like flowers sometimes

and sometimes like birds on the wing.

There are moments

when I don't positively dislike you.

[ Chuckles ]

In fact, sometimes I think

you're rather sweet.

I will not have my face

smeared with lipstick.

If you want to kiss me, kiss me on the lips,

which is what a merciful Providence

provided them for.

Thank you.

Now, what did you want?

- Advice.

- There's only one thing you can do.

Make the best of a bad job.

Larry's in the grip of the most powerful

emotion that can beset the breast of man,

self-sacrifice.

He's got to save the soul

of the wretched woman,

whom he had known as an innocent child.

And there's nothing you or I,

or anyone can do to prevent it.

But he's going to be so unhappy.

[Sighs]

You love him very much?

It is a nuisance, isn't it?

But I can't help it.

And you don't want to lose him altogether?

Then make friends with Sophie.

Be as nice to her as you can.

Ask her to lunch.

It would be rather awkward for me

after what I've just said to Larry.

- Will you behave if I do?

- Like an angel of light.

I'll fix it up.

1:
00 tomorrow at the Ritz.

What are you thinking?

I don't quite like the look of you.

I'm sorry. I thought that was

the one thing about me you did like.

You haven't got some scheme

you've been hatching up?

Oh, I promise you I haven't.

As a matter of fact, I'm terribly curious

to see what she looks like,

now that Larry's reformed her.

[ French ]

[ Larry] Oh, there you are. Excuse me.

Mr. Maugham's table?

- In the lounge, monsieur.

- Thank you.

Larry, you like it?

You look fine.

[ Pats Hand ] Come on.

- Hello, Larry. How do you do?

- Miss Keith. It's certainly nice to see you.

- Hello, Sophie.

- Oh, hello, Isabel.

- Sophie, I'm so happy for you.

- Thank you.

- Hello, Larry. Here they are.

- Thank you for asking us.

Hello, Gray.

Isabel tells me you're feeling much better.

Better's not the word for it.

I feel great. I haven't had to take a sleeping

pill since the night we went out together.

I'm your press agent. If you ever

hang out your shingle, let me know.

I'll do that.

- Ah. Cocktails.

- No, thank you.

- Here.

- No, thanks.

- You don't mind if we do?

- Oh, no. Of course not.

- Go right ahead.

- Oh, look. Uncle Elliott.

He behaves exactly as if the Ritz

were his private house.

I'm sure he's telling them all

how pleased he is

they were able to accept his invitation.

- I'd rather not discuss it.

-[ Man Speaking French ]

IsabeL

That blabby woman.

How do you do?

It's charming to see you again.

May I offer you my best wishes.

I hope you'll be very happy.

Thank you.

- The same to you.

- Thank you.

Cocktail, Elliott?

No. I would not like a cocktail.

I drink nothing but Vichy.

[ Edna Laughing Loudly]

Look at that.

You all know her, of course,

the Princess Edna Novemali.

You'd never think she was an American.

I knew her before

she came over here from Milwaukee.

And that frustrated,

old maid secretary of hers...

If you ask me,

they look like a couple of fugitives

from Madame Tussaud's waxworks.

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