The Saxon Charm Page #7

Not see me? What about the ship, sir?

What shall I do with her?

I suggest you scuttle her.

I'll wire you, honey.

You and me, both.

I've finished it, Eric.

Nothing there. Nothing.

Oh, everything we discussed is in it.

It's action without emotion.

There isn't a goose-pimple

in the entire third act.

I'm sorry, Matt.

No sorrier than I am.

I'd hoped to start casting by Monday.

A great disappointment to me, Eric.

A great disappointment.

Could you give me anything specific?

I could.

Scene by scene. Almost line by line.

It's that bad.

Matt. If you still like

the first two acts ..

Maybe you can get a professional

playwright to do a satisfactory 3rd act.

That was a very difficult

thing for you to say, Eric.

I admire you for it.

Look, Eric.

I'm tearing this up. For your sake.

There won't be any

writer on that third act.

You'll rewrite yourself from scratch.

No preconceptions, no notes.

Just write it. Action supercharged

with emotion. That's your objective.

I still have faith in you, Eric.

Great faith.

Matt, listen.

Have you ever tried writing alone, Eric?

Alone?

There is a distraction

in that third act, Eric.

The distraction of a man

and a woman on an island.

Have you ever tried

writing completely alone?

Why should I?

It will work wonders

with a man like you.

You've never fully employed your talent.

Because you've never known the elation

of creating in absolute solitude.

In a world of your own making.

In a world of your own play.

All irritating trivialities

banished from your mind.

It's the way to lick

that third act, Eric.

The only way.

Hello .. yes?

Mexico City?

Matt, what the devil

are you doing in Mexico?

Suppose you let me ask the questions?

How is the new third act?

Well .. I'm on the last scene now.

It should be just a matter of minutes.

Perfect timing.

Hermy is getting you plane reservations.

Pick them up at the office and I'll

meet you at Mexico City airport.

Matt, wait a minute.

I can't go to Mexico.

Of course you can. You're a grown boy.

Is Zack Humber with you?

What did you hear about Humber?

Oh.

I think you may have heard gossip about

my throwing him out of the partnership.

That crook tried to claim me as

a deductible income-tax item.

But .. Matt, I really shouldn't go.

Janet's waiting for me up at the island.

Oh, you'll only be gone

two or three days.

And when we get back, we'll

be all ready to start casting.

Would Janet object to

that, even if she knew?

Good .. and incidentally, Eric.

I think it best you not

mention this trip to anyone.

I'll explain when you get here.

Nobody will know you've gone.

I can't wait to read that third act.

See you tomorrow night.

Eric, my strong, silent friend.

Welcome to Mexico City.

Matt, if you could give

me one good reason for ..

Oh yes. I want you to meet Victoria,

Grace, Vivian, Elisabeth, Riddell.

Eric Busch.

Vivian.

Vivian Saxon. I'm still

clinging to Matt's name.

Whether he admits it or not.

That's the privilege of an Ex.

It's a woman's intuition, I suppose.

Come on. We'll show you the sights

of Mexico City. From a ringside table.

An orchid tonight, Seor Saxon?

Yes, indeed. An orchid.

An orchid for the most

beautiful lady in the world.

Ah, but you haven't

got the proper shade.

She requires just the

faintest tint of pastel green.

Her delicate beauty

must be set off properly.

Find me the orchid that I want. Find

it if you have to comb all of Mexico.

Si, Seor.

Yes.

I think I'll tidy up a bit.

Yes, of course.

What do you think of her?

Very attractive.

I'd heard you had an ex-wife.

Yes. When we were married she always

wanted to back one of my plays.

However, it seemed sort-of unethical.

Now, I feel free in permitting

her to make another fortune.

Then she's backing the play?

She is our answer to

that moron, Zack Humber.

It's all set?

Well, it's only a question of time.

You can understand however, why I asked

you not to say anything about this trip.

It's open to all kinds

of misinterpretations.

Ah, Seor Saxon from New York.

For hours, the operator has been

trying to get in touch with you.

Oh thank you, Jose. I'm using

this as my Mexico City office.

It's convenient and the wine is good.

Show him where he can

wash his hands for five pesos.

This way please.

Hello operator.

It's so wonderful to be with Matt again.

I thought he'd forgotten I was on earth.

What's come over him, Mr Busch?

How do you mean?

Oh, something's happened to mellow him.

He's as gentle as a lamb.

So considerate and attentive.

I never stopped loving him.

Even through the divorce.

And now that I have him back, it's ..

It's almost too good to be true.

Why ..

I guess it's just that Matt

needs someone like you.

Yes, yes, I'm still here.

I'm practically taking root.

Hello, Hermy .. what's

on your fat little mind?

We're in trouble, Boss.

The word got out that Humber

isn't backing us anymore.

So, already there is

$38,000 worth of lawsuits.

Haven't you got something

important to tell me?

Well, aside from your lawsuits ..

Your productions staff

quit on account of no pay.

They tell me we're going to

be evicted from these offices.

And the same goes for your house.

Well, creditors scare very easily.

And besides all that, your temperamental

Captain got drunk and sank the yacht.

I knew that Captain would

resort to something spectacular.

You haven't given me one problem Hermy,

that couldn't be solved with money.

Would it interest you that in a few days

we'll be rolling in the nauseating stuff?

Boss, you've found another angel.

I can tell by your voice.

We've got another angel.

Yes Hermy, we've got another angel.

A slightly used one.

But with wings of pure platinum.

Oh, I knew you'd come through, Boss.

Can I spread the word around?

Who is he, Boss?

It isn't a "he". It's a "she" angel.

Do you remember Vivian? My ex-wife?

Oh Boss, not her.

Not Vivian, Boss.

Why not?

That's one of the

reasons I'm calling you.

All week long we've been

getting wires from Mexico City ..

Wanting to know if you'll

stand good on her bills.

She's piled up her own national debt

down there. She hasn't got a nickel.

I got the telegrams here on your desk.

I can read them to you if you want.

This is terrible.

What a dirty little pauper.

Thank you, that was lovely.

I'm afraid my Rumba is a bit

rusty, but with your help ..

Seor Busch, you are

wanted at the telephone.

Me?

Si, Seor.

Perhaps Matt needs some

information on his call.

Run along and pry him away

from that phone if you can.

The bus-boy said something

about a phone call.

Why do you have your hat?

Bad news from Hermy.

He says that Vivian and I are about

to break into the gossip columns.

Oh.

You and I are going to have to

fly back to New York tonight.

What excuse will you make to Vivian?

None.

But you can't just leave her there.

Especially if she's backing the play.

I'm convinced that an entanglement

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes