The Saxon Charm Page #9

And he won't listen to arguments.

But why?

I want to know why.

You're asking for it, so listen good.

Because if I have to say

this twice, I'll throw up.

Dave Ebbs cancelled your deal,

because you're an unreliable drunk.

Who can't be depended on to show up

for work more than three days in a row.

Are you talking about me?

That's what I asked Ebbs.

He says he knows

what he's talking about.

Because he got it straight from the one

guy in the world who should know best.

No ..

Yes, Alma.

Matt Saxon.

Thanks, Jack.

[ Buzzer ]

I hope you'll pardon the intrusion.

My name is Peter Stanhope.

Yes. Yes, I know.

And this is Abel Richman, the producer.

How are you?

I've heard of you, Mr Richman.

Won't you step inside?

Thank you.

Can I offer you a drink or something?

No thank you.

Well then at least sit down, won't you.

Saxon telephoned me

from Hollywood and ..

Told me that you'd read the play.

Yes. Matt was quite upset

when I turned it down.

Turned it down?

Didn't he tell you?

It was more than a week ago.

Maybe we'd better

explain why we're here.

Peter is in New York looking for a play.

Perhaps Mrs Busch told you?

We saw her tonight and ..

Mrs Busch and I are separated.

I haven't seen her for several days.

You have a very loyal separated wife.

She's the reason we're here.

She defended your play so well,

that we'd like to read it.

The original version, I mean.

I don't see what that would accomplish.

Saxon has an option on the play.

You are mistaken. He no longer

has any legal hold on your script.

I've admired your novels so much, Busch.

That I'm anxious to see what sort of a

play you wrote without Saxon's help.

No harm can come

by letting us look at it.

If Saxon let his option lapse

because of financial reasons.

I'll string along with him.

I'll get you a carbon of the script.

Such loyalty ought to be deserved.

Pardon me.

Agnes!

Snivelling menial.

Alma.

Darling. It's wonderful to see you. I ..

I only came to say a few things to you.

Not in anger.

I am just going to deliver them

in a plain unaccented style.

And that's all, brother.

Alma, not you.

The whole world of the theater

has turned against me.

The theater to which I gave so much.

And from which I asked so little.

I'm bankrupt.

Spiritually and physically.

You are the only living person who

can help me through this crisis.

I want you tell me why you

killed my job in Hollywood.

Why you told Dave Ebbs I'd never

be able to finish the picture.

Why you lied about my

being an incurable alcoholic.

Alma, what are you saying?

How could Dave have

misunderstood me so completely?

I told him you'd be

wonderful in the part.

I told him you'd be even better with two

week's rest and postponed the picture.

I told him that you were tired.

I believe you've so poisoned your mind

you don't know why you lied about me.

Well, I'll tell you why.

You were jealous.

You were jealous because I was

able to get a part without your help.

You were afraid I might

become independent.

Because when you get your hands

on a property like me or Eric Busch.

Or any of the others.

You're not willing to let go until you

personally can say: "get out".

Well, this time you've missed.

Because I'm saying to

you get out of my life.

You were in my hair but good.

Well now I've combed you out.

And out you stay!

Alma!

Give me thirty seconds. You admit

you love me. Give me thirty seconds.

Alright .. you can have thirty seconds.

Let's hear your routine.

This is no act.

It may look like it.

But this is the real thing.

An actress once threatened to

drink this if I didn't give her a job.

Fifteen seconds.

I swear to you that if you walk out on

me now, I'll drink it to the last drop.

Ten seconds.

Alma, my death will be on your hands.

Five seconds.

Alma!

That's it.

Hello .. hello!

Hello.

Matt, where are you?

You don't sound so good. Are you ill?

Well, that Hollywood

session was no picnic, Eric.

Can you come over to my office

and we'll talk things out.

Yes, right away.

Well I .. I said I'm rather tired.

I'm expecting a call, Matt. If you want

to see me tonight, come to my apartment.

Alright .. if you insist.

I'll be there in about fifteen minutes.

Greetings from an unworthy

ambassador on your behalf.

Did I hear you ask me if I could have

some brandy? I could do with a spot.

What happened in Hollywood? How

did you make out with Peter Stanhope?

That ham? Wouldn't hire him as a walk-on.

I asked you what happened.

Hollywood has ruined him.

He's forgotten how to act.

I listened to him read for 5 minutes and

then snatched the script from his hand.

He's got timings like a toy watch.

But you said he was practically signed.

So he was. So he was!

Before I had my inspiration.

The one man in the world today, Eric.

Who can play Molire. The one!

And he had completely slipped my mind.

Think of Molire.

Think of the character.

As you have written him.

Think hard.

And now I'll say his name.

David Lee.

Who's he?

What provincial rock have you been living

under that you've not heard of David Lee?

David Lee. The English actor.

Tragedian, comedian, everything.

I'm flying to London

tomorrow to start negotiations.

Incidentally, you'd better write

me out a check for $3,500.

My account has been tied up

by some silly kind of a lawsuit.

Are you talking about the David Lee

who was in Hamlet here last season?

I knew you'd remember him.

Perfect casting, Eric. Believe me.

But he's at least fifty years old.

Let's face it, Eric. You haven't written

a play. You've written a vehicle.

A vehicle to be moulded

like gelatine to fit its star.

With David Lee in the part, we can

start the play in the second act.

In the scene where Molire realises

he's getting to be an old man.

I see.

We throw out the first act,

and half the second act.

No, no. We don't throw out anything.

He simply plays those

early scenes in retrospect.

I admit it means a bit of rewriting.

But there will be plenty of time

for that while I'm in London.

You'd better write out that

check before we both forget it.

What's the matter, Eric? You in trouble?

Where's Janet?

She's living with Alma.

You separated?

I'd rather not talk about it.

Well of course we'll talk about it.

Get it out of your system.

Best thing in the world that

could have happened to you.

[ Telephone ]

Hello?

Mr Busch? Abel Richman.

I understand, Saxon is back in town.

Can you speak freely?

No.

I thought not.

Well, listen carefully.

Stanhope and I have read

your original version.

We think it's terrific.

He wants to do it.

I want to direct it.

We don't want to change a line.

And we guarantee to go into

rehearsal within ten days.

What's your answer?

Just simply say yes or no.

Yes.

Ah .. so at last you've

freed yourself, huh?

Yes.

Though I know you're upset now, Eric.

But you are better off a bachelor.

You'll have more time

for your writing, and ..

A wider variety of women

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