The Star Page #6

George, how nice.

- Stu. Stu, how's the family?

- Fine, thank you.

Hello.

Miss Elliot.

Miss Elliot,

you look a little young for this part.

Really? Women of 42 these days don't have

to look ready for the old ladies' home.

Well, not the women we know...

...but this is a special case. She hasn't

bothered to keep up her appearance.

- She avoids people.

- I've read the book, Mr. Barkley.

J.M. How sweet of you

to come down and see me.

- Good luck, dear.

- Thank you.

- Now, you two be nice to each other.

- I always get along with my directors.

- Sure. Sure.

- Are you going to watch the test?

No, I just came to wish you both good luck.

I never interfere on the set.

- Bless you.

- You and I know this is just a formality.

- Of course.

- Good. Good.

Good luck.

- Goodbye, J.M.

- Goodbye, dear.

Well. Thank you. Shall we rehearse?

Miss Elliot, Mr. Bailey is going to play

the part of Jed.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

Mr. Bailey's a good actor.

He worked for me in New York.

How nice. We can use good actors.

Let's run through it.

You enter this door, look around.

Make yourself at home,

as if you own the place.

All right, quiet, please.

This is a rehearsal.

Settle down, boys.

Action.

Who is it?

Aren't you gonna ask me to sit down?

You can do anything you like.

It isn't like you to pay a social visit,

Jed Garfield.

Cut.

- Anything wrong?

- Miss Elliot, you're too light.

This woman is sullen.

She's not flirting. He's her enemy.

If she wants to win her point,

she's got to use sex.

But this woman has no sex.

- Every woman has sex.

- But you're playing it like a young girl.

Do you really think so?

We've gotta get

this point straight.

Mr. Barkley, I've been in this business

a long time, and I know what I'm doing.

- I'm sure you do.

- George.

George, Ernie Laszlo used to

play the key light from this side of my face.

He used to say if I got bored

being a star, I could run the camera.

Would you bring me the mirror?

Dave, move that key light over there,

will you?

George, you see how much better that is,

don't you?

I see, Miss Elliot.

Thank you.

Well, shall we go on rehearsing?

No, we might as well shoot it.

All right, settle down, boys. This is a take.

Ready, boys? Roll them.

Speed.

Test, Margaret Elliot, take one.

Action.

Who is it?

Aren't you gonna ask me to sit down?

You can do anything you like.

It isn't like you

to pay a social visit, Jed Garfield.

- What are you doing here?

- You got it fixed real nice, Sarah.

- Real nice.

- I like things nice.

What do you want?

You used to be quite a girl.

You still think you are, don't you?

I still know what's right from wrong.

Do you think it right to tell folks you seen

him in the lane the night of the murder...

...when you know he wasn't

within 30 miles of there?

I was there, Jed Garfield.

You know I was there.

But if you was there,

what was you doing there?

None of your business

what I was doing there.

It's my business if you're trying

to ruin my brother.

Maybe I was thinking

of what he tried to do to me.

You don't know Lance when he's crossed.

I know Lance Garfield pretty well.

You don't know how well

I know your brother.

Cut. Print.

You mean I got it in one take?

- Was it all right?

- Fine, fine. Your fans would love it.

- Bless you. George, how did I look?

- You looked fine there, Miss Elliot.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, all. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bailey. See you soon.

I wish I could come and tell you all about it.

Fine. Oh, yes, he said it was fine.

The cameraman said I looked great.

Harry, I may have a surprise for you.

When the Morrisons see this test,

it might very well be...

...that I would play the girl I've always

wanted to play in The Fatal Winter.

Stranger things have happened.

Harry, Harry, I can't talk now.

I've got a million and one things to do.

Stop worrying. See you tomorrow.

Bye.

Jim? Jim?

Oh, Jim.

- I've had the most wonderful day.

- You struck oil?

They let me have a Cadillac on approval.

And I found the most wonderful house,

with a divine pool.

And you should see the clothes

I ordered. This is nothing.

Looks like plenty of nothing.

It's so wonderful to dare

to go and charge things again.

You wouldn't be a little charged yourself,

would you?

Luckily, my old publicity girl is available.

We've just mapped out

a sensational campaign.

I'm very good with publicity ideas,

you know.

Tonight we're going to Romanoff's

to celebrate my return to the screen.

- You got the part?

- Well, we see the test tomorrow.

- Then you haven't got the part?

- As Joe says, it's a mere formality.

You don't know what it means

to stand in front of a camera again.

You're going to have a little brother.

Well, are you going to take me out,

or do I have to get myself a new boy?

I know a quiet little place

over in Long Beach.

Quiet little place.

We're going to Romanoff's...

...and then dancing at Mocambo.

- Margaret.

Don't you want to go

out on the town with me?

- It isn't...

- Jim, don't make me beg.

I've begged so much.

All right, Margaret.

You can't go looking like that.

Haven't you anything to wear?

- I have a very nice suit.

- Well, put it on while I freshen up.

Margaret?

Margaret?

Jim.

Jim. Jim, wake up.

It's 1:
00. Why did you let me sleep?

I only meant to close my eyes

for five minutes.

- You passed out on high spirits.

- But you promised to take me out.

Take it easy. If you'd gone out,

you'd have run into a lot of people.

What's wrong with people?

I like people.

Wait till tomorrow when it'll be definite.

Everything is definite.

I've told the papers, I've ordered clothes, l...

Are you trying to tell me I won't get this

picture? Who are you? What do you know?

This will put me back

where I was.

But why couldn't you have waited

one more day? What impelled you?

lmpelled? Why...

Why, I...

Was I impelled?

You went out on a limb.

Yes, I did, didn't I?

It's probably all right.

I don't know.

Maybe I thought

if I made those promises...

...if I got myself involved...

...if I went out on that limb...

...it would be so

because I'd said it was so.

And then God couldn't be so cruel

as to...

To saw me down.

Do you suppose that was it?

Margaret...

Why do you keep torturing yourself

with all this?

You must know by now

you could stay here with me.

- Mr. Stone?

- Yes?

- Mr. Morrison wants you in his office now.

- Thanks.

- You heard. Can't keep Joe waiting.

- I'll have them run it for you later.

Won't you wait?

I'll be a few minutes.

- I'll want to see it again anyway.

- All right.

- Operator?

- Yes, Miss Elliot?

- Is my test ready?

- Yes, Miss Elliot.

You can go ahead.

Action.

Who is it?

Aren't you gonna ask me to sit down?

You can do anything you like.

It isn't like you to pay a social visit,

Jed Garfield.

- What are you doing here?

- You got it fixed real nice, Sarah.

- Real nice.

- I like things nice.

What do you want?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes