The Strange Love of Martha Ivers Page #8

and a girl asks you for a cigarette.

And a match and the time.

- Life is funny.

- That's philosophy.

It's good, too.

- You want to know how it is with me, Sam?

- No. Tell me.

I've told you.

And even if it's over, quick...

Look, what you don't know, don't talk about.

I bought a new outfit. I want to show you.

Well, let's take a look at it.

$8.95. How do you like it?

With you in it...

Hello, Sam.

- Toni.

- Yes, Sam.

I heard you talking.

Well, even a crummy hotel like this

has a switchboard.

I have special privileges in this hotel, Sam.

I own it.

This is Mrs. O'Neil, Toni.

- Hello.

- So this is the girl?

Toni's my name. Antonia Marachek.

The sun-suit looks very well on her, Sam.

She's got just the figure for it.

She's a very pretty girl.

- I give another show at 8:00.

- In your room or here?

- Toni!

- Yes, Sam?

- Mrs. O'Neil is sorry she said that.

- I'm sorry I said that.

Okay, forget it.

- Toni.

- Yes, Sam.

I'm going out with Mrs. Neil, on business.

- That's why you came here, isn't it?

- Yes.

I'll be back after a little while.

I got no place to go. I'll be here.

- I didn't like that.

- I apologized.

There was ice on your tongue.

If you want me to say anything else

to her...

You spoke your piece. Let's get out of here.

I've never been in a hotel room

like this before.

I've been in too many.

Just the way you read about it in books.

Window shades, Scotch on the dresser...

Let's stay here, Sam.

- No.

- Why not? We can order our dinner here.

I don't like room service.

- All right, Sam.

- Come on, let's go.

What's your Toni Marachek really like?

That's what she asked me about you.

What are your plans for her?

- She's very independent.

- Hardly.

- How did you meet her?

- We lived in the same house.

- In Iverstown?

- Yeah.

- When?

- Now. Now and then.

Well, let's get back to our drinks.

To continue with your Antonia Marachek,

have you other things in common?

Taxicabs, hotels and Bibles.

And we don't like some of the same people

and places.

It all sounds like a very

substantial beginning.

How long have you known her, really?

- Since the day before yesterday.

- How long have you known me?

Martha, I'm not sure

that I've ever known you.

What do you say?

Let's get down to business.

Let's get out of here.

Waiter.

- Yes, sir.

- Check, please.

Yes, sir.

Whiskey and soda.

Thank you, sir.

- Wait outside.

- Sam, what is it?

Wait outside.

Beautiful! Beautiful! Beautiful!

Give that back to him when he sobers up.

Tell him I run an honest book.

I always pay off.

- I thought I told you to wait outside.

- I wanted to see.

- You saw.

- You wanted to kill him, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

- This the spot?

- Yes.

I like your car.

You know what happened to Lot's wife

when she looked back, don't you?

- What?

- She was turned into a pillar of salt.

- What happened to Lot?

- He got away. He didn't look back.

You know your Bible.

You would too, if you'd spent

as much time as I did in hotel rooms.

I'll take it up.

Come on. Let's get out of here.

I love to watch the city from this spot.

From up here,

it doesn't even look real, does it?

It's real, very real.

Owning it gives you a sense of power.

You'd know what I meant if you had it.

Ivers, Ivers, Ivers. Ivers.

If anyone asked me my name now,

I'd say it was Martha Smith.

Say, I smell smoke.

Better take a look.

Must have been some kids up here.

Sam, don't. Let it burn.

We used to come up here

when we were kids and build a fire.

Let it burn, Sam.

Okay.

In those days,

we used to think that this was real.

And that...

That didn't even exist.

Just now, you looked like Martha Smith.

If only you hadn't run away.

I waited for you, I remember

I waited a long time in the rain...

but you didn't show.

Give me a cigarette, Sam.

If only you hadn't left town.

I had no one to turn to.

- What did you say, Sam?

- Nothing. I didn't say anything.

When I found out, it was too late.

Much too late.

One thing led to another and...

Another what?

I don't want to talk about it anymore.

No, go ahead, Martha, it will do you good.

- Another what?

- Where was I?

One thing led to another.

It would have been so different,

if you hadn't run away.

It would have been you instead of Walter.

Or if you had stopped me.

When I lifted the cane,

why didn't you stop me?

You knew how much I hated her.

Why didn't you stop me?

I wasn't there, Martha.

And then I stood there after it was over...

You...

- You weren't there?

- No, Martha.

I wasn't there. I left

when your aunt came into the hallway.

I didn't want to stick around.

I was in enough trouble as it was.

I never saw what happened.

I never knew until tonight

about your aunt or that man.

The one they hung.

The man that you and Walter killed.

Sam, help me.

Help me.

All right, Martha. Tell me. Talk.

All right, Sam.

I never imagined

anyone could die so quickly.

I had always supposed

that wherever I went she would be with me.

That she would never die.

But it wasn't like that.

I expected to find her

when I went back to my room.

Later I became frightened.

The coroner and the police

were sympathetic.

The doctor very attentive.

They believed my story.

The one I told Walter's father.

That night I slept heavily, peacefully.

How did you sleep the night

after they hung that man?

It wasn't long when I found out

why Walter's father believed my story.

It was as if my aunt had never died.

He took her place.

He wanted to make something of his son...

and I was tied to them both

from that time on.

It became so unbearable

that I wanted to tell the truth.

But he had deliberately

given me such a sense of guilt...

and had painted such a picture

of what would happen to me...

that I was crazy with fear.

He used that fear well.

To increase it,

he made me part of another crime.

My testimony sent an innocent man

to the gallows.

And he used that to make me marry Walter.

Sam, you're not going to go away again!

I want you here, Sam.

I've lived so much inside of myself,

so choked with wanting something else...

that lives and breathes. So desperate

for air and room to breathe it in.

Sam, please! Please stay here, Sam!

Good night, Martha.

Toni, are you still up?

- Toni?

- Yes.

It's me. It's Sam. Can I come in?

Yes, Sam.

Mind if I put your light on?

In a little while. I was sound asleep.

I've got a headache.

Okay.

I've got something to tell you, Toni.

Yes, Sam.

Toni.

You're crying.

You're crying because you saw...

You were at the window there

when we drove up.

Well, that's what I came in to

tell you about, Toni, the...

Martha and me.

You didn't have to, Sam.

There were no strings on this deal.

Well, that's why I wanted to.

You see, it started a long way back.

I don't know yet how it's going to finish.

What do you want me to say?

- I don't know.

- What do you want me to do?

- I don't know.

- All you have to do is tell me the truth.

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes