The V.I.P.s Page #8

Well, it's dinner here, then.

Good night, Mr. Mangrum.

Shall I call you...?

Would you mind staying

and having dinner with me, Miss Mead?

Oh, well, I...

Good.

I'm not gonna be done out

of me champagne either.

You like champagne, Miss Mead?

Well, I... I don't usually drink...

...but perhaps tonight is an exception.

Yeah. I'd certainly call it that.

Darling, I didn't think...

- He's not here, then.

- No.

You alone?

Yes.

May I come in?

Come in, Paul.

I...

...haven't had time

to get rid of it yet.

I didn't get to London, you see.

I turned the car around halfway.

I don't even know

how I got that far.

It's no good, Paul, you know.

You can rant and rave

as much as you like.

Who said I was going to rant and rave?

I've come here to abase myself.

To grovel at your feet.

- To beg you to forgive me for my sins.

- Sins?

My sins of omission.

I've omitted to tell you how much

I've always loved you, needed you...

...desired you...

...how impossible any kind of life

would be without you.

You're bound to find someone else.

No.

A man like you?

A man like me...

...means me, I, myself.

Me, not some near-mythical tycoon

called Paul Andros...

...who can buy anything he wants

in the world, including love.

It means this body, this mind, this spirit.

These three things need you. Only you.

Please, Paul, don't.

I suppose you think that speech

was given me by Commander Millbank.

Well, it wasn't.

It's from the heart...

...my own heart.

No, Paul.

It's too late now.

Just what can I do to show you

how much I love you?

Only one thing.

Let me go peacefully to New York.

Where will you stay in New York?

The Camerons', at first.

The Camerons. Yes.

They hate my guts.

I don't think so, Paul,

but they are fond of me.

And after that?

- I'll find an apartment.

- And live openly together?

Yes.

With Marc Champselle?

That's the unbelievable part

of this nightmare!

What can he possibly give you

that I can't?

I'm told he's a very skillful maker of love.

Is he?

I don't know.

- Is he all that much better than me?

- I told you, I don't know.

That... That hasn't come into it yet.

I do not believe you.

I didn't think you would, but it's true.

Well, if it isn't sex, what is it, then?

The words you've been using:

Need and love.

He's incapable of love.

His need...

...my love.

His need is for Charvet ties

and silk shirts.

Your love is too precious to be thrown away

on a Marc Champselle.

There are thousands of them.

Later on, perhaps,

when you're at the right age.

Only, don't let me know in case

I shoot him. At least that will make sense.

But to destroy both our lives...

...for a male whore!

- Paul!

Paul, I think you'd better go now.

Am I supposed to give you a divorce?

- I'd like you to.

- You think I'm going to?

No, I don't. I just said I'd like you to.

Either way, it makes no difference.

Frances.

Frances.

You're my wife.

Not any longer, Paul.

Have these 11 years

meant nothing to you?

Thirteen.

Thirteen. All right.

All right, that's the kind of husband I am.

I've admitted it

and asked you to forgive me.

I have taken you for granted!

I thought I was giving you enough...

...but I was wrong.

- You wanted more.

- I wanted less, Paul, not more.

I wanted to be treated as a wife,

not an expensive mistress.

- Can't you see that?

- You wanted babies.

- I never said so.

- But you wanted them.

- How do you know it wasn't your fault?

- I don't know. I never blamed you.

He's not gonna give you babies.

Perhaps, unlike me, he can,

but he's not gonna give you babies...

...because he's not

taking you away from me!

- Let me go! Let me go!

- He's not taking away from me...

- Let me go! Let me go! No!

- You belong to me!

You should have gone, Paul.

Yes, I know I should have.

Looks bad.

Better get a doctor.

This is Paul Andros.

My wife has had an accident,

and I must have a doctor to see her at once.

Is there one in the hotel?

How far away is that?

Twenty minutes? That's too long.

I want him here in 10.

Would you tell him that, please? Yes.

An injury to her arm.

Yes. Thank you.

If I'd said you'd cut your wrist, you'd be

on the front page of every newspaper.

As usual, they would jump entirely

to the wrong conclusion.

Sit back.

That's it.

You have blood on your hand too.

Yes.

I must be careful

not to get it on your clothes.

Do I have to say how sorry I am?

No.

At least now you have some physical proof

of my feelings for you.

Wounded pride, Paul. That's all it was.

Well, whatever it is,

it's quite a bit stronger than me.

Forgive me.

I'll go wait for the doctor.

Twelve boxes. That's 1000.

Well, I'm afraid that's

into four figures now, my friend.

Your cards have been

too good for me, old boy.

Don't worry, I'll win it all back.

It'll have to be some other time.

I've got to go now.

I tell you what.

One more game, six across,

and double the stakes.

What? Now, you can't refuse that.

- Okay. You deal.

- Right.

Well, that seems to be that.

It's... It's quite superficial.

But if I were you, Mr. Andros,

I'd see that your wife has it dressed again...

...when you...

When you get to New York.

I'm not traveling with her.

Well, you'll do that, Madam Andros.

Yes. Thank you, doctor.

Extraordinary accident, huh?

With some of my patients...

...I might have suspected a little,

shall we say, intake?

People can slip and fall

even when quite sober, doctor.

Yes, of course. Of course.

It was just my little joke. Good night.

Oh, Mr. Andros, there's a tip

for Amalgamated Motors.

Shall I buy?

Oh, this takeover deal?

Yes, I should think so.

- Good night. Thank you.

- Good night.

Perhaps we might take the doctor's hint.

I need one.

And I expect you do, even more.

Didn't know you liked whiskey.

It's not my bottle.

Oh, I see.

You think he'll forgive us?

Frances, our honeymoon is taken care of.

Oh, hello, Paul.

I've stolen some of your whiskey.

I hope you don't mind.

Not at all.

What happened? You got lost in the fog?

No.

I was saying goodbye to my...

...wife.

Goodbye, Frances.

Goodbye, Paul.

It's all right, Marc.

He won't come back.

He gave me his promise.

- He won't break it?

- He won't break it.

I'm sorry, darling, I left you alone.

Please forgive me.

What have you done to your wrist?

Did he...?

No, Marc. No, of course he didn't.

- Then how did the thing happen?

- Well, it... I tripped.

It was an accident.

It happened before he arrived.

- He was terribly helpful with the doctor.

- Are you telling me the truth?

You don't know Paul as well as I do.

Any news of the takeoff?

Yes. Tomorrow morning, 8:45.

That means, Madame Andros,

that if you would care...

...to allow me the pleasure

of a few hours of your company tonight...

Oh, no, Marc.

- "No" is not a word I recognize.

- You've recognized it for three months.

Yes, but tonight is a very, very

special night, my darling.

Tonight, you belong to me.

Oh, don't talk like Paul.

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