The V.I.P.s Page #9

Me? Like Paul?

"You belong to me."

He said that too.

Well, I'm not yours

any more than I am his.

I don't belong to anyone now,

not even you.

- Can't I love you, then?

- Oh, love me, yes.

And need me. Above all, need me...

...but as a person, Marc,

not a possession.

I'm sorry.

Go to bed.

Very well.

Frances, you're not beginning to feel

that you've made a mistake, are you?

I've told you and told you how I feel.

Isn't that enough?

No. No, it isn't enough.

Telling me and telling me isn't enough.

Marc.

You know who that is?

Could I have a whiskey?

- No.

- Paul Andros.

His wife's on the plane.

Where might I write a letter?

Oh, the writing room's

just around the corner, sir.

He's very young to be

in his position too.

Too?

Comparing Andros to me is like...

...comparing Sydney Harbour Bridge

to a pontoon.

I really envy that guy.

I like your hair. When did you change it?

About three weeks ago.

- Well, let's have another go at this.

- Oh, I'll be squiffy.

Marvelous.

That I should like to see, Miss Mead,

just once.

What am I talking about, just once?

If I don't see it tonight,

I suppose I never will.

I'd work for you for nothing, you know.

Yeah, I know.

But you're not going to.

I'll try and get Amalgamated Motors

to take you over...

...along with the 3000 other people

in our little family.

Marvelous bunch of people, aren't they?

You know, I've been wondering what the

hell I've been working for all these years.

It's never really been worth it, not really.

I suppose people envy us.

Getting into the big

expense-account cars...

...being escorted into VIP lounges.

I wonder,

do they realize the cost of it all?

No, I don't mean money. I mean...

I mean...

...spirit, you know?

The kind of emotional cost.

Oh, well.

- Here's to better days.

- Better days.

You know...

...I think we got our standards

all mixed up somewhere today.

A hundred years ago, top people were top

people because they were born top people.

- You know something, love?

- Mr. Mangrum.

A hundred years from now, top people will

be top people because they deserve to be.

Les, darling.

Oh, honey.

Oh, it's so wonderful of you to come here.

I'm so grateful.

Oh, it was hell getting down.

I had to tell the hired-car man

that you'd pay double fare.

- Good evening, Miss Mead.

- Good evening.

- Oh, don't leave us.

- If the fog's as bad as you say...

...l'd really better go.

Well, maybe you could make it

as far as Hounslow before it gets worse.

Yes.

Should I come in

in the morning, Mr. Mangrum?

I think you should, if you don't mind.

Clear your things up.

- Right. I'll get my things upstairs.

- Door's open.

Thank you. Oh, and thank you

for dinner, Mr. Mangrum.

Thank you, dear.

I'm very glad to have had your company.

You're working her overtime.

Who stood who up, you or him?

Me, of course.

I couldn't bear the thought

of you being out here all alone.

You're a darling.

Oh, dear, this fog.

I wanted to look so lovely for you.

- It does terrible things for one's makeup.

- Don't be silly.

You look like an angel to me.

Did you really mean

what you said on the phone?

Yes, I really did.

Tell me about it.

Let's have some more

champagne upstairs.

Mr. Andros?

I don't suppose you've ever

before been approached...

...by a perfectly strange woman

in a hotel lounge asking you...

...for 153,750?

No, I don't think I have.

My name is Miss Mead. I'm the personal

private secretary of Mr. Les Mangrum.

- Who's he?

- The president of Mangrum Tractors.

You've heard of Mangrum Tractors?

Yes, I have, I think.

That's the firm that's being taken over

by Amalgamated Motors.

Well, they haven't. Not yet.

They will tomorrow.

It's not a very big firm,

as far as your standards are concerned...

...but it's a wonderful firm,

and it makes wonderful tractors.

Thank you. That's very good of you.

- Soda, sir?

- No, thank you.

I have no reason to doubt

what you're telling me.

If Mangrum Tractors

wasn't a good firm...

...Amalgamated Motors

would hardly want to take it over.

This is... This is the last balance sheet.

Yes. Very impressive.

I can well see why Mr. Mangrum

wants to keep it as his own.

And he should keep it as his own.

He built it from nothing, and this big

monopoly come by and should be fought.

Yes, I agree, they should be fought.

If you knew the fight

he put up these last three months.

Can well imagine.

To fight Amalgamated Motors would be

quite a battle, Miss Mead, even for me.

And until today,

well, a few hours ago, even, he'd won it.

And then someone let him down

and he had to write a check...

...and there's no money to cover it.

And now this fog.

I feel so sorry for him, Mr. Andros.

He's such a wonderful man

and he's so young.

I'm sorry. You must think I'm mad.

It's just that

we've been through so much.

And tonight, you see,

I had some champagne.

Does he know how much you love him?

Who...? Who said I loved...?

It's... It's the company.

Yes, I know.

They make wonderful tractors.

I had a little company once,

many years ago.

Thirteen years ago, to be precise.

And I had to fight for that too.

Do you know what I did?

Well...

Well, I won't tell you

because you'd despise me for it.

But I kept my company.

And then later when all was saved,

the battle won...

...and I had my cargo fleet...

...I made a simple, elementary error...

...and fell in love.

Silly to fall in love

with your own wife, isn't it?

I do hope that you don't know

what I'm talking about.

No, I don't. Really, I don't, Mr. Andros.

Like the loyal secretary you are, you will

forget that I ever said it, won't you?

Now, what was that sum

you've just mentioned?

- One hundred and fifty-three thousand...

- That's enough.

Sounds too complicated a sum

for my somewhat erratic pen.

You can fill it in yourself.

No, this is a terrible thing,

to make out a blank check...

...to a completely strange woman

in a hotel lounge.

Haven't we been all through that before?

But a blank check. I'd never let

Mr. Mangrum sign a blank check, ever.

Quite right. You shouldn't.

You haven't even asked

when it's going to be repaid.

Haven't I?

- Will three days from now be convenient?

- Perfectly.

- You're sure you can wait that long?

- Oh, yes.

I can wait that long.

I can wait...

...much longer.

And now, if you'll excuse me,

I have a letter to write.

Oh, but you must have a receipt.

You can send me the receipt tomorrow.

You...

You make me feel awful.

Checkbook generosity. It's interesting.

What?

It's just something

that somebody told me today.

Make you feel any better,

I'll take it back.

Oh, no. Please.

Good night.

Good night.

Thank you.

- You are Mr. Andros?

- Yes.

The Mr. Andros?

Yes, I am.

Paul Andros.

You didn't lock your door.

All sorts of strange characters

could be prowling around.

Berserk husbands, amorous lovers.

I saw your light was on.

I didn't think you'd sleep.

- Are you angry?

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