Twentieth Century Page #5

Get Flannagan.

Yes, sir.

Listen, O.J.

Don't talk about money matters now,

Oliver. Do you mind?

I've got to. The first thing

they're going to do tomorrow morning...

is to land on the Jaffe Theatre with a writ

and take it away from you.

- And whiskers won't save you.

- They wouldn't dare.

Now listen, O.J., there's one way out of this.

Not exactly pleasant, I grant you,

but we can't afford to be squeamish.

Now, I had a telegram this morning

from little Max Jacobs.

Communicating with Max Jacobs?

- Now listen, O.J., I know...

- Treachery?

Max Jacobs, that office boy that I fired.

All right, office boy,

but he's got a cold million in the bank.

Now, he's produced three straight

dramatic smashes in a row...

while you've been laying one bad egg

after another. Now that' s fact.

I've had enough of your treachery.

- Max Jacobs...

- Get out!

...is the only man that can save you.

You Judas.

Go to Mandlebaum or whatever his name is.

You're fired.

I know, the iron door.

Okay, I've had enough.

- Say, Oliver...

- And I mean it.

I understand how you feel,

but tell me what happened.

I was sitting there reading,

when all of a sudden...

I felt something hit my head.

Did you see anybody pass?

No, but when I took off my cap

I found this sticker on it.

"Repent, for the time is at hand."

Who do you suppose

could be doing such a thing?

I don't know, but I've got a pretty good idea.

There's a certain drunk on this train

and I'll talk to him.

Come on, Flannagan.

- This has gone just far enough.

- What' s biting you?

We had to wash all those things off

with soap and water.

- What things?

- You don't know anything about it?

What are you yapping about?

- You've got one on your hat.

- Keep your hands off me.

- Is this the same one?

- Yeah, it sure is.

- Is this an insane asylum?

- It' s the work of that man who's with you.

- Mr. Jaffe?

- No, the other one.

I'm going to turn him over to the authorities.

This is vandalism.

- You got a drink?

- See here, young man...

Let him alone. I can handle him.

Redskin, me, want firewater.

Plenty wampum. Quick.

I paid $12 for that derby.

Why did you paste this?

That' s kindergarten stuff.

You'll clean this train

with hot water and soap...

and remove all the stickers.

You're screwier than a pretzel.

"Repent for the time..."

Are you accusing me

of circulating that propaganda?

Somebody just went to the dining room

and put stickers on all the windows.

- What?

- I guess that exonerates Mr. O'Malley.

He won't get away from us this time.

Come on.

- Did you see him?

- Whoever he was, he's pretty smart, sir.

- What a trip.

- Join Jaffe and see the world.

- Don't mention Jaffe's name to me.

- What' s the matter now?

Same old thing.

He doesn't know it yet, but I'm through.

I've let that egomaniac jump up and down

on my stomach for the last 16 years...

but this is the end.

Maybe when he's hanging from the rafters

with all of Broadway pecking his eyes out...

maybe he'll realize

what I've done for him. Yeah, maybe.

- Englewood.

- Owen.

- What is it?

- Look.

Lily Garland.

Look out, she's getting on.

Look out. Don't let her see you.

All right, hurry up. Get out.

Everything's all right.

Oh, another compartment.

I told you to get a room with a bed in it,

so I can sleep.

- There isn't any bed.

- You're a liar. Go ask the conductor.

Just a minute, darling.

This moron is driving me crazy.

- What' s the trouble now?

- The company promised me a bed.

Sadie, it' s on the train somewhere.

- Go on, step on it, Sadie.

- Go on, please.

There isn't any bed on the train.

Calling me a liar? Go on.

I'm sick and tired of this whole trip.

You're mad? Well, you...

I despise temperament.

George, darling, goodbye.

I'm going to miss you so much.

But it isn't goodbye. I'm not getting off.

I'm going to New York with you.

Darling, don't be silly.

What will people think?

"Famous film star

smuggles young society man aboard train."

- All aboard.

- Darling, I'm going to miss you. Goodbye.

- I'm missing you already.

- But you needn't, dear. I'm not leaving you.

- What are you talking about?

- Just what I said.

- I'm going with you.

- George, we're moving.

- I don't care.

- The train is moving.

- Do as I say.

- I will not get off this train!

It' s too late now anyway.

- This is fine, isn't it?

- Go on. Rave on.

I suppose I'm seeing the true you at last.

Fame, success, empty words.

What is therein?

- Stop making those awful faces.

- Stop acting.

This is going to be a pleasant journey.

George, you annoy me.

Let' s tell His Highness

they've pitched their wigwam next door.

I'm not talking to him.

If I was, I'd tell him something.

- About what?

- About a million dollars' worth...

if Jaffe and that girl

could get together again.

Yes, Russia and Japan

might get together, too.

I don't know whether you realize

but I've had an influence with her.

Me, too. Once I actually compelled her

to admit it looked like rain.

Do you think there's a chance

of them getting together?

- The quickest way to find out is to ask her.

- Not me. Count me out.

Mr. Jaffe fired me once too often.

All right, stay there and pout if you want to.

I still don't see why you wanted

to go to New York alone.

- George, you've got to believe in me.

- Yes, when you're dead.

Hello, you peculiar witch.

How's the baby Bernhardt?

The foul Corsican himself.

Who let you on this train?

Say, if you only knew all the trouble we had

getting on this gondola.

- Who is we?

- Guess.

Holy Moses!

You two mind letting me in

on some of these trade secrets?

Mr. O'Malley, Mr. Smith.

- How do you do?

- I didn't get the name.

Is Oscar Jaffe on this train?

You'd better tell me.

Right in there. The Little Corporal

is returning from another Moscow.

His head bloodied but still unbowed.

Jaffe? That' s why you didn't want me

aboard the train.

Shut up. I didn't know he was here.

This is the limit.

Listen to me, Lily. I've got to know it.

- Are you going to see this man?

- See him?

You think I'm out of my mind?

Thank you for telling me.

I won't step outside this room.

He knew I was on this train...

but it' s not going to do him any good.

Owen, I'm free from Mr. Jaffe

and I'm going to stay free.

What are you all so scared of, Mary Jo?

Scared? That man's belittled

and tortured me for three years.

Ran around telling everybody, "Where would

Lily Garland be without the great Jaffe?"

Well, I think I showed him.

Right on top of the ladder and going up.

The lies he told about me and my mom.

Called himself my Svengali.

- Hello, Lily.

- You, too?

- Coming back into the fold?

- Am I what?

- Did Oscar tell you to ask me that?

- Lily, don't fly off the handle.

Confidentially, I'm not with Jaffe anymore.

Ask Owen.

If that egomaniac were in his grave,

the way I feel now...

I'd take a rope and tie it around his neck

and take him on a cook's tour.

- He's played his last dirty trick on me.

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