66. INT. FRANKIE’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – DAY
Several phones are RINGING incessantly. HYMIE is on one of them; SAM goes to answer another one. FRANKIE walks in the front door.
SAM
(to Frankie)
Congratulations, Boss.
HYMIE
(on phone)
Yes, sure, Baby. Thanks. Bye.
He hangs up. Other phones are still RINGING in the background.
HYMIE (CONT’D)
(to Frankie)
Where’ve you been? They told me you left the network three hours ago.
FRANKIE
I took a drive.
HYMIE
The phones haven’t stopped. While you were out playing the wandering gentile, everyone who wouldn’t look our way last week is calling to proclaim buddyhood.
Throughout the scene, Frankie is in a daze, barely able to comprehend what has happened to him.
FRANKIE
It’s a hell of a thing, Hymie.
HYMIE
Yeah, it is a hell of a thing all right.
FRANKIE
I’ve been driving around thinking, all the way back to the smokers. You won’t believe what it was like in that office this morning. I was nothin’ all over again.
SAM (O.S.)
(answering a phone)
Fane residence.
FRANKIE
I was sitting on my hands, sweating while they had me on the counter.
SAM
(to Frankie)
It’s the wife. She called a couple times before.
FRANKIE
A hundred and seventy pounds of meat again, sold to the highest bidder.
Sam hands Frankie the phone.
FRANKIE (CONT’D)
(weakly)
Hi.
67. INT. EDITH HEAD’S COSTUME WORKSHOP – DAY
KAY is on the other end of the phone. Edith Head, several models and assistants stand by. Everyone is chattering in excitement.
KAY
Frankie! Congratulations, Frankie! Everyone here is so excited for you. It was wonderful news. Edith says that you have to win because everyone at the studio here is rooting for you.
INTERCUT BETWEEN FRANKIE AND KAY
FRANKIE
Thanks, Kay. And thank Edith for me.
KAY
Aren’t you thrilled?!
FRANKIE
I haven’t come in for a landing yet.
KAY
Save some champagne for me, huh?
FRANKIE
Right.
KAY
OK, Darling. See you later. Bye.
Kay hangs up. Action continues in Frankie’s house following the phone call. Frankie gives his phone back to Sam.
HYMIE
We’ve got a lot of work ahead. The other nominees have probably started their campaigns already. We’ll lead off with ads in the trade papers thanking the actors . . .
Frankie gets up and starts to leave the room.
FRANKIE
Ah, later, Hymie, I’m beat. Like somebody pulled the plug and let the juice out. (sighs) This morning I saw what the bottom of the bucket looks like again. And now an Oscar nomination.
He leaves.
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