71. INT. FRANKIE’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – DAY
Hymie enters the living room from the patio. FRANKIE stands behind the bar enjoying the details from the paper.
HYMIE
(continuing his thoughts from the patio)
You know somethin’? This doesn’t seem to grab you like I expected. You don’t seem to realize we’re hand-in-hand into the sewer together! Frankie!
FRANKIE
(smiling as he folds the paper)
Now keep your mouth shut, and listen. Nobody knows who broke this. But who has reason to shaft me? One of the other four nominees, right? But which one? So in sympathy the Academy votes for me. Pull one plug and I drown all the opposition. Sweeps the boards against me.
(confidentially)
I blew the whistle on myself.
HYMIE
You must be suffering from oxygen starvation!
FRANKIE
I’m fighting for my life! And I’ll use a spiked boot on anybody who gets in my way. Oh, Hymie, I was goin’ down for the third time when I got that nomination.
HYMIE
But you got the nomination!
FRANKIE
Losers are a dime a dozen. Who were the nominees last year? Or the year before? Can’t remember, right? Only get remembered when you win. And I’m gonna win. I need that Oscar, Hymie, more than anybody. An Oscar can give me the kind of pictures that can keep me from drowning. I can’t rig the votes, but I can rig the emotions of the voters. I’m not exactly Guy Kibbee, world’s most beloved actor, so I had to find another way to reach them.
HYMIE
But if it goes wrong it could be suicide. Not just the Oscar, but the whole town, completely snap!
FRANKIE
I’m on the edge right now. You think I like admitting that this is where it ends? You think I like putting my head on a block like this?
HYMIE
You don’t care who else it smears, do you?
FRANKIE
Can’t make an omelet without breakin’ eggs.
HYMIE
Ya’ lie down with pigs, ya’ come up smellin’ like garbage! So now it’s my turn, huh, Frankie? One after another you finally get to all of us.
Frankie comes from around the bar and grasps Hymie’s suit lapels.
FRANKIE
That’s a custom made cashmere, a lot better than the scuffed around threads you wore in the village. Or have you forgotten New York all ready?
HYMIE
You’ve got me on the hook, haven’t you, Frankie?!
FRANKIE
It’s your hook! Jump free whenever you want!
Frankie sits on a bar stool and begins to work.
FRANKIE (CONT’D)
Now, call a press conference. How else will I get a big play when I confess? Set it up in the Private Dining Room at Chasen’s.
Hymie shows his disgust, but knows he will never change Frankie’s mind.
FRANKIE (CONT’D)
You start balkin’, I start cuttin’ the hired help. And you ain’t got a union, baby.
HYMIE
No, but I’ve got a patron saint.
Hymie thumbs his forehead toward Frankie.
HYMIE (CONT’D)
Saint Judas.
Hymie walks toward the door to leave as KAY enters. Kay rushes over to Frankie.
KAY
I just heard about it at the studio. I’m sorry, truly sorry. It was a terrible thing to do to you.
They embrace. Frankie looks at Hymie showing that his plan is working. Hymie, disgusted, leaves.