Complete Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald (Illustrated) (509 page)

 — CAMERA TRUCKING AHEAD OF THEM. The choice is now between the “Killer Type” and “Spectacles.” The Killer feels his hip pocket. The other man cleans his ear sketchily with his little finger and looks at it. They do not talk.

CUT TO:

250 “HEINRICH” —
 — moving along with only a faint ticking sound through the gathering dusk.

CUT TO:

251 A CORNER

The two men stop. They shake hands and part. We TRUCK AHEAD of the “Killer” type down the street, see him begin to whistle.
But it is not he,
for we —

CUT TO:

252 THE OTHER STREET

The face of “Spectacles” as he walks along, wearing a faint frown like a premonition. “Heinrich” is just behind him. From a window a radio gives a sudden squawk and the man turns his head as it begins to play “Crazy Rhythm.”

CUT TO:

253 CLOSEUP OF BOBBY AND KOSTER IN “HEINRICH.”

Bobby
(
grimly to himself
): All right, Mister.

Koster
: All right, let’s go. Let him fire first.

CUT TO:

254 CLOSEUP OF KOSTER’S FOOT

 — going down on the accelerator.

CUT TO:

255 “SPECTACLES”
 — walking. He reaches the open end of an alley just as —

256 “HEINRICH” —
 — rushes up beside the curb.

257 “SPECTACLES”
 — starts as Bobby and Koster get out. Then he turns and flees up the alley reaching for his gun.

258 KOSTER AND BOBBY —

Start down the dusky alley, each hugging a wall.

CUT TO:

259 A TRASH BARREL AT THE DEAD END OF THE ALLEY —

From behind which come two crackling flashes.

CUT TO:

260 KOSTER AND BOBBY —

Untouched, continuing on. Two more shots ring out. Then Koster raises his pistol slowly and fires.

CUT TO:

261 THE MURDERER —

Crouched behind a barrel, dropping his pistol and clutching his shoulder. He tries to pick up the revolver with his other hand, but — Koster and Bobby bear down on him.

Koster
(
fiercely
): You killed Gottfried Lenz. Death and hate — that’s what you and your kind are peddling through the nation — that’s all you know, so here it is —

The murderer leaps to his feet to dodge around the trash barrel. Roster’s shots catch him in the heart and stomach, and, clutching himself, he dives head first into the trash barrel.

CUT TO:

262 THE STREET

A policeman approaching hurriedly.

263 THE ALLEY

Windows going up in the gathering darkness.

Voices
(
ad lib
): What’s that? Who’s there?

CUT TO:

264 THE POLICEMAN —

At the mouth of the alley.

CUT TO:

265 THE MURDERER’S BODY

Half in the trash barrel, legs hanging out. The sound of a loud whistle.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

266 A CITY STREET ON A BLEAK WINTRY AFTERNOON

Bobby’s taxi rolling along.

DISSOLVE TO:

267-268 ANOTHER WINTRY STREET WITH THE TAXI — THEN ANOTHER.

DISSOLVE TO:

269 A TAXI STAND —

Bobby swings his arms against the cold, holds his hand up to a prospective customer who doesn’t respond — gives up and drives off.

DISSOLVE TO:

270 THE COURT OF THE REPAIR SHOP —
 — blear and desolate. No cars except “Heinrich” in the work shop. The taxi rides in, passing the gasoline pump, snow-covered as if it hadn’t been used all day.

Bobby gets out at the office door and reads the meter.

CUT TO:

271 CLOSEUP OF THE METER —
 — showing one-mark-fifty for the day.

CUT TO:

272 INT. THE OFFICE —

Koster, adding figures at the table, looks up as Bobby comes in the door, but seeing his gloomy face, asks no questions except —

Koster
: Cold out?

Bobby
(
discarding muffler and old leather jacket
): Plenty. But nobody rides.

Koster
(
cheerful
): The Christmas rush ought to start about tomorrow.

Bobby
: Maybe I’ll get Santa Claus for a fare.

Koster pushes a letter over to Bobby.

273 INSERT: PART OF A LETTER:

“…found it advisable to put all our repair work in the hands of several large jobbers, and so are giving up our policy of shopping it around.
Very truly yours,
WIES AUTO-ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Per K.S.R.”

274 INT. OFFICE OF REPAIR SHOP —

Bobby
(
in a hushed voice
): Will we have to go out of business?

Koster
(
rising and opening a wall locker
): Oh no. After Christmas there’ll be jobs. Right now everybody’s trying to make the old bus last through the holidays. (
a knock at the door. Koster, who has just taken out a bottle, puts it back hastily
) Come in. (
Matilda comes in. She is wrapped in shawls, wears a Queen Mary hat and carries a net bag
) Oh — Matilda!

(
he takes out the bottle
)

Matilda
: Good evening, gentlemen.

Koster inverts the bottle over a glass.

Bobby
(
to Matilda
): Got another job?

Matilda
: I have several jobs now, thank you, Herr Lohkamp.

(
but her eyes are fixed on the more important matter of the bottle — which won’t pour
)

Koster
(
rather dismally
): Well, that’s that. And it’s our last drop.

Matilda
(
taking off her bonnet
): My new gentleman orders his rum by the case. (
she opens her net bag
) He drinks far too much. (
she produces a bottle, takes out the cork and sets it on the table
) But the very best.

Bobby
(
with feeling
): Matilda — I love you.

(
he fills three glasses
)

Matilda
(
haughty in her turn
): No customers’ rum, that.

(
they are really grateful
)

Bobby and Koster
(
raising their glasses
): Pros’t, Matilda.

(
they drink
)

They look hungrily at the bottle again but Matilda corks it and puts it back in the handbag.

Matilda
: It isn’t proper to leave bottles about. (
she looks around the room
) This room! I declare, I’ll sweep it out for you.

She puts on an apron and goes to fetch a broom — during the beginning of the next scene she is in and about, always in the background. Bobby and Koster sit facing each other, smoking.

Bobby
(
dreamily
): A customer will ring up in half a minute — with a big job. You’ll see — half a minute.

Koster takes out his watch. Silence, save for Matilda moving about.

Bobby
: Half a minute.

Koster
: Twenty seconds to go… fifteen seconds —

Bobby
: All right, you’ll see.

Koster
: Four seconds — three seconds — two seconds — one second —

(
the phone rings loud and startling. They both spring up, looking at each other in awe. Bobby answers
)

Bobby
: What?… Oh, hello — yes, yes — a job — yes. (
Koster gives a dance kick with excitement and turns to stare at Bobby
) …Yes, it sounds fine. What’s the price?

Koster
(
in a stage whisper
): For the love of heaven, what is it?

Bobby
: Shh! (
to the phone
) Oh, that’s the price.

Koster
(
wildly
): Double it — double it!

Bobby
(
to Koster
): He says I only have to name the price. (
to the phone
) Would you consider doubling your offer?

(
Koster comes toward him in agony, his hands outstretched
)

Koster
: Great Snakes!
Will
you tell me what it is?

Bobby waves him silent but he gives a wild yell and collapses on his back on the desk, his feet in the air.

Bobby
: Now just repeat that — my partner is not very well.

CUT TO:

275 ALFONS’ CAFE —

Alfons on the phone, smiling.

Alfons
: You play piano for two hours for these cattlesellers and I’ll give you five marks — ten marks — what you want, Bobby.

CUT TO:

276 THE OFFICE —

Bobby hangs up the phone.

Bobby
: I’m playing piano for Alfons tonight. Ten marks.

Koster
(
letting out his breath and sitting up
): Oh — h — h — h!

Bobby
: If they can stand it. I can. You see, Otto, there is a Santa Claus —

(
he breaks off at Koster’s expression and follows his glance to the window. A pale face is pressed against the window pane
)

Koster
: Who’s that?

MOVE THE CAMERA UP to show it is the Jewish Driver who formerly owned the taxi-cab. He is poorer and thinner than before.

Koster
: Oh, hello — come in.

The face disappears. Bobby opens the door for him.

Koster
(
cheerful
): Come to buy back your taxi?

Driver
(
laughs
): I wish I could. I see you’ve still got it. How’s it running?

Koster
: Fine. What are you doing now — driving?

Driver
(
thoughtfully
): No, I’m not driving. I’m doing little jobs here and there. I haven’t been able to get a regular job.

Koster
: Tough times.

Driver
(
laughs deprecatingly
): There seems to be a little — prejudice around lately. But I must have struck the wrong people.

Koster
: There’re always some.

Driver
(
nodding
): Yes. Always some. You don’t need any work done, do you?

Koster
: We’re looking for work ourselves. (
the cupboard is still open. Koster sees a sweater hanging there
) Your clothes aren’t very warm. Here — try this on.

Driver
(
grateful
): Thanks. (
he admires it
) Not depriving you?

Koster
(
slowly
): No. It belonged to a friend of ours. He’d like you to have it.

Driver
: I’d be glad to tune up the Ford for nothing.

Bobby
: It’s tuned to the last pitch.

The sweater has started them thinking of Lenz and, sensing their mood, the driver backs out, wearing it knotted around his neck.

Driver
: I’m certainly obliged for the sweater.

Koster
: Put it on.

Driver
: No, I’ll take it home. (
Bobby follows him out the door. The Driver pauses affectionately beside the taxi
) Well-made car. (
Bobby nods. Driver moves off, pauses, reminded of something by the falling snow
) I thought I had a job today — but the man wouldn’t give it to me — (
very quietly; understated
) — because it was Christmas.

HOLD THE CAMERA ON his face a moment. Then he wanders away through the snow.

DISSOLVE TO:

277 STREET OUTSIDE ALFONS’ CAFE —

FLASH OF THE SEMI-UNIFORMED MEN marching thru the snow to the same mocking music. Far away an ambulance screams in the night.

DISSOLVE TO:

278 INT. ALFONS’ CAFE —

Alfons is looking at the above scene through the window. He turns away with a frown. The cafe is crowded. A twelve-foot silver fir tree stands beside the bar, hung with colored balls, candles and tinsels. Two cafe women are putting on the finishing touches. In the rear, waiters set a big table — silver dishes over spirit lamps hold two suckling pigs with apples in their mouths and little fir sprigs ablaze upon their backs.

Bobby at the piano, is playing American jazz — “Among My Souvenirs,” “Muddy Water,” “Blue Room,” “So Blue,” etc. — and Koster is at a table surrounded by rough well-to-do cattlemen in cowhide boots. The patrons are moving to the table to sit down.