One Good Turn Page #3

EDDIE:

They don't want Ruth?

SAUL:

Pre-zactly!

EDDIE:

Well, what'll I do with her?

SAUL:

Say, why should you worry about her? She

can take care of herself. She don't do

anything anymore in the act anyway.

EDDIE:

Well, she's got to live.

JIM:

Oh, don't worry. Ruth can play the small

time just as long as she likes.

EDDIE:

(almost persuaded)

Well, I guess that could be arranged.

SAUL:

Say, why should you worry? You've got your

own troubles. You know how this business

is. Today, you're upstairs. And tomorrow

-- who knows? -- you're in the cellar,

ain't you?

EDDIE:

(convinced)

Well, I guess you're right. You know, I've

always wanted to be with that--

The three men start talking simultaneously as they walk off.

FADE OUT:

TITLE (to a fast instrumental version of "If I Could Be With You"):

Ruth learned that on Broadway the

billing was over when the cooing

stopped.

FADE IN:

INT. APARTMENT - DAY

Ruth opens the doors to her kitchen and turns to see a framed

photo of Eddie on a table beside her chair in the living room. She

sits in the chair, picks up the photo, stares at it a moment, sets

it down, then turns away sadly, burying her head in her shoulder.

Ruth's roommate MARGE enters, carrying packages.

MARGE:

Hello, Ruth.

RUTH:

(tries to get a grip)

Hello, Marge.

Marge puts the packages in the kitchen and returns to the living

to discard her purse, hat and coat. Marge is a low-paid, wise-

cracking chorus girl, always on the lookout for a man or a buck.

MARGE:

Well, here I am -- all tired out. I've

been from five-and-ten cent store to

five-and-ten cent store. Just couldn't

find a fur coat to fit me.

RUTH:

(laughs)

Gee, I wish I had your disposition. What

are all the bundles?

MARGE:

(pulls out a card table)

Rations, dearie, rations. It looks like a

hard winter -- we might as well eat while

we can.

Throughout the following, Marge sets up the table next to Ruth,

covers it with a tablecloth, brings cups, food, a chair, etc.

RUTH:

Fix something for yourself. I'm not

hungry.

MARGE:

Oh, I've brought some swell corned beef.

(off Eddie's photo)

I thought it'd be a change from that

ham o' yours.

RUTH:

(takes photo and stares at it)

Aw, Eddie was all right until success went

to his head.

MARGE:

Yeah, it went to the place where it had

the most room.

RUTH:

Somehow I - I just can't work without him.

Ruth puts the photo back.

MARGE:

Aw, come on, brace up! Come on, show me

the chinaware, will ya?

RUTH:

(faint grin, head down)

Aw, I'll get over it, I guess.

MARGE:

Sure. Love 'em, tease 'em, and give 'em

the ozone.

RUTH:

That's all right when you're playing with

numbers. But when you've just got one

who's ... been everything to you.

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