42. INT. POLO LOUNGE RESTAURANT – DINING AREA – NIGHT
FRANKIE walks in and is greeted by an old acquaintance, STEVE MARKS. They shake hands.
FRANKIE
Steve Marks, how are you?
STEVE
How are you, Frankie?
FRANKIE
Haven’t seen you since we did that thing together at Metro.
STEVE
Yeah, it’s good seeing you.
FRANKIE
Haven’t seen Kappy Kapstetter, I’m supposed to meet him here.
STEVE
Yes, he’s in a booth in the back.
Frankie walks in the direction indicated, Steve follows him. Frankie sits down at KAPPY’S booth.
FRANKIE
Kappy.
KAPPY
Hi, Frank.
FRANKIE
(looking up, noticing Steve)
I’d ask you to join us, Steve, but we have some business to discuss.
STEVE
Would you care for a drink before dinner?
FRANKIE
(realizing Steve is an employee)
Ah, no, thanks, Steve.
Steve nods and leaves.
KAPPY
Matre’d.
FRANKIE
What happened? He was a good actor. Made more pictures than I have.
KAPPY
This is a chancy business, Frankie. You never know you’re on the way out till you suddenly realize it would take a ticket to get back in.
A WAITER walks up. Frankie is still stunned looking off toward Steve.
WAITER
Would you care to order dinner now?
KAPPY
Oh. Frankie.
Kappy taps Frankie’s arm to get his attention.
KAPPY (CONT’D)
Frankie! You want to order dinner now?
FRANKIE
Squab and wild rice.
KAPPY
I’ll have the same, thanks. Well, what brings you to the valley, to see me over squab and wild rice?
FRANKIE
I want you to do something for me. The studio brought out a girl named Kay Bergdahl.
KAPPY
Is she an actress?
FRANKIE
No, they brought her out to work under Edith Head as a sketch artist. I’d like her to be a designer. See to it will you?
KAPPY
See to it? What am I, a genii in a bottle? Poof, you’re a designer. I mean, what right have I got to into Regan and say make this girl a designer.
FRANKIE
Would you mind breakin’ that two-buck violin you’re playin’? What is this sincere bit? The fact is my ten percent before taxes is paying your office overhead. And you’ll stop earning it when you stop giving me what I want. Tell Regan.
KAPPY
How quickly you forget the beginnings.
(disgusted)
I just remembered I’ll have to skip dinner. I have a doctor’s appointment in the morning.
He gets up to leave.
FRANKIE
Kappy! Do it!
KAPPY
Then I suppose I’m to make sure Miss Bergdahl knows it was you who got her the job?
FRANKIE
All in due time, Kappy. All in due time.
Kappy leaves. Frankie thinks of something and snaps his fingers for the waiter. The WAITER walks up to the table.
FRANKIE
Cancel those orders. Where can I find Steve Marks?
WAITER
Ah, through that door in the back.
Frankie throws down some cash on the table and leaves.