82. EXT. TRINA’S APARTMENT – FRONT STEPS – DAY
TRINA is heading up the steps to her apartment; FRANKIE, carrying a bottle in a paper bag, follows close behind.
TRINA
(to Frankie, over her shoulder)
Tina Brightly’s my show biz name. They put two and two together in Central Casting. Only one other Trina’s registered.
FRANKIE
We had such a good time in Tijuana. I thought we’d pick it up from here.
They enter her apartment.
83. INT. TRINA’S APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM – DAY
TRINA and FRANKIE enter her apartment. Frankie takes the bottle out of the paper bag and begins to remove the cap.
TRINA
Figured we’d get hammered together and wrestle around on the couch for a while?
FRANKIE
How about that?
TRINA
(suspecting Frankie’s purpose)
So, Barney pulled the plug on you, huh?
FRANKIE
I don’t know what you mean?
TRINA
(chuckling)
OK, we’ll play it like I’m the jerk you think I am. Tell me a little story.
FRANKIE
All right, you know the story, it’s been in all the papers. Your ex sprang a rotten lie on me and got me clobbered for the Oscar. Now he’s got something else that’s an even bigger lie and he’s threatenin’ to open it up if I don’t pay off.
TRINA
Finished with the fairy tales?
FRANKIE
Fairy tales?! I’m tryin’ to tell you your pal Barney is crucifyin’ me.
TRINA
(chuckling again)
Oh, oh. You’re a beautiful liar. Don’t forget I lived with Barney. Oh, you’re not the first one. Sure Barney never reveals his clients. If he did he’d be killing the goose that lays his golden rotten eggs. Because when Barney pulls off a job that’s “under the counter” he waits until it’s all done. Then he springs for some more loot. So, they pay off. Barney never has to reveal a client.
Trina methodically lights a cigarette.
TRINA (CONT’D)
Now, when I saw it in the papers about you, I figured like everybody else it might be any one of the other four nominees who hired Barney. But now that your curly little head shows up here and you say that Barney’s springing on you too I get a hot flash that, maybe, now just maybe, you are the client.
FRANKIE
Uh, I, uh . . .
TRINA
(laughing)
You look so silly with your mouth wide open, sweetness, I haven’t got the heart to turn you down. Save the booze, let’s talk business.
They sit on the sofa.
FRANKIE
Inside that chorus girl head, you’ve got a guillotine.
TRINA
Inside that chorus girl head, I’ve got a lot of sad. I, ah, married Barney because he said he’d get me in pictures. But all I got was Barney, and I’m still an extra. Now, I don’t trust you any more than I do Barney. On the other hand, what have I got to lose? Nobody’s breaking down my door to make me a star. If you win that Oscar, you’re going to be a very important man in this town. I scratch your back, you scratch mine.
FRANKIE
You can call you’re shots with me Trina. Anything you say.
TRINA
Barney has six safety deposit boxes, six different names. All the shakedown money he’s made--and there is a pile, baby--none of which he’s reported to the Internal Revenue Department. I learned about this scam a long time ago. Barney didn’t know.
Trina goes over to a bureau and removes a card taped to the bottom of one of the drawers.
TRINA (CONT’D)
I was saving it for a rainy day. How’s the weather, Lover? First of all there’s Chester Tumwater . . .