08x08 - The Seducer

[bunniefuu]

[waves crashing]

[music]

And now back to the Sid Palmer Show.

Thank you, Joe.

Tonight I'm interviewing one of Hollywood's most successful

independent producer directors creighton Halliday.

And Nora Halliday. Though now retired from film.

Still well remembered by movie fans as Nora Chapman.

And now, Mr. Halliday, let's continue our lively discussion

on the present state of the motion picture industry.

Fine that's my favorite subject.

Good.

Mr. Halliday. Let me quote from an article

in the current issue of a national magazine.

I quote.

It's getting difficult for this writer to

remember the last motion picture he has seen.

The theme of which was not sex

v*olence, psychopathic, m*rder, sadism,

incest, drug addiction or delirium treements. These are supposedly

adult films made by supposedly adult producers who appear to this write

are more like small boys drawing dirty pictures on the back fence.

Unquote.

Mr Palmer.

Critics have never disturb me.

Nor do censors.

As a matter of fact, I don't believe in censorship.

But what about the influence these pictures have on youth?

The young of today are the adults of tomorrow.

They must learn to live in the adult world.

I like to show the world as I see it.

I believe I have that right.

If the world is corrupt.

Then I show that corruption.

If it's full of the morality and v*olence.

Than that to should be shown

and I intend to show it.

That brings us up to the theme of your most recent motion picture.

The hopeless one.

Yes the hopeless ones.

I believe it was released without the approval

of the motion picture code because, among

other things, it attempts to justify su1c1de.

Many critics point out that su1c1de is not only

an immoral act, it is also illegal. We have laws.

It gets into our country. Now, Mr. Halladay,

do you believe then that a man or a person

still has the right to take his own life?

I believe the law is wrong.

And unenforceable.

A man's life is his own to do with as he pleases.

And in some cases, su1c1de may well be the only way.

Mrs. Holiday, I'd like to know, do you share your husband's views?

Well, I've been out of the industry for so many years now but

But you haven't been forgotten. People feel that the name

Nora Chapman could still be big box office attraction.

Ah.

Have you definitely retired as an actress, Mrs. Halliday?

Yes.

I've been trying for years to persuade Nora to

appear in one of my films but no luck so far.

I'm terribly sorry to interrupt you do but we're a little late.

Thank you nora holiday.

Creighton Halliday.

[music]

You're certainly awfully quiet all the

way home. A TV interview upset you?

Not the interview.

Some of the answers, some of the questions. What?

Some of your answers.

I see.

Well, anyway.

You got your plug in for The Hopeless One.

We don't need a flood darting. We're doing capacity business.

Yeah, that whitewashes everything, doesn't it?

No, not necessarily.

Hmm, hmm.

Nora, Let's have it.

What answers?

What answers? You said some of my answers upset you. What answers?

Crey, you know how I feel about your pictures. So you know. What answers?

Why can't I reach you?

Why in this world can't I reach you?

Everyone seems to think I have something to

offer film audiences. Everyone except my wife.

My dear, I feel you have a great deal to offer.

Just think that you're offering the wrong thing.

Nora, I let me ask you something.

Okay.

Are my pictures usually pretty well written?

Very smooth always.

How about the direction?

Magnificent.

You're an excellent direction.

And the acting?

Marvelous?

Is you always hire the very best talent in all departments.

I believe that's how you get away with it.

Beautifully wrapped packages of

sorted immorality.



Well, that's an awfully pretentious thing to say.

Nora, why can't I get us through your head.

That we are no longer making pictures for twelve year olds?

Thank you.

I am interested in making films that are challenging and provocative.

I know you said many many times.

You know, if you weren't making so much money,

if you were losing on one picture after another?

Remind you I wouldn't like them any better. But

I would have to grant you your sincerity.

We've been to this so many times, Nora. Yes, the world is full of

corruption. I am simply pointing it out. I am making the people face it.

Are you pointing out the corruption Crey?

Or are you cashing in on it? If you're cashing in on it, then you're

contributing to it. And that makes

you a part of the corruption yourself.

I think that's an awful thing to say to me.

Yes I think it is too.

The Hopeless One happens to be a perfectly marvelous motion picture.

It's a shocking motion picture.

There's not one risque word in it.

No, there isn't, my dear, but oh, what it says.

What does it say, Nora?

Among other things.

You glamorize glorify su1c1de. Well, you even encourage it.

You present it as a noble, courageous act.

No, it faces the facts and reality of pain.

Pain and life and death. Now, Nor, you can't to be

brushing those things aside. You can't naively pretend

-they aren't dead. -I am not

Mother, he's right.

-Hi sweetie -Hello baby.

Dad, you were marvelous on television tonight.

-What? -Mother, you look gorgeous.

Thank you.

Oh, you should have heard me. I kept yelling to the

television and said that's it, dad you tell them.

You're the kind that talks back to the television.

Of course, I always do.

But really, I don't understand how anyone can answer your arguments.

They're timely, broad minded and they make sense.

Well, I have some one of my family's on my son.

Oh now mother's just old fashioned but we love anyway don't we?

Well, thank you.

Oh Marie left some my sandwiches in the refrigerator shall I get some?

-Are you hungry, Craig? -No, just thirsty.

Dad, I hope you don't mind, but I stole your new script

off your desk this afternoon, and I'm halfway through it.

What do you think of?

Oh wow.

Are you really going to make it?

I am.

as written. We start sh**ting in Italy in three months.

Oh, dad, that's exciting.

But can you get away with it?

No one's been able to stop him so far.

What did you say mother?

I said no one's been able to stop him so far.

unfortunately.

But, Mother, this is a powerful script.

-It's overwhelming. -Oh, you've read it?

Yes, I've read it.

Mother, darling, what you want dad to

do? Remake rebecca of Sunny for Farm.

Of course not, Shell.

But there are many adult stories that

could be made well and intelligently.

Not just for the shock value.

Mother, this is a great part for an actress. A great part.

Nora, if you'd play this for me.

You'd have been an Oscar with it.

I wouldn't play that part for ten Oscars.

Mother I don't understand you.

A playing apart does not necessarily mean that you believe in it.

- No? - No.

Well, now, Jill, let me ask you something.

Do you think a writer is responsible for what he

writes? I mean, for the ideas that he puts for it?

What of course I do.

Well, is it any different for an actor?

Shouldn't he feel responsibility for the parts he plays?

Oh I realized that he doesn't create them but he does interpret them.

Or do you think he should just be concerned with his

career, his salary and his fame?

I don't know.

No, you're just stringing a lot of high signing words together.

All how many times have been through this conversation?

I'll let you two battle it out. I'm going to bed alright?

-Good night, mom. -Good night.

Do you want to go to Sunshiners with me in the morning?

I can't. I have an early appointment.

Again?

Look, when are you and I are going to get any time together?

Now, Mother. We have all summer, and you'll be sick of the sight of me.

You want to bet?

-Good night, dad. -Good night, darling.

No matter what Mother says, your scripts are the

greatest. I'm going to finish this one right now.

Got it back.

It's late I'm tired though.



You were going to stay up and read for a while?

I guess so. I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway.

Nora.

Now, what's going to happen to

To us?

Crey.

Listen, I need you. You're letting my pictures

tear us apart. We mustn't let that happen.

Look at me, look at me.

It's happening already isn't it?

Darling, if you begin to lose respect for me as a creator,

how long will it be before you lose respect for me as a man?

Tonight, as I listened to you in that interview.

I was frightened. But we've gone round and round about

this before. I know. But then it was just you and I.

Suddenly tonight I thought of all those people listening to you.

Of all the people who go to see your pictures.

Those challenging, provocative pictures that you like to call it.

It worries me Crey.

Terribly.

No, I want to do this picture with you.

I'm afraid you'll have to find someone else.

Someone with fewer scruples?

Yes.

Yes, if you want to put it that way.

Or someone more ethical.

I know you think I'm a prude.

My own personal self respect happens to be very important to me.

I like to be able to sleep at night.

But you can't, good night.

[music]

Good night Nora.

[typewriting sound]

I'm off.

-Where to? -A luncheon date.

-Is still going with you? -No, I think she's still asleep.

-Nora? -Yeah?

Remember that interview we had on

television a few weeks ago with Sid Palmer?

Yes, indeed.

They're swamp with nail.

Oh.

For you or against you?

Not everyone feels like you do, darling.

I repeat.

Are they for you or against you?

That is not the point, Nora.

The point is that so many of your fans have written, they

want you to come back to pictures. Look at all these.

Oh.

Nice to hear anyway, isn't it?

Nora, if I have the writers make a few changes, if I had them toned

down, a scene or two, would you consider playing the part then?

No, I won't.

I just won't

Not even for you.

But, Nora, why can't you be

reasonable? You know what competition

is like these days. I have to match it. I should do it one better.

So if the competition is nauseating, you've

got to be even more nauseating, is that it?

Sounds so childish.

Well, I just happen to think there are a lot of people who are sick

and tired of the kind of films you've

been making. And I'm one of them.

You've made that abundantly clear. You think

you know all the answers, nor you're so high and

mighty. How do you stand there and set yourself

up to judge me? I mean, who do you think you are?

I am simply a woman with my opinion.

And in case you've forgotten.

I am your wife.

Go on to your luncheon date.

Oh, dear. My luncheon date is with Josie Wang.

Marie, can you please tell Olive I won't be here for lunch?

Yes, ma'am. Did you get your messages last night?

Oh, no, I'm sorry. I forgot to look at

my desk. Was there anything important?

Well, Dr Blake phoned several times yesterday afternoon and

then again in the evening. He seemed very anxious to reach you.

-Dr Blake? -Yes.

-Leave his number? -Yes, I put it

-down there in the book. -Thank you.

Listen, Marie, will you go and flip into Jill's

room to see if you can get me steam paraglophs?

-Yes. -Blake.

Blake.

[dialing number]

I thought you were in such a hurry to go.

Well, I am sorry.

Where are my scratch pets? Someone seems to be eating them.

They're in the second drawer of the desk dear, where they always are.

[door closing]

Oh doctor Blake.

Yes I'm sorry I didn't call you back sooner but I just got your message.

Well I had a luncheon engagement.

Well, yes I can be there around .

Alright.

Thank you Doc.

[putting telephone down]



Mrs. Holiday.

Come quick.

Mrs. Jill. isn't Wake up.

Mrs. Jill. isn't Wake up.

Jill, Jill, honey.

Crey.

Jill, wake up honey.

Jill, Jill.

[music]

Naturally so did I.

So I had a series of tests made.

Why didn't she tell us, doctor? Why didn't she tell us?

Well, there was no question about the results.

Why did you tell Jill?

The results.

She demanded the truth.

And since she was , I had to tell her. But I

tried to make her understand that we'd gotten

at it early. And there was no question that

an operation might be entirely successful.

She wouldn't miss?

No.

Nothing I said seemed to register.

That's when I tried to reach you, Mrs. Holiday.

We just hadn't gone to that stupid party last night.

She had no way of knowing. Don't start blaming yourself, Nora.

Oh.

Nora.

Jill left a note.

She what?

I wasn't sure I ever wanted you to see it.

Dear's Mother and dad,

I can't face it. An operation and maybe years

of pain and eventually death.

Oh.

I know it. Dr. Blake has tried to cheer

me up and tell me I'll be alright.

I know better.

This is the only way mother I'm sorry.

You'll probably never be able to understand.

Forgive me.

But, dad I know you will understand.

I know you'd agree that this is the best way out.

I love you both.

[music]

God help us.

[music]

We have to help each other now.

Don't. Don't touch me.

-Nora. -Don't touch me.

Nora.

[music]

Oh god help.

No, they haven't returned from the funeral yet.

Yes.

I'll tell them you called.

Thank you.

Is there anything I can do?

Marie please make us some tea.

Nora.

please don't shut yourself away.

It parted her hair on the side. She never liked it that way.

Nora, we have to pull ourselves together.

-I don't know how. -Work and more work.

Is the only way.

You're not going ahead with that picture, are you?

Well, no. It's a completed script. What else can I do?

Oh, Crey, please don't do it. Not now. Don't make that picture

Stop that kind of talk. Please, Nora.

[music]

Crey.

I lie awake at night.

Thinking about Jill's note. I go over it.

Every word of it, again and again. She said that you would understand.

She said you'd agree, that it was the only way out.

Nora, don't try to make me feel guilty.

Well, aren't you?

Have you thought about it?

Have you taken a good look at yourself? Crey.

You are guilty

You're as guilty as the devil himself.

-Nora. -You, that picture you made.

-You drove her to it. -No, stop it.

You stopped this right now.

Really, for Italy in one month, and don't you forget it.

One month.

[music]

[door knocking]

Yeah.

Oh.

Mr. Haliday asked me to come up and see you.

You look exhausted. Did you get any sleep at all last night?

Ah.

Dr this is almost unbearable.

I.

su1c1de is such a tragic thing. So senseless.

And so frustrating to doctors. We keep

fighting for every moment of life but

Some people, they never understand what a precious

thing it is. They give up without giving us a chance.



Now mrs holiday don't you start doing the same thing.

Giving up, I mean.

You know.

My husband is responsible for what happened to her.

Calm down, no one person is

responsible for another person's act.

He is.

Did you happen to see his last picture, Doctor?

No, I didn't.

It was called The Hopeless Ones.

In it, he tried to prove the morality of su1c1de.

An apparent he did for his own daughter.

He doesn't even know it.

How do you know he doesn't?

Cause he's going right on with another

one of those horrible pictures.

At least for Italy in one month.

And he expects me to go with him.

[music]

-Good night, dad. -Good night, dear.

No matter what letters, your scrumps are the

greatest. I'll try to finish this one right now.

Good evening.

Wow.

-Are you really going to make it? -I am.

[music]

She's dead I know she's dead.

Finished packing?

I haven't started.

But why not?

The plane needs in the morning.

Told you, I'm not going to Italy.

Oh, but you couldn't mean that. No, and you couldn't possibly

mean it. I've never been anywhere on location without you before.

Perhaps you better get used to it.

You've already had one tragedy in the family. Isn't that enough?

What are you trying to do, destroy us?

I asked you not to go ahead with your plans, not to make that picture

But you wouldn't listen. You never do.

How I hate your pictures.

I hate what they say.

I hate what they do to people.

Is that the way you feel about me?

Do you hate me?

Is that it?

I'm going to ask you once again.

Forget about Creighton Holiday, the producer,

at least for a little while. Forget about

Italy. Just be my husband once again, and

maybe we can work this thing out together.

Forget about Italy. Forget all my

plans. Are you out of your mind, Nora?

-I'm trying not to be. -Now, you get this straight, Nora

Nobody's going to dictate to me.

Not even my wife.

Nobody is going to tell me what kind of pick

I can or cannot make.

Then you are lossed.

Even Jill's death hasn't stopped you, has it?

-How dare you say that to me? -And why not?

Why can't I say it?

It's the truth.

It wasn't just your last picture that influenced Jill.

For years you've been feeding her the same kind of sordid philosophy.

Why don't you stop giving her performance? Go pack your things.

No.

I won't go with you.

I won't have anything to do with that picture.

I won't even be a bystander

-I'm already begun a long time -I know.

You don't mind the separation?

-Maybe you'll even welcome it. -Maybe I will.

Oh, Creg, can you blame me? Can you honestly blame me?

Alright.

You go ahead.

You go to Italy.

God help you.

[music]

[telephone ringing]

Yeah.

Oh.

Yes edie.

Yes, I saw your column.

Well, Creighton's been in Italy for several

weeks, and I've been in Hollywood. So what?

He's going to be there are several months more.

Yes, he's sh**ting a picture.

Look, Edie, I've heard all the rumors.

I have no comment.

That's right.

Thanks for calling.

[putting down telephone]

[music]

Crey

I thought you'd be sh**ting for months yet.

No, I'm not going to make that picture. I couldn't.

I couldn't work. I kept seeing Jill, what my last picture had done to her.

You right Nora.

Oh, my God. You were right,

Help me Nora, Help me.



Help me Nora, Help me.

It is better to be small and shine.

Then to be great.

And cast a shadow.