Original subtitles

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[creaking]

[Pump squeaking]

[music continues]

[soft dramatic music]

Major Singleton.

[dramatic musical sting]

Uh, Major Singleton isn't home this afternoon.

Does you desire to enter?

IS you're going in?

Not yet, boy.

I ain't allowed. Major Singleton will skin me for sure.

[instrumental music]

♪ Saturday market day N'

[indistinct chatter]

[bells ringing]

[music continues]

- Howdy. - Hiya.

Nice animal.

He'll need currying and some feed.

Say, don't I know you from some place?

I've never been there.

[indistinct chatter]

[instrumental music]

Say, I couldn't be wrong, could I?

It's six, seven years, but ain't you...

Well, there'll be a hot time in the old town tonight

or I ain't the corn drinking fool I certainly am.

You know who that was?

Brant Rowe.

Say, ain't you the fella--

Where's Calhoun's office?

- Lawyer Calhoun? - Yeah.

He's in the cotton and mercantile building

down the street a piece, at the corner of, uh...

I'll reckon you remember.

Send a boy down and tell him I'm here.

Oh, I'm sorry.

- I'm going out. - Brant Royle.

Who would've thought he'd ever come back?

Urn, I'm, uh, going out.

Uh, that is, I won't be here.

Uh, oh, I expect to be back early, before dinner, if I can.

And I think I can.

Oh, if anyone asks, I'll be at Major Singleton's.

What, Mr. Barton?

I'm going out.

- Oh. - Yes.

Brant Royle...

Careful over there, now.

[knock on door]

Come in.

You're Calhoun.

It's been a long time, but I'd have recognized you, Brant.

You favor your pa a lot.

I'm right glad to see you back.

You're no more glad to see me than I am to see you.

Really, now, Brant. I declare.

You wrote me about my uncle dying.

I came as soon as I could.

Well, son, he left everything to you.

Uh, that is, uh, the cigarette factory.

[Brant] What became of the rest?

The warehouses, well, uh,

your uncle lost them.

Major Singleton took them over right after--

Right after he ran me and my father out of town. Is that it?

I hope you're not fixing to get upset.

Coming into town, I stopped at my father's place.

Nobody's lived there since we got kicked out

by the look of it.

Singleton didn't really want the place.

He has never used it.

Nobody has farmed it.

He was just set on getting rid

of the Royles, it appears like.

Me, in particular.

We all felt pretty bad about your trouble.

Yeah, I bet you cried hour after hour. That's enough.

My father worked that land up from nothing.

Sweated over it 14, 15 hours a day.

I know because I helped him.

Nobody in the whole valley grew better bright leaf tobacco.

Then just when it started to pay off

the major stepped in.

It was a nice little farm once.

Here. Keep the change.

Brant, I hope you don't blame any of what happened on me.

I know exactly who to blame.

I'd do the same thing to him if I had a chance.

Maybe more.

Well, I won't intrude on you any longer.

You can look over these statements.

And here are the keys to the factory.

Is the factory worth anything at all?

Well, it's pretty run down.

A couple of thousand, maybe.

Sell it, I need the money.

Well, that might not be so easy.

Singleton again?

That's about the size of it.

Well, I've got to be getting back.

Hope everything else is alright with you?

Uh, how did you leave the family?

I heard your pa was poorly.

- Not anymore. - That's a blessing.

- Glad to hear he's recovered. - He's dead.

I hadn't heard.

Your father gone, now your uncle?

- Why, that leaves on|y-- - Only me.

Yeah.

Well, good luck.

[carnival music]

Come one, come all to the free show.

See the mysteries of the Orient.

See the giant fire eater of the Oronoco.

It's entertaining, thrilling

and an education for men, women and children.

Twelve exciting acts, twelve.

Free, it's all free.

[music continues]

[speaking in French]

Brant.

Mademoiselle Sonia, come back. Come back.

You cannot be seen like this.

Get me a pencil, my pocket book. Hurry.

- Fauntleroy. Fauntleroy. - Yes, Ms. Sonia?

[gasping]

That man who just walked by, go look.

The man with the walking stick, Ms. Sonia?

Yes, I want you to take him a message.

- Here. - Yes, ma'am.

Hurry up, please.

[carnival music]

[horse neighing]

Margaret, isn't that...

Of course, it is.

Afternoon, Ms. Singleton.

I don't like you hurting his mouth that way.

You can let go now.

You're welcome, I'm sure.

I should've said, "Thank you."

But I'm able to handle animals without help.

Thank you just the same.

- Now, will you let go? - I guess you've forgotten me.

I guess maybe I have.

Is there something special about you?

My name is Royle.

We had a farm not far from your place.

You used to come and visit me in the fields.

I don't remember any such thing.

And If I did, I wouldn't expect anybody to refer to it.

I was just recalling myself to you.

I kissed you.

Your father saw. See, he broke his cane on me for it.

Maybe you'll remember now.

Young man, you've been drinking.

Why don't you shut up?

[gasping]

Oh, I do remember you now.

You're that bad mannered, gangly farmer boy

that used to pester me.

The one I used to laugh about so hard.

You're wearing shoes now.

And your pants don't need fixing like they always did then.

But you haven't changed much otherwise.

You have, ma'am.

You remind me a lot of your father now.

Let go of my horse.

[dramatic music]

Mister?

[music continues]

I'm very grateful to you, Major Singleton

for the opportunity of coming out here.

Your letter said something about an invention.

I'm afraid I didn't read it all, to tell you the truth.

Would you care for some refreshments, Mr. Barton?

Oh, uh, no, thank you. I don't believe so.

In this heat, of course, you will.

It'll cool you off.

Well, I never touch it, sir.

John Barton, cigarette machine?

Uh, yes, sir, here-here are the, uh, plans.

What's that? What's that? Speak up, speak up.

Here are the plans for my cigarette machine.

Well, now, I think I can save you a lot of trouble.

- I'm not interested. - Oh, but--

I'm afraid I don't believe in cigarettes.

Much less a machine for making them.

It turns my stomach, sir, every time I have occasion

to witness someone poking one of those

vile concoctions into their face.

I deal in cigars, sir. Nothing less.

Let me tell you something, for more than a hundred years

Singleton's have been growing, smoking

living and thinking tobacco.

And they were cigar smokers to a man.

I'm too old a horse to change my gait.

Won't you a-at least let me tell you how it works?

- Maybe you'd see your mistake. - What's that? Mistake?

Uh, if you let me explain how that machine works--

I'm just not interested in a cigarette machine.

Uh, I, um, uh...

Well, speak up, man, don't mumble.

l-l believe I'll have a drink, after all, sir.

Well, that's a mighty fine decision.

Here we are.

No offense meant.

It's just that I think you've been sent

on a wild goose chase, sir.

I don't suppose Mr. Pendleton

and the others would be interested?

By all means, try them.

But I'm afraid we're all cigar men down here.

Now, Margaret, it doesn't mean that--

Margaret. Margaret, I want you to meet someone.

I swear I don't know what's come over her.

Get me more smelling salts. I'm gonna need...

James, you've got to do something instantly.

It's intolerable.

- I, oh... - Tabitha, this is Mr. Barton.

Mr. Barton, my cousin, Tabitha Singleton.

- How do you do? - How do you do?

Now, Tabi, what's all the fuss?

L-I think I'd better be going, sir.

- I'll have Simon drive you. - No, thank you.

Oh, to the hotel, at least.

Well, thank you. No, I'd rather walk.

Oh, just as you say.

Call and see me at the factory sometime

when you get over this fool notion of yours.

Now, then, Tabi, what is it?

Now, James, you know

what the doctor said about getting upset?

I'm not upset.

I won't have you stirring

yourself up like this.

He spoke to Margaret but that doesn't mean anything.

There's nothing to get excited about.

Just like anybody else in town, passing the time of day.

I'm sure he didn't mean to be suggestive.

It's just that, that uncouth manner of his.

Anyhow, there's no point in you flying off the handle.

He is back and that's that.

We just have to make the best of it.

Now, I am upset.

What are you talking about? Who's back?

Brant Royle. We saw him in town.

Brant...

[knock on door]

[James] Margaret.

Come in.

What was the extent of your conversation with him?

Conversation? With whom, father?

There's no need to protect him, I'm referring to Brant Royle.

- You shouldn't have told him. - Well, I...

What did he say to you?

He only passed the time of day.

- It was perfectly harmless. - Harmless?

Oh, I don't see why you're getting this vivid over it.

I have no intention of permitting my daughter

to be the object of that man's attentions.

I forbid you to ever speak to him again.

Don't be so old fashioned, father.

This is 1894.

I'm a modern girl and I'll do what I like.

And if what I like happens to be conversing

with Brant Royle, that's what I'll do.

James, Margaret, please.

I'm sorry, father.

I didn't mean to upset you.

I'm all mixed up, for a fact.

I don't wonder.

Being accosted on a public thoroughfare

by such flfi-rafi as Rowe

the world is certainly changing.

In my day, the man wouldn't have dared.

Oh, I don't mind him talking to me.

I was just not expecting to see him that gave me such a start.

As a matter of fact it was sort of exciting.

I declare it was.

All I could think of was remembering

how it felt that time he kissed me.

Why, Margaret!

The mere fact that you can talk

like this shows I have reason

to worry where Brant Royle is concerned.

Maybe you have.

I don't reckon he's any better than he ought to be.

I know a young lady should blush

at the very thought of it.

But I'll say one thing for Brant Royle.

When he looks at me, I know I'm a woman.

It isn't my ruffles that charm him

or the way I crook my finger when I hold a cup of tea.

And you'd be surprised just how much that means to me.

What are you going to do?

I ran Brant Royle out of town once before.

I'm not too old to do it again.

Father, don't.

[instrumental music]

I guess Mr. Brant Royle will think twice

the next time he feels like passing remarks.

You deliberately made trouble.

- Deliberately. - Of course I did.

[gasps]

There hasn't been any excitement around here in months.

You're a strange girl. I wish I could understand you.

If you did I'd do something else, so you wouldn't.

- Undo me, Tab. - You can't go on like this.

Stirring up trouble just because you're bored.

You're never satisfied, never know what you want.

I know what I want.

Sure, I do.

I wake up at night sometimes

with my heart pounding.

Listening, waiting for something to happen.

But everything is so heavy and quiet all around.

All you can hear is the dogs barking way off.

Suddenly, it's gone, whatever it was that woke me up.

You really think there'll be trouble in town?

Will they fight?

- Oh, I wish I could see it. - Margaret.

Close that door. Hurry, close it.

Excuse me, gentlemen, please.

He's on his way down.

[Spits]

You wanted to see me?

That's a pleasure I could've denied myself.

I wish you had. What's on your mind?

Only one thing.

How long do you intend to remain in Kingsmont?

I haven't decided yet, have you?

Possibly I have.

You seem to have prospered somewhat.

I own a good horse, a good suit of clothes.

I've got $40 in my pocket.

That's more than I had the last time we saw each other.

I'm informed so that you're here to settle your uncle's estate.

May I suggest that you do so as quickly as possible?

I don't care much for doing things in a hurry.

You need money?

Purely in the interest of making your stay with us

as brief as possible.

I'm willing to buy whatever property your uncle left you.

Seems to me every time we have a conversation, it winds up

with you inviting me to leave town.

If you cross me, Royle, I'll make it my personal business

to see that you wind up your visit here without a penny.

We need some fresh air.

It's beginning to stink in here.

Thank you.

Hello, Major Singleton.

The years haven't changed you, Royle.

You're still what you've always been.

Trash, sir.

Common white trash.

Too bad you're an old man, major, or I'd break...

Clumsy fool.

Oh, come now, major,

you mustn't lose your dignity.

I'm warning you, Royle.

Get out and don't come back.

Not this time.

I'll leave Kingsmont when I'm ready

and not a day before.

That makes it twice, major, this is getting monotonous.

[laughing]

Anybody else think it's funny?

[indistinct chatter]

Bourbon.

I'll pour it.

Mr. Royle, my name is Barton, uh, John Barton that is.

Uh, I couldn't help overhearing

uh, seeing that as I was out

in the lobby a moment ago...

Mr. Royle, I gather you and Mr. Singleton

aren't very friendly.

I mean, Major Singleton.

I can't get used to the titles everybody...

You see, I'm from Connecticut. Up north, that is.

I haven't been here very long...

Uh, what I came down here for...

Mr. Royle...

Suppose I could show you how to make a fortune?

Have a drink, Mr. Barton.

Thank you.

Please excuse my persistence, Mr. Royle.

Uh, but this is an invention of mine, I've worked on it

up in Connecticut that is.

I was born there.

And, uh...| got into this business

and I always figured there must be some way it could work.

And there is.

- Uh, that is, I found it. - Doesn't seem possible.

What I think you're trying to sell something.

Yes, sir. A machine for manufacturing cigarettes.

You mean... Now, wait a minute.

You mean you got a machine

that'll roll cigarettes? Put the paper on them?

And package them, too, all in the same operation.

I've been tinkering with this idea for a long time,

day and night for years now.

It came to be slow but

when I was done I was sure it would work.

It does work, Mr. Royle.

Anything like that would make an awful lot of money.

How come you haven't been able to peddle it yet?

Well, I have to find someone who agrees

with my idea well enough to build it, that is.

- Singleton wouldn't? - Oh, Singleton won't touch it.

Nobody else will, I guess everybody does

what Singleton does.

Looks to me like everybody is afraid to cross him.

And that's why when I saw you and the major, I--

Whatever else he is, the major's supposed

to be pretty smart about tobacco.

Are the Dukes smart? Piedmont? Reynolds?

They've been trying to develop a cigarette machine

for a long time.

My machine works right now.

It'll make cigarettes fast and cheap.

How fast and how cheap?

How much does it cost to hand roll a 1000 cigarettes?

You Yankees always answer an important question

by asking one.

Ninety cents a thousand,

that's what they cost hand rolled.

This 15 cents a thousand

makes cigarette smoking the cheapest habit in America.

And you're looking for somebody with money?

- [Barton] Yes, sir. - To go partners with you.

Exactly right.

Well, you haven't found him yet. I'm flat on my uppers.

Hey...

How long will it take to build and install

one of your machines?

Well, if I could get the parts on time

and the money, about two months.

If I get the money, I want first rights on a partnership basis.

[Barton] That-that's agreeable with me, certainly.

Well, I just might be able to get you the money.

You've had enough.

[carnival music]

Please, no applause.

This is a solemn moment, my friends.

I bring to you that marvelous boon to mankind

Dr. Monaco's miracle medicine.

I'll take some.

Well, give the little lady some of the Savon remedy.

There you are. Thank you, thank you, kindly.

Gathered by laughing Indonesians made in the forest leaves

of far off Cathay

and brought directly here by camel and caravan

to this delightful little city of, uh, Kingsmont.

You're the fella.

Yes, friends, yes, I am the fella

who can cure what ails you now...

You're the fella that killed my mule.

Naughs]

Another satisfied user of Dr. Monaco's miracle medicine.

You say your wife was sickly, near death's door

until you used the magic potion.

Thank you, my friend. Hey, get away.

Now, in this subtle container poses the elixir of elixirs.

It will cure the many disease

from which I'm sure you must suffer.

Which intelligent gentleman wants to try

Dr. Monaco's miracle medicine?

[bell ringing]

- Oh, it's you. - Yes.

You expecting somebody special, Miss Sonia?

I was. I guess it's too late now.

Guess so.

The nice thing about waiting for Brant Royle is

if he don't show up you're better off.

I'll tell you, if I were a man--

You're a long way to toward it with that build.

[woman singing]

What's that for?

My heart been bothering me, Ms. Rose.

It go bumpity bump at night.

No wonder if it's down there.

I declare, ma'am, you can do just about anything.

[man 2] Now, there you are for 25 cents.

I'm sure it would help you. Thank you very much, sir.

Here you are.

[bell ringing]

[man 1] You're the fella that killed my mule.

Well, we're letting ' down the bars a little, I see.

What you doing back in Kingsmont?

Couldn't stay away from you another day.

You always meant so much to me.

And my grandfather.

Brant.

I've been waiting all afternoon.

- Oh! - Waiting never killed anybody.

Oh, you're still a sweet tempered as a July mule.

Barton, ma'am. John Barton, that is. You must excuse me.

This is Sonia Kovac, my mother.

Argh!

Delighted, ma'am.

Business deal from New England.

Oh!

Hope I'm not intruding, Mr. Royle insisted.

Oh. Uh...

We're having a little party, I'd like you to meet everybody

Mr. Business deal.

Oh, I'm very fond of parties. Very...

This is Mr. Barton, ladies.

- How do you do? - Mr. Barton, my cousin Emily.

- How do you do, sir? - Charmed.

Over here is my cousin Pearl.

- Hey, there. - Charmed.

Come, now.

Mr. Barton, this is Cousin Louise.

- Oh, man. - Charmed.

Come on.

Cousin Rose.

- Hmph! - Charmed.

And over here, Mr. Barton, is Cousin Theodora.

- Just call me Teddy. - Charmed.

Come here, Mr. Barton.

- This is-— — Cousin Arthur.

Now, you come right over here and sit down and enjoy yourself.

Oh-ho!

I declare, Brant.

You could've knocked me down with a feather

when I saw you today.

I nearly fainted dead away, just like a lady.

I would've run after you, but I, I didn't have much clothes on.

I, uh, I heard you're doing alright.

Say, when did all this happen?

The last time I saw you

you didn't have a pot to put flowers in.

It's about three years ago.

My mother died and left me the place.

I fixed it up and made a rooming house out of it.

Mm, some get-up.

Latest thing up North.

Is that where you've been?

They've been teaching me the business

at the tobacco exchange in Boston.

Learn anything?

Come here, I'll show you.

I said, come here.

[chuckles]

[moaning]

If you learned that in Boston, I'm going North.

There's nothing like you in Boston.

- You still my girl? - Don't bet on it.

You think all you have to do is snap your finger at me.

All these years, not even a letter.

Wasn't anything to write about.

I could've been dead.

Then what good would a letter be?

Naughs]

Urn, where'd you get that?

Uh, shaving.

Liar!

How about Singleton found you sniffing

around his daughter again?

Been back in town only ten minutes before you

yowling under her window.

- Easy, Sonia, go easy. - Just the way it used to be.

You can't touch her, so you come to me.

Like you were using me to forget something.

Don't be so modest.

Come, you're a good girl.

[snarling] Oh, Brant. You're crazy.

Leave me alone.

Alright, I'll leave you alone.

Pay attention to me, y0u,you“.

Oh!

[chuckles]

Hey, hm.

Hey, you've done alright for yourself, carpet-Dagger.

Or I guess your pa knew what he was doing

when he brought you Yankees down from New York, huh?

Pittsburgh, you Johnny Rebs ought to get over the idea

there's only one city north of the line.

You always were smart, but I

I didn't remember you being so pretty.

If I had, I might've written you at that.

Don't make fun of me.

I love you, Brant.

I'm glad you came back.

I didn't know where to find you

or I would've been there long ago.

Sonia, let's not get in an uproar.

I know, I know.

I'm not fooling myself.

But you're it as far as I'm concerned.

When you're a kid, you, you wonder

what it's like being in love.

Any girl wonders and thinks about it.

I stopped thinking when you came along.

Now, I'm just glad you're back.

You going to stay this time?

Uh, that depends.

On what?

Sonia, roll me a cigarette

the way you used to at my uncle's factory.

With you breathing down the back of my neck.

I remember.

Hey.

Your father's watch. First present you ever gave me.

You deserved it.

[watch chiming]

Still goes slow.

Reminds me of you.

Well, I get there eventually.

How about that coffin nail?

You're the best little cigarette girl I ever saw.

Still are.

Light it for me.

You know, Sonia, one of these days

they'll make cigarettes all by machinery.

There'll be a fortune in it for anybody smart enough

to get in early.

This town's sound asleep, the whole south's been on its knees

ever since the war.

Everybody is scared to take hold

and make it gold.

Except me.

You and your uppity notions.

A man with guts and a workable cigarette machine

could make this valley belch fire.

Of course, it would take money to start.

- I said, uh-- - Brant.

Why did you come here tonight?

Be honest.

How honest?

You want money, don't you?

You heard I was making out alright

so you came here to climb aboard the gravy train.

Uh, Mr. Business Deal?

Yeah.

He's invented a cigarette machine.

I need money to get it started.

It'll make us a fortune.

I, uh, I thought I'd ask you first.

Sure, why not ask me?

I've got it.

All you have to do is ask. I won't mind.

I haven't got any feelings. Just money.

Never mind where it came from

or what it makes you for taking it.

Just ask me and I'll hand it over.

Is that all I mean to you, Brant?

Do you know where all this came from?

Do you know what it means to me after working since

I was a kid in a stinking cigarette shack?

I've given up a lot of things to get this.

And I've waited a long time for you to get good and ready

to come back.

It was worth it, I thought.

[scoffs]

Get out, Brant.

Take your business deal with you.

Why don't you stop acting like a woman?

No.

[indistinct crowd chatter]

[clamoring]

He killed my mule!

[screaming]

[clamoring continues]

[screaming]

Come on, hit him! Bust him one!

Brant, stop it, Brant.

- Hit him! - Stop it, Brant.

Hit him, honey. Hit him!

Ah!

Charmed.

I don't know how you got my side.

Stay there, friend.

What's your name?

Dr. Monaco.

- Should we operate, doc? - Why not?

[police bells ringing]

Police! Poli...

[police bell ringing]

The wagon.

Boys, beat it. The paddy wagon.

You're still a chump.

It's none of your business.

Anyhow, I haven't decided yet.

Maybe I'll go and maybe I won't.

You'll go but he ain't worth it.

Well, I can't let him stay in jail.

Why not? If a man looked natural in jail on a Sunday morning.

Brant R0y|e's him.

Rose.

You know a lot about men.

My father was one.

What would you do?

You know how I feel about Brant.

I can't help it.

What should I do?

Well, add it up.

He's no good.

He never will be any good, he's broke.

All he wants from you is money.

If you give it to him

he'll throw it away on that fool cigarette machine.

It'll be no good, he'll go away and you'll lose him.

Or it'll be a success, then he'll take up with that snip.

And you'll lose him.

I need another hand.

All them things against him. More, even worse.

And what can you say about him that's good?

Uh, I love him.

Get into your dress.

[man 3] This way.

Thank you, Sonia.

It's alright.

Uh, what about Barton?

Oh!

- Here. - And, uh, and the doctor?

Let's not leave anybody behind.

Here.

- You're a good kid, Sonia. - Sure.

Lovable, that's me.

Just like a sister.

A rich sister.

What's that mean?

It means you get what you want as usual.

I'll do it, you knew I would.

You can have the money for that fool machine.

- You mean-- - I want everything in writing.

And I'll expect my investment to pay plenty.

Oh, Sonia...

Business isn't love, Brant.

I never kiss a partner.

Ma'am.

I consider you a rare gem in the diadem of womanhood.

Charming.

I see the clear light of freedom...

- Shall we partake? - Can we?

Thank you for your hospitality.

Get in, we'll drop you at the hotel.

- What day is it? - Sunday.

You'll feel better in a week or so.

[bell gonging]

- I beg your pardon. - Well, thanks.

For a minute there I thought I might have to walk.

Many thanks for liberating me from durance vile.

In all my odysseys, you shall be remembered.

Let's go.

You, uh, is your name really Monaco?

Christopher Malley. Why?

Back there in jail you said something I like.

I was talking about Royle Cigarettes, you said

they should be "Fit for a king."

I like that. I can use it as a slogan.

What do you know about tobacco?

My particular field of knowledge

is the science of extracting

blood from turnips.

That's all you have to know about tobacco. You want a job?

- Seriously, I need a job. - You've got one.

You can start building that machine. We have the money.

"The Royle Cigarette Company. Fit for a king."

- Ha ha ha. - Mr. Royle, I can't express--

Hurry, hurry, hurry! Come see the Royle Cigarette.

Fit for a king.

[machines whirring]

They found the trouble here.

[machines whirring]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

The first one.

[Barton] Look at it, Brant!

Ah, you've got it!

God!

We made it, Brant!

Wonder of the ages, madam. Try our Royle Cigarette.

Fit for a king or even a princess.

Cures lumps, warts, eliminates hang-nails

and makes trial betting a pleasure.

Hurry, hurry, hurry.

[Monaco] Buy a Royle Cigarette, fit for a king.

[instrumental music]

[triumphant music]

[music continues]

[soft instrumental music]

I know what you're going to say.

Only fast women smoke, but that's not true anymore.

So you needn't start yelling at me.

Everybody's doin' it. So, why shouldn't I?

It's getting to be very fashionable.

Of course, you're so far behind the times

you wouldn't know that.

Alright, go ahead.

Tell me I'm wicked and sinful and lost to mercy.

Just because I occasionally do something you men think

nothing of doing all the time.

James. Ja...

[coins clinking]

"|n God we trust."

Same girl we have on the $10 ones

but she's so much prettier in them 20.

Yeah.

We're even now.

You paid back everything you borrowed.

Anything you get out of your investments now, that is

what you've put in, I mean. From now on it's all profit.

I'm just crazy about profits.

There's something about money that brings out the beast in me.

I love it so much I hate to fold it.

- We're doin' alright. - We're doing fine.

- Here's to us. - Here's to us.

To us.

This, uh, being a celebration, do you suppose I could kiss you?

Not if you have to ask first.

Charming.

[bugle music]

[auctioneer calling]

I got a fifteen-teen-teen... I got a fifteen-teen-teen...

Hold on, hold on, hold on...

Sold to Royle.

It's incredible. Really incredible.

Has never been anything like this, never.

I don't know what they'll say in Savannah.

The board's probably going crazy.

Fifteen cents a pound for tobacco.

And here, nine, nine...

Hold it, can I get a ten, ten, ten.

Hold it, can I get a eleven-ven-ven-ven.

[auctioneer continues calling]

Hold on, hold on. Sold to Royle.

[auctioneer calling]

Hold on. Sold to Royle.

[crowd mumbling]

We're being given over to the hounds and the dogs, sir.

Very careful analysis, sir.

We're being ruined by cigarettes.

The company founded by a charlatan

and the mountebank.

[auctioneer calling]

Now, don't wait for me, it's likely to take a while.

Just do your shopping, my dear.

Be careful, papa.

Brant Royle knows what he's doing.

But the man's mentally incompetent.

This merely proves it.

[auctioneer calling]

Royle is trying to corner tobacco, sir.

He's taking anything at any price.

He's bid me down three times.

[calling continues]

Sold to Royle.

Let's see if Mr. Royle can bid me down.

We're breaking a lot from the Sado plantations.

Select choice, bright leaf and premium dark.

What's the highest price that's been paid today?

Why, uh, it's an all time record, major.

Fifteen cents.

Open the bidding on this lot.

Uh, gentlemen, what are my bid on this?

Twenty-five cents.

I have 25, five, five, five, five, five, five.

Twenty five, five, five, five, five five, five.

Twenty five, five, five, five, five five, five.

Twenty five, five... I have thirty, thirty. thirty...

I have thirty, thirty...

How high are you prepared to go, sir?

You'll know when I stop biddin', major.

I have 35, five, five, five, five.

I have 35, five, five, five, five.

I have 35, five, five, five, five.

Thirty five, five, five, five, five.

Thirty five, five, five, five, five.

You're done? Sold, Singleton.

[crowd cheering]

Brant, those prices you've been paying.

I've never interfered with the business end before.

Don't start now.

Giddy up!

You keep this up, Margaret, one of these days

I'll get discouraged, or I'll get run over.

You saw me coming.

If you was going to drive away, that was the time to do it.

Not after I got here.

How do you know that's what I was up to?

Maybe I wanted to talk to you.

Maybe I just waited until I was sure you'd notice me

and then made out I was going to drive away.

So, you wouldn't be too sure of yourself.

[Brant] If you're trying to confuse me, I think

you ought to know you've succeeded.

Now what?

- Tell Mr. Malley, yes. - "Tell Mr. Malley, yes."

[man 4] Hey, man! Crazy, 40 cents.

Get those mules going. I'm heading home.

40 cents tobacco!

Yahoo!

Go and tell your mamma

I'm coming home to stem the field.

- They'll pay you 40 cents. - Forty cents!

Neither my father nor you can afford

those kind of prices for cigar tobacco.

I don't make cigars, your father does.

Every farmer in a hundred miles from here is home right now

or gettin' there as quick as he can.

Strippin' his fields to get his tobacco bag here

at prices I've been paying before I'm dragged away to...

That shouldn't be long from now.

I'm happy to inform you that by tomorrow

I'll certainly come to my senses

and they'll be giving tobacco away.

All except cigar tobacco, that is.

My father won't like you any better for this.

That worries me.

Tell Mr. Malley to let Major James Singleton buy

all the tobacco he wants at this price.

Uh, at this price?

They say you've become a very dangerous man.

Are you dangerous, Mr. Rowe'?

I get what I want, if that's what you call being dangerous,

then I am.

I don't think you are.

And all the time you've been back

this is only the second time I've seen you.

Both times, almost by accident.

[Brant] Well, you weren't exactly cordial

the last time we met.

No, I wasn't.

I was upset seeing you again.

My father was real upset.

He tried to run me out of town.

Oh, I'm mighty surprised to hear that.

Oh, I reckon, that's why you haven't come calling on me.

You don't want to displease my daddy.

Annoying the major is my hobby. I've been busy.

I haven't got time play footy like some plantation cake eater.

You know how I feel about you.

I've never made a secret of it.

Every time I see you, it gets worse. I...

I have to hold myself in to keep

from telling you how much I...

All I know about you is your daddy hates my guts.

Does what my daddy thinks matter all that much?

Why not ask me what I think?

Excuse me, they're, uh...

They're getting ready to close inside, Brant.

If you want to see a delightful shade of purple

come take a look at Singleton.

No offense, it looks good on him.

In a minute.

There's something else you might've forgotten

we're going shopping this afternoon and, uh...

company's coming.

I haven't forgotten.

Good afternoon, ma'am.

By the way, I've been a little curious--

Uh, excuse me.

That girl, the one I saw you within a carriage

is she a friend of yours?

That's what he was talking about, alright.

- What's her name? - Sonia.

Huh, oh, it's a pretty name. She's pretty, too.

You like the type.

I suppose you do.

Is she what he meant by company?

It's her birthday next Thursday,

I promised to buy her a present.

Thursday? Well, that's ballsy.

I mean, I was gonna say, I just happened

to be at home Thursday evening.

Oh, but I don't suppose--

May I call on you, Ms. Singleton?

I don't want you to disappoint Ms. What's-her-name.

Yes, you do.

8 o'clock.

I'll be looking forward to it.

So Will I.

Now, maybe I'll find out if you're really dangerous.

Brant.

Started again, has it, you and her?

It never stopped.

What does that make me?

Am I supposed to stand around on one foot

waiting for you to make up your mind, am I?

Louder, there's a couple of people in town here

that don't hear so good

I wouldn't want 'em to miss this.

Oh, Brant, Brant, for a smart man, you're such a fool.

What you want doesn't exist. That girl isn't real.

- You've invented her. - She said you were pretty.

If it would make you think I was honest

I'd say she was beautiful.

- She is beautiful. - What am I?

An old hag of 80?

If this is your idea of a pleasant afternoon

for me you're on the wrong track.

Why don't we sell tickets, hmm?

I'm just tryin' to find out what makes her so great.

- She's a lady. - Argh.

No woman who wants something is a lady.

If she is, she doesn't get it.

- I guess you'd know. - Why, you--

Will you be good and let me finish up inside?

And then we'll go out and buy you

the most expensive present in town.

Something with ostrich feathers all over.

Ostrich feathers?

I'm getting tired of this. I won't take much more.

Nobody asked you to.

You're a good girl, Sonia.

But I never made you any promises.

I've always been honest with you, especially about her.

Don't ride me for it now.

[indistinct chatter]

Well, there's, there's one thing about Brant

success hasn't changed him a bit, he's still blind.

Oh, come on. You're much prettier

than all this tobacco around here.

They'll want to auction you off next.

I can hear 'em now.

♪ I got blah-blah-blah-blah N'

Here, may I?

I'll tell you what.

Chris, I don't know what to do.

I'm losing him.

If I ever had him at all, I'm losing him now.

I don't know what to do about it.

I can't say, "Look at me, I'm the one.

I'm what you're looking for."

I guess I'm boring you.

That's alright, I want you to.

Look, what you need is a good laugh.

Alright, say something funny.

I love you.

Oh, you are a fool.

I guess I am.

[instrumental music]

Singleton Company will go on dealing in the finest of tobacco

and not an ounce of it in cigarettes.

[James] I'll see that man running hinges

before I change to his kind of business.

Major Singleton isn't receiving.

I'm not here to see Major Singleton.

- Take these to Ms. Margaret. - Yes, sir.

[instrumental music]

I don't recall inviting you, Royle.

I'm callin' on Ms. Margaret.

You're mistaken, my daughter is not at home to you.

- You're not welcome here. - One moment, Royle.

While you're here, there's something we can discuss.

[Pendleton] The operations of your company

have become troublesome to the tobacco industries.

I believe I can persuade these gentlemen

to form a syndicate with me and buy you out

purely to remove the nuisance.

Quite so, quite so.

That doesn't excite me very much, Pendleton.

But I tell you what I will do for you and the others

I'll buy all three of you.

I have no further wish to see you, Royle.

You'll see me the next time I come here.

Major, why not listen to reason?

[Pendleton] Sooner or later, we have to deal with it.

[James] I will not deal with Royle. That's final.

If we're going to have trouble him, let it start now.

[dramatic music]

Brant.

That was a fine idea you had about me callin' on you.

Your father kept hound dogs

they'd be chewing on me right this minute.

Well, he's upset about the other day, I told you he'd be.

He and his uppity friends are sitting

on the edge of a mighty sharp plank.

And I'm just the boy to run them

right out of the tobacco business.

Tobacco, tobacco, tobacco, that's all I hear.

We might as well get it straight.

If I don't cut your father back, he'll do it to me.

If you do...

If you ever hurt him, I'll make you sorry for it.

My family's been in tobacco for a 100 years.

Nobody's going to change it.

Tobacco, tobacco, tobacco.

[scoffs] You're a Singleton alright.

For a second there, you could have been your daddy himself.

[chuckles] I'll go along.

I'm much prettier than he is.

Almost anybody is.

You know, it's funny, after all this time

you and I could meet like this

and just talk like people should.

Most of my life, I've been backed into a corner.

When we happened to meet, you got tangled in my fight.

You're always fightin' about somethin'.

Now you're rich and powerful

and you can have anything you want.

Anything at all.

[instrumental music]

I, uh...

I didn't mean to carry on like that. I...

I guess I've been too busy to learn parlor manners.

[chuckles]

Isn't this amusing?

All my life I've been hearing about rakes and I never met one.

It appears I'm not going to, not tonight anyway.

You treat me like a lady, the same as the others.

You'd be surprised how sick I am

of being treated like a lady.

I have better things to do with my time, thank you.

Not so fast, let's get something settled right now.

I didn't come callin' on you just to play games.

If all I wanted was to pass the time away

I wouldn't have to come this far from town.

Why did you come so far then?

I thought you knew.

You've always meant something pretty important to me.

That's why all these years I've...

When the time comes,

I'm intending to ask you to...

Well, I... I thought you knew that.

Marriage?

What makes you think I'd marry you?

Is something wrong with me?

Well, you're not exactly a gentleman.

Of course, I don't mind that.

You do dress a little loud.

And you talk like a field hand.

Anything else?

Well, I think mostly what would prevent it

is the kind of friends you have.

I don't approve of your friends.

You mean Sonia.

Tell me something.

Do you apologize to her for kissing her like you did to me?

You do kiss her, don't you? And she kisses you.

And then, you touch her...

very gently or are you rough with her?

Yes, I think you're rough, maybe.

I don't like her.

I won't pretend I do.

If she were gone, I might think about marrying you.

- Margaret-- - Mind now, I don't promise.

Oh, well, we can talk about it again.

After you get rid of her.

She helped me when I needed help.

Oh.

Then don't forget to thank her when you say goodbye.

♪ You had a dream ♪

♪ Well I had one too ♪

♪ I know mine's best because... ♪

The best of birthday parties I was ever at.

Absolutely.

What became of all the gentlemen?

Well, they're inside playing cards.

Show a man a deck of cards, it wouldn't matter

if you had a figure like Venus.

You don't have to worry.

I've had a better figure than yours since the gold rush.

[doorbell ringing]

Evening, Mr. Brant.

You missed the party.

I wouldn't go near Sonia if I were you.

If you were me, I'd kill myself.

[Chris] You know what, Sonia, I feel mighty lucky tonight.

- That's good. - Well, I finally won a hand.

Don't forget the chips have no home.

Fix me another one, will you?

Deal me in blind while I have the place sort a little.

- We lost to him. - You got a long nose, Frank.

You'll look funny without it.

Deal in.

You don't need that, you aren't

going to be here long enough.

I thought I was invited to a birthday party.

I canceled the invitation when you didn't show up.

I'm sorry, I was late, I...

It couldn't be helped.

You're apologizing?

- You? - Yeah.

Me.

I wonder what you've been up to.

[song on gramophone]

You didn't come here just to wish me a happy birthday.

What's on your mind?

Smart, aren't you?

I know you like the palm of my hand.

It's Margaret, isn't it?

Sonia, you got an ace showin', it's been raised.

It's only money, she raises back.

You and Margaret are alike.

You're both greedy, you want something.

For you, it-it's her.

But she wants something else.

Power like her father.

As far as she's concerned, you're just a way of getting it.

Why don't you get a new record, I'm tired of hearing

the same thing over and over again.

Alright, forget it.

No, I don't want to forget it, I told you before.

Don't talk about her.

I said, "Alright", I said, "Forget it." Let it go.

One of these days you'll get so smart, you'll outsmart yourself.

Maybe you have already.

You're looking for a quarrel, aren't you?

Tryin' to work yourself up to tell me something.

I'm going to marry her.

Give me a cigarette.

I don't like to put things off, I want to be honest.

Sure, let's be honest.

I wish I could've told you differently

but things just didn't work out that way.

What are you using for tobacco these days?

Corn silk? This is awful.

We've known each other a long time

since you were a kid in pigtails.

I always liked you.

But there wasn't anymore than that for either of us.

You're not in love with me

it won't break your heart to see the last of me.

Of course not.

Why should I care if you walk out on me?

The only reason I've let you hang around this long is

because you're so much fun.

It's a laugh a minute when you're around.

Just one big joke.

Hey, I never saw you cry before.

You didn't think I knew how, did you?

Well, you've taught me.

- Now, get out of here. - Sonia.

No lies, no excuses, just get out of here

and get yourself married.

And never come near me again.

What happened to that last deal?

You had three aces, but you lost to his straight.

Three aces and I lost, I must be lucky in love.

Deal.

[train whistling]

Take care of yourself.

[indistinct chatter]

Goodbye, dear.

And take care of yourselves.

[indistinct chatter]

He won't be here, you know that.

I know.

Goodbye, Chris, take care of things.

We never fail.

One thing, if it gets you down, why don't you try

Dr. Monaco's miracle medicine?

That'll cure what ails you.

What is Dr. Monac0's miracle medicine?

- Dr. Monaco. - I'll remember.

- All board. - Bye, Chris.

[all] Goodbye.

[intense music]

[music continues]

Hmm.

- Anything wrong, Mr. Royle? - No, I'm satisfied.

He's satisfied.

- Ellery, how much do you make? - How much do I make?

$20 a week, sir.

Then you can afford hard sole shoes

make a little noise goin' and comin', I want to hear you.

I always have that feeling you're about to arrest me.

- Stop creepin'. - Stop creepin', yes.

Not bad.

Not bad?

- You've got a gift for-- - Understatement.

Thank you. Next time I'm stuck for words, I'll send for you.

- Get me the Singleton file. - Yes, sir.

The Singleton file.

You and the architect always wondered why I insisted

on having my office right here.

"Bad light", the architect said.

I want to be able to sit here and see that house.

[Brant] Singleton's p|ace.8

When I was a kid, kickin' along in the dust

I used to promise myself I'd have a place like it someday

and everything that goes with it.

Brant, I've been into the kiln with all the others.

Pendleton, Phillips, Davers, Hawkins,

I played Hatchet man so much

I can go into the routine on cue.

I know all the sob stories

And my strength is as the strength of ten

because my heart's impure.

You want me to go with you?

Not this time. I've waited a long time for this.

I've saved up for it.

This one is mine.

Oh, uh, Brant, about that packaging machine

I've another idea.

- Tell him. - Well, it occurs to me that...

Come on in, Edison, you can sell it to me, I'm weak.

[instrumental music]

Mr. Singleton, sir, there's a gentleman to see you.

Mr. Brant Royle.

[music continues]

Excuse me.

Will you sit down, Royle?

No, thank you, this isn't a social call.

I didn't think it was.

I usually conduct business at my office, however.

So do I.

But I didn't want to embarrass you by sending for you

like some two-by-four shopkeepen

I see that your changing fortune hasn't extended to your manners.

I'd appreciate you stating your business as briefly as possible.

I brought you something, major.

Singleton Company

lock, stock and barrel

everything you've been borrowing money on.

I brought all your paper cheap.

You and friends did everything you could to knock me down.

I've eaten you all alive, one by one.

Now, I'm pretty high on the hog, major.

I've gotten to you.

If I were to call your credit tomorrow, you'd be a ruined man.

If it weren't for Margaret...

As it is I'll let you out.

Call it a wedding present.

Wedding present?

What are you trying to tell me, sir?

We're going to be married, with or without your approval.

That's not true.

Ask her.

Tell him, Margaret, tell him he's a liar.

Don't go gettin' yourself upset, father.

Get out of my house, I'm not for sale.

- You can't buy any part of me. - I'm not tryin'.

I told you before, if it weren't for Margaret--

My daughter don't have to stop you.

If she's willing to marry you, I have no wish to see her again.

Father.

Now, will you leave, Royle?

I may not be a gentleman, major

but I've tried to go easy with you.

I've done my best, Margaret.

- I'll see you to the door. - No, thank you.

- Father, try to understand-- - It's true, isn't it?

You've been seeing him all this time.

You've made some sort of an arrangement about marriage.

We have to face facts, father.

We can't afford pride anymore.

The world's gone mad.

Everything I ever thought of as beautiful

has been swallowed up by that man.

Even you.

Don't say anything you'll be sorry for.

You're tired, upset.

Naturally anybody would be.

Give yourself time to think about it.

He'll wait, he's just fool enough.

What are you suggestin'?

Ask him for a few days.

That'll give us time to make plans.

We can see people.

Maybe we can save somethin'.

If we can't, then it's time enough to consider

what he'll have to do if he wants me to marry him.

I'll go to him myself, if you want me to.

He'll do it for me.

He's done this to you.

He's infected you with his own rot.

What do you expect me to do?

Stand here and watch you lose everything

because you're too proud to admit you're beaten?

Well, what about me?

What am I supposed to do when all this is gone?

You made me a Singleton.

It's all I'm good for.

It's all I know. How to behave like a Singleton.

[dramatic music]

No Singleton ever worked the like of you.

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct whispering]

Now, look.

[whispering]

- Mr. Royle - Major.

I've come to do something I should've done years ago.

What's that, major?

They were my father's, I think you'll find them satisfactory.

- I'll be late for dinner. - Do you mind dropping me off?

- Good evening, Royle. - Good evening.

There are laws against dueling now, major.

I'm prepared to take the risk.

What makes you think I am?

I ask you as a gentleman, will you give me satisfaction?

I wouldn't enjoy killing you, major

and if you were to kill me, why,

I wouldn't enjoy that either.

Do you intent forcing me to question your courage?

Go ahead, question it all you like, it won't change things.

You're a coward.

A dirty yellow bellied coward.

Go home, major. I don't want to hang for killing you.

I intend to see you dead.

I know how much that'd mean to you.

But I don't find the prospect particularly attractive.

No, major. Taking it all in all,

I don't see what I'd gain by it.

In fact, I could lose a great deal.

I won't duel with you.

Tum around, Rowe.

You've come down a long way, haven't you?

Defend yourself or I'll kill you where you stand.

No, you won't.

I might, if I were in your shoes

but you haven't got the kind of courage it takes

to shoot an unarmed man.

You're a gentleman.

You live by a code that doesn't permit such things.

That's all you've got left, your gentleman's code.

[gunshoq

[dramatic music]

Rowe. Rowe.

Leave me alone, I'm alright. Get away.

[dramatic music]

Now there's nothing left.

Let him go.

[music continues]

[music continues]

[gunshoq

[horse neighing]

[music continues]

[intense music]

[Simon] Ms. Margaret! Ms. Margaret!

[somber music]

I know it's a hard thing to consider

but we must be realistic.

The Singleton stock that you've inherited is largely worthless.

The factory was mortgaged and so is the house.

This house?

Singleton house?

Mortgaged?

Of course, it could still be sold.

You'd be bound to clear little from it.

I'll not do that, Mr. Calhoun.

I'm in complete sympathy with your natural reluctance

to face such a prospect, but we must look at the facts.

- Yes, indeed. The fact-- - Mr. Calhoun.

I'll not sell my father's house.

- But there's no way! - I'll find a way.

Brant Royle.

- Where? - In the library.

- It's the most ins-- - Go along, Tabi.

I'll be there right away.

I was born in this house.

My father and his father were born here.

I'll sell anything.

But not Singleton house.

Will you excuse me?

Send him packing.

Just like your daddy would've.

Tell him what we think of him here.

In my day, a dozen men would've considered that an honor

and pleasure to horse with him through the gates.

Tell him, Margaret!

[music continues]

I heard her. I...

I don't blame her, the way she feels.

Maybe I shouldn't have come so soon.

I waited for you.

I wanted you to know what really happened.

I know how people are, these things get exaggerated.

My father is dead.

It was no exaggeration.

I did everything I could to prevent any trouble.

We don't have to talk about it.

My father was a very proud man.

What he did...

What happened was inevitable.

I blame myself for not seeing it from the start.

There isn't anything we could've done differently.

Whatever hatred there was, was in him.

It's over.

We can be honest with each other at last.

Leave me alone.

I'm being honest with you if that's what you want.

Stay away from me now.

Margaret, what makes me show only my worst side to you?

What makes me hurt you when I never want to hurt you?

All I want, all I've ever wanted is you.

All the time I was making a place in the world

it was to show you.

Now you can have it.

It's yours, all of it.

[music continues]

- Brant, I have to see you. - Not now.

But it-it's urgent this time. I-I've been trying to...

[indistinct chatter]

[gavel pounding]

We can begin now, this shouldn't take long.

Gentlemen, there used to be a 100 companies

in this valley dealing in tobacco products.

Today, there's only one, Royle Incorporate.

Mr. Royle is tobacco in this neck of the woods.

Mr. Royle considers you gentlemen

the best in the industry.

He wants you to have the various subsidiary companies

of the corporation and act as member of board of directors.

You'll have a free hand in the company assigned to you

up to a point.

We have no intention of interfering

with your conduct of the business involved.

We expect nothing from you except a substantial profit.

Are there any questions?

Help a Royle Cigarette.

Don't like 'em.

[Chris] Uh, these scores that we've given you

contain the financial details of the particular company

each of you'll operate.

Now, nominations are in order

for the chairman of the board, gentlemen.

I have the pleasure of nominating Mr. Brant Royle.

- Second. - Nominations are closed.

All those in favor of Mr. Royle will kindly say "Aye".

- Aye. - Mr. R0y|e's elected.

I move we adjourn. Second?

All in favor? Gentlemen, we are adjourned.

- Went pretty well. - Why not?

What choice do they have?

Tell Mr. Barton he can come in now

and ask Hillary come in too.

Yes, sir. Today's clippings, Mr. Royle

on the Savannah Market.

[typewriter clacking]

What's Barton so upset about?

He wasn't invited to be on the board of directors. He...

He has few ideas on how to run the company.

That's why he wasn't invited.

I'm getting a little tired of Mr. Barton.

Go easy, Brant.

You wanted to see me?

Yes, Brant.

- I don't like the-- - Sit down.

The European Tobacco Syndicates still hasn't shown any signs

of letting us in, have they?

What are you doing about it?

Beginning next week there'll be a man outside

every tobacco shop in Europe

giving away Royle Cigarettes.

Of course, it'll take quite a bit of money

for about three months, but

after that the market's ours.

Good.

What don't you like?

I don't like the way I'm treated.

|-| don't have anything to say around here.

I don't have anything to do with the adminis--

I see.

Cable my broker in London.

Beginning next Monday

start selling European Tobacco Syndicate

short at a 1000 shares a day until I say stop.

- "Stop." - And take care of this.

- Right away. - "Right away."

In less than five years,

I've made you wealthy and now you complain.

I'm not complaining. It's only...

I happened to know some of the thing you've done.

- I can't say that I approve. - Who asked you to?

I'm merely suggesting.

Downstairs in the factory there's box labeled suggestions

anything you have to say, put it in there.

- Brant. - What?

Never mind.

[Barton] I don't wanna do this.

I've put it all from time to time

but I've had enough, I really have.

- I'm leaving, Brant. - Huh? Where to?

We're going to Detroit, maybe you've read about it.

They started to manufacture horseless carriages.

I think there's money in it.

That's your idea of business, is it?

Automobiles, gadgets for millionaires.

You aren't leaving. Read your contract.

I may tell you to get out but you can't quit.

Unless...

Just how much does going to Detroit mean to you?

What are your terms, Mr. Royle?

What do you want to let me go?

All your stock and your remaining rights

in the cigarette machine. I'll buy you out at the figure.

I see.

You're way ahead of me.

Always have been.

You know, I can't be you, in the first place because I thought

you had more imagination and courage than the others.

I guess I deserve everything you've done to me.

I've learnt a great deal from you, Brant.

If I weren't an honest man, I might be able to use it.

[typewriters clacking]

Find out everything there is to know about automobile.

Get one, I want to see what they look like.

Well, it's piling up.

Everything you've done to get where you are.

A little fund of hatred you've created.

What's the matter with you?

This past few months, I've seen something

in your face and eyes I never saw before.

Greed I thought, arrogance.

Now I know what it is.

Brant...

you're a man with a sickness.

[typewriters clacking]

[train chugging]

[man 5] Kingsmont!

In the car.

- Sonia! - Chris!

Ah, it's so good to see you.

Is that a Paris dress you got on?

- Say, you're getting fat. - What do you mean fat?

Oh, not really, just nice.

Uh, isn't, isn't Brant with you?

Oh, he doesn't know you're back, |-| wanted to see you first.

Tell me, how was Europe?

- Big. - London, Paris, Vienna.

I'll take Kingsmont for excitement.

Oh, you've heard about Singleton.

Yeah. Was Brant badly hurt?

It takes a lot of killing.

Some luggage for a bachelor girl.

It's wonderful being where a town goes crazy about it.

The nicest part about being rich is having so much money.

Say...

Pretty fancy.

Oh, it's nothing.

[engine cranking]

She is here.

Welcome home, Miss Sonia. Good to have you back.

[Chris] Want me to get the bags, sweetie.

[woman 1] No, thanks, we can carry them.

What's this?

- It's nothing. Nothing. - Nothing?

It ain't been the same with you gone.

Oh, I hope not.

Ah, how wonderful.

We hoped you like it, we worked hard on it.

Oh, good. It's beautiful.

Brant did it?

No, I did.

I should've known.

Well, you haven't even...

Oh!

I can't believe it.

Oh, Chris, it's really beautiful.

Think nothing of it, only cost a fortune.

[chuckles]

Everything else may have changed but not you.

You're still the same.

Sorry to hear that.

[chuckles]

Oh, Chris, you thought of everything, even initials.

The years too.

I remembered you often, Chris.

How kind you always were.

Meant a lotto me remembering that.

That makes it easier for me to say something that's on my mind.

I... I had a reason for wanting you see it before Brant did.

Well, I haven't clone so badly for myself, Sonia,

not as well as Brant of course or even you for that matter.

But it's, uh... Two lumps.

Two lumps.

Well, I'm not as young as I used to be

not that I'm old, but...

|-| take cream.

Cream.

Yeah. I've saw just about everything in my time

I've lied, cheated and talked my way in and out

of every good jail in this country.

No matter what happen, I could always talk, I...

I remember once I sold a bottle of hair-restorer

to a sheriff whose wife had just lost all of her hair

using the first bottle I sold her.

But, uh...

I can't seem to sell myself.

Sonia...

you may not believe this but...

I've been trying to ask you to marry me.

Oh, Chris.

We get along together, we like the same things, why not?

I'd be much nicer to you than Brant ever was.

I see. You're rescuing me from the dragon.

I've always liked you, Chris.

Right now more than ever.

But don't worry about me.

I don't believe in dragons anymore.

Alright.

But it wasn't just a rescue act.

I was thinking of myself too, remember that, will you?

It's going to be different now. Brant and me.

I was in Paris when I read about Singleton and--

And you thought that Brant and Margaret would be through.

- Is that right? - Mm-hmm.

Well, I think that--

Chris, you're not leaving? What about your tea?

[sighs] Oh, I hate that darn stuff.

Anyway, I...

I couldn't stand seeing you cry.

Chris, what is it?

Sonia, Brant isn't really bad.

The thing you have to remember about him is that

when he started out he was tough

because he had to be to get anywhere.

Now it's become a habit with him.

He's like a horse with blinders on.

He only sees what's right in front of him.

All he knows is how to puts one foot in front of the other

until he gets where he thinks he's going.

The trouble is he...

he doesn't know where he's going.

You haven't seen the morning paper.

Here.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[wedding march music]

[glass tinkling]

[music from the watch]

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Good afternoon, sir.

Good afternoon, Simon.

The other gentlemen are waiting in the library, Mr. Malley.

- Mr. Royle with them? - He hasn't come down yet.

- Shall I announce you? - Not yet.

I want to talk to Mr. Royle first.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct conversation]

[Brant] I expected certain things!

[Margaret] I'm sick and tired when you talk. I'm tired of you.

If you think I'm going to stand here and let you talk to me

like I was one of your hired help

you're very much mistaken.

[indistinct chatter]

- Have you seen him? - No, not yet.

- Know about attorney general? - I don't think so.

Royle stocks dropped seven points this morning.

I expected it to go even lower.

Half my holdings are gone...

Gentlemen, let's make an effort to be calm, shall we? Sit down.

- Now, Mr. Malley, I-- - Don't you think this--

I cabled Mr. Royle some months ago

when I first heard about the monopoly suit.

We were never informed of it.

I was sure Mr. Royle would want to handle it himself.

I might add that the monopoly suit comes as no surprise to us.

It's a surprise to me, I'm a vice president and I...

It's a surprise to all of us.

You haven't done badly

abiding by our decisions.

Let's assume the future will be

every bit as bright.

Mr. Royle knows we're here,

and why we're here. I'll messenger

him for you.

- Hello, Brant. - Hello.

- Everybody's in the library. - What?

- They're all in the library. - Who is?

Our board of directors. Gentlemen, |-|--

Brant, we've got to do something.

If we don't answer this suit, they'll chop us up

into four or five companies.

NASS did a cartoon of you as an octopus

with every kind of tobacco product in you feelers.

When the word got out, the market went down seven points.

Mr. Royle, when I started working for this company, I--

- Who are you? - Johnson.

Vice president, in charge of lumberjack tobacco.

I appointed him to the board when you were away.

What do you all want?

It's about the monopoly suit.

I sent you all the details, didn't you get the report?

Yes, I got it. I haven't read it yet.

L-I can't make any decisions now. I'm not interested at all.

But we have to make some decision now.

- I said I'm not interested. - Brant?

Get them out of here, get rid of them.

[indistinct chatter]

Gentlemen, I'm sure you understand

Mr. Royle's had a very difficult journey.

In a few days, when he's rested,

we'll have another meeting.

Without me.

Royle is big but he isn't that big.

I'll tell him you said so.

They all resigned.

Get a new set, the woods are full of vice presidents.

I'll try to find some with thicker skins.

- Did you have a nice trip? - Hmm.

Glad to hear it.

Brant, this thing in Washington is serious.

Monopoly's getting to be an ugly word.

We haven't broken any laws.

Some of them are trifle bent.

But that is not what worries me.

Where is the attorney general getting his information?

Have you heard from John Barton lately?

I think it's Barton myself, but we have to be sure.

Let me call in the Pinkertons.

No detectives. When you hire detectives,

you have to tell them what they're looking for and why.

They won't find anything we don't know already.

But they'll know why it's important.

I'll see you at the office.

Brant...

what's the matter?

What makes you think it's any of your business?

Oh, don't shunt me.

If we weren't friends, I'd keep my mouth shut.

But something's eating you.

You've been gone a year, I've been trying to bring you

up to date on the business, you haven't heard

half of what I've said.

You act like a man with something on his mind and...

I've got a pretty good idea what it is.

I've seen marriages before where the wife didn't like the idea--

When I want you pokin' your into my private affairs

I'll send for you.

Alright, forget it.

For a second you looked like a man

who could use a little friendship.

I should've known better.

By the way, I almost forgot...

Welcome home, Brant.

[instrumental music]

- Finished? - Finished.

- That much? - That much, not any less.

If Mr. Royle finds out I did this--

He won't, I'll take the blame for it.

You'll take the blame for it?

Must be the paneling, there seems to be an echo in here.

If that's more about the monopoly suit--

No, no, this is something else.

You're not gonna like this, it's personal.

Yeah. There are your private accounts.

These are the stock market records.

It's all down there.

The amount involved, there's only a fraction of our net worth

but the stock holders can ask

some very embarrassing questions about it.

Don't bother me with this.

And I've been thinkin' you knew about it.

Here. You cabled me from London.

I took in your wife's Singleton company stock in equal paces

with Royle share for share.

I objected your remember.

You cabled that it was all in the family.

There that's the unlimited drawing account

that you placed in Mrs. Royle's disposal.

Take a good look at it.

You'll find some of the items are rather heavy.

According to these reports from the New York Stock Exchange

Mrs. Royle no longer owns any of our shares.

She's been selling steadily for the past seven months.

It isn't in the family anymore.

- What're you drivin' at? - I've added it all up for you.

There it is.

The year you've been married, your wife has dug into

this company for little more than $2 million.

Not exactly a love match.

You can't buy me out at the market price.

I'm getting out, Brant, I've had enough.

First, it was Sonia, then Barton and the others...

It had to be my turn sooner or later.

I'll head our office at New York if you want but...

I'm leaving here.

You're not gettin' out, you're not goin' anywhere.

You'll stay here, just like you always have

only from now on you'll take orders same as the others.

There's no way you can hold me.

You make one move to sell out

and I'll dump so many Royle shares on the market

they'll be buyin' 'em with cigar coupons.

After all the others break in, you'll be easy.

Alright.

I'll hang around for a while just out of curiosity.

I want to find out what happens to you.

I think that might be interesting.

Good evening, Mr. Royle.

Ask Mrs. Royle if she'd be good enough

to see me in the library.

She went out this afternoon.

She left this for you, sir.

Shall we keep dinner waiting?

No, Mrs. R0y|e's going to Ms. Tabi's for Christmas.

- I'll eat alone. - Yes, sir.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

[clattering]

[intense music]

[jingling music from watch]

[banging on the door]

- Ms. Sonia's asleep. - Open this door, let me in.

Go away, Ms. Sonia's asleep.

Ms. Sonia!

[intense music]

Brant, don't! Go away!

Brant!

Shall I call the police, Ms. Sonia?

No.

Mr. Royle is just here to wish me

a merry Christmas

in his own charming way.

Is it alright? Hadn't I better call the police?

No, Queenie, I can handle him.

[Sonia] I've had enough practice.

Come here.

I said come here.

I feel sorry for you.

You're my girl. You always were and always will be.

You haven't forgotten me, don't pretend you have.

Isn't this a little silly?

Sonia, it's-it's Christmas.

You're not getting any presents from me.

I haven't seen you in a long while, I thought--

I know what you thought. Now get out.

I always thought that if there was one person in the world

I could depend on, it was you.

That was a long time ago.

You've never been beaten before, have you?

Now you're beginning to find out how it feels.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I'm talking about you, your marriage

and the life you live in the house

you couldn't wait to own.

You made your bed but it isn't soft and comfortable.

It's a cold bed, isn't it?

I got what I wanted.

I don't need you, I don't need anybody.

That's why you come pounding on my door

in the middle of the night.

Now get out and don't come back.

Next time there'll be a bigger chain on the door.

I didn't expect this, not from you

not after all I've done for you.

What have you ever done for me?

I made you rich.

Go back to your mansion where you can buy anything

except the way I loved you once.

Go back to Margaret. You deserve each other.

Merry Christmas, Sonia.

- Happy New Year. - Thank you.

I didn't know you were still here, Mr. Royle.

- I've been goin' over these. - Over these?

Oh yes, those...those.

You knew about Mrs. Royle too, why didn't you tell me?

Tell you, |-|'m afraid, I was afraid.

Mr. Ma||ey's still here too, he's with a detective.

- Detective? - Detective.

I would've dropped this subject at that point

but your orders were very explicit.

That'll be all. Thanks for coming in.

- Who is this? - Mr. Norman.

He's applying for a position in the company.

- Application blank? - Mr. Royle, I'd like to--

You're a detective, you were hired to find out

where the attorney general is getting his information

about the affairs of the Royle company.

That's your report, read it!

Let it go, Brant.

There's nothing in it that matters.

Then why worry about him reading it?

It's Barton, just as you thought.

Facts and figures, it all came from Barton.

Where did Barton get it?

I bought him out over a year ago.

There's one name that could possibly be on that report

that might explain a great deal.

If it's not there, I don't want you to know

but if it is there, you'll realize how important it is.

What name is that?

- What name'? - Mrs. Margaret Rowe.

[intense music]

Going somewhere?

Savannah. I've been invited to the governor's ball.

I'll only be gone a week.

Only a week this time?

Before that only two weeks at Ms. Tabbi's.

It's nice of you to come home at all.

No quarrels please. I have a headache.

I've had a headache ever since we were married.

She bought this in Paris, on our honeymoon.

[Brant] Very daring, you could see through it.

- Brant! - Tabby doesn't mind.

She knows everything there is to know about us.

Maybe even more than I do, huh,TGbby?

How much do you know?

How much, Tabby!

I mind my own business.

I wonder.

Gee, look at this.

Beautiful!

You wouldn't think anything so beautiful it would be a lie.

How's my old friend Barton these days?

Did you see him in Washington?

I thought you were in on it.

Whose idea was it? Yours or Barton's?

Mine.

I wondered how long it would be before you found out

what I was doing.

First I was nervous.

I thought surely you'd suspect right away.

But you were so sure of yourself, that made it easy.

Never in it your mind that something was wrong.

Until now.

I have lied to myself from the beginning.

After a while that's all there was

you lyin' to me and me lying to myself.

When did it start?

When my father died.

The day he was buried I thought of nothin' else.

How to destroy you

how to make you suffer as he did.

And I have, haven't I?

Now, I want a divorce.

That's one humiliation I won't stand for.

You're not gonna drag me through a divorce court.

What else is there?

You mean you'd forgive me?

You'll be willing to forget all I've done?

Well, if you aren't ridiculous.

Where are all those people who were so afraid of you?

In your factories in Kingsmont.

What would they say if they could see you like this?

Like an old hound dog that comes crawlin' back

after you've kicked it...

scrammin' in the dirt right up to your feet

so you can kick him again.

I've never seen you before the way you really are.

This is what I've been driving myself to get, is it?

I feel like I've been wallowing in filth.

If that's what you wanted, I hope it's made you happy.

Now, get out of here.

I Will.

But you'll never forget me.

With all of your wealth and power

there won't be a day or an hour

that you'll get me out of your mind.

Until the day you die, you'll remember the Singletons.

What they've done to you.

You're insane like your father.

You're out of your mind with pride and arrogance.

[chuckles]

You'd like to believe that, wouldn't you?

You like to comfort yourself

thinkin' that anybody with a nerve dare stand up

to the high and mighty Brant Royle is crazy mad.

I knew exactly what I was doing all this time.

Remember that, Brant.

You know what kept me going?

What made it possible for me to bear you?

I was thinking of this, this moment.

The look on your face.

The way you'd feel when you found out.

I lived for it.

Now it's over.

And I'll forget it.

See if you can.

Dirty, rotten!

[glass shatters]

Don't come back to this valley, never come back!

Take what you've got and get out with it.

[Brant] Goodbye to you Singletons and good riddance!

You wanted Singleton house, you've always wanted it.

Well, it's yours now.

You've paid enough for it.

[indistinct]

[intense music]

[fire crackling]

[music continues]

[woman screaming]

[bell ringing]

Stop! Let it burn!

Stop it! I said let it burn!

I want to see it burn!

[intense music]

[clock chiming]

Maybe you didn't get it straight the first time.

I told you not to come here again.

It's the 20th century, Brant, let's start it right.

With you leaving me...alone.

I came to say goodbye.

You're hurt.

Seems like I always come to you when I'm hurt.

Margaret's left me.

Singleton house burned down last night.

There's nothing left of it.

It meant a lot to me once, it meant everything.

I stood there and watched it burn and...

it meant nothing at all.

Wasn't anything saved?

- Couldn't they-- - I let it burn.

They could've stopped it may be.

I wouldn't let 'em try, I wanted it to burn.

Whatever it was, it's been eatin' in me all these years

seemed to burn out with it.

I'm glad to be rid of it, I came here to tell you that.

Somehow after all this time I've found...

peace, I guess.

I don't have to bull my way through anymore.

I'm leaving Kingsmont, Sonia.

But your business, this monopoly suit?

Malley will take care of it.

The way I set up, the monopoly suit

will just make us all richer.

Royle Incorporated is so big now,

it doesn't even need me.

Anyhow, it's just a way of getting what I thought I wanted.

You've got everything you wanted

everything there was.

And I lost everything worth having.

Including you.

If you're asking me something, Brant, you're late with it.

Years late.

I figured it that way.

Sonia...

I'm sorry.

I don't remember ever sayin' that to anybody

in my life before.

It isn't easy for me to say it, but I owe you that.

I'm sorry.

You fool, you stubborn fool.

Why did it have to take all these years to teach you?

Go ahead, I've got it comin'.

You had something in you once I loved. It's gone now.

I've watched you kill it.

That hungry wildness, it's dead.

Beaten out of you because you wouldn't listen.

You had to do everything the hard way

until there's nothing left of the Brant Royle I loved once.

I helped you get started

but if I had to do it all over again

and you came and asked me for money

I wouldn't give you one red cent.

If we had to do it all over again, I wouldn't ask.

Goodbye, carpetbagger.

If it means anything to you now

the worst mistake I made...

was you.

[melancholic music]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

[watch chiming]

[instrumental music]