Original subtitles

HARRY, HARRY, WE FORGOT TO TURN IN THE KEY.

I WANNA DROP IT IN THE MAILBOX. WAIT.

GIVE IT TO ME.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.

THEY WERE VERY NICE TO US.

[CLICK]

[CLICK CLICK]

[CLANK]

[CLICK CLICK]

FLOORS, PLEASE.

FOUR, PLEASE.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH THIS THING, CY?

JUST OLD, PETE.

LIKE ME.

DID YOU REPORT IT?

I HAVEN'T HAD TIME. MM-HMM.

I BETTER TALK TO THE ENGINEER ABOUT IT.

WORD'S AROUND CURTIS O'KEEFE'S COMING IN.

MEAN ANYTHING, HIS COMING IN?

NOT IF WE CAN HELP IT, CY.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, CY.

IF YOU SAY SO, PETE.

[BUZZER]

COME IN.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TONIGHT, SIR?

[SIGHS]

YOU GOT A GOOD SUITE FOR O'KEEFE?

THE AUDUBON.

TOO DAMN GOOD FOR THAT VULTURE.

BUT HE MIGHT MAKE ME A GOOD OFFER.

YES, HE MIGHT.

WELL?

HOW WOULD IT LOOK TO YOU--

THEO'KEEFE ST. GREGORY?

HMMMM.

THE O'KEEFE ST. GREGORY.

THERE'S ANOTHER WAY OUT OF THIS, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S WORSE THAN O'KEEFE--

JOE LASWELL'S UNION TELLING ME HOW TO RUN MY HOTEL.

NO WE'D RUN THE HOUSE, THAT'S NOT THE BUSINESS OF THE UNION.

AND I'M AN OLD-FASHIONED INNKEEPER.

I TAKE CARE OF MY EMPLOYEES.

THEY TAKE CARE OF MY GUESTS.

THAT'S THE WAY I WANT IT TO BE.

I DON'T WANT IT TO CHANGE.

THERE WOULDN'T BE THAT MUCH CHANGE IN THE OPERATION.

WELL, MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT.

BUT I WON'T TALK TO LASWELL. I HATE HIM.

HE TRIED TO CRACK ME TOO MANY TIMES.

LISTEN, I'LL TALK TO HIM.

I CAN CALL WASHINGTON TONIGHT

AND ARRANGE A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH LASWELL

FOR TOMORROW MORNING. NOW, HOW'S THAT?

THAT DAMN SKYSCRAPER.

PRETTY SOON I WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE THE SHIPS

COME UP THE RIVER ANYMORE.

MR. TRENT.

HMM?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

OKAY, ALRIGHT. TALK TO HIM.

OKAY.

GOODNIGHT, PETE.

GOODNIGHT, MR. TRENT.

14 FLIGHTS. I DON'T THINK I--

WE WALK.

GOD, WHAT A STUPID THING WE'VE DONE.

IT WASN'T STUPID AT ALL.

IT WAS THE ONLY SENSIBLE THING TO DO.

YES, MADAME. I'LL SEND A BOY UP RIGHT AWAY.

THAT'S RIGHT, YES. RIGHT AWAY.

[DING]

ISN'T THIS THE WRONG FLOOR?

HONEY, WE ALWAYS GET OFF AT THE WRONG FLOOR.

HI. YOU BOYS WAITING FOR US?

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. COME IN, COME IN.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I'M TRYING TO CALL THE POLICE.

ARE YOU INSANE?

I WILL BE IF I DON'T.

WAIT, WILL YOU DO AS I ASK AND WAIT?

WE'VE GOT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS.

JEFFREY, GIVE ME THE PHONE.

WILL YOU PLEASE GIVE ME THE PHONE?

OPERATOR.

ROOM SERVICE, PLEASE.

♪ THIS DAY AND AGE WE'RE LIVING IN ♪

♪ GIVES CAUSE FOR APPREHENSION ♪

♪ LIKE SPEED AND NEW INVENTION ♪

♪ AND THINGS LIKE THIRD DIMENSION ♪

♪ BUT I GET A TRIFLE WEARY... ♪

MR. McDERMOTT, THE O'KEEFE PARTY'S JUST ARRIVING.

OKAY, TIM, I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

♪ SO WE MUST GET OUT AND LIVE A BIT ♪

♪ RELAX, RELIEVE THE TENSION ♪

♪ NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME... ♪

MR. O'KEEFE.

PETER McDERMOTT, GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HOUSE.

WELL, I WAS EXPECTING WARREN.

HE'LL PAY HIS RESPECTS IN THE MORNING, IF THAT'S ALRIGHT.

MADAME ROCHEFORS.

MR...

McDERMOTT.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

MERCI, MONSIEUR.

MY SECRETARY ELLIOT.

HOW DO YOU DO? HOW DO YOU DO?

MAY I SHOW YOU YOUR SUITE, SIR? MADAME?

♪ A SIGH IS JUST A SIGH

♪ THE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS...

AUDUBON SUITE.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

OH?

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

SPEAK ENGLISH, McDERMOTT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND FRENCH.

I SAID MR. McDERMOTT

WAS YOUNG TO HOLD SUCH AN IMPORTANT JOB.

AND WHAT DID MR. McDERMOTT SAY?

THAT I WAS LUCKY, MR. O'KEEFE.

SLOW ELEVATOR. AN ANTIQUE.

VERY ANTIQUE, SIR.

THIS WAY, SIR.

THIS PLACE HASN'T CHANGED IN 30 YEARS.

DID I HEAR MUSIC FROM THE DELTA QUEEN?

YES, MADAME.

LE JAZZ HOT.

THANK YOU.

TELEPHONE MESSAGE AND TELEGRAMS ON THE DESK, SIR.

MR. O'KEEFE, THE SOUTH WING.

MADAME IS STRAIGHT THROUGH.

THE TAN BAGS ARE MINE.

OH, YES. MR. ELLIOT IS 1003.

IS THIS SUITABLE, MADAME?

HMM?

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

IS IT A GOOD CITY?

IT'S A WONDERFUL CITY, MADAME.

WHAT IS THE WATER?

BIG MUDDY.

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

AND THE BRIDGE...

WHERE DOES IT GO?

IT CROSSES OVER TO ALGIERS.

AND THAT'S THE NEW TRADEMARK BUILDING.

AND OVER HERE IS THE OLD FRENCH QUARTER.

YOU MIGHT FIND THAT AMUSING.

IF I'M HERE LONG ENOUGH, I WILL TRY TO SEE IT.

JUST STOPPING OVER TO BUY THE ST. GREGORY, MADAME?

CAN IT BE BOUGHT?

I DOUBT IT, MADAME.

McDERMOTT...

EXCUSE ME. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?

NO, THANK YOU.

GOODNIGHT, MADAME.

NIGHT.

MAY I HELP YOU UNPACK, MADAME?

IF YOU'RE FINISHED, I THINK THAT'LL BE ALL.

ALRIGHT, GOODNIGHT. GOODNIGHT.

GET MORGAN UP HERE.

OPERATOR.

MR. LAWRENCE MORGAN'S ROOM, PLEASE.

MR. MORGAN'S ROOM IS 402.

SHALL I RING? THANK YOU.

YES, YOUR GRACE.

I UNDERSTAND, YOUR GRACE.

THANK YOU, YOUR GRACE.

I CAN'T FIND DUPERE.

SEE IF YOU CAN FIND ART OR SAM.

PETE, THE DUCHESS IS RAISING HELL.

SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH ROOM SERVICE,

AND WE'RE GETTING COMPLAINTS ABOUT A PARTY AT 1216.

SEND DUPERE UP THERE.

WE CAN'T FIND HIM. YOU WHAT?

WE CAN'T FIND HIM.

ALRIGHT, I'LL SEE TO IT.

HERBIE, CHECK OUT A COMPLAINT IN 1216.

WELL, THAT'S THE HOUSEMAN'S JOB, PETE.

I'M PRETTY BUSY HERE.

YOU'RE NOT TOO BUSY. NOW CHECK IT OUT.

OKAY.

1216, PLEASE.

[LOUD MUSIC PLAYING] [TELEPHONE RINGS]

YEAH.

HELLO?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

HELLO?

14 PLEASE, JACK.

HELLO, MR. DIXON?

LOOK, YOU GOT TO COOL IT UP THERE.

I ACCOMMODATED YOU.

YOU GOT TO ACCOMMODATE ME.

YEAH, SURE, HERBIE.

YEAH.

ALRIGHT, I'LL COOL IT.

OKAY.

SOMEBODY TURN THE RADIO DOWN OUT THERE.

I COULD SWEAR SHE BUMPED MY ARM, MR. McDERMOTT.

I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SERVE THE SAUCE AND SHE TIPPED MY ARM.

I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. I SWEAR I DIDN'T.

YOU NEVER GET COMPLAINTS--

I KNOW. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, SAUL.

TELL SERVICE I SAID TO TAKE YOU OFF THE 14th FLOOR.

THANK YOU, SIR.

[BUZZER]

YES?

GOOD EVENING. MAY I SEE HER GRACE?

I'M HER SECRETARY. WHAT IS IT YOU WANT?

[WOMAN] LET HIM COME IN.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, YOUR GRACE. GOOD EVENING, SIR.

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH OUR SERVICE.

WELL, NOT TROUBLE, REALLY.

YOU SEE, MY HUSBAND'S HAD A VERY TIRING DAY

AT THE TRADE COUNCIL MEETING,

AND WE WANTED TO SPEND A QUIET EVENING

IN OUR SUITE.

AND THE WAITER SPILLED SOME FOOD ON HIS JACKET.

SUCH A CLUMSY THING TO DO, REALLY.

I'M TERRIBLY SORRY. I'LL LET THE WAITER GO.

THE HOTEL WILL PAY FOR DAMAGES.

OH, I WOULDN'T WANT YOU TO LET THE WAITER GO.

WE DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE QUITE THAT MUCH OF IT.

THAT'S VERY KIND. MAY I HAVE THE JACKET? I'LL SEE THAT IT'S CLEANED.

WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN, YOUR GRACE.

GOODNIGHT, SIR.

THANK YOU.

GRANT US, IF IT BE THY WILL,

SUCCESS IN WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO.

WE ASK THY BLESSING AND SUPPORT

IN ACQUIRING THIS HOTEL

NAMED AFTER THY OWN ST. GREGORY.

MOREOVER, IF IT BE THY WILL,

WE PLEAD THAT IT BE DONE EXPEDITIOUSLY

AND WITH ECONOMY.

SUCH TREASURES AS WE, THY SERVANTS, POSSESS

NOT BEING DEPLETED UNDULY,

BUT ADDED AND HUSBANDED TO THY FURTHER USE.

WE INVOKE THY BLESSING ALSO, O GOD,

ON THOSE WHO'LL NEGOTIATE AGAINST US,

ASKING THAT THEY'LL BE GOVERNED

SOLELY ACCORDING TO THY SPIRIT

AND THOU SHALT CAUSE THEM TO BE REASONABLE

AND USE DISCRETION IN ALL THAT THEY SHALL DO TOWARD US.

AMEN.

NOW, HOW MUCH AM I GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS HOTEL?

I WON'T SUGGEST A PRICE, MR. O'KEEFE.

THAT'S FOR YOU TO DECIDE.

BUT MAY I?

BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION

THE $2 MILLION MORTGAGE COMING DUE

IS GONNA MAKE THE BARGAINING EASIER.

NO CHANGE IN THAT?

NO. TRENT CAN'T RAISE THE MONEY.

HE'S HAD AN OFFER FROM A REAL ESTATE COMPANY OFFERING TO GET HIM OUT

FOR 500,000 PLUS SOME STOCK IN THE CORPORATION.

THEY WANT TO TEAR DOWN THE HOTEL AND PUT UP AN OFFICE BUILDING.

THEY'LL TEAR DOWN THE ST. GREGORY OVER TRENT'S DEAD BODY.

NOT UNTIL.

THEN THERE'S NOT MUCH STOPPING YOU, MR. O'KEEFE.

I'VE ARRANGED A CONTACT WITH AN AUDITING FIRM

THAT'S HANDLED THE HOTEL'S BUSINESS

FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.

WHAT DID IT COST US?

$2,000. DO YOU DRINK SCOTCH?

I DON'T DRINK. I FORGOT.

WAS IT WORTH IT? YES, SIR.

McDERMOTT'S INCREASED THE NET INCOME OF THE HOTEL

BY ALMOST 30% IN THE LAST 4 YEARS.

WHILE IT'S NOT ENOUGH, STILL IT SHOWS WHAT COULD BE DONE

UNDER THE O'KEEFE MANAGEMENT.

McDERMOTT STRUCK ME AS BEING AN AFFABLE MAN,

BUT NOT MUCH ELSE.

YOU SURE THIS INCREASE IS HIS WORK?

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

IT COINCIDES WITH HIS TAKING OVER AS GENERAL MANAGER

WHEN TRENT HAD THE STROKE FOUR YEARS AGO.

WHAT'S HIS BACKGROUND?

ACCORDING TO THE HOTEL'S CHIEF BELL CAPTAIN,

MAN NAMED HERBERT CHANDLER,

McDERMOTT CAME IN HERE AS A BELLHOP 15 YEARS AGO.

TRENT TOOK A LIKING TO HIM AND PUT HIM ON THE FRONT DESK.

HE SENT HIM TO THE SCHOOL OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT

AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY.

WHEN HE CAME BACK, TRENT USED HIM AS ASSISTANT MANAGER.

HE'S BEEN VERY CLEVER ABOUT GETTING CONVENTION BUSINESS

AND FILLING THE BALLROOMS AND BANQUET ROOMS

WITH PRIVATE PARTIES.

YOU'LL HAVE TO GIVE A LOT OF THOUGHT TO McDERMOTT.

WHY?

HE'S A HARD-CASE BUSINESSMAN

AND HE HAS A LOT OF INFLUENCE WITH TRENT.

WHEN YOU START TO BARGAIN,

IN MY OPINION,

IT'LL BE McDERMOTT THAT YOU'LL BUTT HEADS WITH,

NOT TRENT.

WHAT'S HIS SALARY?

400 A WEEK.

WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT MR. McDERMOTT WILL BUTT VERY HARD.

NO, NOT VERY HARD AT ALL.

[PLAYING DIXIELAND JAZZ]

SHOW TIME!

SHOW TIME ON THE INSIDE, SIR.

NO COVER, NO MINIMUM...

SHOW TIME ON THE INSIDE...

HI.

HEY THERE.

HI, MIKE.

DUPERE.

LISTEN, PAL, WE GOT A FULL HOUSE, AND THAT MEANS TROUBLE.

JUST BE HERE WHEN YOU'RE NEEDED, ALRIGHT?

I WAS OVER AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS,

REPORTING ON A STOLEN SUITCASE.

HOW MUCH YOU WIN IN THE POKER GAME?

IF THAT'S HOW YOU FEEL, MAYBE YOU'LL DO SOME CHECKING.

MAYBE I WILL.

I'M SORRY.

I'LL STICK ON THE JOB.

OKAY.

CAN I HAVE 1415, PLEASE?

CLERK, PLEASE. 1415.

PLEASE.

EXCUSE ME, SIR.

1415, THAT'S THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE, SIR.

WHAT? THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE.

OH. I ASKED FOR 1451. THAT'S NOT MINE.

OH, EXCUSE ME.

HERE YOU GO.

THAT'S QUITE ALRIGHT. NO HARM DONE.

[RING]

[RING]

[RING]

[RING]

HELLO?

YES, PUT THEM THROUGH.

JEFF!

JEFFREY, IT'S LONDON.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO THEM.

BUT YOU MUST. IT'S THE FOREIGN OFFICE.

TELL THEM I'M NOT HERE.

TELL THEM I'M DRUNK.

TELL THEM ANYTHING.

NO, DAVID, IT'S CAROLINE.

JEFF...

JEFF, THE POST TO WASHINGTON'S

NARROWED DOWN TO YOU AND JOHN ELLSBETH.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT THAT MEANS, CAN'T YOU?

THERE'LL BE RESISTANCE TO ELLSBETH IN WASHINGTON.

IT'S YOURS, JEFF.

THE POST IS YOURS.

YOU MUST REALIZE WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOOLISH NOW.

I DETEST YOU.

HI, NICK. HELLO, PETE.

LISTEN, NICK, NUMBER THREE ELEVATOR'S ACTING UP.

WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE SNAPPERS.

RELAYS ARE SLOW, PETE.

THAT'S ALL, I RECKON.

I'LL TIGHTEN IT UP TONIGHT WHEN WE DON'T NEED HER.

[RADIO PLAYING SOFT MUSIC]

WERE YOU ASLEEP?

NO.

DON'T GET TOO BORED, BABY.

WE'LL HAVE THIS WRAPPED UP IN 24 HOURS.

CURTIS...

HMM.

WHY DO YOU WANT THIS HOTEL?

BUYING HOTELS IS MY BUSINESS.

THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT.

IS IT?

THE EXCITEMENT IN YOU.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST BUSINESS.

MM-HMM.

YUP.

TELL ME.

MM-MMM.

YOU MIGHT THINK ME PETTY OR VINDICTIVE.

I WOULDN'T WANT THAT.

I'VE ALREADY DECIDED WHAT I THINK OF YOU, CURTIS.

I CAN'T EVER TAKE YOU FOR GRANTED, CAN I?

ALRIGHT.

A LONG TIME AGO,

I SAT DOWNSTAIRS,

WAITING FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH WARREN TRENT

FOR A JOB AS SUB-CLERK ON THE FRONT DESK.

SUB-CLERK.

I USED MY SAVINGS TO GET TO NEW ORLEANS

FOR THAT INTERVIEW.

I WAS NIGHT CLERK AND PORTER

AT A SMALL HOTEL ABOUT 100 MILES UPRIVER FROM HERE.

THE ST. GREGORY WAS THE GREAT HOTEL

OF THE SOUTH IN THOSE DAYS.

I WAITED... AND WAITED.

FOUR HOURS.

FINALLY, TRENT CAME OUT TO TAKE A LOOK AT ME.

"YOU WON'T DO," HE SAID.

"SORRY."

THAT'S REALLY ABOUT ALL THERE IS TO IT...

EXCEPT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY

TO GET BACK TO MY JOB.

I WAS SO SURE HE'D HIRE ME.

I WALKED 100 MILES.

DOES HE REMEMBER THIS?

NO.

NO.

BUT YOU'LL REMIND HIM WHEN THE HOTEL IS YOURS.

MM-HMM. YEAH. IT'S SORT OF LIKE COMING FULL CIRCLE.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT, TOO.

I WANT TO SAVE THE HOTEL.

HOW SENTIMENTAL OF YOU.

HMM.

WELL, I'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE CALLS TO MAKE,

BUT I WON'T BE LONG.

WILL YOU BE AWAKE?

OF COURSE.

FEATURE "CONVENTIONS ACCOMMODATED" MORE STRONGLY.

YOU KNOW, CENTER IT UP, MAKE IT BOLDER.

ALRIGHT.

OH, AND HERE'S THE AD WE'RE GETTING OFF

TO THEVISTA TRAVEL MAGAZINE.

WHAT ABOUT THE 85th BIRTHDAY OF THE HOTEL?

ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE US A WRITE UP?

WITH PICTURES.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

MR. O'KEEFE'S TRAVELING COMPANION.

THE ONLY WAY TO TRAVEL.

EXCUSE ME, MR. MASON.

THERE'S A CALL FOR YOU IN MY OFFICE.

OKAY. I'LL GET IT.

BONJOUR, MADAME.

BONJOUR, MONSIEUR McDERMOTT.

YOU HAVE FISH.

HOW PLEASANT.

DID YOU FIND THE BEAUTY SALON SATISFACTORY, MADAME?

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION?

CHARMING.

THEN IT WAS SATISFACTORY.

[BUZZER]

COME IN, PETE.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

[RING]

WASHINGTON.

[RING]

[RING]

YEAH, THANK YOU, DEE.

HOW YOU FEEL?

LIKE A MAN TRYING TO HOLD UP HIS BRITCHES WITH ONE HAND

AND CLIMB A TREE WITH THE OTHER.

HELLO?

MR. LASWELL?

YES.

I'M HERE WITH WARREN TRENT.

MY STOPWATCH IS RUNNING.

YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES.

YOU DON'T HAVE A STOPWATCH, AND I DON'T NEED THREE MINUTES.

I'M SPEAKING FOR MR. TRENT. WE'D LIKE TO MAKE A DEAL, SIR.

I MAKE DEALS. OTHERS ACCEPT THEM.

IF YOUR TIME'S SO ALL-FIRED IMPORTANT,

DON'T WASTE IT SPLITTING HAIRS, MR. LASWELL.

GO ON.

ALRIGHT, YOU'VE BEEN WAITING TO GET A FOOT

IN THE HOTEL BUSINESS DOWN HERE FOR 20 YEARS.

NOW'S YOUR CHANCE.

WHAT'S THE PRICE?

2 MILLION, SECURED FIRST MORTGAGE.

YOU GET A UNION SHOP

AND WRITE YOUR OWN CONTRACT.

WHEN DO YOU NEED IT?

LIKE YESTERDAY.

HOW MUCH MONEY IS YOUR HOTEL LOSING?

PLENTY, BUT NOT SO MUCH THAT CAN'T BE CHANGED.

MATTER OF FACT, IT IS CHANGING.

PROVE IT.

THE BOOKS WILL PROVE IT.

YOU SHOULD KNOW CURTIS O'KEEFE IS IN THE HOTEL.

HE'S HERE TO MAKE AN OFFER.

O'KEEFE DOESN'T BUY A PIG IN A POKE.

MAYBE TRENT WILL BE SMART TO UNLOAD.

IF HE DOES, YOU WON'T GET THIS CHANCE FROM O'KEEFE.

OKAY, McDERMOTT.

I'LL FLY TWO OF MY FINANCIAL PEOPLE DOWN THIS AFTERNOON.

THEY'LL TAKE YOUR BOOKS APART.

AND I MEAN APART.

DON'T FIGURE TO HIDE ANYTHING.

I WANT IT ALL.

YOU'LL GET IT.

IF IT'S GO,

I'LL PICK UP YOUR NOTE FOR THREE YEARS.

I WANT A THREE-YEAR SHOP CONTRACT.

FIVE YEARS ON THE NOTE. THREE YEARS.

WE CAN TALK RENEWAL WHEN THE TIME COMES.

FIVE YEARS. DON'T TRY TO HANG US UP, MR. LASWELL.

ALRIGHT, BUT ONE THING.

WE WON'T NEED AN EMPLOYEE VOTE.

TRENT'S SIGNATURE ON THE CONTRACT WILL BE ENOUGH.

MY PEOPLE VOTE!

YOU HEAR? THEY VOTE!

YOU MEAN, YOU'RE ASKING ME TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY

TO SET THIS UP WITHOUT ANY KIND OF A GUARANTEE FOR A SHOP CONTRACT?

I TELL YOU, MY PEOPLE VOTE.

I'M PRETTY SURE OUR PEOPLE WILL GO ALONG WITH THIS.

IF THEY DON'T, MR. TRENT LOSES HIS HOTEL.

I THINK IF HE'S WILLING TO TAKE THAT CHANCE,

YOU SHOULD BE WILLING TO GAMBLE ON YOUR END OF IT.

WE'LL DO BUSINESS.

[RING]

HELLO.

SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO TALK

TO HIS LORDSHIP ABOUT HIS CAR.

ABOUT HIS CAR?

PUT THEM THROUGH.

THIS IS THE DUCHESS OF LANBOURNE.

WHO ARE YOU, AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT OUR CAR?

IF HIS LORDSHIP COULD MEET ME OUTSIDE THE HOTEL,

WE'D BE FREER TO TALK THINGS OVER.

IF THIS IS SOME SILLY PRANK...

YOU KNOW THIS IS NO PRANK.

YOU AND THE DUKE HAVE ALREADY MADE ONE BAD MISTAKE. NOW DON'T MAKE ANOTHER.

WHERE WILL YOU BE? AND HOW WILL WE KNOW YOU?

I'LL KNOW YOU, MA'AM.

I'LL BE ON A STREET IN THE QUARTER CALLED THIEVES' MARKET.

HOW VERY APPROPRIATE.

I THOUGHT YOU'D APPRECIATE THE HUMOR, MA'AM.

AND, OF COURSE, THIS FOUNTAIN HERE IS RESTFUL AND CHARMING,

BUT A CIRCULAR MAGAZINE, TOBACCO, BOOK, AND GIFT SHOP

WOULD BE MUCH MORE PRACTICAL.

AND THESE COMFORTABLE CHAIRS--

OH, I'D GET RID OF THEM.

IF THE GUESTS WANT TO SIT DOWN,

LET THEM SIT IN THE BAR OR COFFEE SHOP

WHERE THEY'LL SPEND SOME MONEY.

AND WHAT ABOUT SHOPS?

ALL THAT IS INCOME SPACE.

AND THERE'S ROOM THERE FOR MEN'S FURNISHINGS,

LADIES' WEAR, DRUGSTORE, TRAVEL AGENCY.

ELLIOT, CAN'T YOU FIND SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOURSELF?

YES, SIR.

IF I'M NOT TAKING YOU AWAY FROM YOUR WORK TOO LONG...

NO, NO, SIR.

IT'S TIME TO GO.

HA HA HA!

HA HA HA!

WELL, I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

WHAT, SIR? THE TWENTIETH CENTURY?

YOU KNOW, MOST OF THIS HOTEL BELONGS IN A MUSEUM SOMEWHERE.

IT'S ANOTHER ERA.

TOO BAD.

I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU HOW WOULD YOU FEEL

ABOUT MANAGING THE O'KEEFE ST. GREGORY?

WHEN EXACTLY DOES IT BECOME

THE O'KEEFE ST. GREGORY, SIR?

I'M PREPARING AN OFFER,

AND IF IT'S ACCEPTABLE,

I'LL KEEP YOU ON AUTOMATICALLY

AT $700 A WEEK.

THAT'S AN AWFULLY GENEROUS OFFER, SIR.

I'M AWARE OF THE FACT

I'LL BE GOING AGAINST ANOTHER BID

FROM THAT REAL ESTATE OUTFIT.

I'M ALSO AWARE OF THE FACT

THAT WARREN RELIES ON YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE.

YOU WANT ME TO SUPPORT YOUR OFFER, IS THAT IT, MR. O'KEEFE?

YOU'VE PUT 15 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE IN THIS HOTEL.

NOW, IF THEY PULL IT DOWN, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE YOU, PETER?

WELL, I KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU, PETER.

LIKE ME, YOU STARTED IN CARRYING SUITCASES AND TAKING TIPS.

AND LIKE ME, YOU BROKE THROUGH.

I NEED MEN LIKE YOU.

YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT CAREER WITH THE O'KEEFE CHAIN.

I MEAN IT.

PARDON ME, MR. McDERMOTT.

BUT IT'S TIME FOR THE STAFF MEETING.

THANK YOU. I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

IF I CAN GET A QUICK ANSWER FROM TRENT,

I'LL HAVE MY ATTORNEYS DRAW YOU UP A CONTRACT AND WE'LL PROCEED FROM THERE.

I THINK I CAN PROMISE YOU A QUICK ANSWER.

GOOD MAN, PETER.

EXCUSE ME.

HE DIDN'T BAT AN EYE. I WARNED YOU ABOUT HIM.

THERE'S ANOTHER DEAL FOR THE HOTEL.

AND IT'S NOT THE REAL ESTATE OUTFIT.

WHAT DO YOU BASE THAT ON?

THE NOSE. I SMELL IT.

NOW, WHOSE IS IT? WHERE DOES IT COME FROM-- HILTON, SHERATON, COMBINE?

I WANT TO KNOW.

YOU CAN'T HIDE A MILLION-DOLLAR DEAL LIKE A 10-CENT POKER GAME.

FIND IT, LARRY, AND FIND IT FAST.

I'LL DO MY BEST.

I'LL PRAY FOR YOU, LARRY.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

[DIXIELAND JAZZ PLAYS]

THANK YOU.

FOLLOW ME, MADAME.

[LAUGHING]

WHO ARE YOU?

YOU'VE SEEN ME AROUND THE HOTEL.

I'M ONE OF THE HOUSE DETECTIVES.

I GOT LOTS OF FRIENDS.

HAVE YOU REALLY? YEAH.

I GOT ONE IN A PLACE ACROSS THE RIVER

YOUR HUSBAND'S BEEN VISITING QUITE OFTEN,

UNDER QUIET.

I WAS TALKING TO MY FRIEND LAST NIGHT.

YOUR HUSBAND WAS THERE, YOU MIGHT SAY STONED, SMASHED.

YES, YES, I UNDERSTAND.

YOU CAME OVER THERE IN A CAB TO GET HIM.

BUT HE INSISTED ON TAKING HIS JAG BACK TO THE HOTEL.

WELL?

WELL, THEN I HEARD ABOUT THE HIT AND RUN

AT THE END OF THE BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THE RIVER.

AN EYEWITNESS REPORT SAID THE CAR WAS SOME KIND OF FOREIGN CAR.

WELL, I'M A CURIOUS FELLA.

I'M WAITING.

YEAH. I TOOK A LOOK AT YOUR CAR.

OH.

THERE'S A BROKEN HEADLIGHT.

THE CHROMIUM RING AROUND THE HEADLIGHT

WAS FOUND ON THE ROAD.

IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEY'LL KNOW IT'S FROM A JAGUAR.

NOW, IF YOU'RE THINKING OF GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED, DON'T.

EVERY GARAGE IN THE STATE WILL BE ALERTED

TO WATCH FOR A DAMAGED JAG.

YOU KNOW, MA'AM,

YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN DRIVING THAT CAR.

I DON'T DRIVE.

WELL, THAT'S TOO BAD.

'CAUSE I'D LIKE TO HELP YOU OUT.

HOW VERY GENEROUS OF YOU.

WELL, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE THE GENEROUS ONE.

SAY $10,000.

AND IN WHAT WAY COULD YOU HELP ME?

BY KEEPING WHAT I KNOW TO MYSELF.

IF THE CAR CANNOT BE REPAIRED

AND IS DISCOVERED,

IT WILL BE REPORTED, WON'T IT?

YOU KNOW, AS A BLACKMAILER,

YOU'RE NOT VERY GOOD AT YOUR JOB.

YOU THOUGHT I'D BE PANICKED

AND HAND THE MONEY OVER TO YOU WITHOUT THINKING.

NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

NO, I WON'T PAY YOU $10,000.

I'LL GIVE YOU 25.

IF YOU EARN IT.

IF YOU DRIVE OUR CAR AWAY FROM THIS AREA,

I'LL GIVE YOU $10,000 WHEN YOU LEAVE,

AND $15,000 WHEN YOU MEET US WITH THE CAR IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WITH THAT BUSTED HEADLIGHT, I'D BE PICKED UP BEFORE I GOT OUT OF THE CITY.

I EXPECT A SMART MAN LIKE YOU CAN SOLVE THAT PROBLEM

FOR $25,000.

WHAT DOES A SMART MAN LIKE ME CALL A DUCHESS?

WHAT DO YOU CALL ANY WOMAN?

I'LL THINK OF SOMETHING.

BRILLIANT DINNER, WARREN.

YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW

THAT THIS SAME MEAL IS AVAILABLE

IN MY MAIN DINING ROOM TONIGHT.

YES?

MOST OF THE BIG HOUSES

HAVE HAD TO STANDARDIZE THEIR MENUS

TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TASTE.

WHEN SOMEBODY WANTS A REAL DINNER,

THIS IS STILL THE PLACE TO COME IN NEW ORLEANS.

YES, BUT I NOTICED

YOUR DINING ROOM WAS EMPTY TONIGHT.

A BIG CONVENTION CLEARED OUT TODAY.

BESIDES, THIS IS THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.

THE HOTEL BUSINESS HAS CHANGED

SINCE THE TRENT FAMILY BUILT THE ST. GREGORY.

BRANDY, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

IF YOU DON'T THINK SO,

COMPARE MY BALANCE SHEETS TO YOURS.

I HAVEN'T SPENT MY LIFE MAINTAINING MY KIND OF ESTABLISHMENT

TO TURN IT INTO A CHEAP-RUN JOINT NOW.

YOU CAN CALL IT CHEAP-RUN IF YOU LIKE,

BUT WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS TODAY

IS AN EFFICIENT ECONOMIC PACKAGE.

HMM.

OLD-STYLE HOSPITALITY DOESN'T COUNT ANYMORE.

A FEW OF THE SMALLER HOUSES

MIGHT HANG ONTO THAT,

BUT A BIG HOUSE LIKE YOURS HAS TO COMPETE.

AND YOU CAN'T COMPETE

UNLESS YOU THINK LIKE I DO.

I'LL CONTINUE TO THINK FOR MYSELF FOR A WHILE.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

PLENTY OF PEOPLE TRAVEL FIRST-CLASS.

FIRST-CLASS IS DEAD, WARREN. FINISHED.

FIRST-CLASS MEANS TRAVELING FOR THE PLEASURE OF TRAVELING.

THE JET PLANE KILLED ALL THAT.

THE GREAT LUXURY TRAINS ARE GONE.

THE BIG SHIPS ARE DESIGNED FOR TOURIST CLASS.

THE HIGHWAYS ARE JAMMED.

THERE IS NO PLEASURE

IN THE ACT OF TRAVELING ANYMORE.

EXCUSE ME, MR. O'KEEFE.

SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.

THAT'S AN EXTREMELY INTERESTING POINT OF VIEW.

I'M NEEDED AT THE DESK.

AS I WAS SAYING,

THERE IS NO PLEASURE

IN THE ACT OF TRAVELING ANYMORE.

PEOPLE WANT TO GET THERE FAST,

GET INTO AND OUT OF A HOTEL FAST.

I HAVE A BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE--

A COMPLETELY AUTOMATED HOTEL.

HUH.

THEIR BAGGAGE WILL ARRIVE BY HIGH-SPEED CONVEYOR.

EVERYTHING WILL BE DONE BY CONVEYOR--

ROOM SERVICE, LAUNDRY, VALET,

EVEN THE BILL

WILL BE PRESENTED BY CONVEYOR.

HUH!

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A HOTEL FOR AUTOMATONS

WITH PUNCH CARD BRAINS AND LUBRICANTS FOR BLOOD.

NO, NO.

THERE'LL STILL BE PEOPLE, CURTIS,

AND THERE'LL STILL BE INNKEEPERS

WITH PRIDE IN THEIR HOUSES

AND A PERSONAL INTEREST FOR THEIR GUESTS.

THE ST. GREGORY WILL STILL BE HERE.

IF IT'S STILL HERE, IT WON'T BE THE SAME.

THE SAME.

MR. SILVERSTEIN.

YES.

HOW DO YOU DO? I'M PETE McDERMOTT.

TAKE THESE BAGS UP TO 310 AND 12.

FOLLOW ME, WILL YOU?

310 AND 12.

402.

[RING]

YES?

HERB CHANDLER, MR. MORGAN.

McDERMOTT JUST MET TWO GUYS

AND TOOK THEM TO THE MAIN OFFICE.

WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, HERB?

YOU SAID FOR ME TO KEEP MY EYES OPEN.

THESE GUYS ARRIVED IN THE HOTEL LIMOUSINE.

THEY DIDN'T REGISTER,

BUT McDERMOTT SENT THEIR BAGS UPSTAIRS ANYWAY.

THE NAMES ON THE BAGS ARE SILVERSTEIN AND GIOTTI.

THE ADDRESS IS WASHINGTON, D.C.

DID YOU GET THAT, MR. MORGAN?

I GOT IT, HERB. THANKS.

OPERATOR, I WANT TO SPEAK TO GEORGE F. LANSING,

O'KEEFE'S McKINLEY HOTEL IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

[STRIP MUSIC PLAYS]

[GIGGLING]

BABY, I WORK HERE.

I CAN'T LEAVE YET.

HEY.

BUY ME ANOTHER DRINK.

I BOUGHT YOU ENOUGH.

YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO GIVE ME THE RUNAROUND.

I SWEAR I'LL COME THROUGH.

HEY, WHAT HOTEL YOU STAYING AT?

ST. GREGORY.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

YOU GIVE ME YOUR KEY, I'LL COME ON OVER.

YOU CAN GET ANOTHER AT THE DESK.

HOW LONG WILL YOU BE?

JUST ONE HOUR. I SWEAR.

COME ON NOW. GIVE ME THAT KEY.

50, BABY.

DON'T BABY ME. YOU THINK I'M NUTS?

I'LL GIVE YOU 20.

NOTHING DOING. THIS GUY IS LOADED.

I SEEN HIS BANKROLL.

I SWEAR.

50?

GOOD LUCK, BABY.

JEFF.

JEFF?

JEFF.

JEFF, IT'S GOING TO BE ALRIGHT.

DUPERE CAN MEND THE HEADLIGHT.

HE'LL DRIVE THE CAR TO WASHINGTON.

OF COURSE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN "OF COURSE"?

YOU SURE HE'S ONLY DOING IT FOR THE MONEY?

WELL, CERTAINLY. WHAT OTHER POSSIBLE REASON--

COME OFF IT, CAROLINE. I KNOW HOW YOU OPERATE.

A SMILE THAT MEANS SO MUCH MORE,

A SULTRY GLANCE OVER YOUR SHOULDER,

A TURN OF THE HIPS. YOU DO IT ALL SO WELL.

SO FAR IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

NOT AS GOOD AS WE'D LIKE, BUT PRETTY GOOD.

[SNORING]

41...

42...

WHY, THAT BITCH.

I DIDN'T THINK A UNION COULD INVEST IN A BUSINESS

THAT HOLDS A LABOR CONTRACT.

DON'T BE A DAMN FOOL. OF COURSE IT CAN.

WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?

TRENT GIVES A NOTE TO THE UNION PENSION FUND,

SECURED BY A MORTGAGE ON THE HOTEL.

THE UNION HOLDS THE MORTGAGE IN TRUST FOR THE PENSION FUND.

IT'S LEGAL. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

TRENT TURNING THE ST. GREGORY INTO A UNION HOUSE?

HE'S FOUGHT IT OFF ALL HIS LIFE.

McDERMOTT AGAIN, MR. O'KEEFE.

[O'KEEFE] ALRIGHT. McDERMOTT AGAIN.

OKAY. LET'S FIGURE THIS OUT.

WE KNOW THE REAL ESTATE BID.

WE CAN GUESS WHAT THE UNION DEAL IS.

HOW DO WE OUTSELL EITHER OF THEM?

♪ THIS YEAR

♪ I CAN HEAR GUITARS GENTLY PLAYING ♪

♪ STRANGE THEY SHOULD BE SAYING ♪

♪ WHAT YOUR HEART FORGOT TO SAY ♪

♪ AND THIS YEAR

♪ EVERYWHERE I GO

♪ THERE IS YOU

♪ IN THE MISTY MORNING MEADOWS ♪

♪ YOU REACH OUT TO ME

♪ WARM AND SWEET AND TENDER ♪

♪ THEN I REMEMBER YOU MORE

♪ THAN ANYONE

♪ ANYTHING

♪ ANY LOVE BEFORE

♪ AND THIS YEAR

♪ AND THIS YEAR

♪ IS A VERY SAD YEAR ♪

♪ FOR CHEER

HOW ABOUT A LITTLE JAZZ HOT FOR THE LADY IN BACK?

SURE, PETE.

[PLAYING DIXIELAND JAZZ]

ANY SIGN OF A FORCED ENTRY, SIR?

NOPE.

ALL I KNOW IS THAT I'M OUT $500.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

MIND IF I SEE THIS?

OUR HOTEL INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER THE LOSS OF VALUABLES

UNLESS THEY'VE BEEN PLACED IN OUR SAFE.

A POLICE INVESTIGATION MIGHT TURN SOMETHING UP.

YOU WERE GIVEN TWO KEYS. DO YOU HAVE THEM BOTH?

NO. I GUESS I LOST ONE OR MISLAID IT.

I DON'T KNOW.

IN NEW ORLEANS,

THERE'S A RACKET CALLED A "B" GIRL ROUTINE.

A "B" GIRL TAKES A KEY FROM A MAN

AND PROMISES TO COME TO HIS ROOM.

THEN SHE GIVES THE KEY TO A PROFESSIONAL HOTEL THIEF.

WERE YOU IN THE QUARTER LAST NIGHT?

I'VE GOT A PLANE TO CATCH.

I CAN'T GET MIXED UP IN ANY POLICE INVESTIGATION.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANY "B" GIRLS.

I, UH, I GOT A WIFE.

LET'S JUST FORGET IT.

WE'D KEEP THE WHOLE THING VERY QUIET FOR YOU.

THE HELL WITH IT. FORGET IT.

LAST TIME I STAY IN THIS JOINT.

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE YOUR KEY AT THE DESK, MR. KILBRICK.

IF THAT GUY EVER CARRIED $500, I'LL EAT MY SHOES.

DO YOU THINK IT'S A ONCE-ONLY JOB OR WHAT?

THERE'S ANOTHER COMPLAINT.

A COUPLE IN 614 WAS AWAKENED

BY A GUY OPENING THE DOOR.

ACTED LIKE HE WAS DRUNK,

SAID HE HAD THE WRONG ROOM.

SAID HE WANTED 641.

YOU CHECK THE DESK?

YUP. SPARE KEY TO 614 IS STILL IN THE BOX.

I TRIED 641 IN 614, BUT IT WON'T TURN.

ANYWAY, 641's AN OLD DAME.

IF WE HAVE A THIEF,

HE'S ON TO US BY NOW,

AND HE'LL BE WORKING FAST.

YOU, ART, AND DUPERE STAY ON TONIGHT.

GET THREE GUYS TO PATROL THE HALLS.

OKAY, PETE.

OPERATOR.

GET ME EXTENSION TWO IN THE AUDUBON SUITE.

THANK YOU.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[RING]

HELLO.

HELLO, MADAME ROCHEFORS.

YES.

PETER McDERMOTT HERE, MADAME.

I, UH, HAVE YOUR NOTE.

WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE?

WE COULD START WITH LUNCH AROUND 1:00.

I THINK I SHOULD MEET YOU.

ALRIGHT.

IT'S A LITTLE PLACE CALLEDLA MOINES.

1:00. I WILL BE THERE.

GOODBYE.

BYE.

[WHISTLES]

MR. McDERMOTT, PLEASE.

THIS WAY, MADAME.

THANK YOU.

MONSIEUR McDERMOTT.

BONJOUR,PETER. BONJOUR,MADAME.

WHAT A CHARMING PLACE.

GLAD YOU LIKE IT.

LET'S GO THROUGH THERE.

THANK YOU, PIERRE.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DRINK?

MARTINI. THANK YOU.

MARTINI FOR MADAME

AND A BOURBON ON THE ROCKS FOR ME.

CIGARETTE?

WELL, NOW, MADAME--

JEANNE, PLEASE.

I AM NOT MADAME.

CURTIS INTRODUCES ME THAT WAY.

HE THINKS IT MAKES OUR ARRANGEMENT MORE DIGNIFIED,

WHICH IT DOESN'T, OF COURSE.

ALRIGHT, JEANNE,

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

YOU HAVE MY NOTE?

YES. I'M SURE YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN SOME OLD BUILDINGS.

BUT I LIKE OLD BUILDINGS.

I'M EQUALLY SURE YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED

IN A RISKY FLIRTATION WITH SOME HOTEL MANAGER.

NOT IN YOUR SITUATION.

AND WHAT IS MY SITUATION?

OH, I'VE A PRETTY FAIR IDEA

WHAT THE PEARLS COST, JEANNE.

THAT MEANS YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE O'KEEFE SUGGESTED IT.

WHY?

CURTIS THINKS THAT HE'S SO CLEVER.

YES. I'M SUPPOSED TO GET INFORMATION FROM YOU ABOUT THE HOTEL.

HE COULD HAVE SAVED YOU THE TROUBLE BY ASKING ME HIMSELF.

IT'S NOT FOR SALE.

NO?

NO.

WELL, CURTIS LIKES TO DO THINGS INDIRECTLY.

INTRIGUE AMUSES HIM.

I'VE A FUNNY FEELING I'M MISSING SOMETHING, JEANNE.

IF YOU'RE SO SUSPICIOUS OF ME,

WHY DID YOU COME?

CURIOSITY.

NOTHING MORE?

I--I THINK WE'D BETTER LEAVE IT AT CURIOSITY.

ALRIGHT.

YOU ARE ONLY HERE FOR CURIOSITY,

AND I'M ONLY HERE AS A SPY.

NOW WHAT SHALL WE DO?

UH, HOW ABOUT ENJOYING LUNCH?

THE FOOD'S APT TO BE PRETTY GOOD.

DO YOU LIVE AT THE HOTEL?

YEAH. MOSTLY.

MOSTLY?

WHERE ELSE DO YOU LIVE?

I'VE GOT A PLACE HERE IN THE QUARTER--

WHEN I HAVE TIME, WHICH ISN'T VERY OFTEN.

THANK YOU, YOUR GRACE.

YOU UNDERSTAND, OF COURSE, THAT IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG,

IF YOU THINK YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY

THE REST OF THE MONEY IN WASHINGTON,

I GO TO THE POLICE.

REALLY?

BUT, UH, WOULDN'T YOU HAVE

SOME EXPLAINING TO DO, MONSIEUR DUPERE?

NO. I'LL JUST SAY THAT I WAS PAID $300

TO TAKE THE CAR TO WASHINGTON,

AND THEN I HEARD ABOUT THE MISSING JAG, AND I GOT SUSPICIOUS.

AND THAT'S ALL I'D HAVE ON ME--

$300.

MY, AREN'T YOU CLEVER?

I'LL NEED A NOTE FROM YOU TO THE GARAGE MAN--

PERMISSION TO TAKE YOUR CAR.

WILL THAT BE NECESSARY?

IT WOULD BE A BIT STICKY WITHOUT IT, MA'AM.

HE MIGHT ASK QUESTIONS.

WOULD YOU EXCUSE ME, PLEASE?

YES, MA'AM.

I'M SORRY.

WILLIS ROSET FORD.

JOSEPH ANSEKA.

G.K. ZMILNY.

I THINK I SAW THIS MAN THE PAST FEW DAYS

WHEN THE CONVENTION WAS HERE.

YES. I'M PRETTY SURE HE WAS A GUEST HERE.

MAYBE STILL IS.

SHOW THIS AROUND TO THE BELLHOPS

AND ROOM SERVICE BOYS.

RIGHT.

WHO IS IT?

ROOM SERVICE.

DOOR'S OPEN. COME IN.

I'M IN THE SHOWER.

I'LL TAKE THE CHECK IN HERE.

YES, SIR.

TIP'S ON THERE.

YES, SIR.

THAT'S THE, UH, ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL AHEAD OF US--

BUILT IN 1718.

THE PLACE YOU KEEP YOUR APARTMENT,

WHEN WAS IT BUILT?

LE JAZZ HOT?

LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

WOULD YOU LIKE A DRINK?

MM-HMM.

ANYTHING SPECIAL?

NO.

[JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING]

YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS, DON'T YOU?

NO.

IT'S ALMOST 3:00.

UH, WHAT TIME ARE YOU EXPECTED BACK AT THE HOTEL?

I SAID, WHAT TIME ARE YOU EXPECTED BACK?

AT WHAT TIME ARE YOU EXPECTED BACK?

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU.

HUH?

TAKE OFF YOUR JACKET.

YOU EMBARRASS ME.

ALRIGHT.

GOOD.

I ONCE HAD A PLACE--

WHAT?

[TURNS MUSIC DOWN]

I ONCE HAD A PLACE IN PARIS ALMOST LIKE THIS.

IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE OF MY OWN I'D EVER HAD.

IT WAS WARM AND PRETTY AND BRIGHT.

I WAS IN LOVE.

IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT LONG AGO.

OH, YES, IT WAS.

I WAS 17, AND I AM 22 NOW.

I AM SORRY.

I CRY VERY EASILY...

AT NOTHING AT ALL.

IT'S A TRICK TO MAKE MEN SYMPATHETIC.

YOU SEE, YOU ARE SYMPATHETIC NOW,

AND BEFORE, YOU WERE AFRAID OF ME.

IF HE HAD NOT MADE THIS EASY FOR US,

I WOULD HAVE FOUND ANOTHER WAY,

OR YOU WOULD.

AM I RIGHT?

YES.

HEY, IS SOMEBODY GOING TO TAKE THESE BAGS?

I'M DR. ELMO ADAMS FROM PHILADELPHIA.

I HAVE A RESERVATION.

AH, YES, SIR.

ONE MOMENT, PLEASE.

UH, MR. BAILEY.

THIS IS DR.--

ADAMS, PHILADELPHIA. I HAVE A RESERVATION.

YES, DR. ADAMS. ONE MOMENT, PLEASE.

MRS. GRANDIN.

YES?

GET PETE.

HE WENT OUT TO LUNCH.

I DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FIND YOUR RESERVATION, DOCTOR.

WHEN WAS IT MADE?

LAST NIGHT. I HAVE A WIRE CONFIRMING IT.

OF COURSE. IT'S OBVIOUS THERE'S SOME MISUNDERSTANDING.

WAIT A MOMENT.

GET ME THE PENTHOUSE.

BAILEY, THERE'S A GUY TAKING PICTURES.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[RING]

YEAH?

MR. TRENT, THIS IS BAILEY.

SIR, I'VE GOT A BIT OF A PROBLEM DOWN HERE.

I'M BUSY. GET PETE.

PETE ISN'T HERE RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S A COLORED COUPLE HERE

WITH A CONFIRMED RESERVATION.

I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THE POLICY OF THIS HOTEL.

YES, SIR.

I'M, UH, SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY, DOCTOR,

BUT, UH, I DON'T HAVE A ROOM FOR YOU.

WE EXPECTED PEOPLE TO CHECK OUT AND THEY DIDN'T,

AND WE'RE RATHER PRESSED FOR SPACE.

HOWEVER, IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME, SIR,

I WILL ENGAGE A ROOM FOR YOU AT ANOTHER HOTEL.

NO, THANK YOU.

YOU ACCEPTED MY RESERVATION.

I WANT A ROOM HERE.

I'M SORRY, DOCTOR, BUT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING I CAN DO.

LET'S GO, MARY.

BOY, WILL YOU TAKE THE---

[SOFT PIANO JAZZ PLAYS]

YOU ARE DRESSED?

IT'S LATE. 6:00.

GIVE ME A CIGARETTE.

AREN'T YOU A LITTLE CONCERNED

ABOUT YOUR, UH, GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND?

I SHOULD BE,

BUT I AM NOT.

HE HAS BEEN VERY KIND TO ME.

HE WANTS ME TO MARRY HIM,

BUT I WON'T.

NOW I HAVE EVEN BEEN UNFAITHFUL TO HIM,

AND I SHOULD BE SORRY ABOUT THAT,

BUT I AM NOT.

I CAN'T QUITE BELIEVE YOU'RE WITH HIM

JUST FOR THINGS LIKE THIS.

BUT I AM.

YES. I KNOW, BUT WHY?

WHEN I WAS LEFT ALONE IN PARIS IN THAT APARTMENT...

WHEN I KNEW THAT I HAD BEEN USED...

I SAID, "ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, JEANNE,

"IF THAT IS THE WAY IT IS,

YOU CAN DO THAT, TOO."

TOUGH KID, AREN'T YOU?

YES, I'M A TOUGH KID.

WELL, IT'S STILL 6:00.

MAY I COME BACK?

BUT YOU'RE LEAVING NEW ORLEANS.

IF I DON'T GO WITH CURTIS.

AREN'T YOU FORGETTING HOW TOUGH YOU ARE?

PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON.

SEEMS ALRIGHT, VIC.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THE CAR?

I'M DOING A FAVOR FOR THE AMBASSADOR.

OKAY. TAKE IT EASY.

[HORN HONKS]

[DOOR UNLOCKING]

WAS IT TOO BORING, BABY?

I LEARNED WHAT YOU WANTED TO KNOW.

THE HOTEL IS NOT FOR SALE.

THEY HAVE NEW FINANCING.

IT'S ALMOST 7:00.

ISN'T THAT RATHER A LONG TIME FOR LUNCH

AND A TRIP AROUND THE QUARTER?

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

DON'T EVER ASK ME TO DO ANYTHING FOR YOU AGAIN.

JEANNE.

I'M VERY FOND OF YOU.

A HIT.

A HIT.

[CROWD CHEERING]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

NOW, BAILEY JUST TOLD ME ABOUT THE NEGRO COUPLE YOU TURNED AWAY.

I WANT PERMISSION TO FIND THEM AND GIVE THEM A ROOM.

YOU KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN.

YOU SAID YOU'D ROLL WITH THIS.

I WON'T ROLL WITH IT UNTIL THEY MAKE ME.

I'D LOSE BUSINESS IF I LET COLORED PEOPLE IN.

WE'VE GOT STATISTICS ON ALL THE DE-SEGED HOTELS.

THEIR CLIENTELE HASN'T CHANGED 1/2%

UH, LOOK, PETE--

IF THIS IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ACTION,

IT'LL BE ALL OVER THE NEWSPAPERS TOMORROW.

LASWELL'S UNION HAS A LARGE MEMBERSHIP OF NEGROES.

HE CAN'T INVEST IN A BUSINESS

WHERE THEY TURN NEGROES AWAY.

HE'S GOING TO BLOW THE WHISTLE ON OUR DEAL.

WELL, WHY WEREN'T YOU HERE

TO HANDLE IT FOR ME?

YOU KNOW I DON'T UNDERSTAND THINGS LIKE UNIONS,

CIVIL RIGHTS, INDOOR BALL GAMES.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD ANYMORE.

THAT'S WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THIS IS YES OR NO,

OR DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE ON LOSING THE HOTEL?

OH, GO AHEAD.

WELL, GO AHEAD!

ALRIGHT.

HELLO, MRS. GRANDIN,

I WANT YOU TO CALL EVERY MOTEL, HOTEL,

AND TOURIST HOME IN THIS TOWN,

AND FIND OUT WHERE A DR. ELMO ADAMS

AND HIS WIFE ARE STAYING.

LISTEN, CALL MASON. GET HIM OVER HERE.

MOTELS-- THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WHAT?

MOTELS!

WILL YOU HOLD THE LINE, PLEASE?

DO YOU HAVE A DR. ELMO ADAMS

AND WIFE REGISTERED THERE?

YES. I'LL WAIT.

GIVE ME A CIGARETTE, WILL YOU?

YES? JUST A MOMENT PLEASE.

MR. McDERMOTT, THE BEAUVOIR HAS A MR. ADAMS AND WIFE.

A MR. ADAMS?

SEE IF HE'S REGISTERED FROM PHILADELPHIA.

IS MR. ADAMS FROM PHILADELPHIA?

YES, SIR.

GET HIM ON.

RING HIS ROOM, PLEASE, OPERATOR.

THANKS, HONEY.

HELLO, UH, DR. ADAMS.

WHO'S THIS?

ARE YOU THE DR. ADAMS

WHO WAS IN THE ST. GREGORY HOTEL THIS AFTERNOON?

YES.

WELL, THIS IS PETER McDERMOTT,

GENERAL MANAGER OF THE ST. GREGORY.

I'M SORRY ABOUT THE MIX-UP THIS AFTERNOON.

WE HAVE A ROOM FOR YOU.

WELL, I'M CHECKED IN HERE NOW.

THE ST. GREGORY WILL PICK UP YOUR BILL.

IF I MAY, I'LL PICK YOU UP IN THE LIMOUSINE.

THAT'S MIGHTY NICE OF YOU, MR. McDERMOTT.

EXCUSE ME.

UH, YES, SIR.

COULD YOU CALL DR. ELMO ADAMS?

TELL HIM THE ST. GREGORY CAR IS HERE.

HE JUST CHECKED OUT, SIR.

I CALLED HIM. HE WAS EXPECTING ME.

UH, YES. I KNOW.

DID HE SAY WHERE HE WAS GOING?

NO, SIR.

YOU MIND IF I SEE HIS CARD?

I'M SORRY, SIR.

HE DOESN'T ANSWER.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE?

THANK YOU.

MR. McDERMOTT.

IF YOU'RE THINKING OF DE-SEGING THE ST. GREGORY,

MAYBE YOU CAN USE A LITTLE COLOR ON THE DESK.

YOU THINK YOU'RE KIDDING?

SEND ME AN APPLICATION.

THE ST. GREGORY'S ON THE NAACP LIST, MR. McDERMOTT,

BUT WE HAVEN'T MADE YOU A TARGET YET.

IF WE WERE, WE'D TRY AND TALK TO YOU FIRST.

IF WE COULDN'T TALK,

WE WOULD ARRANGE A SITUATION

THAT WOULD PUT THE MATTER TO COURT.

THIS DR. ADAMS DIDN'T BELONG TO US.

I'VE CHECKED THE PAPERS AND WIRE SERVICES.

THERE'S NO STORY FILED ON ADAMS.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE'D DUCK ME.

COULD HE BELONG TO ANOTHER CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION?

MAYBE, BUT I DOUBT IT.

IN FACT, I'M A LITTLE CURIOUS MYSELF.

WE USUALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT.

I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN FIND OUT.

I'D APPRECIATE THAT.

I DO NOT WANT ANY TROUBLE FOR THE HOTEL.

DOES THAT MEAN THE BARS AGAINST NEGROES ARE DOWN?

IT DOES.

HOW ABOUT MR. TRENT?

HE'S BEEN WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL OVERCOME.

IN NEW ORLEANS, THAT'S THE MILLENNIUM.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK. THANK YOU.

DUPERE DIDN'T SHOW UP, PETE.

OH, BOY.

GET ANOTHER MAN FROM THE AGENCY.

YOU ALL SET UP FOR TONIGHT?

YEAH, WE'RE SET.

OUR THIEF MIGHT BE A PRO NAMED G.K. ZMILNY.

BAILEY AND THE BELLHOPS THINK THEY RECOGNIZE THE MUG SHOT,

BUT THEY CAN'T TIE HIM TO A ROOM.

MAYBE HE'S SKEDADDLED, MAYBE HE HASN'T.

THESE GUYS CAN DISAPPEAR LIKE RATS FROM A BARN.

I'LL GIVE YOU A HAND WITH THE PATROL, MYSELF.

♪ IT'S JUST THE THOUGHT OF YOU ♪

EVENING.

♪ THE VERY THOUGHT

♪ OF YOU

♪ MY LOVE ♪ MY LOVE

YEAH.

[APPLAUSE]

SOMETHING FOR YOU, PETE?

WELL...

HOW'S ABOUT A LITTLE SOMETHING

FOR A TROUBLED SPIRIT?

YOURS?

MM-HMM.

♪ ALONE

♪ TOGETHER

♪ BEYOND THE CROWD

♪ ABOVE THE WORLD

HI, TOM.

MAKE IT A DOUBLE.

♪ WE'RE NOT TOO PROUD ♪

PETER.

HELLO, MR. O'KEEFE.

PETER. WOULD YOU GIVE ME A NAPKIN, PLEASE?

THANK YOU.

SAY, I LIKE THIS GIRL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DO.

SHE'S BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.

I WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR SHOWING MADAME ROCHEFORS AROUND THE CITY.

HOSPITALITY OF THE ST. GREGORY, SIR.

MMM.

I'M MAKING WARREN AN OFFER TOMORROW.

DIDN'T MADAME TELL YOU?

MR. TRENT'S ARRANGING NEW FINANCING

FOR THE HOTEL.

YES, YES, OF COURSE.

BUT WHEN HE HEARS MY OFFER,

I THINK HE MIGHT SELL

IF YOU TAKE AN AFFIRMATIVE VIEW.

I THINK YOU OVERESTIMATE MY IMPORTANCE.

DO I?

ASIDE FROM KEEPING YOU ON HERE

AT $700 A WEEK WITH ME,

I'LL ALSO PAY YOU A $20,000 BONUS WHEN WARREN SELLS.

NOW, IF THAT'S AN OVERESTIMATION,

IT'S ONE YOU SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

WOULDN'T YOU AGREE?

$20,000 IS A VERY AGREEABLE SUM.

I WAS HOPING YOU'D FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT IT.

♪ LOVE IS AS DEEP AS THE SEA ♪

YES, I LIKE THIS GIRL.

WE'LL KEEP HER ON.

♪ ...IS AS GREAT AS A LOVE CAN BE ♪

A MR. BAILEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU AT THE FRONT DESK.

OKAY, TIM.

♪ IF WE'RE ALONE

♪ TOGETHER

[APPLAUSE]

HI THERE, CAPTAIN YOLLES.

HI, PETE.

SAY, I--I--I NEED YOUR HELP.

SURE.

UH...

I'VE GOT YOUR MAN DUPERE

OUT THERE IN A PATROL CAR.

HE WAS PICKED UP FOR DRIVING A JAGUAR

THAT BELONGS TO SOME PROMINENT GUESTS HERE,

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF LANBOURNE.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM HAVING THE CAR?

NO. PICKED UP?

YOU PICKED HIM UP FOR STEALING A CAR?

POSSIBLE.

I'D LIKE TO TALK TO THE GARAGE MAN.

SURE. COME ON.

CHARLIE.

CHARLIE.

DETECTIVE DUPERE,

DID HE TAKE A CAR OUT TONIGHT?

YEAH, EARLY. THAT BIG JAG

THAT BELONGS TO THE ENGLISH DUKE.

DID HE HAVE PERMISSION TO TAKE IT?

HE HAD A NOTE FROM THE DUKE'S WIFE.

LET ME SEE IT.

IT'S A PIECE OF PURPLE PAPER.

HEY, JUNIOR,

DID YOU SEE A PIECE OF PURPLE NOTEPAPER?

I CLEANED A LOT OF STUFF OUT OF HERE.

WHERE'S THE TRASH?

I TOOK IT TO THE INCINERATOR.

WELL, I'M SORRY, PETE.

I SWEAR HE GAVE ME A NOTE.

I DON'T LET NO CARS OUT OF HERE--

I KNOW, I KNOW, CHARLIE.

THANKS.

CAPTAIN YOLLES, IS THERE ANY REASON

YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT?

THAT'S THE CAR THAT KILLED A LITTLE BOY.

DO YOU SUPPOSE THE DUKE AND DUCHESS

ARE IN TONIGHT?

THEY'RE HOSTING A PARTY IN THE DOMINIQUE ROOM.

CAN I SPEAK TO THE DUKE WITHOUT HORNING IN?

I CAN DO IT FOR YOU.

GET DUPERE.

OH, UH, WE ASKED FOR YOUR HUSBAND, YOUR GRACE.

IT'S ALRIGHT. I CAN SPEAK FOR MY HUSBAND.

THIS IS CAPTAIN YOLLES OF THE CITY POLICE.

IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR AUTOMOBILE.

A MAN NAMED DUPERE WAS PICKED UP DRIVING IT.

HE CLAIMS YOU GAVE HIM PERMISSION TO DRIVE IT.

I JUST WANTED TO CHECK WITH YOU ABOUT IT.

I GAVE NO ONE PERMISSION TO DRIVE MY CAR.

DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN?

SHOULD I KNOW HIM?

HE WAS DRIVING THE CAR.

HE SAYS THAT YOU PAID HIM $300

TO DRIVE IT TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

WE ALWAYS SHIP OUR CAR.

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?

BOOK HIM ON SUSPICION OF CAR THEFT.

HERE'S THE DOUGH. TALK TO CHARLIE.

PLUNKETT!

IS THAT ALL?

YES, MA'AM.

THERE IS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT HELP ME WITH.

WERE YOU OR YOUR HUSBAND

DRIVING YOUR CAR ON TUESDAY NIGHT?

TUESDAY.

NO...

I THINK THAT WAS THE NIGHT

WE DIDN'T LEAVE THE HOTEL.

YOU'RE CERTAIN OF THAT?

WHAT IS THIS, CAPTAIN?

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME,

WHY DON'T YOU ASK MR. McDERMOTT?

I THINK THAT WAS THE NIGHT

YOU WERE IN OUR SUITE.

YES.

I'M SORRY, MA'AM.

MAY I RETURN?

YES, MA'AM.

YOU'LL GET YOUR CAR BACK TOMORROW.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, DUCHESS.

ARE THEY ON TO US, OLD GIRL?

ELMER, HOLD IT, HOLD IT.

WAIT A MINUTE.

THEY DID PRETTY GOOD IN THE KITCHEN TODAY.

ONLY GOT NINE SPOONS, THREE FORKS, AND--

HENRY, IS THIS TONIGHT'S STUFF?

YEAH.

HAVE YOU BURNED MUCH OF IT?

SOME. WHY?

WELL, IT MAY BE TOO LATE,

BUT THERE'S A PIECE OF STATIONERY LIKE THIS

WITH WRITING ON IT.

THINK YOU CAN FIND IT?

THAT'S A TALL ORDER.

ONE ITTY-BITTY PIECE OF PAPER?

IT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF PAPER.

I'LL TRY.

THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.

I'LL TRY.

OKAY.

[MUMBLES IN SLEEP]

[TOILET FLUSHES]

WHAT HAPPENED?

HE'S WORKING.

ART JUMPED HIM ON SEVEN,

LOST HIM ON THE SERVICE STAIRS.

HE'S WEARING A DARK GRAY SUIT AND HAT.

HE COULDN'T SEE HIS FACE.

IT'S THOSE DAMN CREDIT CARDS.

THEY...

DAMN CREDIT CARDS.

HEY...

I THINK WE CAN STOP LOOKING NOW.

ARE THEY IN THE HOTEL NOW?

THEY'RE AT THAT TRADE COUNCIL

FOR THE CLOSING CEREMONIES.

CALM ENOUGH ABOUT IT, AREN'T THEY?

WELL, THERE'S NO RUSH.

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

YEAH?

FROM WASHINGTON, MR. LASWELL ON LINE FIVE.

OH, GOOD.

HELLO.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? YOU CRAZY?

WHAT?

IF WE ARE, SHOUTING ON THE PHONE

ISN'T THE CURE, MR. LASWELL.

DAMN IT ALL, YOU KILLED YOUR OWN DEAL.

I TAKE IT THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO

WITH A MAN NAMED ADAMS.

THERE'S A TWO-COLUMN STORY

IN THE WASHINGTON HERALD WITH PICTURES.

YOU THERE, McDERMOTT?

YES, I'M HERE.

TRENT'S AN OLD HARD-NOSE,

BUT YOU SEEM LIKE A MAN WITH BRAINS.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WE WANTED THAT DEAL DOWN THERE.

WE WANTED IT, TOO, MR. LASWELL.

HOW DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?

WOULD IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND MY SITUATION?

I'VE GOT 40,000 NEGRO MEMBERS--

I UNDERSTAND VERY CLEARLY, MR. LASWELL.

I'M SORRY, McDERMOTT.

I LIKED DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU.

WELL, I KILLED THE GOOSE, DIDN'T I?

WELL.

FORGIVE ME, PETE. I'M A STUPID OLD--

[JACKHAMMERING STARTS]

WHAT?

[JACKHAMMERING]

[SHOUTING] I SAID FORGIVE ME.

I'M A STUPID OLD MAN.

OH.

NOW WE'RE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED,

BACK WITH THE REAL ESTATE PEOPLE.

O'KEEFE HAS A PROPOSITION FOR YOU.

HE HASN'T MADE A--

[JACKHAMMERING STOPS]

HE HASN'T MADE A MOVE YET.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

HELLO, PENTHOUSE.

OH, YES, SIR, JUST A MINUTE.

HE'S MAKING A MOVE NOW.

YES?

YES, CURTIS.

WHY, I'D BE GLAD TO TALK TO YOU.

I'LL BRING--

[JACKHAMMERING STARTS]

I'LL BRING MY GENERAL MANAGER ALONG

IF YOU DON'T MIND.

FINE.

WELL, WE'LL HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

GOOD MORNING. I DIDN'T MEAN TO FRIGHTEN YOU.

I JUST CAME

FOR HER GRACE'S LETTER CASE.

YOU'D THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO BREAK US DOWN

WITH THEIR SILENCE.

PERHAPS THEY'RE DOING THE DECENT THING

AND WAITING FOR ME TO GIVE MYSELF UP.

I'M AFRAID YOU'RE NOT MUCH

OF A MASTERMIND, OLD GIRL.

THE WHOLE SCHEME HAS BEEN RIDICULOUS.

YOU CAN BE SURE THE LONG ARMS OF THE LAW

ARE REACHING OUT TO GATHER US UP.

BUT THEY HAVE NO PROOF.

AND AFTER ALL, YOU'RE NOT JUST ANYBODY.

WHAT COULD THEY ACHIEVE?

YOU COULD CLAIM YOUR DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY,

AND THEY KNOW IT.

YOU'D WANT ME TO DO THAT?

AFTER WE'VE GONE THIS FAR, YES.

OF COURSE.

[DOORBELL BUZZES]

GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.

GOOD MORNING.

WARREN.

WARREN, COME IN.

PETER.

GOOD MORNING.

WARREN, SIT OVER HERE.

I'M CERTAINLY GLAD THAT WARREN BROUGHT YOU ALONG, PETER.

YOU'LL BE A BIG HELP TO BOTH OF US.

WELL, WE CAN GET RIGHT TO IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

MMM, I JUST WONDERED WHY

YOU PUT IT OFF SO LONG.

I HAD TO DO A LITTLE CHECKING HERE AND THERE.

I THINK I SHOULD TELL YOU

I'M FAMILIAR WITH YOUR CURRENT FINANCIAL PICTURE.

I'M SURE YOU ARE.

YOU PROBABLY KNOW IT BETTER THAN I DO.

IT'S A DEPRESSING PICTURE, WARREN,

BUT WHAT I'M ABOUT TO PROPOSE,

IF YOU CAN OVERCOME YOUR PREJUDICE

TO MY KIND OF OPERATION,

WILL MEAN SECURITY FOR YOURSELF

AND PERPETUATION OF THE ST. GREGORY.

FIRST OF ALL,

I WANT YOU TO KEEP YOUR APARTMENT,

RENT-FREE FOR AS LONG AS YOU LIVE.

YOU'LL STILL BE ON TOP OF THE ST. GREGORY.

YOU'LL STILL BE A PART OF THIS WORLD-FAMOUS HOTEL,

WHICH YOU MADE INTO THE FINE INN IT IS.

YOUR THOUSANDS OF FRIENDS

WILL STILL BE ABLE TO FIND YOU HERE

BY PICKING UP THAT HOUSE PHONE

AND SAYING "GIVE ME THE PENTHOUSE."

AGREED?

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

I'M LISTENING TO YOU.

[RING]

DOWNSTAIRS, THERE WILL BE A PLAQUE

O'KEEFE SUITE. COMMEMORATING THE NAME OF TRENT--

FOUNDERS OF THE GREATEST HOUSE IN AMERICA.

MR. McDERMOTT.

ALRIGHT?

[TRENT] GO ON.

PURCHASE PRICE WILL BE BASED ON...

GOOD MORNING, MR. McDERMOTT.

I HAVE SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU.

THE MAN CALLED ADAMS

WORKS IN A HOTEL IN PHILADELPHIA

RUN BY THE O'KEEFE CHAIN.

HE HAS NO CONNECTION WITH ANY CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.

...STILL LEAVE YOU A VERY TIDY SUM.

THAT'S, UH, VERY INTERESTING.

THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR TROUBLE.

THEY'LL PAY 1,250,000 IN CASH.

BUT I'M KEEPING THE HOUSE ALIVE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE

YOU'RE GOING TO LET THEM PULL IT DOWN.

THIS HOUSE IS MORE THAN JUST WARREN TRENT.

IT'S THOSE 300 PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR YOU.

YOU FORGETTING ABOUT THEM?

NO. NO, I'M NOT.

SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN HERE

ALMOST AS LONG AS YOU'VE BEEN HERE.

WHAT ABOUT THEIR JOBS?

WARREN...

LOOK AT ME.

I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE.

NOW, I'M LEAVING FOR MEXICO CITY TONIGHT.

MAKE A DECISION NOW.

SAVE THE HOTEL.

I THINK YOU SHOULD ACCEPT THE OFFER, MR. TRENT.

HMM?

IT'S A FAIR OFFER.

YOU DON'T WANT THE OLD HOUSE TORN DOWN.

AND YOU CAN LIVE HERE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

YOU CAN WATCH THE CHANGES THEY MAKE.

YOU CAN WATCH HIM TEAR OUT

THE OLD LOREDO-TAFT FOUNTAIN,

WATCH HIM PULL DOWN THE GREAT MARBLE COLUMNS.

YOU CAN WATCH HIM CHANGE THE GRAND PROMENADE

INTO A ROW OF BUSY LITTLE SHOPS.

YOU CAN WATCH HIM DIVIDE THE GREAT SUITES

INTO LITTLE MATCHBOX ROOMS.

McDERMOTT--

I'M PERSUADING HIM.

YOU SEE, MR. O'KEEFE

OFFERED ME $700 A WEEK

TO PERSUADE YOU TO SELL TO HIM.

AND A $20,000 BONUS.

THAT'S A HELL OF A LOT OF MONEY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS BELLHOP IS TALKING ABOUT.

GO AHEAD, PETE. PERSUADE ME.

ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT, I OFFERED HIM SOME MONEY.

WELL, THAT'S BUSINESS.

A MAN GOES IN WITH EVERY ADVANTAGE

HE CAN GET.

I MADE A MISTAKE THIS TIME.

BUT YOU'RE A BUSINESSMAN, WARREN.

BUT YOUR GENERAL MANAGER OBVIOUSLY IS NOT.

NO.

BUT HE TALKS MIGHTY GOOD.

GO ON, PETE, PERSUADE ME.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

YOUR EMPLOYEES THAT MR. O'KEEFE

IS SO DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT,

HE'LL TAKE CARE OF THEM, ALRIGHT.

HE'LL BRING A WRECKING CREW

OF EFFICIENCY EXPERTS IN HERE,

AND WITHIN 30 DAYS,

THERE WON'T BE ANYONE YOU CAN CALL BY NAME.

NOT TRUE.

SHOULD I BELIEVE HIM, PETE?

YOU CAN TRUST HIM.

YOU TRUST HIM?

SURE, I TRUST HIM. HE'LL PAY ME $20,000.

OH.

YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY I'M WORTH $20,000 TO MR. O'KEEFE.

WELL, I'LL TELL YOU.

HE THOUGHT I MIGHT TUMBLE TO A LITTLE TRICK

HE PLAYED ON US YESTERDAY.

HE DEFTLY ARRANGED TO HAVE ME, UH,

CHARMINGLY PREOCCUPIED

WHILE DR. ADAMS TRIED TO CHECK IN HERE.

NOW, DR. ADAMS,

OR ELMO ADAMS,

IS THE DAY BELL CAPTAIN

AT MR. O'KEEFE'S PHILADELPHIA HOTEL.

HE WAS JETTED IN YESTERDAY

WITH AWASHINGTON HERALDREPORTER.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT MR. O'KEEFE'S

TIE-UP WITH THEHERALD,

BUT IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO PLANT THE STORY

FOR LASWELL TO READ.

IN CASE I HEARD ABOUT THIS,

THE $20,000 WAS SUPPOSED TO BUY MY MOUTH--

TO KEEP IT SHUT.

MR. TRENT, TAKE HIS OFFER FOR MY SAKE.

HE IS BEAUTIFUL.

ALRIGHT.

I KILLED YOUR UNION DEAL,

BUT I'LL MATCH THE REAL ESTATE OFFER.

1,250,000.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT OF A JOB, PETE.

YOU MADE A BIG MISTAKE, SHOOTING OFF YOUR MOUTH.

WELL, EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES.

1,500,000 IN CASH.

OOH-WHEE!

THAT'S A LOT OF CASH, ISN'T IT, PETE?

THAT'S MY LAST OFFER.

PETE, CALL THE BANK,

AND TELL THEM TO CLOSE THAT REAL ESTATE DEAL.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

ELLIOT.

PETER.

I DON'T TELL LIES.

FOR ANYONE.

I KNOW.

UH...

YOU BETTER CANCEL ALL RESERVATIONS.

AS THE GUESTS START MOVING OUT,

START SHUTTING DOWN THE PLANT.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

CAPTAIN YOLLES.

THE DUKE OF LANBOURNE, CAPTAIN.

ARE YOU THE GENTLEMAN

WHO SPOKE TO MY WIFE LAST NIGHT?

YES, SIR.

I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CHAT WITH YOU.

I'LL BE RIGHT OVER.

I WOULD RATHER COME THERE

IF YOU DON'T MIND.

IT WOULD BE MORE PROPER FOR ME TO COME THERE.

AFTER ALL, WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS BEST SAID

WHERE THAT SORT OF BUSINESS IS CONDUCTED.

YES. IMMEDIATELY.

THANK YOU.

HOW YOU DOING?

GOOD AFTERNOON.

DOWN?

DOWN.

AFTERNOON, MA'AM.

AFTERNOON.

AAH!

[ALARM]

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE?

IT'S THE ELEVATOR.

WHICH ONE?

IT'S NUMBER THREE.

GET ME A PENCIL WITH A RUBBER TIP.

OKAY.

[MAN] STAND BACK.

JUST STAND BACK, PLEASE.

GET ME THAT.

[ALARM OFF]

[MAN] STAY BACK.

[HERBIE] IT'S BETWEEN FLOORS, PETE, ABOUT THE 10th.

HERBIE, SAM, LET'S GET UP THERE.

BAILEY, GET THESE DOORS CLOSED.

[BAILEY] STAND BACK.

GIVE ME A LEG UP HERE, SAM.

ALRIGHT. THAT'S-A-BOY.

OKAY, HERBIE. TAKE US UP.

YOU ALRIGHT?

YEP.

SLOW DOWN, HERB.

SLOW, HERB. TAKE IT SLOW.

OKAY, STOP IT.

I'M STOPPING.

PETE, THOSE BRAKES ARE BURNING OUT.

YOU ALRIGHT?

WE'RE OKAY, PETE.

[WOMAN] OH, GET US OUT OF HERE, PLEASE.

IT'S GOING TO BE ALRIGHT.

IT'LL BE ALRIGHT, MA'AM.

COME ON. YOU'RE NEXT.

GET AHOLD OF HER.

THAT'S IT, DEAR. EASY. THAT'S GOOD.

SAM.

EASY NOW. DON'T LOOK DOWN.

COME ON.

OKAY, WHO'S NEXT?

COME ON. HURRY IT UP.

COME ON.

NOW YOU, SIR.

COME ON. GET HIM UP.

COME ON. STEP ON MY BACK.

GIVE ME YOUR HAND.

EASY.

GET YOUR LEGS UP.

PUT YOUR FOOT ON MY KNEE.

GET RID OF THE BAG.

PUT THE BAG DOWN.

GET RID OF THE BAG.

NO.

GET RID OF THE BAG.

COME ON. COME ON. COME ON.

HERE YOU GO, SAM.

GRAB MY WRISTS. THAT'S IT.

IT'S GOING TO GO.

SAM!

HER GRACE WILL SEE YOU NOW.

YOUR GRACE.

I WISH IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO DO THIS.

I UNDERSTAND.

VERY WELL.

YOU SEE, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR.

I PANICKED AND DROVE AWAY

FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.

EVERYTHING THAT WAS DONE AFTER THAT WAS DONE

BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WANTED TO PROTECT ME.

I AM COMPLETELY TO BLAME.

AND THIS MAN?

IT WAS JUST AS HE TOLD YOU.

HE WAS GIVEN $300 TO DRIVE THE CAR TO WASHINGTON.

BEYOND THAT, HE'S NOT IMPLICATED.

I'M VERY SORRY

FOR THE TROUBLE I'VE PUT YOU TO.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

ALRIGHT, DUPERE.

WAIT FOR ME OUTSIDE.

CAPTAIN.

WHAT WILL YOU HAVE ME DO NOW?

NOTHING FOR THE MOMENT, YOUR GRACE.

I'M LEAVING TO STAY WITH FRIENDS.

YOU'LL KEEP ME INFORMED ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE?

OF COURSE.

AND CAPTAIN...

PLEASE.

WHATEVER HAPPENS,

PLEASE DON'T LET MY HUSBAND'S NAME BE DISGRACED.

YOU SEE, EVERYTHING THAT WAS DONE WAS...

WELL, YOU SEE, MY...

WELL...

MY HUSBAND LOVED ME VERY MUCH.

HOW MUCH MONEY DID YOU REALLY GET?

ALRIGHT. BEAT IT.

YOU GOING TO PICK HER UP?

WHAT FOR?

FOR TRYING TO GIVE HER DEAD HUSBAND A CLEAN BILL?

SHE'S A NICE, PRETTY WOMAN.

A SURE WAY TO EMPTY A HOTEL FAST,

DROP AN ELEVATOR.

RIGHT.

OKAY, WE'LL BE RIGHT IN.

SENT FOR ME, SIR?

YEAH, PETE.

I WANT THE EMPLOYEES

TO HAVE SIX WEEKS SEVERANCE PAY.

THE OLD TIMERS, GIVE THEM SIX MONTHS PAY.

RIGHT.

HOW MANY GUESTS DO WE HAVE LEFT?

OH, ABOUT 60,

INCLUDING THE O'KEEFE PARTY.

THEY'LL BE CHECKING OUT SOON.

WELL, KEEP THE BOYS ON THEIR TOES

UNTIL THE LAST ONE IS GONE.

13 PRESIDENTS HAVE STAYED IN THIS HOTEL.

YOU KNOW, PETE,

I'M GOING TO HAVE MORE THAN HALF A MILLION LEFT.

FIND US AN INN TO KEEP.

OH, MAYBE NOT SO BIG,

BUT ONE WE CAN KEEP THE WAY WE WANT IT.

I'LL LOOK AROUND.

ASK ONE OF THE BOYS

TO TAKE MIKE OUT FOR HIS CONSTITUTIONAL.

RIGHT.

[WOMAN] ♪ WHY SHOULD I LOVE AGAIN? ♪

♪ WHY WAIT AROUND...

McDERMOTT.

♪ WHEN EACH AGE HAS A FACE WHO HAS FROWNS? ♪

IF I'M NOT THERE, TRY THE NUMBER IN ACAPULCO.

OH, McDERMOTT.

THE YOUNG LADY'S RETURNING TO PARIS.

ARRANGE HER FLIGHT AND PUT IT ON MY BILL.

I'D APPRECIATE IT.

OF COURSE I WILL, SIR.

WELL...

IT WAS A GOOD HOUSE.

IT'S TOO BAD.

♪ IT MUST BE FUN

♪ LOTS OF FUN

♪ TO BE SURE ONE DAY IS DONE ♪

♪ OH, THE TIME IS COMING

♪ WHEN YOU'LL BE KISSED

♪ AND THEN YOU'LL BE KISSED AGAIN ♪

♪ OR DID YOU DANCE...

THIS IS PRETTY GOOD, CONSIDERING, TOM.

OLD CUSTOMERS COMING TO THE WAKE.

WORD'S GOT AROUND THAT WE'RE CLOSING.

♪ AND EVERY STAR OUT IN FAR HOLLYWOOD ♪

♪ SEEMS TO GIVE IT A TRY ♪

♪ SO WHY--

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE DRINKS ARE ON THE HOUSE.

GO, HONEY.

[BAND PLAYING]

GIVE ME THE...

GET ME THE PENTHOUSE.

HELLO, MR. TRENT.

I THINK YOU'D BETTER COME ON DOWN HERE.

I'M GIVING ALL YOUR BOOZE AWAY.

ALRIGHT.

I'LL BE RIGHT DOWN.

GIVE ME THE AUDUBON SUITE.

BIENVENUE, MADEMOISELLE.

MERCI.

WOULD YOU LIKE SOMETHING?

YES.

ANYTHING SPECIAL?

YES.