Blogging By Cinema-light: Don't Make a Scene: All About Eve

The Story: This is what they used to call "a clash of the titans."

Except the titans are not titans at all...only in their own minds. And that can only extend to how far you can get away with it.

In one corner is the Ultimate Drama Queen Eve Harrington, and in the other, the bitchiest drama critic, Addison DeWitt.

These "Don't Make a Scene" features were inspired (initially) by a feature that used to run in Premier Magazine (R.I.P.) under the banner "Classic Scene" and this penultimate scene was one of them—but offered in the magazine in a very truncated form (starting with the line "That I should want you at all suddenly strikes me as the height of improbability"). Maybe they didn't want to give away "the secret" of All About Eve (and if so, there's a spoiler banner before the action starts), but it's a long scene—so long that I've been intimidated about doing it for years!

But, there's just not enough of that scene for the last part to play so savagely. And it is savage. Between two killers (not champions), who both have ambition, want power, and don't have any qualms about what lines are crossed to meet their ends. So, you get the whole knock-down/claws-out spitting match pairing theater critic and theater-climber) with no holds barred and no rocks left un-turned. The two are at their strongest and their most vulnerable. And each one gets a little dose of reality shoved in their face.

It's a delicious meal of a scene.

Eve and Addison are both smart, power-hungry, conspiratorial...and impossibly deluded. Eve lives in her fantasy world where she controls everyone and everything and Addison thinks his pen is mightier than a sword to stab in the back. Now, Eve anticipates the height of her fame and keeping it by planning to seduce her playwright, and Addison assumes he'll be rewarded by his efforts with a relationship beyond professional. When the two confess their heart's desires it goes against each other's scenarios. Eve's plan is met with the usual reptilian skepticism and when Eve laughs at his presumptions, Addison, for once out of words, is reduced to impotent violence. Even in 1950, #metoo doesn't play unless repercussions are feared.

At the end, both combatants are wounded but there is no knockout.

Except for the scene itself.

The Set-Up: Overture! Curtain lights. This is it. The night of nights. The play, "Footsteps on the Ceiling" is opening in its out of town tryouts in New Haven, and the air is so electric, you could get a shock without sticking your tongue in a socket.

It will be the acting debut of Eve Carrington (Anne Baxter), witnessed and orchestrated by critic Addison DeWitt (George Sanders), who has taken Eve from backstage admirer to personal assistant for Margo Channing (Bette Davis) to center stage. But, there is a price to fame and Addison is ready to deliver the bill.

Action.

EXT. SHUBERT THEATER - NEW HAVEN - DAY

The theater is but a few doors from the TAFT HOTEL. The marquee announces a new play by Lloyd Richards, presented by Max Fabian, opening tonight.

Addison and Eve stand before the theater admiring her photo on a lobby display. None of the actors are starred.

ADDISON'S VOICE To the Theater world - New Haven, Connecticut, is a short stretch of sidewalk between the Shubert Theater and the Taft Hotel, surrounded by what looks very much like a small city.

ADDISON'S VOICE It is here that managers have what are called out of-town openings - which are openings for New Yorkers who want...

ADDISON'S VOICE ...to go out of town...

They start for the hotel - Eve's arm through Addison's.

EVE What a day - what a heavenly day...

ADDISON D-day.

EVE Just like it.

ADDISON And tomorrow morning you will have won your beachhead on the shores of Immortality...

EVE (grins) Stop rehearsing your column... Isn't it strange, Addison? I thought I'd be panic-stricken, want to run away or something. Instead, I can't wait for tonight to come. To come and go...

ADDISON Are you that sure of tomorrow?

EVE Aren't you?

ADDISON Frankly - yes.

They've arrived in front of the hotel.

EVE It'll be a night to remember. It'll bring to me everything I've ever wanted. The end of an old road - and the beginning of a new one...

ADDISON All paved with diamonds and gold?

EVE You know me better than that.

ADDISON Paved with what, then?

EVE Stars.

She goes in. Addison follows her.

INT. CORRIDOR - TAFT HOTEL - DAY

Addison accompanies Eve along the corridor to her door.

EVE What time?

ADDISON Almost four.

EVE Plenty of time for a nice long nap - we rehearsed most of last night...

ADDISON You could sleep, too, couldn't you?

EVE Why not?

They've arrived at her door. She opens it.

ADDISON The mark of a true killer. (he holds out his hand) Sleep tight, rest easy - and come out fighting...

EVE Why'd you call me a killer?

ADDISON Did I say killer? I meant champion. I get my boxing terms mixed.

He turns to go. After a few steps-

EVE (calling) Addison- (he pauses) - come on in for just a minute, won't you? There's... I've got something to tell you.

Addison turns curiously, and enters behind her.

INT. EVE'S SUITE - TAFT HOTEL - DAY

Old-fashioned, dreary and small. The action starts in the living room and continues to the bedroom. Addison closes the door, crosses to a comfortable chair.

ADDISON Suites are for expense accounts. Aren't you being extravagant?

EVE Max is paying for it. He and Lloyd had a terrific row but Lloyd insisted... well. Can I fix you a drink?

She indicates a table elaborately stocked with liquor, glasses, etc. Addison's eyebrows lift.

ADDISON Also with the reluctant compliments of Max Fabian.

EVE Lloyd. I never have any, and he likes a couple of drinks after we finish - so he sent it up...

ADDISON Some plain soda. (Eve starts to fix it) Lloyd must be expecting a record run in New Haven...

EVE That's for tonight. You're invited. We're having everyone up after the performance.

ADDISON We're?

EVE Lloyd and I.

She carries the soda to him, sits on an ottoman at his feet.

ADDISON I find it odd that Karen isn't here for the opening, don't you?

He sips his soda and puts away, carefully avoiding a look at Eve. As he looks back-

EVE Addison...

ADDISON (blandly) She's always been so fantastically devoted to Lloyd. I would imagine that only death or destruction could keep her-

EVE (breaks in) Addison, just a few minutes ago. When I told you this would be a night to remember - that it would bring me everything I wanted-

ADDISON (nods) - something about an old road ending and a new one starting - paved with stars...

EVE I didn't mean just the Theater.

ADDISON What else?

Eve gets up, crosses to look out over the Common.

EVE (her back to him) Lloyd Richards.

EVE He's going to leave Karen. We're going to be married.

For just a flash, Addison's eyes narrow coldly, viciously. Then they crinkle into a bland smile.

ADDISON So that's it. Lloyd. Still just the Theater, after all...

EVE (turns; shocked) It's nothing of the kind! Lloyd loves me, I love him!

ADDISON I know nothing about Lloyd and his loves - I leave those to Louisa May Alcott. But I do know you.

EVE I'm in love with Lloyd!

ADDISON Lloyd Richards is commercially the most successful playwright in America-

EVE You have no right to say such things!

ADDISON - and artistically, the most promising! Eve dear, this is Addison.

Eve drops her shocked manner like a cape. Her face lights up - she crosses back to the ottoman.

EVE Addison, won't it be just perfect? Lloyd and I - there's no telling how far we can go... he'll write great plays for me, I'll make them be great! (as she sits) You're the only one I've told, the only one that knows except Lloyd and me...

ADDISON ... and Karen.
EVE She doesn't know.

ADDISON She knows enough not to be here.

EVE But not all of it - not that Lloyd and I are going to be married.

ADDISON (thoughtfully) I see.

ADDISON: And when was this unholy alliance joined?

EVE We decided the night before last, before we came up here...

ADDISON (increasingly tense) Was the setting properly romantic - the lights on dimmers, gypsy violins off stage?

EVE The setting wasn't romantic, but Lloyd was.

EVE He woke me up at three in the morning, banging on my door - he couldn't sleep, he told me - he's left Karen,

EVE ...he couldn't go on with the play or anything else until I promised to marry him... we sat and talked until it was light. He never went home...

ADDISON You sat and talked until it was light...

EVE (meaningly) We sat and talked, Addison. I want a run of the play contract.

ADDISON (quietly) There never was, there'll never be another like you.

EVE(happily) Well, say something - anything! Congratulations, skol - good work, Eve!

Addison rises slowly, to his full height.

As Eve watches him, as her eyes go up to his, her smile fades-

ADDISON What do you take me for?

EVE (cautiously) I don't know what I take you for anything...

ADDISON (moving away) It is possible - even conceivable - that you've confused me with that gang of backward children you've been playing tricks on - that you have the same contempt for me that you have for them?

EVE I'm sure you mean something by that, Addison, but I don't know what...

ADDISON Look closely, Eve, it's time you did.

ADDISON I am Addison deWitt. I'm nobody's fool. Least of all - yours.

EVE I never intended you to be.

ADDISON Yes, you did. You still do.

Eve gets up, now.

EVE I still don't know what you're getting at.

EVE Right now I want to take my nap. It's important that I-

ADDISON (breaks in) - it's important right now that we talk. Killer to killer.

EVE (wisely) Champion to champion.

ADDISON Not with me, you're no champion. You're stepping way up in class.

EVE Addison, will you please say what you have to say plainly and distinctly - and then get out so I can take my nap!

ADDISON Very well, plainly and distinctly. Although I consider it unnecessary - because you know as well as I, what I am about to say. (they are now facing each other)

ADDISON Lloyd may leave Karen, but he will not leave Karen for you.

EVE What do you mean by that?

ADDISON More plainly and more distinctly?

ADDISON I Have not come to New Haven to see the play, discuss your dreams, or to pull the ivy from the walls of Yale! I have come to tell you that you will not marry Lloyd - or anyone else - because I will not permit it.

EVE What have you got to do with it?

ADDISON Everything.

ADDISON Because after tonight, you will belong to me.

EVE "Belong..." "To you?" I can't believe my ears...

ADDISON A dull cliché.

EVE Belong - to you? That sounds medieval - something out of an old melodrama...

ADDISON So does the history of the world for the past twenty years.

ADDISON I don't enjoy putting it as bluntly as this, frankly I had hoped that you would, somehow, have known - have taken it for granted that you and I...

EVE ... taken it for granted? That you and I...

She smiles. Then she chuckles, then laughs. A mistake.

Addison slaps her sharply across the face.

ADDISON (quietly) Now, remember as long as you live, never to laugh at me. At anything or anyone else - but never at me.

Eve eyes him coldly, goes to the door, throws it open.

EVE Get out!

Addison walks to the door, closes it.

ADDISON You're too short for that gesture.

ADDISON Besides, it went out with Mrs. Fiske.

EVE Then if you won't get out, I'll have you thrown out.

She goes to the phone.

ADDISON Don't pick it up! Don't even put your hand on it...

She doesn't. Her back is to him. Addison smiles.

ADDISON Something told you to do as I say, didn't it? That instinct is worth millions, you can't buy it, cherish it, Eve. When that alarm goes off, go to your battle stations...

He comes up behind her. Eve is tense and wary.

ADDISON Your name is not Eve Harrington. It is Gertrude Slescynski.

EVE What of it?

ADDISON It is true that your parents were poor. They still are. And they would like to know how you are - and where. They haven't heard from you for three years...

EVE (curtly) What of it?

She walks away. Addison eyes her keenly.

ADDISON A matter of opinion. Granted.

ADDISON It is also true that you worked in a brewery.

ADDISON But life in the brewery was apparently not as dull as you pictured it.

ADDISON As a matter of fact, it got less and less dull -

ADDISON - until you boss's wife had your boss followed by detectives!

EVE (whirls on him) She never proved anything, not a thing!

ADDISON But the $500 you got to get out of town brought you straight to New York - didn't it?

Eve turns and runs into the bedroom, slamming the door.

Addison opens it, follows close after her... he can be seen in the bedroom, shouting at Eve who is offscene.

ADDISON That $500 brought you straight to New York - didn't it?

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Eve, trapped, in a corner of the room.

EVE She was a liar, she was a liar!

ADDISON Answer my question! Weren't you paid to get out of town?

Eve throws herself on the bed, face down, bursts in tears. Addison, merciless, moves closer.

ADDISON Fourth. There was no Eddie - no pilot - and you've never been married!

ADDISON That was not only a lie, but an insult to dead heroes and to the women who loved them...

(Eve, sobbing, puts her hands over her ears; Addison, closer, pulls them away) ...

ADDISON Fifth. San Francisco has no Shubert Theater and North Shore, you've never been to San Francisco! That was a stupid lie, easy to expose, not worthy of you...

Eve twists to look up at him, her eyes streaming.

EVE I had to get in, to meet Margo! I had to say something, be somebody, make her like me!

ADDISON She did like you,

ADDISON ...she helped and trusted you! You paid her back by trying to take Bill away!

EVE That's not true!

ADDISON I was there, I saw you...

ADDISON ...and heard you through the dressing room door!

Eve turns face down again, sobbing miserably.

ADDISON You used my name and my column to blackmail Karen into getting you the part of "Cora" - and you lied to me about it!

EVE (into the bed) No-no-no...

ADDISON I had lunch with Karen not three hours ago. As always with women who want to find out things, she told...

ADDISON ...more than she learned... (he lets go of her hands) ...

ADDISON Do you want to change your story about Lloyd beating at your door the other night?

Eve covers her face with her hands.

EVE Please... please...

Addison get off the bed, looks down at her.

ADDISON That I should want you at all suddenly strikes me as the height of improbability.

ADDISON But that, in itself, is probably the reason.

ADDISON You're an improbable person, Eve, and so am I. We have that in common. Also a contempt for humanity, an inability to love or be loved, insatiable ambition - and talent. We deserve each other. Are you listening to me?