Born to Be Bad (1934) Movie Script

Are you looking at
the same thing I am?
Yes. That's the most beautiful girl
I've ever seen in my life.
And isn't that a stunning gown?
Looks as though she just
stepped out of Vogue.
- I wonder who she is.
- Oh, uh, we don't want to seem rude...
but we've been admiring
that beautiful girl at the bar.
Would you tell us who she is?
I'm sorry.
I should know, but I don't.
She comes here every night, always with
a different man, always in a new gown...
and always just as beautiful.
Well, whoever she is,
she's doing very well.
- Hello?
- The truant officer wants to see ya.
Oh. Oh yes.
Send him right up.
You can go up to 305.
Let me go. I can walk!
- Come in!
Please make yourself comfortable.
I'll be right in.
All right.
Is something wrong?
Nothing my little boy's done, I hope.
- Don't tell me Mickey's in trouble.
- Yes, he is.
And this isn't the first time. There are
three other counts against your boy.
Oh.
Mickey!
Now, if you can't handle him, Mrs. Strong,
perhaps the juvenile authorities can.
Oh, no, no.
Please don't say that.
Oh, you wouldn't do that!
Well, l... I really...
I really don't know what to say. l...
Oh, I'm awfully sorry.
Oh, Mickey, how can
you act this way?
I don't know what I'm
going to do with you.
Aw.
But I'll reason with him.
I'll make him understand,
if you'll only give me one more chance.
What he needs is
a good, strong hand!
Yes. Please. Just one
more chance is all I ask.
Well, uh...
- All right. Just one more chance.
Oh, you're so kind, Mr. Orbison.
Just talk to him like a mother.
- Good day.
- Good-bye.
Golly, Ma, you were good.
You almost had me believin' ya.
- What's the idea of playin' hooky?
- Oh, I don't like school.
- They treat ya like a baby.
- Mm-hmm.
Anyway, I already got plenty of brains.
- Well, if you're so smart,
how'd ya get caught?
- He sneaked up on me.
The sneak. I was carryin' this thing.
- What's that?
- Beer bottles.
- What's the idea?
That guy over in the delicatessen
gives me two cents apiece for them.
- Where'd ya get 'em?
- Just found them.
Why you cheap little thief.
- Where did you get this?
- Golly, Letty.
- I had to have somethin'
to carry them in.
- One of my best nightgowns!
- What do you mean? Get over there!
- Cut it out!
- I'll teach you to do a thing like that.
- Let me go!
Ow! You gotta let me up, I tell ya!
Let me go, now! Let me up!
- Look at that.
- That's what you get for gettin' funny.
Aw, that's nothin'.
If you're gonna dish it out...
- you gotta be able to take it.
- Yeah, I know.
- But you shouldn't
kick your mother, Mickey.
- Why not?
Ain't you always tellin' me to fight back
when anyone takes a poke at me?
Sure. That's right.
Beat 'em to the punch every time.
Come here.
You know, Mick, sometime you're...
Some day you're gonna thank me
for all the things I've told you.
What your mother's taught you
will take a lot of rough edges
off the hard knocks.
I don't have to wait for someday.
I think you're swell right now.
You're not gonna go through
what I did.
- Not if I can help it.
- What did you go through, Mom?
- The clothes wringer.
- You mean somebody really put
you through a clothes wringer?
- Sure.
- Who was it, the big stiff?
- I'd like to take a sock at 'im.
A man you never knew, darling.
A man who went away
before I found you.
Ooh! 6:00. Gotta get dressed.
Hello? Oh, Steve?
Wanna talk to Letty? Just a minute.
Hey, ma. It's Steve. Wanna talk to him?
- Yeah. Bring me the phone.
- I'm okay, Stevie.
How are you?
How was your fight last night?
- Win any dough?
- Come on. Give me that.
Hello?
Yeah, I'm takin' a bath.
Who, Max?
Where is he from? Detroit?
- Told St. Louis I'd see him tonight.
- You mean Hirschbaum.
Oh, forget about him. I got his order.
Now this new guy buys for
two of the biggest department
stores in the Middle West.
Yeah, and there'll be
plenty in it for you too.
- Is he one of those idea guys?
- I'll say he is.
- He's just full of ideas.
- No wisecracks, now.
- I'll have you know I'm strictly a model.
- And what a model.
- Say, Steve. You know that
little gray crepe number?
Yeah, number 37. Well, I spilled
gin all down the front of it.
- You better send me up another one.
- Okay, baby.
- All right. Good-bye.
Don't, Mick. Don't do that!
Leave that alone.
Go on. Get out of here.
- Ohh!
- Go on! Get outta here.
Hello, Fuzzy-face.
Ma, Fuzzy-face is here.
- Hello, Letty.
- Hello, Fuzzy.
I'll be out
in a minute, Fuzzy.
Well, well! How's my little boy?
- Hey-o.
- I got somethin' for you.
Something nice.
Something for a good little boy.
A very good copy of Hans Brinker.
You don't say. Any pictures in it?
- Hello, Fuzzy. Wasn't so long, was it?
- Oh, Letty, you're beautiful.
Simply beautiful.
- Like it?
- Do I like it? Huh! Takes my breath away.
- Oh, Fuzzy...
Letty, I got three tickets
for the seventh row, in the center.
And it's to hear Mischa Elman.
Oh! What a great artist.
Mm! So tender, and so true!
- Come on, Fuzzy. Hook me up, will ya?
- Sure.
Here, I'll do it myself.
Please don't think I'm trying
to intrude, Letty, but you
couldn't be any closer to me...
if you was my own daughter,
and Mickey was my own son...
I know, darling.
We think you're swell.
Well, what I'm going
to say to you isn't so pleasant...
but it's been on my mind
for a long time...
- and I've gotta get it off.
- Well, sure. Go ahead.
- It's about Mickey.
- Yeah?
He's the talk of the neighborhood, Letty.
Smokes, he don't go to school.
He runs around with a lot
of roughnecks that's older than he is.
- And he's always in trouble, and...
- Oh, is that all?
"Is that all"? If you're trying to raise
him to be a first-rate scoundrel...
with a complete lack of ethics and
morals, you're certainly succeeding.
The poor little fella
don't know good from bad.
- And if he finally lands in prison,
he can thank you.
- Anything else?
- Plenty!
- Oh, Fuzzy!
In that first year,
when you worked in my bookstore...
and lived with me, it was different.
You were different.
Mickey was different.
He was a nice little baby,
and you were a nice little girl.
You think I'm a doddering old fool.
A buttinsky, maybe. Well, you're wrong.
I ain't so dumb. I know you can't wear
the clothes you wear...
and do the things you do,
and not pay for it, one way or another.
Now, if you want to ruin
your own life, it's a shame.
I'm sorry, but it's your life,
and you can do what you want with it.
But I'm thinkin' of something else.
I'm thinkin' of Mickey!
You're not bein' fair to him!
You're cheatin'!
You don't deserve a child!
All right. You've made
your little speech. Now I'll make mine.
Everything you've said about
Mickey is absolutely true.
Sure he has no honor,
no sense of ethics.
Furthermore, he doesn't believe
in Santa Claus, and he knows
that storks don't bring babies.
I've told him the truth, Fuzzy.
I've told him everything is a fake.
He knows all the questions
and all the answers.
And when he grows up to be a man,
if anybody puts anything over on him...
it won't be because
I didn't tell him!
"Honor and decency"?
That's a lot of hash.
What did it ever get me?
I was reared right.
People told me everything, except
how to protect myself in the clinches.
Did they ever tell me
what to really expect from life?
Did they ever suggest it might be
a case of survival of the fittest?
Did they ever tell me, if you don't
do you're gonna get done? No!
They told me nothin'!
And what happened?
The first time I met with a real problem
in life, I went down for the count.
You know what happened.
I wound up on your doorstep
in the rain, cold and hungry.
Fifteen years old, with
a baby about to be born.
No husband, no money
and nobody I could go to.
If it hadn't been for you, there
wouldn't be any Mickey, or any me.
Oh, boy. That's what I call
a swell start in life.
Believe me, nothing like that's
gonna happen to my boy...
not if I can prevent it.
He's gonna be so darn smart by the time
he's of age that he won't have to worry.
Furthermore, if I ever get my
hands on a big enough bankroll...
we're gonna be so darned
respectable and honest it'll hurt.
Gee. You got
an awful lot to learn, Letty.
Someday you're gonna wake up
and realize what a mistake you made.
Mickey, get Fuzzy
a glass of beer, will ya?
I got Mick, see?
I can't afford to be poor anymore.
You mustn't take life so seriously.
Nothing matters very much.
Maybe not to you.
But to me, it matters.
And another thing: stop worrying
about other people, will ya?
Oh, I'm sorry about tonight,
Fuzzy. Really I am.
But we'll make it
next Tuesday night for sure.
- Mom, where's Fuzzy?
- In the other room, I guess.
He's not there.
Fuzzy?
Say, did the old gentleman
with a beard just go out of here?
- Yeah, he just went out.
- Oh.
Poor Fuzzy.
Guess I hurt his feelings now.
What do you mean, hurt his feelings?
Oh, nothin'. Let it go. I'll drop by
his bookstore in the morning.
Hey, Ma, he ain't no kin to us, is he?
No. He's all right, though.
How long have you known him, Ma?
Just about as long as I've known you.
- I met him the same day.
- Where?
Same place I met you. In his bookstore.
- That's why we're such good pals.
- You like him, don't ya?
Sure I like him.
Almost as much as I like you, honey.
But how did it happen, Ma?
It's a long story, honey.
I was walkin' down the street
one day, Mick.
It was pouring.
I was feelin' kind of wet too.
Then you came along, floatin'
down the gutter on a cabbage leaf.
All wrapped up in cellophane.
Old Fuzzy-face took us in
and gave us both a place to sleep.
Really, Ma? Is that how I met you?
Something like that.
You were born in the back room
of his bookstore, honey.
Hurry up!
Mickey! Mickey! Mickey!
- I'll take him.
- No, no, no! You killed him!
- Why don't you look where you're goin'?
- He ran under the truck himself.
Go away. Come on. Let's break up.
What's your name?
While the Amalgamated Dairies truck
wasn't to blame for this accident...
- as a matter of fairness...
- Mrs. Strong, we'll do anything.
Get the best doctors you can.
It doesn't matter how much it costs.
Just a minute, please!
We are willing to make a reasonable
settlement in this case, Mrs. Strong.
Oh! How can you come up here
and speak of money?
Settlements?
It's my baby lying in there.
Doctor, is there no decency, no
consideration? Do they think I care...
how much money
they're willing to pay?
- Now, madame. If you let our doctor...
- Get out of here!
- I'll handle this.
- You? What can you do?
Well, you see, Mrs. Strong, I happen to
be president of the Amalgamated Dairies.
The reason I was driving my truck,
I can explain by saying that...
I make it a point every so often
to check every phase of my business.
And yesterday, unfortunately,
it was driving a truck.
Believe me, Mrs. Strong,
I'm greatly concerned about your boy.
And I want to do everything
in my power to help you.
I don't want to spare any expense.
If the boy needs a specialist...
- I am a specialist, Mr...
- Trevor's my name, sir.
- Oh, this is Dr. Steele, Mr. Trevor.
- How do you do?
Yes, Mr. Trevor, I have handled
a great many cases of this type.
Mrs. Strong, l... I know this is hardly
the time to discuss money...
but if you need me,
please reach me here any time, will you?
- Thank you.
- Good-bye, Mrs. Strong.
Good-bye.
Come on, Lieber.
- Mr. Trevor...
- I'll talk to you about that outside.
Bye.
You were wonderful. I'll send
the lawyer up to see you right away.
- Don't talk to anyone in the meantime.
- I got ya, Doc.
- I won't say a word.
I'll pay ya, Doctor...
- No, no, no, Mrs. Strong.
You can settle with me later.
Oh, I understand.
- Later.
- Mm-hmm.
Here, here, young man. You get
back into bed. Come on. Get in there.
- I have to talk to you, anyway.
- Look, Ma.
- The big lunk broke my skate.
- Never mind that for a minute.
Listen, Mick.
You'd like an automobile, wouldn't you?
Would you like to go to Coney Island
when you wanted to, with enough money...
- so you could do just as you wanted?
- What are you drivin' at, Ma?
Well, listen, sweetheart.
If you were really hurt...
if your leg was smashed up
so that you couldn't walk...
the company that ran over ya
would have to pay a lot
of money, wouldn't they?
- See?
- Would that mean you and me
could go places together?
And you wouldn't always be runnin' out
every night with Steve and all those guys?
Sure, honey. We'd be together
always, then. Every night, all the time.
With money to do as we please, and
I wouldn't even have to look at Steve...
- and those other palookas.
- I got ya, Ma.
Your Honor, my next witness
will be Michael Strong.
The little boy who has suffered
so keenly by this accident.
Take it easy.
Give me your help, will you, please?
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Mickey, l-I want you to tell me...
Oh! Don't be afraid of those people there.
Th-They're all your friends.
Sure, they're your friends.
Now, Mickey, I want you
to tell me how you feel.
I feel all right. Except for my leg.
- And sometimes, a headache.
- Mm-hmm.
It doesn't hurt anymore
much here.
- But sometimes, it feels like
needles and pins, right here.
- Uh-huh.
Mickey, how long is it since you've
been able to play with other little boys?
I don't remember.
It's a long time.
What were the things
you used to like to do...
before this truck ran over you?
I used to like to run and play
and roller-skate and go to school.
I guess I miss school most of all.
Now, tell me one more thing, Mickey.
I'd like to know.
- How old are ya?
- Seven and a half.
Now, tell me, Mickey,
can you read and write?
I used to. But I forgot how.
I get a headache when I try
to read or look at pictures.
That'll be all, Mickey.
- Cross-examination?
- No questions, Your Honor.
- Come here.
No! Mickey! My baby!
Oh, Mickey darling!
Oh! Oh, Mickey! Darling.
- There, darling.
- You murderer! You murderer!
Look what you've done!
I could choke you!
- Order! Order!
The jury will ignore the scene
they have just witnessed.
Your Honor, we concede the fact...
that this boy and his mother would
be entitled to damages, provided...
the testimonies we have been hearing
were based upon the truth.
But they are not. The testimonies
are completely and intentionally false.
That statement I can prove, if the court
will permit me to darken this room.
I have some moving pictures
which I wish to display as evidence...
as to the soundness of this boy.
- Your Honor, I object!
- Objection overruled.
Thank you, Your Honor.
We have reliable witnesses, Your Honor...
authentic data
of every measure to prove...
that the motion picture film
which you are about to witness
was taken after the accident.
Attendant, darken the room,
draw those curtains.
Your Honor, this was taken
1 1 days after the accident.
This was taken 1 5 days
after the accident.
And we have reputable witnesses
to prove this statement.
- Look, Ma, I did it...
- Order.
Your Honor, I object.
This is immaterial, "irrevelant,"
and inconsequential
and has no bearing on the case.
Objection overruled.
Oh, Letty, Letty, Letty.
- Oh, Fuzzy!
- How could you?
- We've had enough of this.
Open those shades.
In all my years as a jurist...
I have never witnessed such
a flagrant abuse of the court...
such a perjurious scheme
to obtain money under false pretenses.
As a justice, I feel it my duty...
to turn this matter over
to the criminal parties for prosecution.
And I can find no words
too severe to label a woman...
who would permit her child to be
dragged into such proceedings...
to teach her child to lie.
A woman like you
doesn't deserve a child.
And furthermore, I am going
to do all in my power...
to see that your boy
is taken away from you.
- Oh, Mickey...
- My skates, Ma.
The one with the glasses says
there's sidewalks all around the place.
- Oh, Mick.
- Cut it out, Ma. Will ya?
What'll those dames think?
Oh, Mick. Don't ya care...
- even a little bit?
- You don't think I like the idea
of bein' cooped up, do you?
I know.
I'll get you out of there. They can't
take you away from me. Nobody living can.
You'll have to hurry.
We can't wait all day.
All right, all right.
Big fort.
Now, listen you.
Remember everything
I told you. Use your head.
I'll get with you somehow,
and when I do, you be ready, see?
I got ya, Ma.
Get your skates, honey.
Oh, Mickey!
- You wanted to look these over?
- Oh, yes. Thanks.
- Anything else?
- Oh, Mrs. Strong came back again.
I told her quite definitely
you wouldn't see her.
- But she's, uh...
- Yes, yes, I know. Don't say it.
- I'll attend to those in the morning.
- Anything further?
No, that's all, thanks, Miss Crawford.
I just want to get out of here.
- Good night.
- Good night.
- I beg your pardon.
I thought you were told...
- Yeah, I know.
- You don't want to see me.
- You're quite right. I don't.
Well, that's too bad.
Because you're going to.
You've got to help me,
and I'm gonna make you help me.
Mrs. Strong. I've avoided seeing
you because I could think
of nothing I can do for you.
And as for your boy Mickey, it was
the court took him from you, not me.
You could have stopped that.
You could have told the court
it wasn't necessary...
- to take my kid away from me.
- Even if you weren't talking nonsense...
why should I have interfered?
Am I responsible for the life you led?
How do you think these melodramatic
antics are gonna get you anyplace?
Maybe now you'll believe me.
I want my kid, see?
You're gonna tell that
judge to give him back.
- Put that gun down.
- Stay there or I'll plug ya. I swear!
Give me the gun.
- You're not as tough as you thought.
- I'm not trying to be.
I want Mickey! You
don't know what it is, wantin' your kid.
- No, I guess not.
- I can't sleep, or eat or think.
The only thing I can think
of is that kid up there.
Seeing him on Sundays
is like he's in jail. My baby, in jail!
I'm goin' nuts, I tell you!
Won't you do something? Do anything.
- Only get him out of there.
- Well, there's one way.
What?
Anything, mister.
I'll do anything. Anything you say.
- Only get him out of there.
Please, Mr. Trevor. Anything.
- All right.
I'll do what I can.
Now, sit down, and let's
talk this over sensibly.
I can't do a thing like this.
I can't let sentiment rule.
It's a case of right or wrong.
Oh, she's an attractive woman,
I know. But she's not capable
of raising a child decently.
Why he's full of the devil,
right now. Rough. Hard as nails.
Seven years old.
What'll he be when he gets to 20?
Oh, I had him sent over.
Would you like to talk to him? Mm?
Yes, have the matron
bring in Mrs. Strong's boy.
He's a tough brat.
But I must admit, he's smart as a whip.
Hello, Mickey. Remember me?
Sure. You're the guy
we all thought was a sucker.
- Say, whatever became of those movies?
Oh, they're around somewhere, I guess.
- Would you like to have them?
- You bet.
Well, I'll see what I can do about it.
- How's your leg?
- My leg's all right.
If it wasn't for those movies,
everything would have been swell.
Come over here, Mickey.
What's the matter with you? Aren't they
treating you nicely around here?
Ah, they're okay. Only I don't
like the idea of being cooped up.
- Do you miss your mother?
- Sorta.
Is there any way
I can get charge of this boy?
- You mean, yourself?
- Yes.
Well, you could adopt him
if his mother didn't object.
Or for that matter, I could
give you a court order...
if you'll take the full
responsibility of raising him.
How'd you like that, Mickey?
- How'd you like to come stay with me?
- Where do you live?
- Oh, out in the country.
- Is it far from New York?
- No, not so far.
- How about my mother?
- Can she come too?
- Sure. She can come and
see you anytime at all.
- Okay. I'll go.
- Now, wait a minute.
A couple of things...
I have to fix... You see, I have a wife.
No, I guess
she'd be agreeable.
You see, Mickey, we haven't
any little boy of our own.
- The sooner, the better.
- Okay.
Holy cow.
- Oh, fine!
Uh, lemme go, will ya?
I can go by myself.
- Oh, hi, Ma.
- Hello, Mick.
- How do you do, Mrs. Trevor?
- How do you do, Mrs. Strong?
- Mrs. Trevor, I'd like to have
a word with my son, please.
- Okay.
- Come on in, Ma.
- You'll excuse me while
I slip something on?
- Yes, of course.
- Watch me, Ma!
- Come on. Get out of there.
- What for?
Get out.
What's the idea acting
like a baby with that woman?
- Ah, baloney. I was just usin'
her for a life raft, Ma.
- Ahh!
Look at the little girl's
panties. Well, show Mama.
- Aren't they sweet?
- What's eatin' you, Ma?
You've taken quite a sudden
liking to water, haven't ya?
- Aren't you afraid you'll get
your neck and ears clean?
- Aw, what's the matter, Ma?
You come out here, and right off
the bat you start bawlin' me out.
How 'bout gettin' your clothes on
and coming with me, huh?
- Now?
- Yeah!
Well, I don't want to go now, Ma.
You know those movies they took of me?
- Mal is bringin' 'em home tonight.
- Quick. Here she comes.
- Don't you think you'd
better get dressed?
- Aww.
Hi, Union Suits. See that guy, Ma?
He wears union suits.
Long drawers.
Don't ya, Union Suits?
- Mickey, you mustn't.
- Pardon me, miss.
The gentleman in a car says he has
an appointment at the racetrack at 2:30.
- Thanks.
- Get a load of the waddle, Ma.
- All right. Now pipe down, will ya?
- He doesn't mean anything bad.
If you gave me a hundred million
trillion billion dollars...
- I wouldn't wear a union suit.
- I don't blame you.
How about the bathrobe
before you catch cold?
I want you to feel free to come
and see Mickey any time, Mrs. Strong.
- Thanks.
- Because we know how glad
Mickey is to see you.
- Yep.
- We're pretty fond of him already.
We want him to love us too.
Pardon me, will you?
Come here, sweetheart.
Mama wants to talk to you.
- I'll be back tomorrow.
- Make it around 4:00. I'm
supposed to take a nap then.
- Okay. I'll meet you right
outside the main gate, see?
- Okay, Ma.
- Mrs. Trevor? Go on. Beat it, kid.
- Bye, Mrs. Strong.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Good-bye.
- Mickey?
- What are you doing?
Oh, Mickey, please stop teasing.
Wait a minute, young man.
What's all this?
It's all my own stuff.
Let me go, will ya?
Let me go! You can keep it...
all but the skates.
Aha!
I think we'd better
take a little walk up the hill.
- Come on.
So, you see, Mickey?
It's all a matter of how you think.
There's no harm in taking the things
you need or in going to see your mother.
It's the idea of sneaking about it,
trying to be clever.
- You don't have to be clever with us.
- And you're not sore at me?
No. I don't blame ya
for taking nice things to your mother.
That's a pretty good idea.
Only you don't have to sneak them.
Gee whiz, I'm sorry, Mr. Trevor.
You're just trying
to make me feel good now...
after I copped all your junk.
It isn't my junk. It's ours... yours too.
You see, you're one of us now.
Do you understand?
After all, you wouldn't steal something
that was your own, would you?
Golly, you make me feel like a heel.
You're not a heel.
You're a good boy.
- Isn't he, dear?
- Mickey can be anything he wishes to be.
There's one thing, though, Mickey.
Make me a promise.
Give me your word that
you won't try to run away again.
You see, I made a promise.
I promised I'd look after ya.
And if you run away,
then I've broken my word.
And if can help it,
I never go back on my word.
If you'd gotten away
that would've been a reflection on me.
When you want to see your mother,
you can any time.
Now, Mickey, will you give me your word...
your word of honor...
- that you won't try to run away again?
- I promise.
Okay. That's all I want,
your promise. Now, go on.
Run along. Get your nap.
He never even hit me,
you big squealer.
And all that stuff I had
in that pillowcase is mine, see?
Everything around here is mine...
all that grass and everything.
And I can go out this gate
anytime I want to, see?
- You ask the big shot.
- Okay. It's up to Mr. Trevor.
- Hey, come on. Move, will ya?
- I'm coming, Mom.
Sorry. I tried to get here,
but I got caught.
- Mmm, swipin' a lot
of cheap junk again, huh?
- But, you see, in the house...
- Well, never mind. Come on.
- I can't go now like this.
- What do you mean, you can't go?
Get in here, will ya?
- No, Ma. I can't.
- Say, what are you givin' me, Mickey?
- I can't run away like this.
- I promised Mal I wouldn't.
- What do you mean, "promised"?
I gave him my word...
my word of honor.
- You mean, you don't want
to go away with me?
- No, it isn't that.
But I'm in a spot. I gave him my word
that I wouldn't try any funny business.
And you can't break your word of honor.
You gave him
your word of honor, did ya?
Mm-hmm. I ought to slap the daylights
out of you, you little brat!
- Turning on me like a stranger!
- There's nothing wrong with Mal.
- He's all right. You're
all wet about him, Ma.
- All wet, am I?
Everything you've been tellin' me
is a lot of baloney.
- Shut your mouth!
Come on. Get in this car!
- Wait a minute. Where ya goin'?
- Who wants to know?
- Oh, a flatfoot.
- Yeah, he's a copper, Ma.
Come on. Let's go up to the house.
Cut it, will ya? I'm not
interested in what you think!
That kid's mine, not yours!
Oh, you're bad...
bad all the way through.
- You're just a beautiful bad girl.
- Oh, yeah?
- You can't come here again.
- Oh, can't I? Well, you just watch me!
Mickey's mine now. You've got
to understand. I'm gonna keep him.
- I wish I'd killed you
when I had the chance.
- It's a little too late...
You're the one
who started all this trouble.
Mickey and I were gettin' along
swell before you came along.
Do you realize that he didn't
want to go away with me?
He didn't want his own mother.
Don't you realize you've taken
my own kid away from me?
- Oh, yes, Letty. I know.
- Get away from me!
You've given him things
I couldn't, because you're rich.
He's only a little kid,
and he doesn't know any better!
- Letty, please.
- Now, he's gone away from me...
- gone as much as if you'd killed him.
- Oh, I understand.
Sure, I'm bad, but he didn't think so.
He thought I was swell.
And since you came along, he... he...
- Letty! Letty! Letty what's the matter?
Hello, Steve? Letty.
Say, I'm out at the Trevor home, and I'm
gonna stay here for a couple of days.
Yeah. Well, never mind what happened.
I fainted. Is that good enough?
Now, I want you
to do something for me.
Pack a suitcase
and send it out here right away.
Yeah, all right. And, listen.
Don't forget to put an evening dress in.
Right.
I'm not interested in the money angle.
I want Mickey.
Will ya listen to me?
Listen. I'm talkin' to ya
like you was my own daughter...
my own flesh and blood.
Such an opportunity a girl
never had in her whole lifetime.
Oh, don't worry.
You'll get your kid back.
On top of that, you'll get
yourself a fortune, besides.
Even if the kid got killed...
positively you wouldn't be so well off.
- Okay, what is this brainstorm of yours?
- Oh, it's no trick.
It's a simple matter of pushing a button.
- The trick is for you
to get him to make love.
- Go ahead.
Well, just to get him to make love,
that's not enough.
The trick is to get evidence... proof...
that he's making the wrong kind of love.
"Darling, I love you. Every time
I see you, I get goose pimples."
That means nothing.
But if he says, "Darling, I've got
to have you. I can't stand it,"
and we got him panting like a fox.
- That already means money in the bank.
- Mm-hmm.
Okay, get your contraption.
- Sort of a rotten trick
to play on his wife.
- You should worry about her.
Didn't they go sneaking like a snake
taking pictures of your kid?
- Okay, you're the doctor.
- All right. I'll leave everything here.
- I'll take the cord with me
and the tools.
- Not so loud. Not so loud!
All right. I'll just put
these things away.
- I've got to take this old cord
with me too.
- All right. All right.
Hurry up, will you?
I can't alibi your being here.
Yeah. Here. You'd better take some
of these records. You might use 'em.
- All right. Come on. Get out.
- Mmm-mm.
- Come on. Get out of here.
- All right. All right.
- What a woman.
- All right. All right. All right.
- [Mal's Voice] Well,
We really haven't much time.
- [Letty] Sit down.
- We have some guests due here...
- Aw, sit here with me.
- Say, what's troubling you?
- [Letty] You know
what it is. I want Mickey.
- I can't stay here. You know that.
- Well, I guess not.
[Letty] I can't give him up.
Every time I think of it, I'm sick.
I'll do anything, Mal.
All you have to do is say the word.
- Wait a minute. That isn't necessary.
- Give him back. Please!
- No, I've got to go.
- What's the matter with you?
You afraid of me?
And when you get out
this time, stay out.
- Malcolm. Who's that
pretty girl in the doorway?
- Hello.
Why, excuse me, dear. Just a minute.
- Hey, what's the meaning of this?
- Oh, hello.
- Am I welcome?
- You weren't invited, were you?
Well, I thought as long as I was leaving
tomorrow, what's the difference?
Dance with me.
Well, I suppose this comes
under the heading of madness.
Oh, no. It's sane. Very sane.
- Are you out of your mind?
- Mm-hmm. About you.
- You realize what you're doing?
- Perfectly.
- Come on. Let's go outside.
- Oh, should we?
Now, what do ya want?
- You.
- You're being ridiculous.
- What's ridiculous about that?
- Go to your room and leave the house now.
Oh, no.
You don't want me to go, Mal.
Letty, I've done everything to make
this difficult situation easier for you.
Mm-hmm. I know you have.
And all I want to do
is show you my gratitude.
- Don't you want my gratitude, Mal?
- No, I don't.
Because you're cheap, and you're
dishonest. You're a thoroughly...
Sure I am.
What woman isn't
about the man she loves?
- Come in.
I, uh...
It's that music.
Would you mind shutting it off?
- I'm not disturbing anyone, am I?
- Yes, you are.
- I'll stop it.
- No, no, no. I'll turn it off.
See? I turned it down.
I was afraid you'd gone to sleep.
I couldn't. I tried, but I couldn't.
[Mal's Voice] I do love you,
Letty. I'm mad about you.
- [Letty's Voice] Oh, Malcolm,
please. You've got a wife.
- Nothing matters but you.
Mal, Mal, stop it, please!
- Can't help it, Letty. I love you.
- Oh...
- Come in.
- You want to see me, Ma?
- Yeah, Mick. Pack your things.
- What for? I don't want to go now.
- We're leavin'.
Don't argue! Get your things!
You're goin' with me!
I fixed that once and for all.
Let's wait till my birthday.
Mal said he was gonna give me a pony.
Do as I tell you before you get
something you won't forget!
Get out of here!
- Well, what's wrong, Mickey?
- Ma says I got to go.
I don't have to, do I?
I'll talk to your mother.
Go on. Run along downstairs.
- Watch out.
She's burned about somethin'.
- Okay.
- Come in.
Letty, what's all this about Mickey?
Told me to get outta here. I'm going.
I don't need a second invitation.
- What's more I'm takin' Mickey with me.
- Letty, you can't do that.
I've been puttin' up with your drivel
long enough. I'm sick and tired of it.
I've taken a lot of it, see?
But I don't have to take any more.
Not after last night.
Wait a minute, Letty,
listen to me, will you?
I want to tell you something.
After last night,
you and I are just the same.
There's no difference at all. Get it?
I'm takin' that kid with me, see?
And you and no one else is gonna stop me.
- No, you can't do it.
- Oh, can't I?
Just try somethin' and see what happens.
You wouldn't like me to have a little
talk with your wife, would you, Mal?
Letty, I told her.
What do you mean, told her?
- I told her everything
this morning. I had to.
- Are you out of your mind?
Letty, I love you more than ever.
I told you that last night,
and I meant it. Do you understand?
No, I don't understand.
I'm all mixed up.
Oh, dear, there's nothing
to be mixed up about.
It'll all work out, believe me.
Alice understands.
You're gonna have Mickey and me,
and you're not gonna have
to fight and struggle anymore.
I can't believe it.
It isn't true, your wanting me.
You don't know what you're saying.
Come on, Mick. Get into your clothes.
We're goin' into town.
- Mal said it was all fixed to stay.
- It is. We're comin' back.
- Why don't you go, Ma,
and let me stay here?
- We're comin' back!
I don't wanna go.
I'm goin' swimmin' with Alice.
Oh, so you'd rather go with her
than go would with me, would ya?
You come here to me.
Come here to me, Mickey!
- I don't have to do
what you say anymore!
- Who said so?
You're not helping me anymore,
Mal is. He said I could stay.
Mal has nothing to do with it!
You're my kid, and you're gonna
do what I say! Come here to me!
Mickey!
Come here to me! You hear me, you...
Come here!
Mickey. Mickey.
- Come here!
- Alice! Alice!
- Don't let her get me!
- Come here to me! Come here!
- Is this necessary?
- Who's kid is this, mine or yours?
- Yours, unfortunately.
- Then, shut up. Come here.
- Run along. Leave us for a few minutes.
- Come here!
- What are you gonna do?
- I'm going to give you
a word of advice about Mal.
- Coming from you that
ought to be pretty valuable.
- If you're wise enough...
- you may be able to hold him,
well, maybe a year.
- What do you mean a year?
Possibly not even a year. I don't think
he'll be able to stand you that long.
- But if you're smart...
- Smart enough to get what I wanted.
No, not smart...
you just have good health,
youth and you're a female.
- What are you trying to say?
- You're bad, that's all.
You have no rules.
If you have no rules in one thing...
you probably have no rules in any other.
That won't do, not with Mal.
Mal's what's called a gentleman...
a man with decent, proper instincts.
- And you're an ill-bred little tramp.
- Who did he pick...
- you or the tramp?
- Neither. You picked him.
Almost any woman
can pick any man, your way.
It's the cheap way, used by cheap women.
But it won't last. Men like Mal
are after diamonds, not rhinestones.
- You say another word,
and I'll tear your eyes out!
- You're a common little beast...
- and I intend to tell you!
- and I intend to tell you!
- [Mickey] Help! Help!
- Mickey!
Help! Help!
- Sounds like I swallowed
the ocean, all right.
Feel a little better, don't you?
- He'll be all right.
- Thank you, Doctor.
- Still sore, Ma?
- Sure.
- But not at you.
- At who?
- Myself.
- Aw, you'll get over that.
Mrs. Trevor?
I don't know how to say it,
but I'm awful grateful.
He wouldn't be alive now, except for you.
I want you to know that no matter
how rotten you think I am, l...
- I do appreciate it.
- That's all right.
You're pretty white, aren't ya?
If I was in your spot,
after what happened, l...
I think I'd want to commit murder.
- You mean about Malcolm.
- Yeah.
He hasn't done anything
to hurt me. Nobody has.
- You mean, you don't love him?
- I'll always love him...
Iove him more than anything in the world.
- I don't get ya.
- Well, it just happened.
You've given him
something that I couldn't...
something he's always wanted...
a little boy, Mickey.
This... what I'm going through...
it isn't too much to make Mal happy.
Do you see?
Yeah, I see.
I see a lot of things all of a sudden.
Oh, you've certainly given me
an education, Mrs. Trevor,
and I don't mean maybe.
Ma? Ma!
I don't have to stay
in bed all day, do I, Ma?
What's the matter, Ma?
You act like you got the pip.
Maybe I have.
- Mick, you like it here, don't ya?
- And how.
- And Malcolm,
you like him too, don't ya?
- Sure. Don't you?
- And you like Alice too.
- Alice is okay.
Where ya goin', Ma?
I'll be back in a minute, honey.
Hi, Union Suits!
There's a Mr. Karns waiting downstairs.
Oh, tell him I'll be right down.
There's some bags in my room.
- Thank you.
You didn't tell me Steve
was comin' up for you, Ma.
- Mick, I'm blowin'.
- You can't do that, Ma.
What would Mal say?
I don't know if you know it, Ma,
but Mal's nuts about you.
Yeah? Well, I'm glad someone
around here likes me.
Golly, Ma, that ain't no way to talk.
- Why, Mick? Why?
- Well...
Well l...
Oh, please, say it, darling.
Please. Just once.
- Well, I don't want you to go either...
more than everything,
since you're so different.
I'm glad you don't want me to go, Mick.
That makes me feel swell, honest it does.
- But I got to, honey. It's right.
- What do you mean, right?
Well, I don't belong here. I don't fit.
You know, all that stuff I told ya about
bein' hard, dishin' it out, takin' it?
- Yeah.
- Sure. Well, that's swell
for someone like me...
but not you, honey.
- It isn't right. It's all wrong.
- I know.
I'm glad you found it out, Ma.
I guess you been talkin' to somebody.
Sure.
I been wrong about a lot of things.
- You're really stuck on him,
aren't ya, Ma?
- Aw, don't be silly.
You can't fool me.
You were never this way about
Steve or any of them other guys.
Listen, Mick. Malcolm's a wonderful man.
- From now on, you do what he says, see?
- Golly, Ma, you scare me.
- You act like you're goin'
to the North Pole or somethin'.
- Oh, no.
I'm not goin' to the North Pole.
But I'm goin' away.
- Ain't ya comin' back?
- Oh, sure, I'm comin' back.
- Sometime, maybe, if it's right.
- Don't go, Ma! Please!
Oh, now, Mickey, don't cry.
Don't cry, Mickey.
- If you do, I'll spank ya.
- I got ya, Ma.
- Oh, baby.
Oh, Mick.
Good-bye, ya big baby.
- Well, well. Hello.
- Hello.
- What's all the rush? What happened?
- Nothin'. Nothing.
I'm going into town, that's all.
Can't I even go to town
without askin' you? Let me go, will ya.
- Not until you've told me.
- All right. I'll tell ya.
I'm leavin' here, see? I'm beatin' it.
I don't like it here anymore.
- Letty... Letty, you can't do that.
- Stop kiddin' yourself.
You certainly aren't dopey
enough to think I'd bury myself
in a spot like this...
with a guy like you.
I'd go nuts in a week.
- Letty, please.
- Oh, cut it.
What do you care, anyway?
I'm bad. You said it yourself.
Well, I was born that way, see?
And what's more,
I don't care. I like it. I think it's fine.
You ought to count yourself lucky, big boy.
Now, are you gonna get outta
my way, or am I gonna have
to make ya get outta my way?
Oh, Letty. Letty,
you're talking like a fool.
- You know I love you. And you love...
- Love you?
Sure, I loved ya, Mal. For an hour.
Maybe, I can love you
for another hour, who knows?
But that's all.
Already, I love another guy.
I don't even know what he looks like.
I don't know whether
he's tall or short or young or old.
But I do know he's got a suite
on a boat, and he's willing...
to take me to Paris
and show me a marvelous time.
And that suits me swell.
- You'd go with another man...
- Certainly! Why not?
Oh, Mal, you'll get over this.
You'll get over this just like
Mickey got over the measles.
Uh-uh. That's for Mickey.
Well, well, well, well.
So, ya came to see me.
- Oh, I'm so glad, Letty.
- Oh, Fuzzy.
So glad. You're just
in time for some supper. Come on.
- I'm not hungry, Fuzzy.
- Oh, a good, strong cup of coffee.
No, really.
Fuzzy, do you think
I could have my old job back?
Could ya? I'll say you could.
- I'll get ya a cup of coffee.
- All right.
What's happened to Mickey, Letty?
Oh, he's takin' a vacation in the country.
You kept this thing all this time.
What else could you do
with an old cradle?
Remember the time
when Mickey first climbed
over the side and crawled?
- Mm-hmm.
- He was always
a cute little baby, wasn't he?
Yeah.