Free Speed-the-Plow by David Mamet Page B

from all those fine folk suddenly see what a great “man” I am. N'when I do return my calls, Charl, do you know what I'll tell those people?
    F OX : No.
    G OULD : I'm going to tell them “Go through Channels.” This protects me from them. And from folk, fine as they are, like you, Charl, when you come to me for favors. Or did you come up here to congratulate me on my new promotion?
    F OX : Congratulations.
    G OULD : Do I deserve it?
    F OX : Yes. You do, Bob.
    G OULD : Why?
    F OX : Because you're a prince among men and you're Yertle the Turtle.
    G OULD : Alright then, that's enough. What did you bring me?
    F OX : This morning, Bob.
    G OULD : Yes?
    F OX : This morning Doug Brown came to me.
    G OULD : . . . Doug Brown.
    F OX ( pause ): He came to my house Bob. How would you like . . . How would you like for Doug Brown to “cross the street” to do a picture for us? ( Pause. ) Bob? How would you like , a script that I got him. He's nuts for it, he's free, we could start to shoot next month , I have his word and he'll come to the studio, and do the film for us. Doug Brown will cross the street and do a film for us next month.
    G OULD (picks up phone): Get me Ross. (Pause.)
    F OX : . . . do you see what I'm telling you?
    G OULD : . . . he came to your house . . .
    F OX : . . . can you believe what I'm saying to you . . .?
    G OULD : Douggie Brown. ( Into phone :) Ross ( Pause ) Richard Ross . . . no, no, no, don't look in the book . . . there's a button on the console . . . Richard R . . . just
    push the button on the. . . ( Pause. ) There's a button on the console . . . Richard Ross . . . just . .. Thank you. ( Hangs up the phone. Pause. ) Are you alright?
    F OX : I'm fine. I'm fine, I just need coffee.
    G OULD : We'll get it for you. Tell mmm . . .
    F OX : Alright, I, this is some time ago.
    G OULD : . . . uh huh . . .
    F OX : That I get the script to Brown . . .
    G OULD : What script. . .?
    F OX : You don't know it, a prison script . . .
    G OULD ( simultaneously with “script" ): One of ours . . .?
    F OX : I found it in the file. I loved it . . . all the time I'm thinking . . .
    G OULD : Uh huh . . .
    F OX : How to do this script, I, one day . . .
    G OULD : Uh huh . . .
    F OX : . . . so . . .
    G OULD : So, you give the script to Brown . . .
    F OX : Not “him,” his . . .
    G OULD : Uh huh . . .
    F OX : . . . his . . .
    G OULD : . . . I know . . .
    F OX : His “guy.”
    G OULD : Yes.
    F OX : Gives Douggie the script . . . ( Phone rings . G OULD picks up the phone. )
    G OULD ( into phone ): Yes. Thank you. ( Hangs up. ) Ross ' ll get back to us . . .
    F OX : . . . His guy gives Douggie the scri. . .
    G OULD : He gives Douggie the script.
    F OX : Yes.
    G OULD : Mmm . . .
    F OX : Months ago, alright? I don't know. Today , alright. . .? Today. ( Pause. ) I'm having coffee . . .
    G OULD : Umm hmmm . . .
    F OX : Who drives up?
    G OULD : . . . coffee at your house . . .
    F OX : Who drives up?
    G OULD : Douggie Brown.
    F OX : Douglas Brown drives up to my house. ( Pause. ) He says “I Want To Do Your Script. I've got this other thing to deal with, and we'll settle it tomorrow Call me ten o'clock tomorrow morning. I'll come in and sign up.” ( Phone rings. )
    G OULD ( into phone ): Hello . . . who? No calls. No calls. Just Richard Ross. And we need coffee . . . okay? Got it. . .? ( Hangs up. )
    F OX : . . . cross the street to shoot it. . .? And he says “why not.” ( Pause. )
    G OULD : . . . huh . . .
    F OX : Huh . . .?
    G OULD : . . . He'd come over here to shoot it. . .
    F OX : Sonofabitch like out of some damn fairytale.
    G OULD : . . . he drove to your house . . .
    F OX : . . . I'm looking out the window . . .
    G OULD : . . . son of a bitch . . .
    F OX : . . . Douglas Brown drives up . . .
    ( The phone rings . G OULD picks it up. )
    G OULD ( into phone ): Hello. Yes. Richard . . . ( Pause. ) Yes. Put him . . . Hello, Richard. Fine, just fine. They're painting it. Well, thank you. Thank you. Listen Richard. Do you need