89 INT: MARSHA'S APARTMENT - DAY PUPKIN, LANGFORD and MARSHA enter. It is an absolutely stunning studio apartment, furnished lavishly by Marsha's parents for their daughter in antique furniture suitable for a woman of fifty. MARSHA has imprinted her own stamp on the apartment in two ways: First, the place is abso- lutely chaotic. Secondly, there are a number of blow-up pictures on the wall. A picture of LANGFORD sits on the bureau. There is a big brass bed with an ornate brass frame at the foot. LANGFORD stares at MARSHA and PUPKIN. PUPKIN closes the blinds and turns on the lights. MARSHA trains the gun on LANGFORD. PUPKIN finishes his work and takes the gun back. PUPKIN I didn't like being so rough out there, Jerry. But I wanted you to know that I meant business. I didn't want anything happening to you over some misunderstanding. LANGFORD just stares at him, frozen with fear. PUPKIN Now I know you're wondering what this is all about. Actually you've got nothing to worry about. You just do what I tell you and by, say, midnight, you'll be safe and out of here. Of course if you try anything clever, I'll kill you -- or Marsha will. She knows how to use this too. LANGFORD You realize what you're saying. PUPKIN Come on, Jerry. This isn't a spur of the moment thing. Give me a little credit, will you. PUPKIN looks over to a small phone table with a chair next to it. He motions to it with his head. PUPKIN (to LANGFORD) Sit down. LANGFORD docilely sits by the phone. PUPKIN Now, you're going to call your office and tell them this: that unless a man who identifies himself as the King is allowed on the show tonight as the first guest, they'll never see you alive again. LANGFORD What? PUPKIN I'll say it again ... INT: MARSHA'S APARTMENT - DAY The scene is as before, only now LANGFORD is sweating a bit. LANGFORD (into the phone) Helen Keller. PUPKIN (warning) No tricks, Jerry. LANGFORD is standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, wearing a sweater that matches the patch of cloth we saw in the envelope MARSHA gave PUPKIN. PUPKIN is still training his pistol on LANGFORD and MARSHA is appraising the fit. MARSHA (to PUPKIN) What do you think? PUPKIN Looks fine. MARSHA (to LANGFORD) I had to guess on the sleeves. (to PUPKIN) He gets to keep it, doesn't he? PUPKIN Sure, if he isn't dead. LANGFORD is seated on a chair whose back is pressed right up against the high, ornate brass bedstead at the foot of the bed. MARSHA trains the gun on LANGFORD now. PUPKIN is unpacking a suitcase. He takes out a handsome blue suit, ruffled shirt, a bow tie, black shoes, underwear, socks, shaving equipment, soap, a hairbrush, a clothesbrush, a small shoe shine kit, aftershave lotion, deodorant and a dozen or so rolls of inch-and-a-half wide adhesive tape. He removes this stuff from a suitcase that is barely big enough to hold it -- so the mere packing of all this para- phernalia into such a small space represents something of an achievement. As he takes the stuff out, he talks to LANGFORD, his back turned to him. PUPKIN This wasn't an easy decision for me, Jerry, believe me. For one thing, I knew it meant we could never be friends again and that hurt me. It's hard to lose a friend, even one who has let you down. You always hope you can patch things up. You know, a guy like me doesn't make friends that easily. PUPKIN pauses a moment, then turns to LANGFORD, his voice filled with emotion. PUPKIN Why didn't you just listen to the tape when I asked you? Then I wouldn't have to be doing all this. Was it really too much to expect -- a few minutes of your time to listen to something I'd worked on my whole life? LANGFORD's eyes shift rapidly. He is obviously calculating how to deal with PUPKIN. LANGFORD (with disarming charm) Hey, if that's what's bothering you, let's go over to my office and listen to that tape right now. PUPKIN Are you crazy, Jerry? Do you know what would happen to me? MARSHA listens to this exchange a bit nervously. Gesturing to her gun, she says: MARSHA Am I going to have to hold this thing all day? PUPKIN sees she has lowered it practically to her side. PUPKIN (to MARSHA) Just keep it on him. (to LANGFORD) You know, Jerry. Friendship is a two- way street. All that time I was worrying about you and your ratings and everything, you couldn't have cared less about me. LANGFORD thinks rapidly for a beat or two. LANGFORD You're right. You know that? I was thoughtless. It's just that when you're doing a big show, it's hard to tell who your friends really are. I was wrong. I apologize. Why don't we just shake hands and forget the whole thing? PUPKIN (suspiciously) That's easy to say, Jerry. LANGFORD But I mean it. I'll tell them that the whole thing was a joke and then we can go to my office and listen to that tape. Come on. What do you say? LANGFORD rises with his hand extended toward PUPKIN. MARSHA (to LANGFORD, sharply) Sit down! LANGFORD looks to PUPKIN. MARSHA I said sit! LANGFORD reluctantly sits down. PUPKIN (to MARSHA) What's the matter? You heard what he said. MARSHA All of a sudden, with a gun on him, he wants to make up and be friends. And, once he's out the door, what happens then? PUPKIN What happens then, Jerry? MARSHA You get to his office and they jump you, that's what happens, Rupert. PUPKIN She's right, Jerry. LANGFORD Not if I tell them not to. This is Jerry, Rupert, I give you my word. PUPKIN (to MARSHA) He gives me his word. MARSHA Yeah? And what else? Come on, Rupert, I'm sick of waiting. PUPKIN And what else, Jerry? LANGFORD Come on, Rupert. My word's good enough, isn't it. PUPKIN stares at LANGFORD for a few beats. Then he shakes his head sadly and says in a very quiet, discouraged voice. PUPKIN No, Jerry. It's not. (to MARSHA) Keep the gun up! PUPKIN comes over to LANGFORD with a few rolls of adhesive tape in his hand. PUPKIN I'm sorry to do it this way, Jerry, but I'm no good at knots. Just put your arms up and out, okay? LANGFORD spreads his arms back against the brass bedstead. As PUPKIN goes to tape them, LANGFORD tries to grab him, but, with sudden, demonic force, PUPKIN pins him against the bedstead. They are practically nose to nose. PUPKIN Oh, no, Jerry. None of that. Now hold still.