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Scripts: Psycho (revised draft, 01/Dec/1959) - part 6

                                                  FADE IN

 INT. BACK ROOM OF HARDWARE STORE - (NIGHT)

 Lila is sitting close by the phone, and looks as if she hasn't 
 moved from it in the last hour. Sam is pacing, occasionally 
 stopping at the window, glancing out, pacing again. The ash 
 tray close to Lila is filled.

 There is a thick atmosphere of smoke, tension and weariness 
 in the small, otherwise cozy room.

                         SAM
                 (at window, quietly)
         Sometimes Saturday night has a lonely 
         sound. Ever notice, Lila?

                         LILA
                 (unable to keep up 
                 small talk)
         Sam. He said an hour. Or less.

                         SAM
         It's been three.

                         LILA
         Are we just going to go on sitting 
         here?

                         SAM
                 (suddenly cheerful)
         He'll be back. Let's sit still and 
         hang on, okay?

                         LILA
         You have an awfully nice habit, Sam.

                         SAM
         Hundreds! Which one is your pet?

                         LILA
         Whenever I start contemplating the 
         panic button, your back straightens
         up and your eyes get that God-looks-
         out-for-everybody look and... I feel 
         better.

                         SAM
         I feel better when you feel better.

                         LILA
                 (a pause - then she 
                 rises)
         Where's the old highway?

                         SAM
         You want to run out there, bust in 
         on Arbogast and the sick old lady, 
         shake her up and maybe spoil 
         everything Arbogast's been building 
         for the last three hours.

                         LILA
         Yes.

                         SAM
         That wouldn't be a wise thing to do.

                         LILA
         Patience doesn't run in our family.
         Sam, I'm going out there!

                         SAM
         Arbogast said...

                         LILA
         An hour! Or less!

 Sam stares at her, frowns in concern over her very real 
 anxiety, goes to the phone, dials operator.

                         SAM
                 (into phone)
         Got the number of the motel out on 
         the old highway? Bates, I think.
                 (waits)

                         LILA
         Sam! Why call when we can go?

                         SAM
         And maybe pass Arbogast on the road?
                 (into phone)
         Thanks.

 He presses down the receiver, releases it, dials Bates'

 Motel. The faint other-end ringing tones can be heard, 
 repeatedly, annoyingly. He waits.

                         SAM
                 (to Lila)
         Probably on his way back right now.

                         LILA
         Sam, I'm going.

                         SAM
                 (hangs up and picks 
                 up his jacket)
         You'll never find it.

 He starts for the door. Lila follows after him into the store.

 INT. STORE

 He pauses halfway down, turns, puts his hands on her arms.

                         SAM
         Stay here.

                         LILA
         Why can't I go out there with you?

                         SAM
                 (looks at her)
         I don't know...
                 (he collects himself)
         One of us has to be here in case 
         Arbogast's on the way.

                         LILA
                 (nervously)
         Just wait here?

                         SAM
                 (a warm smile)
         Contemplate your... panic button.

 He hurries down to the street door and out. CAMERA HOLDS on 
 Lila as she stares after Sam. As she stands alone in the 
 darkened store, all the hardware seems to take on sinister 
 shapes.

 C.U.

 Among some bathroom fittings a nozzle from a shower falls 
 onto the floor.

 MEDIUM SHOT

 Lila turns and picks if from the floor and puts it back in 
 its place. She turns and again looks to the deserted street 
 with a touch of anxiety. She gives a slight unconscious 
 shiver.

                                          DISSOLVE TO:

 EXT. THE SWAMP - (NIGHT)

 Tall and lonely still against the moonlight, the figure of 
 Norman, silhouetted. He doesn't move, merely stands there at 
 the edge of the swamp, staring down at the now calm and quiet 
 face of it.

                                                  CUT TO:

 EXT. THE MOTEL AND HOUSE - (NIGHT)

 All light are out, except the light in Norman's mother's 
 room. And her figure can be seen sitting in the window, 
 relaxed in a high-back chair, her face turned into the room.  
 After a second, we hear the SOUND OF A MOTOR, and then Sam's 
 small pick-up truck swings into the driveway.

 Sam stops the motor, automatically switches off headlights, 
 pauses as he observes the silence and darkness of the area. 
 Then he hops out of the cab, goes quickly to the office, 
 knocks on the door. As he waits for a response, he looks 
 down the long porch, studies the darkened cabins, knocks 
 again, louder, looks in the other direction and sees the 
 house and the figure at the one lit window. He stares a moment 
 then calls loudly:

                         SAM
         Arbogast?

                                                  CUT TO:

 EXT. THE SWAMP

 The silhouette of Norman. He is still. Over shot, very dimly, 
 comes the SOUND OF SAM'S VOICE, calling again for Arbogast.

 Norman turns slowly until, in silhouette, we see his profile, 
 his chin lowered furtively as he looks over his shoulder in 
 the direction of the house. There is silence for a moment, 
 and then again the SOUND of Sam POUNDING at the door.

                                          DISSOLVE TO:

 INT. HARDWARE STORE - (NIGHT)

 The store is in darkness, only the glow from the back room 
 spilling in.

 L.S.

 With CAMERA placed with its back to the street door, we can 
 see the distant tiny figure of Lila seated and waiting in 
 the back room beyond. There is a SOUND of a car pulling up. 
 The tiny figure jumps up and runs all the way from the back 
 room down the aisle of hardware and comes into a BIG HEAD. 
 We see Lila's desperate anxious look.

 MEDIUM SHOT

 From her viewpoint we see Sam alighting from his truck and 
 coming toward the door of the store. He enters. He and Lila 
 exchange quiet glances.

                         SAM
         He didn't come back here?

                         LILA
                 (worriedly)
         Sam.

                         SAM
         No Arbogast. No Bates. And only the 
         old lady at home...
                 (frowning)
         A sick old lady unable to answer the 
         door... or unwilling.

                         LILA
         Where could he have gone?

                         SAM
         Maybe he got some definite lead.
         Maybe he went right on...

                         LILA
         Without calling me?

                         SAM
         In a hurry.

                         LILA
         Sam, he called me when he had nothing 
         definite, nothing but a dissatisfied 
         feeling. Don't you think he'd have 
         called if he had anything...

                         SAM
                 (interrupting)
         Yes. I think he would have.

 Lila goes quiet. Sam starts toward the back room, pauses at 
 the doorway, turns. Lila has remained by the door, looking 
 out at the street. She feels his pause, turns, and for a 
 moment they share at each other across the darkened room.

                         SAM
         Let's go see Al Chambers.

                         LILA
         Who's he?

                         SAM
         He's the Deputy Sheriff around here.

 As he starts forward.

                                          DISSOLVE TO:

 EXT. STREET THE SHERIFF LIVES ON - (NIGHT)

 A dark, quiet, tree-ceilinged street, the small neat houses 
 dim in the moonlight. Sam's pick-up truck comes down the 
 street, pulls up before the house of Sheriff Chambers. CAMERA 
 MOVES IN on Sam and Lila as they remain for a moment in the 
 truck's cab, staring quietly at the sleeping house.

                         SAM
         Our Deputy sleeps.

                         LILA
         Well?

                         SAM
         Nothing.  Just... all the lights 
         out... must be asleep.

                         LILA
                 (a small exasperation)
         Does that mean we can't...

                         SAM
         No. I'm just procrastinating.  People 
         hate when the doorbell rings in the 
         middle of the night.
                 (gives up, starts out)
         Come on.

 He gets out of cab, goes around to help Lila. She is already 
 out. CAMERA FOLLOWS them up the small path to the front door. 
 Sam presses the bell button. Both he and Lila are almost 
 knocked over by the shocking, clanging, ear-splitting BLAST 
 OF THE BELL within the house, a ring which sounds more like 
 a fire alarm than a doorbell.

 He tries to smile, fails. Lila doesn't even try. The 
 downstairs hall light goes on and a moment later the door is 
 unhesitatingly opened by MRS. CHAMBERS, a small, lively stick 
 of a woman wrapped in a thick flannel robe and a corona of 
 hospitality.

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
         Oh?

                         SAM
         Sorry, Mrs. Chambers. I hate bothering 
         you...

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
         You didn't!
                 (a cross look up at 
                 the bell)
         It's tinkerbell.
                 (a quick smile at 
                 Lila)
         Al wants to be sure he'll hear it if 
         anyone rings it in the middle of the 
         night.
                 (to Sam)
         Well come on in, at least!

 As she opens the door wide,

                                                  CUT TO:

 INT. DOWNSTAIRS HALL OF SHERIFF'S HOUSE - (NIGHT)

 Fat roses splatter the wallpaper. The stairs are carpeted. 
 The lighting is bright.

 There is a perfectly fitting wall phone by the parlor arch. 
 Mrs. Chambers goes to the stairway, yells up.

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
         Albert!
                 (a tiny wait, a smile 
                 as Sam and Lila enter)
         Al Chambers!

 Sam is about to close the door behind him. Mrs. Chambers 
 motions for him not to, scurries across the hall, leans 
 outside, presses the doorbell. The RING within the house is 
 even more shattering. She closes the door, starts to the 
 stairway, pauses as the SOUNDS of movement above COME OVER 
 SHOT.

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
         Customers!

 SHERIFF CHAMBERS comes down the stairs, in a bathrobe which 
 matches his wife's. He is a tall, narrow man with a face 
 originally destined for Mount Rushmore. He nods at Sam, looks 
 at him with wide-awake eyes and a no-nonsense concern.  

                         SAM
         We have a problem.

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
                 (to Lila)
         Let's go out back and have some coca 
         while the men are talking.

                         LILA
         No, thank you. It's my problem, too.

                         SAM
         I don't know where to start...
                 (a look at Lila)
         Except at the beginning.

                         LILA
         Yes.

                         SAM
                 (to Sheriff)
         This is Lila Crane, from Phoenix.
         She's been here for a few days, 
         looking for her sister. There's a 
         private detective helping... and, 
         well, we got a call tonight, from 
         this detective, saying he'd traced 
         Mary...

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
         Mary is Lila's sister?

                         SAM
         Yes. He traced her to that motel, 
         out on the old highway...

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
                 (to the Sheriff)
         Bates' Motel.
                 (to Lila)
         He has a mind like a mechanical brain 
         and the more information you feed 
         it... Go on, Sam.

                         SAM
         He traced her there and called us to 
         say he was going to question Mrs. 
         Bates...

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
                 (a pleasant shock)
         Norman took a wife?

                         SAM
         No. An old woman, his mother.
                 (to Sheriff, quickly)
         That was early this evening. And we 
         haven't seen or heard from him since.  
         I went out to the motel, just got 
         back. No one was in the office, and...

                         LILA
                 (interrupting, 
                 anxiously)
         Will you help us? I think something's 
         wrong out there!

                         SHERIFF
                 (after a considerate 
                 pause)
         Now. Your sister is missing how long?

                         LILA
         She left Phoenix a week ago yesterday. 
         And no trace until...

                         SHERIFF
         How'd you and this detective come to 
         trace her to Fairvale?

                         SAM
         They thought she'd be coming to me.

                         SHERIFF
         Left Phoenix under her own steam?

                         LILA
         Yes.

                         SHERIFF
                 (a pause)
         She ain't missing so much as she's 
         run away.

                         SAM
         Yes.

                         SHERIFF
         From what?

                         LILA
                 (a look at sam, then:)
         She stole some money.

                         SHERIFF
         A lot?

                         LILA
         Forty thousand dollars.

                         SHERIFF
         And the police haven't been able 
         to...

                         SAM
                 (interrupting)
         Everyone concerned thought... if 
         they could get her to give back the 
         money... they could avoid involving 
         her with the police.

                         SHERIFF
         Explains the private detective. He 
         traced her to the Bates place.  What'd 
         he exactly say when he called you?

                         LILA
         Mary had been there, one night, and 
         had left.

                         SHERIFF
         With the forty thousand dollars?

                         LILA
         He didn't mention the money.
                 (anxiously)
         What he said on the phone isn't 
         important, is it?  He was supposed 
         to come back after he spoke to the 
         mother, and he didn't! That's what I 
         want you to do something about!

                         SHERIFF
         Like what?

                         LILA
         Go out there! Find somebody, ask 
         some questions!
                 (a pause)
         I'm sorry if I seem over-anxious to 
         you. I keep thinking... something's 
         wrong. I have to know what!

                         SHERIFF
         I think something's wrong, too, Miss. 
         But not the same thing. I think your 
         private detective is what's wrong.
                 (As Lila is about to 
                 object)
         I think he got himself a hot lead as 
         to where your sister was going... 
         probably from Norman Bates...  and 
         called you to keep you still while 
         he took off after her and the money.

                         LILA
         He said he was dissatisfied... and 
         was going back.

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
                 (to Sheriff)
         Why don't you call Norman and let 
         him say just what happened, if he 
         give the man a hot lead and he did 
         just scooted off... it'll make the 
         girl feel better, Albert.

                         SHERIFF
         At this hour?

                         SAM
         He was out when I was there. If he's 
         back he probably isn't even in bed 
         yet.

                         SHERIFF
         He wasn't out when you were there.  
         He just wasn't answering the door in 
         the dead of night... like some people 
         do. This fellow lives like a hermit...

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
         Recluse. Kinder word.

                         SHERIFF
                 (to Sam)
         You must remember that bad business 
         out there. About ten years ago...

                         SAM
         I've only been here five. Right now 
         it feels like ten, but...

                         LILA
         All right! Then call! At least, call!

 Mrs. Chambers goes to phone, dials operator.

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
                 (into phone)
         Florrie, the Sheriff wants you to 
         connect him with the Bates Motel.

 She hands the receiver to the Sheriff. He takes it, 
 reluctantly, listens to the dim sound of RINGING on the other 
 end. After a moment:

                         SHERIFF
                 (into phone)
         Norman? Sheriff Chambers.
                 (listens)
         Been just fine, thanks. Listen, we 
         got some worries here. Did you have 
         a man stop out there tonight...
                 (listens)
         Well, this one wouldn't be a customer, 
         anyway. A private detective, name 
         of...

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
         Arbogast.

                         SHERIFF
                 (into phone)
         Arbogast.
                 (listens)
         And after he left?
                 (listens)
         No, it's okay, Norman. How's it been 
         going out there?
                 (listens)
         Well, I think you oughta unload that 
         place and open up closer in to the 
         action, a smaller place, you know... 
         but...

                         LILA
         Please!

                         SHERIFF
                 (into phone)
         Sorry I got you up, boy. Go back to 
         sleep. Yeah, be glad to.
                 (hangs up, turns to 
                 Mrs. Chambers)
         Said to give you his regards.

                         SAM
                 (faint irony)
         Was that all?

                         SHERIFF
         This detective was out there and 
         Norman told him about the girl and 
         the detective thanked him and went 
         away.

                         LILA
         And he didn't go back? Didn't see 
         the mother?

 The Sheriff looks long at Lila, shakes his head 
 sympathetically.

                         SHERIFF
         You should've called in the police 
         the second you found your sister has 
         skipped. You go starting private 
         investigations, using people you 
         don't even know...

                         LILA
         What difference does that...

                         SHERIFF
         Your Detective told you a nakedfaced 
         lie.

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
         Barefaced.

                         SHERIFF
         He told you he wasn't coming right 
         back cause he wanted to question 
         Norman Bates' mother, right?

                         LILA
         Yes.

                         SHERIFF
                 (a pause, then calmly)
         Norman Bates' mother has been dead 
         and buried in Greenlawn Cemetery for 
         the last ten years!

 There is a long silence. Sam and Lila stare at the Sheriff.

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
         I helped Norman pick out the dress 
         she was buried in. Periwinkle blue.

                         SHERIFF
         It ain't only local history, Sam, 
         it's the only murder-and-suicide 
         case in Fairvale ledgers! Mrs.
         Bates poisoned this guy she was... 
         involved with, when she found out he 
         was married, then took a helping of 
         the same stuff herself.  Strychnine. 
         Ugly way to die.

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
         Norman found them dead together.  In 
         bed.

                         SAM
         You mean that old woman I saw sittin' 
         in the window wasn't Norman Bates' 
         mother?

                         MRS. CHAMBERS
                 (hopefully, happily)
         Maybe you saw Mary!

                         SAM
         I'd know the difference between Mary 
         and an old woman.

                         SHERIFF
         Now wait a minute, Sam. You sure you 
         saw an old woman?

                         SAM
         Yes! In the house behind the motel. 
         I pounded and called but she... just 
         ignored me.

                         SHERIFF
         And you want to tell me you saw Norman 
         Bates' mother.

                         LILA
         It must've been. Arbogast said so, 
         too... and he said the young man 
         wouldn't let him see her because she 
         was ill!

 The Sheriff stares at both of them, and when he finally speaks 
 there is an almost inaudible tone or irony in his voice.

                         SHERIFF
         Well, if the woman up there is Mrs.
         Bates... who's that woman buried out 
         at Greenlawn Cemetery?


...continue to part 7