Scripts: Rear Window (final draft, 01/Dec/1953) - part 11
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Jeff turns his wheelchair halfway around as Lisa and Stella
start quickly for the door, THE CAMERA PANNING THEM across
the room. They pause at the sound of Jeff's voice.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff calls after them:
JEFF
One of you watch this window. If I
see him coming back, I'll signal
with a flashbulb.
The door slams off and we hear the footsteps of the women
dying down the corridor as Jeff picks up the long-focus lens
and takes a sight on the alleyway.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - CAMERA SHOT
Thorwald goes past the alley opening.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Jeff puts down the lens and wheels quickly to the wall
cabinet. He finds a box of flash bulbs and a reflector.
He puts them in his lap and returns to the window, putting
the chair sideways. He leans out a little and looks down.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Lisa is in the courtyard directly below Jeff's window.
She has reached the stairway leading up and to the right.
She looks, waves at Jeff as Stella comes up to her carrying
a shovel. The two women hurry up the stairs toward the iron
ladder they will use to climb the wall between Jeff's yard
and that of Thorwald's.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Jeff picks up the phone and quickly dials. The buzzer sounds
on filter, then the phone is lifted. A woman's voice is heard
and Jeff seems a little puzzled at the sound of it.
BABY SITTER
This is Doyle's house.
JEFF
This is L. B. Jefferies, a friend of
Tom's. Who am I talking with?
He squints out the window.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Lisa has climbed over the wall and is helping Stella down
into Thorwald's yard. The shovel is lying on the ground beside
Lisa. Jeff's conversation continues over the action of the
two women.
BABY SITTER
This is the baby sitter.
JEFF
Oh. When are they expected home?
BABY SITTER
I'm hired 'til one. They went to
dinner and maybe night-clubbing.
JEFF
Well, if he calls in, tell him to
get in touch with L. B. Jefferies
right away. I might have quite a
surprise for him.
BABY SITTER
Does he have your number, Mr.
Jefferies?
JEFF
He has it. Thank you.
BABY SITTER
Goodnight.
Jeff hangs up. Stella is now beginning to dig, carefully
lifting the flowers off the center of the bed where they had
dipped down. She places the flower plants on the sidewalk.
Lisa stands facing Jeff's window and occasionally glances
over her shoulder uneasily at Stella's work.
At this moment, the sounds of musical instruments begin to
be heard from the songwriter's apartment.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
A little annoyed at the interruption, Jeff turns to look at
the studio apartment.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
In the songwriter's apartment, several of his musician friends
have gathered. One plays a guitar, another a clarinet, and
so on. One by one they try out the theme of the songwriter's
new melody, running through it in turn to become familiar
with the notes. We, therefore, hear the melody played
informally in different ways with different instruments.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Jeff shifts his eyes from the songwriter's apartment back to
the courtyard.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Stella is busy, expertly handling the shovel. Lisa has her
back to the nurse, but looks apprehensively over her shoulder.
She then looks up toward Jeff's apartment.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff gives her an encouraging little gesture with his hand.
Then his eyes lift a little as he looks up.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Miss Lonely Hearts is sitting on the sofa, writing a note
with a pad on her knee. Next to her, on the table, the pills
are still in evidence.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff picks up the long-focus lens and trains it on the
alleyway.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - CAMERA SHOT
The alleyway and street intersection, with normal night
traffic, but no sign of Thorwald. THE CAMERA LENS PANS across
and down to the hole being dug by Stella. We get an impression
of Lisa's legs as we go by. The spade comes out of the hole
and rests on the side. THE CAMERA LENS PANS up just in time
to catch Stella turning up to Jeff. She throws out a helpless
hand and shakes her head. "Nothing."
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff lowers the lens and looks down at the two women with
evident disappointment.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Lisa glances up to Thorwald's apartment. She turns and
gestures some instructions to Stella. Then she looks up at
Jeff and gestures her intention to enter Thorwald's apartment.
She turns and dashes toward Thorwald's fire escape as Stella
makes a fruitless grab to restrain her.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Jeff, shocked and alarmed, calls out:
JEFF
Lisa -- no!
He looks quickly toward the intersection and then right back
to Lisa. Apparently no sight of Thorwald.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
While Lisa starts up the fire escape, we see Stella running
toward the wall in the foreground to climb over it. Stella
has abandoned the shovel and left the flowers and dirt strewn
over the walk.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Jeff, tense and wide-eyed, watches Lisa climb the fire escape.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Lisa climbs the fire escape to the second floor and the
outside of Thorwald's apartment.
She tries, unsuccessfully, to get through the window which
opens into the kitchen from the fire escape. And then, with
some difficulty, stretches and succeeds in getting in through
the living room window, which is open. She goes directly to
the bedroom and we see her bending over one of the suitcases.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Jeff quickly picks up the long-focus lens and trains it on
the salesman's apartment.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - CAMERA SHOT
Lisa turns from the suitcase with the alligator handbag in
her hand. There is an expression of triumph on her face. She
opens it and her expression changes to dismay. She looks
toward Jeff's apartment and, to communicate her dismay, she
turns the handbag upside down. Nothing falls out. Empty.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
He lowers the long-focus lens and he is sweating with anxiety.
He mutters, almost to himself:
JEFF
Come on. Come on! Get out of there!
His eyes turn quickly to the alleyway and back again to Lisa.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Lisa has dropped the bag on the bed and is now looking around
the bedroom, looking for some place to start searching for
the jewelry. She moves quickly to the dresser and begins
opening the drawers to check them.
She finds nothing.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
As Jeff watches tensely, the door bursts open behind him and
Stella hurries into the apartment.
STELLA
Ring Thorwald's phone the second you
see him on the way back!
Jeff swings toward Stella. He reaches for the phone.
JEFF
I'm going to ring him now!
As he picks up the receiver, Stella pushes his hand down
again.
STELLA
Give her another minute -- She's
doing this for you.
Stella looks out the window and her face registers shock.
Jeff turns quickly to the window again, forgetting the phone
for the moment.
STELLA
Miss Lonely Hearts!
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Miss Lonely Hearts is in the act of popping an envelope up
against the table lamp on the table next to the sofa.
From the same table, she takes a pill bottle and empties the
contents into her left hand. Replacing the bottle, she picks
up a glass of water.
STELLA
(Off)
Call the police!
We hear the sound of the receiver picked up, and Jeff starting
to dial New York Police. At this moment, from the song-
writer's apartment which has been quiet for a while, comes a
new burst of melody. It is the melody which the song-writer
has been composing during the past few days. Now it is rich,
and full, and completed, as the musical group plays it. Miss
Lonely Hearts lifts her head to listen, and slowly lowers
the pills and glass of water into her lap, her whole purpose
arrested by the beauty of what she hears.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Jeff and Stella turn for a quick glimpse of the song-writer's
apartment.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
A quick flash of the song-writer's apartment, and his musical
group gathered around the piano.
STELLA
Maybe that music will delay her taking
the pills.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff and Stella look back to Thorwald's apartment. Jeff has
the receiver to his ear, and the buzzer can be heard on
filter.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
At the bottom of the picture, Miss Lonely Hearts is still
listening to the music, while in the apartment above Lisa
appears into the living room from behind the doorway that
leads to the bedroom. She looks across to the source of the
music. She is as arrested by the melody as Miss Lonely Hearts.
Then looking across to Jeff, she holds up her hands
triumphantly to show him the jewelry she has discovered. At
this point, Thorwald appears coming along the corridor of
his apartment house! Lisa is completely unaware of his
approach.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Stella is so shocked, she can only gasp for breath.
Jeff, in near panic, shouts in anguish!
JEFF
Lisa! Lisa!
At this moment, the phone is picked up on filter, and a voice
speaks:
POLICE
Precinct Six -- Sergeant Allgood.
Jeff opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out, as his
attention is focused on:
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Thorwald at the door, unlocking it with his key. We see that
Lisa has heard the sound, and looks toward the door, all but
frozen with alarm. The Policeman on the phone repeats with
studied irritation:
POLICE
Precinct Six -- Sergeant Allgood.
Lisa dashes back into the bedroom just in time to avoid being
seen by Thorwald as he opens the door and enters the
apartment.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff, urgently into phone, with a serious and rapid voice:
JEFF
A man is assaulting a woman at one
two five west ninth street. Second
floor rear. Make it fast.
POLICE
Your name?
JEFF
L. B. Jefferies.
POLICE
Phone number?
JEFF
(Impatiently)
Chelsea 2-5598.
POLICE
Two minutes.
Phone is down on filter, and Jeff replaces his receiver.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Thorwald crosses the living room, and goes into the bedroom.
Suddenly he looks onto the bed. He picks up the open alligator
handbag. He turns, facing the window, looking down at the
bag. He looks up in the direction of the living room. Then
suddenly his whole frame stiffens, his head turns a little
further around to his right. He is looking directly at Lisa
who is out of our sight in the corner of the bedroom. He
holds out the bag, and without moving, starts to question
the unseen Lisa. He takes a little step forward, and his
head begins to turn slightly to the left as Lisa begins to
emerge into the living room, backing away slowly. By her
gestures, and nervous laughter, she appears to be offering a
lame excuse for being found in his apartment.
He comes towards her, and enters the living room as well.
Lisa edging toward the door, points to it as she apparently
argues with him as to the way she came in.
He points to the window. She makes one more step toward the
door, but Thorwald reaches out quickly and grabs her by the
wrist. He twists it brutally, and flings her sideways into
the sofa beneath the window. Her head snaps back against the
head rest. With his right hand he throws the handbag across
the room in anger, and with his left open-palmed he demands
something from Lisa.
Slowly her right hand comes up and opens.
He takes the jewelry from her, looks at it for a surprised
moment, puts it into his coat pocket. He reaches down with
both hands, and by the wrists jerks her to her feet. He is
talking viciously to her. We can hear Lisa calling out
faintly: "Jeff! Jeff!"
Thorwald suddenly looks out at the neighborhood. He realizes
that somebody might be watching him. He drags her across the
room, reaches up with one arm, and the lights go off. The
faint light from the bedroom illuminates their struggle, but
not clearly.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
An angry Jeff is staring, and trying to penetrate the semi-
darkness of Thorwald's room. Then he bends his head forward
in despair, and after a brief moment speaks:
JEFF
(With deep sincerity)
Stella -- what can we do?
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Stella staring out, tense, frightened. Then her expression
changes sharply as she looks slightly to the left.
STELLA
There they are.
Jeff looks up quickly.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Two policemen move quickly and professionally up the corridor
toward Thorwald's apartment. They stop at the door, listen a
moment, and then push the buzzer insistently. Inside the
apartment, lights go on, and Thorwald is in the center of
the room looking toward the door. Lisa staggers away from
him, trying to rearrange her clothes and her hair. She is as
surprised at the interruption as Thorwald. He listens, looks
back questioningly toward Lisa, then goes to the door. He
passes into the kitchen.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Jeff and Stella visibly relax. Jeff doesn't say anything,
but a gesture of rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand
gives an indication of how deep his tension was.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
After a moment's hesitation, Thorwald goes to the door and
opens it.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Jeff quickly puts a hand out and takes up his long-focus
lens. He looks through the finder.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - CAMERA SHOT
Thorwald's head and shoulders fill the screen. For a moment
Thorwald is genuinely frightened by the sight of the police.
We see him listening to the policeman out of the picture.
Thorwald turns slowly and we see him lose much of his fright
and regain some control of his face. He completes his turn
and is looking at the girl a little puzzled. He then swings
back toward the police.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
A quick flash of Jeff and Stella looking. Jeff still has the
long-focus lens to his eye.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Thorwald is displaying indignation and complaint to the police
as he nods his head vigorously toward Lisa. At this the police
start to advance into the apartment, going directly for Lisa.
She flashes a quick look toward Jeff's window. She turns
back as the first policeman reaches her. He starts to question
her.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Stella turns away and goes quickly to the table for the
binoculars. Jeff still is using the long-focus lens.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - BINOCULAR SHOT
We see Lisa start to excuse her presence in the same manner
she used with Thorwald previously, as if to say she came
into the apartment by mistake. Thorwald, listening, comes
quickly forward to contradict her, vigorously. He holds out
the jewelry in his hand, and then picks up and shows the
empty handbag. The policeman, impressed, looks back to Lisa
for an explanation. She has none. Over this we hear Stella
frantically asking:
STELLA
What's she trying to do? Why doesn't
she turn him in?
JEFF
Smart girl.
STELLA
Smart? She'll be arrested!
JEFF
That'll get her out of there, won't
it?
The first policeman indicates that Lisa is to come along
with him. He pauses momentarily to tell the second policeman
to take a statement from Thorwald about the attempted
burglary. The second policeman reaches for the jewelry in
Thorwald's hand, and takes it for examination. In the brief
pause while the two policemen speak to each other, Lisa starts
to wave her left hand behind her back.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Jeff looking through his camera.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - CAMERA SHOT
We get a closer view of the waving hand. She stops waving
and holds her fingers spread out. With her other hand she
points to the wedding ring on her left hand.
STELLA
Mrs. Thorwald's ring!
THE LENS PANS UPWARD AND ACROSS until it brings Thorwald's
profile into the picture. He is looking down directly at
Lisa's hands. His head slowly turns, and he looks right up --
directly into the lens. Suddenly he becomes aware that Lisa
is signaling to someone who is watching him.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Jeff and Stella. He drops the camera into his lap.
JEFF
Stella! The lights! He'd seen us!
Stella hurries from the window, turning off lights, as Jeff
backs his chair into the room.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
As Thorwald's attention is drawn back to the second policeman
to answer further questions, the first policeman takes Lisa
by the arm and leads her out of the apartment. He goes down
the corridor pushing the curious people away from the door.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
The last light out, Stella stops to catch her breath, and
turns to Jeff.
STELLA
When you took your first snapshot --
did you ever think it would bring
you to this?
JEFF
(Urgently)
Stella -- how long do you think he'll
stay there?
STELLA
(Squinting out window)
Unless he's dumber than I think, he
won't wait 'til his lease is up.
Jeff points to a drawer in the wall cabinets.
JEFF
My billfold! In the right hand drawer.
Stella moves to get it.
STELLA
What do you need money for?
JEFF
To bail Lisa out of jail.
She finds a billfold, hands it to Jeff. He takes it, extracts
some bills and begins counting them. As he counts, Stella
comments:
STELLA
You know -- you could just leave her
there until after next Tuesday -- so
you could sneak away safely -- as
planned.
He looks up sharply at her, and then without comment goes
back to counting the money.
JEFF
(With obvious
disappointment)
One hundred and twenty-seven.
STELLA
How much do you think you'll need?
JEFF
First offense burglary --
(He shrugs)
-- probably two-fifty.
(Gets an idea, points)
The piggy bank.
Stella, following his pointing finger, gets a piggy bank
down from a shelf on the sideboard. He takes it, cracks it
on the knee of his cast. It splits open, and some money comes
out. Mostly bills, a few silver halves.
What he doesn't get, Stella picks up.
STELLA
Ten here.
JEFF
Thirty-three here. Totals one-ninety.
Not enough.
STELLA
I got twenty or so in my purse. Give
me what you've got.
Jeff does, as Stella gets her purse.
JEFF
What about the rest?
STELLA
When those cops get a look at Miss
Fremont -- they'll even contribute.
Stella goes up to the door. The phone RINGS. Jeff grabs it,
picks it up. Stella pauses.
JEFF
(To phone)
Just a minute.
(To Stella)
I'll tell you who it is when you get
back.
Stella goes quickly out the door. He returns to the phone
call, glancing at the same time toward the courtyard.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
JEFF
Jefferies.
DOYLE
(Filter)
This is Doyle, Jeff.
JEFF
(Urgently)
Tom, I've got something real big for
you.
DOYLE
(Wearily)
Look Jeff, don't louse up my night
with another man killer stuffing a
grisly trunk that turns out to be --
JEFF
(Interrupting harshly)
Listen to me! Lisa's been arrested.
DOYLE
(Slightest pause)
Your Lisa?
JEFF
My Lisa. She went into Thorwald's
apartment, and he came back. The
only way I could get her out was to
call the police.
DOYLE
(Angry)
I told you that --
JEFF
(Interrupting)
I know what you told me! She went in
to get evidence, and she came out
with it.
DOYLE
Like what?
JEFF
Like Mrs. Thorwald's wedding ring.
If that woman were still alive, she'd
be wearing it.
DOYLE
(Grudgingly)
A possibility.
JEFF
(Talking fast)
A fact! Last night he killed a dog
for pawing in his garden. Why? Because
he had something buried in there.
Something a dog could scent.
DOYLE
Like an old hambone?
JEFF
(Fast)
I don't know what pet name Thorwald
had for his wife. And that night he
went out half a dozen times with the
metal suitcase. He wasn't taking his
possessions, because they're up in
his apartment now!
DOYLE
You think perhaps it was "old
hambone?"
JEFF
In sections! And one other thing,
doubting Tom -- it just occurred to
me that all the calls Thorwald made
were long distance! If he called his
wife the day she left -- after she
arrived in Merritsville -- why did
she need to send him a postcard saying
she'd arrived?
DOYLE
(After pause; a
detective)
Where'd they take Lisa?
JEFF
Precinct Six. I sent a friend over
with bail money.
DOYLE
Maybe you won't need it. I'll run it
down, Jeff.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - LONG SHOT
We see Thorwald leave his apartment and proceed down the
corridor.
JEFF
Just don't dally. Thorwald knows
he's being watched. He won't hang
around long.
DOYLE
If that ring checks out, we'll give
him an escort. So long.
He hangs up, and just as he does, Jeff looks toward Thorwald's
apartment. He rolls forward to the window.
He seems a little puzzled by what he sees.
...continue to part 12
