Scripts: Rear Window (final draft, 01/Dec/1953) - part 8
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - CAMERA SHOT - NIGHT The street intersection. Some traffic, mostly pedestrian. Miss Lonely Hearts still sitting at the cafe table, alone. Drinking. There is no sign of Thorwald. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT He lowers the lens. JEFF He must have gone somewhere to the right. The CAMERA PULLS BACK as Lisa starts around the apartment turning on the lights. As she light increases, we see that she is wearing another extravagantly beautiful dress. She seems quite animated, moving gracefully, her skirt and hair swinging with her movement. Jeff turns around to face the room. LISA All day long I've tried to keep my mind on work. JEFF Thinking about Thorwald? LISA (Nods yes) And you, and you friend Doyle -- (Stops, to Jeff) Did you hear from him again -- since he left? JEFF Not a word. He was going to check on the railroad station, and the trunk. He must be still on it. As he talks, she seems to be thinking something over to herself. He starts pacing, trying to distill her thoughts. We see that she has brought an oversized handbag with her, which lies prominently on the table. Jeff watches her. JEFF Something on your mind, Lisa? LISA It doesn't make sense to me. JEFF What doesn't? LISA Women aren't that unpredictable. JEFF (Losing a little patience) Lisa -- I can't guess what you're thinking. THE CAMERA CLOSES IN, Lisa stops, faces him. Her eyes sparkle, and her body is tense with concentration. LISA A woman has a favorite handbag -- it always hangs on her bedpost where she can get at it. Then she takes a trip and leaves it behind. Why? JEFF Because she didn't know she was going on a trip -- and where she was going she wouldn't need a handbag. THE CAMERA eases back. LISA But only her husband would know that. (Starts to pace again) And the jewelry! Women don't keep all their jewelry in a purse, all tangled, getting scratched and twisted up. JEFF Do they hide it in their husband's clothes? LISA They do not! And they don't leave it behind them. A woman going anywhere but the hospital would always take makeup, perfume and jewelry. JEFF Inside stuff? LISA Basic equipment. You don't leave it behind in your husband's drawer in your favorite handbag. JEFF I'm with you, sweetie, but Detective Thomas J. Doyle has a pat answer for that. LISA That Mrs. Thorwald left at six ayem yesterday with her husband? JEFF That's what the witnesses told him. LISA Well, I have a pat rebuttal for Mr. Doyle -- that couldn't be Mrs. Thorwald -- or I don't know women. JEFF Still -- those witnesses. LISA We'll agree they saw a woman -- but she wasn't Mrs. Thorwald. -- That is, yet. She comes over to Jeff. He reaches up, takes her hand. JEFF Come here. He pulls her into his lap. She puts her arms around him. She is very happy, and kisses Jeff's cheek. LISA I'd like to see your friend's face when we tell him. He doesn't sound like much of a detective. JEFF Don't be too hard on him. He's a steady worker. I wish he'd get there, though. LISA (Nuzzling Jeff) Don't rush me. We have all night. There's a pause. Then Jeff moves back a little to look her straight in the eye. JEFF We have all -- what? LISA Night. I'm going to stay with you. JEFF You'll have to clear that through my landlord -- She cuts him off with a kiss. When she pulls back LISA I have the whole weekend off. JEFF Well that's fine, but I only have one bed, and -- Lisa smothers him with another kiss. She lets up. LISA Say anything else, and I'll stay tomorrow night too. JEFF Lisa, I won't be able to give you any -- She smothers him with still another kiss. Then moves back. JEFF -- pajamas. She laughs, gets up. Goes to the large handbag on the table. Is is a Mark Cross ladies 'attache' case. LISA You said I'd have to live out of one suitcase (Picks up case) I'll bet yours isn't this small? JEFF That's a suitcase? LISA (Starting to open it) A Mark Cross overnight case, anyway. Compact, but ample enough. She has opened it, and surprisingly enough, it is a compact outfit of pajamas, slippers, toothbrush, toothpaste, and all the general necessities for a comfortable overnight stay. She comes to Jeff, sits in his lap again, displaying the inside of the case LISA I'll trade you -- my feminine intuition for a bed for the night. JEFF (Gives in smiling) I'd be no better than Thorwald, to refuse. The SOUND from the party in the song-writer's apartment becomes more noticeable as his party grows. And at this point he begins playing the song he has been composing for the past few days. LISA There's that song again. She gets up from Jeff's lap, and puts the overnight case on the table. Open. She goes to the window, and looks toward the song-writers' apartment. Jeff turns with her. EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT The party at the song-writer's has grow considerably larger. An assortment of well-dressed people have now crowded into the studio. They are drinking, eating, etc. At the moment, a number of them are crowded around the piano, listening to the composer's newest song -- which isn't quite completed. However, the melody has become more beautiful than ever. During the following scene, we HEAR the melody being played a number of different ways on the piano. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT Lisa stands, listening, entranced. LISA Where does a man get the inspiration for a song like that? Jeff watches her. JEFF From his landlord -- once a month. LISA It's utterly beautiful. (Turns to Jeff) I wish I could be creative. JEFF You are. You have a talent for creating difficult situations. LISA (Happily) I do? JEFF Staying the night here, uninvited. She sits down on the edge of the divan near Jeff. She leans toward him. LISA Surprise -- is the most important element of attack. (She smiles) And beside, you're not up on your private eye literature. When they're in trouble, it's always their Girl Friday who gets them out of it. JEFF The same girl who keeps him out of the clutches of seductive show girls, and over-passionate daughters of the rich. LISA The same. JEFF But he never ends up marrying her. Strange. LISA (Stands up; deadpan) Weird. (She does a complete spin, then, ingenuously) Why don't I slip into something comfortable? JEFF You mean -- like the kitchen? And make us some coffee? LISA Exactly what I had in mind -- along with some brandy. She goes to the kitchen, humming with the song-writer's melody which we can HER off. Jeff turns back to the window, looks out. EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT The shade is going up in the newlyweds apartment. The young husband throws up the window an lights a cigarette. He takes a deep and satisfying drag on the cigarette, glancing toward the song-writer's party. Just as he starts to exhale the smoke, we HEAR his young wife's voice off: GIRL'S VOICE H-a-a-r-r-e-e-! He chokes on the smoke, sputtering and coughing. When he recovers, he throws the cigarette down to the back-yard with a show of irritation. Then slowly he pulls the shade down. Behind us is SOUND of a door shutting INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP Over Jeff's shoulder we see Doyle coming down the steps slowly, and seemingly preoccupied. Jeff swings the chair around so that his back is to us. SEMI-CLOSEUP Without looking at Jeff, Doyle comes into the apartment takes off his hat and places it on the table. He runs a hand over the side of his head and down the back of his neck, which seems to indicate some fatigue. SEMI-CLOSEUP Jeff. Looking expectantly at Doyle. SEMI CLOSEUP Doyle reaches for a cigarette on the table, and puts it to his lips. While searching his pockets for a match, he HEARS Lisa humming. His eyes turn upward. MEDIUM SHOT Over the cabinet which divides the living room from the kitchen, we can see a glimpse of Lisa's shadow on the ceiling. SEMI-CLOSEUP Jeff, has followed Doyle's look. SEMI CLOSEUP Doyle picks up cigarette lighter from table, and lights his cigarette. As he is placing the lighter back on the table, he sees: CLOSEUP From his viewpoint, Lisa's bag containing her lingerie and overnight effects. CLOSEUP Jeff. His eyes turn from the lingerie up to Doyle. CLOSEUP Doyle's look is completely noncommittal. His eyes turn at the sound of the song-writer's party. He moves forward to get a better view, as the CAMERA RETREATS in front of him. He stops to glance out of the window. EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT The party is now full progress. The room is overcrowded. And some people are now sitting on the floor with their backs to the window. Others are outside. A crowd hides the piano player, but music can be head competing with the babble. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP Doyle turns his head away, and looks straight out. His expression hardens a little, as he sees: EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT The window of Thorwald's apartment, completely dark. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP He also is looking toward Thorwald's apartment. He turns his eyes anxiously back to Doyle. He seems to be trying to penetrate Doyle's mind. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT Doyle turns his head from the window, and looks down at Jeff. He asks, quietly: DOYLE What else do you have on this man Thorwald? Jeff's tension eases off a little, by he is eager to talk. JEFF Enough to scare me that you wouldn't get here in time, and we'd lose him. DOYLE (Soberly) You think he's getting out of here? JEFF Everything he owns is laid out on the bedroom, ready for packing. Doyle looks back toward Thorwald's bedroom. We see the dark apartment beyond him. Doyle nods thoughtfully. He turns his head suddenly at the sound of Lisa coming out of the kitchen. She holds two large brandy snifters containing some brandy. They are cupped in her hand, the stem between her fingers. She is rotating them gently toward the body to warm the brandy. She is quite beautiful. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP Doyle reacts to her appreciatively. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT She continues rotating the brandy. LISA I'm just warming some brandy. She comes forward hands one snifter to Jeff. She offers the second to Doyle. (NOTE: In the following set of scenes, whenever anyone holds a brandy snifter, it is being rotated- regardless of their attitudes.) LISA Mr. Doyle? -- I presume. Doyle sort of smiles, and takes the snifter awkwardly. JEFF Tom, this is Miss Lisa Fremont. Doyle bows his head slightly, but his eyes remain on her in a fixed stare. DOYLE How do you do? Lisa smiles in return. LISA We think Thorwald's guilty. She turns around, and goes right back into the kitchen. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP Doyle stares after her, ignoring her remark, still not recovered from the fist sight of her attractiveness. Then quickly, his eyes move down and to the left. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP The open overnight case with its displayed lingerie. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT SEMI-CLOSEUP Slowly Doyle's eyes travel back to Jeff. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP Quickly guessing what's on Doyle's mind JEFF (Cautiously) Careful, Tom. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP Doyle's eyes travel past Jeff to look out the window. He still holds the brandy snifter in one hand, and a cigarette in the other. Absentmindedly he still rotates the brandy. The SOUND of the phone ringing is heard. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT Jeff picks up the phone. JEFF Hallo? He listens, and then looks up to Doyle. JEFF Just a minute, please. Doyle crosses and stands behind Jeff, as Jeff hands him the Phone. He juggles the cigarette, the brandy snifter and the phone all at once. This is all done deadpan. DOYLE Doyle speaking. (He listens) Uh-huh. -- Yeah. Mummmm -- Mmm. Hmm -- Okay. Thank you, and goodbye. He hands the receiver back to Jeff, who hangs up. Lisa comes back in with her own brandy snifter, rotating it. LISA The coffee will be ready soon. (Urgent) Jeff, aren't you going to tell him about the jewelry? Doyle looks suddenly interested. He asks tersely: DOYLE Jewelry? JEFF He has his wife's jewelry hidden in among his clothes over there. DOYLE You sure it belongs to his wife? He turns his head to Lisa, who answers. LISA It was in her favorite handbag -- And, Mr. Doyle, that can lead to only one conclusion. DOYLE Namely? His head snaps back to Jeff, who answers: JEFF That wasn't Mrs. Thorwald who left with him yesterday morning? DOYLE You figured that out, huh? His head moves back to Lisa as she answers with a touch of pride in her voice. LISA It's just that women don't leave jewelry behind when they go on a trip. Before Doyle can comment, Jeff asks impatiently: JEFF Come on, Tom -- you don't really need any of this information, do you? Doyle smiles at Jeff, and then strolls over to the table where he puts out his cigarette and puts down the brandy snifter. DOYLE As a matter of fact, I don't. Doyle goes to the window and looks out, as they watch him, expectantly. He speaks without looking at them. His voice is flat and to the point. DOYLE Lars Thorwald is no more a murderer than I am. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP Jeff and Lisa stare at him in astonishment. Then Jeff recovers, and answers with some anger: JEFF You mean you can explain everything that went on over there -- and is still going on? INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP He spins around, and his face has lost all its friendliness. DOYLE No! He starts to place the room. DOYLE And neither can you. (Points out window) That's a secret and private world you're looking into out there. People do a lot at things in private that they couldn't explain in public. INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP Lisa and Jeff. She replies with some sarcasm. LISA Like disposing of their wives? DOYLE (Off) Get that idea out of your mind. It will only lead you in the wrong direction. JEFF But Tom -- the saw, the knives -- INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP Doyle breaks in, takes a step forward. DOYLE Did you ever own a saw? JEFF (Off) Well, in the garage, back home, we -- DOYLE (Interrupts) And how many people did you cut up with the couple of with it? Or hundred knives you've probably owned in your lifetime? INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP Jeff, reasoning: JEFF But I'm not a killer! DOYLE (Off) Your logic is backward. Lisa cuts in spiritedly. LISA You can't ignore the wife disappearing! And the trunk -- and the jewelry -- !
...continue to part 9