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
