EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Thorwald's apartment. Completely dark. No movement, or glow
of a cigar. The corridor outside lighted, but empty.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Jeff scratches the side of his chin, studies Thorwald's
apartment as if he might see some small clue as to where the
salesman is. He looks toward the intersection to his left.
Apparently he sees nothing. He turns to look down into the
garden.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Miss Lonely Hearts is standing in the yard outside her
apartment, looking up to the porch of Miss Torso. The ballet
dancer is in high heels and a fresh summer dress.
MISS TORSO
(Faintly heard)
Have you heard that song he's been
writing?
She indicates the song-writer's apartment. Miss Lonely Hearts
turns, looks up at the studio apartment a moment, then looks
up at Miss Torso.
MISS LONELY HEARTS
(Nods yes)
I'm glad I was here when he played
it.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSE SHOT
He sits quietly a moment, thinking. Suddenly he jumps a little
as the phone rings. He reaches for it, picks up the receiver.
JEFF
(Still looks out window)
Hello.
(No answer)
Hello, Doyle? Tom? Tom, I think
Thorwald's left. I don't see anything
of --
(He looks at receiver, then:)
Hello.
Slowly he looks up toward Thorwald's apartment. Then, back
to the receiver. On filter, a receiver can be heard carefully
being replaced. Jeff slowly lowers the phone into the cradle.
He looks once more toward Thorwald's apartment. Then he turns
his chair around quickly and looks toward the door to his
apartment.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
The door. Quiet in the apartment, and in the corridor.
Light showing beneath the door from the hall light.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSE SHOT
Jeff watching, waiting, nervous at first. He reaches for the
phone, changes his mind. He looks around for some kind of a
weapon, finds none to suit him. He hears the slightest squeak
of a floorboard, and looks quickly toward the door again.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
The door. Another squeak of a floorboard, so light and quickly
passing that at any other time it would have no significance,
even if it could be heard. Then the light beneath the door
disappears. Black.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSE SHOT
Jeff squints at the door, blinks, squints again.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
The door. No doubt about it, black.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
He looks again for a weapon, and almost by instinct he
snatches up his flash holder and the small packet of bulbs
he had taken out to signal Lisa earlier. He tries to move
his wheelchair farther into the shadows. His eyes are glued
to the door of his apartment, and his senses are sharp as a
hunting dog's. He scarcely breathes.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Only the slightest sound is heard as the doorknob turns.
The door slowly and carefully swings open, but the corridor
is too dark to tell at first who is entering.
The door closes just as quietly. From the shadowed recess
comes a heavy voice. A threatening voice.
THORWALD
What do you want from me?
Jeff doesn't answer. Thorwald steps to the top of the stairs,
and is now somewhat visible. He looks tall and huge and
explosive.
THORWALD
Your friend -- the girl -- could
have turned me in. Why didn't she?
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Jeff doesn't answer. His eyes watch Thorwald. He licks his
lip with nervous tension and grips the flash holder.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Thorwald comes down the two steps, pauses at the bottom.
THORWALD
What is it you want? A lot of money?
I don't have any money.
Jeff doesn't answer.
THORWALD
Say something!
He moves forward a couple of steps.
THORWALD
(Sudden loud anger)
Say something! Tell me what you want!
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Jeff still doesn't speak. He grips the flash holder a little
more tightly, lifts it just the fraction of an inch as if he
is prepared to use it.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Thorwald has advanced to the middle of the room, his eyes on
Jeff and his hands clenching with the effort to control his
anger.
THORWALD
Can you get me that ring back?
JEFF
(Quietly)
No.
THORWALD
(Loud)
Tell her to bring it back!
He advances a step.
JEFF
I can't. The police have it by now.
THORWALD
Then if the police get me -- you
won't be around to laugh!
Thorwald starts to move threateningly for Jeff.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
From a three-quarter angle toward Thorwald. Jeff lifts the
flash holder to face level and closes his eyes. He explodes
the flash.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Thorwald's face fills the screen registering shock, confusion.
He throws up his hands for protection and recoils, making an
involuntary sound of surprise.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
A vision of Jeff and the apartment as seen by Thorwald.
It is distorted and out of focus, filled with large twisting
balls of bright yellow color.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Thorwald blinking, trying to regain his sight.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff ejects the used bulb and quickly inserts another.
He works furiously, sweating. He gets the bulb in the flash
holder just in time to meet Thorwald coming at him. Jeff
closes his eyes and another bulb explodes in Thorwald's face.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Thorwald's face, full screen again, as he recoils from the
flash.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The apartment as seen by Thorwald again. Big, twisting balls
of blinding yellow.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Thorwald stumbles back against the side table, knocking
objects off onto the floor, struggling for balance and sight.
Jeff works rapidly to put a fresh bulb in the holder.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Thorwald regains his equilibrium and some of his sight.
Orienting himself, he starts for Jeff again. This time, when
the flash holder goes off, we see it from Jeff's angle.
Thorwald is lighted almost white, shockingly outlining every
detail of his face, clothes, hands. His rage and frustration
are fixed for a brief but terrifying moment. He stumbles
backward again, trying to brush the light away from his face
almost as if it were a solid enveloping substance.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Jeff ejects a bulb, puts his last bulb into the flash holder.
He tries to move the wheelchair a little further away from
Thorwald. Then he raises the flash holder again.
In b.g. we see: Doyle, Lisa, Stella and the detectives come
to Thorwald's door, try it. Locked.
One of the men steps forward with a flat steel jimmy and
snaps the lock open. They move quickly into the darkened
apartment. Doyle hits the lights inside the kitchen. The
group goes into the living room. The lights go on. No sign
of Thorwald. Doyle, Lisa and Stella instinctively turn and
look toward Jeff's apartment.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
From Thorwald's apartment shooting at Jeff's window. A sudden
bright flash is seen as the last flash bulb goes off. And it
lights the scene of Jeff in the wheelchair and Thorwald diving
through the air at him. Darkness rushes in, blacker than
before.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Thorwald has finally reached Jeff, knocking the flash
equipment out of his hands and coming to grips with him.
It is apparent that he is trying to pull Jeff out of the
wheelchair. Jeff fights him off.
The wheelchair crashes over, spilling Jeff to the floor.
Thorwald is on top of him, lifting, dragging him to the
window. Jeff grabs everything he can to keep himself away
from the window, but Thorwald is far too powerful for him.
He strains to raise Jeff to the windowsill.
THORWALD
I'll give you a good look out the
window.
Slowly, inexorably, he raises Jeff to the windowsill.
Jeff frantically grabs for the upright window frame, wrapping
his arms around it. Thorwald shoves the rest of his body
over the windowsill.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Doyle, Lisa, Stella and the two detectives, crossing
Thorwald's yard, see Jeff going out the window. Lisa is
panicked.
LISA
Jeff! Jeff!
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM LONG SHOT
From Doyle's viewpoint, Jeff hanging out the window and
Thorwald hammering at his hands and arms with bare fists.
Doyle pushes Lisa to one side and starts to scale the wall,
preceded by the two detectives.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Thorwald fights to dislodge Jeff's grip.
EXT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSE SHOT
Looking down on Jeff's face, showing his strain and the pain
of Thorwald's attack. The brick floor of the patio seems a
hundred feet below.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Thorwald and Jeff struggling.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Doyle pulling himself to the top of the wall. Lisa, Stella
and the two men below, looking up. Lisa is white-faced and
frightened.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Thorwald smashes at Jeff's arms and hands. Jeff's grip begins
to slip.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Doyle reaches the top of the wall, looks up at Jeff.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM LONG SHOT
Jeff, as seen from Doyle's angle, hanging, somehow weathering
Thorwald's insane attack.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Doyle reaches for his service revolver. He doesn't have it!
He looks down, and calls one of the detectives back.
DOYLE
Creel! Your Thirty-eight!
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Looking down at the two detectives from Doyle's point of
view. Creel grabs for his gun expertly. The holster breaks
away. It is in his hand and with a deft movement he tosses
it upward.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Doyle catches it, turns up to Jeff's apartment.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Thorwald still trying to loosen Jeff's grip. The salesman,
in a complete, wild, sweating rage, is beyond all reason.
His glasses hang from one ear, his coat is torn, his tie
pulled to one side.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM LONG SHOT
Shooting over Doyle's shoulder as he steadies himself against
the wall, lifting the service revolver up for a shot at
Thorwald. His aim is careful, slow, painfully deliberate.
Jeff seems about to fall.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
The two detectives ahead of Doyle are moving up below the
window. Lisa stand looking up, her hands at the sides of her
head, frozen with panic.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Two detectives appear behind Thorwald and grab him. The
startled Thorwald stops his attack on Jeff as he looks wildly
around to find the source of his new attack.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Jeff, hanging from the window frame. He claws desperately
for a hold.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - COMPREHENSIVE SHOT
People rush to their windows, looking out at the excitement.
Some people on the ground floor come out into the yard. Doyle
and the two detectives come into the patio beneath Jeff.
Doyle directs them to improvise something to break Jeff's
fall -- leaves, greenery, their coats, cushions from the
patio furniture -- anything they can find. The four uniformed
policemen rush into the backyard. Lisa and Stella come over
the wall into the patio beneath Jeff. They look up at Jeff,
encouraging him to hold on.
A detective goes into Jeff's cellar door, trying to reach
his apartment before Jeff loses his grip.
The siffleuse and her husband are standing on the fire escape
in plain, almost somber clothes. They watch expressionlessly.
Beneath them the empty basket which once held their dog swings
silently in the night air.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Jeff, hanging from his windowsill. He loses his grip and
plunges down into the patio below. Two detectives throw
themselves beneath him. They are knocked to the ground as
Jeff's fall tumbles both of them. After Jeff hits, he lies
still, twisted over to one side.
Doyle and Lisa rush over to Jeff. There is an audible
SOUND of shock in the neighborhood as Jeff has fallen --
various oh's, ah's, and possibly a stifled scream or two.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSE SHOT
Lisa kneels down, cradles Jeff's head in her lap. There are
tears in her eyes. Her clothes are disheveled and her dress
torn. Her hair is disarranged. But withal, her face is as
beautiful as ever, with love.
LISA
Jeff -- Jeff darling!
He opens his eyes. Winces with pain.
LISA
(To the detectives)
Get an ambulance.
(Down to Jeff)
Don't move. Try to lie still.
JEFF
Lisa -- I -- I -- can't tell you how
scared I was that you -- you might --
LISA
(Affectionately)
Shut up. I'm all right.
JEFF
(To Doyle)
Think you've got enough for a search
warrant now?
DOYLE
Oh sure. Sure. I can make it.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
At that moment, a man appears leaning out of Jeff's window.
He looks down to the patio.
DETECTIVE
Lieutenant Doyle?
DOYLE (OFF)
(Looking up)
Yeah?
DETECTIVE
Thorwald's ready to take us on a
tour of the East River.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Stella tugs at Doyle's arm and stands on tiptoe to whisper
something into his ear. Doyle then looks up to the detective.
DOYLE
Did he say what was buried in the
flower bed?
DETECTIVE
Yeah. It's over in his apartment. In
a hat box. Wanna look?
Doyle turns quizzically at Stella.
STELLA
Oh, no thanks -- I don't want any of
part of her
(She pauses, then
does a surprised
take back to Doyle)
What did I say?
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY - PAN SHOT
Beginning on Jeff's window thermometer, the CAMERA PANS FROM
RIGHT TO LEFT around the neighborhood.
In the songwriter's apartment we see the songwriter with a
guest -- Miss Lonely Hearts. Both in dress and manner she
seems quite happy and adjusted to life. The songwriter is
placing the first recording of his new song on a record player
for her to hear. It is a full symphonic arrangement which is
heard over.
CONTINUE TO PAN
Thorwald's apartment is empty, stripped of its furnishings.
Two painters are repainting the walls.
The siffleuse and her husband are on their fire escape,
training a new white dog to ride in their basket.
Miss Torso is practicing her ballet again. She wears a white
leotard. The sound of someone at the door interrupts her.
She goes to the door, opens it an inch or two cautiously.
When she sees who is outside, she throws open the door. An
innocuous, unhandsome and somewhat shy army private enters
with a barracks bag slung over one shoulder. She kisses him
fondly after closing the door. He puts down the barracks
bag, tosses his hat into a chair and, with the attitude of a
man who belongs there, goes to the icebox to see what's to
eat.
The newlyweds are arguing.
The CAMERA PANS past Jeff who is asleep in his wheelchair
facing away from the window. CAMERA MOVES DOWN to the lower
part of his body and we see that both his legs are now in
casts. The CAMERA LIFTS SLIGHTLY to show Lisa sitting on the
sofa nearby. She wears Levis and a plaid cotton shirt. She
is reading a book on travel. She looks up briefly at Jeff.
When she realizes he is asleep, she puts down the travel
book and reaches for the latest copy of Harper's Bazaar. She
settles down to study it as we
FADE OUT:
THE END
