Scripts: Rear Window (final draft, 01/Dec/1953) - part 9
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Doyle starts to pace up and down, throwing out a hand in
careful explanation.
DOYLE
I checked the railroad station. He
bought a ticket. He put her on the
train ten minutes later. Destination:
Merritsville. Witnesses. This deep.
(He holds his hand a
few feet off the
floor)
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff and Lisa.
LISA
It might have been a woman -- but it
couldn't have been Mrs. Thorwald.
That jewelry --
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Doyle comes up to the CAMERA, looking at Lisa.
DOYLE
Look, Miss Fremont. That feminine
intuition sells magazines -- but in
real life, it's still a fairy tale.
I don't know how many wasted years
I've spent running down leads based
on women's intuitions.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff is resentful of Doyle's comments to Lisa.
JEFF
I take it you didn't find the trunk --
And this is just an old speech you
once gave at the Policeman's Ball.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Doyle has turned away into the center of the room. He swings
around.
DOYLE
I found the trunk -- a half hour
after I left here.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Lisa speaks again with continuing sarcasm:
LISA
Of course, it's normal for a man to
tie his trunk up with a heavy rope.
DOYLE
(Off)
When the lock is broken -- yes.
JEFF
What was in the trunk? A surly note
to me?
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Doyle comes toward the CAMERA again.
DOYLE
(Carefully)
Mrs. -- Thorwald's -- clothes. --
Clean -- carefully packed -- not too
stylish -- but presentable.
LISA
(Off)
Didn't you take it to the crime lab?
Doyle gives her a scathing look.
DOYLE
I sent it on its merry and legal
way.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff challenges Doyle:
JEFF
Why -- when a woman only goes on a
simple trip, does she take everything
she owns?
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Doyle, with a studied, gracious gesture, to Lisa.
DOYLE
Let the female psychology department
handle that one.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Lisa answers, but very coldly:
LISA
I would say that is looked as if she
wasn't coming back.
DOYLE
(Off)
That's what they call a family
problem.
JEFF
(Persisting)
If his wife wasn't coming back --
why didn't he tell his landlord? --
I'll answer it for you -- because he
had something to hide.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Doyle hesitates a moment, and lets his eyes wander, to:
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
The overnight case, with Lisa's lingerie.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
His eyes going back to Jeff.
DOYLE
(Blandly)
Do -- uh -- you tell your landlord
everything?
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff replies, pointedly:
JEFF
I told you to be careful.
Lisa looks down at Jeff, not comprehending.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Doyle points to one of the photographs on the wall.
DOYLE
If I'd been careful piloting that
reconnaissance plane, you wouldn't
have taken the kind of pictures that
got you a medal, a big job, fame,
money --
JEFF
(Expressionless)
All the things I hate.
Doyle has a complete change of manner. He relaxes and smiles.
DOYLE
Now -- what do you say we sit down
to a quiet, friendly drink or two --
forget all about this, and tell lies
about the old days in the war? Hmmm?
He looks from one to the other.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Neither Jeff or Lisa display even the slightest friendliness.
Their faces are cold and set. Then Lisa speaks, icily:
LISA
You're through with the case?
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Doyle is relaxed.
DOYLE
There isn't any "case" to be through
with, Miss Fremont. Now let's get
down to that friendly drink.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff and Lisa remain unmoved.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
A little self-conscious, Doyle checks his watch, and says
with a pleasant laugh:
DOYLE
Maybe you're right. I guess I'd better
get home and get some sleep.
He waits. No response comes across. His face sobers a little,
he reaches for his unfinished drink of brandy.
He tries to toss it off like a straight shot of liquor.
Part of it shoots out of the brandy snifter, down each side
of his face, and into his suit. He sputters a little, and
puts the glass down.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff and Lisa deadpan.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Doyle is wiping his coat lapels with a handkerchief. He looks
at them pleasantly.
DOYLE
I'm not much of a snifter.
He starts away toward the door.
DOYLE
If you need any more help, Jeff --
consult the yellow pages of your
telephone directory.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Lisa, still burning:
LISA
I hate funny exit lines.
JEFF
Who was the trunk addressed to?
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Doyle picks up his hat.
DOYLE
Mrs. Anna Thorwald.
He starts up the steps to the door.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - CLOSEUP
Jeff points out a challenging finger.
JEFF
Let's wait and see who picks it up.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Doyle poises on the step. He snaps his fingers.
DOYLE
Oh -- that phone call!
(To Jeff)
I gave them your number -- hope you
don't mind.
JEFF
(Off)
That depends on who "they" were.
DOYLE
(Pleasantly)
The police Department at Merritsville.
They called to report. The trunk was
just picked up -- by Mrs. Anna
Thorwald.
He puts on his hat, smiles, and says.
DOYLE
Don't stay up too late.
He quietly closes the door behind him.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Lisa and Jeff. Jeff turns his chair around, and looks out to
the neighborhood. Lisa stands glumly behind him.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
The song-writer's party is now in full swing, and fairly
crowded. It is a happy, gay affair.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
None of the gaiety is reflected in Lisa and Jeff. Some new
music is heard coming across the courtyard and Jeff turns
toward it with some irritation.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Miss Torso's apartment has the door closed, and all that we
can see of her, as she is lying on the divan, is her legs
swinging in arcs as she exercise to record music.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Lisa is not looking in the same direction as Jeff. All during
this, she has been staring out at Thorwald's apartment. Now
her eyes are looking at the apartment underneath. She murmurs
to Jeff:
LISA
Look.
Jeff turns his eyes in the same direction as hers.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
A light has gone on in Miss Lonely Hearts' apartment.
They look. Surprise of surprises, she has returned with a
lover hooked. He is much younger then she, and a little more
keyed up to the promise of an adventure still fresh to him.
Her actions are coy, and over-feminine.
She slips away from his hasty embraces and exploratory kisses
with the proper flush of confusion and nervous giggle that
seems to say, "It's quite a surprise you find me so desirable,
but me mustn't do anything improper, you know. After all,
we're practically strangers -- and what would you think of
me?"
She pours a drink for each of them with gestures over-genteel.
As she sips her drink and look at him over the rim of the
glass, he tosses his off with nervous dispatch.
He moves toward her, this time more cautiously. An embrace,
a long kiss. She puts her drink down on the edge of the chair.
It spills over onto the rug. He begins kissing her cheek,
her ear, her neck.
Suddenly and fiercely she pushes him away. Slaps him across
the face. He moves back with shock as she loudly and
emphatically orders him out, out, out. He flushes with anger
and embarrassment, and his mouth twists into unpleasant shapes
as he slaps degrading words back at her, telling her what
she is. She screams at him to get out. He leaves, slamming
the door behind him.
She goes back dumbly to the spilled liquor, makes a futile
effort to clean it up, and the collapses onto the rug sobbing
hard enough to shake her whole body.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Lisa turns away from Jeff's chair to get a cigarette from
the table. She lights it, as Jeff turns his chair back to
the room.
JEFF
As much as I hate to give Thomas J.
Doyle too much credit, he might have
gotten a hold of something when he
said this was pretty private stuff
going on out there.
He indicates the outside neighborhood with a movement of his
head. She doesn't answer, but studies the photographs on the
wall of his room.
JEFF
Do you suppose it's ethical to watch
a man with binoculars, and a long-
focus lens -- until you can see the
freckles on the back of his neck,
and almost read his mail -- do you
suppose it's ethical even if you
prove he didn't commit a crime?
LISA
I'm not much on rear window ethics.
JEFF
Of course, they have the same chance.
They can look at me like a bug under
glass, if they want to.
LISA
(Turns to him)
Jeff -- if anybody walked in here, I
don't think they'd believe what they
see.
JEFF
Huh?
LISA
You and me with long faces -- plunged
into despair -- because we find out
that a man didn't kill his wife.
We're two of the most frightening
ghouls I've ever known.
Jeff starts to smile at the realization.
LISA
You'd think we could be a little bit
happy that the poor woman is alive
and well.
Jeff smile is broad, and he starts to chuckle. She relaxes
and joins him. She sits on his lap, her arms around his
shoulders.
LISA
Whatever happened to that old saying
"Love Thy Neighbor."
JEFF
I think I'll start reviving it
tomorrow, with say -- Miss Torso for
a start?
She gets up, goes to the blinds, and proceeds to lower them
one by on.
LISA
(As she get up)
Not if I have to move into an
apartment across the courtyard and
do the dance of the seven veils once
an hour.
(As she lowers the
blinds)
Show's over for tonight.
He smiles. She goes to the table, picks up he overnight case.
LISA
Preview -- of the coming attractions.
She goes to the kitchen entrance, pauses.
LISA
Did Mr. Doyle think I stole this
case.
JEFF
(Mock seriousness)
No, Lisa -- I don't think he did.
She shrugs, goes into the kitchen, the CAMERA PANNING her.
LAP DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - SEMI-CLOSEUP
Jeff is sitting on the wheelchair near the bar, a drink in
his hand. He starts to take a sip from the glass, when Lisa
comes out of the kitchen. She is an ethereal beauty, in sheer
peach nightgown, covered by a gossamer matching kimono. She
turns gracefully in front of Jeff.
He lowers his drink.
LISA
(Softly)
What do you think?
Jeff puts his drink on the bar. He tries to decide how to
answer her question. He can't.
LISA
I'll rephrase the question.
JEFF
Thank you.
Lisa holds out the folds of her kimono.
LISA
Do you like it?
JEFF
(Studying it)
Well, -- if there was one less thread
this way --
(motions horizontally)
-- and two less that way --
(Motions vertically)
-- I might give up bachelorhood.
Lisa turns playfully toward the kitchen.
LISA
I'll be right back.
Blood-curdling scream from the courtyard outside suddenly
cuts through the night.
Startled, both Jeff and Lisa move quickly for the window --
Lisa lifting the blinds up. The long scream subsides into
near-hysterical sobbing.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - LONG SHOT
We get a high comprehensive view of all the apartments.
Light are going on in some windows, shades are lifted on
others, people are beginning to lean out looking for the
source of the cream and sobbing. The song-writer's party
comes to a sudden halt, as his guest crowd to the window.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
Lisa and Jeff at the window, looking out, startled.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
The landlord, beneath the newlyweds, looks out. Tilting his
head up toward the center of the yard.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
A couple comes out on the high balcony to the right.
Look down.
MEDIUM SHOT
The newlywed's blinds come up, and for the first time we see
both of them at the window, the girl looking over the boy's
shoulder.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
Some members of the song-writer's party move out to the patio-
balcony, to get a better look down in the yard.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
The bird woman comes to the window. Her white face looks
forward toward the center of the courtyard.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
Miss Torso, pulling a around her, comes out onto her porch,
and looks to her left.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
Miss Hearing aid comes quickly into her backyard.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
The couple who own the dog are standing on their fire escape.
They are both looking down, but while the husband is quiet,
the wife is holding her hands to the side of her head, sobbing
loudly. We have heard her sobbing since the moment of the
scream which she uttered.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
Lying near the sidewalk in the backyard below the couple's
fire escape, is the silent body of the little dog they own.
Miss Lonely Hearts comes running out of the basement door.
She goes directly to the dog, picks it up in her arms. Then
she slowly turns and looks up at the sobbing woman above
her.
LONELY HEARTS
(Her voice clear)
It's dead! It's been strangled and
the neck is broken!
SEMI-LONG SHOT
Instead of increasing her sobbing, this news quiets,
momentarily, the woman who owned the dog. Her hands go down
to the railing of the fire escape, gripping it fiercely. She
lifts her face to the neighborhood, her lips set and her
eyes burning. Her chest moves convulsively from the crying.
SIFFLEUSE
Which one of you did it?
(Loud)
Which one of you killed my dog?
(No one answers; her
voice is acid)
You don't know the meaning of the
word "neighbor". Neighbors like each
other -- speak to each other -- care
if anybody lives or dies. But none
of you do! You don't talk, you don't
help, you -- you don't ---
(Fighting tears)
Even see. But I couldn't imagine any
Even of you being so low that you'd
kill a little helpless, friendly
dog! The only thing in this whole
neighborhood who liked anybody!
SEMI-LONG SHOT
The guests at the song-writer's party begin to move silently
back to the studio apartment.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
The people move off their balcony into the apartment.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
The woman almost screams at the people now, as she looks up
at the apartment.
SIFFLEUSE
Did you kill him because he liked
you? Just because he liked you?
She breaks out sobbing anew, and returns to her apartment
and out of sight, the crying growing fainter with her retreat.
The husband leans over the fire-escape, and motions Miss
Lonely Hearts to place the dog in the basket, which is already
lowered.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
Miss Lonely Hearts puts the dog in the basket, and watches
as the husband draws it slowly up.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
The bathing beauties go inside their apartment.
MEDIUM SHOT
The newlyweds draw their shades again.
MEDIUM SHOT
The landlord moves away from the window.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
The dog moves closer to the fire escape, slowly, the husband
pulling the rope in hand over hand.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
Miss Torso goes back to her apartment.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
Miss Hearing Aid turns down the volume of her hearing aid
and goes back to her apartment.
SEMI-LONG SHOT
The dog reaches the fire escape, and the husband tenderly
takes it out of the basket. He turns to carry it's into the
apartment.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT MEDIUM SHOT
Jeff and Lisa are at the window. He is holding on of hands.
Jeff speaks without looking up.
JEFF
For a minute, Doyle almost had me
convinced I was wrong.
LISA
But you're not?
JEFF
In the whole courtyard, only one
person didn't come to the window.
(He points)
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Thorwald's apartment. It is dark. The only light that can be
seen in it is the glowing end of a cigar in the center of
the room, back from the window -- as if Thorwald was sitting
quietly on his sofa, smoking.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - MEDIUM SHOT
Lisa looks down at Jeff.
LISA
Why would Thorwald want to kill a
dog?
(Almost a laugh)
Because it knew too much?
He nods solemnly and then turns back to the window, as both
he and Lisa look again towards
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT - SEMI-LONG SHOT
Thorwald's apartment. Still dark, and only the unmoving glow
of a cigar showing in the center of the apartment.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - DUSK - MEDIUM SHOT
Jeff, Stella and Lisa are grouped at the window, looking
out. THE CAMERA is behind them. Jeff holds the long-focus
lens to his eye.
EXT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - DUSK - CAMERA SHOT
We wee the upper part of the bedroom window, belonging to
Thorwald.
The lower part of the window is covered by a wall. In the
bathroom, Thorwald is wiping the enameled wall with a damp
cloth. He rubs at particular spots now and then.
Over this we hear:
JEFF
Do you think this was worth waiting
all day to see?
LISA
Is he cleaning house?
JEFF
He's washing down the bathroom walls.
STELLA
Must have splattered a lot.
INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - DUSK - MEDIUM SHOT
We now see their faces. Jeff lowers the camera with a long-
focus lens. Neither he nor Lisa make any comment.
Finally Stella blurts out:
STELLA
Well, why not? That's what we're all
thinking. He killed her in there,
and he has to wipe up the stains
before he leaves.
Lisa turns away from the window.
LISA
Stella, your choice of words --
Stella also turns, interrupting her
STELLA
Nobody's invented polite words yet
for killing.
...continue to part 10
