Cat People Page #16

This is a small,feminine room of the type to be seen in

women's hotels, where the guests may receive gentlemen

callers. Alice is seated on a sofa, smoking a cigarette. Dr.

Judd is beside her. His hat and coat lie on a near-by chair

ALICE:

Thank you for coming at so late an

hour, Dr. Judd. I phoned you

because I am troubled. I think you

can help me. (pauses and looks at

him closely)

How much do you believe about the

cat people?

JUDD:

The cat people? The story Mrs. Reed

told me?

Alice nods.

JUDD (cont'd)

I believe, my dear Miss Moore,

exactly what I told Mrs. Reed. The

story is a product of her own

fears, her own overworked

imagination.

ALICE:

What would you say, Dr. if I were

to tell you that believe Irena's

story?

JUDD:

Yes?

ALICE (SIMPLY)

Twice I have been followed by

something that was not human,

something that attempted to take my

life. I believe that was the cat

form of Irena.

JUDD:

Why should she wish to harm you?

Alice looks at him a moment. She determines to tell him the

truth.

ALICE:

(very quietly)

Because I am in love with her

husband.-

Judd is highly amused. He chuckles to himself as he settles

back in the sofa.

JUDD:

Oh, my dear Miss Moore, the story

grows more and more charming. And

simpler all the time, too. You

are both victim of fear. Mrs.

Reed fears the past and you fear

the present. Mrs. Reed has a very

strong imagination, and you have

an equally strong conscience.

ALICE:

I am not a victim of fear, Dr.

Judd. The danger that threatened me

was very real.

JUDD:

(shaking his head)

You disappoint me, Miss Moore.

Alice looks at his smiling face. Quietly she reaches down

beside her and brings forth the torn robe.

ALICE:

Here is my robe.

Judd examines the robe. The smile fades from his face. He

looks up at Alice's serious expression and shrugs his

shoulders. He gives the robe back to her. Both rise.

JUDD:

To understand this, I would first

have to hear Mrs. Reed's version of

the story myself. That should be a

most interesting interview*

ALICE:

I shouldn't advise you to see her

alone.

JUDD:

Do you think I am afraid of so

charming a lady?

ALICE:

I know you don't believe me, Doctor

but you must be careful.

JUDD:

(laughing)

You want me to carry some means of

protection � a gun, perhaps, with a

silver bullet...is that what you

mean?

ALICE:

(amused in spite of

herself) )

If you're lucky enough to have

one.

JUDD:

(smiling; lightly, not gravely

menacing)

Of course, this isn't silver...

He twists the top of his stick and pulls out a short, steel

rapier. He smiles at Alice. She nods to him in dismissal.

With a little shrug, he pushes the dagger back into the cane,

and with a bow starts to leave the room.

JUDD (cont'd)

Good night, Miss Moore.

Alice looks down thoughtfully at the torn robe she holds in

her hands.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. DRAFTING OFFICE - DAY

Alice stands for a moment before the telephone. In back of

her, Oliver can be seen working at the desk. She turns, half

looks at him a moment, and then, picking up the phone, starts

to dial.

INT. IRENA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Irena is working at her drawing table. She has on her smock.

The telephone rings, and Irena picks it up. In the b.g, the

empty bird cage swings in the cold winter sunlight.

IRENA:

Hello.

(a little, frown, as she

recognizes the voice) )

Alice?

INT. DRAFTING OFFICE - DAY

ALICE:

(into phone)

I didn't sleep last night, Irena.

IRENA'S VOICE

(over phone)

Oh, darling...

Alice pauses for a moment, looking over at Oliver. Then she

turns back to the phone, and the blunt truth comes boldly

from her lips.

ALICE:

You hate me, Irena, don't you?

You hate me so much that twice

you have tried to kill me,

haven't you?

(pausing, then

continuing)

That night on the Transverse...

again last night in the swimming

pool...that was you, wasn't it?

INT. IRENA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

The smile, the innocence have left Irena's face. A look of

dread horror takes their place. She leans against the table

for support. Her tone is imploring.

IRENA:

(into phone)

Don't say that, I don't remember

last night. I don't remember. It

isn't true. You mustn't say it!

INT. DRAFTING OFFICE - DAY

Alice realizes by Irena's desperate tone that Irena in her

human form is entirely ignorant of what she may do in some

other guise.

ALICE:

(into phone)

I am sorry, Irena.

She hangs up and turns around, looking at Oliver, draws a

deep breath and starts back to her desk.

INT. IRENA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Irena places the phone back on the desk. She leans forward,

one troubled hand, brushing the hair back from her forehead.

In the b.g. the empty bird cage fills the scene. The sun

throws the shadows of the bars across her face. Irena comes

to a decision, rises, and throwing on a fur coat over her

smock, leaves the apartment.

DISSOLVE:

INT. DR. JUDD'S OFFICE - DAY

CLOSE SHOT of Judd at his desk.

IRENA'S VOICE

Help me...help me...

Judd looks in her direction calmly through the arch of his

joined fingers.

JUDD:

You say you have lapses of memory

for which you cannot account...they

are becoming more frequent...and

you are afraid...

TWO SHOT of Irena and Judd. She is looking at him

imploringly.

IRENA:

Help me...

JUDD:

I cannot help you. You are not

truthful with me.

IRENA:

But I am. I have told you

everything. I have not lied.

Judd comes around the desk to stand beside her, bends down

and places his hand on her shoulder.

JUDD:

Do you sincerely believe that if

your husband were to kiss you,

you would change into a cat and

rend him to bits?

IRENA:

(looking down)

I don't know...I am only afraid...

JUDD:

(bonding closer)

And if I were to kiss you?

IRENA:

(moving away from him so

that his hand falls from

her shoulder)

I don't know, I only know that I

should not like to be kissed by

you.

Dr. Judd seats himself on the edge of his desk.

JUDD:

(as he looks intently at

her)

My dear Mrs. Reed, sometimes, in my

profession, there comes a contest

of will between the doctor and his

patient. The patients are

clever...oh, very clever...and they

can fool the doctor...sometimes.

You are very clever and, perhaps

you enjoy this little game you are

having with me. But, in the end, I

will discover your secret.

IRENA:

(desperately)

Dr. Judd, believe me...I beg you

to believe,me. I have no secrets.

I have told you everything. I

have not lied to you. I need your

help.

JUDD:

I cannot help you when you refuse

to confide in me. But I can warn

you. These hallucinations approach

insanity � this nonsense about Miss

Moore- in the park and at the

swimming pool � it is a

deterioration of the mind � the

escape into fantasy � and it is

dangerous �

He leans forward and shakes his forefinger before her face.

JUDD (cont'd)

At this moment I could go before n

board and have you put away for

observation.

(his voice drops to a

confidential tone)

You are that close to real

insanity.

For a moment they face each other, and frightened.

Irena is shaken

JUDD (cont'd)

I cannot help you. You can only

help yourself. You keep going back

to the mad legends of your

birthplace. Forget them. You

surround yourself with cat objects

� pictures � get rid of them. Lead

a normal life.

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