Cat People Page #4

MED. SHOT of Irena and Oliver, as they stand, perplexed by

all the commotion. Oliver is closing an umbrella. Miss

Plunkett comes into the scene. She tries to yell to the

animals to bo quiet. The noise is too much for her. Oliver

tries to explain to Miss Plunkett that he wants to exchange

the kitten, which he holds in the box in his hands, for a

canary, but he cannot make himself heard. She only shakes

her head and tries to say something at which Oliver shakes

his head. Irena touches Oliver's arm, indicating that it

might bo better to go outside. Oliver points outdoors to

Miss Plunkett. She nods and follows them out onto the

street.

EXT. PET STORE - DAY

MED. SHOT. The three emerge from the store, Miss Plunkett

closing the door behind her. All three stand under the

umbrella. In the loud, shrieking voice she has been using,

Miss Plunkett starts to speak.

MISS PLUNKETT:

I can't imagine...

She realizes she doesn't have to talk so loudly now, and,

with an embarrassed laugh, begins again in her natural voice.

MISS PLUNKETT (cont'd)

Landie, dearie me! I can't

imagine what got into them... all

that caterwauling. The last time

they did that was when an alley

cat got in and ate up one of my

nice rice finches.

OLIVER:

All I want is to exchange this

kitten for a bird.

MISS PLUNKETT:

Why, of course. I have some lovely

canaries. One little lemon-colored

follow with top notes like Caruso.

She opens the door cautiously and peeks in, turning back to

them with a pleased expression

MISS PLUNKETT (cont'd)

As peaceful as my dream of

heaven! Shall we go back now and

select just which little birdie?

IRENA:

(to Oliver)

You go, please, Oliver. Pick the

one you like. It's so hot and

stifling in there. I'd rather stay

here.

OLIVER:

(handing Irena the

umbrella)

Of course. I'll only bo a minute.

INT. PET STORE - DAY

Oliver and Miss Plunkett return inside the shop, Miss

Plunkett talking all the while.

MISS PLUNKETT:

Animals are ever so psychic. There

are some people who just can't come

in hero. My dear brother's wife,

for instance; she's a very nice

girl...I've nothing against

her...but you should just see what

happens when she puts her foot

inside this place.

The cats particularly. They seem to

know. You can fool everybody, but

landie, dearie me, you can't fool a

cat. In some ways they seem to know

who's not right � if you know what

I mean.

(she has the bird in her

hand and holds it up

with pleasure)

Here we are! Isn't he a ducky

little angel!

Oliver takes the bird and holds it up for Irena to see.

Irena, standing outside the window, looking in, nods her

head eagerly. Oliver turns back to Miss Plunkett

OLIVER:

This is it.

EXT. PET STORE - DAY

MED. SHOT of Irena. The little bell tinkles over the door as

Oliver comes out with the bird in a small wooden cage. He

comes over to Irena. She exchanges the umbrella for the bird

cage.

OLIVER:

(giving her the cage)

What do you think of it?

Irena holds the cage up before her eyes, tenderly to the

bird.

She coos.

IRENA:

Ah, he is sweet!

(turns and smiles up at Oliver)

He will like me very much. You

will see. I like to be liked.

Oliver takes her by the arm and smiles at her.

OLIVER:

That ought to be easy. Really easy.

They start away together up the street, under the umbrella,

smiling at one another, as we

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. DRAFTING OFFICE - DAY

MED. SHOT. In the b.g. the ship plans on the wall can be

seen. They are complete now as far back as the flying bridge.

Obviously some time has elapsed.

Oliver and Alice are sitting back to back, both of them doing

particularly exacting pieces of mathematical measuring.

Oliver raises up to call out:

OLIVER:

Slide rule.

Alice makes no motion. He turns to her more definitely,

calling out again, louder this time:

OLIVER (CONT'D) (cont'd)

Let me borrow your slide rule, will

you?

But Alice is in the midst of a difficult problem, and she

goes on with it. Oliver turns around to her, places one arm

around her, and whispers in her ear after the fashion of

Charles Boyer.

OLIVER (CONT'D) (cont'd)

Mademoiselle, you are so beautiful

- so charming. So gracious a lady

will surely pass me her slide rule,

no?

Alice succumbs. She looks up at him and gives him the slide

rule. Then she gulps.

ALICE:

(getting up)

I have to wash the taste of that

out of my mouth.

She goes over to the water cooler. Oliver follows her,

Alice looks up to see Jim Carver approaching.

ALICE (cont'd)

Look who's coming.

Oliver winks at her, Jim reaches the two at the water

cooler. Alice has a paper cup full of water in one hand.

She takes out a coin with the other hand.

ALICE (cont'd)

Doc, I'll bet there's one thing you

can't do..

CARVER:

What's that?

ALICE:

(demonstrating with belt

on her dress)

I'll bet you a dollar you can't

hold a quarter on your forehead

like this, pull out your belt,

lower your head, and let the

quarter fall bingo into your

trousers.

CARVER:

(taking the quarter;

with confidence)

A mere matter of precision.

He balances the quarter on his forehead, throwing his head

back to do so. He holds out the front of his trousers. Oliver

takes a box of paper clips from a near-by desk and empties

them into Carver's trousers. They all laugh. Carver laughs

with them. At this moment the Commodore comes down from the

mezzanine. There is instant silence.

COMMODORE:

Who wants to go out on my boat

Sunday?

Everyone ad libs enthusiastic acceptance except Oliver.

Carver, forgetting the paper clips, joins in and moves a

little more than he should; a deluge of clips falls around

his ankles. The Commodore looks at him, then back to

Oliver.

COMMODORE (cont'd)

Don't you want to go, Ollie?

OLIVER:

The fact is, sir, I've got an

engagement for Sunday.

ALICE:

Your boat seems to have

competition, Commodore.

CARVER:

You should meet the competition.

ALICE:

Have you met her, Doc?

CARVER:

I saw her one day with Ollie.

ALICE:

(looking at Oliver)

Ollie's always saying he'll take me

to see her, but he never does.

OLIVER:

As a matter of fact, Alice, I was

going to take you around next

Sunday, but since the Commodore...

COMMODORE (QUICKLY)

I withdraw my invitation to you

two.

ALICE:

We'll take a rain check, Commodore,

(looks at Oliver)

COMMODORE:

(turning to go)

I'll expect the rest of you.

He starts toward the door. Carver moves to get out of his

way. There is a veritable deluge of clips. The Commodore

looks down at the clips and then gives Carver a long and

searching glance.

COMMODORE (cont'd)

I always wondered what held you

together, Carver.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes