Cat People Page #5

DISSOLVE:

INT. IRENA'S LIVING ROOM - AFTERNOON

Alice, Irena, and Oliver are walking Into the room. It is

obvious that Alice and Oliver have just arrived and been met

at the door by Irena. She has her free arm linked through

Alice's.

IRENA:

I think, Alice, I shall like you

very much. We shall be good

friends, you and I.

Alice is a little embarrassed by Irena's warmth of manner.

She looks about the apartment.

ALICE:

Ollie tells me you like to draw

cats. I tried to draw a cat once --

looked more like a mouse.

IRENA:

Cats are harder to draw than the

human hand...a good cat portrait is

almost impossible. Look up

there...

(pointing to the mantel

picture)

Even Goya couldn't do it...not

really well. That's why I like

It...because it's hard.'

ALICE:

(with a laugh)

Because it's hard? You're a glutton

for punishment.

IRENA:

No, it's not just because it's

hard. In a way, I felt I had to

draw them. Didn't you draw

boats?

ALICE (NODDING)

Sure. I spent half my study periods

drawing boats. The Marblehead

tomboy � that was me.. My poor

mother wept every time I brought

home a report card.

IRENA:

And I drew cats. The other children

in my village had cats, and they

could hug them and play with them.

But cats don't like me. They won't

let me cuddle or caress them. So

instead of playing with them, I

drew them. They're the one subject

still too hard for me. You

understand, don't you?

Without waiting for an answer, she rises and picks up a sheaf

of drawings from nor desk. She spreads them out before

Alice.

IRENA (CONT'D) (cont'd)

Look, Fashion drawings bore mo.

The only way I can do them is this

way.

Alice picks up one of the drawings and looks at it,

IRENA (CONT'D) (cont'd)

Of course, when I got the gown the

way I want it, I rub out the cat's

face and sketch in a regular face.

Alice nods and puts the drawing back with the others. Oliver,

looking at Alice, is afraid that she has not been

sufficiently Impressed. He feels called upon to defend

Irena's work and to change the subject.

OLIVER:

I think it's right clever. How

about my mixing a cocktail?

IRENA:

I have them all mixed.

She hurries off behind the screen. Alice looks up at

Oliver, He is beaming with pride. She smiles at him,

holding up her finger, ring-joined, in a little gesture of

silent approval. The canary beings to sing. Alice rises

and goes over to the canary's cage. Oliver joins her beside

the cage.

OLIVER:

This is what the kitten turned

into.

ALICE:

Much easier for a working girl to

keep.

(as the bird hits an

especially high note)

Listen to her, will you? Little old

Jenny Lind herself.

The bird suddenly stops singing. Alice and Oliver look at

one another.

IRENA'S VOICE

(coming over scene)

Was the bird singing?

They turn.

ALICE:

Yes. It gave out with an aria.

Irena comes toward them. She holds a small tray upon which

is a martini whirler, three glasses, and a small plateful of

hors d'oeuvres. She places the cocktail things upon a small

table.

IRENA:

It's never sung before. This is

the first time.

She comes up to the cage, trying to coax the bird into song

with little cooing and whistling noises. The bird mopes on

its perch as far away from her as the cage will allow.

IRENA (cont'd)

The naughty bird. For me he will

never sing.

ALICE:

Probably a prima donna.

Turning toward the coffee table, Irena speaks suddenly, as if

with a desire to change the subject.

IRENA:

Shall we have our martinis?

Oliver bends down, gets the glasses, and hands them around.

Just as they lift their glasses, the eerie scream of the

panther sounds. Oliver and Alice look up.

IRENA (cont'd)

It's the panther --

OLIVER:

(lifting his glass)

Here's luck to all of us...May we

always be in better voice than

that.

MED. CLOSEUP of Alice. She is twirling the glass in her

fingers thoughtfully.

ALICE:

To all of us.

DISSOLVE:

EXT. PANTHER CAGE - PARK - DAY

The panther is pacing behind the bars of its cage. It is a

windy day, one of the last days of fall. A gust of wind blows

a shower of dead leaves across the screen in front of the

cage.

DISSOLVE OUT:

INT. IRENA'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT of the panther screen, glowing In bright

firelight. Over this shot comes the melody of "Berceuses du

Chat."

CAMERA DRAWS BACK to Include CLOSE SHOT of Irena near the

phonograph as she turns down the music so that it Is only

background music. She is wearing an attractive hostess gown.

She goes over to the sofa where Oliver is stretched out and

sits beside him. Irena's fingers begin to stroke his brows

regularly. She smiles down at him.

IRENA:

Better now?

OLIVER:

Much better. Those under-lit

tables we work at...we had to use

them all day today... they give a

man a rotten headache.

IRENA:

What about Alice? Doesn't she mind

them?

OLIVER:

I suppose so, but she never lets

anything bother her. She says the

best cure for anything is swimming.

(his voice begins to get

sleepy)

She only lives at that women's club

because there's a pool there.

Irena continues to caress his brow. His head sinks down into

the pillows. He closes his eyes. An outside sound distracts

Irena, and she looks up.

CLOSE SHOT of the window from Irena's viewpoint. It has

begun to rain, and a blast of wind has spangled the window

with raindrops.

CLOSE SHOT of Irena as she smiles contentedly and looks down

at Oliver. He has fallen asleep and is breathing easily. He

moves gently, and one hand extends over the edge of the sofa.

Irena lets herself slide from the sofa to the floor. She

nestles against the sofa, cuddles her cheek against the back

of Oliver's outstretched hand, and rubs her face back and

forth, almost like a cat that pets itself against its

master's hand. Her eyes look toward the dancing flames in

the fireplace.

DISSOLVE:

INT. IRENA'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

SHOT of the fire. The flames have burned down. There are

only glowing coals on the hearth. The room is almost dark.

The music has stopped.

The CAMERA MOVES from the fire to Irena, as she still sits on

the floor with her cheek against Oliver's hand, Oliver stirs

slightly and opens his eyes. Irena does not move. Oliver

looks at her.

OLIVER:

Irena

IRENA:

Yes.

OLIVER:

I've been asleep.

IRENA:

I know.

OLIVER:

It couldn't have been very

entertaining for you.

IRENA:

I was watching you.

OLIVER:

And that was fun?

Irena makes a little purring murmur of assent. There is a

pause then Oliver speaks softly.

OLIVER (cont'd)

Do you love me, Irena?

Again the little murmur of ascent.

OLIVER (cont'd)

I thought so. And you know that I

love you, don't you?

Again the little, happy, thrilling murmur from the

darkness. Oliver puts his hand on her shoulder.

OLIVER (cont'd)

I've never kissed you.

(pauses)

You know, that's funny,

Irena withdraws gently from him and moves back a bit into

the shadows away from him.

IRENA:

Why?

OLIVER:

When people in America know each

other as well as we do � when

they're in love � or oven think

they're in love, they've usually

kissed long ago.

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