Charade Page #8

REGGIE:

What are you doing?

TEX lights another match and throws it into her lap. She

beats this one out too.

REGGIE:

Stop that!

TEX:

Don't make too much noise, Miz Lampert --

He lights another match and reaches out toward her hair with

it. She shrinks back.

TEX:

It could get a whole lot worse.

Then he throws it into her lap. As he continues to speak he

punctuates each phrase or so with another lit match. REGGIE

is too busy beating them out to do anything else.

TEX:

It belongs to me, Miz Lampert -- an' if you

don't give it to me your life ain't

gonna be worth the paper it's printed on.

You savvy what I'm sayin', Miz Lampert?

REGGIE:

Please stop -- please!

TEX:

You think on it real careful-like, Miz Lampert

-- y'hear?

105.CLOSE SHOT -- REGGIE

As she frantically beats out the matches, her eyes on her

work.

REGGIE:

You're insane, absolutely insane!

She looks up, then blinks her eyes.

106.INT. 'PHONE BOOTH OVER REGGIE'S SHOULDER

There is no one there. REGGIE rises and steps out of the

booth.

107.INT. NIGHTCLUB LOUNGE -- NIGHT

As REGGIE looks around. There is no one there.

107A.INT. PHONE BOOTH

As REGGIE returns, sits and starts to put another jeton into

the slot. She notices her hand is shaking. She reaches back

into her bag, removes a piece of candy, puts it into her mouth

and leans her head back against the wall, closing her eyes.

Suddenly the door opens and REGGIE shrieks -- but this time

it is PETER.

PETER:

What are you doing in here?

REGGIE (a sigh of relief)

Having a nervous breakdown.

108.INT. HOTEL LOBBY -- NIGHT

REGGIE and PETER enter the deserted lobby.

PETER:

You haven't said a word since we left the

club -- what happened back there?

REGGIE:

I -- I'm not sure if I'm supposed to tell you

or not.

PETER:

I don't think I follow you.

REGGIE:

He said if I told anybody it could prove

fatal for them as well as me.

PETER:

Who said?

REGGIE:

That's what I'm not supposed to say.

PETER:

Stop this nonsense! If you're in some sort

of trouble I want to know about it.

REGGIE:

Stop bullying me. Everybody's bullying me.

PETER:

I wasn't --

REGGIE:

Yes, you were -- you called it nonsense. Being

murdered in cold blood isn't nonsense. Wait

until it happens to you sometime.

She goes to the desk, followed by PETER, where the NIGHT

CLERK greets them sleepily.

NIGHT CLERK:

Bonsoir.

REGGIE:

Bonsoir. Quarante-deux, s'il vous plait.

The NIGHT CLERK gets the key off a hook and hands it to

REGGIE.

NIGHT CLERK:

Bonne nuit.

REGGIE (to PETER)

Would you mind seeing me to the door?

PETER:

Of course not.

They go to the elevator where he opens the door for her.

109.INT. ELEVATOR -- NIGHT

As REGGIE and PETER enter the small cage. It is somewhat

cramped, forcing them to stand close together.

REGGIE:

This is quite a place for making friends,

isn't it?

He presses the button and the elevator starts to rise.

PETER:

You said this afternoon that your husband was

mixed up in something.

REGGIE (busy examining the cleft

in his chin)

How do you shave in there?

PETER:

What was it?

REGGIE:

What was what?

PETER:

What your husband was mixed up in.

REGGIE:

Look, I know it's asking you to stretch your

imagination, but can't you pretend for a

moment that I'm a woman and that you're a --

PETER:

Don't you know I could already be arrested

for transporting a minor above the first floor?

The elevator stops.

PETER:

We're here.

REGGIE:

Where?

PETER:

On the street where you live.

REGGIE:

How about once more around the park?

He reaches across her and opens the door.

PETER:

Out.

110.INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR THIRD LANDING -- NIGHT

As REGGIE leaves the elevator, followed by PETER. They

walk to her door. There is a moment of silence as she

looks at him.

REGGIE (imitating PETER)

Him:
'Do you mind if I come in for a nightcap,

Reggie?' Her:
'Well -- it is awfully late.'

Him:
'Just one, all right?' Her: 'Promise

you'll behave yourself.' Him: 'Sorry, baby,

I never make promises I can't keep.'

PETER:

How would you like a spanking?

REGGIE:

How would you like a punch in the nose?

Stop treating me like a child

PETER:

Then stop acting like one. If you're

really in some kind of trouble, I'd like

to hear about it. Otherwise, it's late, I'm

tired and I'm going home to bed.

REGGIE:

Do you know what's wrong with you?

PETER:

What?

REGGIE:

Nothing. Good night.

PETER (smiling)

Good night.

He turns and leaves. She smiles slightly, then turns and

puts the key into the door and opens it.

111.INT. REGGIE'S ROOM -- NIGHT

Featuring the door. REGGIE enters, then stops abruptly,

the doorknob still in her hand.

112.ANOTHER ANGLE

The room has been torn apart. And standing in the center

is HERMAN SCOBIE, the large man in the battered raincoat.

He starts slowly advancing toward REGGIE.

SCOBIE:

Where is it, lady -- where've you got it?

113.CLOSE SHOT -- REGGIE

REGGIE (terrified)

I don't know -- I don't know! I don't --

She stops as she sees something.

114.CLOSE SHOT -- SCOBIE'S HAND

Instead of a human hand there is a twin-pronged metal one.

115.WIDER ANGLE

SCOBIE sees where REGGIE is staring; looks down at it

himself, then lunges at her, raising the hand to strike.

SCOBIE:

I want it -- give it to me -- it's mine!

The hand is starting to come down. REGGIE, moving quickly,

turns and flies out.

REGGIE (screaming)

Peter -- ! Peter -- !

116.INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR THIRD LANDING -- NIGHT

As REGGIE runs out, slamming the door after her, the metal

hand crashes against the wooden panel inside the door and

splinters through it, visible on this side now. Petrified

with fear, REGGIE can only stare dumbly at the protruding

claw.

117.ANOTHER ANGLE

As PETER comes running up to her. He sees the metal hand.

REGGIE:

A man -- he tried to kill me!

Pulling her aside, PETER takes hold of the key (still in

the outside lock) and turns it slowly and quietly. Then,

using all his weight, he slams the door open as far as it

will go, making sure to hold it that way as he steps in.

118.INT. REGGIE'S ROOM -- NIGHT

Inside, PETER pulls back the door and slugs the startled

SCOBIE full on the jaw. His head bangs against the

wall but he manages to raise a foot and push PETER violently

away, sending him sprawling back, toppling across the bed

and over, head first, onto the floor on the other side,

where he disappears. Hurrying, SCOBIE puts his foot against

the door and pushes it away, ripping his metal hand free.

He then rushes to the open window and climbs out.

119.INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR THIRD LANDING -- NIGHT

REGGIE waits anxiously. When she hears nothing, she

gingerly looks into the room.

120.INT. REGGIE'S ROOM -- NIGHT

REGGIE (entering cautiously)

Peter -- ? (alarmed) Peter! Where are you?

121.ANOTHER ANGLE

Showing the disarranged room, empty of people. Then, slowly

PETER's hand appears from behind the bed, shaking groggily.

REGGIE rushes to him and helps him sit on the bed.

REGGIE:

Peter -- are you all right?

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