Double Indemnity Page #15

through on his crutches they pull in their feet to make room

for him. One old lady, seeing that he is headed for the

observation platform, opens the door for him. He thanks her

with a nod and hobbles through.

B-58 OBSERVATION PLATFORM

Dark except for a little light coming from inside the parlor

car. The train is going at about fifteen miles an hour between

Glendale and Burbank. Neff has come out and hobbled to the

railing. He stands looking back along the rails. SUDDENLY A

MAN'S VOICE speaks from behind him.

MAN'S VOICE

Can I pull a chair out for you?

Neff looks around. He sees a man sitting in the corner smoking

a hand-rolled cigarette. He is about fifty-five years old,

with white hair, and a broad-brimmed Stetson hat. He looks

like a small town lawyer or maybe a mining man. Neff does

not like the man's presence there very much. He turns to him

just enough to answer.

NEFF:

No thanks, I'd rather stand.

MAN:

You going far?

NEFF:

Palo Alto.

MAN:

My name's Jackson. I'm going all the

way to Medford. Medford, Oregon. Had

a broken arm myself once.

NEFF:

Uh-huh.

JACKSON:

That darn cast sure itches something

fierce, don't it? I thought I'd go

crazy with mine.

Neff stands silent. His mind is feverishly thinking of how

to get rid of Jackson.

JACKSON:

Palo Alto's a nice little town. You

a Stanford man?

NEFF:

Used to be.

He starts patting his pockets as if looking for something.

JACKSON:

I bet you left something behind. I

always do.

NEFF:

My cigar case. Must have left it in

my overcoat back in the section.

Jackson takes out a small bag of tobacco and a packet of

cigarette papers.

JACKSON:

Care to roll yourself a cigarette,

Mr. --?

NEFF:

Dietrichson. Thanks. I really prefer

cigars.

(Looking around)

Maybe the porter --

JACKSON:

I could get your cigars for you. Be

glad to, Mr. Dietrichson.

NEFF:

That's darn nice of you. It's car

nine, section eleven. If you're sure

it's not too much trouble.

JACKSON:

Car nine, section eleven. A pleasure.

He rises and exits into the parlor car. Neff turns slowly

and watches Jackson go back through the car. Then he moves

to one side of the platform and looks ahead along the track

to orientate himself. He gives one last glance back into the

parlor car to make sure no one is watching him. He slips the

crutches from under his arms and stands on both feet. He

drops the crutches off the train onto the tracks, then quickly

swings his body over the rail.

B-59 EXT. MOVING OBSERVATION CAR - CAMERA FOLLOWING

Neff is hanging onto the railing. He looks down, then lets

go and drops to the right-of-way. THE CAMERA STOPS. The train

recedes slowly into the night. Neff has fallen on the tracks.

He picks himself up, rubs one knee and looks back along the

line of the tracks and off to one side.

B-60 DARK LANDSCAPE - RAILROAD TRACKS

Close beyond the edge of the right-of-way, the silhouette of

a dump shows up. Beside it looms the dark bulk of the

Dietrichson sedan. The headlights blink twice and go out.

B-61 NEFF

He starts running towards the car. He runs a little awkwardly

because of the improvised cast on his left foot.

B-62 CAR IN THE DARK

The front door opens and Phyllis steps out. She closes the

door and looks in the direction of the tracks. The uneven

steps of Neff running towards her are heard. She opens the

back door of the car and leans in. She pulls the rug off the

corpse (which is not visible) and stands looking into the

car, unable to take her eyes off what she sees, while at the

same time her hands mechanically begin to fold the rug. The

running steps grow louder and Neff comes into the SHOT

breathing hard. He reaches her.

NEFF:

Okay. This has to go fast. Take his

hat and pick up the crutches.

Neff points back towards the tracks. He reaches into the car

and begins to drag out the body by the armpits. Phyllis coolly

reaches past him and takes the hat off the dead man's head.

She turns to go.

NEFF:

Hang on to that rug. I'll need it.

Phyllis moves out of the shot carrying the hat and rug.

B-63 NEFF

He gets a stronger hold on the dead Dietrichson and drags

him free of the car and towards the tracks. The corpse is

not seen.

B-64 PHYLLIS

She has reached the point where one of the crutches lies.

She picks it up and goes for the other crutch a short distance

away. She carries both crutches, the hat and the rug towards

Neff.

B-65 NEFF

He has reached the railroad tracks. The corpse is lying beside

the tracks, face down. Phyllis comes up to Neff. He takes

the crutches and the hat from her. He throws the crutches

beside the corpse. He takes the hat from Phyllis and tosses

it carelessly along the track.

NEFF:

Let's go. Stay behind me.

He takes the rug from her and they move back towards the

car, Phyllis first, then Neff walking almost backwards,

sweeping the ground over which the body was dragged with the

rug as they go.

B-66 THE CAR

They reach it together.

NEFF:

Get in. You drive.

She gets in. Neff sweeps the ground after him as he goes

around the car to get in beside her. He throws the rug into

the back of the car.

B-67 INT. CAR

Phyllis is behind the wheel. Neff beside her is just closing

the door. He props his wrapped foot against the dashboard

and begins to tear off the adhesive tape while at the same

time Phyllis presses the starter button. The starter grinds,

but the motor doesn't catch. She tries again. It still doesn't

catch. Neff looks at her. She tries a third time. The starter

barely turns over. The battery is very low.

Phyllis leans back. They stare at each other desperately.

After a moment Neff bends forward slowly and turns the

ignition key to the OFF position. He holds his left thumb

poised over the starter button. There is a breathless moment.

Then he presses the starter button with swift decision. The

starter grinds with nerve-wracking sluggishness. Neff twists

the ignition key to ON and instantly pulls the hand-throttle

wide open. With a last feeble kick of the starter, the motor

catches and races. He eases the throttle down and slides

back into his place. They look at each other again. The

tenseness of the moment still shows in their faces.

NEFF:

Let's go, baby.

Phyllis releases the hand brake and puts the car in reverse.

Neff is again busy unwrapping the tape from his leg. The car

moves.

B-68 DARK LANDSCAPE - WITH DUMP

The car, with the headlights out, backs up, swings around

and moves off along the dirt road the way it came.

DISSOLVE TO:

B-69 INT. SEDAN - DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC

Rate this script:3.5 / 8 votes