Double Indemnity Page #17

and daughter made the identification.

The train people and some passengers

told how he went through to the

observation car.. It was all over in

forty-five minutes. Verdict,

accidental death.

Keyes puts the half-smoked cigar into his vest pocket with

the pencil. They move on.

NEFF:

What do the police figure?

KEYES:

That he got tangled up in his crutches

and fell off the train. They're

satisfied. It's not their dough.

They stop at a door lettered in embossed chromium letters:

EDWARD S. NORTON, JR. PRESIDENT. Keyes opens the door. They

go in.

C-3 INT. RECEPTION ROOM - MR. NORTON'S OFFICE

A secretary sitting behind a desk. As Keyes and Neff enter,

the door to Norton's private office is opened. From inside,

Mr. Norton is letting out three legal looking gentlemen.

Norton is about forty-five, very well groomed, rather pompous

in manner.

NORTON:

(To the men who are

leaving)

I believe the legal position is now

clear, gentlemen. Please stand by. I

may need you later.

He sees Keyes and Neff.

NORTON:

Come in, Mr. Keyes. You too, Mr.

Neff.

Neff has put down his hat and briefcase. He and Keyes pass

the legal looking men and follow Norton into his office.

C-4 INT. NORTON'S OFFICE

Naturally it is the best office in the building; modern but

not modernistic, spacious, very well furnished; flowers,

smoking stands, easy chairs, etc. Norton has gone behind his

desk. Keyes has come in, and Neff after him closes the door

quietly. Norton looks disapprovingly at Keyes' shirt sleeves.

NORTON:

You find this an uncomfortably warm

day Mr. Keyes?

Keyes takes his hat off but holds it in his hands.

KEYES:

Sorry, Mr. Norton. I didn't know

this was formal.

Norton smiles frostily.

NORTON:

Sit down, gentlemen.

(To Keyes)

Any new developments?

Keyes and Neff sit down, Norton remains standing.

KEYES:

I just talked to this Jackson long

distance. Up in Medford, Oregon.

NORTON:

Who's Jackson?

KEYES:

The last guy that saw Dietrichson

alive. They were out on the

observation platform together talking.

Dietrichson wanted a cigar and Jackson

went to get Dietrichson's cigar case

for him. When he came back to the

observation platform, no Dietrichson.

Jackson didn't think anything was

wrong until a wire caught up with

the train at Santa Barbara. They had

found Dietrichson's body on the tracks

near Burbank.

NORTON:

Very interesting, about the cigar

case.

He walks up and down behind his desk thinking hard.

NORTON:

Anything else?

KEYES:

Not much. Dietrichson's secretary

says she didn't know anything about

the policy. There is a daughter, but

all she remembers is Neff talking to

her father about accident insurance

at their house one night.

NEFF:

I couldn't sell him at first. Mrs.

Dietrichson opposed it. He told me

he'd think it over. Later on I went

down to the oil fields and closed

him. He signed the application and

gave me his check.

NORTON:

(Dripping with sarcasm)

A fine piece of salesmanship that

was, Mr. Neff.

KEYES:

There's no sense in pushing Neff

around. He's got the best sales record

in the office. Are your salesmen

supposed to know that the customer

is going to fall off a train?

NORTON:

Fall off a train? Are we sure

Dietrichson fell off the train?

There is a charged pause.

KEYES:

I don't get it.

NORTON:

You don't, Mr. Keyes? Then what do

you think of this case? This policy

might cost us a great deal of money.

As you know, it contains a double

indemnity clause. Just what is your

opinion?

KEYES:

No opinion at all.

NORTON:

Not even a hunch? One of those

interesting little hunches of yours?

KEYES:

Nope. Not even a hunch.

NORTON:

I'm surprised, Mr. Keyes. I've formed

a very definite opinion. I think I

know -- in fact I know I know what

happened to Dietrichson.

KEYES:

You know you know what?

NORTON:

I know it was not an accident.

He looks from Keyes to Neff and back to Keyes.

NORTON:

What do you say to that?

KEYES:

Me? You've got the ball. Let's see

you run with it.

NORTON:

There's a widespread feeling that

just because a man has a large office --

The dictograph on his desk buzzes. He reaches over and

depresses a key and puts the earpiece to his ear.

NORTON:

(Into dictograph)

Yes?... Have her come in, please.

He replaces the earpiece. He turns back to Keyes and Neff.

NORTON:

-- that just because a man has a

large office he must be an idiot.

I'm having a visitor, if you don't

mind.

Keyes and Neff start to get up.

NORTON:

No, no. I want you to stay and watch

me handle this.

The secretary has opened the door.

SECRETARY:

Mrs. Dietrichson.

Neff stands staring at the door. He relaxes with an obvious

effort of will. Phyllis comes in. She wears a gray tailored

suit, small black hat with a veil, black gloves, and carries

a black bag. The secretary closes the door behind her. Mr.

Norton goes to meet her.

NORTON:

Thank you very much for coming, Mrs.

Dietrichson. I assure you I appreciate

it.

He turns a little towards Keyes.

NORTON:

This is Mr. Keyes.

KEYES:

How do you do.

PHYLLIS:

How do you do.

NORTON:

And Mr. Neff.

PHYLLIS:

I've met Mr. Neff. How do you do.

Norton has placed a chair. Phyllis sits. Norton goes behind

his desk.

NORTON:

Mrs. Dietrichson, I assure you of

our sympathy in your bereavement. I

hesitated before asking you to come

here so soon after your loss.

Phyllis nods silently.

NORTON:

But now that you're here I hope you

won't mind if I plunge straight into

business. You know why we asked you

to come, don't you?

PHYLLIS:

No. All I know is that your secretary

made it sound very urgent.

Keyes sits quietly in his chair with his legs crossed. He

has hung his hat on his foot and thrust his thumbs in the

armholes of his vest. He looks a little bored. Neff, behind

him, stands leaning against the false mantel, completely

dead-pan.

NORTON:

Your husband had an accident policy

with this company. Evidently you

don't know that, Mrs. Dietrichson.

PHYLLIS:

No. I remember some talk at the house --

She looks towards Neff.

PHYLLIS:

-- but he didn't seem to want it.

NEFF:

He took it out a few days later,

Mrs. Dietrichson.

PHYLLIS:

I see.

NORTON:

You'll probably find the policy among

his personal effects.

PHYLLIS:

His safe deposit box hasn't been

opened yet. It seems a tax examiner

has to be present.

NORTON:

Please, Mrs. Dietrichson, I don't

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