London After Midnight Page #2

BACK TO SCENE:
She turns away to the end of the couch and

bursts into uncontrollable sobbing. Hibbs sits and looks at

her with the deepest sympathy and a sort of pathetic

helplessness.

FADE OUT:

[Scenes 18 through 51 OMITTED]

FADE IN:

INSERT:

CLOSE UP (NIGHT) a broken shutter

with broken window

pane. A bat fluttering

against the pane. The shutter

bangs in a gust of wind.

LAP DISSOLVE FROM INSERT TO:

52.

EXT. BALFOUR HOUSE (NIGHT) LONG SHOT

Two men are seen dimly, standing under a tree. A jaunting

cart is driving slowly in, with the gardener and Miss

Smithson. The cart stops as they look off towards the

house. (The cart is loaded with trunks, baggage.)

LAP DISSOLVE INTO:

INT. BALFOUR HOUSE (NIGHT) FULL SHOT

Grand Staircases. Coming down the stairs are two figures, a

man and a woman. The man, who carries a lamp, is as strange

a creature as the eyes ever beheld. He wears a black beaver

hat and a black Inverness coat and his face has on it the

pallor of death. There is, indeed, something not of this

Earth in his appearance. Nor is the woman with him less

strange. Her face also is of an unearthly pallor. She is

garbed all in black, with long black sleeves to her cloak

that look like wings. They come the long walk down the

stairs. He hands the lamp to the woman. No word is spoken

between them. She starts off toward a side room. The man

goes slowly toward the front door.

LAP DISSOLVE INTO

EXT. BALFOUR HOUSE (NIGHT) LONG SHOT

The jaunting cart in f.g., the two men at side under a tree.

A light passes a downstairs window. The Man in the Beaver

Hat comes out the front door. The gardener suddenly whips up

his steed and the cart goes out of scene pellmell.

53

EXT. GARDEN (NIGHT) CLOSE SHOT

The two men under the tree, two business-like Britishers,

one of whom has a legal document in his hand. The Man in the

Beaver Hat enters to them. One of the two men says to him:

TITLE:

"You'll pardon us, sir, for

not going in with you, but..."

BACK TO SCENE:
He shudders a little, expressively. THE MAN

IN THE BEAVER HAT indicates the legal document without

speaking. The other man unfolds it. The Man in the Beaver

Hat takes out a fountain pen, indicating that he will sign.

The first man tells him:

TITLE:

"Understand, sir, the

owner will make no repairs."

BACK TO SCENE:
The Man in the Beaver Hat nods solemnly to

this and, without speaking, leans over and starts to sign

the document. The two look at him curiously, drawing back

from him a little, instinctively.

54

EXT. HAMLIN HOUSE (NIGHT) LONG SHOT

The jaunting cart with the gardener and maid driving

pellmell in, around the driveway, toward rear of house.

55

INT. SERVANTS HALL (NIGHT) MED. SHOT

Hibbs, the secretary, is giving some orders to the butler.

Two or three other servants are present. Run a few feet.

Then the rear door is flung open and Miss Smithson, the

maid, comes excitedly in, starting at once to tell the

secretary and butler what she saw at the Balfour House. The

gardener follows. He nods a pop-eyed assent to everything

the maid is telling. Everybody present is much impressed,

including Hibbs, the secretary, who starts to question Miss

Smithson. Suddenly all stop, tense, listening.

INSERT:

CU bell indicator on wall.

Bell is ringing. An arrow

has dropped, indicating from

what room.

BACK TO SCENE:
There is a sigh of relief. It was only a

call for the butler. He exits. Hibbs asks a couple of more

suggestions of Miss Smithson, then follows the butler out.

56

INT. HAMLIN HALL (NIGHT) SEMI FULL SHOT

Sir James and chauffeur. The chauffeur is closing the door,

depositing Sir James' bag on the floor as the butler comes

in. He is helping Sir James off with his coat as Hibbs, the

secretary, comes in. The Butler takes the coat and bag and

is about to start out with them when a ring is heard at the

front door. The butler puts down the bag and coat and opens

the front door, admitting the two agents seen under the

tree at the Balfour house. Sir James at the door to the

library, turns in some surprise. One of the agents, holding

up the lease, tells him:

TITLE:

"It's about a tenant, sir,

for the old Balfour place."

BACK TO SCENE:
"A tenant?" Sir James is really surprised.

He indicates for the two men to step into the library. They

do so, followed by Hibbs.

57

INT. LIBRARY (NIGHT) SEMI FULL SHOT

Sir James goes to desk and sits down. The agent hands him

the lease. Hibbs stands at one side, in case he might be

needed. Sir James unfolds the document. One of the agents

says:

TITLE:

"I told him, sir, you'd make

no repairs."

CUT FROM TITLE TO:

58

INT. LIBRARY (NIGHT) CLOSE SHOT

At desk, as the agent finishes title. Sir James nods that

that was the right thing to do. Now, with the lease

unfolded, he scans down it with a business-like eye.

Suddenly he frowns, staring in astonishment down at the

document.

INSERT:

Signature on lease:

ROGER BALFOUR:

CUT FROM INSERT TO:

59

INT. LIBRARY (NIGHT) CLOSE UP

Sir James, staring down at the signature. He looks up, his

lips forming the name: "Roger Balfour!" He looks up slowly.

Then, indicating the signature with a forefinger, he says,

slowly:

TITLE:

"This is the name of the man

who committed suicide in that

house five years ago!"

BACK TO SCENE:
He finishes title, in awe and wonder.

60

INT. LIBRARY (NIGHT) CLOSE UP SHOT

The two agents, staring in astonishment.

61

INT. LIBRARY (NIGHT) CLOSE UP

Hibbs, the secretary, as he says, involuntarily:

TITLE:

"Lucy's father!"

CUT FROM TITLE TO:

62

INT. LIBRARY NIGHT MED. SHOT

of group as they stare at each other.

63

INT. HAMLIN HALL NIGHT CLOSE SHOT

At front door. The butler is opening the door. Burke of

Scotland Yard, with a bag, stands there.

TITLE:

"Tell Sir James an old friend --

just back from India -- has come

to visit him."

BACK TO SCENE:
Burke comes in; The butler closes the door

and exits toward the library.

64

INT. LIBRARY NIGHT SEMI FULL SHOT

The group as before. The butler, stepping in from the

entrance hall, gives Sir James the Message. "An old

friend?" Sir James says, trying to recall who it might be;

and then, "Show him in." The butler exits. After a moment

he returns with Burke. Sir James rises from the desk. They

stand looking at each other for a moment, then Sir James

comes forward and they greet each other with the warmth and

cordiality of old friends long parted. Sir James then turns

to the others and says:

TITLE:

"Colonel Yates, gentlemen"

CUT FROM TITLE TO:

65

INT. LIBRARY NIGHT MED. SHOT

of group as Sir James finishes title. The introduction is

acknowledged with a bow, in which Burke allows his gaze to

rest in rather long scrutiny on Hibbs, the secretary, so

that the young man is beginning to be uncomfortable. Sir

James, picking up the lease, turns with it to Burke, with

a return of his excitement of a moment ago.

66

INT. LIBRARY NIGHT CLOSE SHOT

Sir James and Burke, as Sir James tells him swiftly of the

name signed to the lease. Burke smiles dryly and says:

TITLE:

"A coincidence, Sir James -- it

could be nothing more."

BACK TO SCENE:
This is what Sir James wants to believe and

is relieved when Burke says it. Burke turns to the two

agents out of scene and says:

TITLE:

"I knew Roger Balfour well.

What did this man look like?"

CUT FROM TITLE TO:

67

INT. LIBRARY NIGHT CLOSE SHOT

Group as Burke finishes question. The two agents exchange a

look. Then one of them says:

TITLE:

"That's hard to say, sir.

There was something weird about

him -- that made you feel creepy --"

CUT FROM TITLE TO:

68

INT. LIBRARY NIGHT CLOSE UP

The two agents as the first one finishes title in awe. The

other one goes on:

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