Peeping Tom Page #10

The music continues.

VIVIAN:

Oh well! I've stood alone in front

of a studio camera! That's more

than most have.

MARK:

Ever stood... behind one?

He glances at a nearby dial - only a few feet away from

the one which is flickering.

VIVIAN:

No.

MARK:

Help yourself.

She goes around the camera out of sight - and he is out of

hers. He glances into the trunk - it is deep, and very

empty.

VIVIAN:

(accenting the rhythm)

I can see you, Mark... perfectly!

MARK:

Good...

VIVIAN:

Yes, sir! I'll bet I'm the best

camerawoman in the business! . . .

(beating time with

her feet)

Mark hurries to the side of the studio camera and picks up

his cine-camera.

VIVIAN (O.S.)

I've lost you!

MARK:

I'll be back.

Suddenly Mark's face appears in the finder.

VIVIAN:

Welcome, stranger!

We see Mark raise his cine-camera. He seems to be pointing

it straight at us. We hear a gentle purring.

VIVIAN:

What are you doing?

MARK:

Photographing you photographing

me...

High angle shot of Mark standing in front of the studio

camera - photographing her photographing him.

VIVIAN:

(in mock awe)

Mark, you're brilliant...

He walks slowly towards her, holding his cine-camera to

his eyes. In the finder of Mark's cine-camera WE SEE Vivian

at the studio camera. She comes closer and closer.

VIVIAN:

Lost you again!

MARK (O.S.)

Never mind.

We see him standing almost on top of her - his cine-camera

trained on her.

MARK:

I'm ready now, Viv...

She looks up slowly - and a little hesitantly. Music, all

drums.

MARK:

Go and stand on that cross, will

you?

VIVIAN:

(solemnly)

Yes, sir, Mr. Director, sir.

He watches her in silence as she walks to the front of the

studio camera and takes up her position. while the drum-

beat continues.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. COURTYARD - EARLY EVENING

Don Jarvis is leaving the unit working on the lot. It is

now bustling with activity.

A girl comes up to him... She raises her cigarette for a

light - and looks into his eyes.

He hands her a box of matches... and walks away. Over his

shoulder we see the other stages - apparently empty. Don

Jarvis hesitates, then strides towards one.

INT. POWER HOUSE - EARLY EVENING

CLOSE SHOT of a dial - the needle flickering slightly.

Overlaid is the voice of the 1st Electrician.

1ST ELECTRICIAN (O.S.)

...and here's one of the wife and

nipper...

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. STUDIO - EARLY EVENING

CLOSE SHOT of Vivian staring at the trunk on the floor

behind her. The recorded rhythm continues.

VIVIAN:

Am I supposed to imagine someone

is going to put me in there?

Mark is watching her over the top of the studio camera.

MARK:

Yes, Viv...

He peers into the viewfinder. In the finder we see Vivian

looking rather pathetically into camera.

VIVIAN:

Mark - I hope I won't let you

down... I know you're trying to

create atmosphere for me - but...

I just don't feel frightened!

Wouldn't it be better if I just

did my number?

MARK:

(shaking head)

Later.

VIVIAN:

Oh all right! I could do anything -

I feel so relaxed - and that's due

to you... You're so at home with

that camera you make me feel at

home too... you have it in you,

boy!

From her POV WE SEE see him raise his head slightly.

MARK:

Ready, Viv?

MARK VIVIAN:

(great effort)

Well-I'll try -

In the finder we see her wrinkling her brow.

MARK VIVIAN:

But what... would... frighten me

to death?

(looking appealingly

into camera)

Set the mood for me, Mark...

MARK:

Well...

He goes and switches off the recorder. The sudden silence

is startling.

MARK:

Imagine someone... coming towards

you... who's going to kill you -

regardless of consequences...

VIVIAN:

A madman?

MARK:

Yes - but he knows it... and you

don't... and just to kill you...

isn't enough for him.

VIVIAN:

But how would he frighten me to?

She stares into focusing screen - intrigued, but not

frightened, not even by the silence and shadowy vastness

around her.

MARK:

Stay there, Viv... you're... just

right.

She stands motionless - staring into camera.

INT. CORRIDOR IN STUDIO - EARLY EVENING

CLOSE SHOT of Don Jarvis. He is standing motionless, staring

down a corridor.

What he is staring at is out of camera - and it is puzzling

the great man.

He walks quietly along the corridor.

CLOSE SHOT of Vivian.

VIVIAN:

I can't imagine what you've thought

of!

INT. STUDIO - EARLY EVENING

CLOSE SHOT of Mark. He raises his head slowly - and locks

the studio camera off. Then he walks slowly towards her.

HIGH ANGLE SHOT of Mark walking towards Vivian.

CAMERA ZOOMS DOWN to the trunk behind her. Mark's voice is

overlaid:

MARK (O.S.)

Suppose this... were one of his

weapons...

CLOSE SHOT of Don Jarvis.

INT. CORRIDOR - EARLY EVENING

The great man is poised for the kill. He is moving forward

stealthily... and suddenly breaks into a run.

CAMERA PANS - and WE SEE the object of his attentions. A

wisp of smoke is coming from behind an alcove.

CLOSE SHOT of a Fireman - smoking a cigarette.

CLOSE SHOT of Don Jarvis - smoking!

CLOSE SHOT of the Fireman's terror as he sees Don Jarvis.

JARVIS:

Smoking on duty!

The Fireman opens his mouth to explain � and smoke exudes.

JARVIS:

Come with me!

The Fireman follows him meekly.

CAMERA PANS.

So near - yet a lifetime away - a red light is burning

above a closed door.

CLOSE SHOT of Vivian - puzzled.

VIVIAN:

That..?

INT. STUDIO E. - EARLY EVENING

CLOSE SHOT of Mark.

He is holding his cine-camera; fixed to it is a collapsible

tripod.

Suddenly he pulls one leg of the tripod out. WE SEE that a

very sharp spike protrudes from the end of it.

From Mark's POV WE SEE Vivian looking at the spike.

He raises it towards her - until the spike is only inches

from her throat.

VIVIAN:

Yes... that would be frightening!

MARK:

But... there's something else...

We can hear his heart pounding as if it will burst - and

gradually Vivian, too, becomes aware of it.

VIVIAN:

Well? What is it?

Just for a moment Mark's arm moves. His back hides what he

is doing. Suddenly WE SEE Vivian turn her head sharply -

she is looking at something out of camera.

VIVIAN:

(in a whisper)

That...?

The spike is very close to her throat - but Vivian ignores

it, staring out of camera.

Over Mark's shoulder we concentrate on Vivian's face.

VIVIAN:

(in a whisper)

Mark... take it...

The fear on her face is rapidly growing...

VIVIAN:

... away!

She tries to move back - but the trunk prevents her.

VIVIAN:

MARK - YOU!

It is almost a scream.

We can hear Mark breathing quickly.

Vivian raises her hands to push something away from her.

Suddenly the screen is filled with her eyes. WE SEE them

dilating with terror. There is a sudden crash as the big

power switches go out in the roof.

The lights go out.

There is a scream in the darkness.

Then silence.

The darkness acquires a grey, opaque quality as if one is

seeing the world through a curtain - it is the world of

Mrs. Stephens.

A bright light is felt, rather than seen, beating against

our eyelids. It looms closer and stronger.

HELEN'S VOICE (O.S.)

And that, darling, is the end of

the news! Unless you want the

football results?

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