Peeping Tom Page #15
- NOT RATED
- Year:
- 1960
- 101 min
- 840 Views
INSPECTOR (O.S.)
What sort of shock?
DOCTOR:
...still cannot determine - but
look!
He points to something in the trunk - out of the camera's
eye-line.
CLOSE SHOT of Mark.
He balances carefully - then raises the camera above his
head. As he leans forward, the pencils fall. WE SEE them
shooting like small torpedoes into the darkness below.
They make three separate landings.
CLOSE SHOT of the Inspector. Looking up.
From his POV WE SEE tiers of scaffolding deep in shadow...
INSPECTOR:
Quiet, everyone. Please...
The Detectives make as much noise to become quiet as the
normal occupants of the studio - and then there is complete
silence.
Complete, except for the Doctor's asthmatic breathing...
And then - so gently that it might almost be in our own
minds - WE HEAR a purring sound from the shadows above.
The Inspector listens intently.
DETECTIVE:
I thought I heard a putty cat!
There is a burst of laughter - the Inspector frowns.
INSPECTOR:
I don't want to spoil anyone's
fun, but we do have a maniac on
our hands, and if we don't get him
quickly there'll be a third unsolved
murder to report to the
Commissioner. So let's hurry things
up, shall we?
DETECTIVE:
Sorry, Chief!
The 'putty cat' Detective raises his flashlamp towards the
trunk counter. In the brilliant flash of light that ensues,
we glimpse a shadowy figure moving towards a ladder high
in the scaffolding... But then we are looking for it - no
one else is. The flashlight dies away.
CLOSE SHOT of a knitting-needle held upwards.
Another knitting-needle scales down it like a fireman
descending a ladder.
CAMERA PULLS BACK
INT. HELEN S SITTING ROOM - DAY
Mrs. Stephens is doing her knitting. The inevitable glass
stands on the table beside her. Helen is seated opposite,
reading from a newspaper.
HELEN:
she was appearing in Arthur Baden's
new film The Walls Are Closing In,
starring Diane Ashley.
CLOSE SHOT of Mrs. Stephens listening intently.
HELEN:
a spokesman at the studio said
that her performance in the film
showed such promise, that her role
was to have been built up... All
work at the studio ceased today as
a tribute to her memory!
Mrs. Stephens sips from her glass. The Prime Minister to
visit Athens.
MRS. STEPHENS
Mark is in films, isn't he?
HELEN:
Yes, darling... It is reliably...
MRS. STEPHENS
I wonder if he knew her?
CLOSE SHOT of Helen looking up.
HELEN:
I'll ask him tonight...
MRS. STEPHENS
Is he taking you out?
HELEN:
If he's free.
MRS. STEPHENS
That's very chivalrous of him.
Where's he taking you?
HELEN:
I've no idea - and I don't suppose
he has...
MRS. STEPHENS
Which studio does he work at?
HELEN:
I'll ask him.
MRS. STEPHENS
If he's free.
Behind her back we see that her fingers are crossed.
HELEN:
I'll bring him in and introduce
you if...
MRS. STEPHENS
I feel I know him.
HELEN:
Now how can you?
Mrs. Stephens stiffens suddenly.
MRS. STEPHENS
He's here.
CLOSE SHOT of the window.
Mark is standing outside - looking in.
MRS. STEPHENS
Why don't we make him a present of
the window? He practically lives
there!
Helen beckons to Mark to come in. We see him nod eagerly -
and leave the window.
HELEN:
How did you know where he was
standing?
MRS. STEPHENS
The back of my neck told me... the
part that I talk out of!
Helen hurries to the door of the sitting room.
INT. HALL - DAY
Mark closes the front door behind him.
From his POV WE SEE the door of Helen's sitting room open -
and she stands on the threshold.
HELEN:
Hallo...
MARK:
Free?
HELEN:
Yes.
MARK:
Good! So am I...
HELEN:
I'd like you to come in for a moment -
and meet my mother.
MARK:
Yes, please...
She holds open the door. He goes inside. The screen
suddenly greys out into the veiled images of Mrs. Stephens'
world. We hear Helen's voice.
HELEN (O.S.)
Darling, this is Mark... Mark, my
mother.
WE HEAR the sound of footsteps shuffling shyly forward -
and then Mark's voice, every intake of breath magnified.
MARK (O.S.)
How do you do... Mrs. Stephens...
WE HEAR the pounding of someone's heart - and then Mrs.
Stephens' voice.
MRS. STEPHENS (O.S.)
Hallo, Mark.
As her voice dies away.
FADE IN:
INT. HELEN'S SITTING ROOM
CLOSE SHOT of Mark's hand clasping Mrs. Stephens'.
CLOSE SHOT of Mark looking at her, fascinated.
From Mark's POV WE SEE the sightless eyes turned towards
his. Mrs. Stephens' other hand gently feels the surface of
his.
MRS. STEPHENS
Have you been running, young man?
MARK:
Yes...
(he hesitates)
... didn't want to be late for
Helen.
HELEN:
Thank you, Mark - You deserve a
drink for that! What would you
like?
MARK:
Nothing - thank you... very much...
Mrs. Stephens grunts, and reaches for her glass.
HELEN:
Darling, I've left your supper in
the...
MRS. STEPHENS
Tell me young man... Which studio
do you work at?
The screen greys out. WE HEAR Mark's tiny intake of breath.
MARK (O.S.)
Chipperfield Studio . . .
MRS. STEPHENS
And that poor girl... where did
she work?
Someone's heart is pounding fast.
HELEN (O.S.)
At Brookwood.
MRS. STEPHENS
We were wondering if you knew her?
MARK:
No - No, I didn't...
MRS. STEPHENS
A pity. I do like first-hand
information.
We hear Mark's small attempt at a laugh.
MRS. STEPHENS
Oh, well - I mustn't keep you
gossiping after you've run all the
way from - Where?
Again that little intake of breath.
MARK:
The station.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
Mrs. Stephens and Mark are staring at each other as if she
has sight and he hasn't. From Helen's POV WE CAN SEE only
Mark's back and her mother's upturned face.
HELEN:
Darling, may I tell you about your
supper?
MRS. STEPHENS
No... go and be told about yours!
(she takes Mark's
hand)
Goodbye, Mark... I expect we shall
meet again.
MARK:
I hope so - Goodbye...
(He turns to the
door)
CLOSE SHOT of Helen kissing her mother and whispering into
her ear.
HELEN:
Darling, we forgot to toss.
Mrs. Stephens grunts.
HELEN:
Supper's laid out in the kitchen.
MRS. STEPHENS
If you're not back early, you'll
find me laid out with it!
HELEN:
We'll be early! Good night, darling.
MRS. STEPHENS
Good night...
Mark holds the door open for Helen and she goes into the
passage. Mark turns and takes a long look at Mrs. Stephens.
She is in the middle of raising her glass. She stops
suddenly, the glass poised mid-air. He goes out - closing
the door. She finishes her drink as if it is her last.
INT. PASSAGE - DAY
Helen is waiting by the door.
From her POV WE SEE Mark coming eagerly towards her, his
camera over his shoulder.
HELEN:
Mark...
MARK:
Yes, Helen?
HELEN:
I want to ask you something rather
personal...
He looks at her anxiously.
HELEN:
How long is it since you've gone
out without that?
MARK:
Without what?
HELEN:
Your camera...
MARK:
Oh...
CLOSE SHOT of Mark.
MARK:
I... don't think I know?
HELEN:
Exactly. I've never seen you without
it... but are you going to need it
tonight?
He looks at her in silence.
HELEN:
Well are you? And if so... shall I
bring some work with me too?
MARK:
I'm not going to need it tonight!
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"Peeping Tom" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Nov. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/peeping_tom_1010>.
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