Peeping Tom Page #15

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.

The scene fades with it.

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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