Peeping Tom Page #16

HELEN:

Good - then give it to me!

She holds out her hand. He looks at her, appalled.

HELEN:

...It'll be quite safe - I'll put

it away for you.

MARK:

(in a whisper)

No!

HELEN:

Then take it upstairs - if you

can't trust me with it...

CLOSE SHOT of Mark.

MARK:

I trust you.

HELEN:

Then look...

She opens the door of her bedroom - and turns on the light.

HELEN:

...let's put it in here.

INT. HELEN'S BEDROOM

She crosses to a cupboard and unlocks it, then turns round.

He is standing hesitantly on the threshold.

HELEN:

Come in - and see for yourself.

He looks slowly round the room, stares for a moment at the

bed in the comer, but he won't cross the threshold. He

stays outside.

HELEN:

We'll put it in here - and lock

it.

MARK:

This... was my mother's room.

HELEN:

Was it, Mark?...

Again he stares at the bed.

HELEN:

I am being tactless, aren't I?

... It's just that... I thought it

was growing into an extra limb,

and - but you bring it with you if

you want to.

He takes off his camera - and holds it out to her.

HELEN:

Thank you...

She takes it from him, puts it into the cupboard, and locks

it. Then offers him the key.

MARK:

You...

HELEN:

Thank you.

CLOSE SHOT of Mark.

MARK:

I feel...

HELEN:

Yes?

MARK:

Can't describe it! Could only

photograph it -

She laughs.

HELEN:

Shall I tell you what I feel?

MARK:

Yes.

HELEN:

Famished!

MARK:

Good!

They hurry towards the door.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. MARK'S HOUSE - DAY

They walk down the steps of the house.

MARK:

There's a small place round the

corner... It's awfully good on

Christmas Day.

HELEN:

Is it?

MARK:

Yes... there aren't too many open

then.

HELEN:

No - it sounds fun.

MARK:

This way.

CLOSE SHOT of Mark and Helen walking along by the side of

the house.

HELEN:

I adore new restaurants...

Suddenly Mark stands motionless. He is staring at something

off camera.

Especially when -

Her voice trails away... she is staring at Mark staring at

something.

In the shadows, at the mouth of an alley, a young couple

are kissing.

Mark stands motionless, staring at them. Automatically his

hand reaches for his camera. Helen starts to speak - then

looks at him in silence. The man glances round. Mark hurries

away and Helen stares after him.

CLOSE SHOT of Mark.

He turns back - waiting for Helen.

From his POV WE SEE Helen come slowly towards him. She

looks at him searchingly for a long moment.

He manages - but only just - to meet her eyes.

HELEN:

Where is this restaurant?

MARK:

Round the corner...

MRS. STEPHENS

Know much about films?

HELEN:

Come on then...

CLOSE SHOT of Mark.

MARK:

Thank you.

They walk slowly down the street.

DISSOLVE TO:

CLOSE SHOT of Mrs. Stephens.

MRS. STEPHENS

Sorry, young man, Helen's out.

CAMERA PULLS BACK

INT. SITTING ROOM - EVENING

Tony is standing unhappily opposite Mrs. Stephens.

TONY:

Oh!

MRS. STEPHENS

With Mark - from upstairs.

TONY:

Oh!

MRS. STEPHENS

You can stay and talk to me - if

you like?

TONY:

Well I...

MRS. STEPHENS

Know much about films?

TONY:

Well...

MRS. STEPHENS

Or film studios?

TONY:

No, I...

MRS. STEPHENS

Where's Chipperfield Studios?

TONY:

Chipperfield, I suppose...

MRS. STEPHENS

There's a phone book outside...

Look up the number, will you? And

see if you can get it.

TONY:

Certainly... and then I must go to

my room.

MRS. STEPHENS

Granted.

She lifts her glass, and sits, waiting as he crosses the

room.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

A small and very pleasant restaurant, almost full. Helen

and Mark have a corner table. They are dining by

candlelight, and there is a bottle of wine in the middle

of the table.

As CAMERA TRACKS TOWARDS them, Helen is laughing.

HELEN:

I like this place! And this dinner!

CLOSE SHOT of Mark.

He has again won the Academy Award.

HELEN:

...thank you, Mark...

MARK:

Are you ready to talk about your

book?

HELEN:

I'm ready to talk about you...

His face falls.

HELEN:

It won't take a second - and it's

best to have it said.

Mark looks.

HELEN:

Carrying a camera is only one of

your habits, isn't it, Mark?

He looks at her in silence.

CLOSE SHOT of Helen.

HELEN:

... when you stared at that couple,

you were like the little boy on

that film you showed me... looking

over the wall at something he

shouldn't see. But Mark - you're

strong enough now to lift that

child off the wall... aren't you?

He hesitates.

HELEN:

... aren't you?

MARK:

I'll try to be.

HELEN:

Will you, Mark?... Will you really?

MARK:

Yes...

HELEN:

Lecture finished...

A pause.

MARK:

When your book's published - will

you go on working in a library?

HELEN:

Yes, Mark... in case, one day, a

child comes in and asks for it!

MARK:

I'll come in.

HELEN:

I'm not popular with my customers!

They ask me for horror comics -

and I take their sticky hands and

drag them to where there are books!

CLOSE SHOT of Helen.

HELEN:

... and do you know, Mark, waiting

for them to come in next time and

ask for books... is as exciting...

as a horror comic...

MARK:

What does your magic camera

photograph?

HELEN:

People...

MARK:

Yes?...

HELEN:

It's owned by a little boy who is

terrified of grown-ups... but when

he looks in his magic camera he

sees grown-ups as they were when

they were children... and he isn't

frightened any longer.

CLOSE SHOT of Mark listening, engrossed.

HELEN:

... and one day he gives his camera

away to a little boy who is even

more frightened of grown-ups than

he was - and do you know what he

finds?

The little boy opposite her shakes his head.

HELEN:

... that when he looks at grown-

ups without his camera he can still

see them as they were when they

were children! And that means

that he's grown up himself...

A moment's pause. She drinks her wine - shy, awaiting his

reaction.

MARK:

What made you think of this story?

HELEN:

You did!

CLOSE SHOT of Mark.

HELEN:

... I looked out of my window -

and saw you going off to work

carrying that camera like a little

boy with a satchel... and an idea

came... so thank you...

MARK:

I'd like to think... I was

responsible... in some way...

HELEN:

Now what do I do about the

photographs?

MARK:

Take 'em!

He slams the table so violently that a lady nearby looks

around... then reaches for his camera.

MARK:

Oh!

Helen smiles.

MARK:

There isn't a single face that

doesn't look like a child's - not

a single one - if you catch it at

the right moment.

He turns around excitedly and sees her watching him.

MARK:

It would be a challenge!... Unlike

anything I've photographed!

HELEN:

What have you photographed, Mark?

MARK:

Everything. But nothing I'd want

children to see.

She looks at him curiously.

MARK:

But this would belong to them -

and they'd know if it wasn't

right... Oh, Helen... I would like

to find those faces for you...

with you...

HELEN:

Very well! Let's try!

He laughs excitedly... She looks regretfully at her watch.

At once he looks at his.

MARK:

You made a promise to your mother -

HELEN:

(gently)

Yes, Mark...

MARK:

You'd better keep it.

HELEN:

Thank you...

He signals to the head waiter... and pays his first bill

for two.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT.STREET - NIGHT

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