Peeping Tom Page #19

He catches a glare from the great man.

PUBLICITY MAN:

Speaking of peculiar people.

The Inspector turns round.

PUBLICITY MAN:

We've a psychiatrist coming down

today. Dr Rosen -

INSPECTOR:

I know him.

PUBLICITY MAN:

It's pure publicity - and I promise

he won't do any work.

INSPECTOR:

What will he do?

PUBLICITY MAN:

Get himself photographed... We're

telling the press he's here to

help the case - and to see if he

can spot the murderer.

SERGEANT:

And the best of luck!

JARVIS:

Do you object. Chief Inspector?

INSPECTOR:

No...

The Publicity Man sighs with relief.

INSPECTOR:

I'll be frank. I'd welcome anyone's

help... I don't know how this maniac

kills - or why he kills - or who

he'll kill next, but if he isn't

caught quickly...

(he shrugs')

BADEN:

Inspector, have you convinced

yourself he's a member of my unit?

INSPECTOR:

No, sir ... but a few things seem

to point to it... No one outside

your unit admits to knowing the

girl... There was a trunk all ready

for her... and with the risks he

was running, I think he'd have to

use surroundings he was familiar

with... Where is your unit now?

BADEN:

Waiting for me on the set.

INSPECTOR:

I'd like to watch them at their

jobs, sir. It may tell me more

than a hundred interviews.

BADEN:

But, Inspector, the strain on them

is already...

JARVIS:

Come now, Arthur, if that's what

the Inspector wants.

INSPECTOR:

I'm afraid it is, sir... now where

could I get the best view?

BADEN:

(sulkily)

On the dolly... the camera... You

can watch everyone and everything

from there... including me!

INSPECTOR:

Very well, sir ... I'll become a

member of your camera crew...

BADEN:

(to Don Jarvis)

... if the unions don't object!

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. STAGE

A member of the camera crew places his cine-camera and

lunch bag on a shelf. Snatches of whispered conversations

are overlaid.

VOICE 1

I hear they're making an arrest

today.

VOICE 2

hope it's D.J. It's about time

they caught up with him!

Mark turns round and walks towards the small group of people

assembled round the studio camera -

DISSOLVE TO:

CLOSE SHOT of a book entitled The Art of Fly Fishing.

INT. CAR - DAY

Through the windscreen WE SEE the entrance to the studio.

The driver glances round at his passenger whose face is

completely obscured by the book. All WE CAN SEE is a shock

of white hair protruding above

DRIVER:

We're there, Doctor.

DOCTOR:

(to Sergeant on

gate)

Dr Rosen! What a pity.

He continues reading. The car enters the studio.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. STAGE E. - DAY

The (studio) camera is ready for a tracking shot. The set

is redressed as the Hat Department of the store. The

Inspector stands on the dolly, looking round with interest.

The Doctor is sitting in a chair watching everything like

an excited schoolboy. The Sergeant has positioned himself

near the sound crew.

Baden walks on to the set, his arm round Diane's shoulder.

He is talking to her softly. She keeps her eyes on the

floor; he leads her to the front of the studio camera.

BADEN:

Try it, darling... We'll all be

with you.

He pats her arm reassuringly. The Chief Cameraman nods to

Mark.

From the Inspector's POV WE SEE Mark pull a tape measure

from the front of the camera and hold it to Diane's

forehead. From Mark's POV WE SEE the Inspector watching

him over the top of the studio camera. A man with a shock

of white hair is also watching him... and the Sergeant

stares at him from the other side of the set. The tape

measure in Mark's hand remains steady.

From the Inspector's POV WE SEE Mark replace the tape

measure and take up his position on a small stool by the

side of the camera.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

(shouting)

Quiet, everyone. Let's run it!

The Doctor sneezes violently - and all heads turn towards

him.

DOCTOR:

Terribly sorry.

In the nervous laughter that follows, the Assistant

Cameraman whispers to the Chief Cameraman.

ASSISTANT CAMERAMAN

That sneezer geezer's a

psychiatrist!... Heard it on the

grapevine.

CLOSE SHOT of Mark turning round to look at the Doctor - a

hint of hope in his face.

CLOSE SHOT of the Inspector following Mark's glance.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

(shouting)

All right, everyone - let's run

it...

Over the Inspector's shoulder WE TRACK towards the

rehearsal. WE SEE Mark swing out into space on his stool,

turning the handle of the focus-puller. Diane approaches

the hat counter. The Assistant smiles at her.

DIANE:

I'd like to see... that one...

The Assistant hands her a hat. Diane tries it on.

DIANE:

... have you it... in red...?

ASSISTANT:

Certainly, madam.

DIANE:

... in... red

(suddenly she covers

her face in her

hands')

I can't! I can't, Arthur!

She bursts into tears and runs off the set. From the

Inspector's POV WE SEE Baden whisper to the Assistant

Director - then hurry after Diane.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Ten minutes break, everyone!

The unit dissolves into small, chattering groups. The

Assistant Director hurries up to the Doctor.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Can you suggest anything, Doctor?

DOCTOR:

No. It looked jolly interesting to

me.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

I mean to help her

psychologically...

DOCTOR:

Yes. Give the girl a proper rest...

Ten minutes is useless!

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

(hastily)

Thank you, Doctor.

He bustles off and the Doctor is left alone. He glances

round thoughtfully.

From the Doctor's POV WE SEE the small, chattering groups.

Then we see Mark standing a few yards away, watching him.

The Doctor smiles at him pleasantly.

DOCTOR:

What's your job?

MARK:

I'm a focus-puller...

DOCTOR:

Oh... so am I, in a way.

MARK:

I was wondering if you knew my

father - Professor Lewis...

DOCTOR:

Professor... but of course I knew

him. He lectured to me.

He looks at Mark with renewed interest. So does the

Inspector.

From his POV WE SEE Mark and the Doctor talking. The Doctor

is fidgeting with his watch chain. Mark fidgets with his

jacket button. The Inspector then glances towards the Hat

Salesman, who is holding court in the comer. We return to

Mark and the Doctor.

DOCTOR:

He was an extraordinary man - quite

brilliant!

MARK:

You know what he was interested in

before he died?

DOCTOR:

No? Tell me...

Mark puts his hands behind his back.

MARK:

I don't remember what he called

it... It was something to do with

what causes people to be... peeping

Toms...

DOCTOR:

Scoptophilia!... That would interest

him! A most fertile mind.

MARK:

Scopto...?

DOCTOR:

philia... The morbid urge to gaze...

Coined since his day... Have you

any manuscripts of his which I

could...?

MARK:

He thought... it could be cured...

DOCTOR:

Usually. Now about his manuscripts -

MARK:

Quickly?

DOCTOR:

The cure? Very quick... A couple

of years analysis - three times a

week - an hour a time - and it's

soon up-rooted...

CLOSE SHOT of Mark - his last hope gone.

DOCTOR:

... if you've any of his papers on

the subject?

MARK:

Yes, Doctor...

DOCTOR:

I'd like to see them - I'll give

you my address, young man.

From the Sergeant's POV WE SEE the Doctor hand Mark a card,

and pat him jovially on the shoulder. The Sergeant edges

up to the Inspector.

SERGEANT:

Wonder what all that's about?

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