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Psycho Page #4
- R
- Year:
- 1960
- 109 min
- 858,490 Views
After a moment, during which there are no other vehicles
passing, we see, coming from the far distance, a HIGHWAY
PATROLMAN in a patrol car. He passes Mary's car, notes its
apparent emptiness, U-turns, comes back up behind the car.
He gets out and approaches the driver's side window.
EXT. MARY'S CAR - (DAWN)
The Patrolman looks down into the car.
INT. CAR (DAWN) FROM HIS VIEWPOINT
Mary turns with a start, sits up, is startled and unnerved
by the sight of the Patrolman, and, as if by automatic reflex,
turns the ignition and presses down on the starter.
EXT. CAR (DAWN)
The Patrolman holds up his hand.
PATROLMAN:
(startled)
Hold it there!
Mary slams down on the brake, tries to pull herself together.
The Patrolman raps again, less gently.
Reluctantly, Mary rolls down the window. The Patrolman studies
her for a moment.
PATROLMAN:
In quite a hurry.
MARY:
Yes.
(because he seems to
be awaiting an
explanation)
I didn't mean to sleep so long. I
was afraid I'd have an accident last
night, from sleepiness... so I decided
to pull over...
PATROLMAN:
You slept here all night?
MARY:
(a faint edge of
defensiveness)
Yes. As I said, I couldn't keep my
eyes...
PATROLMAN:
(mere concern)
There are plenty of motels in this
area. You should have... I mean,
just to be safe...
MARY:
I didn't intend to sleep all night!
I just pulled over... have I broken
any laws?
PATROLMAN:
No, m'am.
MARY:
Then I'm free to go...?
PATROLMAN:
(a pause)
Is anything wrong?
MARY:
Of course not! Am I acting as if...
something's wrong?
PATROLMAN:
(almost a smile)
Frankly, yes.
MARY:
Please... I'd like to go...
PATROLMAN:
Is there?
MARY:
Is there what?
(not waiting for an
answer)
I've told you there's nothing wrong...
except that I'm in a hurry and you're
taking up my time...
PATROLMAN:
(interrupting, sternly)
Now wait just a moment! Turn your
motor off, please.
Mary seems about to object, thinks better of it, turns off
the ignition.
PATROLMAN:
In the course of my duty, I never
"take up" anyone's time, whether
it's to give a warning, or a ticket,
or help! Believe that, M'am.
(a little softer)
Now if you woke up on the wrong side
of... the car seat, that's one thing.
But when you act as if I've just
placed you under arrest...
MARY:
I'm sorry.
PATROLMAN:
No need to apologize...
Mary starts the car, her face turned as if she wishes the
matter were all settled and the Patrolman had already gone.
The Patrolman isn't exactly one of those civil servants who
demands a thank-you, but he does feel her manner is a bit
too abrupt. He calls:
PATROLMAN:
Wait a minute!
MARY:
(jamming down the
brake)
Now what?
The Patrolman gazes at her a moment, then:
PATROLMAN:
May I see your license?
MARY:
Why?
PATROLMAN:
Please.
Mary pulls her handbag up from the floor, where she'd placed
it when she stretched out for sleep. She puts her hand in
it, rummages for her wallet, cannot find it.
The Patrolman is staring at her. She glances at him nervously,
pokes in her bag a bit more, sighs, realizes she'll have to
remove some of its contents. Nervously, badly controlling
her fear, she takes out the money-filled envelope, and then
the important papers envelope, filled then a couple of other
items, places them on the seat, finally finds her wallet,
opens it, hands it to him. He looks at the wallet, then at
the car.
The Patrolman walks around to the front of the car, checks
the license plate, and returns.
INT. MARY'S CAR - (DAWN)
The Patrolman peers in, checks the car registration on the
steering wheel, returns Mary's wallet.
She takes it, looks at him for a flicker of a moment.
He says nothing. She starts ahead, fast.
The Patrolman stares after Mary as she drives off, then starts
back to his automobile.
She is quite shaken, realizes she caused herself a great
deal of trouble and placed herself in unnecessary danger.
She is disturbed and angry and frightened at her inability
to act normally under the pressure of guilt. As she drives,
she glances into her rear-view mirror.
MARY'S REAR-VIEW MIRROR - (DAWN)
The Patrolman is following in his automobile, keeping behind
her at a matched speed.
She glances out at her surroundings.
MARY'S POV - (DAWN)
The Freeway ahead.
EXT. MARY'S CAR - (DAWN)
She suddenly turns off the highway.
She checks her mirror.
MARY'S REAR-VIEW MIRROR - (DAWN)
The Patrolman is no longer following, has not turned off
after her.
She breathes a sigh of relief, thinks a moment, makes a quick
decision.
DISSOLVE:
The big sign reads "California Charlie - Automobile Paradise."
We see Mary's car drive onto the lot and stop. Mary gets out
of the car, glances toward the lot office, turns her attention
to the line of cars, notice the California licence plates on
all of them. The CAR DEALER calls out from his office:
CAR DEALER:
With you in a second!
Mary nods, starts walking along the line of cars as if making
a selection. Her eye is caught by the iron newspaper stand
on the corner, just outside the lot.
She stares at the papers, turns away, as if what she is
fearing would have to be impossible, then, having to satisfy
herself, goes to the stand, drops a dime in the iron slot,
picks up a LOS ANGELES newspaper, starts back into the car
lot as she glances worried at the front page. As she goes,
we see, coming up the street toward the lot, the same
PATROLMAN. He sees Mary, slows, swerves over to the opposite
side of the street, stops by the curb. Mary, engrossed in
the newspaper, and walking back ease the lot, does not see
the Patrolman.
The car dealer is out on the lot now, standing and waiting
for Mary. As she approaches, lost in her newspaper, he smiles.
CAR DEALER:
I'm in no mood for trouble!
MARY:
(glancing up, thrown
for a moment)
What?
CAR DEALER:
(cheerfully)
There's an old saying, "First customer
of the day is always the most
trouble!" But like I said, I'm in no
mood for it so I'm just going to
treat you so fair and square you
won't have one human reason to give
me...
MARY:
(interrupting)
Can I trade in my car and take
another?
CAR DEALER:
You can do anything you've a mind
to... and bein' a woman, you will!
(chin-indicating her
car)
That yours?
MARY:
Yes, it's... nothing wrong with it,
I'm just...
CAR DEALER:
Sick of the sight of it!
(laughs)
Well, suppose you look around for
something that strikes your eyes and
meanwhile I'll have my mechanic give
yours the once over and... want some
coffee? I was just about...
MARY:
No. Thank you. I'm in... a hurry. I
just want to make a change and
start...
She stops suddenly, almost with a gasp. She has seen the
Patrolman.
THE PATROLMAN - MARY'S POV - (DAY)
He is staring over at her, his face dispassionate.
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"Psycho" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 31 Aug. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/psycho_61>.
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