Psycho Page #5

---

EXT. USED CAR LOT - (DAY)

Mary has to force herself to look away.

CAR DEALER:

One thing people never ought to be

when they're buying a used car is in

a hurry!

(starting away toward

her car)

But like I said, too nice a day for

arguing. I'll just shoot this into

the garage.

He starts into Mary's car. She looks at him, in near panic,

wanting to skip the whole thing. Torn, wondering if the

presence of the Patrolman doesn't negate the value of changing

cars, wondering how she can get away, wondering if she'll be

followed, or if the Patrolman will go away if she does stay

here.

All these panic-fears rush her mind and she can do nothing.

The Car Dealer has driven her car into the garage. She stands

in the middle of the lot, feeling like a shooting target.

She looks toward the garage.

THE GARAGE - MARY'S POV - (DAY)

Mary's car is in it.

EXT. USED CAR LOT - (DAY)

Mary decides she cannot back out now without arousing further

suspicion, is compelled to look again at the Patrolman.

THE PATROLMAN - MARY'S POV - (DAY)

He still watches. With a self-angry sigh of resignment, she

goes to a close car, looks at it. The Car Dealer is returning.

CAR DEALER:

That's the one I'd've picked for you

myself!

MARY:

How much?

CAR DEALER:

Go ahead! Spin it around the block.

Now I know you don't know anything

about engine condition, but you can

feel, can't you... and it's all in

the feel, believe me, you feel that

one around the block...

MARY:

It looks fine. How much will it be,

with my car...?

CAR DEALER:

You mean you don't want the usual

day and a half to think it over?

(laughs)

You are in a hurry! Somebody chasin'

you?

MARY:

Of course not. Please.

CAR DEALER:

Well... heck, this is the first time

I ever saw the customer high-pressure

the salesman!

(laughs, sees she is

in no mood for it)

I'd figure roughly...

(looks at the car,

then back at the

garage)

...your car plus five hundred.

MARY:

Five hundred.

CAR DEALER:

Aha! Always got time to argue money,

huh...?

MARY:

All right.

As the car dealer looks at her in amazement, she reaches

into her bag, feels the money-filled envelope, pauses.

CAR DEALER:

(slowly)

I take it... you can prove that car's

yours... I mean, out of state and

all... got your pink slip and your...

MARY:

I think I have the necessary papers.

Is there a Ladies Room...

CAR DEALER:

In the building ...

(indicates, continues

to stare quietly)

Mary starts for the building, glancing

once in the direction of the

Patrolman.

THE PATROLMAN - MARY'S POV - (DAY)

He still sits, his motor throbbing, his face quiet.

EXT. THE USED CAR LOT - (DAY)

Mary goes into the office building.

CUT TO:

INT. LADIES ROOM - (DAY)

Mary enters, locks door, takes envelope out of her handbag,

extracts one bundle of bills from the envelope, counts off

five, puts the bundle back into the envelope and the envelope

back into the bag. Then she remembers, takes out the important

papers envelope, goes through it, finds several papers having

to do with her car, takes them all out, puts back the

envelope, starts out of the ladies Room.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE USED CAR LOT - (DAY)

The Car Dealer has moved the car of her choice out of the

line. It stands in the clearing.

CAR DEALER:

(too cheerfully)

I think you'd better give it a trial

spin. Don't want any bad word of

mouth about California Charlie.

MARY:

I'd really rather not. Please. Can't

we just settle this and...

CAR DEALER:

I'll be perfectly honest with you,

Ma'am. It's not that I don't trust

you, but...

MARY:

(interrupting)

But what? Is there anything so

terribly wrong about... making a

decision and wanting to hurry? Do

you think I've stolen... my car?

CAR DEALER:

No, M'am. I was only about to say,

I've sent my mechanic out to give

your car a little test... that's

all.

MARY:

(handing him the

ownership papers and

the new bills)

I'd like to be ready when he gets

back.

CAR DEALER:

Okay. If you'll come along...

He starts toward the office building. Mary follows, closely,

anxiously. She glances, sees:

THE PATROLMAN - MARY'S POV - (DAY)

He is still at the far curb.

EXT. USED CAR LOT - (DAY)

The Car Dealer goes into his office. Mary follows.

THE PATROLMAN - (DAY)

A second later, he starts his automobile, checks traffic,

comes across the street, slowly, and drives onto the lot. He

pauses a moment, then drives across the lot, passing the

office, going on to the other exit, stops there as Mary's

car is driven back onto the lot.

The MECHANIC stops Mary's car, hops out, waves to the

Patrolman. The Patrolman waves back, goes on a bit until he

is behind Mary's car, stops again, looks over at the office.

In a moment, Mary comes out, hurries across to her new car,

gets in, starts the motor. The Mechanic yells:

MECHANIC:

Hey! Miss?

Mary pauses, turns, sees the Patrolman, then the Mechanic.

Her face goes white. She doesn't know which man called her.

Then the Mechanic waves, starts forward with her suitcase.

MARY:

(as Mechanic reaches

car)

Just put it right in here, please...

beside me.

The Mechanic smiles, throws the suitcase in. Mary zooms off.

As she drives out of lot we see the Mechanic, the Car Dealer

and the Patrolman all looking after her.

DISSOLVE TO:

MARY IN NEW CAR ON ROUTE

Mary is driving tensely. She checks the rear-view mirror, is

more shocked than pleased when she sees...

MARY'S REAR-VIEW MIRROR

No sign of the Patrolman.

MARY IN NEW CAR ON ROUTE

She turns her face, looks out at the highway.

ROUTE 99 - MARY'S POV

It is heavy with traffic.

MARY IN NEW CAR ON ROUTE

Again she checks the mirror and although...

MARY'S REAR-VIEW MIRROR

There is still no sign of the Patrolman.

MARY IN NEW CAR ON ROUTE

She cannot relax or feel safe, cannot convince herself that

nothing will come of the man's watching and suspicions.

CAMERA IS CLOSE on Mary's face now, recording her anxiety,

her fears. Her guilt shines bright in her eyes and she is a

person unaccustomed to containing this much guilt in this

realistic a situation. Suddenly, we hear the SOUND of the

Used Car Dealer's laugh, hear it as clearly as Mary hears it

in her imagination. The "imagined voice" we hear is actually

the voice of the Car Dealer:

CAR DEALER'S VOICE

Heck, Officer, that was the first

time I ever saw the Customer high-

pressure the Salesman! Somebody

chasing her?

PATROLMAN'S VOICE

I better have a look at those papers,

Charlie.

CAR DEALER'S VOICE

She look like a wrong-one to you?

PATROLMAN'S VOICE

Acted like one.

Mary blinks, shakes her head, as if trying to shake away

these voices of her imagination. She checks the rear-view

mirror.

MARY'S REAR-VIEW MIRROR

Still no sight of the Patrolman.

MARY IN NEW CAR:

She tries to force herself to relax, almost succeeds when

she is sprung to tension again by....

EXT. HIGHWAY

The sight of a police car. As she drives past, we hear the

squeaky, unintelligible voice coming over the car radio.

Mary zooms down on the gas, whizzes ahead.

DISSOLVE THROUGH TO:

EXT. HIGHWAY 99 - LONG SHOT

Mary's car dashing along.

Rate this script:3.8 / 12 votes