Rear Window Page #3

GUNNISON:

(On filter)

Congratulations, Jeff.

JEFF:

For what?

GUNNISON:

For getting rid of that cast.

JEFF:

Who said I was getting rid of it?

At this moment, his attention is drawn to something across

the way. He looks up, expectantly. There is almost a touch

of eagerness in his expression.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY - LONG SHOT

While Jeff is continuing his phone conversation, we see the

object of his look. Two pretty girls have appeared on the

distant roof. They are smiling and talking, although we cannot

hear their dialogue. Each wears a terrycloth robe. With their

backs to the CAMERA, they take off the robes, slipping them

down over their shoulders slowly. Then, seductively, they

turn -- revealing the full beauty of their tanned and bathing-

suited bodies. It is almost as if they want to be noticed,

the center of neighborhood attention. They at least have all

of Jeff's attention. Then they spread the robes in front of

them, and lie down on the roof, and out of sight. Jeff seems

a little disappointed.

INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - DAY - SEMI-CLOSEUP

During the whole of this previous action, the conversation

between Jeff and Gunnison has gone on as follows:

GUNNISON:

(With logical proof)

This is Wednesday.

JEFF:

Gunnison -- how did you get to be

such a big editor -- with such a

small memory?

GUNNISON:

Wrong day?

JEFF:

Wrong week. Next Wednesday I emerge

from this plaster cocoon.

GUNNISON:

That's too bad, Jeff. Well, I guess

I can't be lucky every day. Forget I

called.

JEFF:

Yeah. I sure feel sorry for you,

Gunnison. Must be rough on you

thinking of me wearing this cast

another whole week.

INT. GUNNISON'S OFFICE - DAY - SEMI-CLOSEUP

Gunnison is now seated at his desk, with the phone receiver

to his ear. His assistant, Bryce, can be seen vaguely in the

background.

GUNNISON:

That one week is going to cost me my

best photographer -- and you a big

assignment.

INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - DAY - CLOSE-UP

Jeff asks, eagerly and alertly.

JEFF:

Where?

We hear Gunnison's reply.

GUNNISON:

There's no point in even talking

about it.

Jeff's eyes become set upon something else in the neighborhood

he sees.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY - LONG SHOT

Jeff's attention is now drawn to another feature of his

backyard entertainment. THE CAMERA IS NOW FOCUSED on the

window of the small building where we earlier saw the girl

behind the oscillating fan. Loud ballet music is pouring

from her open window. The girl, now dressed in dark and

revealing leotard, and ballet slippers, has just turned away

from a portable record player. She begins the first graceful

movement of a modern ballet interpretation.

She gracefully moves across the room to the rhythm of the

music and dance, toward the ice box. With her feet still

moving, she throws open the door, and then rhythmically moving

back to the center of the room, gnaws the chicken bone,

occasionally waving it in the air as part of the choreography.

She now twirls over toward a table at the other side of the

room on which is an open package of bread slices, some butter

nearby.

With swaying body, she puts down the chicken leg, and

gracefully and rhythmically butters a slice of bread.

She picks up both bread and chicken leg and continues her

interpretive dance, alternately munching the bread and butter

and chicken leg.

INT. APARTMENT - DAY - CLOSEUP

Jeff's eyes drop from the ballet dancer's room to the one

underneath.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY - LONG SHOT

THE CAMERA PANS from the window of the dancing girl, to the

window below. Someone is reading the New York Herald Tribune.

The paper lowers, and we see an elderly lady, in her late

sixties. She is a faded, refined type. She looks up in the

direction of the music and in a calm routine fashion adjusts

the volume of her hearing aid. She resumes her reading.

INT. JEFF'S APARTMENT - DAY - CLOSEUP

Jeff is amused by what he sees, but continues his conversation

with Gunnison, which has gone on through all the scenes with

the ballet dancer.

JEFF:

(Insistent)

Where?

GUNNISON:

(Filter)

Indo-China. Got a code tip from the

bureau chief this morning. The place

is about to go up in smoke.

JEFF:

(Pleased; excited)

Didn't I tell you! Didn't I tell you

it was the next place to watch?

GUNNISON:

You did.

JEFF:

(On filter)

Okay. When do I leave? Half-hour? An

hour?

GUNNISON:

With that cast on -- you don't.

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