Strangers on a Train

FADE IN:

EXT. UNION STATION, WASHINGTON, D.C. DAY

LONG SHOT THE CAPITOL DOME IN THE B.G. AND THE AUTOMOBILE

ENTRANCE TO THE STATION IN THE F.G. LOW CAMERA

Activity of cars and taxis arriving and discharging passengers

with luggage, busy redcaps, etcetera.

We FOCUS on a taxi pulling up and stopping, The driver hands

out modest looking luggage, including a bunch of tennis

rackets in cases to a redcap. CAMERA PANS DOWN as the

passenger gets out of the taxi so that we see only his shoes

and the lower part of his trousers. He is wearing dark

colored brogues and a conservative suit apparently. The

feet move toward, the entrance to the station and out of

scene. Immediately a chauffeur-driven limousine drives up

and an expensive place of airplane luggage is handed out of

this, and the passenger alighting from the back is seen to

be wearing black and white sport shoes which, as before, are

all we see of him. The sport shoes start off in the wake of

the brogues.

INT. STATION LOBBY

CAMERA FOLLOWS the sport shoes and the brogues across the

lobby into a passenger tunnel. There is the usual activity

of passengers walking to and from, a loud-speaker announcing

trains, etc.

EXT. PASSENGER TUNNEL

As the brogues and the sport shoes emerge to the train

platform, CAMERA PANS them over to the steps of the train.

INT. TRAIN

The brogues and the sport shoes pass separately down the

aisle, the sport shoes turning in at a compartment door and

the brogues continuing toward the parlor car.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. PARLOR CAR (PROCESS)

The brogues come to rest before a chair as the owner sits

down. A moment later the sport shoes come to rest. before

in adjoining chair.

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The legs belonging to the sport shoes stretch out, and one

of the shoes touches one of the brogues.

MAN'S VOICE (over scene)

Oh, excuse Me!

CAMERA PULLS BACK AND UP to SHOW two young men seated in two

parlor car chairs. BRUN0 ANTHONY, the wearer of the sport

shoes, is about twenty-five. He wears his expensive clothes

with the tweedy nonchalance of a young man who has always

had the best. The wearer of the brogues is a fine looking

but, at the moment, a somewhat troubled young man. This is

GUY HAINES. He, too, is in his middle twenties and is well

dressed because he can now afford to be. He nods politely,

acknowledging Bruno's apology, then turns away with the

gesture implying he wants privacy.

BRUNO:

(smiling with sudden

recognition)

I beg your pardon, but aren't you

Guy Haines.

Guy nods with a polite half smile. Being a well known

tournament tennis player, he has had this sort of experience

before.

BRUNO:

(snapping his finger)

Sure! I saw you blast Faraday right

off the court in South Orange last

season. What a backhand! Made the

semi-finals, didn't you?

Guy acknowledges this with a modest nod and turns to his

magazine rolled up in is fist.

BRUNO:

(with open admiration)

I certainly admire people who do

things.

(smiling and

introducing himself)

I'm Bruno Anthony. Bruno. See Guy

looks up. Bruno indicates his gold

tie pin which bears his name in cutout

letters. Guy looks at it with

the faintest expression of disdain.

I suppose you think it's corny. But

my mother gave it to me so of course

I wear it to please her.

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GUY:

(patiently)(a faint

smile)

How do you do.

BRUNO:

(with an apologetic

grin)

I don't usually talk so much. Go

Ahead and read.

GUY:

(wryly)

Thanks.

Guy tries to read but is uneasily aware of Bruno's open

appraisal.

BRUNO:

It must be pretty exciting to be so

important.

GUY:

(fidgeting slightly)

A tennis player isn't so important.

BRUNO:

People who do things are important.

I never seem to do anything.

Not knowing how to answer this, Guy looks a little

embarrassed.

BRUNO:

(still insistent on

being friendly)

I suppose you're going to Southampton -for

the doubles.

GUY:

(politely)

You are a tennis fan.

Bruno is inordinately pleased by this small tribute.

BRUNO:

Wish I could see you play. But I've

got to be back in Washington tomorrow.

I live in Arlington, you know.

He has taken out a cigarette case. Holds it out to Guy.

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BRUNO:

Cigarette?

GUY:

Not now, thanks. I don't smoke much.

BRUNO:

I smoke too much.

He fumbles for a match. Guy brings out a lighter and hands

it to Bruno.

BRUNO:

Thanks.

(he stares at the

lighter, impressed)

Elegant.

CLOSE SHOT OF THE LIGHTER

Showing that it has the insignia of crossed rackets embossed

on it, and underneath is engraved the inscription: "To G

from A".

BRUNO'S VOICE

(reading)

To G from A. Bet I can guess who A

is.

WIDER SHOT:

Guy reacts sharply.

GUY:

(coldly)

Yes?

BRUNO:

Anne Burton. Sometimes I turn the

sport page and look at the society

news. And the pictures. She's very

beautiful, Senator Burton's daughter.

GUY:

You're quite a reader, Mr. Anthony.

BRUNO:

Yes, I am. Ask me anything, from

today's stock reports to Li'l Abner,

and I got the answer.

(MORE)

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BRUNO (CONT'D)

Even news about people I don't know.

Like who'd like to marry whom when

his wife gets her divorce.

GUY:

(sharply)

Perhaps you read too much.

BRUNO:

(contritely)

There I go again. Too friendly. I

meet someone I' like and open my yap

too wide. I'm sorry...

At the appeal on Bruno's face, Guy slowly relents.

GUY:

That's all right. Forget it. I

guess I'm pretty jumpy.

Bruno smiles with and signals a waiter.

BRUNO:

There's a new cure for that.

(to waiter)

Scotch and plain water. A pair.

Double.

(to Guy with a chuckle)

Only kind of doubles I play.

GUY:

You'll have to drink both of them.

BRUNO:

(grinning)

And I can do it.

(moving in)

When's the wedding?

GUY:

What?

BRUNO:

The wedding. You and Anne Burton.

(a gesture of

explanation)

It was in the papers.

GUY:

It shouldn't have been. Unless

they've legalized bigamy overnight.

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BRUNO:

I have a theory about that. I'd

like to tell you about it some time.

But right now I suppose divorce Is

still the simplest operation.

The waiter has brought the drinks. Bruno slips the lighter

into hip pocket to free his hands for the bills which he

gives to the waiter, waving away the change. He offers a

glass to Guy. Guy takes it.

GUY:

(as if he needs it)

I guess I will.

BRUNO:

(happily)

This is wonderful -- having your

company all the way to New York.

GUY:

(forced to explain)

As a matter of fact, I'm not going

direct. I'm stopping off. At

Metcalf.

BRUNO:

Metcalf? What would anybody want to

go there for?

GUY:

It's my home town.

BRUNO:

Oh, I get it! A little talk with

your wife to about the divorce! I

suppose she was the girl next door.

Held her hand in high school and

before you knew it -- hooked!

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