Strangers on a Train Page #18

BRUNO:

I'm afraid mother wasn't very helpful,

was she?

(he strolls toward

Anne)

You know she hasn't been well for a

long time. She's a little -- how

shall I say -- confused.

(shakes his head

commiseratingly)

Poor mother.

Anne is too stunned to speak.

BRUNO:

You know, I'm very upset with Guy.

He shouldn't have sent you on an

errand like this.

ANNE:

Guy doesn't know I'm here, Mr. Antony.

BRUNO:

He's been leading you up the garden

path, I'm afraid. He must be very

desperate to try to involve me.

I've been protecting him ever since

we had that conversation on the train

and he told me how he hated his wife.

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Bruno is now standing near the window a little apart from

Anne, with his back to him. He takes something out of the

pocket of his dressing gown and looks down at it in his hand.

It is Guy's lighter. Suddenly he stuffs it back his pocket

and turn back to Anne.

BRUNO:

Why, do you know, Miss Burton, he

tried to get me to go back to the

island one night after dark and pick

up his lighter so the police wouldn't

find it? He dropped it there, you

know, when -- well, that night.

Anne's horror is growing.

BRUNO:

The whole thing's been worrying me

so much. But of course I couldn't

do it, Miss Burton. It would have

been too risky. And besides, it

would have made me an accessory.

Anne stares at this insane man and sinks on the settee.

starts to cry in sheer frustration. Bruno goes to her

sympathetically.

She

BRUNO:

Miss Burton, I know how you feel.

He puts his hand on her shoulder. Anne flings it off. There

is an awkward pause as Bruno looks down at her. Then he

begins to look around restlessly.

BRUNO:

Miss Burton, you must excuse me. I

have an urgent appointment.

(looks it his watch)

I must go up and change. Now, I

really must go...if you'll excuse

me...

He turns, starts out of the room and up the stairs in the

hall. Anne watches him.

STAIRWAY FROM ANNE'S VIEWPOINT

Bruno turns and waves to Anne from the landing, then goes on

up the stairs.

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INT. LIVING ROOM MED. SHOT

Anne slowly rises, a lonely figure in the large room, and

makes her way out.

DISSOLVE TO:

LONG SHOT FOREST HILL STADIUM

Grouped. A game is in progress.

MED. SHOT A TERRACE NEAR THE MAIN STADIUM (PROCESS)

where people get refreshments. There are various table with

umbrellas.

MED. SHOT AT ONE OF TABLE (PROCESS)

Anne and Guy are seated at the table.

ANNE:

...And he said that if the police

found your lighter there, that's all

they'd need -- something to prove

you were at the scene of the murder.

GUY:

(grimly)

That big lie about my wanting him to

get it back means he's going to put

my lighter on that island!

ANNE:

(urgently)

Guy, you'll have to get there before

he does. You won't have time to

play, You'd better tell them.

(she nods her head in

the direction of the

center court)

GUY:

Darling, if that loudspeaker announces

that I'm not going to play, Hennessy

bound to be suspicious He'd keep me

from ever getting near Metcalf.

ANNE:

Then I'll go.

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GUY:

(quickly)

No, darling.

(he puts his hand on

hers and speaks

firmly, with concern

for her safety as

well as for his own

situation)

You stay right here and help me give

Hennessy the slip after the match.

ANNE:

But, Guy, that'll be too late!

GUY:

(getting a thought)

Didn't Bruno say that I wanted him

together there one night after dark?

ANNE:

Yes.

GUY:

Well, that's what's in his mind now.

He's not going to expose himself in

broad daylight, If I can finish off

this match in three sets, I'll still

get there in time.

REYNOLDS, Guy's opponent, enters scene behind Guy's chair.

REYNOLDS:

We're on in a few minutes, Guy.

(to Anne)

How are you, Miss Morton.

Anne acknowledges his greeting with a nod.

GUY:

Okay, Tim. Be right with you.

Reynolds leaves Anne and Guy rise, and as they walk toward

the stadium, we can see Guy start to speak to Anne in a

whisper.

ENTRANCE TO COVERED STAND ALREADY SHOT

Hennessy and Hammond are standing by.

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HAMMOND:

Well, if Turley said to pick him up

for questioning, let's pick him up!

HENNESSY:

Let him have his game first, Hammond.

HAMMOND:

(sourly)

This is the first time I ever waited

for a murder suspect to play tennis

before I pulled him in. When the

boys it headquarters heir about this

they'll send me orchids.

Guy and Anne come into the scene just as the players from

the previous match emerge. They pass through, nodding to

Hennessy.

HENNESSY:

Good luck, Guy.

Guy is so preoccupied with his grim doesn't nod to Hennessy

until Anne nudges him.

INSIDE THE STAND MED. SHOT

Anne is reluctant to leave Guy who must now join his opponent,

Reynolds.

GUY:

You got it straight?

(ANNE nods)

Just make sure Barbara has everything

ready as soon as the third set starts.

He goes on to the court, and Anna goes to her box.

MED. SHOT

Anne joins Barbara in the box. She starts to whisper

something to her.

LONG SHOT:

Guy and Reynolds complete their warm-up as the umpire

announces that Guy is to serve. The game starts.

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EXT. ANTONY HOME

A taxi is at the front door. Bruno is descending the steps.

He gets into the cab, which moves off.

FOREST HILLS MED. SHOT ANNOUNCER'S BOOTH (PROCESS)

Over the shoulder of the announcer WE SEE the game in progress

through the window of his booth.

ANNOUNCER:

--It looks like an interesting match

with Haines constantly charging the

net -- not like Haines at all -- to

press so early in the game...

MED. SHOT TEN COURT

Guy and his opponent, Reynolds, in play. Guy scores a point.

CLOSEUP THE UMPIRE

He announces game to Haines.

MED. LONG SHOT

We see the two men change ends and come toward the Umpiri's

chair. Reynolds stops to take a drink of water. Guy, with

an impatient glance at him, moves over to the passing line

and waits, the CAMERA going with him.

EXT. WASHINGTON STREET

A taxicab is seen coming along.

MED. SHOT INSIDE CAB (PROCESS)

Bruno is sitting with in unlighted cigarette in his mouth.

CAMERA MOVES IN until he is in big CLOSEUP. His eyes look

down. There is the SOUND of a click, then, Guy's lighter

comes up into the picture held against the cigarette.

LAP DISSOLVE TO:

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FADE IN:

LONG SHOT FOREST HILLS STADIUM

Grouped. A game is in progress.

MED. SHOT

A terrace where people get refreshments. There are various

tables with umbrellas.

MED. SHOT AT ONE OF TABLE (PROCESS)

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