Strangers on a Train Page #23

1ST DETECTIVE

(changing his mind)

No. I think he'll make it all right.

MED. SHOT GUY AND BRUNO

Bruno swings around till his back is to us. He pushes Guy

toward the edge, but Guy manages to grab the rein of the

nearest horse. The momentum of the machine swings Guy around

against the horse, whose big head towers in the f.g. Bruno,

on this side of the horse pushes forward and tries to grab

the reins from Guy's hand. He tries to slash at Guy's face.

The back of Bruno's head is toward us during this. Guy

suddenly leans out across the horse and smashes his fist

against Bruno's face. Bruno's head goes back until it is in

the f.g. in a upside-down position.

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MED. SHOT

THE CAMERA IS LOW so that we get the effect of Bruno falling

into the CAMERA from Guy's blow!

MED. SHOT

In the f.g. is a young boy of four years. He is excited by

the speed of the ride and laughs at the fight with great

enjoyment. He sees this by suddenly glancing over his

shoulder. In the b.g. Guy and Bruno are continuing their

fight. Bruno rises. Guy staggers after him. Bruno again

leaps upon Guy. The two men sway toward the CAMERA until

Bruno gets alongside the little boy. The boy now shows some

anxiety. The three figures now fill the screen with the

horses' heads in the f.g. Bruno is forced against the little

boy, who now, alarmed, beats Bruno on the cheek with one

hand, the other holding onto the brass rail in front. Bruno

stops and with a sweep of his arm, knocks the little boy off

the horse onto the floor below. The little boy, in falling,

grabs the horse's rein or stirrup.

CLOSE SHOT:

Guy breaks away from Bruno and dives around the back of the

horse to grab the little boy.

CLOSE SHOT:

As Guy grabs the boy, he staggers forward with him to a small

gondola. Bruno leaps onto his back but Guy manages to put

the boy in the gondola.

CLOSE SHOT UNDERNEATH THE WHIRLING MERRY-GO-ROUND

The boat man is making slow progress.

FROM HIS VIEW POINT

We see his goal. It is the wounded mechanic in the center,

who is slightly stirring. All during this the base of the

merry-go-round is skimming above the back and head of the

boat man.

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BACK ON MERRY-GO-ROUND

The two men are now in a clinch. Guy tries to fight off the

maddened Bruno. They are flung between the horses, bouncing

one against the other, almost half way around the merry-goround.

CLOSE SHOT BRUNO AND GUY

Again they struggles between two horses. On each side of

them are two young screaming girls. The two bounce from one

horse to the other.

CLOSE SHOT:

The calliope has little figures and these boat away on their

cymbals almost as though they are applauding what's going

on.

CLOSE SHOT:

Underneath the merry-go-round, the boat man has made further

progress. He is creeping inch by inch. His nose starts to

run. He starts to fumble for a dirty piece of handkerchief.

He blows his nose and then moves on.

CLOSE SHOT:

Back above the two men swinging past the two girls on their

horse and they both crash to the floor underneath another

horse, upon which is riding side-saddle, a mother and her

three-year-old little girl.

CLOSEUP:

The two big heads of the men, battling. The two men roll

underneath the horse's hoofs, which are seen rising and

falling. They get right underneath one horse.

CLOSEUP:

Guy has turned over on his back and his eyes look up.

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CLOSEUP FROM HIS VIEWPOINT

We see the big horse's head above and its hoofs coming down

toward the CAMERA and filling the screen. We get a faint

impression of the screaming mother hugging her child to her

breast, above.

BIG CLOSEUP THE HORSE'S HOOFS

striking Guy's head.

CLOSE SHOT:

Guy wrenches himself out of this position. He rolls away

from the CAMERA right to the edge of the merry-go-round. He

manages to grab a rail.

MED. SHOT

Guy's body is flung out horizontally. We see the crowd behind

back-up for fear of being knocked over. The screw of tension

increase. Over this comes the sound of an approaching

ambulance siren.

CLOSE SHOT:

Bruno edges himself toward Guy. He is hanging on to the

reins of a horse. His feet manage to roach Guy's knuckles.

CLOSEUP BRUNO'S VICIOUS EXPRESSION

CLOSEUP BRUNO'S FEET

kicking at Guy's knuckles.

CLOSEUP GUY'S AGONIZED EXPRESSION

MED. SHOT

A flash of the horror-stricken faces of the spectators seen

through the whirling machine.

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CLOSEUP:

Machinery and the lever that was pulled on too fast. The

Boatman's hand comes up into the picture and pulls the lever

over.

LONG SHOT:

The sudden braking causes the whole merry-go-round to topple

over with a grinding roar.

LONG SHOT FROM HIGH ANGLE

The merry-go-round his keeled over. For a moment we don't

know who has survived. There is a surge of people milling

and shouting. Those who have jumped back out of the way

when the merry-go-round toppled, now rush forward again as

the cloud of dust settles. From the midway in the background

others are running forward.

MED. LONG SHOT

Distraught parents try to force their way to their children

who were on the merry-go-round, but are hold back from the

wreckage by police.

MED. CLOSE SHOT

Guy is somewhat stunned from his fall. He is helped to his

feet by some men in the crowd. His knuckles are bleeding.

In the background people are rushing about. The crowd is in

uproar as women and children are helped from the wreckage.

Officials and uniformed policemen pushing back the surge of

the crowd.

AD LIBS:

Get back. Get back there. Give us

room here.

Turley and Campbell rush in to Guy.

TURLEY:

Are you all right, Haines?

GUY:

Yes, I think so.

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Guy is surrounded by police and Campbell stands at his elbow.

At this moment the boatman runs in. One of the detectives

is with him.

DETECTIVE:

Mr. Turley! Mr. Turley!

(indicating boatman)

He says this isn't the man we want.

(with a nod in Guy's

direction)

It's the other one -- the one he was

fighting with.

TURLEY:

(stops to give his

full attention to

this unexpected bit

of information)

What do you mean, this isn't the -(

turns to Guy, not

quite taking it in)

Not Haines?

(back to boatman)

But you said he was. You pointed

him out.

BOATMAN:

No, I didn't, sir. I've never seen

this man before in my life. I meant

the other one.

The detective who was holding Guy instinctively relax his

hold on Guy's arm. Turley turns to Guy, puzzled.

TURLEY:

What is this all about, Haines? Did

you know he killed your wife?

GUY:

(nods)

He has my cigarette lighter and wanted

to plant it there on the island to

pin the whole thing on me.

(urgently)

Let me talk to him. Let me show

you. Where is he?

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