Strangers on a Train Page #3

A WIDE VIEW OF THE TOWN OF METCALF

METCALF RAILROAD STATION

as the train comes in.

THE TRAIN STATION PLATFORM MED. SHOT

As Guy gets off the with his suitcase and tennis rackets. A

baggage man with baggage truck is passing.

GUY:

Hi, Bill.

BAGGAGE MAN:

(smiling)

Guy Haines! Good to too you, boy.

You be sure to win at Southampton

tomorrow, hear me? I've got two

dollars on your nose.

GUY:

(indicating his

suitcase and rackets)

Then park these in a lucky spot for

a few hours, will you?

BAGGAGE MAN:

Sure thing.

He loads them onto a truck.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. METCALF STREET LONG SHOT

Guy is walking up the main street.

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EXT. MUSIC SHOP

Typical music shop of a small town, with plate glass windows

and displays of radios, records, sheet music, etc. Activity

of a couple of customers and salespeople inside. Guy comes

along the street and goes into the shop.

INT. MUSIC SHOP

As Guy enters. There are the usual counters and shelves,

pianos and radios on display, and the sound of a piano being

tuned in the back of the store. MIRIAM is finishing with a

customer at a counter. MR. HARGREAVES, the manager, is busy

at the shelves. Another girl clerk is serving a customer.

In one of the glass cubicles where records are tried out, a

customer is playing symphonic music; in a second glass cubicle

another customer is listening to a record of popular music.

A third cubicle is empty. Activity of the street is seen

through the plate glass front.

Guy walks straight to Miriam, just as she is finishing with

her woman customer, handing over a small package.

MIRIAM:

(taking money from

customer)

Even change. Thank you, Madam.

(she looks up at Guy

as the woman moves

off)

Well -- hello, Guy.

GUY:

You're looking well, Miriam.

Miriam's face is pretty because it is still young. She is

self-centered and inclined to be vindictive. She wears

harlequin glasses with myopic lenses which tend to make her

eyes look small.

MIRIAM:

So are you. You've got a nice tan,

playing tennis with all your rich

friends.

GUY:

(ignoring the remark)

What time do we meet your lawyer?

MIRIAM:

(sly little smile)

What's your hurry?

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GUY:

My hurry? That's funny, coming from

you! You're the one who's in a hurry,

aren't you?

MIRIAM:

(coyly)

When you wouldn't give me the divorce

right away, I sort of hoped it was

because you were a little bit jealous.

GUY:

(biting)

I got over being jealous, a long

time ago Miriam.

Miriam's eyes slide toward the other girl clerk who has moved

closer, within listening range.

MIRIAM:

(indicating empty

glass cubicle)

Let's talk in there.

Guy follows Miriam across to the empty room. Miriam has

brought her purse along.

They enter.

INT. CUBICLE

Once inside, the sounds of the music playing from other parts

of the shop are heard but very faintly. The piano tuning

still goes on, but less stridently. Miriam and Guy are cooped

together in the close quarters.

MIRIAM:

(intimately)

Now this is cosier. Sort of like

old times, isn't it, Guy?

GUY:

(coldly)

Oh, skip it, Miriam. It's pretty

late to start flirting with a

discarded husband. Especially when

you're going to have another man's

baby.

MIRIAM:

Do you know, I think you're handsomer

than ever?

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GUY:

Let's see your lawyer and get this

over with.

MIRIAM:

Did you bring the money, Guy? Lawyers

are expensive.

GUY:

(taking money from

his wallet)

Here it is.

MIRIAM:

(taking the money

greedily)

If I'd known what all that tennis

nonsense of yours was going to lead

to, I wouldn't have run out on you.

GUY:

What are you trying to say, Miriam?

Come out with it.

MIRIAM:

(tucking the bills

away)

I'm not getting a divorce.

GUY:

(tense and angry)

Why, you little doublecrosser. I

didn't want this divorce, you did.

That's what you've been harping about

for the past year.

MIRIAM:

It's a woman's privilege to change

her mind... Now I can shop for some

pretty clothes. I wouldn't want you

to be ashamed of me in Washington

when we go to all those dinners and

swanky parties.

GUY:

And what do you mean by that?

MIRIAM:

(Coyly)

Don't look so mad, Guy. You always

smile when your picture is being

taken for the papers.

(MORE)

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MIRIAM (CONT'D)

Especially when you have Anne Burton

hanging on your arm.

GUY:

Let's not talk about Anne Burton.

MIRIAM:

So, it's really serious between you

two? Well, you can throw your dreams

about her into the ashcan. Guy, I'm

coming to Washington.

GUY:

What for?

MIRIAM:

To have my baby and be with you.

GUY:

Why me? It's not my baby.

MIRIAM:

But people don't know that, Guy, do

they? It would make a pretty story,

wouldn't it -- the senator's daughter

involved with a married man who's

about to become a father.

GUY:

(furiously)

You black conniving little liar!

A few people in the shop look around as Guy's voice rises

above the sound of the record playing.

MIRIAM:

Keep your voice down.

GUY:

What happened? Did he run out on

you?

MIRIAM:

No man runs out on me. Not even

you.

GUY:

You're a liar and a cheat, Miriam.

You've wanted to get rid of me long

enough and now I'll go you one better -I

never want to see or hear of you

again.

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MIRIAM:

(demurely)

I could be very pathetic as the

deserted little mother in a courtroom,

Guy. Think it over. Who would

believe you?

Guy seizes her angrily and in so doing, knocks the tone arm

across the record with a loud screech. From outside we can

see heads turn. Mr. Hargreaves, the manager, is very

disturbed.

MED. SHOT THROUGH GLASS PARTITION FROM HARGREAVES' VIEWPOINT

We see Guy gripping Miriam's arms and apparently addressing

her in a threatening manner, although we do not hear his

words. The smile has faded from Miriam's face and something

like cringing fear has taken its place. She is drawn and

tense and seems to cower beneath Guy's rage.

Mr. Hargreaves moves forward and opens Guy's tirade.

GUY:

...That's what should happen to people

like you. And if I...

HARGREAVES:

(interrupts)

Break it up, folks. This isn't the

place for a family quarrel.

GUY:

(his eyes blazing)

Sorry. I'm leaving.

He starts to exit from the booth. Miriam grabs his arm and

screams at him:

MIRIAM:

(yelling like a

fishwife)

You heard what I said, Guy Haines.

You can't throw me away like an old

shoe. I'm coming to Washington to

have my baby. Tell that to the

senate!

Guy strides out of the store, the manager and a few customers

turning around in surprise.

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The two customers in other booths, seeing the quarrel, open

their doors simultaneously and Miriam's tirade is climaxed

by a cacophony of noise, a big symphony, loud hot music, and

the apparently unaware piano tuner.

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