The Day the Earth Stood Still Page #13

BOBBY:

(puzzling it over)

Gee -- I don't know... The space

man, I guess.

KLAATU:

(secretly amused)

I was speaking of earth men. I meant

the greatest philosopher -- the

greatest thinker.

B0BBY

You mean the smartest man in the

whole world?

KLAATU:

Yes -- that would do nicely.

BOBBY:

(after a moments

thought)

Well -- Professor Barnhardt, I guess.

He's the greatest scientist in the

world.

KLAATU:

(he pauses

thoughtfully, speaks

slowly, as he recalls

the newspaper story

he read)

He lives here in Washington, doesn't

he?

BOBBY:

Sure. Right near where my mother

works.

KLAATU:

Where is that?

BOBBY:

Department of Commerce. She's a

secretary.

(Klaatu nods)

They have a man they call the

Secretary, but he isn't at all. My

mother's a real secretary.

(after a moment;

eagerly)

Mr. Carpenter -- now can we go see

the space ship?

EXT. THE MALL - LONG SHOT - SPACE SHIP AND GORT - DAY

A crew of Army engineers is in process of erecting a temporary

structure such as a large Quonset hut or B29 hanger to enclose

the space ship and Gort. The walls are partially up and

already have concealed part of the ship. The area is roped

off and there are Army guards to keep the sightseers back.

There is a crowd of people behind the ropes, watching. CAMERA

MOVES IN to reveal the backs of Bobby and Klaatu.

TWO SHOT - KLAATU AND BOBBY

Bobby is studying the ship and Gort eagerly, his imagination

thoroughly aroused. Klaatu is watching the men at work with

mild, quiet amusement.

MED. CLOSE SHOT - GORT

from Bobby's viewpoint.

TWO SHOT - BOBBY AND KLAATU

Bobby's eyes are wide with awe as he watches the giant robot.

BOBBY:

Boy, I'll bet he's strong. I bet he

could knock down a whole building.

KLAATU:

(with a quizzical

smile)

I shouldn't be at all surprised.

Bobby's attention shifts to the ship.

MED. SHOT - SPACE SHIP

From Bobby's viewpoint.

TWO SHOT - B0BBY AND KLAATU

BOBBY:

(excitedly, indicating

the ship)

Gee, I'd like to get inside and see

how it works. What do you think makes

it go?

KLAATU:

(quietly, after a

glance around)

Well -- atomic power, I would imagine.

BOBBY:

(looking at Klaatu

incredulously)

I thought that was only for bombs.

KLAATU:

No. It's for a lot of other things,

too.

BOBBY:

You think it can go faster than an F-

36?

KLAATU:

Yes -- I think so.

MED. CLOSE SHOT KLAATU AND BOBBY

shooting from a side angle to include a couple of men who

are listening to Klaatu's conversation. They are nudging

each other, amused at the way this man is pretending to

explain things to the little boy.

BOBBY:

About a thousand miles an hour?

Klaatu has noticed the two men, who have edged a little closer

to listen. He is not perturbed by them, but he lowers his

voice a bit.

KLAATU:

Maybe four thousand miles an hour.

And outside the Earth's atmosphere a

good deal faster.

BOBBY:

(excitedly)

Gee! How could they make a landing?

KLAATU:

Well -- there are several ways to

reduce landing speed. You see, the

velocity--

Klaatu interrupts himself as he realizes that he may be going

too far. The two men have moved closer, listening and

grinning. One of them whispers to the other behind the back

of his hand. Then the man realizes that Klaatu has stopped

speaking and is looking at him.

MAN:

(grinning)

Keep goin', Mister. He was fallin'

for it.

The two men burst out laughing and move off together. Bobby,

who has missed the point of this by-play, looks at Klaatu,

then after the men. As they move out of scene they laugh

loudly at the little boy's confusion. Klaatu takes Bobby's

hand to lead him away from the roped-off area.

TWO SHOT - KLAATU AND BOBBY

CAMERA FOLLOWS them as they move away through the crowd.

As they do so, several newsboys are working their way through

the crowd with newly arrived extras. The boys are calling

out the extras:
"Police under fire!" "Army put in charge!"

"Space man still at large!" etc. People are eagerly buying

the papers. Klaatu and Booby watch this as they pass through

the crowd.

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