The Day the Earth Stood Still Page #15

BOBBY:

We probably couldn't get to see him

even if he was home.

As Bobby moves away from the doors dejectedly, Klaatu puts

his hand on the knob.

CLOSE SHOT - BOBBY

He's watching Klaatu and his eyes widen at what he sees.

BOBBY:

(in complete surprise)

Hey -- where you going?

CHOOSE SHOT - KLAATU

He has opened the door and is standing in the doorway, his

hand, still on the knob. He is smiling at Bobby with secret

amusement. He's got an idea.

KLAATU:

If he's that difficult to see, perhaps

we ought to leave a calling card.

Klaatu disappears into the study. Amazed, Bobby follows.

INT. BARNHARDT'S STUDY

Bobby watches as Klaatu walks to the blackboard and picks up

a piece of chalk. As though correcting a schoolboy's work,

he makes large check marks at several points in each equation.

EXT. PORCH - BARNHARDT'S HOUSE

An efficient-looking middle-aged woman is mounting the steps

to the entrance, getting her front door key out of her purse,

when her eye falls on the French doors, which are standing

ajar. Puzzled, she starts down the porch toward the doors.

This woman is Barnhardt's secretary and her name is HILDA.

Bobby is watching as Klaatu writes across the blackboard in

a bold hand:
Differentiate the equation ( ).

Klaatu underlines this comment with a sharp stroke, when a

stern voice is heard off screen.

HILDA'S VOICE

What are you doing in here?

FULL SHOT:

as Klaatu and Bobby turn in surprise. Standing in the open

French doors is Hilda, eyeing them with stern suspicion.

HILDA:

(outraged by Klaatu's

desecration of the

sacred blackboard)

How dare you write on that blackboard!

(Klaatu eyes her mildly)

Do you realize the Professor has

been working on that problem for

weeks?

KLAATU:

(pleasantly)

He'll catch on to it in no time now.

HILDA:

(controlling herself

with an effort)

How did you get in here? And what do

you want?

KLAATU:

We came to see Professor Barnhardt.

HILDA:

Well, he's not here. And he won't be

back till this evening.

(sternly)

I think you'd better leave now.

Unruffled, Klaatu turns to the desk

and scribbles something on a scratch

pad. He tears off the piece of paper

and hands it to Hilda.

KLAATU:

You might keep this.

(with easy assurance)

I think the professor will want to

get in touch with me.

With a polite nod he goes out the French doors, followed by

Bobby. Hilda eyes the door for a moment, then glances down

at the paper in her hand, disturbed and puzzled by this

stranger. Her glance wanders to the blackboard and she picks

up an eraser, debating whether to erase Klaatu's corrections.

At that moment the French door opens and Klaatu sticks his

head in. Startled, Hilda drops the eraser.

KLAATU:

(pointing to the

blackboard)

I wouldn't erase that. The Professor

needs it very badly.

And he disappears, leaving Hilda to glare after him in

impotent rage. Deciding that this man is either a crackpot

or a menace, she goes to the telephone on the desk and starts

dialing a number.

EXT. BARNHARDT'S HOUSE - MED. SHOT

as Klaatu and Bobby come down the steps and turn into the

sidewalk. They are talking and laughing together, but we

can't hear their conversation. CAMERA PANS with them as they

move on up the sidewalk, revealing two kids playing hopscotch.

Klaatu watches, fascinated, as he walks by. Then, having

passed the kids, he tries the one-footed, then two-footed

hop that characterizes the game.

INT. BARNHARDT'S STUDY

Hilda is talking on the phone.

HILDA:

--no, Sergeant, there was no

classified material around, but I

have instructions to report anything

unusual to the police... Yes -- I'm

Professor Barnhardt's secretary.

(consulting the paper

in her hand)

The man's name is Carpenter -- and

he lives at 1615 St. Street, N.W...

Yes, that's right--

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY - LONG SHOT - DAY

Bobby and Klaatu come out of a wooded path into a section of

the cemetery where the myriad crosses seem to reach into

infinity. They pause for a moment, then Bobby leads the way

through one of the rows.

EXT. ARLINGTON CEMETERY - CLOSE SHOT

in one of the many rows are crosses that extend beyond CAMERA

RANGE. CAMERA MOVES IN on one of the crosses. It bears the

name LT. ROBERT BENSON.

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