The Day the Earth Stood Still Page #25

MED. CLOSE SHOT - BOBBY

Half a block behind, he's following Klaatu, eagerly, flushed

with a sense of excitement and adventure.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET CORNER - NIGHT

Walking along the sidewalk, Klaatu turns into a side street,

disappearing from view around the corner. In a moment, Bobby

hurries into scene breathlessly. He pulls up for a moment to

rest. Then, getting his breath, he dashes on around the corner

after Klaatu.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. LARGE TEMPORARY BUILDING - LONG SHOT - NIGHT

This is a temporary structure that has been erected to enclose

the space ship and Gort. In front of the one small door are

two soldiers, standing guard. Concealed in some foreground

foliage, studying the layout, is Klaatu. Nearby 's a sign

reading:
KEEP OUT! This area OFF LIMITS to the public. U.S.

ARMY.

CLOSE SHOT - BOBBY

He is a short distance away, watching Klaatu eagerly.

CLOSE SHOT - KLAATU

as he studies the situation.

MED. SHOT

shooting over Klaatu's shoulder. As he watches, a Jeep filled

with armed soldiers -- apparently regular patrol -- drives

up to the entrance of the building. They stop for a moment

while their Sergeant checks with the guards. Assured that

everything is under control, the Sergeant signals his driver

and the Jeep moves off.

MED. CLOSE SHOT - KLAATU

Scanning the side of the building, he sees what he's looking

for. Waiting until the Jeep disappears, he starts toward one

side of the building, keeping himself concealed in the

foliage.

CLOSE SHOT - BOBBY

puzzled and interested, as he watches Klaatu.

MED. CLOSE SHOT

The two sentries standing in front of the building.

MED. SHOT

as Klaatu maneuvers around the side of the building, where

there is a window. It has no glass in it but is heavily

barred.

MED. CLOSE SHOT - KLAATU

as he leaves the concealing foliage and crosses the clear,

grassy area surrounding the building. He stops and tries to

see through the window.

MED. SHOT - GORT

shooting through the barred window into the building. The

huge robot looms large and eerie in the shadows cast by a

couple of naked work-lights. His head is angled, away from

the window.

MED. CLOSE SHOT

as Klaatu approaches the window. Aiming his flashlight at

Gort, he flashes the light intermittently, as though

signaling. (This should not approximate any known code.)

MED. CLOSE SHOT - GORT

As we watch, the intermittent flashes of Klaatu's light appear

on the wall ahead of Gort. Slowly, evenly, the robot's head

turns to face the window.

MED. SHOT

from Gort's viewpoint, of the window, with Klaatu's light

flashing its signals.

MED. CLOSE SHOT - KLAATU

shooting on his back, as he finishes signaling and cuts off

the flashlight. He turns ant starts back for the concealment

of the foliage.

CLOSE SHOT - BOBBY

craning his neck to look for Klaatu, who has eluded his view.

Suddenly he sees Klaatu again.

MED. SHOT - KLAATU

making his way behind the foliage toward the front of the

building. Arriving at a point opposite the entrance, Klaatu

waits and watches.

MED. CLOSE SHOT - ENTRANCE TO BUILDING

The two guards are standing in the doorway in positions of

relaxed alertness. Suddenly, inside the building behind them,

the giant figure of Gort looms silently in the doorway. His

two great arms reach out, grab the two guards and drag then

back inside the building.

CLOSE SHOT - BOBBY

He lets out an inaudible gasp as he sees this. Bug-eyed, he

glances quickly to the point where he last saw Klaatu. He is

amazed at what he sees.

MED. SHOT

from Bobby's viewpoint. Klaatu has emerged from the

concealment of the tree-lined path and is making his way

calmly toward the entrance of the building.

CLOSE SHOT - BOBBY

As he watches Klaatu enter the building, his curiosity

conquers his fear and he starts tremblingly toward the

structure.

INT. BUILDING - FULL SHOT

as Klaatu enters. The huge shapes of the space ship and Gort

loom large and eerie. Klaatu starts across the barren

enclosure toward the ship.

EXT. ENTRANCE TO BUILDING - MED. CLOSE SHOT

as Bobby approaches the door, fearful but fascinated. He

peers cautiously inside and his eyes grow wide as saucers.

EXT. BUILDING - MED. SHOT

In *f.g., near the door, the two guards lie unconscious. As

Klaatu walks toward the ship Gort slowly turns his head to

follow him with him with eyes. Klaatu touches a point on the

unbroken surface of the ship and the ramp silently swings

out and down to the ground. Klaatu mounts the ramp and

disappears inside the ship, whereupon the ramp silently

closes.

CLOSE SHOT - BOBBY

as he watches this; his eyes bulging. He can scarcely believe

what he has seen. Suddenly a wave of sheer terror sweeps

over him. Scrambling to his feet, he turns and runs wildly

away.

INT. SMALL CORRIDOR - SPACE SHIP

CAMERA FOLLOWS Klaatu as he moves down the tiny, dimly lighted

entrance corridor. He steps into the main cabin of the ship

and flips a switch which bathes the cabin in a diffused,

shadowless light. The walls are lined with a complex of

mysterious gadgetry -- knobs, dials, indicators, etc. All of

this should be as imaginative and unorthodox as possible,

while still retaining a feeling of sound but highly advanced

engineering.

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