The Day the Earth Stood Still Page #26

MED. CLOSE SHOT

as Klaatu moves to the communications panel, flipping switches

and turning dials. Indicators light up. There are crackling,

whirring and buzzing sounds. Klaatu starts speaking into a

built-in microphone in his own strange language. He speaks

in rapid-fire explanation, continuing to talk, as we--

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BUILDING - MED. SHOT - NIGHT

as Klaatu walks calmly away from the ship, past the two

unconscious guards and disappears out of the door.

MED. CLOSE SHOT THE TWO GUARDS

as one of them slowly regains consciousness. Looking around,

he sees the great figure of Gort and is terror-stricken. He

shakes his companion frantically in an effort to bring him

to.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM BOARDINGHOUSE NIGHT

Bobby is curled up in a chair waiting for his mother to come

home. He's sleepy, but the excitement of what he has seen

precluded any such possibility. From the hall we hear the

front door opening as Helen and Tom come in.

HELEN'S VOICE

(off scene)

Why don't you come on in for a minute?

Helen and Tom appear in the doorway, Helen is startled to

see Bobby, who has Jumped up and run toward her.

HELEN:

Bobby--! What are you doing up at

this hour?

BOBBY:

(excitedly)

I couldn't go to sleep, Mom. I had

to tell you!

HELEN:

Tell me what?

BOBBY:

(the words tadpole

out breathlessly)

I followed Mr. Carpenter -- right

after you left -- and, gee, Mom,

where do you think he went? Right

into the space ship!

HELEN:

(patiently disbelieving)

Now, Bobby, just a minute--

BOBBY:

Honest, Mom, I saw him. It just opened

up and he walked right in. And that

great big iron man was moving around!

HELEN:

Bobby, you've been dreaming again.

BOBBY:

(desperately)

No, I haven't, Mom. I promise you...

I saw it!

Helen and Tom exchange a glance of tolerant amusement.

TOM:

Where did you see all this, Bobby?

BOBBY:

On the lawn down at the mall -- in

that place with the soldiers out

front.

TOM:

(trying to trap him)

Where were the soldiers all this

time?

BOBBY:

That robot fella grabbed 'em and

dragged 'em inside!

(his lips trembling)

I like Mr. Carpenter -- but I'm

scared, Mom.

He rushes into Helen's arms, clutching her desperately, trying

to hold back his tears.

HELEN:

(holding him close to

her sympathetically)

Mustn't be frightened, darling -- It

was just a bad dream. Here -- we'll

prove it to you.

(with a look and a

nod to Tom)

Tom, will you ask Mr. Carpenter if

he'll come down for a minute.

(Tom turns to go)

The room right opposite mine.

Nodding, Tom disappears into the hall and up the stairs.

Still holding Bobby, Helen tries to dispel his fears by an

appeal to logic.

HELEN:

Now think back hard. You didn't follow

Mr. Carpenter at all, did you? You

haven't even been out of the house.

BOBBY:

Yes, I have!

HELEN:

(determinedly)

You didn't really see the space ship.

You just thought you did.

Bitterly hurt, Bobby faces his mother gravely, accusingly.

BOBBY:

I'd never call you a liar.

INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - MED. CLOSE SHOT

Tom is knocking softly at Klaatu's door. Getting no answer,

he tries the door, pushes it open and peers in. Then he steps

into the darkened room.

INT. KLAATU'S ROOM - FULL SHOT

Tom snaps on the light and looks around the empty room. The

bed is still made. Glancing around, Tom's eye is caught by a

flash of something bright on the floor below the dresser. He

stoops down and picks up a fair-sized diamond. Tom studies

the stone curiously, holding it up to the light. Thoroughly

puzzled, he keeps the stone in his hand, switches off the

light and goes out.

UPSTAIRS HALL - MED. SHOT

Closing the door, Tom hurries along the hall and down the

stairs

INT. LIVING ROOM - FULL SHOT

Through the hall door Tom can be seen coming down the stairs.

Helen and Bobby watch expectantly as he enters.

TOM:

He's not there.

(crossing to Helen)

But look what I found in his room

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