The Day the Earth Stood Still Page #29

COCKNEY:

It's that space man -- that's wot it

is.

LONG SHOT - MOSCOW STREET - DUSK

with all traffic stalled. (It is about 8:00 P.M.)

MED. CLOSE SHOT - TWO RUSSIANS

They are an elderly couple. Staring bug-eyed at the strange

street scene, the woman mutters some terror-stricken comment

in Russian.

LONG SHOT - PLAZA. DE LA CONCORDE - DAY

with traffic stalled. (It is about 5:00 P.M.)

CLOSE SHOT - FRENCH WOMAN

She is middle-aged and there are tears of fright in her eyes.

She is mumbling a prayer in French.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BARNHARDT'S STUDY - DAY

Barnhardt is seated comfortably at his desk with a book on

his lap. He has been interrupted by the entrance of Hilda,

his secretary. At the moment she`s beside herself with

excitement. Barnhardt watches her with a half-smile of secret

amusement. He has already deduced the cause of what's

happening.

HILDA:

You should see it, Professor

Barnhardt! You should go out and see

it for yourself!

BARNHARDT:

Thanks -- I'm enjoying it right here.

HILDA:

The whole city has stopped. People

are running around like ants!

BARNHARDT:

(musing admiringly on

Klaatu's cleverness)

What a brilliant idea. I never would

have thought of it.

Hilda flings him a questioning look, annoyed that he won't

share her excitement.

BARNHARDT:

What about the people who are coming

to the meeting tonight? Have they

all arrived?

HILDA:

(nodding)

I talked to most of them this

morning... They were all very curious

about the meeting.

BARNHARDT:

Good. Did you speak to our friend

Mr. Carpenter?

HILDA:

(nodding)

He'll be there at 8:30.

BARNHARDT:

(studying her for a

moment)

Tell me, Hilda -- does all this

frighten you -- does it make you

feel insecure?

HILDA:

Yes, sir -- it certainly does!

BARNHARDT:

(nodding with a bland

little smile)

That's good, Hilda. I'm glad.

The poor woman flings him a look of shocked amazement as we--

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - PENTAGON BLDG. - DAY

Seated at a conference table are high-ranking officers of

the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. There is the

uneasy tension of people dealing with unknown forces. An

Army Major General, who's Chairman of the meeting, is

speaking.

GENERAL:

--as far as we can tell, all power's

been cut off everywhere -- with a

few exceptions:
hospitals, planes in

flight -- that sort of thing. I wish

I could be more specific but, as you

now, all communications are out

telephone, radio, cable -- everything.

(gravely)

I can tell you that the President is

prepared to declare a state of

national emergency.

(pausing to let this

sink in)

Before we start discussing plans, I

want a report from Colonel Ryder.

What about the robot, Colonel?

Ryder is a Colonel of engineers, a man about forty-five.

COLONEL RYDER:

When it was discovered last night

that the robot had moved, I was

directed by the Joint Chiefs to find

a means of immobilizing him. We

accomplished that this morning by

encasing him in a block of KL 93.

(he hands a small

block of plastic to

the General)

It's a new plastic material --

stronger than steel.

GENERAL:

Is it possible that he's broken out

of this stuff?

COLONEL:

No, sir. I've Just checked on that.

He's locked up tight as a drum.

GENERAL:

All right -- that means we concentrate

on the man.

(to the group with

force and authority)

Up till now we've agreed on the

desirability of capturing this man

alive. We can no longer afford to be

so particular. We'll get him alive,

if possible -- but we must get him!

(eyes the group sternly)

Is that clear?

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. JEWELRY SHOP - MED. CLOSE SHOT - TOM AND JEWELER

The shop and its glittering display cases, which were

brilliantly lighted in the previous scene, are now gloomy

and dim. All artificial light is off. The Jeweler is a bright-

eyed old man of seventy with a middle European accent. He is

completely fascinated as he examines the diamond Tom has

given him, and is annoyed by the lack of light. He speaks

impatiently to one of the girls in the shop who happens to

pass by.

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