The Leopard Man
- APPROVED
- Year:
- 1943
- 66 min
- 463 Views
FADE IN:
On the fountain at El Pueblo. A jet of waiter rises into the
air at regular intervals, tossing an empty ball in rhythm.
Below the ball, the water cascades into the second tier of
the fountain. SUPERIMPOSED over this fountain are the main
and credit titles. Throughout the running of the titles we
hear castanet music growing louder and louder. When the last
credit title FADE OFF we begin to
DISSOLVE:
The corridor, backstage at El Pueblo. An empty corridor
stretches away before us. The CAMERA TRUCKS ALONG this
corridor. The sound of the castanets is so loud and ringing
now that it has a furious and stormlike quality. The camera
seems to search for the source of this sound. It approaches
two open doorways at the end of the corridor.
Through the doorway on the right we see a dancer in Spanish
costume. She pirouettes in a final whirl of the dance as the
CAMERA MOVES IN TO a CLOSE SHOT of her beautiful back and the
two castanets she holds up over her gleaming naked shoulders.
Over the diminishing trill of the castanets, as the dancer
finishes her dance we hear a dull and angry pounding. The
castanets click to an end.
The CAMERA MOVES LEFT to take in the adjoining door to show
us the source of this sound.
INT. KIKI WALKER'S DRESSING ROOM - NIGHT
Kiki Walker as she finishes pounding on the wall for silence
in the adjoining dressing room and turns back into her own
room. She is young, blonde and represents that peculiar
phenomenon of our time, the chorus girl and entertainer who
is more lady-like than the majority of Junior Leaguers. Road
shows, one night stands and even a short turn in burlesque
have left no battle scars. She may know many a hard word, but
she never uses it.
MED. SHOT - Kiki's room. Kiki slams shut the door of her
dressing room. Her dressing room is a small bare cubicle with
a sink, easy chair, dressing table and a long mirror on the
closet door. On the dressing table, among a clutter of jars
and ointments, is a small musical trinket box. The closet
door is partially ajar.
In the room with Kiki is Eloise, the cigarette girl at the El
Pueblo, a brightly blondined young lady. Her nether limbs are
well display in black stockings. A cigarette tray is slung
over her shoulder.
KIKI:
(as she walks
across the
room)
It may sound like music to her
-- I can do better with my teeth in
a cold Shower.
(mockingly)
Click � click � click.
ELOISE:
(shrugging)
She's a local. When the dudes come
out to New Mexico, they went to
wallow in Latin glamour. This is a
bad town for blondes.
KIKI:
Yes. So I've noticed. Jerry's
noticed -� He'll come up with
something.
ELOISE:
You think be's pretty nice, don't
you?
KIKI:
Why not? He's a good press agent
and a good friend. Besides, we've
shared a lot of headaches ��
ELOISE:
You're lucky. I wish he'd front
page for me.
KIKI:
Maybe. For three years I've sung in
rats' nests, while Jerry pounded
his feet off and his brains out --
trying to get me a real chance.
We're due for a little luck!
Kiki walks across to the make-up table and sits down in front
of it, lifting her hands to unwrap the towel which is wrapped
around her head to protect it from make-up. Eloise starts
toward the door, but pauses to admire herself in the mirror,.
ELOISE:
I don't mean this personally, Miss
Walker, but it's ironic �-
She pauses, striking a pose the better to look at her own
sleek legs in the minor.
ELOISE:
I mean you being a star and me
being just a cigarette girl.
KIKI:
(turning from
(the mirror to
look at Eloise)
I know. I know. You've got the
talent. I got the breaks.
She turns back to the mirror.
NED. CLOSE REFLECTION SHOT of Eloise. We see Eloise admiring
herself in the long mirror and also the edge of the dressing
room door as it slowly begins to swing open.
KIKI'S VOICE
I hear it in night club.
Eloise can see what is opening the door. She lets loose with
MED. CLOSE SHOT of Kiki. She whirls quickly and rises, her
mouth open in a soundless ejaculation of fright.
REVERSE SHOT - the door. Through the doorway comes the black,
spade-shaped head of a panther, ears wickedly flat, muzzle to
the floor. He starts into the room with a terrifying zigzag
undulation. Eloise yips feebly. Kiki screams.
As the panther advances into the room, one can see that it is
held on a taut leash. Holding the leash is Jerry Manning,
with a wide, pleasant smile of reassurance on his lips.
CLOSE SHOT Kiki on top of the dressing table. She stands
there holding her dressing gown back across her knees in
terror. The little jewel box has fallen to the floor, and the
insipid tinkling tune fills the room as it rolls across the
floor toward the panther.
MED. SHOT - Kiki, Eloise, Jerry and the panther. Kiki stands
on top of the dressing table; Eloise has retreated behind a
chair, and Jerry stands between them, grinning, holding the
leash of the panther, which is nosing forward to examine the
music box
KIKI:
(hitting high C)
Get it out of here!
JERRY:
Kiki -- he won't hurt you. There's
nothing to be afraid of.
KIKI:
Makes no difference. Get him out!
JERRY:
Listen, Kicks, you'll never guess
what I've cooked up this tine...
KIKI:
That's easy. Me.
JERRY:
I thought -- is Kiki just going to
walk on that floor tonight ��walk
out cold before a bunch of gawks
who think a Spanish twirler is the
greatest thing in life. No. Not my
favorite client. She's going to
make an entrance this town will
never forget!
KIKI:
(pointing to the leopard)
On his back, I suppose.
JERRY:
(kidding her)
No. I thought that might be just a
little corny. I want you to lead
him in on a leash.
KIKI:
You're too good to me.
JERRY:
Look, Kicks, have I ever done
anything to hurt you?
KIKI:
No �- not yet.
JERRY:
(quite sincerely and with
evident affection)
And I never will- you know
what's between us � we're a thing
But this is serious competition.
ALTERNATE SCENE:
KIKI:
(hitting high C)
Get it out of here!
JERRY:
Kiki - he won't hurt you. There's
nothing to be afraid of.
KIKI:
Makes no difference. Get him out.
JERRY:
Listen, Kicks, you'll never guess
what I've cooked up this time.
KIKI:
That's easy. Me.
JERRY:
I thought -� is Kiki just going to
walk on that floor tonight walk out
cold before a bunch of gawks who
think a Spanish twirler is the
greatest thing in life. No. Not my
favorite client. She's going to
make an entrance this town will
never forget.
KIKI:
(pointing to the
leopard)
On his back, I suppose.
JERRY:
(kidding her)
No. I thought that might be just a
little corny. I want you to lead
him in on a leash.
KIKI:
You're too good to me.
JERRY:
(sentimentally)
Look, Kicks, how long have we known
each other?
KIKI:
(flatly)
This is l939. Can't you subtract?
JERRY:
Almost three years, isn't it? And
have I ever done anything to hurt
you?
KIKI:
No �� not yet.
JERRY:
(quite sincerely and
with evident affection)
And I never will -- you know what's
between us -� we're a thing -- But
this is serious -- big competition.
KIKI:
Clo-Clo?
JERRY:
(indicating leopard)
I thought you might strut this
kitten in right in the middle of
her act.
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"The Leopard Man" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/the_leopard_man_896>.
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