The Lodger Page #6

Synopsis: In late Victorian London, Jack the Ripper has been killing and maiming actresses in the night. The Burtons are forced to take in a lodger due to financial hardship. He seems like a nice young man, but Mrs. Burton suspects him of being the ripper because of some mysterious and suspicious habits, and fears for her beautiful actress niece who lives with them.
Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery
Director(s): John Brahm
Production: 20th Century Fox
 
IMDB:
7.2
APPROVED
Year:
1944
84 min
304 Views


They're waiting for Kitty.

She'll be leaving in a few minutes.

I'm going out too.

I shan't be in for dinner tonight.

Oh, do you like my new ulster'?

Oh, yes. If you don't mind,

I'll wait to take down the glass.

If I seem a little excited tonight...

you'll understand why.

If you've ever worked...

for a long time...

long and dangerously...

you'll know how it feels

when you believe...

that in a little while...

in a little while,

you'll finish what you have to do.

You're referring to your work?

- Yes.

- You mean you're going away?

Perhaps. I don't know.

I rather think I may.

You'll let me know if you, uh...

Oh, yes. Of course I'll let you know...

if I can.

- He used his right hand?

- Yes.

- You sure you didn't touch it'?

- I didn't.

That's fine.

It's nice and clear.

- Are you sure he used his right hand?

- Quite sure.

Turn it over, will you?

Well, you needn't worry

about Mr. Slade anymore.

- These prints don't match.

- Then it wasn't him.

- Can't be.

- John, why must it be his right hand?

Obviously this print couldn't possibly have

been made by the Ripper's left hand.

- It couldn't, eh?

- Not unless every detective at the Yard is wrong.

I wonder if we could be.

- Daisy, where's everybody?

- That's Kitty.

I've got to think this out. Could you

go ahead with Kitty, and we'll follow?

If you don't mind staying behind

for a few minutes.

I'm ready, everybody.JOhn.

My men outside are going to think

that you were well worth waiting for.

Thank you.

Mr. Slade doesn't want dinner, so you take a bus

to the theater and come home in the carriage.

- Honest, ma'am? I can get a bus on the corner.

- Good.

All ready now.

We'll follow in a few minutes.

Oh, aren't you coming with us?

- John and I have something we want to talk about.

- I'm awfully sorry.

We'll follow almost immediately.

They're waiting for you.

The Ripper used his knife

from right to left, across the throat...

like a left-handed man.

We never let it come out

that the Ripper was left-handed.

If he were left-handed

Stand up a minute.

Then he would take

his victim like this, you see...

and the cut of his knife would start

on this side, from here.

Now, turn around.

If the Ripper faced his victims

instead of taking them from behind...

then he'd have to use his right hand

to make that kind of cut...

and it would be his left hand

that made the prints I found.

Shh.

You going out, sir'?

You might just as well have used the front door

instead of coming this way.

- I'll light you out.

- Are you going to the theater, Daisy?

Yes, sir. I'm just off to catch a bus.

Daisy.

I want you to have this.

- You've been very good, looking after me.

- Oh, thank you, sir.

Thanks ever so.

It's you, sir.

- Was that Mr. Slade?

- Yes, sir. He just went out the back way.

- All right. You go along. I'll lock up.

- Thank you, sir.

- Good-bye, sir.

- Good-bye.

- White chapel High Street?

- Right-o, miss.

All the way to White chapel.

Hop in.

What's that?

- Found something?

- I can't be sure.

This powder's so coarse, I can't see

the ridges and characteristics clearly.

Somehow I'll get clear prints

of his left hand.

I wonder if there's anything else here.

Let's take a look at that.

- Locked, I suppose.

- Yes.

That's the picture Ellen spoke to me about.

His brother painted it.

I've seen a miniature like this before.

I think we have something here.

Come on.

- Do you mind going on to White chapel alone?

- Why?

I want to look in at the Yard.

I'll follow as soon as possible.

When you get to the theater,

stay close to Kitty.

I found this picture in Slade's room,

Superintendent.

It's of his brother.

You remember the first Ripper murder?

- Lizzie Turner, last August.

- She had a sweetheart.

The one who died of drink

or something?

After the murder, I found this picture

in her room. Slade's brother again.

I picked it up at the Black Museum

on my way here.

That's as he used to be, and this one

is the same man, also painted by himself...

only he degenerated,

dragged down by Lizzie and her kind.

Slade killed Lizzie because

she ruined his brother.

But this doesn't prove

that Slade is Jack the Ripper.

But it's sufficient grounds for action.

Slade is deranged.

He believes he's doing right

to rid the world of the kind of woman...

that brought his brother to this...

and I'm pretty sure

he's in the theater somewhere.

If you spot anyone like him, Inspector

Wawvick will come and identify him.

I'm sure he's in the theater somewhere.

Be quick and quiet and report back here.

Move along now.

Are you tired of life?

Are you bored with your wife?

Is a laugh really out of the question?

Oui?

Then I take you with me,

and we go to Paris.

Hmm?

Hmm!

May I?

- No sign of him, sir.

- Nobody answering that description, sir.

- We drew a blank, sir.

- It was a false alarm. Anybody else report?

No.

- Then I better get backstage. Her number's just ended.

One more, Miss Langley.

- Wonderful show, Miss Langley. Wonderful.

- Thank you.

- You really were wonderful.

- Oh, there's John.

- Ah, hello, John.

- I'm sorry I'm so late.

Never mind. I want to change

and see the rest of the program.

Will you wait for me?

I said I'd be here.

I promised I would be here if I could.

- But the others are taking me home.

- I'm not going home.

I'm going away,

and I'm going to take you with me.

But... But I want to see

the rest of the show, and...

and I'll have to change.

SO if you'll wait outside...

I shan't be very long.

You're so exquisite.

You're always so complimentary.

More wonderful than anything

I've ever known.

Why don't you sit here?

We can talk while I change

behind the screen.

I can't lose you now.

It is such lovely women as you

who drag men down.

We're missing the show, aren't we?

After all, I...

I don't really have to change.

Let's watch it together.

I'll be beside you.

- Shall we go?

- You know they're waiting out there to kill me.

You corrupt and destroy men...

as my brother was destroyed.

But when the evil is cut out

of a beautiful thing...

then only the beauty remains.

We've... talked of this before,

haven't we?

Those others whom you...

were they beautiful?

I watched you tonight...

out there.

You were even more lovely

than when I first saw you.

When you thought I was the woman

'subtle of heart"?

Solomon warned me

against such a woman.

But that is the evil in you!

The evil which must be cut out?

But...

But isn't it the life in a thing

which makes it beautiful?

If you take the life away, then...

Then it becomes still.

Then it is even more beautiful.

I'll be still for you.

I'll stand here quite still and let you

look at me, if that's what you want.

I want to make sure

that you belong only to me.

I love you...

and I hate the evil in you.

Love is very close to hate.

Did you know that? Don't be afraid!

You have no reason to be afraid of me.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes

Barré Lyndon

Barré Lyndon (pseudonym of Alfred Edgar) (12 August 1896 – 23 October 1972) was a British playwright and screenwriter. The pseudonym was presumably taken from the title character of Thackeray's novel. Born in London, he may be best remembered for three screenplays from the 1940s: The Lodger (1944), Hangover Square (1945) and The Man in Half Moon Street (1945). The latter was remade by Hammer Film Productions in 1959 as The Man Who Could Cheat Death. Lyndon began his writing career as a journalist, particularly about motor-racing, and short-story writer before becoming a playwright. His first play, The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse, was made into an Edward G. Robinson film in 1939. After that success, Lyndon moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1941 to concentrate on writing for films full time. He was naturalised as a United States citizen in the United States District Court in Los Angeles as Alfred Edgar Barre Lyndon in 1952. Alfred Edgar had two sons, Roger Alvin Edgar (b. England, 1924) and Barry Davis Edgar (b. England, 1929) . more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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    "The Lodger" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Jul 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/the_lodger_20720>.

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