Double Indemnity Page #4

like honeysuckle...

A-13 EXT. DIETRICHSON HOME - ENTRANCE DOOR

Neff rings the bell again and waits. The door opens. A maid,

about forty-five, rather slatternly, opens the door.

NEFF:

Mr. Dietrichson in?

MAID:

Who wants to see him?

NEFF:

The name is Neff. Walter Neff.

MAID:

If you're selling something --

NEFF:

Look, it's Mr. Dietrichson I'd like

to talk to, and it's not magazine

subscriptions.

He pushes past her into the house.

A-14 HALLWAY - DIETRICHSON HOME

Spanish craperoo in style, as is the house throughout. A

wrought-iron staircase curves down from the second floor. A

fringed Mexican shawl hangs down over the landing. A large

tapestry hangs on the wall. Downstairs, the dining room to

one side, living room on the other side visible through a

wide archway. All of this, architecture, furniture,

decorations, etc., is genuine early Leo Carrillo period.

Neff has edged his way in past maid who still holds the door

open.

MAID:

Listen, Mr. Dietrichson's not in.

NEFF:

How soon do you expect him?

MAID:

He'll be home when he gets here, if

that's any help to you.

At this point a voice comes from the top of the stairs.

VOICE:

What is it, Nettie? Who is it?

Neff looks up.

A-15 UPPER LANDING OF STAIRCASE - (FROM BELOW)

Phyllis Dietrichson stands looking down. She is in her early

thirties. She holds a large bath-towel around her very

appetizing torso, down to about two inches above her knees.

She wears no stockings, no nothing. On her feet a pair of

high-heeled bedroom slippers with pom-poms. On her left ankle

a gold anklet.

MAID'S VOICE

It's for Mr. Dietrichson.

PHYLLIS:

(Looking down at Neff)

I'm Mrs. Dietrichson. What is it?

A-16 SHOOTING DOWN FROM UPPER LANDING

Neff looks up, takes his hat off.

NEFF:

How do you do, Mrs. Dietrichson. I'm

Walter Neff, Pacific All-Risk.

A-17 PHYLLIS

PHYLLIS:

Pacific all-what?

A-18 NEFF

NEFF:

Pacific All-Risk Insurance Company.

It's about some renewals on the

automobiles, Mrs. Dietrichson. I've

been trying to contact your husband

for the past two weeks. He's never

at his office.

A-19 PHYLLIS

PHYLLIS:

Is there anything I can do?

A-20 NEFF

NEFF:

The insurance ran out on the

fifteenth. I'd hate to think of your

getting a smashed fender or something

while you're not fully covered.

A-21 PHYLLIS

She glances over her towel costume.

PHYLLIS:

(With a little smile)

Perhaps I know what you mean, Mr.

Neff. I've just been taking a sun

bath.

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