London After Midnight Page #3

LAP DISSOLVE INTO:

INT. BALFOUR HOUSE (NIGHT) FULL SHOT

Grand Staircases. Coming down the stairs are two figures, a

man and a woman. The man, who carries a lamp, is as strange

a creature as the eyes ever beheld. He wears a black beaver

hat and a black Inverness coat and his face has on it the

pallor of death. There is, indeed, something not of this

Earth in his appearance. Nor is the woman with him less

strange. Her face also is of an unearthly pallor. She is

garbed all in black, with long black sleeves to her cloak

that look like wings. They come the long walk down the

stairs. He hands the lamp to the woman. No word is spoken

between them. She starts off toward a side room. The man

goes slowly toward the front door.

LAP DISSOLVE INTO

EXT. BALFOUR HOUSE (NIGHT) LONG SHOT

The jaunting cart in f.g., the two men at side under a tree.

A light passes a downstairs window. The Man in the Beaver

Hat comes out the front door. The gardener suddenly whips up

his steed and the cart goes out of scene pellmell.

53

EXT. GARDEN (NIGHT) CLOSE SHOT

The two men under the tree, two business-like Britishers,

one of whom has a legal document in his hand. The Man in the

Beaver Hat enters to them. One of the two men says to him:

TITLE:

"You'll pardon us, sir, for

not going in with you, but..."

BACK TO SCENE:
He shudders a little, expressively. THE MAN

IN THE BEAVER HAT indicates the legal document without

speaking. The other man unfolds it. The Man in the Beaver

Hat takes out a fountain pen, indicating that he will sign.

The first man tells him:

TITLE:

"Understand, sir, the

owner will make no repairs."

BACK TO SCENE:
The Man in the Beaver Hat nods solemnly to

this and, without speaking, leans over and starts to sign

the document. The two look at him curiously, drawing back

from him a little, instinctively.

54

EXT. HAMLIN HOUSE (NIGHT) LONG SHOT

The jaunting cart with the gardener and maid driving

pellmell in, around the driveway, toward rear of house.

55

INT. SERVANTS HALL (NIGHT) MED. SHOT

Hibbs, the secretary, is giving some orders to the butler.

Two or three other servants are present. Run a few feet.

Then the rear door is flung open and Miss Smithson, the

maid, comes excitedly in, starting at once to tell the

secretary and butler what she saw at the Balfour House. The

gardener follows. He nods a pop-eyed assent to everything

the maid is telling. Everybody present is much impressed,

including Hibbs, the secretary, who starts to question Miss

Smithson. Suddenly all stop, tense, listening.

INSERT:

CU bell indicator on wall.

Bell is ringing. An arrow

has dropped, indicating from

what room.

BACK TO SCENE:
There is a sigh of relief. It was only a

call for the butler. He exits. Hibbs asks a couple of more

suggestions of Miss Smithson, then follows the butler out.

56

INT. HAMLIN HALL (NIGHT) SEMI FULL SHOT

Sir James and chauffeur. The chauffeur is closing the door,

depositing Sir James' bag on the floor as the butler comes

in. He is helping Sir James off with his coat as Hibbs, the

secretary, comes in. The Butler takes the coat and bag and

is about to start out with them when a ring is heard at the

front door. The butler puts down the bag and coat and opens

the front door, admitting the two agents seen under the

tree at the Balfour house. Sir James at the door to the

library, turns in some surprise. One of the agents, holding

up the lease, tells him:

TITLE:

"It's about a tenant, sir,

for the old Balfour place."

BACK TO SCENE:
"A tenant?" Sir James is really surprised.

He indicates for the two men to step into the library. They

do so, followed by Hibbs.

57

INT. LIBRARY (NIGHT) SEMI FULL SHOT

Sir James goes to desk and sits down. The agent hands him

the lease. Hibbs stands at one side, in case he might be

needed. Sir James unfolds the document. One of the agents

says:

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