screenplay by

David Lynch

FADE IN:

FOLDS OF BLUE VELVET UNDULATE EVER SO SLOWLY.

WITH TITLES

DISSOLVE TO:

1. EXT. BEAUMONTS' FRONT LAWN - DAY

Blue skies. PAN SLOWLY DOWN to clean white picket fence, with beautiful

red roses in front of it. Birds CHIRP in the distance. A faint sprinkler

SOUND is heard. Very sweet MUSIC is playing.

DISSOLVE TO:

2. EXT. TREE - DAY

A songbird SINGS in the tree.

DISSOLVE TO:

3. EXT. CROSSWALK - SHADY STREET - DAY

A very clean uniformed, smiling POLICEMAN with arms outstretched allows

clean happy SCHOOL CHILDREN to cross the street safely.

DISSOLVE TO:

4. EXT. SHADY STREET - DAY

A bright red gorgeous fire engine is moving very slowly down the street.

We MOVE IN to see the happy face of a FIREMAN.

DISSOLVE TO:

5. EXT. FLOWER GARDEN - DAY

Yellow tulips sway in a warm afternoon breeze.

DISSOLVE TO:

6. EXT. BEAUMONTS' FRONT LAWN - DAY

The same white picket fence with roses in front of it.

PANNING SLOWLY now away from the roses down to the rich green lawn

and over to the sprinkler which goes around and around shooting water

droplets sparkling in the light.

This is slightly SLOW MOTION and DREAMY.

DISSOLVE TO:

7. EXT. BEAUMONTS' FRONT LAWN - DAY

CLOSER ON WATER DROPLETS. The water droplets are somewhat abstracted

as they dance in the light.

PAN DOWN now to the green grass, traveling along the grass.

The MUSIC becomes fainter as we MOVE SUDDENLY under the grass, now as

if in a dark forest.

SLOWLY MOVING THROUGH.

The grass is like great timbers.

It is GETTING DARKER and ominous SOUNDS come up as we discover black

insects crawling and scratching in the darkness.

FADE TO:

8. EXT. BEAUMONT'S FRONT LAWN - DAY

MR. BEAUMONT is watering flowers and grass with the hose.

He is dressed in khaki trousers, canvas shoes, old white shirt, straw

hat and dark glasses.

CLOSE - MR. BEAUMONT

watches his watering, then looks up.

The sky and the neighborhood are reflected in his dark glasses. He

moves his false teeth around a little in his mouth, jutting out his chin

in the process. He's thinking about who knows what.

He looks back down at his lawn.

CLOSEUP - WATER ON GRASS

The water hits the grass and mats it down.

WIDER - MR. BEAUMONT

moves the hose over a bush and gets a kink in it.

Water stops coming out of the nozzle and there is a LOUD HISSING NOISE

of water under pressure.

CLOSEUP - KINK IN HOSE

Loud HISSING NOISE.

Mr. Beaumont goes around the bush and is undoing the kink when he is

suddenly hit with a tremendous seizure.

CLOSEUP - MR. BEAUMONT

He's doubling over and falls to the ground. He continues to grasp onto

the hose.

Water shoots crazily onto the driveway and his car.

Mr. Beaumont seems to be in tremendous pain.

CUT TO:

9. INT. BEAUMONTS' LIVING ROOM - DAY

Mrs. Beaumont is curled up on the couch, smoking a cigarette and watching

T.V. It's a daytime soap.

CLOSEUP - MRS. BEAUMONT

Takes a big drag of her cigarette and luxuriously french inhales a huge

quantity of blue smoke. She's enjoying her show.

CUT TO:

10. EXT. BEAUMONTS' FRONT LAWN - DAY

CLOSEUP - MR. BEAUMONT

His teeth are crooked in his mouth now as he tries to scream.

No sound is coming out.

WATER SOUND is loud.

WIDER - MR. BEAUMONT

Water is still spraying out over the driveway and onto the car and into

the yard beyond.

A small boy, GREGG, appears wearing only white underpants and a white

t-shirt. He holds a large red popsicle.

Gregg waddles around looking at the crazy water show. He holds his hand

out to get it wet in the spray. This makes him screw up his face in a

laugh.

He waddles over and looks at Mr. Beaumont on the ground.

Mr. Beaumont seems to be worse now, unconscious, but still gripping the

hose tightly. His clothes are sopping wet.

11. EXT. GREGG'S HOUSE - DAY

Screen window of Gregg's house. Gregg's mother calls out but remains

looking at a bowl she is holding in her hands.

GREGG'S MOTHER

(calling out)

Gregg. Billy's waiting for his teddy.

She then turns to look out.

GREGG'S MOTHER

(continuing)

GREGG! Billy's waiting for his teddy, honey.

CUT TO:

12. EXT. BEAUMONTS' FRONT LAWN - DAY

GREGG'S MOTHER P.O.V. THROUGH SCREEN WINDOW

IN THE DISTANCE, she sees Gregg's back, a bush, some legs with wet khaki

trousers and water squirting up in the air.

GREGG'S MOTHER (V.O.)

TOM!!!

CUT TO:

13. EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS BUILDING - NIGHT

TRAVELING along sidewalk, bushes, to lighted windows of an auditorium.

MUSIC is heard.

14. INT. COLLEGE AUDITORIUM - NIGHT

A dance is going on. Sixties MUSIC plays, performed by a live band on

stage. College kids dance.

A COLLEGE BOY enters the auditorium, urgently looking for someone. He

quickly approaches a GIRL.

COLLEGE BOY

Louise? Where's Jeffrey? His mother's on

the phone - it's an emergency.

LOUISE

He disappeared to the men's room a little

while ago. I'm getting very tired of

waiting - let's go find him.

15. INT. JANITOR'S QUARTERS - COLLEGE - NIGHT

We MOVE INTO the face of JEFFREY. He is hiding behind a furnace. He is

fascinated by a sight beyond in the darkness of this basement room.

He sees a male student trying to rape his girlfriend. She is crying and

telling him to stop but the boy keeps forcing her down toward the ground.

forcing her clothes off her. Jeffrey at this point hears his name being

called. Each time he hears his name the caller is closer. The boy is now

hurting the girl. Before Jeffrey leaves the furnace room he yells out:

JEFFREY

Hey, shit head. Leave her alone. Don't

force girls!

The couple looks up but cannot see Jeffrey. The boy is scared and releases

the girl who promptly pulls farther away, crying.

Jeffrey leaves the furnace room.

16. INT. HALLWAY - COLLEGE - NIGHT

Louise and the college student see him and move quickly toward him.

COLLEGE BOY

Jeffrey, your mother's on the phone. It's

an emergency.

LOUISE

Thanks for keeping me waiting so long.

As Jeffrey moves quickly toward the telephone.

JEFFREY

I'm sorry, Louise.

17. INT. PHONE/HALLWAY - COLLEGE - NIGHT

The phone dangles on its cord in the foreground as Jeffrey moves toward

it in the background. Louise slowly follows Jeffrey, but stays in back

of him. Jeffrey picks up the phone.

JEFFREY

Hello. Mom? What's wrong with Dad?.

What's happening?. Come home? Sure I will.

18. INT. BEAUMONT'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Mrs. Beaumont sits talking on the phone in a dark quiet bedroom.

MRS. BEAUMONT

I mean, for good, Jeffrey.

CUT TO:

19. INT. PHONE/HALLWAY - COLLEGE - NIGHT

CLOSEUP - JEFFREY

JEFFREY

For good?. I can't. Mom. Not right in

the middle of the term.

CUT TO:

20. INT. BEAUMONT'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

MRS. BEAUMONT

(now looks very tired and

poor health)

Jeffrey. honey. Your father's condition

is serious. It's going to cost so much.

We just won't have the money to keep you

in school. I'm telling you this now, so

that you can get your things together and

check out of school, honey, or whatever you

have to do. it'll save you another trip back.

You're going to have to work at the store.

CUT TO:

21. INT. PHONE/HALLWAY - COLLEGE - NIGHT

CLOSEUP - JEFFREY

JEFFREY

(crying)

Mom.

Louise looks at Jeffrey crying, then turns away. Jeffrey hangs up the

phone.

CUT TO:

22. INT. BEAUMONT'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Mrs. Beaumont hangs up her phone. just next to the phone traveling into

a shadow is a winged termite.

FADE TO:

23. INT. GIRLS DORM LOBBY - COLLEGE - NIGHT

Jeffrey is waiting in a girls dorm lobby for Louise.

Girls are milling around. Louise gets off an elevator with some other

girls. She forces a smile at Jeffrey as she comes toward him.

JEFFREY

Can't you come to the damn airport?

LOUISE

Jeffrey. I can't. I really can't. I

have to go to that class tonight. I can't

get out of it. I really can't. I love

you, Jeffrey. I'll miss you.

JEFFREY

Alright. I'll call you in a couple of days,

you know. I'll let you know how things are.

LOUISE

Okay. I'll be here. You better git-going. I

gotta go too sweetie. I hope your father's

okay. I love you. I'm sorry, Jeffrey.

JEFFREY

I love you too, Louise. Damn it. I'll see you.

They kiss.

CUT TO:

24. EXT. LANDING STRIP

A PLANE TAKES OFF

DISSOLVE TO:

25. EXT. ANOTHER LANDING STRIP

A PLANE LANDS

26. EXT. AIRPORT - NIGHT

Jeffrey comes walking out of the airport, where his Mother and AUNT

BARBARA, who is a very absent-minded little woman with very thick glasses,

are waiting for him.

They are parked illegally and another car is honking at them. Their

trunk is open in anticipation of Jeffrey's things. They are waving and

yelling at Jeffrey to get his attention. He finally joins them and kisses

his Mother, then his Aunt.

JEFFREY

Hi Mom. Hi Aunt Barbara.

They AD LIB hellos.

MRS. BEAUMONT

(a bit concerned)

Where's all your things, Jeffrey?

JEFFREY

This is it.

Mrs. Beaumont looks at Jeffrey.

JEFFREY

I sent a trunk home yesterday. This is

all I have.

AUNT BARBARA

You look good, Jeffrey. Did you have a nice

flight?

JEFFREY

Yeah. How's Dad?

MRS. BEAUMONT

He's alright. We'll tell you on the way home.

27. INT. BEAUMONT'S CAR - NIGHT

They get in the car. Aunt Barbara is driving. She is not a good driver

and makes Jeffrey nervous. He watches her every move from the back seat.

They drive on surface streets. Many gas stations, traffic lights, bars.

MRS. BEAUMONT

He had a cerebral hemorrhage and they think

there's some sort of clot, or tumor, or

something in there. They're doing all sorts

of tests. On the surface, he looks pretty

good, but there are problems. They think he

may have to stay in two weeks now, at least.

You can go see him though tomorrow, Jeffrey.

AUNT BARBARA

They tore down the A & P, Jeffrey. Did you

see that?

JEFFREY

Aunt Barbara that was 5 years ago.

CUT TO:

28. EXT. BEAUMONTS' HOME - NIGHT

The car pulls into the Beaumonts' driveway. The neighborhood is quiet and

dark.

CUT TO:

29. INT. BEAUMONTS' LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Jeffrey, Aunt Barbara, and Mrs. Beaumont enter the living room. Mrs.

Beaumont turns on a table lamp. A cold circle of light hits the light

blue rug.

AUNT BARBARA

Home again, home again, jiggidy jog.

They look at Jeffrey. He looks at them.

CUT TO:

30. INT. JEFFREY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Jeffrey enters his small attic-type bedroom, turns on the overhead light,

and sets his suitcase down. He goes to his desk and leans across it to

look outside.

JEFFREY'S P.O.V. - EXT. STREET

The street is dark, except for a pool of light from a street light.

CLOSEUP - JEFFREY

A breeze of cold powerful string MUSIC blows as we watch Jeffrey stare into

space.

31. INT. BEAUMONTS' KITCHEN/HALLWAY - DAY

Mrs. Beaumont is calling upstairs to Jeffrey.

MRS. BEAUMONT

Jeffrey, breakfast is ready.

JEFFREY (V.O.)

(calling)

Be right down.

Mrs. Beaumont joins Aunt Barbara at the breakfast table in the kitchen.

AUNT BARBARA

This is marvelous jam. Are you going this

morning?

MRS. BEAUMONT

I think Jeffrey would like to see his father

alone.

Jeffrey comes down the stairs. Everyone says their "good mornings," and

Jeffrey sits down to breakfast.

JEFFREY

What time are visiting hours?

MRS. BEAUMONT

I've made arrangements with Dr. Gynde for

10:30. But Jeffrey, you'll have to walk

over; I need the car this morning.

JEFFREY

Well. Okay.

MRS. BEAUMONT

Jeffrey, when you see your father.

JEFFREY

Yeah?

MRS. BEAUMONT

He doesn't know you're out of school. He

thinks it's a vacation for you.

JEFFREY

What?

MRS. BEAUMONT

It would be too much for him. So please

let him think as he does, that you're

home just to see him.

JEFFREY

Thanks a lot, Mom.

MRS. BEAUMONT

.Jeffrey!. Nobody wanted you to leave

school and go to work in the store. maybe

going back to school will be an option one

day. I hope so.

AUNT BARBARA

I think it's important not to get depressed.

Depression is a terrible thing. They say it

can bring on illness.

JEFFREY

(angry)

Aunt Barbara. I'll try not to get depressed.

CUT TO:

33. INT. HALLWAY - HOSPITAL - DAY

Jeffrey follows a nurse to a hospital room.

NURSE CINDY

Please wait outside while Dr. Gynde prepares

him to see you.

JEFFREY

Prepares him?

She peers into the room. Jeffrey does too.

34. INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

All he can see are curtains surrounding a bed and stacks of medical

machinery. Doctor Gynde comes out from behind the curtains and walks to

Jeffrey.

DR. GYNDE

Hello Jeffrey.

JEFFREY

Hello, Doctor Gynde. How is he?

DR. GYNDE

He's fighting hard. Jeffrey. it's very

important that your father doesn't try

to move. he's been immobilized. It would

be very painful for him. sit close. you do

the talking and moving. He knows you're

here. He became very emotional. I don't

think he likes the idea of you seeing him

like this.

Nurse Cindy goes to the bed. She begins to pull the curtains back

revealing Mr. Beaumont.

NURSE CINDY

(smiling a big smile)

Mr. Beaumont! Your son is here to visit you.

Then we see Mr. Beaumont. He has numerous tubes and needles going into

different parts of him. A stainless steel device holds his head perfectly

still. Nurse Cindy picks up a tray and leaves.

JEFFREY

(shocked but concealing it)

Hi Dad.

MR. BEAUMONT

(speaking as plainly as possible,

but sounds like mumbling)

Hey Jeff.

Jeffrey goes to him and puts out his hand to shake his father's hand but

remembers his father cannot move. Jeffrey pats him on the shoulder.

JEFFREY

Looks like they've got you strapped in

pretty good.

MR. BEAUMONT

(lips moving but hardly any sound)

uh uh.

JEFFREY

Are you feeling okay?

MR. BEAUMONT

(more mumbling)

uh uh.

Tears well up in Mr. Beaumont's eyes. Before Jeffrey can stop him he

reaches for Jeffrey's hand, then struggling against tremendous pain he

manages to form words.

MR. BEAUMONT

(more plainly but under strain)

Good to see you, son.

JEFFREY

(holding back tears)

It's good to see you, Dad.

Jeffrey squeezes his father's hand.

35. EXT. VACANT FIELD - DAY

Jeffrey is walking down a dirt road on his way home. He kicks up little

clouds of dust as he walks. He has some time to think about things. He

sees a green bottle in the distance. He gathers up a few more rocks and

pitches them one by one at the bottle. He misses.

He looks for a few more good rocks to throw and while looking through some

tall grass and weeds, he sees something strange.

He looks closer. It is a HUMAN EAR, covered with crawling ants.

Jeffrey immediately stands up and looks around. All he sees are houses

- some laundry drying - a very peaceful scene. No one seems to be around -

No one seems to be watching him.

He looks again at the ear.

We are so close we can hear ants racing frantically around the ear into it.

There is dried blood on part of it.

Jeffrey finds a brown paper bad and using a twig, he pushes the ear onto

it. Again, he stands up and looks around.

IN THE DISTANCE, a MAN goes into the back door of a house. Nothing more.

Jeffery hurries off, carrying the bag with the ear in it.

CUT TO:

36. EXT. POLICE DEPARTMENT - DAY

Jeffrey goes up the front steps...

37. INT. POLICE DEPARTMENT - DAY

... and to the Reception Desk. A POLICE OFFICER is standing behind the

counter.

JEFFREY

Hello. could you tell me if Detective

Williams is still working here?

POLICE OFFICER

He's up in Room 221. Right up the stairs.

CUT TO:

38. INT. ROOM 221 - POLICE STATION - DAY

Jeffrey enters Room 221 and sees the desk marked, "DETECTIVE J.D.

WILLIAMS," however, the desk is empty. TWO MEN are talking at the end

of the room; one of them comes toward Jeffrey.

JEFFREY

Are you Detective Williams?

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

Yes.

JEFFREY

My name is Jeffrey Beaumont - I live near

you. I believe you know my father, Tom

Beaumont - Beaumont's Hardware Store?

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

Sure I do. I understand he's in the

hospital. How is he?

JEFFREY

He's alright, I guess. I hope. They're

doing tests, that's why I'm home from

school. I was over at the hospital this

morning and I was going home and in the

field behind our neighborhood. there

behind Vista, I found an ear.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

(matter of factly)

You did? A human ear?

JEFFREY

Yeah. I've got it here in this bag. I

thought I should bring it to you.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

Yep, that's right. Let's take a look at it.

Jeffrey opens the bag and lets Detective Williams look inside.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

(continuing)

That sure looks like a human ear, doesn't

it?. Let's run it down to the Coroner's

Office and see what they make of it. Then,

I want you to show me exactly where you

found it.

CUT TO:

39. INT. CORONER'S OFFICE - DAY

Jeffrey, Detective Williams, and an OLD CORONER'S OFFICER are looking at

the ear, which is sitting in a medical dish on a table.

CORONER'S OFFICER

The tests will take awhile. Meanwhile,

we'll check the morgue records. I don't

recall anything coming in minus an ear.

The Coroner's Officer turns to Jeffrey.

CORONER'S OFFICER

(continuing)

Now if you'd found a jaw or let's say, a

heart, or even an arm, we would assume

that there was a corpse, however, a finger

or an ear. the person may very well be

alive somewhere.

JEFFREY

What can you tell about the person from the

ear?

CORONER'S OFFICER

Well. when the tests are done, quite a lot

. Sex, blood type, whether or not the ear

came off a dead person. Right now, I know

what you know. It's a real human ear. The

human was, or is, Caucasian.

. also. It looks like the ear was cut off

with scissors.

40. EXT. VACANT FIELD - DAY

Jeffrey is out with Detective Williams and a CREW OF OFFICERS who have

roped off the area and are doing a grid search.

A POLICE PHOTOGRAPHER is also there taking flash pictures all around the

field, especially where Jeffrey has told them he found the ear.

Detective Williams takes Jeffrey aside.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

By the way, Jeffrey, this story isn't going

to the press and I'm going to ask you to

consider all you've heard strictly

confidential. Do not discuss this business

with anyone, but me, or other police

personnel. Got it?

JEFFREY

Got it. Thanks for letting me in on as much

as you did.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

Come on. I'll drive you home. It's on my way.

CUT TO:

41. INT. BEAUMONTS' KITCHEN - NIGHT

Mrs. Beaumont and Aunt Barbara are doing the dishes. The news is on a

small portable television. There is a broadcast on the mounting crime

wave.

INSERT T.V. SCREEN

A series of murders are being discussed and a police drawing mug shot is

shown on the screen of the suspect who is at large.

CUT TO:

42. INT. JEFFREY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Jeffrey is sitting at his desk daydreaming. He suddenly picks up the

phone, hesitates, then dials.

JEFFREY

Hello?. LOUISE WERTHAM please. Louise?

. is she there?. Louise?

(very happy)

Yeah! How are you? He's okay. in the

hospital for tests.

(very serious)

I miss you so much.

(smiling now)

What have you been up to?. Louise, I don't

know. I've got to see how my father is

. It costs a fortune in that hospital.

When did he ask you to that?. Look. I

can't stop you. Go ahead. Just go ahead

. I may never be back, go. ahead. Look

Louise, stop trying to explain everything.

Just do it. let's talk again in a couple

of days or somethin', okay?. Yeah, I still

love you. Goodbye Louise. Goodbye.

Jeffrey sits alone in his room, thinking things over.

SLOW DISSOLVE TO:

43. INT. CORONER'S OFFICE - NIGHT

CLOSE UP - EAR IN MORTICIAN'S DISH

VERY SLOWLY, we MOVE very close to the ear, gliding slowly around the

crevices approaching the dark hole. A huge, low rushing of air SOUND,

THEN DARKNESS.

SLOW DISSOLVE TO:

44. INT. BEAUMONTS' LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Low light. Jeffrey enters the room. Aunt Barbara and Mrs. Beaumont are

watching television. Aunt Barbara is knitting.

JEFFREY

I'm going out for awhile.

MRS. BEAUMONT

(looks at her watch)

Do you want the car?

JEFFREY

No, I'm just gonna walk around.

MRS. BEAUMONT

Alright.

AUNT BARBARA

Jeffrey. you're not going down by Lincoln,

are you?

JEFFREY

(yelling back)

No. I'm just going to walk around the

neighborhood. Don't worry.

Aunt Barbara and Mrs. Beaumont continue watching the television.

INSERT T.V. SCREEN

On T.V. we see a man's shoes. He is sneaking slowly up some stairs.

CUT TO:

45. EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - NIGHT

Jeffrey walks along the dark streets. The same sombre MUSIC plays low

and slow.

Some of the houses have a few lights on, some are dark. Some windows have

a slow uneven blue flashing light, indicating the television is on inside.

Jeffrey continues walking through the night. In the trees, the shadows

continuously re-arrange themselves in mysterious, sometimes frightening

patterns.

46. EXT. WILLIAMS HOME - NIGHT

Jeffrey finally comes to the house he's been looking for.

He goes up the front walk. Now, at the last minute, he feels a little

foolish and has second thoughts about knocking on the door.

He looks in a window. Inside, he sees a nicely-lit living room.

He goes ahead and knocks. A very pleasant-looking middle class WOMAN

answers the door.

JEFFREY

Hello. uh. my name is Jeffrey

Beaumont. Is Detective Williams in?

MRS. WILLIAMS

Oh, yes, Jeffrey. Come in. He'll be back

any minute now. You're welcome to wait.

Is it urgent?

47. INT. WILLIAMS' LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

JEFFREY

I just wanted to ask him a few questions,

that's all. Maybe I better go.

MRS. WILLIAMS

Really, he'll be home soon, would you like

a cup of coffee?

JEFFREY

(thinks a bit)

Alright.

48. INT. WILLIAMS' KITCHEN - NIGHT

She leads him back to the kitchen where she has him sit at the kitchen

table. She pours him a cup of coffee.

MRS. WILLIAMS

I was sorry to hear about your father. I

know your mother from church. It's such a

shame.

JEFFREY

Yeah, I know.

MRS. WILLIAMS

Would you like a piece of cake?

JEFFREY

No. No thank you.

MRS. WILLIAMS

It's a real good chocolate cake. Duncan

Hines' devil's food. real good.

JEFFREY

Yeah. okay.

49. INT. WILLIAMS' LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Out in the living room, SANDY WILLIAMS and her BOYFRIEND, MIKE SHAW,

come up from the basement. They are both carrying books.

Sandy is a very good looking, high school senior and Mike is a big,

handsome football player type.

50. INT. WILLIAMS' KITCHEN - NIGHT

MRS. WILLIAMS

Sandy?.

Sandy and Mike come into the kitchen. Jeffrey has a big piece of chocolate cake in his mouth.

MRS. WILLIAMS

(continuing)

Jeffery, this is my daughter, Sandy, and.

her boyfriend, Mike.

They all say "Hi" to one another.

SANDY

Mike's gotta go.

(to Jeffrey)

Nice to meet you.

MIKE

Yeah, nice meetin' yuh.

JEFFREY

Yeah. It was nice meeting you too.

They leave and go out the front door.

MRS. WILLIAMS

(smiles)

He comes over to study.

JEFFREY

(smiles big)

Yeah.

The front door opens.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS (V.O.)

Pam?

MRS. WILLIAMS

In the kitchen, John!

Detective Williams comes into the kitchen surprised to see Jeffrey.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

Oh. Hello, Jeffrey. what's up?

He kisses his wife.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

Come into the study a minute.

JEFFREY

(getting up)

Excuse me, Mrs. Williams.

MRS. WILLIAMS

Certainly.

Jeffrey follows Detective Williams into his study.

CUT TO:

51. INT. DETECTIVE WILLIAMS' STUDY - NIGHT

Detective Williams' study is filled with filing cabinets. The desk has

two phones and is covered with papers and folders and a picture of Mrs.

Williams and Sandy. The police radio is asking for Detective Williams as

they enter.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

(to Jeffrey)

Shut the door.

Detective Williams speaks through the radio while Jeffrey shuts the door.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

(continuing; in radio)

Detective Williams here. yeah. Tell him

to go to Sergeant Milton. yeah, copy.

(clicks off radio, turns to Jeffrey)

Well, Jeffrey, you found something which is

very interesting to us. Very interesting.

I know you must be curious to know more.

(scratches the middle of his back)

But. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask

you not only not to tell anyone about your

find, but also not to ask more about the

case. One day. when it's all sewed up, I'll

let you know all the details. Right now,

though. I can't.

JEFFREY

I understand. I'm just real curious like

you said.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

I was the same way when I was you age. I

guess that's what got me into this business.

JEFFREY

It must be great.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

And it's horrible too.

(a cold look comes over

Detective Williams)

I'm sorry Jeffrey. That's the way it has to

be. Anyway. I'm sure you do understand.

Jeffrey studies Detective Williams' face as they walk back to the living

room.

52. INT. WILLIAMS' LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

JEFFREY

(calling into the kitchen)

Mrs. Williams? Thanks for the cake.

MRS. WILLIAMS

(coming out from the kitchen)

Oh, you're welcome. Nice to finally meet

you, Jeffrey.

JEFFREY

Say "goodnight" to Sandy.

DETECTIVE WILLIAMS

We will. Good night.

Jeffrey leaves and they shut the door behind him.

53. EXT. WILLIAMS HOME - NIGHT

As Jeffrey leaves the light of the front yard and enters onto the dark

sidewalk, he hears Sandy call out behind him.

SANDY

Are you the one that found the ear.

Jeffrey stops and turns around. Sandy comes up to him.

JEFFREY

Yeah, how did you know?

SANDY

(coyly)

I just know, that's all. I remember you

from Central.

54. EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - NIGHT

They slowly walk down the street together.

JEFFREY

Oh yeah?

SANDY

You were pretty popular. Didn't you run

for some office?

JEFFREY

Yeah I did. treasurer. Shouldn't you be

studying or something.

SANDY

Am I bothering you?

JEFFREY

No. You're not bothering me. You a senior?

SANDY

Yes.

JEFFREY

How is Central these days?

SANDY

Terrible. boring.

JEFFREY

What else is new?. right?

SANDY

Yeah. What are you doing now?

JEFFREY

I'm home from school. My father's in the

hospital.

SANDY

That's too bad.

JEFFREY

What do you know about the ear?. anything?

SANDY

Didn't my father tell you not to talk about

it?

(she smiles)

JEFFREY

Come on. you brought it up. Do you know

anything?

SANDY

I don't really know much but bits and pieces

. I hear things. My room is right above my

father's office. The ear. there's no corpse

in the morgue missing an ear, and it did come

off a living person. That's direct from the

Coroner's Office. The person is unknown.

There are a couple of cases I get mixed up on,

but I think there are some people who were

brought in for questioning on a murder case

that could have something to do with the ear.

I heard some of the same names.

JEFFREY

Do you know who was brought in for

questioning?

SANDY

There were at least three, maybe four. But

a name that keeps coming up is this woman

who lives in an apartment building very

close to your house and also close to the

field where you found the ear. There's

also a business man over by the Franklin

factory district that was questioned. and

a musician. and some others.

JEFFREY

Were all these people questioned this

afternoon?

SANDY

No. this has been going on for some time

. several months. About six months ago

some parts of bodies were found down by

the river. They were from people who were

reported missing. They never found one

complete body. only parts.

JEFFREY

The ear is from a missing person maybe?

SANDY

Maybe so.

JEFFREY

It's a strange world isn't it? Do you know

what building the woman lives in?

SANDY

Yeah. It's close by. that's what's creepy.

They've had her under surveillance for a

couple of months, except I don't know what

they've found out because my father isn't

in charge of her.

JEFFREY

I guess you have to get back home soon?

SANDY

Not really, why?

(then she understands)

You want to see the building?. Come on,

I'll show you.

CUT TO:

55. EXT. LINCOLN STREET - NIGHT

Jeffrey and Sandy walk through the light of a street light. The street

sign "LINCOLN ST" can be read. They walk into darkness and continue down

to an apartment building on the right side of the street.

SANDY

(nodding toward building)

That's the building. She lives on the

Seventh Floor. Don't stop to look long

. the police are watching.

JEFFREY

Where are they?

SANDY

I don't know. you're not supposed to see

them. They're supposed to see you.

They begin walking slowly back to Sandy's house.

JEFFREY

Did they find out anything when they

questioned her?

SANDY

I don't know. like I said, she's not my

father's case.

JEFFREY

Oh yeah. What about those other people?

. Anything?

SANDY

My father is watching the businessman.

The businessman had a partner who

disappeared. left his whole business and

family, his wife and two kids. They think

he's been murdered.

JEFFREY

You really do hear a lot, don't you?

SANDY

Yeah, I guess so.

(they continue walking)

What are you going to do now that you're

home?

JEFFREY

I have to help out in my father's hardware

store. they're giving me sort of my own

hours for a while. which is nice.

SANDY

Still, it must be kinda rough.

JEFFREY

It's not bad. but it's bad enough.

it's a lot worse for my father.

(Jeffrey points to a house)

I used to know a kid who lived there and who

had the biggest tongue in the world.

Jeffrey and Sandy both laugh.

SANDY

What happened to him?

JEFFREY

I don't know. he moved away.

CUT TO:

56. EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - NIGHT

A LONG SHOT

Jeffrey and Sandy walking and talking, sometimes laughing in the distance,

while the MUSIC theme, haunting yet warm, plays over.

57. EXT. WILLIAMS HOME - NIGHT

They arrive back at Sandy's home.

CLOSER ON JEFFREY AND SANDY

in front of Sandy's home.

SANDY

I've gotta go in.

JEFFREY

Thanks for the tour. It was nice talking

to you.

Sandy just looks at him shyly before she turns to go up the front walk.

JEFFREY

(continuing)

I guess I'll see you sometime.

SANDY

I guess so. Like you said. It's a

strange world.

JEFFREY

(smiles)

Yeah. Good bye.

Jeffrey watches as Sandy goes inside her house. He watches her house for

a moment and sees her cross the living room. He turns and walks away.

Again, the MYSTERIOUS CHORDS OF MUSIC swell up as Jeffrey walks through

the night.

CUT TO:

58. INT. BEAUMONT'S HARDWARE STORE - DAY

Jeffrey is poking around in the back room. He picks up some bug spraying

devices. He yells out to an old black man who works in the store.

JEFFREY

Hey, Ed, okay if I borrow these bug spraying

rigs later on?

Ed peers into the back room. Spots Jeffrey.

ED

Listen Bud. If you need to spray for bugs

they're yours. It causes me no pain.

JEFFREY

Okidoke Ed. Thanks.

CUT TO:

59. EXT. BEAUMONT'S HARDWARE STORE - DAY

Jeffrey puts the stuff in the trunk of the car. There are several "Awake"

magazines there too. He gets in the front seat and drives off.

CUT TO:

60. INT. BEAUMONTS' CAR - DAY

Jeffrey driving. He looks at his watch. It is 3:30.

61. EXT. CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Jeffrey is parked across the street from the school. High school kids

are pouring out the front door. In a moment he sees Sandy come out with

two or three other girls. They walk down the sidewalk away from Jeffrey.

He starts the car and slowly follows them to the corner, where he pulls

up alongside of them. very close. Sandy suddenly recognizes him.

JEFFREY

You hungry or thirsty, or both?

SANDY

(taken back)

I don't know.

JEFFREY

I'd like to talk to you about something.

SANDY

Just a minute. pull over and wait a

minute.

Sandy pulls her girlfriends away from Jeffrey's car and says something to

them. There is some whispering and giggling and then,

SANDY

(to the girls)

Please, don't say anything to Mike.

promise?

The girls promise. Sandy goes around and gets in the car.

JEFFREY

I don't want to cause any trouble.

SANDY

I'm here, aren't I?

JEFFREY

(smiling as though he knew)

I guess Mike's got some sort of sports

practice in the afternoon.

SANDY

Ooooo, you are smart. Just don't get too

smart.

CUT TO:

62. INT. DINER - DAY

Jeffrey and Sandy are sitting in a booth. Jeffrey's grilled cheese on

white bread and a coke have just arrived along with Sandy's coke.

SANDY

Alright, now tell me. What is it?

JEFFREY

There are opportunities in life for gaining

knowledge and experience. sometimes, in

some cases. it's necessary to take a risk.

I got to thinking. I'll bet a person could

learn a lot by getting into that woman's

apartment. you know. sneak in and hide

and observe.

SANDY

You said it was a strange world.

and you're the strangest part of it. Are

you crazy.she is possibly involved in

murder. This gives me the creeps.

JEFFREY

Settle down. I have a plan which I think

will work. There is very little for you

to do, but I do need your help.

.Aren't you curious about my plan?

SANDY

(thinking and intrigued, plus she

is beginning to like Jeffrey)

It wouldn't hurt to hear the plan, I guess.

JEFFREY

(getting excited)

Alright. the first thing is to get into her

apartment and open a window that I could

crawl into later.

SANDY

Now, how are you going to do that?

JEFFREY

Right out in the car I happen to have some

old overalls and a bug spraying rig. I will

go to her apartment and be the pest control

man. I will spray her apartment. After a

few minutes you will knock on her door,

drawing her attention away from me and I

will then jimmy a window.

SANDY

What will I say when she comes to the door?

JEFFREY

You will be a Jehovah's Witness. I have a

few "Awake" magazines for you. You don't

have to keep her very long. a few seconds

is all I'll need. Whatiya think?

SANDY

I don't know. it sounds like a good

daydream, . but actually doing it is too

weird. too dangerous.

JEFFREY

Let's just try the first part. If that

goes well, we'll see about the rest. No one

will suspect us, because no one would

believe two people like us would be crazy

enough to do something like this.

SANDY

You've got a point there.

CUT TO:

63. INT. BEAUMONTS' CAR/LINCOLN STREET-DAY

Jeffrey and Sandy are in the car. Jeffrey is struggling to put on the old overalls.

JEFFREY

Now. we'll walk over so there's no license

plates and you give me at least three

minutes. I can stall if it's more, but I

need time to find a good window .alright?

SANDY

Alright.

JEFFREY

Let's go.

64. EXT. LINCOLN STREET - DAY

They get out of the car. Sandy has the "Awake" magazines.

JEFFREY

Okay, I'm going ahead. Wait a minute,

what's her name?

SANDY

Oh bother. Dorothy Vallens, Seventh

Floor. Look on the mailbox for her number,

bright boy.

JEFFREY

Thanks. Dorothy Vallens. Okay. good

luck . three minutes, no sooner.

SANDY

Alright. Good luck, yourself.

Jeffrey takes off in the direction of the apartment building.

CUT TO:

65. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

Jeffrey walks up the front steps and goes in the double outer doors.

66. INT. LOBBY - APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

He looks up and down the mailboxes and finally finds "D. Vallens,

Apartment Number 710."

Jeffrey goes into the lobby.

CUT TO:

67. INT. STAIRWAY - APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY

Jeffrey climbs the stairs. An OLD LADY is making her way down the stairs.

She sees Jeffrey and his rig.

OLD LADY

Well, it's about time you came.

Jeffrey forces a smile at her and after she's gone.

JEFFREY

(to himself)

That's a good sign.

He keeps climbing. He arrives at the Seventh Floor. and finds Number 710.

He knocks and waits. He looks around. the hallway is empty.

DOROTHY VALLENS opens the door. She is a very beautiful woman in her

late thirties. She has a beautiful full figure, dark eyes, black thick

wavy hair. Full red lips. Right now, however, she looks a bit tired and

a bit frumpy in an old terrycloth robe.

DOROTHY

Yes? What is it?

JEFFREY

Pest control. gotta do your apartment.

DOROTHY

Oh God, that stuff stinks.

JEFFREY

(as he goes in)

Nope. it's new stuff. no smell.

DOROTHY

Oh yeah, that's good.

68. INT. DOROTHY'S APARTMENT - DAY

Jeffrey goes all around the baseboards, spraying. All the while he's

getting a good look around the apartment.

There is a window above the kitchen sink out to the fire escape. Jeffrey

looks around to see what Dorothy is doing and she is watching him spraying.

The apartment is smaller than he thought, so he sprays the kitchen very

slowly and makes believe the sprayer is jammed.

Suddenly, there is knocking at the door.

DOROTHY

What is this. Grand Central Station?

She opens the door. Jeffrey looks. It's not Sandy. A MAN, with a yellow

sports coat, is standing there. Jeffrey begins to sweat, b