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Scripts: The Man Who Knew Too Much (final draft, 07/May/1955) - part 4

 EXT. MARKET PLACE - (DAY) - MED. CLOSE SHOT
 
 Mrs. Drayton comes up to the group, still holding on
 to Hank's hand.
 
                       MRS. DRAYTON
           You don't want your little boy to go,
           do you?
 
                       HANK
           I wanna go. I never saw a French police
           station before.
 
                       MRS. DRAYTON
           Perhaps it would be best if I took him
           back to the hotel.
 
                       JO
           You're very thoughtful.
 
                       POLICE ONE
           Ameneles aux Bureaux de Police.
               (He moves out)
 
                        DRAYTON
               (To Ben)
           I think we'd better set off.
               (To wife wryly)
           Heaven knows how long we shall be.
 
                        POLICE TWOO
           Alons-y.   Sil vous plait.
 
 Police Two moves across the square with Drayton. Ben
 and Jo precede them. Drayton begins conversing in
 French with them about the crime, but we cannot
 distinguish their words clearly. Jo looks back and
 gives a little wave to Hank.
 
 EXT. MARKET PLACE - (DAY) - MED. CLOSE SHOT
 
 The McKenna's are walking across the square with the
 Police and Drayton a few yards behind them. The CAMERA
 MOVES with them. Jo moves close to Ben and speaks to
 him in a surreptitious manner.
 
                       JO
           Why should he suddenly turn up in Arab-
           outfit, wearing makeup?
 
                       BEN
           What's more important -- why was he
           killed?
 
                       JO
           I'll bet he was a spy, or something
           like that.
 
 Ben looks at her with some surprise.
 
                       JO
           Ben, what did he whisper to you?    What
           did you write down?
 
                       BEN
           I'll tell you later.
 
 Ben looks at his hands.
 
                         JO
           What is it?
 
                       BEN
           I don't feel very good after what I
           said about Louis Bernard last night.
 
 JO looks away, equally embarrassed.    Ben wipes his
 fingers with his handkerchief.
 
 LAP DISSOLVE TO:
 
 INT. POLICE STATION - (DAY) - MED. SHOT
 
 The main hallway and waiting room of the Police Station
 in Marrakesh. French and Arab personnel move up and
 down the wide hallway from one doorway to another.
 There is a babble of voices and the sound of phones
 heard off. The McKennas and Drayton are seated on a
 long bench, waiting to be called into the inner office
 of the Police Inspector. Drayton sits next to Ben.
 It is hot. Jo has eyes for everything, but Ben seems
 to be somewhat impatient. He looks at his watch for
 the third or fourth time in a minute.
 
 INT. POLICE STATION - (DAY) - MED. CLOSE SHOT
 
 Drayton notices him studying his watch. He leans to
 him, and at the same time wipes off the side of his on
 face with a handkerchief.
 
                       DRAYTON
           Once we talk to the police inspector,
           I'll do my best to out some of the red
           tape.
 
                       JO
           I have to stretch.
 
 She gets up and saunters away, looking around the police
 station for whatever there is to see. Drayton speaks
 to Ben with reassuring geniality.
 
                       DRAYTON
           I'm afraid the questions will go on
           till doomsday, if you admit knew this
           chap Bernard before.
 
                       BEN
           I didn't know him at all.     We only met
           yesterday on a bus.
 
                       DRAYTON
           They're a cynical lot, these French --
           they might refuse to believe that.
 
                       BEN
           They'll have to believe me.     It's true.
 
                       DRAYTON
           It might sound a bit odd, from their
           point of view. They saw the poor chap
           whispering to you ... and then they
           saw you writing something down...
 
 Ben looks at Drayton, waiting for his to go on.
 
                       DRAYTON
           The question is, are you going to show
           them what you wrote down?
 
 Before Ben can say any more, a policeman opens the
 door leading to the Police Inspector's office. He
 calls out.
 
 INT. POLICE STATION - (DAY) - MED. SHOT
 
 Jo turns around at the sound of the door opening, and
 Ben and Drayton start to rise from the bench.
 
 The policeman steps aside, holding the door, as a Police
 Inspector comes out of the office from behind him. He
 is a short, heavy-built-dark man. He does not smile.
 
 INT. POLICE STATION - (DAY) - MED. CLOSE SHOT
 
 The Inspector walks a few steps into the corridor,
 stops. Ben, Jo and Drayton approach him. Drayton
 speaks first.
 
                       DRAYTON
           Ces personnes sont mes bons amis, les
           McKenna. Mon nom est Drayton. Ils ne
           parlent pas francais et ils m'ont
           demandé de traduire.
 
 The Inspector answers in English.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           Thank you, Monsieur Drayton, but a
           translator will not be necessary.
               (To McKenna)
           Won't you come inside, Monsieur, Madame?
 
 He stops aside, and wait.
 
                       INSPECTOR
               (To Drayton)
           Do to the kindness to wait. I might
           have questions for you later.
 
 He motions to the McKennas. Jo goes past him first,
 into the office, followed by Ben, Drayton returns to
 the bench, and watches the trio as the office door
 closes on them.
 
 INT. POLICE STATION - (DAY) - MED. SHOT
 
 A medium-sized office, saved from plainness of civil
 service decor by a few personal decorations of the
 Inspector.
 
 He waves the McKenna to chairs, as he goes around behind
 his desk and remains standing. Ben and Jo sit down.
 The Inspector looks at some papers on his desk, then
 holds out his hand.
 
                       INSPECTOR
               (Precisely)
           Your passports, please.
 
 Ben looks at Jo, who fishes for them in her purse.
 She takes them out, hands them to Ben, who hands them
 to the Inspector. He scrutinizes them. Uncomfortable,
 Ben retreats to a chair and sits down, waiting. The
 inspector checks the pictures against the people he
 sees sitting in his office, then puts the passports
 down on his desk.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           You entered French Morocco four days
           ago.
 
                       BEN
           That's right.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           You are a doctor, monsieur?
 
                         BEN
           A surgeon.    A tourist, and an American
           citizen.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           Three good reasons why you should have
           nothing in common with Louis Bernard.
 
                       BEN
           I didn't have.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           You were recently in Paris?
 
                       BEN
           A medical convention.
 
                         INSPECTOR
           You come to Marrakesh with him in the
           same bus. You drank an apéritif with
           him in your hotel room. And you ate
           at the same restaurant last night.
 
                       JO
           But at different tables.
 
 The Inspector's eyes study her briefly, as if her
 comment was an unnecessary interruption. Then his
 eyes return to Ben.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           So, Louis Bernard is a stranger to
           you?
 
                       BEN
           I met him yesterday -- on the bus --
           for the first time in my life.
 
 The Inspector begins to let his skepticism be seen.
 
                       INSPECTOR
               (ironically)
           And yet -- out of five thousand people --
           In a great market place -- he comes to
           you when he is about to die! Is that
           the action of a casual acquaintance,
           monsieur?
 
                       BEN
               (Obstinate)
           I know nothing about Louis Bernard.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           No? Not even, I suppose, that he was
           an agent of the Déuxieme Bureau?
 
                       BEN
           What's that?
 
                       INSPECTOR
           Perhaps you have also never head of
           the American F.B.I.?
               (Sadly)
           It would be so much more easy for both
           of us, monsieur, if you would cease to
           pretend.
 
                       BEN
           Now, look here...
 
                       INSPECTOR
               (Patiently)
           The dead man found out what he had
           been sent here to discover. That is
           why he was kill-ed. He told you what
           he had discovered. Why? Because he
           placed complete confidence in you.
           Voila.
 
                       BEN
           Boy, you not only ask the questions
           you also answer them -- Wait a minute
           let me ask you a question.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           Indeed, Monsieur?
 
                       BEN
           Assuming Bernard trusted me as
           implicitly as you say, I would never
           reveal anything he said to me, would
           I?
 
                       INSPECTOR
           Even Americans, I suppose, sometimes
           find it desirable to betray a
           confidence?
 
                       BEN
           Let's get something straight. I'm a
           tourist traveling for pleasure. I
           somehow got involved in an unfortunate
           incident. I came down here to make a
           simple statement of fact, and not to
           be subjected to a police grilling.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           Monsieur, I would like....
 
                       BEN
               (Interrupting)
           Now hold your horses!   Just hold them.
 
 The door opens suddenly.   The two men look up.
 
 INT. INSPECTOR'S OFFICE - (DAY) - MED. CLOSE SHOT
 
 A policeman opens the door and leans in.
 
                       POLICE TWO
           Inspecteur. On demande Monsieur McKenna
           au téléphone.
 
 As he speaks, the policeman nods in the direction of
 Ben.
 
 INT. INSPECTOR'S OFFICE - (DAY) - MED. SHOT
 
 The Inspector impatiently tries to dismiss the officer
 with a gesture.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           Laissez nous, nous sommes occuppes.
 
 Ben motions to the policeman to stay where he is
 
                       BEN
           Wait a minute. A telephone call for
           me?
 
 The policeman at the door looks at the Inspector
 briefly. The Inspector is disconcerted, but doesn't
 tell the man what to say, so he turns back to Ben and
 nods.
 
                       BEN
           Where?
 
 The policeman points over his shoulder to in outside
 office.
 
                       INSPECTOR
               (To the world in
                general)
           Mais enfin, voyons!
 
                       BEN
           I'll take the call now.    You just take
           it easy.
 
 He goes out the door, closing it behind him. The
 Inspector sits down heavily. Then he looks up at Jo.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           Madame McKenna.
 
                       JO
           I don't know a thing,
 
 INT. POLICE STATION - (DAY) - MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT
 
 The CAMERA PANS Ban as he follows the policeman down
 the outside corridor, past Drayton who is still sitting
 on a bench and watching Ben somewhat anxiously, and
 into a small plain office.
 
 INT. SMALL OFFICE - (DAY) - MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT
 
 The policeman enters the small office first. There is
 a desk, more like a table, and a phone is lying on it
 off the hook. The policeman picks it up, and hands it
 to Ben. Ben holds it without speaking a second, and
 waves the policeman out.
 
 The policeman is indifferent.    He leaves.   Ben puts
 the phone to his ear.
 
                       BEN
           Hello.
 
 INT. ROOM - (DAY) - CLOSE SHOT
 
 A robed Arab is sitting in a chair holding a telephone.
 The room is part of a rather elaborate Moorish house.
 The Arab speaks in accented English.
 
                       ARAB
           Doctor McKenna?
 
 INT. SMALL OFFICE - (DAY) - MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT
 
 As Ben answers, he idly looks through the open doorway
 toward Drayton sitting on the bench outside.
 
                       BEN
           This is McKenna.     Who's calling me?
 
 INT. ROOM - (DAY) - CLOSE SHOT
 
 The Arab doesn't bother to identify himself.
 
                        ARAB
           You tell  even one word of that Louis
           Bernard  whispered to you in the market-
           place --  your little boy will be in
           serious  danger.
 
 The Arab starts to hang up.
 
 INT. SMALL OFFICE - (DAY) - MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT
 
 There is an audible click in the receiver held in Ben's
 hand.
 
                          BEN
           Hello.
 
 There is no answer. Ben lowers the phone slightly,
 looks at it a minute, then continues on downward with
 it, returning the receiver to the phone cradle. He
 stands a brief moment in thought, then half turns toward
 Drayton sitting in the corridor outside. He motions
 to Drayton to join him in the office
 
                          BEN
           Drayton!
 
 The Englishman gets up and comes into the small office.
 
                       BEN
           Didn't your wife say she was taking
           Hank straight back to the hotel?
 
                          DRAYTON
           As I recall.     Why?
 
 Ben picks up the phone, hands it to Drayton.
 
                       BEN
           Call her. Somebody just threatened me
           about Hank. See if he's all right.
 
 Drayton reacts with surprise, speaks into the Phone.
 He speaks French.
 
                       DRAYTON
           Passez moi l'hôtel Mamounia, s'il vous
           plait. Voulez vous appeler la chambre
           deux cents dix sept s'il vous plait....
           je vois, Puis-je parler au,
           concierge?...Ah! ici Mr. Drayton de
           la chambre deux cents dix sept. Est
           ce que ma femme est revenue a l'hôtel
           depuis une heure? Sa chambre ne répond
           pas.... je vois... bien... bien...
           merci... Oh! Un instant s'il vous
           plait.
 
                       BEN
           Four fourteen.
 
                       DRAYTON
               (To phone)
           Voulez vous essayer la chambre quatre
           cents quatorze?...Merci.
 
 Ben slowly hangs up.   Looks at Ben.
 
                       DRAYTON
           I can't believe it.
 
                       BEN
           She didn't come back?
 
                       DRAYTON
           At least nobody's seen her.     What on
           earth...
 
                       BEN
           Look -- you get back to the hotel right
           away -- and see if you can find out
           what's going on.
 
                       DRAYTON
           It's so unlike my wife...
 
                       BEN
           I'll finish up with the police and
           join you as soon as I can.
 
                       DRAYTON
           Right. But don't worry. Probably
           some stupid misunderstanding.
               (He starts out,
                stops)
           If I find out anything before you get
           back, I'll ring you here.
 
                       BEN
           Just don't waste any time!
 
 Drayton hurries out of the office.     He goes one way,
 Ben the other.
 
 INT. INSPECTOR'S OFFICE - (DAY) - MEDIUM SHOT
 
 As Ben enters the office, both Jo and the Inspector
 look up him inquiringly.
 
                       JO
           Who was it, Ben?
 
 Ben adopts as casual an air as he can under the
 circumstances. He doesn't sit down. He speaks more
 to the Inspector than to his wife, avoiding her eyes.
 
                       BEN
           It was the Concierge at the Hotel. He
           heard we were being held by the Police
           and thought there was some way he could
           help us.
 
                       JO
           That was nice of him.
 
                       BEN
               (Looking at Inspector)
           I told him if we weren't back there in
           fifteen minutes to call the American
           Consulate in Casablanca.
 
 The Inspector has realised that he won't get any more
 out of Ben.
 
                       INSPECTOR
               (charmingly)
           But, Monsieur, if you had only told me
           in the first place, that you wished to
           consult with your consul!
 
 Ben gives him a look.
 
                       BEN
           Let's go, Jo.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           There is just one small formality. I
           must request you to sign a statement
           of the facts.
 
                       BEN
           If it doesn't take too long.
 
                       INSPECTOR
           But a moment. I will send for a typist.
 
 Reluctantly the Inspector reaches for a phone on his
 desk. Jo looks at her husband somewhat puzzled.
 
                         JO
           Ben...
 
 He gives her a warning glance to be quiet.   She does.
 He reaches out, takes her hand.
 
 LAP DISSOLVE TO:
 
 EXT. MARRAKESH STREETS - (DAY) - MED. CLOSE SHOT
 
 Ben and Jo are riding along in an open Victoria, headed
 back for the Hotel Mamounia. Ben seems preoccupied
 with his thoughts.
 
                       JO
               (Holds out her hand)
           Let me see the message.
 
                       BEN
           I don't -- I don't think you should.
 
 She holds out her hand more firmly.
 
                       JO
           I'm your wife, Ben -- not the police
           inspector. Let's see it.
 
 Reluctantly, Ben takes out the notebook, hands it to
 her. Ben watches her as she reads the note he has
 written.
 
 The notebook page held by Jo on which Ben has scribbled
 Louis Bernard's message. It reads: "A MAN...A
 STATESMAN...IS TO BE KILLED...ASSASSINATED...IN
 LONDON...SOON...VERY SOON...TELL THEM...IN LONDON...TO
 TRY AMBROSE CHAPPEL...
 
 EXT. MARRAKESH STREETS - (DAY) - MED. CLOSE SHOT
 
 Jo looks up, soberly.
 
                       J0
           Why didn't you give this to the police?
 
                       BEN
           Because I didn't want to.
 
                       JO
           But Ben, a man's life --
 
                       BEN
               (Interrupts)
           ...is at stake, I know, But I'm not
           sure of what's the right thing to do.
 
 She closes the notebook. Ben reaches over, takes it
 from her and replaces it in his pocket. She stares
 ahead, with her own thoughts. Then she speaks.
 
                       J0
           I thought we ought to go back to the
           hotel, pack our clothes, take Hank,
           and get out of this country as quickly
           as we can.
 
                       BEN
               (Thinking)
           Maybe.
 
                       JO
           Hank, seeing a man killed in front of
           him. What a shook it must be to his
           mind.
 
                       BEN
               (Quietly)
           I know.
 
                       JO
           Why don't you just give that note to
           the American Consulate -- Why get any
           more involved?
 
 Ben is uncomfortable, and unhappy, but he tries to
 hide it. He leans toward Jo as if he's about to tell
 her something important. He reaches out, places his
 hand over hers.
 
                       BEN
           Jo...about Hank...
               (He trails off)
 
                       JO
           What about him?
 
                       BEN
           Well...he...he's the kind of a kid who
           can take of himself.
 
 EXT. HOTEL MAMOUNIA - (DAY) - MED. LONG SH
 
 The Victoria turns into the Hotel Mamounia, and pulls
 up in front of the entrance. The McKennas dismount.
 
 EXT. HOTEL MAMOUNIA - (DAY) - MED. CLOSE SH
 
 Jo straightens out her dress, waits for Ben to accompany
 her into the hotel. The head porter is outside
 supervising some baggage with the lesser porters. He
 touches his cap to the McKennas.
 
                       BEN
               (To Jo)
           You get the key.   I'll take care of
           the driver.
 
                          JO
           Okay.
 
 She turns and enters the hotel. Ben takes a bill out
 of his pocket, examines it, and hands it to the driver.
 The Victoria moves off. Ben turns to the Head Porter.
 
                       BEN
           Uh...pardon me.
 
 The head Porter turns to Ben respectfully.
 
                          HEAD PORTER
           Yes, m'sieu?
 
                       BEN
           Do you know Mrs. Drayton?
 
                       HEAD PORTER
           The English lady?
 
                       BEN
               (Nods)
           Did you see her come back from the
           market place anytime in the past hour
           or so?
 
                          HEAD PORTER
               (Thinks)
           No, m'sieu.
 
                       BEN
           Wait a minute. You don't understand...
           she had a small boy with her. Mine.
 
                          HEAD PORTER
           No, m'sieu.
 
                       BEN
           How about Mister Drayton?
 
                          HEAD PORTER
           Oui, m'sieu.     M'sieu Drayton check
           out.
 
                          BEN
           He what?
 
                          HEAD PORTER
           Checked out.
 
 Ben stares at him.
 
                       BEN
           He couldn't have.
 
                          HEAD PORTER
           Oui, m'sieu.     He did.
 
                       BEN
               (Still can't believe
                it)
           No, Mr. Drayton, the Englishman with
           horn-rimmed glasses.
 
 The Head Porter nods in agreement.
 
                          HEAD PORTER
           Oui, m'sieu.     Checked out.
 
 EXT. HOTEL MAMOUNIA - (DAY) - CLOSE SH
 
 Ben turns slowly away from the porter, his face filled
 with disturbance. He looks up toward the entrance as
 he hears Jo's voice off.
 
                       JO
           Ben, What's holding you up?
 
 He quickly composes his face as best he can. The CAMERA
 PANS HIM over to the entrance where Jo is waiting with
 the key. He takes her arm and they enter the hotel.
 

...continue to part 5