Klute
INT. DINING ROOM - TOM GRUNEMANN HOUSE - DAY
CLOSE SHOT of TOM GRUNEMANN, attractive young
executive, sitting at the head of the dining room
table carving a turkey for Thanksgiving Day dinner.
There are joyous sounds of celebration. The CAMERA
PANS around the table revealing the happy family
and guests. Among them are KLUTE and CABLE.
Camera stops at Mrs. Grunemann who sits at the foot
of the table opposite her husband. She smiles
across at him with pleasure. We cut to Tom
Grunemann smiling back at her. We cut back to a
closeup of Mrs. Grunemann looking back at her
husband with love. We cut back to Tom Grunemann's
chair - only now it is empty. The joyous sounds
disappear on this cut. It appears that Tom
Grunemann has disappeared before our eyes. One
moment he is there, and the next moment he is gone.
The camera pans back down the table, only now it is
empty except for Grunemann's children and Mrs.
Grunemann. She is now dressed in something dark.
She and the three children sit eating another meal
in emptiness. She has changed from a joyous woman
to a woman bereaved.
INT. RESEARCH PLANT: ON ROSS - DAY
The industrial frontier. SPECIAL AGENT ROSS steps
into frame, glancing (perhaps idly, a little
impatiently) in this direction at some loud
industrial goings-on just beyond camera, then
returns toward GROUP.
The group includes CABLE and a YOUNGER FBI AGENT
with clipboard, to whom KLUTE is supplying
preliminary data. KLUTE's manner is somewhat
rumpled, awkward.
KLUTE
Klute. With a K. K - L - U -
ROSS
Are you with plant security,
Sergeant?
KLUTE
(shakes head)
Town Police.
ROSS
Then how are you involved?
KLUTE
(slowly)
I know Tom Grunemann.
ROSS
(shortcutting again)
You knew the subject Thomas
Grunemann. How well?
KLUTE
We grew up together. Kids.
ROSS
Can you account for his
disappearance in any way?
KLUTE
No.
ROSS
Did he recently appear to you
agitated or depressed?
(aside to younger Agent,
recording)
-- indicates no -- Did he voice to
you grievance or discontent with
his research work here? Indicates
no. Moral or sexual problems or
peculiarities? --
KLUTE
No.
ROSS
Marital problems in general?
Indicates possibly -- am I right
Sergeant?
KLUTE
Everybody's got some, I guess.
ROSS
Did he ever mention specifically a
girl or woman in New York?
KLUTE
No.
ROSS
Examine this letter please.
(continues)
We recovered that from the shredder
-- the plant disposal and
incinerator system. Grunemann
apparently typed it Friday, before
he left, decided not to send it,
tossed it away. We've already
contacted the New York Police; they
think they know the girl in
question.
C.U. KLUTE
Klute reads. We see a controlled incredulity and
revulsion.
ROSS (CONT'D)
He never mentioned this type thing
to you? You didn't know he had
these interests?
INT. GRUNEMANN HOUSE: C.U. HOLLY - DAY
HOLLY thrusts the letter back toward camera, toward
KLUTE crying out -
HOLLY
My husband was not like that! My
God, Klute.
KLUTE
It looks like he sent her quite a
few of those Holly -- the girl --
she recalls six or seven letters
like --
HOLLY
(calmly)
-- No. I mean sure a little rough
stuff, but just what people usually
-- No, I would've said we were
pretty good.
(pause)
Johnnie I don't understand. I just
don't understand.
Klute nods. She is talking for both of them. Klute
looks out the window to the children playing
outside. CAMERA PANS out window to Klute's POV of
children playing on a cold winter day. The trees
are stripped bare.
EXT. RESEARCH PLANT
Tree lined area, lush and green - Summer.
INT. RESEARCH PLANT: DIRECTOR'S OFFICE - DAY
CAMERA pulls back inside window to Klute staring
outside, as if still pondering the fate of Tom
Grunemann. The group in the office includes ROSS
(holding a report), TRASK, a New York detective,
Cable, and the plant director, STREIGER.
ROSS
-- has disclosed no evidence of
crime or criminal intent within the
jurisdiction of this bureau, and
since subject Thom --
CABLE
(turns sharply,
interrupts)
It's been almost a year! Tom
Grunemann's been missing for a
year. And all the FBI has to offer
is a report that must bore even
you.
ROSS
(restraint)
Well sir.
STREIGER
Are you closing the case?
ROSS
No sir, we don't state that. We're
countin --
CABLE
But you don't find it worth much
effort.
ROSS
(injured dignity)
Well Mr. Cable, you've got me here
from the Bureau. You got Lieutenant
Trask here from New York
representing his department and I
don't frankly consider --
STREIGER
(moderating, suggesting)
Why couldn't you ever find out
anything from the girl?
ROSS
(refers the question)
Trask --
TRASK
(summarizes from notes)
We first hold her under
surveillance expectin your boy
Grunemann to show up there. Didn't.
Then we bagged -- we arrested her
on a CP charge, convicted, two
month's women's city prison, offer
to reduce sentence, she cooperated.
(counts)
Four interrogations. She thought
she remembered Grunemann -- from
those letters from before, she made
that connection -- but she hadn't
seen him since and couldn't
identify his photograph and she --
STREIGER
Why not?
TRASK
Oh a good call girl, she'll turn
six-seven hundred tricks a year.
The faces get blurred.
(resumes)
And since then, recent months,
she's reported several, you know,
incidents: like breather calls,
anonymous phone calls, also
somebody maybe following her,
watching her, things like that. So
it's I guess you could say,
conceivable Grunemann's still
around there, just hangin around
her, spooking her. But you know,
that --
He shakes his head, gestures doubtingly. Ross caps
it.
ROSS
The subject got emotionallv
disturbed; he just dropped out.
There's thousands.
STREIGER
Inspector we understand your
position; ours is a little
different. We have an investment in
Tom Grunemann. The Company has an
investment, and we feel entitled to
investigate for ourselves.
ROSS
Private investigation, you mean.
Yes sir, of course you're entitled,
and there's some very competent --
STREIGER
Klute offered us his services;
we've accepted.
Pause. Ross and Trask look at Klute - more than a
bit startled - then at each other. Klute just looks
uneasy.
STREIGER (CONT'D)
Klute knew Tom. He has a great many
ideas about the case --
ROSS
(sourly)
Yes sir, we know he --
STREIGER
We'd expect him to work in
cooperation with you. He'd report
to each of you and to our Company's
New York office, to Pete -- Pete
goes there on a regular schedule
back and forth, and --
ROSS
(tactfully)
Mr. Streiger, speaking frankly --
we've appreciated the Sergeant's
interest you know, all along. Here,
locally. But New York, that's -
well --
TRASK
(to Klute, leniently)
Ever done any missing person's
work?
ROSS
Spent much time in the city?
(to others)
You see, I have to wonder --
speaking frankly; the Sergeant
knows I'm only speaking frankly -
CABLE
You wonder why we thought of Klute?
Frankly? He's interested.
INT/EXT. WIDE SHOT: PENNSYLVANIA COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
Verdant Pennsylvania farmland. Early morning. Near
at hand an open field set about with bee hutches
and patched with mist.
A FIGURE, a shadow (Klute's actually) moves across
frame from the left, blanking in. We reorient to -
INT. BEDROOM - KLUTES HOUSE - DAY
We see that we've been looking out from the bedroom
window of this house. Klute turns to rolltop desk
in bedroom and picture of Tom Grunemann, picture of
Bree Daniel, and other material he has collected on
the case. He puts them in his suitcase and closes
the suitcase. He shuts rolltop desk.
INT. KLUTE'S HOUSE - DAY
We follow Klute through the house with suitcase. He
puts away a last dish, shutting off water, gas, and
electricity, and so on -- takes a last look around
- reaches for the door handle. WE CUT TO --
INT. COMMERCIAL AUDITION - SOUND STAGE - DAY
A section of wall, a door coming open -- and the
FIGURE of BREE entering and standing. We have gone
from the warm sunlight of the country to mustv
darkness.
She appears chic, poised, and perfect as a magazine
picture.
But as she gets used to the darkness and her eyes
focus on a line of equally beautiful girls sitting
and waiting in folding chairs along a wall, we see
that she is a great deal less certain of demeanor.
Assailable. WE CUT TO -
EXT. KLUTE'S HOUSEYARD, HOUSE, BARN - DAY
Klute, stepping out, closes, locks and checks the
house door, then moves on to his car -- a vintage
Plymouth -- and tosses in his suitcase; and then
takes a last turn around the yard itself; props
open the cover of a beehutch, and lets down the
rail gate of a sidefield. He approaches to roll
shut his barn door -- and on this action we CUT
again TO --
INT. COMMERCIAL AUDITION - SOUNDSTAGE - DAY
DIRECTOR (O.S.)
(hastily)
Honey, no, we don't have too many.
She slaps the cup down, hurls herself forward --
SWISH PAN -- onto a MALE ACTOR, thrusting him down
to the floor, her hands at his throat. As we WIDEN
TO INCLUDE DIRECTOR AND MORE OF SCENE, and as the
Director reads from script, supplying a narrator
voice -
DIRECTOR (CONT'D)
Now before it comes to that, let's
have a look, et cetera, et cetera --
OK -
Bree and the Male Actor relax slightly, as -
ANGLE TO REVEAL ROOM, OTHERS
We reestablish the scene -- a few pieces of film
equipment -- and the congery of other ACTORS and
ACTRESSES preparing to read for parts. As the
Director approaches, counsels Bree -- all of this
quick and consecutive --
DIRECTOR (CONT'D)
-- Honey you make it look a little
real. It should have, you know,
that fun to it.
(beat)
BREE
Strangle him to death funny?
DIRECTOR
Well we go from this into stomach
diagrams. It can't be too -- look
let's try it again from -
-- but then he glances at his watch, and at the
others waiting their turn.
DIRECTOR (CONT'D)
No -- just give us the faces at the
end, would you?
Bree and the Male Actor set their cheeks together,
beaming half-moon smiles to camera, hold it for a
moment, as the Director reads again -
DIRECTOR (CONT'D)
(reads)
-- And another family saved by Elso
tablets. OK --
(brightly)
Thank you very much.
-- and holds out his hands for their scripts, at
the same time as he summons from a list in his
other hand --
DIRECTOR (CONT'D)
Pierce -- Danner -
BREE passes a new group of beautiful girls sitting
in line waiting their turn as she exits as brightly
as possible.
EXT. NEW YORK SIDEWALK: PEDESTRIANS - DAY
They trudge along the sidewalk -- the herd, the
late-afternoon crush. A LONG-LENS shot, the crowd
compacted. We see BREE milling along with the rest.
She maneuvers to a sidewalk PHONE BOOTH, enters. We
see her deposit, dial.
INT. PHONE BOOTH, BREE - DAY
She is connected (to her registry).
BREE
Bree Daniel, any messages?
(waits -- none)
OK, thanks.
She waits for a moment. Then makes a curious, small
gesture of her hand -- deposits another dime, dials
again, is answered.
BREE (CONT'D)
Trina? Bree. Do I? Oh no, just a
commercial I thought I might get,
that's all.
(quickly, more brightly)
Well I'd take a quick thirty, hon.
Do you have a commuter for me?
Wait.
As she prepares to write it down, we CUT BACK TO -
EXT. KLUTE'S HOUSEYARD: KLUTE - DAY
Klute finishes rolling shut, and padlocks, the barn
door. He returns to his car, sits in (leaving door
open) starts engine. Again -- one last time -- the
look around. Then he pulls the door shut, pulls
out. And on this we CUT TO --
INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR - DAY
A GROUP -- middle-aged Couple, Child, Bellman with
suitcases -- wait to descend in elevator as BREE
gets off. We TRACK with her along corridor to a
door. She checks number and knocks.
REVERSE: THROUGH DOOR TO BREE
A MAN opens the door. We neither see or hear him
clearly -- he is foreground, defocused. His shirt
is untucked. Bree cocks her head, greets him
cutely.
BREE
Hullo.
He mumbles some kind of greeting, steps back. She
pauses a moment in the door (casing, instantly) --
then quite confident, friendly, provocative all at
once --
BREE (CONT'D)
Ooh, I knew I'd like you.
-- and CUT TO --
EXT. CENTER OF TOWN: KLUTE DRIVING - DAY
Klute's car draws through the business section of
town, moves on --
INT. HOTEL ROOM: BREE - DAY
C.U. BREE (the Man out of frame and unheard-from)
as she bargains gaily -- and at the same time a
little watchfully.
BREE
Lover, that's got to be a little
extra. I mean it sounds very
exciting, what you speak of, you've
got me all excited. But something
special like that, you know it's
got to cost a little more, mm?
-- and CUT TO --
INT. CAR: KLUTE DRIVING - DAY
Klute has laid his jacket aside, rolled his
sleeves, is eating the last of a vending machine
sandwich. The CAR RADIO is on. He leans forward,
tuning it from --
1ST ANNC'R
(energetic)
--R - W - M, radio's voice is the
Shippensburg Valley, on a beautiful
clear warm Thurs --
-- to --
2ND ANNC'R
(rural)
-- Tucky Wonder Beans picking up a
half cent over yesterday's price at-
-- and CUT TO --
INT. C.U. ON BREE, MAN (HOTEL BED) - DAY
The Man's face is buried against her neck, her
labors over her. She cries out ecstatically,
transportedly -- it would seem at the edge of
orgasm --
BREE
Oh lover, oh it's too much -- oh
you thrill me -- yes, like that,
it's -- oh it's beautiful, oh --
-- and at the same time refers privately to her
wristwatch. And CUT TO --
EXT. WIDE SHOT: ACCESS RAMP OF TURNPIKE - LUSH
HILLY COUNTRY - DAY
KLUTE'S CAR
As Klute's car drives onto the turnpike surrounded
by green country, we ZOOM into a close shot of
Klute through the windshield of his car. And then
in what seems like a continuous shot we ZOOM back
to a wide angle revealing Klute caught in the
endless line of cars in a typical traffic jam at
the entrance to New York City, surrounded by
smoggy, grey, urban skies.
INT. CITY MULTILAYERED PARKING BUILDING - KLUTE'S
CAR - NIGHT
KLUTE sits inside his car as it is mechanically
lifted into the air. It looks as if he is being
manipulated by a robot.
EXT. STREET: OUTSIDE THE BROWNSTONE - NIGHT
BREE moves along street, returning home,
apprehensive of the one or two other distant
FIGURES. She turns in at one of the Brownstones.
INT. STAIRWELL OF BROWNSTONE - NIGHT
We watch Bree as she mounts to the top floor, the
door of her apartment, barren, isolated,
frightened.
INT. BREE'S APTARTMENT - NIGHT
BREE unlocks the door, switches on a light, cases
the apartment for a moment before entering,
securing chain-lock, putting aside her things.
There is a RECORD PLAYER near the first interior
doorway. She switches it as she moves by. By time
the first record has dropped, she has the shower
turned on, is getting rid of her dress. We CUT BACK
TO --
EXT. EMPTY STREET: KLUTE - NIGHT
Klute walks, as before, carrying his suitcase. We
see him slow, concernedly looking toward --
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT: ON BREE - NIGHT
Bree sits on a studio couch, near the record
player, with a QUILT huddled over and around her,
her back against the wall. The MUSIC is classical,
curiously -- the sound of a HARPSICHORD. She is
more or less expressionless -- but trembling
violently, shaking.
FRONT WINDOW SIGN BEING REMOVED WHICH READS "FOR
RENT" - STORE - INQUIRE CRAWICZ, DAY
INT. BREE's APARTMENT: BREE - DAY
Bree moves about energetically, preparing to set
out on rounds. A KNOCK on the door. She startled,
then approaches to door, to peep-hole, lifts lid
aside.
THROUGH PEEPHOLE TO KLUTE FACE
Klute's face is somewhat distorted by the peephole
lens; he is gazing mildly about the landing.
BREE
BREE
(through door, curtly)
What is it?
KLUTE (O.S.)
Miss Daniel? My name is Klute --
John Klute --
She turns the door handle , parts the door about
three inches, looks through at him. He starts to
enter.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Can I talk to you?
-- and the door crunches against its chain-lock. He
stops perforce, a bit startled. A pause. A slice of
Bree's face looks coldly out at him. He summons a
smile.
BREE
What about?
KLUTE
My name's John Klute.
BREE
You said that.
KLUTE
I'm an investigator. I'd like to
ask you some questions about Tom
Grunemann.
She tightens again.
BREE
Who?
KLUTE
Tom Grunemann. He wrote you some
letters.
BREE
(innocently)
Gee.
KLUTE
He was a research engineer at the
Tuscarora Laboratories in
Pennsylvania. He disappeared from
there last April. I've been hired
to look for him.
BREE
Why?
KLUTE
You know what I'm talking about.
Miss Daniel.
BREE
Honest?
KLUTE
Will you let me ask you some
questions?
BREE
(gumbo-southern)
Dew yew hayuv ah-dentifikyshun?
He takes out a folded letter and a wallet and
passes them both through to her. Silence. She
examines them with care, then appears to soften a
little; even smiles slightly.
BREE (CONT'D)
You're not police or FBI; you're
just a private investigator?
KLUTE
Mm.
BREE
And you just want to ask me a few
questions?
KLUTE
Mm.
She smiles again, hands the letter and wallet back
out, closes the door (doesn't slam, just closes).
Klute looks at it blankly for a time, starts to
knock again, decides not to -- turns and descends
the stairs.
BREE
Bree listens through the door to his departing foot
steps. They fade from hearing. She hastens to
assemble her properties.
EXT. FRONT DOOR - DAY
Klute comes out door and descends the stairs at the
same even pace -- he walks into the vacant store
below.
INT. BASEMENT STORE - DAY
It had once been a Boutique that sold happy
clothes. There are some psychedelic posters and a
few remnants of its former identity. Klute's
suitcase is propped open on a cot behind a counter.
The ceilings are low, forcing Klute to stoop as he
enters. He seems out of place and out of scale. A
case containing a tape recorder stands on the
floor. On the table are a FOLDER of Klute's notes,
and a paper bag. Klute enters and deliberately
resumes his settling in. From the paper bag he sets
aside an electric FAN, then lifts out from the
shopping bag a cheap tin ALARM CLOCK and begins
winding it.
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT - DAY
Bree has shifted position to a window, is looking
down at the street. She sees - and we hear - SOUND
OF BUS APPROACHING, distantly. She grabs her
properties, whips out the door.
EXT. ON DOOR OF BROWNSTONE - DAY
Bree skids to a stop just inside the door, scans
quickly out in one direction then the other (in
case Klute has been waiting in ambush on the
sidewalk) then races -- PAN -- to BUS AT CURB --
makes it, pulls herself aboard --
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: KLUTE - DAY
Klute has been watching from his window. We hear
the BUS PULLING AWAY. He turns back, plugs in the
electric fan. Then hoists the TAPE RECORDER,
unsnaps the cover. We see clearly what it is.
INT. AGENCY OFFICE - DAY
BREE is showing her notebook to an AGENT. He leans
forward courteously, occasionally stroking his
forehead with his fingertips -- a nice man with a
headache.
BREE
-- and I take acting classes with
Lee Tainter --
AGENT
-- Lee, yes --
BREE
-- and I was in two of his workshop
type productions, Uncle Vanya and
the girl in Five Characters --
(indicates picture)
-- here -- and then of course I
have the modeling and the
demonstrator work, the trade-fair
work -- but naturally I feel ready
for something more, well you know,
sustain --
AGENT
Well, thanks very much for coming
in.
She starts for the door -- he's already turning
away -- then ducks back, hands him one of her
Glossies, laughing prettily at her own
forgetfulness.
BREE
(beautifully -- the
business)
Thank you very much.
EXT. STREET - DAY
BREE comes out, pauses with notebook to cross out,
the call completed, checks the list of those
remaining, sets forth again. We hear TRASK'S VOICE
OVER, very quick, very clipped.
TRASK (V.O.)
Man, just a poor pretty little
hooker, like to be an actress --
INT. MISSING PERSONS BUREAU - DAY
CLOSEUP photograph of dead man. It is replaced with
series of photgraphs of dead men. CAMERA pulls back
to reveal KLUTE flipping through the file of the
unidentified dead.
TRASK (V.O.)
What you lookin' to get from her?
You think she's got Grunemann hid
somewhere, the attic, feedin him
soup? Or maybe he's hidin in a dark
alley and he'll jump on her and you
jump on him. And third place, even
if she does know somethin' she's
right, she don't have to talk to
you. You don't have police power,
you can't make her.
KLUTE closes the file.
KLUTE
That's a lot of people to die
unknown.
TRASK
Unknown, unidentified and unwanted.
And there's more every day man,
there's more everyday.
As KLUTE slowly walks away we bring in TELEPHONE
RING and BREE VOICE, OVER answering.
BREE VOICE
Bree Daniel.
(then)
Yeah, hi hon.
EXT. BREE APARTMENT - NIGHT
Camera is looking up through lighted window outside
at BREE on phone.
BREE
Oh hon, I just don't know. I'm
trying to stay out of it.
EXT. KLUTE APARTMENT - NIGHT
CAMERA pans down from BREE's window to KLUTE's
window at the bottom revealing KLUTE at tape
recorder. The TAPE RECORDER is going, its light
winking. KLUTE holds headset against one ear, makes
a note or two. We hear BREE's and other GIRL'S
VOICES, UNDER, FILTERED.
GIRL'S VOICE
-- comes in with these other yulds
maybe two or three times a year,
and five big ones baby, just one
evening.
BREE VOICE
Marta, thanks, and I'd love to
party with you hon, but --
Klute sets down the headset (we drop the VOICES far
under, INDISTINGUISHABLE), makes a note, and thumbs
open the box of a fresh reel; the present reel is
near the end. We establish a pile of ALREADY
RECORDED TAPES. We CUT BACK TO --
INT. BREE APARTMENT: BREE ON PHONE - NIGHT
BREE
Well try to get someone else Marty
and if I change my mind -- sure
hon, bye.
She hangs up, starts away. The PHONE RINGS AGAIN.
She tries to ignore it. It persists. She finally
turns back to answer it, and we CUT TO --
INT. CASTING OFFICE - AD AGENCY - DAY
CAMERA STARTS on huge photo montage of the Family
of Man and pans down to a group of beautiful girls
sitting on a bench below. They are dwarfed by the
enormous picture. Each one clutches an almost
identical portfolio of pictures in her lap. Camera
pans down row of portfolios until it stops at BREE
- impatiently waiting her turn. WE CONTINUE THE
TELEPHONE VOICES OVER, WILD TRACK STYLE. The MAN'S
VOICE is thick with drink, and emotion. First the
click, then --
BREE VOICE
Bree Daniel --
MAN'S VOICE
Oh God baby, oh God I really love
you.
BREE VOICE
That's nice; who is this?
MAN'S VOICE
I really love you baby, you know
that?
A CLICK, and the MAN'S VOICE CONTINUING, trailing
into helpless sobs --
MAN'S VOICE (CONT'D)
Hello? Hello? Oh my God, hello?
EXT. STREET: BREE
Bree comes out from the building (note possible
costume change; not necessarily consecutive
action), checks off on her list continues on her
way -- as we CONTINUE WILD TRACK STYLE VOICES.
Starting with a CLICK and --
BREE VOICE
Bree Daniel.
2ND MAN'S VOICE
(nicely)
Bree -- Frank Hanley, you remember,
Fayetterville?
BREE VOICE
Oh yeah, hi Frank, sure.
2ND MAN'S VOICE
Well I'm in town, like to see you.
BREE VOICE
Well Frank that's awful nice but
I'm out of action, sort of, you
know --
We FADE THIS CONVERSATION UNDER BUT HOLD,
CONTINUING, as --
BREE PASSES CAMERA -- and we PAN TO SHOT OF KLUTE,
at corner, unseen by her and apparently in
surveillance of her. Then he too turns out of
frame, and we CUT TO --
INT. PENN STATION - DAY
CAMERA is looking down at an enormous gift package
on a platform. There is a sound of a recorded
fanfare and with the pull of a string the package
is opened revealing a brand new LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
CONVERTIBLE. People applaud and the car starts to
revolve. At the wheel of the car sits BREE. We CUT
to a shot through the windshield of car --
BREE'S POV
A sea of staring faces revolves around her. We
cross fade with SPANGLER VOICE OVER (as if
recalling a case record).
SPANGLER (V.O.)
Bree Daniel, Caucasian, twenty
eight, good physical health, no
narcotics record, presenting an
unusually strong personality some
ways, high intelligence, a high
bracket call girl.
EXT. WOMEN'S PRISON ROOF - CAGED IN RECREATION AREA
SPANGLER, a prison psychiatrist, sits on a bench
eating a sandwich partially wrapped in wax paper
and sipping from a carton of milk. He is obviously
a man pressed for time. KLUTE sits beside him.
Across from them some prisoners are taking their
exercise. Through the metallic netting that
surrounds them, we see the skyline of New York
City. It only dramatizes more the sense of being
caged.
SPANGLER
-- Usual case history -- this isn't
a medical confidence, it's all of
them -- broken family, lonely,
confused, crummy childhood, early
promiscuity, formal prostitution
beginning in her teens, income
twenty-five to thirty thousand a
year.
(notes Klute's reaction)
Oh they don't keep the money: they
get rid of it, they get pimps. Why?
(stabs at record)
Why do you want to know all this?
KLUTE
I want to know how Tom Grunemann
got mixed up in it.
SPANGLER
Not unusual.
KLUTE
Did she talk about him to you?
SPANGLER
About his letters -- that's all she
remembered. Quite violent material,
I'd say, obsessive, a quite sick
man. But that's not unusual either.
KLUTE
Has she talked with you since
prison?
SPANGLER
No. She had every good intention of
it -- coming to me as a private
patient, getting out of the life,
devoting herself to an acting
career.
KLUTE
I think she's trying that.
SPANGLER
Oh sure they try. The idea of a
better life. But they don't really
know much about life: They get
confused -- or scared or frustrated
or bored -- they pop back to the
one thing they can handle.
The trick. The trick. Men in bed.
Not men in general, not life, not
love, not even real sex -- it
avoids all that. Just the trick,
the transaction.
INT. PENN STATION - DAY
POV world revolving around BREE through windshield
of car. The circular motion slows down and then
stops. Cut to BREE getting out of car and walking
off platform. She looks a bit shaky. She is stopped
by one of the spectators.
MAN
(tapping her)
We had a bet on - if you were real
or not. I won.
She looks at him in disgust and crosses to phone
booth.
INT. PHONE BOOTH - DAY
BREE
(on phone)
Marta --
INT. CHURCH DISCOTHEQUE - NIGHT
We are in the interior of what was once a church
and is now a discotheque. Interior is painted
purple; the record player stands on the altar over
the crowd. Pews are massed around the dance floor.
Stained glass windows are lighted from behind and
are circled with light bulbs that flash on and off.
For all of its obviously bizarre visual quality,
there is a sense of relaxation. It is a late night
gathering place of many who belong to the sexual
underworld of the city.
BREE and the OTHER GIRL advance to a pew. A MAN
sitting there (the other girl's pimp) with a THIRD
GIRL. BREE's companion greet him shyly, tenderly:
she and BREE sit down, join in conversation.
PULL BACK SLOWLY -- other pews, other girls and a
few men, the sisterhood -- To --
BAR AREA IN BACK (WHAT ONCE MUST HAVE BEEN THE
VESTIBULE OF THE CRURCH)
Among the people around the bar, pimps, whores, and
a sprinkling of hopeful Johns and curiosity
seekers. The camera picks a familiar face: CABLE.
He watches BREE with a mixture of amusement and
contempt. A GIRL comes over to him and tries to
proposition him. They appear to be discussing
price. Just as she thinks it is set, he walks away.
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
CLOSEUP photograph of TOM GRUNEMANN pinned to a
large piece of beaverboard KLUTE has placed on a
wall. CAMERA PANS over various pictures and pieces
of evidence KLUTE has pinned up in an attempt to
make some sense from the puzzle of TOM GRUNMIANN's
disappearance. CAMERA PANS over to KLUTE sitting on
cot looking up at the pieces of the puzzle. There
is a heated TV dinner in front of him.
The TAPE RECORDER reels start turning (sound
powered), the recording light starts winding (as
BREE, above, dials). KLUTE pays it scant attention
- he can catch up with the news anytime. He sits
manfully in front of the TV dinner, starts peeling
back the foil --
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT: BREE - NIGHT
She holds the phone, is answered. Her voice more
natural, a little shy, a little covert.
BREE
Hi. Bree.
(is greeted)
Hi. Well I could come over tonight
- if you'd like -- if there's no
one else.
(laughs diffidently)
I really want to just talk to you.
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: KLUTE - NIGHT
The tape-recorder continues turning and winking as
the conversation upstairs continues. KLUTE looks at
TV dinner. He reaches for the headset of the
taperecorder, holds it loosely against one ear. He
exhibits a measure of new interest. The TAPE
RECORDER stops running. He immediately rewinds, and
starts listening through it again. We CUT TO --
EXT. GARMENT DISTRICT - NIGHT
Large, dark buildings -- a DIM-LIGHTED WINDOW
showing at an upper floor of one -- the street
otherwise by and large deserted. A TAXI draws in, a
FIGURE IN EVENING DRESS (Bree) gets out, approaches
the building, glances around, either secretly or
apprehensively -- presses a buzzer, waits, gets
answering CLICKS, enters the dark hallway of the
building, starts upstairs.
EXT. ACROSS THE STREET - NIGHT
KLUTE shifts into view, looking in the direction
Bree's gone, a little puzzled all in all. He
doesn't immediately follow; he waits.
INT. GARMENT BUILDING - CUTTING ROOMS - NIGHT
We look past RACKS OF CLOTHING, as BREE arrives up
the dark stairway into dark rooms -- the scene,
mysterious, a little sinister. She seems fearful of
it herself, advances slowly, looking around, calls
-
BREE
Hi? -_
ANGLE PAST MR. FABER, TO BREE
Mr. Faber is SILHOUETTED for a moment, standing,
watching her, from along an alleyway of garments.
She sees him, is startled then relieved.
BREE (CONT'D)
Oh --
He moves toward her.
REVERSE ANGLE, TO MR. FABER
Mr. Faber is a man of 65 or so, rather handsome,
and for this occasion very spruce, very erect, very
nattily turned out. Bree complains cheerfully.
BREE (CONT'D)
You scared me, Mr. Faber.
He smiles, kisses her cheek, tests the fabric of
her evening dress -- (in passing, as a matter of
expertise).
MR. FABER
Good material, not too good cut.
I'd do better for you.
Then he turns, lifts down a WOMAN'S DRESS CAPE,
carrying it -- graciously gestures her to precede
him --
CORNER OF CUTTING ROOM
A dim pool of light here. A private area here,
sectioned off by rows of garments. A couch, rug,
coffee table, a chair or two -- a place for Buyers
to take their ease. BREE and MR. FABER enter. Her
manner is suddenly elegant, assured, regal; his
befits a man of the world. He fits the cloak around
her shoulders and gestures to the couch; she sits.
He pours a glass of wine for her, for himself. She
speaks with a neat continental accent -- doing it
fairly well, really -- a member of the
international set.
BREE
Oh thank you.
He sits in the chair opposite, sips his wine.
MR. FABER
Enjoy.
(then)
Well --
BREE
(diffident)
It's good to see you. Well -- could
we do it first and then just talk?
MR. FABER
Sure dear, yes.
BREE
Well -- well I'm just back. And --
I must tell you -- something quite
wonderful.
MR. FABER
(intently)
Yes?
BREE
And Cannes was quite fun, quite;
and we played baccarat and
chemindefer and there was a nice
little Italian marquis quite
enthusiastic for me -- but a young
man can be so silly --
MR. FABER
Mm.
BREE
And then one night -- at the gaming
tables -- well I just saw him. A
stranger -- looking at me -- and I
knew suddenly that all my life I'd
been --
She hesitates strangely, her fingers at the neck of
the cape. Faintly --
BREE (CONT'D)
-- May I? It's so --
MR. FABER
(quickly)
Please --
She stands, unloosing the cloak, letting it fall on
the couch. But she doesn't sit again -- begins to
move here and there about the enclosure, her hands
wandering about her dress and body -- an erotic
restlessness.
BREE
Not young; he wasn't young -- gray
at the temples, he -- well actually
he looked like you.
MR. FABER
(tensely)
Yes?
BREE
And nobody could tell me who he was
-- an exiled prince or a mercenary
or a bullfighter or -- but I felt
it stirring inside me, this -- this
wild, pagan feeling --
EXT. GARMENT BUILDING DOOR - NIGHT
KLUTE arrives from across the street. It takes him
a while (with a 'loid' probably) to slip the lock.
He eases door open, moves inside --
INT. CORNER OF CUTTING ROOM: BREE - NIGHT
BREE is farther along in her narrative, more
fervent in manner. MR. FABER sits at the edge of
his seat, ducking his head now and then in
pleasure, but making no move to molest her.
BREE
And next day at the beach -- our
beach pavilion -- I saw him again,
his eyes burning into me. I was
helpless. Without his even speaking
to me, without his even touching, I
knew that somehow -- somehow --
She casts away an accessory garment. Mr. Faber
burns her with his eyes --
INT. GARMENT BUILDING - CUTTING ROOMS - NIGHT
KLUTE mounts into view at the head of the stairs,
prowls along the aisles of clothing, looking --
sees --
POV PAST GARMENT RACKS TO MR. FABER
Klute sees Mr. Faber first -- clearly a senior
citizen -- sitting transfixed, fastened in some
private dream. Then BREE drifts into view -- stands
-- lets fall the evening dress about her ankles,
poses -- drifts out of view again --
KLUTE
Klute watches in that direction a moment longer. In
his expression a certain curiosity -- a prurience --
but rather more strongly, disappointment, a measure
of disgust. Not his affair. He turns away from it,
into camera, and --
EXT. BREE'S BROWNSTONE - NIGHT
Near the entrance, outside the door to KLUTE's
apartment below. We open on BREE. She shouts
angrily, miserably --
BREE
Whyn't you just cut out?
We WIDEN TO INCLUDE KLUTE. Now she begins to get
it. He turns, opens door to his room below. She
comes slowly down steps.
INT. KLUTE'S ROOM - DAY
She steps in the door, looks slowly around at his
various appurtenances -- the bed, the necktie over
the mirror, etc. -- and then, the TAPE RECORDER and
then the STACK OF TAPE BOXES. Softly, venomously --
BREE
Oh you bastard.
But then she adjusts -- a frightened but matter-of
fact hooker --
BREE (CONT'D)
Is it the shakedown hon? You picked
a loser, I just don't have it.
KLUTE
No, I'm look --
BREE
(vehemently again)
If I was taking calls full time
would I be living in this kip? I'd
be back on Park Avenue; I could
support the whole National Guard!
KLUTE
(gestures upward)
Could I ask some questions?
BREE
Or you'll get me shoved back in the
brig you mean; another month with
the bull-dykes.
She seems to have expressed it; the balance of
power. She turns, goes out, heads upstairs. Klute
unhurriedly takes up his folder of notes, then
follows.
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Bree disposes her belongings. Klute moves to table.
There is a group of plants on the table that long
since died of neglect. He notices them and the
disorganization of the room without comment, opens
his folder, rummages for the photographs. Then,
exasperatedly --
BREE
Look, I told the police everything:
I don't even remember the schlub!
Klute doesn't respond. Klute sets out a photograph
for her to look at.
INSERT: PHOTOGRAPH TOM GRUNEMANN
KLUTE, BREE
BREE
They showed me that one. I
understand it's Grunemann, but I
told them, I just don't remember.
Klute tosses down a second photograph.
INSERT: SECOND PHOTOGRAPH
Tom Grunemann, Elaine Grunemann, two daughters.
BREE, KLUTE
BREE
(cool)
A family sort of man.
Klute grunts, meaning 'yes'. She echoes his grunt,
meaning we don't know what. He tosses another --
INSERT: WIDE PHOTOGRAPH - COMPANY PICNIC
An everybody-over-here, fellow-employees, sort of
picture. (Including the figures of Streiger and
Cable among many others, male and female.) The
usual impedimenta -- picnic baskets, balls, bats, a
held sign: 'Tole-American'. KLUTE'S FINGER
indicates --
KLUTE (V.O.)
-- Tom, again.
KLUTE, BREE
She looks at the picture briefly, at him
questioningly.
KLUTE
Company outing or picnic or
something like that.
BREE
Isn't that sweet.
(then)
Well it could be any one of them
bubi; I get to see them all.
She separates from Klute, around the table (but
remains standing, restless). Klute puts photo
aside, prepares to take notes, as she pleads --
BREE (CONT'D)
Look -- please -- will you just try
to get it from my side? A year ago.
I was in the life fulltime. I was
living on Park with leather
furniture and a million dresses.
Then they dropped on me, the fuzz,
they caged me -- they started
asking me about a man, some man,
I'm supposed to have seen a year
before that. Two years ago, two. He
could be in Yemen!
She waits for Klute to respond -- he doodles
permissively on his pad of paper -- she goes on.
BREE (CONT'D)
A name. Grunemann. Nothing. And
they showed me pictures like this
and they meant nothing. Then they
asked me, well had I been getting
letters, from someone out there in
Cabbageville --
KLUTE
-- Tuscarora --
BREE
All right, yes, I had been. Those
sick, wild letters -- I'm watching
you, gonna follow you, gonna punish
you, kill you et cetera. Well, they
said, all right that's Grunemann.
So try to remember when you and he
- when -- well I don't know, there
was that dumper once, he sounded
like that dumper --
(explains)
Dumpers; they get their kicks
beating you up. A man hired me
once, then tried to really kill me
- that'd be about two years ago.
Without warning she wheels to the open windows, and
shouts out full-voiced -- both startling and
somewhat intriguing Klute --
BREE (CONT'D)
(shouts)
OK Tommy-baby, Allie-Allie-in-free
kid, I got the gumdrops.
Turns around again, to Klute. Cheerfully --
BREE (CONT'D)
You remind me of my uncle.
KLUTE
What?
(then --)
What do you remember about that --
dumper?
BREE
Nothing. Except he wasn't kidding.
Usually it's a fakeout, you
probably know. They pretend to tie
you up, and you wear a dress with a
cloth belt and they pretend to whip
you or you --
(beat)
Hell it's their money. I'll hang
from the shower rod and whistle
Maytime. Except this guy was really
tripped out on it; he --
KLUTE
But you can't say that Dumper was
Tom Grunemann.
BREE
I can't say he was anybody!
A brief pause. Klute sorts his notes. She may take
it that he's packing to leave -- hopes so anyhow.
For an instant we see the undefended girl
underneath --
BREE (CONT'D)
So -- OK -- that's all?
Then again she changes manner -- remembering a
practical problem, approaching it as a matter-of
fact hooker.
BREE (CONT'D)
Well could I have them back now
hon? -- those tape recordings
you've got downstairs -- OK? -- and
if you want you can have a good
time and I'll have a good time and--
KLUTE
What about everything since?
She draws back again. Up to now she's been
reasonably on top of things. Starting now we see
her driven toward the things she'd really rather
not talk about -- and increasingly more shaken.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
(prompts)
Everything that's happened since
Tom Grunemann disappeared. The
phone calls and the --
BREE
Just phone calls, right? They ring,
you answer, they don't say
anything, just blank. Kids getting
kicks. Burglars looking for an
empty apartment. I mean there is
nothing that proves --
KLUTE
What about the other things you've
reported? --
(consulting notes)
-- being followed on the --
BREE
(interrupts -- awkwardly)
Look -- I'm sorry -- I've led
everybody wrong. I mean yes, I get
those feelings, but that's just me,
that's just feelings.
(beat)
I'm sure this will amuse you;
I'm scared of the dark. And
sometimes I get shook up, I hear
people or -- well, I'll come out in
the morning and think someone's
been prying at my mailbox, or
there's a little -- trash outside
my door and I wonder if someone
left it there for -- do you see? --
things other people wouldn't even
notice. Well that's not real, it's
just nerves; it's got nothing to do
with --
The PHONE RINGS. She startles. Then approaches with
some difficulty -- but then answers with complete
calm in her Smith-girl voice.
BREE (CONT'D)
Bree Daniel.
(listens. Brightly)
Oh yes, Ted Carlin, how is Ted?
(listens)
Oh, well, thank you very much but
maybe the next time you're in town?
(listens)
Well I just love Ted and I'd love
to meet you -- you have a very nice
voice -- but I just --
(listens, grows impatient)
Well I'm having a chat with a very
nice cop. Actually not a real cop;
he's a private inves --
A BUZZING from the phone; the connection abruptly
broken. She hangs up, recites.
KLUTE
Is that how you get most of your
dates? Someone gives your name to
someone else?
BREE
Most of them.
KLUTE
Is that how you met the Dumper? --
Someone else gave --
BREE
How would I remember?
KLUTE
How else do you meet them? Pimps?
(a beat)
BREE
(patient)
You're very square. Pimps don't get
you dates, cookie; they just take
the money.
Klute takes up the slip of paper previously given
him by Trask. In the same manner as before --
KLUTE
I have some names the police gave
me. Frank Ligourin. Will you tell
me what --
BREE
(trembling)
Look, I'm sure this'll amuse you
too. Ilia trying to get away from
all that.
KLUTE
What about the old gentleman the
other night, Mr. Faber?
She freezes again, looking at him. Then savagely --
BREE
You saw that, goddamn you? You saw
it? He's seventy. His wife's dead.
He started cutting garments at
fourteen. His whole life, he's
maybe had a week's vacation, I'm
all he has and he never, never
touches me, and what harm in it,
what --
She chokes -- then goes on --
BREE (CONT'D)
Klute, tell me, what's your bag?
Are you a talker, or a button man
or a doubler, or maybe you like
them very young -- children -- or
get your chest walked around with
high-heeled shoes, or have us watch
you tinkle? Or --
KLUTE
(under)
-- OK --
BREE
-- You want to wear women's
clothes, or you get off ripping
things --
She grabs up the company picture, raging on --
BREE (CONT'D)
-- you perverted hypocrite square
bastards.
KLUTE
OK.
Something in his inflection -- very slight --
cautions her. She falls silent as suddenly as she
began. Then cheerfully --
BREE
Gee I hope this doesn't make my
cold any worse.
KLUTE
Tell me about Frank Ligourin.
BREE
(casual, pleasant)
Mm? Oh, he was my old man. We broke
up.
She wanders away toward a bureau. Her shirt seems
to itch her; she scratches her ribs. Then opens
drawer, takes out a different shirt as --
KLUTE
When?
(beat)
When did you and Ligourin break up?
She pulls off her shirt, unhooks her brassiere and
discards it, apparently quite unselfconscious.
Klute reacts; then, carefully maintaining his cool
-
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Mind not doing that?
She turns to him in total innocence, holding the
shirt rather carelessly in front of her -- a new
attack.
BREE
What? This?
KLUTE
-- OK?
BREE
(ingenuously)
I thought you could trick me for
those tapes. Don't you get lonely
in that little green room? Or let
me get you someone; I have terrific
friends, wild.
KLUTE
No thanks.
At this point -- or about this point -- Klute takes
note of something. A little above her. He grows
more watchful, but containing it carefully. We
don't understand the change in his manner -- or
even notice; she doesn't. In mock dismay --
BREE
Gee. I've had men pay two hundred
dollars for me -- here, you're
turning down a freebie.
(pause)
You can get a perfectly good
dishwasher for that.
He has risen, is approaching her slowly -- carrying
his notes as if to check something. She is hopeful
again --
BREE (CONT'D)
You've changed your mind? You do
want to play?
KLUTE
(quietly, steadily)
I don't want you to look up.
There's someone on the skylight.
She gasps, terrified -- immediately -- almost
beyond control. He taps the pencil on his notes.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Easy -- pretend you're looking here-
(more insistently)
-- here.
She manages to take hold of a corner of the notes,
trembling. He goes on --
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Now I'm going to walk around -- you
just keep talking, straight
through, straight through.
He strolls away from her. His destination is the
area of the door -- out of view from the skylight --
from where he can head for the roof. But he doesn't
head that way directly -- first takes a turn in
another direction, his bearing casual. Prompting --
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Tell me about acting -- what are
you doing tomorrow -- where do you
go?
BREE
(manages, barely)
I go on rounds.
KLUTE
Rounds, what are they? -- don't
watch me, keep talking.
BREE
You go see agents -- or Equity
calls, open casting calls. And ad
agencies -- commercials -- you
don't get work, you just go around.
Klute has strolled out of view from above --
instantly flattens himself against the wall, eases
the door open, about to slip and charge. As Bree
labors on --
BREE (CONT'D)
And they're always polite -- show
people -- they say thank you very
much. You lie there covered with
blood, smiling, they say --
INT. LANDING AND LADDER TO ROOF - NIGHT
FOOTSTEPS across the roof above, as the watcher
discovers Klute's ruse. Klute opens the door --
climbs ladder to roof.
EXT. ROOFTOPS - NIGHT
-- Klute out, looking around --
EXT. ROOFTOPS: PAST KLUTE TO FLEEING FIGURE - NIGHT
The figure -- the man -- scissoring over the low
walls where one brownstone joins another. Klute
gives chase -- over ridges, past water tanks,
oddments of roof furniture --
EXT. SEVERAL ROOFTOPS BEYOND - NIGHT
The FIGURE races to a roof door disappearing into
abandoned building.
INT. STAIRWELL - ABANDONED BUILDING
CAMERA follows KLUTE as he cautiously makes his way
down the stairwell of the boarded up old
brownstone. He gets to the first floor. He can see
no exit in the building. He opens door that leads
to a narrow staircase into the cellar.
INT. CELLAR - ABANDONED BROWNSTONE
It is as black as a dungeon and as low. He lights a
match, but sees no one. There is a sound of
movement coming from the floor above, He runs up
the steps to the floor above and sees a very faint
light coming through one of the closed apartment
doors. Carefully takes out a gun and then with one
quick movement he breaks through the door.
INT. ABANDONED APARTMENT
The walls, ceiling, floors are entirely covered
with crudely painted psychedelic signs and sayings.
The room is lighted by some candies stuck in
bottles. Sitting on a blanket on the floor are
several teenaged boys and girls having a pot party.
They have obviously made a clubhouse for themselves
in the abandoned house. It is a MOOT POINT whether
they or KLUTE is more stunned at the sight that
faces them. He puts his gun away in embarrassment.
Again he has been made to feel like an awkward
peeping tom in this hidden world of the city.
INT. CELLAR - ABANDONED BUILDING
CAMERA wanders restlessly through the blackness and
stops at a pinpoint of light coming through a low
door. CAMERA goes through opening into long narrow
furnace room with the ceiling so low that an
ordinary man could not stand up. We hear the sound
of breathing. CAMERA follows the sound through the
darkness revealing a sweaty man huddled in the
corner looking like some strange animal from a
painting by Bosch. It is Cable.
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Bree has wrapped herself in the quilt -- standing
up against a corner shivering, immobilized. We hear
KLUTE'S FOOTSTEPS DESCENDING -- she flinches -- he
enters.
KLUTE
I couldn't get him.
He sees her condition. Gently --
KLUTE (CONT'D)
It's all right.
He reaches to touch her -- she quails away from
him.
BREE
Well do you think it was him?
KLUTE
What do you think?
BREE
Can't you get him?
KLUTE
Maybe, if you tell me the things
you haven't.
BREE
(pause)
You asked me where I got that date
with the dumper -- Frank sent me on
it.
KLUTE
Do you know where he got the
dumper?
BREE
He never told me.
KLUTE
Well, let's go down and ask him.
EXT. CENTRAL PARK WEST BUILDINGS - DAY
A shot catching the edge of CENTRAL PARK itself --
our first small view of greenery -- to the tall, be
limousined APARTMENT BUILDINGS OF C.P.W. The
FIGURES OF KLUTE, BREE walking upstreet, turning
under one of the canopies -- (Klute carries a
zipper book-case).
INT. APARTMENT HOUSE LOBBY - ON DOORMAN AT PHONE -
DAY
The DOORMAN hangs up the brass house-phone, smiles
and gestures them graciously into the (self
service) ELEVATOR. We see Klute -- without making
too much of it -- taking in the mirrors and marble
work.
INT. ELEVATOR (MOVING): KLUTE, BREE
She breaks the silence.
BREE
What did you expect? Frankie still
has a good string, three girls.
Figure three hundred a week from
each.
KLUTE
Is that what you gave him?
Silence.
INT. LIGOURIN'S APARTMENT: ON DOOR - DAY
The BUZZER sounding, FRANK LIGOURIN crossing to
open the door for BREE, KLUTE. Cheerful,
hospitable, nice, unpretentious.
FRANK
Bree -- hi -- come in, come in.
The point of this one brief shot -- Bree's face --
in the instant after Frank has spoken and before
she enters, with Klute following. Her half-second
of hesitation. This is someone who gets to her
somehow -- probably always will.
WIDER LIGOURIN'S APT: THREESHOT - DAY
The apartment is as expected -- but not overdone; a
certain small amount of someone-lives-here litter.
A few, large but not very good, ABSTRACTIONS on the
walls. There is a large TABLE covered over with
photographs and mock-ups of magazine pages, a felt
board or easel with lettering samples -- Frank's
props really.
BREE
Frank -- Klute.
FRANK
(shakes hands)
Hi. Come in.
(leads them in, indicating
table)
I was just catching up some work --
mocking up the photographs.
(to Klute)
I used to be a photographer myself
- Bree tell you? -- Before I got in
the publishing.
BREE
Frank, he knows you're a pimp. He
knows you were my pimp.
Short silence. Then with the tact of a gentleman
dealing with rude, difficult woman --
FRANK
Well Bree, maybe you'd rather --
He gestures gently to indicate outside. She nods
once. He escorts her in that direction, OUT the
door, closing it behind them.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE LIGOURIN'S APARTMENT - DAY
He escorts her to the elevator, pushes the down
button for her. In silence so far. Then, quietly --
as one who knows the other's thoughts --
FRANK
How's it been?
She shrugs a shoulder at him, looks away. He goes
on in the same quiet voice.
FRANK (CONT'D)
With me Bree it's eternally the
same. Toward you. I guess you know
that.
BREE
Yeah Frank, I know that.
She yanks at the elevator doors. But the elevator's
not here yet. She turns away sharply into the door
marked "Stairway". He turns back to his apartment.
INT. LIGOURIN'S APARTMENT - DAY
Frank reenters, with the calm smile of troop
chaplain.
FRANK
I've always respected Bree.
(then)
I'd like to make something clear.
KLUTE
I've just got a few --
FRANK
I'd like to make something clear. I
don't go after a girl; a girl comes
to me. Her choice. Right?
He gestures Klute to one chair, sits in another,
waits calmly, attentively.
KLUTE
I'm looking for a man. Tom
Grunemann.
(no response, whatever)
Bree thinks he may have been the
dumper -- that call she had two
years ago. She says you sent her on
it.
FRANK
Two years ago? Sorry.
KLUTE
They tell me you use narcotics.
Could I bring someone around to
look at your arms?
FRANK
Look -- dad -- I may stand better
with the cops than you.
Klute waits.
FRANK (CONT'D)
OK, a family matter. Between the
girls. I had two other cows --
(corrects himself)
-- two other girls besides Bree.
KLUTE
She told me.
FRANK
OK and one of them Jane McKenna --
she blows a little jealous of Bree
- you know? -- Bree comes first?
And evidently she knew the freak ---
that he was a dumper -- she conned
me into passing him to Bree, you
know, so Bree'd get hurt. I didn't
know. Till afterwards.
KLUTE
Why didn't you tell Bree,
afterwards?
FRANK
(a little shocked)
You don't tell them. That one of
their own in-laws laid a dumper on
them?
(shakes head)
Peace in the family.
(pause)
Beyond that, I don't know. All she
wrote.
KLUTE
I'd like to talk with Jane McKenna.
FRANK
(smiles)
Would I be telling you all this?
She copped out long ago. She
committed suicide Baxter.
INT. APARTMENT HOUSE LOBBY: BREE - DAY
BREE sits, looks with curiosity at housewives her
age -- bringing their children in from the park, as
if trying to imagine what their lives could be
like. KLUTE emerges from elevator.
EXT. STREET (TWO SHOT) - DAY
BREE
Did you like my friend Frankie?
KLUTE
No.
BREE
Didn't he tell you what you wanted?
KLUTE
It didn't go anywhere.
(then)
But that's not why --
BREE
About the dumper, didn't he tell
you that?
KLUTE
It was Jane McKenna who sent you
the dumper.
BREE
(coldly)
Well -- she's dead.
At the corner he slows, starts unzipping his
bookcase as if indicating a change of route.
BREE (CONT'D)
I thought you were going back to
the apartment.
KLUTE
(he shakes his head)
You said you wanted these.
He hands over the TAPE-REELS.
BREE
Oh golly, oh just what I've always
dreamed of, dirty phone calls.
(then)
How come?
KLUTE
You told me what you could. I guess
I'm through with your part of it.
BREE
(grudgingly)
Is there anything more I could --
KLUTE
I don't see anything, do you?
BREE
What're you gonna do next?
KLUTE
Try some other ways.
(starts off)
BREE
What do I do meanwhile? -- wait for
that clown to fall through the
skylight on me?
KLUTE
And I don't think that was Tom.
BREE
You said it was!
KLUTE
No, I said what did you think.
BREE
Oh -- wait -- oh I get it. You said
that just to keep me scared. So I'd
tell you everything I -- oh clever;
oh you smart, tricky hick.
KLUTE
Well --
BREE
(harshly)
Hey, but did we get to you, Klute?
A little?
KLUTE
Yeah, you got to me.
BREE
-- Us city folks? The sin, the
glitter, the wickedness?
KLUTE
Oh. No. Not that way. I'd say it
was more -- I don't know --
(hunts the word)
-- too bad? Pathetic?
BREE
Goodbye.
She turns smartly away, deposits the tapes in
passing in a litter box, departs. Klute looks after
her for a moment, then turns on his way. Then --
EXT. POV THROUGH LITTERBOX IN FOREGROUND TO POV OF
FIGURES OF KLUTE, BREE - DAY
This shot holds both in view for a moment, until
they both disappear separately in the traffic.
CAMERA moves in slightly on litterbox as a man's
hand comes into frame and removes the tapes.
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: KLUTE - NIGHT
Klute, in pajama bottoms, lies in bed. A miserably
hot humid night. KNOCK at the door. He answers.
BREE stands in the doorway in bare feet.
BREE
What the hell do you mean,
pathetic?
She walks in past him, sits down on the edge of his
bed.
KLUTE
It's kind of late.
BREE
It got lonely upstairs. There's
someone on the roof.
He takes her seriously, starts to move.
BREE (CONT'D)
Oh, don't be a doo-doo.
KLUTE
Not much point to this, is there?
BREE
(placidly)
Ezra, I'm lots better than you're
used to. Tell me -- the other
night, watching me with Mr. Faber --
wasn't your tongue a little bit
hanging out?
KLUTE
Mm.
BREE
So you're not too different from
him, or the chap on the roof, or
Tommy-baby --
He starts for the bed, as if to lift her onto her
feet. She takes off her robe and swings her legs
up, and under the sheet.
BREE (CONT'D)
Look, if you don't use it somebody
else just will. And you've done
your whole bit with me, your entire
duty, and so now this is my thing.
So enjoy, Mr. Faber would say,
enjoy.
Under the sheet she unlooses her pajama bottoms,
kicks them away, starts unbuttoning the shirt.
KLUTE
Bree -- thanks -- I don't want to.
BREE
Oh don't be all hypocrite. Or do
you really like other kicks? Is it
more just having power over
someone? -- so you don't really
need to --
He tries to rebutton the pajama shirt. She catches
his hand, thrusts it underneath. In grief and anger
--
BREE (CONT'D)
Who the hell are you, buttoning me
up?
QUICK
DISSOLVE --
UPSHOT, C.U.
Their bodies lock together descending toward camera
--
DISSOLVE --
DOWNSHOT, C.U. SAME ACTION
Her hands slide about his shoulders. She is
laughing softly, affectionately, mockingly --
BREE
I knew it, I knew it, a killer.
DISSOLVE --
C.U., HER FACE
-- triumphantly, contemptuously, orgiastically --
BREE
Oh lover -- oh you thrill me -- oh,
it's beautiful -- oh yes, yes -- oh
like that, like that, yes --
DISSOLVE --
FACES
Klute gasps deeply -- entering orgasm. As soon as
she hears it, judges it, she drops her hands from
his shoulders, stills her own movements, lies
utterly passive, smiling calmly, letting him finish
for himself. He can't stop -- cries out -- cries
out again, burying his face against her -- is done.
Then he slowly raises up, shuddering, looking down
at her. He knows what she's done to him, is
helpless to do anything back. He rolls slowly out
of the embrace of her legs and lies silently --
looking upward, very much as we saw him at start of
scene.
FAVORIVG BREE
She waits, still smiling, for a while. But she's
not done with him yet. She rolls to lie with her
upper body on his, trailing her fingers across his
face. Affectionately, as a good whore --
BREE (CONT'D)
What's the matter hon? You were
great. Terrific. A tiger.
KLUTE
Thanks.
BREE
Well what're you down about? You
mean because you didn't get me
there?
(pause, comfortingly)
You can't expect that. I mean
Frank, yes, he'd get me there all
the time -- but never with a John.
She sits up, gropes her pajamas from the floor,
puts them on. In the same fond tone --
BREE (CONT'D)
And I'm sorry I can't stay and
learn your special little games.
And I certainly don't want you to
feel bad about this -- losing your
virtue all of a sudden -- because I
sort of knew you would. As I said,
like everyone, right?
She has the pajamas and robe on, pauses near the
door --
BREE (CONT'D)
Besides - you can always tell
yourself you made me come
downstairs. Ta, luv.
INT. THEATRE: READING SCENE - DAY
A WIDE SHOT. An open casting call in an Off
Broadway Theatre. Darkness, except for the work
light onstage. A small GROUP there -- onstage --
including the figure of BREE. Just offstage, the
figures of DIRECTOR (JANG) and a PRODUCER. And the
rest of the theatre, the audience section, dotted
with the heads of ACTORS, ACTRESSES waiting for
their turns. Bree's voice rings out across the
gloom.
BREE
-- Why?
CLOSER, ONSTAGE
The others stand rigid as statues, facing dead
front -- an experimental drama, clearly -- all
holding scripts, as Bree hastens from one to
another, fiercely, imploringly --
BREE (CONT'D)
Why -- please, why? -- Why lose,
why look? Why hate and give and
want and love? Why get, grieve, g --
JANG
(loudly, cheerfully)
Thank you very much.
All break posture, start offstage, while Bree,
caught in mid-stride, clowns it a little.
BREE
-- gug -- gug --
-- then toward Jang, a bit succinctly, indicating
script --
BREE (CONT'D)
Why? -- I want to know what.
JANG
(laughs tolerantly)
No, that was very good everybody.
Do we have all your resumes?
PRODUCER
(from list)
Booth -- Osman -- Zuff -- Anjeris
Chaka.
WIDER, near stage front.
Bree shrugs, steps down off stage with the others.
Bree finds Jang's hand out for her script, smiles
wanly, turns it over, continues on out of scene.
She finds something - someone -- impeding her way.
Looks up.
PAST BREE TO KLUTE
Klute has edged out into the aisle to intercept
her.
EXT. THEATRE ENTRANCE: GREENWICH VILLAGE - DAY
Bree comes out, turns.
KLUTE
You asked if there was anything
more you could help me with.
BREE
When?
Pause. Impasse.
KLUTE
I've checked the records of Jane
McKenna's death -- I can't get
anything special. But Frank
Ligourin had another girl you said,
besides McKenna and you.
BREE
Arlyn Page.
KLUTE
Did she and Jane McKenna know each
other?
BREE
Frankie kept them in the same
apartment: it cut his travel-time.
KLUTE
Then maybe Arlyn Page knew the
Dumper too.
BREE
Arlyn had a very big habit - heroin
- she's the one who started Frank.
She's strung out now; you won't
find her.
KLUTE
You could help me find her. You
know the people.
(as she turns away)
I'll pay you a hundred dollars.
BREE
I can make that in a lunch break!
(then)
Look, Hiram, you're sure it isn't
just me? -- you decided you liked
it, after all, the other night;
you'll hang around for seconds?
KLUTE
Don't worry.
She examines him -- shrugs -- turns, proceeds along
the sidewalk, Klute accompanying --
EXT. DISCOTHEQUE - NIGHT
In the small hours. The same place seen previously,
the gathering place. KLUTE, BREE arriving and
entering.
INT. DISCOTHEQUE - NIGHT
Klute and Bree head toward the rear. Her arrival
causes a little stir. She exchanges greetings with
one or two, is watched by others.
BREE
Joanie -- Mike, hi --
(to another, a Negro girl)
Hi Pat.
PAT
(giggles)
Hey Bree honey, who you got?
BREE
A new daddy. I'n he cute?
Bree leads on to where --
PAST KLUTE, BREE TO TRINA
TRINA sits alone at a rear table -- anything but a
whore in appearance -- a quietly beautiful,
immaculately dressed woman of about thirty.
BREE (CONT'D)
Trina this is Klute. I told you
about him.
TRINA
Oh yes Mr. Klute -- won't you both
join me?
(as they sit)
And how do you like our fair city?
There's so much here don't you
think? The museums and the books
and the foreign films -- Bree, have
you seen the Godard film?
BREE
Uh uh.
TRINA
Oh you've got to. He does such fun
things with imagery. And I've been
reading The Fall --
(to Klute, enunciating
carefully)
-- The Fall by Ahlbair Camoo --
it's the same thing, you know the
imagery --
BREE
(patiently)
Trina honey, he just wants to find
Arlyn Page.
Trina undergoes a change of demeanor. Flatly --
TRINA
Why? She's a junkie.
BREE
(prods gently)
She was with you after she left
Frank.
TRINA
Well she's not now.
(then quavering --)
I did everything for Arlyn. I loved
Arlyn I took her right into my
apartment, my own sweet apartment
on First. But she wouldn't stay off
it -- the junk -- and I wept and I
pleaded and I held her in my arms -
and she started taking things, my
things, and selling them for horse.
My clothes.
We could've had everything
together, everything -- and then
the bitch sold
my mink!
INT. ANOTHER LATE NIGHT SPOT - NIGHT
We dolly with KLUTE & BREE as they walk in front of
a row of tables. This night spot is totally black
except for a series of huge slide projections on
the wall in back of the tables. The slides, which
change every few seconds are elegant
representations of the beautiful people living the
good life as seen in such magazines as VOGUE, TOWN
& COUNTRY & HARPERS BAZAAR. The customers sitting
in the darkness below provide a direct contrast to
the pictures in back. The silhouette figures of
BREE & KLUTE stop at a table seating three people,
two call girls and a pimp. CAMERA moves in.
FIRST GIRL
Arlyn Page?
SECOND GIRL
You'll never catch up; she's
grooved out.
BREE
Gil?
The pimp looks distrustfully at Klute who reassures
--
KLUTE
I'm not looking for her personally
- someone she might know about.
PIMP
(shrugs; to Bree)
Try Janie Dale.
INT. JANIE DALE'S PENTHOUSE
It is a very small penthouse. KLUTE & BREE stand in
the small living room waiting for JANIE DALE. There
are two very casually dressed prostitutes sitting
around the living room. One sits at an upright
piano playing of all things STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT.
Another one sits on a couch talking to a Wall
Street Broker who is spending his lunch hour. KLUTE
finds himself staring down into a pile of
pornography magazines on the coffee table. BREE is
amused at his discomfort.
JANIE DALE, the madame, who has been on the phone
in the back, puts the receiver down and crosses to
the girl on the couch. JANIE looks and talks a bit
like Lauren Bacall.
JANIE DALE
(to girl on couch)
It's old Mr. Clean from Cleveland.
He wants to know when he can fly in
and clean up the apartment and see
you. I told him I have all the
cleaning equipment and that he can
come anytime, but it's up to you.
GIRL on couch rises.
GIRL
You know he wants us to be
dominant.
JANIE DALE
Tell him that he'd better have his
ass in here by one o'clock on
Monday afternoon or you won't let
him clean the bathroom floor, and
tell him the price has gone up
twenty bucks -- Old Dutcn
Cleanser's not as cheap as it used
to be.
She shrugs and turns to KLUTE & BREE.
JANIE DALE (CONT'D)
You wanted to know about Arlyn,
honey? I had to let her go dear.
Arlyn stopped being reliable.
(explains to Klute)
I deal with a high type client,
business people, you understand? I
can't send them someone that's all
the time half zonked out.
KLUTE
Do you know where she went?
JANIE DALE
Try Momma Reese.
THIS IS A CHEAPER APARTIENT THAN JANIE DALE'S
The girls look cheaper, and the customers, rather
than Wall Street lawyers and brokers, look more
like out of town salesmen who stay at local motor
inns.
MOMMA REESE is older than JANIE DALE, heavier and
with no pretense at chic. She indicates that she
has not seen ARLYN in some time.
MOMMA REESE
Try Bill Azure. If you can find
him.
INT. EIGHT AVENUE BAR - ABOUT 4 IN THE MORNING
This is a hangout where black and white pimps wait
to meet their whores after their night of street
walking. This streetwalker world is far removed
from the world of the call girl or the world of
Janie Dale. CAMERA pans past a group of pimps at
the bar taking bet on whose girls have made the
most money that night. CAMERA then goes on to
reveal KLUTE talking to another pimp (Azure). Azure
represents a clear step down from Frank Ligourin.
We catch only part of their dialogue.
AZURE
-- a couple weeks then she'd drift
off a couple of weeks, you know
what I mean?
KLUTE
Have you heard from her recently?
AZURE
She liked me all right but she had
what she liked better, you know
what I mean?
We START FADE SOUND as Klute repeats --
KLUTE
Have you heard from her recently?
-- and CUT TO --
INT. LINGERIE SHOP: PROPRIETRESS, BREE, KLUTE
PROPRIETRESS
-- She'd come in and I'd let her
have something. Why not; she'd been
a good customer, a beautiful
person, a beautiful beautiful
person.
Again we fade sound a little before picture, then
CUT TO --
EXT. OUTSIDE ADULT MOVIE THEATER: KLUTE,
STREETWALKERS - DAY OR NIGHT
Outside Theatre or Bookstore - Peepshow; an 8th
Avenue establishment. SILENT ACTION this (or VOICES
UNDER). Klute confers with one girl who summons and
consults another. They seem to know of Arlyn --
haven't seen her recently -- refer him elsewhere --
EXT. APARTMENT HOUSE: MRS. VASEK, KLUTE - DAY
A shabby place in a shabby neighborhood. Mrs.
Vasek, the landlady, shifts barrels at the same
time that she barks at Klute, in heavy accent.
MRS. VASEK
The whore, yeah. I threw out.
KLUTE
Do you know where she went from
here?
MRS. VASEK
Live like animals. Her and the man.
Out.
KLUTE
(reacts)
Was she living with a man?
We see Klute persisting - DISSOLVE
EXT. WIDE SHOT: SLUM STREET - DAY
We still HOLD WIDE to establish the scene. This is
a genuine slum. We see Bree, Klute move along
street. We see Bree drop back a little, Klute
waiting for her to catch up.
EXT. STREET: BREE, KLUTE
KLUTE
What's the matter?
BREE
(glances about)
What the hell do you think's the
matter.
(then suggests)
I could wait for you someplace.
KLUTE
If Arlyn Page is living with Tom
Grunemann --
BREE
(eagerly)
-- Then you don't need me.
KLUTE
But if it's someone else I do.
He starts on, simply assuming that she'll follow.
(There is a degree of acquaintanceship in their
manners now - a reluctant collaboration.)
BREE
You sure pull a lot of mileage out
of a hundred dollars.
-- and follows on. He checks numbers, then crosses
street diagonally toward a half-framed house.
INT. NEWARK HOUSE - DAY
A downshot from second floor level toward the entry
way where KLUTE & BREE appear. KLUTE strikes a
match to inspect the names of tenants. He and Bree
climb through stench and litter to the second floor
-- a door. From somewhere near at hand come the
sounds of someone RETCHING. A square of wood has
been sawed out of the door itself, removing handle
and lock -- light sifts through. Klute hesitates,
decides against knocking, pushes in.
INT. ARLYN'S APARTMENT - DAY
The retching sounds are coming from the connecting
room. No one visible here. A very few barren pieces
of furniture. We hear ARLYN'S VOICE ask from the
next room --
ARLYN (O.S.)
Cappy?
ARLYN enters rather eagerly. She sees Klute first,
then Bree -- recognizes her -- retires flat against
a wall, holding one palm outwards to shield her
face. She is unbelievably gaunt. Inside one elbow,
looking rather like a birthmark, we see a lacework
of purple where her veins have pulped together.
BREE
Arlyn? Honey?
(then)
Look, it's all right.
From the connecting room a MAN'S VOICE (Berger's)
calling out hoarsely.
BERGER (O.S.)
Is it Cappy? Cappy? --
BREE
Arlyn, it's all right.
BERGER hastens, stumbles, into the doorframe
carrying a CAR-RADIO with wires dangling, speaks
before he sees them.
BERGER
Cappy, I got a radio!
He stops for an instant face-to-face with Klute.
Then turns, plunges out of view again. Arlyn breaks
after.
ARLYN
No --
We hear the MUMBLE and WHISPER of their voices from
the connecting room (as she reassures him). Bree
looks inquiringly at Klute (is that Grunemann?): he
shakes his head. Pause, then ARLYN reenters,
wrapping her fingers together timidly -- wanting
them out -- her only purpose.
ARLYN (CONT'D)
Bree -- honey - please, we're
waiting for someone.
BREE
Arlyn, he just wanted to ask some
questions -- something you could
help us about.
ARLYN
Can't you see I'm strung out?
(cries out)
Please, we're waiting for it --
he's got to have it!
KLUTE
We'll go. Just something you could
tell us, first.
Arlyn seems to accept the bargain. He indicates to
Bree to proceed, stands away a little. Arlyn covers
her elbow with one hand. Bree manages as best she
can.
BREE
Honey, a couple of years ago, with
Jane and Frankie? -- Jane sent me a
Dumper --
ARLYN
Please, if he sees you, he won't
come!
BREE
Arlyn, just tell me, did Jane have
a dumper, one of her regular Johns?
ARLYN
What about him? Yes.
BREE
Did he come around often?
Klute hands Grunemann's picture to Bree: Bree shows
it to Arlyn. Arlyn inspects it, then uncertainly,
weakly --
ARLYN
No. He was an older man hon. The
dumper was older.
KLUTE
Do you remember his name? What can
you tell me about him?
We hear FOOTSTEPS - UNDER, DIMLY - mounting the
stairs. Bree notices them first, Klute persisting
with Arlyn --
BERGER (O.S.)
(shouts desperately)
Arlyn, get them out.
ARLYN
Please, I am begging you.
KLUTE
It's important.
ARLYN
That's not the Dumper, that's all!
He was an older man!
KLUTE
Can you give me any more
description than that?
Arlyn catches the footsteps, dodges past him toward
the door, intending to reassure --
ARLYN
Cappy? --
-- as the pusher, CAPPY, steps in. All of this is
very quick, simultaneous, a confusion of voices.
CAPPY takes one look at Klute --
ARLYN (CONT'D)
It's all right, they're all right --
-- turns and runs.
BERGER (O.S.)
Cappy? -- Cappy?
Cappy's FOOTSTEPS race away down the stairs. BERGER
plunges out from the connecting room, still
carrying the car radio, shouting, pursuing --
BERGER (CONT'D)
Cappy it's all right! I got a radio
-- don't run, don't --
We hear him STUMBLE AND FALL on the stairs outside,
the sound of body reeling down. Arlyn shrieks and
races after: Klute and Bree follow.
INT. HOUSE: LOWER HALL - DAY
We see BERGER lying at the foot of the stairs. As
Arlyn clatters down toward him, Berger sways up
onto his knees. His nose is bloodied, he cries.
Arlyn casts herself on her knees beside him, pulls
his face against her, croons to him, soothes and
tends him.
ARLYN
Oh baby -- no it's all right -- oh
my baby baby baby --
Klute and Bree are only a half-step behind. Klute
offers to assist: Arlyn puts him away ferociously.
ARLYN (CONT'D)
Get out!
(to Berger, again)
Don't cry my baby; I'll find him,
I'll get it. Baby, baby, don't cry.
(to Klute savagely,
incoherently)
Leave us alone! Get out and get out
and leave us alone!
(to Berger)
My honey, my baby, my baby --
We DISSOLVE TO --
INT. SUBWAY TRAIN: REFLECTION IN WINDOW OF BREE AND
KLUTE SITTING SIDE BY SIDE
CAMERA moves in closer so we only see reflection of
BREE looking at herself and at the world seeming to
speed by at an inhuman pace as the lights of the
tunnel zoom past her face. What she sees is the
figure of a woman with life screaming past her out
of control.
INT. SUBWAY
SUBWAY slows to a stop and a door opens. BREE sits
with KLUTE staring at the open door and then
without warning - gets up and runs off the train.
The door closes, leaving KLUTE locked in the train.
SUBWAY EXIT
SHOT of BREE's feet rushing up the stairs in
darkness and then quick cut to her face as she hits
the sunlight. She pauses for a moment - relieved to
be out of the darkness.
EXT. ROOFTOP OF BREE'S BROWNSTONE - NIGHT
CAMERA pans from night view of New York City to
KLUTE sitting on the rooftop alone as if trying to
comprehend all he has seen, the mystery of TOM
GRUNEMANN's disappearance in this world and the
mysteries of the behavior of BREE.
SKYLIGHT INTO BREE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Alongside of him the skylight of BREE's apartment
lights up. He looks through the skylight and sees
BREE enter her apartment. He can hear BREE talking
to somebody, and then he sees that she is talking
to FRANK LIGOURIN.
KLUTE watches through the skylight and hears bits
and pieces of the scene between BREE and FRANK. He
sees the same kind of symbiosis, the same kind of
parody of loving that he saw between ARLYN &
BERGER. As the scene becomes more intimate he
leaves.
INT. CABLE'S (CITY) OFFICE: ON KLUTE - DAY
The pristine, antiseptic, elegance off CABLE'S
office is in its own way as unreal and dehumanized
as the sexual underworld KLUTE has been exploring
with BREE, and KLUTE looks as out of place in the
one as he does in the other. TRASK sits beside
KLUTE facing CABLE who is impeccably dressed. He is
the total image of the executive in control.
CABLE
She wouldn't be reliable anyhow --
a narcotics addict.
KLUTE
I believed her, Pete.
TRASK
He's right you know. Waiting for
the pusher, she'd tell you
anything.
KLUTE
I believed her: the Dumper was not
Tom Grunemann.
CABLE
All right, suppose it wasn't Tom
Grunemann; where does that get you?
KLUTE
(smiles ruefully)
It's where it doesn't get me. I've
got nothing left that connects to
anything.
CABLE
Then, close the case.
KLUTE
I better keep looking.
CABLE
Where, how?
KLUTE
(the best he can offer)
I could try Arlyn Page again. She
saw much more of the Dumper than
Bree Daniel.
CABLE
You just finished telling me she
had nothing to offer. Not Tom, you
said, the Dumper was clearly not
Tom.
KLUTE
It's got to make sense some way.
CABLE'S SECRETARY appears for a moment tapping her
watch significantly.
SECRETARY
Mr. Cable -- they are meeting in
Mr. Camara's office.
CABLE
Yes Evvie, thanks. Gentlemen, I'm
sorry.
They rise, dismissed. He sorts a paper or two,
continues to Klute.
CABLE (CONT'D)
I'm flying back out to Pennsylvania
Friday; I'll fill them in on
things.
KLUTE
How is it back there?
CABLE
I think you're homesick.
(reflects)
I'll be out at my camp over the
weekend. Nice right now, that touch
of fall in the air, that skim of
frost in the early mornings, very
peaceful.
(briskly again)
John, I'll be back here again
Thursday; I'll be in touch.
Lieutenant, thank you.
KLUTE and TRASK depart.
CABLE closes the door and returns to his desk. He
pulls out a tape recorder from a drawer in his
desk, rewinds it and turns it on. We hear a
playback of the previous scene with KLUTE and
TRASK. He stands at the window listening with some
satisfaction; as if listening to what KLUTE
revealed keeps him in control of the situation.
EXT. WINDOW - CABLE'S OFFICE - DAY
The CAMERA pulls back from a CU of CABLE standing
at the window to a wide angle looking at CABLE
through the window. The window is 30 or 40 stories
high. The wide angle lens almost makes the building
look like it is standing on point, and CABLE, a man
suspended in space.
EXT. WIDE SHOT: DOCKS - DAY
A TUGBOAT has pulled in. The SOUND of its heavy
ENGINES, IDLING, runs underneath this entire
sequence. A POLICE VEHICLE or two has parked at the
head of the dock. We see several figures on the
rear deck of the tug, but it's not clear at this
distance what they're doing. The POLICE CAR WITH
KLUTE arrives. He dismounts and proceeds from dock
to tug-deck.
EXT. TUGBOAT DECK: GROUP - DAY
TRASK glances toward Klute as he arrives, but
doesn't greet him. His attention, like the others,
is directed downward and
off-scene (to the surface of the water actually,
just outboard of the tug). We see beside Trask TWO
Uniformed Cops (SUGARMAN and SPENCE) and DECKHANDS.
And we hear, along with the throbbing of the
engines, a stirring about of the water and a
peculiar third noise -- rather commingled with the
engines -- which we can't at first identify.
Klute joins the group, watches.
SPENCE brings into view, and shakes out, a giant
neoprene body bag. INSTRUCTIONS among the group AD
LIB, UNDER --
TRASK
(toward Klute)
They were bringing a freighter down
through Kill Van Kull; propellers
washed it up on top.
SUGARMAN brings into view a METAL BASKET attached
with short ropes. He complains --
SUGARMAN
Why didn't you bring it up on deck?
DECKHAND
Would you bring it up on deck?
They slip the basket downward, out of frame (into
the water).
DECKHAND (CONT'D)
(to other)
Mickey, get something. Get the eels
off.
SPENCE
(calmly)
They'll drop off theirselves when
she comes out.
We CUT TO -
BERGER - DAY
We see Berger sitting huddled against the tugboat
cabin -- we haven't seen him before -- with his
hands bunched in front of his mouth. We identify
the noise which may have puzzled us before -- his
SOBBING.
DOWNSHOT: SURFAICE OF WATER, BASKET, BODY
We catch a fleeting glimpse of the body being
lifted, just before it breaks the surface of the
water.
FAVORING KLUTE
Klute looks on as EFFECTS trace the processing of
the body. SPENCE kneels down out of frame to slide
the bag around it. TRASK kneels down to make a
brief examination -- straightens again. To Klute --
TRASK
It'll go to the Examiner. But I
don't see nothin that means nothin.
We MOVE WITH KLUTE as he turns and moves away a few
feet along deck. Here he stands. Then SUGARMAN
moves into view holding a clipboard. Routinely --
SUGARMAN
You help us with ID? We can't get
nothin from him.
He indicates the direction of Berger. Klute
examines the clipboard data.
KLUTE
Arlyn Page was probably an alias.
She went by the names Terry Arlyn
and June Price. She may have been
from Pittsburgh, someone told me. I
can give you a list of people who
knew her, if that would help to --
SUGARMAN
No point, thanks.
KLUTE
Is he claiming the body?
SUGARMAN
Uh uh, that'd mean funeral
expenses.
He spits, moves back in the direction of the group;
Klute continues to stand. BERGER moves in his
direction. Brokenly --
BERGER
Man could you help me?
Klute doesn't understand his purport, reacts
instantly, sympathetically --
KLUTE
Yeah, what?
BERGER
You know, help me out. That's my
baby there, dead. I got to get up.
Klute stares at him -- a quiet horror -- as Berger
insists --
BERGER (CONT'D)
Man you don't know what that does
to me, my baby dead --
KLUTE
-- You've got to get up.
BERGER
Yeah.
Klute shoves a bill in his hand, turns away very
sharply, off the tugboat.
EXT. DOCK: KLUTE - DAY
Klute walks a longer distance this time, sits down
on one of the pilings of the dock. Watching him we
see what might be a profound awe and grief at all
these things -- but is, in fact, a good deal more.
EFFECTS, O.S. as Police Vehicles are loaded, driven
away and as tug toots, runs up engines, puts out
again.
TRASK moves into scene, sits on another piling,
looks at him speculatively. Silence. Then --
TRASK
That's how the other one died, you
know. In the water.
KLUTE
(nods)
I looked it up.
Then -- (we are assuming a complete understanding
here between Klute and Trask, non-verbal. What
Trask is asking, in effect, is: is this meaningful?
Do we both suspect the same man?)
TRASK
Well?
KLUTE
Yeah.
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT - DAY
It is late afternoon, but BREE is in her pajamas
curled up in her bed. There are some magazines
scattered around the bed and the television set is
on an old movie. There are cracker crumbs in the
bed and a cup of coffee and an open jar of peanut
butter with the knife sticking out of the jar on
the floor by the bed. It would seem that BREE has
spent most of the day in bed. She looks like an
unkempt child. The phone is ringing, but she does
not answer it. The phone no sooner stops than the
door bell rings. Reluctantly she gets out of bed
and goes to the door. She looks through the spy
hole and sees Klute's face. She undoes two locks
and an obviously new chain and bolt and opens the
door.
BREE
Well hello -- come on in.
He barely enters the room. His manner is cool and
remote.
KLUTE
I thought you ought to know, Arlyn
Page is dead.
BREE
How?
KLUTE
The same as Jane McKenna.
BREE
(she betrays no reaction)
Thanks for the jolly news. I
thought maybe you'd left town by
now. You kind of just disappeared.
But you boys from Tuscarora have a
habit of disappearing, don't you?
Klute looks around the disorderly room. The plants
in the windowsill have never been in worse shape.
They look as if she deliberately let them die of
thirst.
KLUTE
The next few weeks I would like to
know where you are all the time.
BREE
(harshly)
Why?
KLUTE
Just let me know when you are going
out and where --
BREE
What if i go out on tricks - you
wanna come along? You could sit and
read the National Geographic.
KLUTE
How can you do it to yourself?
BREE
(coolly)
I don't get you.
KLUTE
Ligourin: How could you do it?
BREE
I told you before, you wouldn't
understand.
KLUTE
You're right, I don't understand.
Explain it to me.
(pause)
You were scared. Arlyn Page, that
scared you. Well it should; that's
death.
So what did you do, you ran
straight for it, death. Ligourin
kills women.
BREE
No.
KLUTE
No, no you're right, I'm sorry. He
uses women; he lets them kill
themselves. Is that how you want
it?
BREE
Arlyn was a junkie; I'm not on
junk!
KLUTE
No, you can find some other way.
(beat)
Explain it to me. Bree, show me any
sense to --
BREE
(screams, incoherently)
You get the Christ out! You dumb
stupid bastard, you don't know
anything, you square, you get out!
I don't have to show you anything;
you get out!
Klute goes.
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT - DAY
The empty apartment. He enters, switches a light on
(dusk), tosses aside jacket, bookcase, etc., then
sits down on the edge of his bed, with one foot
propped up on it.
FOOTSTEPS and A RAP at the door. He looks up, but
doesn't move, doesn't answer. BREE opens it,
enters. There are tear-tracks down her face, but
she's no longer crying. She tries to smile, tries
to explain her wants. Then with the unhurried,
graven composure of absolute desperation, she sits
on the edge of the bed.
BREE
If I asked you something, would you
not laugh? -- asked you to look at
something?
She pushes up her sleeve, points at tiny spot on
her arm - a freckle. He peers at it then at her
puzzledly.
BREE (CONT'D)
(apologetic)
I thought it was maybe changing
shape or something.
Klute looks at it again. Judiciously --
He shows her a spot or two on his own forearm. She
compares, is reassured. Embarrassedly, she tries to
smile. It is unsuccessful. She gets up and moves
about. Her manner in general is totally unguarded,
honest, undramatic, searching.
BREE (CONT'D)
Look -- I hate everybody; and I'm
sorry for everybody; and I'm scared
all the time.
He only grunts. A sound like 'OK' or 'all right' --
an invitation to leave. But she won't be driven
away. More urgently, helplessly:
BREE (CONT'D)
Look, I don't know either. It's
like the only thing I know how to
do -- I feel safe.
She's left the door a little ajar. He widens it for
her.
KLUTE
It's been a full day.
She pushes it out of his hand, pushes it shut. A
little more angrily:
BREE
Please.
KLUTE
We did this before.
BREE
No.
(then)
Well all right. But you want to and
I want you to and we both know it
and all right.
KLUTE
(evenly, slowly)
I don't like getting splashed.
She accepts it decently. Tries to smile again,
nods.
BREE
OK ----- OK
She gestures, tries to find something more to say,
moves by degrees toward the door -- and would
succeed in leaving. But then:
KLUTE
--- Bree ---
Standing still, she starts again to cry -- and
bravely to keep the crying to herself. The child
bereft. He contends with himself, then crosses to
her, puts his arms around her, soothes her hair. A
completely asexual gesture at this point, a giving
of comfort. She clings, trembles, burrows. Then --
a SERIES OF DISSOLVES: The street outside, at
different times of night interposed, with Bree and
Klute at different times of love, As Follows:
EXT. THE STREET - DAY
The street as we saw it just previously... still
daylight... still somewhat populated, but drawing
toward dusk.
DISSOLVE:
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: BPEE, KLUTE - NIGHT
Darkness now, or close to dark; the room heavily
shadowed. Bree and Klute sit together on the bed.
He still strokes her hair. He has pulled a blanket
around her shoulders. The transaction is still not
overtly sexual, but the tenderness is more overt.
He rubs his cheek against her forehead. She herself
is quieter, comforted. She begins to stir against
him.
DISSOLVE:
EXT. THE STREET - NIGHT
The street at night. Eleven o'clock, let's say.
Some lit windows; a single car moving past.
DISSOLVE:
EXT. THE STREET - NIGHT
All the windows dark this time. The deepest night,
just before the sky begins to lighten.
DISSOLVE:
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: BREE, KLUTE - NIGHT
Klute is alseep -- more or less -- on his stomach.
Bree beside him lies awake. She trails her fingers
about his back. A rather tentative, exploratory
business. Her expression is more wondering than
anything else -- what does she have here, and can
she get used to it?
DISSOLVE:
EXT. THE STREET - DAY (DAWN)
The street's first stirrings. From not far off, the
sounds of trash cans being collected.
DISSOLVE:
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: BREE, KLUTE - DAY (DAWN)
Klute half sits up in bed. Bree is fast asleep with
her head pillowed on his midsection. Some humor in
this shot: he wants to move but doesn't want to
wake her. At a point he risks it, reaches out for
something beside the bed. Her eyes open
immediately. He puts his hand on her face, trying
gently to press her back.
KLUTE
Go back to sleep.
But she takes his hand -- and retains it -- rolls
onto her back. Still relaxed, but a little more
separate, thoughtful -- a mixture of the Bree we've
seen before and the Bree we've glimpsed, the
possible Bree. She observes:
BREE
I'm still scared.
(beat)
I mean different but still.
(frowns)
Look, I made it very clear from the
start, you're a yokel, you don't
excite me, you don't even interest
me, and so I only have one question
which is what the hell are you
doing in my bed?
KLUTE
My bed.
She grins, then starts to reach for him, still
receptive -- then feels another (and genuine) pang,
turns her head away sharply.
BREE
Oh!
He looks at her with concern, but only caresses
her. She manages to explain --
BREE (CONT'D)
I am scared. The things I do. The
things I could do to you.
KLUTE
Mm.
BREE
No, not just 'mm'. You don't know
what I --
He settles himself beside her, makes overtures. She
responds, but:
BREE (CONT'D)
Oh boy, say, you think you're
pretty good.
KLUTE
Yup.
She pretends to bite -- they tussle -- she feels a
suddenly growing excitement, seizes him. Fiercely,
welcomingly, full out.
BREE
Oh --
And we cut directly to:
INT. SPANGLER'S OFFICE: BREE, SPANGLER - DAY
Bree standing, angry, antagonistic, demanding. In a
way -- a Bree-like way -- she's seized psychiatry
by the throat.
BREE
The son of a bitch seduced me!
She waits. Spangler says nothing.
BREE (CONT'D)
I know: it's ridiculous. But it's
tearing me up and I don't know why.
And look, all right, I came here
didn't I? And if I have to, I'll
keep coming here, the works, and
talk about my mummy and my daddy
and I'll even pay for it, but will
you kindly for God's sakes say
something?
SPANGLER
(smiles)
I'd just be guessing.
BREE
Guess!
SPANGLER
Maybe this wasn't just a trick.
Maybe you're in danger of real
love, real involve --
BREE
(primly, distintly)
I do not love him.
SPANGLER
(undeterred, suggests)
You've spent your life avoiding
this. You'll try hard to deny it;
you're quite likely to destroy it.
WE CUT TO:
EXT. THE PLAZA OF LINCOLN CENTER
Sunlight is beaming on the graceful fountains and
elegant architecture.
Groups of cheerful tourists are admiring the
civilized monuments to man's search for culture.
CAMERA pans to ugly street across the way revealing
Klute approaching and entering a dingy warehouse
topped by an absurdly placed copy of the Statue of
Liberty. This is the municipal storehouse.
INT. MUNICIPAL STOREHOUSE - DAY
The abrupt cut from the bright sunlight leaves us
in almost total darkness as we follow KLUTE. We are
in a huge storeroom. As we grow accustomed to the
darkness we see bits and pieces of incongruous
objects scattered along Klute's path - old pieces
of furniture, lamps, piggy banks, etc. - the
remnants of the lives of the plundered, the
destroyed and the dispossessed. Some is stolen
property, some evidence for homicide cases, and
some the unclaimed possessions of the unclaimed
dead.
A CUSTODIAN -- an ancient retainer sort, a civil
servant, leads KLUTE into an old elevator cage.
INT. ELEVATOR
Klute and Custodian as elevator ascends; looking up
the elevator shaft through the open cage we see a
series of doors hanging over space seeming to lead
nowhere. The whole sequence has the feeling of a
dream of being lost in a black limbo.
Klute and Custodian leave elevator on higher floor
and walk down the long very low corridor past rows
of locked vault doors. The Custodian stops at one
and opens it. We are in a small dungeon-like room
filled with banks of files from floor to ceiling.
The Custodian counts to himself --
CUSTODIAN
Four -- five -- what number'd I
say?
KLUTE
Four ninety-seven, Jane McKenna
Custodian finds it, unlocks for Klute's inspection.
Reaches for paper Klute's holding.
CUSTODIAN
-- And I keep the authorization,
please.
KLUTE
I thought there'd be more.
Klute pokes through a small collection of personal
effects -- perhaps an ankle bracelet, rabbits foot,
faded snapshot of a child, some letters, pitiful
remnants of Jane McKenna's life. Klute closes the
drawer, and the front of the drawer is marked
McKENNA, JANE?
Over the visual material of Klute's trip through
the warehouse we hear WILD TRACK VOICE OVER bits
and pieces of BREE talking with the psychiatrist.
BREE (V.O.)
All right. Loneliness.
(space)
Well -- separated. From other
people. Forgotten.
(space)
Well, as if I can be here, I can go
through the motions, right? But the
truth is, I don't belong.
SPANGLER (V.O.)
(prompts mildly)
Don't belong?
BREE (V.O.)
(snappishly)
Do you always have to repeat?
SPANGLER (V.O.)
Sorry.
(then)
BREE (V.O.)
Well it's more than loneliness.
Hate. People hating me -- and
watching me and following and
waiting to hurt me -- you know? I'm
all screwed up.
SPANGLER (V.O.)
You think people hate you.
BREE (V.O.)
The truth is I hate them: they must
hate me. All right, the money.
(pause)
All right, not the money. A kind of
put-on.
It gets things back together.
(pause)
Well let's say I'd go to one of
these cattle-calls, a tryout. I
mean before -- before I got this
job -- and they'd always say thank
you very much and i'd feel, you
know, brought down. They didn't
want me.
SPANGLER (V.O.)
Didn't want you.
BREE (V.O.)
(snaps)
I said that.
(resumes)
Well, so you have a choice. You can
either feel lonely -- you know, the
hate -- or --
(then more rapidly,
plunging)
So you take a call and go to a
hotel room and there's some John
you've never seen before, but he
wants you. He must, he's paying for
it.
(beat)
And usually they're nervous and
that's all right, too, because
you're not; you know this thing.
And then for a while, boy, they
really pay attention, you're all
there is.
(beat)
And it's not real and you don't
have to even like them -- you can
even hate them, it's all right, it
safe -- you know?
INT. PROJECTION ROOM - MISSING PERSONS BUREAU
On the left a portion of the original obscene
letter. On the right a series of comparison
documents -- beginning with a portion of a personal
letter. We hear TRASK'S, KLUTE'S VOICES OVER, and
occasionally cut to them as --
TRASK'S VOICE
(skipping, summarizing)
All right, there's Tom Grunemann,
you're right, different margins,
different spacing absolutely,
sloppy, right.
KLUTE'S VOICE
Mm.
TRASK'S VOICE
All right, try this next guy.
The right-hand document is switched.
KLUTE, TRASK
Klute reacts.
TRASK
Think this is our guy?
KLUTE
I don't know. It looks familiar to
me.
TRASK
Thought it might. It's off an
arrest report you typed two years
ago. Man you wanted samples of
everybody.
Then -- with subdued satisfaction, switching the
projector again.
TRASK (CONT'D)
Now the next cat. Mm?
SCREEN; DOCUMENTS
TRASK'S VOICE
Same margins top and sides. He does
best with his middle fingers; you
get fainter registration from
outside keys like Q, A, L, P and
like that. Next thing look around
apostrophes, how he hits the space
bar before --
KLUTE & TRASK - STARING AT PROJECTIONS
KLUTE
But what reason could he have? What
possible reason?
TRASK
Unless he was involved with
Grunemann's disappearance.
KLUTE
I knew Tom never wrote that letter.
TRASK
What else do you know?
KLUTE
I never could believe that Tom was
a split personality. I never
believed he was a Dumper; and I
don't believe he disappeared of his
own volition; and I don't believe
he's alive.
TRASK
We have some very tentative
circumstantial evidence of freeky
behavior, but there's no evidence
of murder - there's not even a
body.
KLUTE
I don't believe Tom's alive.
As Klute talks he paces back and forth in the
darkness. He crosses in front of the lighted
screen; the letters projected on the screen ripple
over his face.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
But why? Why?
INT. MISSING PERSONS BUREAU
Klute and Trask are seen entering from the
Projection Room. In the background we see an old
black woman sitting in front of the picture file of
unidentified dead, carefully studying each picture.
In the foreground Klute sits down at a phone and
dials.
KLUTE
Yes, Mr. Cable's office, please.
CAMERA goes in close on Klute.
CABLE'S VOICE
(through telephone)
John, how are you?
KLUTE
I'll be sending you on a report
tonight.
CABLE'S VOICE
It's a beautiful day in Tuscarora -
I don't envy you that humidity in
the city.
KLUTE
It's not so bad.
There is a silence. Both Klute and Cable seem to be
waiting for one or the other to make the next move.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Would you like to know what's in
it? The report.
CABLE'S VOICE
(obligingly)
What's in it?
KLUTE
I think Tom Grunemann's dead. I've
been a lot of places - I've asked a
lot of people. I've found no proof
he's around. I've found no proof he
was ever around.
CABLE VOICE
How do you go from that to the idea
Tom's dead? Suicide you're
suggesting? He killed himself?
KLUTE
(plodding, unemphatic)
He could've been murdered.
CABLE'S VOICE
I'm sure the FBI and the Police
explored that possibility.
KLUTE
No. They never did, really. But
that's what I'm going to recommend.
The next step. Unless something --
CABLE'S VOICE
Have you discussed this with them?
KLUTE
It's in the report.
CABLE'S VOICE
Do they have the report? Have you
discussed it with them?
KLUTE
I wanted to give it to you first.
CABLE'S VOICE
All right. All right --
(then)
John, just sit tight will you? I'll
read your report, I'll discuss it
with the others. I'll be back next
Thursday, we'll talk the whole
thing over then. Nothing til
Thursday, all right?
KLUTE
All right.
CABLE'S VOICE
Thank you. Goodbye, John.
KLUTE
Goodbye, Pete.
Klute hangs up.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
He was always at their house on
holidays. Tom and Holly always had
him, over on holidays. Tom felt
sorry for him - his whole life was
work. Tom felt sorry for him.
The old black lady motions to Trask who crosses to
her. She points to a picture in the file. She has
obviously found her missing person among the
photographs of the unidentified dead. She starts to
stand but then sits again, obviously shaken.
Klute crosses to her and gently helps her out of
the chair. He sees in her face the same sense of
loss he feels for his friend.
EXT. OUTDOOR MARKETS - EIGHT AVENUE - NIGHT
KLUTE & BREE
Bree examining and feeling fruit in some imitation
of a very shrewd and experienced housewife shopper.
She is obviously enjoying her sense of domesticity,
and Klute is amused by her enjoyment.
OUTDOOR NURSERY - EIGHT AVENUE - NEXT TO MARKET
The nursery is an absurdly cheerful spot of
greenery in the midst of the dirty chaos of the
avenue.
Klute and Bree wander through the plants.
BREE
I saw Mr. Faber.
(beat)
You remember Mr. Faber, don't you?
KLUTE
(controlledly)
Yeah.
BREE
Is that all you have to say?
KLUTE
What am I supposed to say?
BREE
Well, I told him I wouldn't - uh -
go there any more.
(pause)
I know it's tough to understand,
but it wasn't easy. You see, he was
nice to me. I mean, it wasn't just
him. I got something out of it too
I guess. Anyway, I told him I
wouldn't go there anymore.
She is like a child awaiting praise from her
teacher. Klute says nothing. They continue walking
among the plants and he picks up a few that she had
admired.
KLUTE
Well, here's your gold star.
Considering his contempt for all the dead plant
life he has seen in her apartment in the past, she
is pleased by this act of belief in her.
BREE
Spangler says we have a
relationship.
KLUTE
What?
BREE
You and I -- a relationship.
KLUTE
I was wondering what that was.
BREE
(beat)
Hell there's nothing so mysterious
about the square life.
EXT. BROWNSTONE ENTRYWAY - NIGHT
Bree, Klute approach unhurriedly along the
sidewalk. She is holding his arm, HUMS to herself,
enjoys the evening.
INT. STAIRWALL - NIGHT
We follow them up.
INT. ANGLE INTO BREE APARTMENT - NIGHT
The apartment is a shambles -- furniture
overturned, decorations ripped from the wall,
bedding scattered and ripped.
INT. BREE APARTMENT - NIGHT
Klute jettisons the grocery bags, thrusts himself
inside, looks quickly about, finds no one. Bree
follows more slowly, whispering:
BREE
Oh Jesus. Oh Jesus.
KLUTE
Don't touch anything.
He moves quickly to the rear of the apartment,
looks at the rear window which has been broken
inward in a litter of glass -- then returns to the
table at the front of the apartment; his folders.
Bree cracks wise, unsteadily.
BREE
You suppose he's a married fella?
ANGLE TO TABLE; FOLDERS
The contents of the folders have been spilled
across the table and -- we ZOOM IN -- the
photographs of Tom Grunemann sorted out and ripped
apart, Even the COMPANY PICNIC photograph has been
painstakingly torn, specifically to destroy the
image of Grunemann in the front row.
KLUTE
He stands, looking down, taking no notice as --
BREE
He got in my clothing!
Then a moment later, she cries out again, more
sharply:
BREE (CONT'D)
Oh. Oh.
He turns quickly. She is holding out, at arms
length, a pair of her underpants. With a disgust so
extreme she can only laugh.
BREE (CONT'D)
Oh look what he did in them.
KLUTE
Drop it.
She doesn't respond. He seizes her arm, shakes the
garment back onto the floor. She starts to gag,
slaps her hand over her mouth, starts for the
bathroom. Klute yanks her back.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Stay out of there.
She twists free of his hands, backs away. The same
elementary terror we've seen before.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Listen to me: It's all right. I've
been expecting something.
BREE
(full out, vengefully)
My God, I thought it was over. And
here I am, daddy, right back at the
start.
KLUTE
Bree --
BREE
Right back at the start, right?
KLUTE
Go down in my room.
BREE
You said it was over, right? You
said not to worry any more, all
over, right?
She's broken for the door; it's questionable that
she's even heard him. He hasn't time to pursue --
shouts again --
KLUTE
Go down in my room and wait.
Then he turns back into the apartment.
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT - DAY
A DOWNSHOT TO UNDERPANTS (as if from Klute's POV,
connecting directly to the previous shot) -- then a
FLASHBULB goes off and a hand and pair of tongs
enter frame and flip the garment into a collecting
box and we widen to reveal that it's now daylight
and the scene has been invaded by POLICE
TECHNICIANS. One is a photographer; another, a
fingerprint man, is spraying surfaces with a can of
fixative. In the foreground Klute and Trask are
talking with Ross, the FBI man. Ross is looking
through a dossier on Cable that Klute has compiled.
Over the following conversation we show CLOSEUPS of
material in the dossier. It contains photographs of
Cable and his life from childhood to the present -
including pictures of him with his mother and
father - she a very dominant looking lady and he a
very passive looking man;
also graduation pictures and pictures with his
former wife taken when he was still a very young
man. They are the personal images of a life time.
ROSS
(to Klute)
But if Cable killed Grunemann why
would he get you hired to look for
Grunemann?
KLUTE
Because he knew I couldn't leave
the case alone. And this way at
least he'd keep track of it. And
me.
ROSS
What about Grunemann's letters to
the girl, everything like that?
TRASK
Cable's letters, Cable's phone
calls. Cable's everything else.
He's been a Dumper a long time. He
just passed off his own peculiar
habits on the other man -- it kept
things goin'.
ROSS
OK, pretend I believe you. Tell me
how you get an indictment.
TRASK
Can't. Yet. Oh we got everythin'
else: first rate evidence Cable
typed those dumper letters to Bree
Daniel. And Jane McKenna: Klute
found a couple in her personal
remains. We got dates of Cable's
trips here coincidin' with phone
calls to Bree Daniel, also the
dates of death of McKenna and Page.
We got some hints of his personal
history. His father, unsuccessful
salesman, committed suicide when he
was 13. His mother pinned all her
hopes on her son. He won a national
science youth award at the age of
eight. They had no money, but she
hired special tutors for him in the
summer time. She saw a good thing.
He graduated from high school at 14
-- college at 16 -- no friends --
The kids in his class thought of
him as a freak. He got his Ph.D. at
18 -- married at age 21 to his then
employer's daughter. The marriage
lasted 4 weeks. Her father had it
annulled. She says he was impotent.
World War II he got in bad trouble
about a German girl, no details. We
think we know why he killed
Grunemann -- he found out Cable was
a dumper; Cable couldn't take that.
We think we know why he killed
McKenna -- she wanted to blackmail
him for it. All fine. But we got no
body, no direct witnesses, we can't
go any-damn-where.
KLUTE
That's the reason i told him we had
no evidence Tom was still alive. We
wanted to shake him into another
phone call or another letter. It
didn't work out just that way.
The Technicians, meanwhile have packed to depart.
The first Technician scoops the torn up photographs
into another collecting box. Trask retrieves the
company outing photograph.
TRASK
Gov, want to leave me that one. How
come he got to play with this one,
anyway.
KLUTE
I left them here. I was doing some
work here.
Trask eyes Klute for a moment, as if a querying his
relationship with Bree. Klute is clearly
unresponsive. Trask resumes.
TRASK
It's damn lucky you didn't have the
dossier on Cable here.
KLUTE
Nobody's seen that.
TRASK
If we get anything from the lab,
we'll have it by noon. And just
think -- all he really had to do
was write us a letter.
ROSS
Sounds to me you better shake him
again. Put him in a spot he has to
do something more -- but this time
give him a time and a place to do
it.
KLUTE
He called this morning from
Tuscarora. Asked me to meet him at
3:00 at the downtown heliport. He's
on his way to Chicago.
TRASK
He sure chalks up a lot of flight
time.
Klute starts gathering his papers we CUT TO --
INT. STAIRWELL: BREE - DAY
Bree coming up the stairs meets the Technicians
coming down -- stands aside to let them pass --
starts up again and comes face to face with Klute.
On her part we see a wish to be reconciled -- a
shyness mixed with defiance -- but Klute's manner
is arduous. She smiles nervously, asks --
BREE
Ah, Schmendrick -- what's the scam?
KLUTE
Those were police laboratory
people, they've been over the
apartment.
BREE
(mock delight)
Oh zippidy-doo, they'll find my
fingerprints.
(then)
Can I go in? I need some stuff.
He nods; she starts by. Then --
KLUTE
Where'd you spend last night?
BREE
With Trina.
KLUTE
I called Trina.
BREE
Maybe I wasn't there when you
called.
KLUTE
Bree, what's actually happened? It
wasn't that bad.
BREE
(cuts in harshly)
How do you know how bad it was?
KLUTE
Why couldn't you stay here with me?
BREE
Because I didn't want to be
touched! I didn't think you'd get
that!
Pause. Then, evenly --
KLUTE
Trask wants to talk with you.
She starts on, then turns back toward him -- rather
pleadingly --
BREE
Hey -- look officer -- I can
explain everything. It was just --
you know, everything all of a --
KLUTE
Trask wants to talk with you.
She continues on up; Klute continues down.
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT - DAY
Entering without greeting Trask (his manner is not
uncivil but simply neutral, unreacting, Cop-like)
she quickly gathers up a few properties, a change
of shoes.
TRASK
Miss Daniel, be sensible, you find
another place till we get things
cleaned up.
BREE
(brightly)
Oh well that shouldn't take you
more than another, oh, two and a
half or three years, should it?
TRASK
A few more days. We know who did
this.
BREE
So do I.
TRASK
No, not Grunemann. He's dead. The
man that killed him -- also prob'ly
Jane McKenna, also Arlyn Page.
She spins around -- mute -- terrified.
BREE
(manages)
Arlyn and Jane commited suicide. He
said they commited suicide.
TRASK
Now there's a picture I'd like you
to --
BREE
You said someone killed them, you
said you know who, you said that.
TRASK
Well we're pretty --
BREE
Why isn't he locked up?
TRASK
We don't want to just lock him up;
we want a conviction, we wanted him
to do something more.
BREE
Is that why Klute didn't tell me?
TRASK
I guess he figured it was better.
BREE
What was better? I made better
bait?
TRASK
No, that's not --
BREE
Is that what he set me up for?
Everything he's told me from the
beginning? -- don't worry, don't --
TRASK
(coldly)
From the beginning I don't know why
the hell he's messin with you. If
he was me he'd know better. If he
was even a city boy he'd know
better. You're a whore Miss Daniel,
that's the truth of it, right? Now
somethin I'd like you to look at.
BREE
I don't have to look at anything. I
don't have --
TRASK
Here please.
He coerces her to the table and unrolls the Company
outing picture. (We see the rip extending up
through the image of Tom Grunemann in the front
row.)
BREE
Oh no.
TRASK
Like for you to look for the man.
BREE
Grunemann? I've looked at him a --
Trask has clamped his thumb over the torn image of
Grunemann, indicates with the other hand --
TRASK
No. Not Grunemann. The Dumper. Just
look around -- I said look for the
Dumper.
We see her comply -- her eyes moving over the rows
of faces. Then we see her stiffen, hear her gasp --
BREE
Oh! --
-- and WE CUT TO --
INT. DOWNTOWN HELIPORT - DAY
Cable welcomes Klute. His outer manner is warm,
voluble, congratulatory --
CABLE
Sorry we had to meet here. But I'm
pressed for time.
KLUTE
Well there's a couple --
CABLE
I read your report. I had to go
along with it -- the idea of this
being a wild goose chase, Tom being
nowhere around --
KLUTE
Well as a matter of --
CABLE
I've been up country, you know my
summer place, my camp. I don't even
have a telephone there. This
morning they sent a messenger out,
that you'd been trying to call me.
KLUTE
Yeah.
CABLE
I'm on my way to Chicago. Very
important meeting tonight. Well --
any new developments?
KLUTE
Yeah, two things Pete, that --
CABLE
You said Trask was arranging
laboratory work. Police laboratory.
Anything from that?
KLUTE
Yeah. It wasn't Tom.
CABLE
I'm sorry. I don't understand.
KLUTE
It wasn't Tom that broke in the
room.
CABLE
It has to be Tom. You said he
ripped up his own pictures, he --
KLUTE
Not Tom. Whoever it was left a kind
of souvenir, I told you, in her
clothing. Semen. The laboratory got
a blood group reading from that.
The man was blood type 0; Tom was
an AB.
CABLE
(slowly)
Some mistake perhaps that --
KLUTE
No. No mistake Pete. It doesn't
prove who it was -- but proves it
wasn't Tom.
CABLE
You must be discouraged.
KLUTE
(prosaically)
Not too bad. This brings back that
Dumper in the picture.
CABLE
That who?
KLUTE
Dumper, the man Bree Daniel
mentioned and Arlyn Page knew and
Jane McKenna knew.
CABLE
You said he was no possible
connection with Tom. The Page girl
told you that, not Tom.
KLUTE
Someone's been doing all these
things.
CABLE
You were hired to look for Tom, not
someone.
KLUTE
Pete, I've got a chance to buy Jane
McKenna's black book.
CABLE
What?
KLUTE
Call-girls generally keep a book,
you know, a list of their clients.
Sometimes, if a girl retires,
she'll even sell it worth good
money. Jane McKenna had a black
book; when she died it was stolen.
I've been after it a long time.
CABLE
You were hired to look for Tom.
KLUTE
I'm meeting a man tomorrow night.
He wants to meet me on East-River
Drive -- he wants five hundred
dollars for the book. Can you get
that for me Pete?
Sometime -- right along about now -- it privately
comes to Cable that Klute may know everything and
that he, Cable, may be being trapped.
CABLE
I can't follow you.
KLUTE
Will the Company put up five
hundred dollars to get Jane
McKenna's list of clients?
CABLE
No. It's ridiculous. This has
nothing to do with Tom Grunemann.
KLUTE
(shrugs, stolidly)
It probably has the Dumper's name.
It might give us some kind of new
lead.
(beat)
I want a look at it anyhow.
CABLE
Klute, the Company's interest is
Tom Grunemann. Solely and
exclusively. You say you can't find
Tom; all right, I'll see that
you're paid off; the case is
closed.
KLUTE
All right, but I'm going to see
that list.
HELICOPTER FLIGHT is announced over loud speaker
and Cable and Klute walk onto field.
EXT. HELICOPTER FIELD
People are boarding helicopter.
CABLE
Why would they deal with you? You
don't know these people.
Klute is momentarily at a loss -- not a question
he'd prepared for -- improvises.
KLUTE
No, but Bree does. She's
negotiating for me. Bree Daniel.
Cable takes an instant to compute the thing. Then --
CABLE
I can talk it over; possibly I can
get the money. When are you meeting
the man?
KLUTE
Tomorrow evening, nine. East River
Drive and 73rd Street.
CABLE
Suppose I meet you there a half
hour before.
KLUTE
Just send me a money order.
CABLE
No, I'd -- like to be in on it.
ATTENDANT comes over to motion Cable onto the
helicopter.
Klute smiles awkwardly, raises his hand in a
goodbye gesture.
KLUTE
Well --
CABLE
Tomorrow. See you tomorrow night.
INT. HELICOPTER
Cable sits down next to window. The helicopter
begins to rise. CAMERA goes into a medium close
shot of Cable against the helicopter window. The
helicopter ascends in front of a very tall office
building made up of endless glass squares. A
telephoto lens brings the glass squares of the
building directly against Cable's head and
shoulders giving us the feeling that Cable is
almost levitating by himself. As one floor after
another disappears behind him we see an almost
manic exhultation in Cable's face; as if he is on
top of things once more.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE BROWNSTONE - DAY
We bring Klute along street, and into the
Brownstone.
INT. STAIRWELL - DAY
Klute climbs the stairs to Bree's apartment --
knocks. He waits. No answer. He calls once --
KLUTE
Bree?
No answer. He starts downstairs again -- then turns
back, unlocks the door himself, enters.
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT - DAY
The room is still disordered. Bree and Frank
Ligourin look at him, silently. Bree has been
assembling armfuls of dresses to carry away with
her. Frank sits nearby in a chair. Klute smiles a
little -- almost apologetically.
KLUTE
I'm always getting surprises.
Bree doesn't answer. She sets the armload of
dresses over the back of a chair, moves aside to
get others. Frank smiles cautiously, ruefully. Then
--
KLUTE (CONT'D)
I don't want you to do this.
He still doesn't extract an answer. She returns
with other dresses.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Please. I said I don't want you to
do this.
BREE
(tight, small)
Trask said I should move. Let's not
make a thing of it.
He continues to look at her; she continues to
gather possessions. Then trying to smile, to deal
with it casually --
BREE (CONT'D)
Look, too much is going on here.
I'm moving in with another girl,
that's all. Just for a while.
FRANK
(helpfully)
That's right. This other girl's got
a very big apartment, big, plenty
of room.
(then)
Look, it's not necessarily how it
looks, right? It's --
He thinks better of continuing. Klute looks from
him back to Bree. He speaks gravely, spacing his
words -- unable to speak any faster.
KLUTE
No. Please. Not with this son of a
bitch.
Frank rises, both nervous and offended -- but
dealing with Klute as between civilized men.
Smiling.
FRANK
Klute, let's handle it like
grownups? I mean we're all grown up
now, right?
(ventures forward)
-- we all respect each other, you
know what I mean? -- I respect you,
Bree respects you -- you could say,
it just didn't work out between you
and she. But you got to respect her
too -- you know, her best
interests, best for her --
Klute hits him, pursues, recovers, and starts to
beat him. BLOOD thickly descends the side of
Frank's face, as he struggles away. Bree is
screaming. Bree grabs at him from behind. He
thrusts her off. But it allows Frank to break away
through the still-open door. Klute pursues.
INT. LANDING AT DOOR - DAY
Frank clatters down a stairs as Klute arrives in
the doorframe, and as Bree, behind Klute, screams --
BREE
No!
Klute is restrained -- restrains himself. Frank has
faced around on the stairs, still bleeding
extravagantly from his torn scalp. Earnestly --
FRANK
Hey, I'm gonna get you dropped.
Klute start's out after him -- Frank vaults away
down the stairs -- we hear him stumbling and
running -- Klute faces sharply around into the
apartment.
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT - DAY
PAST KLUTE TO BREE. She is running away from him
again, to a corner of the apartment, fumbling at a
sewing basket. He starts in, after her.
KLUTE
(indistinctly)
Please --
TWO SHOT
She swings about as he overtakes her, holding a
pair of scissors -- simply and transcendently
terrified. She strikes at him, slashing his
forearm. He and she stand in absolute silence. He
looks down at the stain of blood spreading through
the fabric of his jacket sleeve. Then he turns out
of the room and down the stairs.
EXT. BREE'S BROWNSTONE - DAY
Klute comes out of door -- goes down steps to his
own apartment. A passerby stops him for directions
and doesn't seem to notice the blood on his sleeve.
Klute goes into his apartment.
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT: BREE - DAY
Bree is in the middle of dialing the phone. Her
hands are shaking; she misdials -- holds down the
receiver for a moment then starts again.
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: KLUTE - DAY
Klute stands in silence for a moment or two -- then
takes rather more note of his forearm. (Not
urgently but practically; it behooves him to stop
bleeding.) He turns toward the bathroom, pulling
his jacket off with the other hand.
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT: BREE - DAY
Bree speaks to the phone, trying to make a simple
point, trying to keep her voice even.
BREE
-- until he gets back.
(beat)
Yes I heard you, I understand that.
I said I'm going to come over, I'll
wait until he gets back.
She hangs up before the other party can object in
detail -- takes up her purse and goes out, not even
closing the door behind her.
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: BATHROOM: KLUTE - DAY
Klute has knotted a hand-towel around his forearm,
now uses teeth and fingers to pull the ends tight.
Then -- intending to clean up -- he takes up a
washcloth, reaches for the faucet --
EXT. BREE'S BROWNSTONE - DAY
Bree comes out of door - goes down steps -
hesitates in front of Klute's apartment struggling
with the question of whether to knock. CAMERA pulls
back to reveal we are watching her through the
windshield of a car in the parking lot across the
street. CAMERA pulls back further to reveal the
back of Cable's head as he sits in the car watching
her. Bree starts to knock on Klute's door but stops
herself and walks down the street. Cable's head
moves out of the shot. We hear the sound of the car
door opening and closing. Through the windshield we
see Cable cross in front of the car and start to
follow Bree down the street.
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: BATHRO0M: KLUTE - DAY
Klute finishes mopping up. SOUND OF TELEPHONE. He
turns back out of the bathroom and answers it.
KLUTE
Hello?
(listens, then soberly - )
Trask, I don't get that.
EXT. STREET: BREE - DAY
Bree is about a quarter block away from the
Brownstone now, hurrying. She waves in the
direction of a cab, misses it, continues on. We CUT
TO --
EXT. STREET: CABLE - DAY
Cable stands looking after her, hesitates over
choice of action, decides to follow.
EXT. STREET: FIGURES: PAST BREE TO CABLE - DAY
We establish the distance between them -- Cable 100
or so feet behind her, unnoticed by her,
maintaining about the same pace, not -- at this
point -- trying to overtake (perhaps waiting for
less populated surroundings) We CUT BACK TO --
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: KLUTE - DAY
Klute continues his phone conversation, short
spoken.
KLUTE
Who told you, his secretary?
(listens)
Has someone checked his hotel? He
always stays at the --
(then)
I'll look around, I'll call you
back.
He hangs up. First he checks out the windows (but -
if we want to be accurate - from mid room, without
directly approaching the windows themselves). Then
he secures a pistol from his jacket (and folds the
jacket itself over his arm to conceal it, as a
matter of public decorum), and goes on out.
INT. STAIRWELL: KLUTE - DAY
Klute's manner, over the next few minutes, exhibits
an absolute, untheatrical, care and competence. A
man -- Cable -- may in fact be hiding here
somewhere to kill him. He sets about checking the
likely places -- first of all the lower hallway,
then the stairwell itself, moving steadily
unalarmedly up.
At the top he notes -- but still without main
concern that Bree's door is open. He calls ahead --
KLUTE
Bree --
INT. BREE'S APARTMENT: KLUTE - DAY
He enters, puzzles, starts checking around (quite
thoroughly; she might be hiding from him). We CUT
BACK TO --
EXT. STREETS: BREE; FIGURE OF CABLE - DAY
Bree moves past CONSTRUCTION WORK, through one of
those temporary pedestrian passageways. Behind her,
nearer than before we see the FIGURE OF CABLE.
INT. STAIRWELL - DAY
Klute comes quickly back downstairs, back into his
room, takes up the phone. Through the still-open
door we watch him begin dialing -- then CUT TO --
INT. SPANGLER'S (OUTER) OFFICE - DAY
Bree sits isolated on the waiting-room couch. She
may have been here for fifteen minutes -- or an
hour. She turns the pages of a magazine -- one
handed, without even lifting it from the coffee
table, with an absolute lack of interest, a
mechanical gesture.
We hear FOOTSTEPS approaching directly toward where
we are watching Bree sit.
LELA (O.S.)
Mrs. Daniel --
WIDER - TWO SHOT
Bree looks up in a kind of frozen terror, as the
Secretary smiles nicely -- lovingly down at her.
LELA
-- I have to close up now. Leave
your name and number with his
message service, Mrs. Daniel, and
why don't you just go home and wait
until he --
BREE
No.
LELA
Well I have to close up now.
BREE
Look -- could I use your phone?
LELA
Yes indeed.
BREE
Look. I almost killed my -- I
almost killed someone.
LELA
(the same tone,
completely)
Well I'm certain Doctor Spangler
will want to talk with you; excuse
me.
Bree moves to the desk and telephone. But we move
with the Secretary as she moves into Spangler's
inner office and switches out the lights
(establishing TIME CHANGE: dusk now) and as we
hear, O.S., the sound of DIALING and BREE'S VOICE --
BREE (O.S.)
Is Mr. Faber there?
(beat)
Mr. Faber Senior.
INT. GARMENT BUILDING: FABER'S OFFICE: FABER - DAY
(NIGHT)
Mr. Faber's phone buzzes; he picks it up.
FABER
Yes?
(then, glancing about)
Bree?
INT. SPANGLER (OUTER) OFFICE: BREE ON PHONE - DAY
(NIGHT)
BREE
(haltingly)
-- I'm -- I just have to talk to
someone. I'm just a little way
across town --
FABER, ON PHONE (OFFICE)
FABER
Yes - yes dear, yes -- maybe half
an hour, sure, yes.
He hangs up. An ancient stirring, a kind of
triumph. He glances about, then tightens his tie.
Then it comes to him, after all -- he takes note of
himself -- he leans forward against his desk and
rubs his forehead with old bony fingers. We CUT TO
-
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT - DAY (NIGHT)
KLUTE on phone.
KLUTE
Trina, will you call me if you hear
from, her? Will you check other
people she might call? Yeah, if it
wasn't trouble I wouldn't ask vou.
He hangs up, immediately starts to dial again, then
pauses to check a list he's laid out by the
telephone. While he's doing this, his PHONE RINGS.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Yeah?
(then)
Nothing yet, Trask; I'm going down
the list. I've tried Spangler's
office and Spangler's home; I just
get his message service. I'll keep--
(interrupted -- listens --
then -- grimly)
I may have steered Cable that way.
I told him Bree was dealing for me,
for Jane McKenna's book. Have you
found any --
He is interrupted again -- Trask wasting no words
on his end of things -- nods once --
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Yeah.
-- and depresses the receiver just long enough to
clear the connection, and starts dialing again --
We CUT TO --
INT. STAIRWAY OF GARMENT BUILDING - DAY (NIGHT)
Quitting time. As Bree enters from street level,
employees are coming down the stairs, pushing past
her. She continues up on until at one point -- one
more officious or more communicative than the
others informs her --
FOREMAN
Lady, it's closing up there.
BREE
What?
FOREMAN
We're closing up, quitting time,
Fabers.
BREE
(unsurely)
I have an appointment with Mr.
Faber.
FOREMAN
Oh, yeah.
He lets her pass, glances after her like the
others, continues on his way.
INT. GARMENT BUILDING: FABER RECEPTION AREA - DAY
(NIGHT)
Bree arrives at the head of the stairs -- as still
others press past her on their way down -- and
comes more or less directly up against the thickset
RECEPTIONIST. She is packing her purse, preparing
to depart, looks somewhat challengingly at Bree --
who sees no way to avoid the issue.
BREE
I have an appointment with Mr.
Faber.
RECEPTIONIST
In there.
(turns, bawls)
Mr. Faber --
Bree goes on nervously in the direction indicated,
toward --
A CORNER OF OFFICES: NATHAN FABER
NATHAN stands bending over a bench with back to
camera, conferring with another man as Bree
approaches -- looking to us, as to her, exactly
like his father. We hear the Receptionist's VOICE
repeating --
RECEPTIONIST (CONT'D) (O.S.)
(CONT'D)
Mr. Faber --
As Bree nears him, he straightens and turns -- a
much younger man. Bree stops short, recognizing the
error.
NATHAN
Yes?
BREE
I'm sorry -- Mr. Faber Senior.
NATHAN
(calmly)
My father went home about fifteen
minutes ago; he wasn't feeling too
good.
She has already started away. He calls after her
evenly --
NATHAN (CONT'D)
Can I help you?
She looks back quickly, smiles nervously --
BREE
It wasn't important.
But we hold on him for a moment as she continues
out of scene -- until he turns away to other
matters. Then --
RECEPTION AREA: RECEPTIONIST, BREE
Bree returns toward Receptionist, awkwardly --
BREE
Did Mr. Faber leave a message for
me or anything? Mr. Faber Senior?
Bree Daniel.
RECEPTIONIST
Oh, I thought that was for
tomorrow.
The Receptionist riffles through a stack of
assorted envelopes -- hands one out to Bree -- and
promptly takes her way off. Out. Bree starts to
open the envelope then and there -- but OTHERS
continue to move past her. She seeks a more private
place.
ROWS OF GARMENTS
Bree shelters herself out of sight from everyone
else -- though we continue to hear INTERMITTENT
VOICES, O.S. and continue to maintain the sense of
other presences.
We see her open the envelope --
CLOSER: BREE, ENVELOPE
She finds nothing inside but money -- bills
totaling fifty dollars. We see her looking for a
message, finding nothing. It comes to her slowly
that she's been paid off and avoided. She bites her
lips in pain. She pushes back out of hiding --
RECEPTIONIST AREA
-- back to the reception area again. (By now this
immediate scene has emptied, though we catch sight
of a figure or two at scene-start, moving through
the background, and continue to hear an occasional
NOISE or VOICE O.S.)
Bree looks about for someone -- then scouts for a
pencil, finds one in a desk (or bench) drawer,
starts to readdress the envelope (to direct it back
to Mr. Faber). Then she breaks off from that, takes
up a PHONE instead, dials -- waits -- then --
BREE
Bree Daniel. Has he called in yet?
Well if he does, I'm at --
(reads phone)
-- two seven eight, three one
hundred, and I guess I can wait
here five minutes; then I'll try
from somewhere else.
(impatiently)
Just tell him Bree Daniel; he knows
who.
She hangs up, goes back to readdressing the
envelope. FOOTSTEPS are approaching in her
direction. She glances up apologetically.
BREE (CONT'D)
Mr. Faber, I just wanted to leave
this for your father, and I
wondered if you'd --
She pauses --
ANGLE PAST BREE TO CABLE
Cable hastens toward her along a lane of garments.
In this brief glimpse a ludicrous and terrifying
figure -- a noise, a gesticulation (actually the
gesture is arms out, palms downward, intended as a
quieting gesture; and the hissing noise is intended
as a shushing). Bree cries out, turns to run --
BREE (CONT'D)
Someone --
-- as we immediately, even as she's turning, CUT TO
--
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT: KLUTE - DAY (NIGHT)
Klute speaks quietly but with terrible urgency into
the phone (dealing evidently with an ethically
skittish message service at the other end).
KLUTE
Did she leave a number?
(beat)
This is a police call; don't make
me take time to prove it. Did she
leave a number? What is the number?
(beat)
What is the number? --
INT. GARMENT BUILDING - DAY (NIGHT)
Cable and Bree. They are at some remove from the
site of Cable's first appearance; there are other
evidences of time-lapse. Cable's manner is that of
slightly-strained patience -- a civility -- an
attempt now and then to smile. Bree watches his
every slight gesture, quivers to make a break for
it, tries throughout to buy time.
CABLE
Can't we talk together reasonably,
just -- ordinarily?
(beat)
I know you're expecting some kind
of -- extravagant behavior, but
believe me -- do you believe me? --
BREE
Yes -- all right --
CABLE
-- We can talk --
BREE
-- Yes.
CABLE
All right, then, an ordinary
matter. I'm a quite well off man, I
have a -- position to respect. I
would feel personally uncomfortable
to be connected with a -- certain
kind of woman, I'm sure you
understand. Do you? Well I'd like
to buy Jane McKenna's book.
He looks at her discerningly. She seems not to have
followed his exposition. He tries patiently to
clarify it.
CABLE (CONT'D)
Her black book, Jane McKenna's, her
list of -- of persons. I was told
you're negotiating for it on behalf
of --
The PHONE RINGS, an explosive noise. Bree startles.
It has been put on night-ring, to sound all over
the loft, and the noise is deafening. But -- the
most bizarre element is Cable's absolute lack of
response to it. It rings and rings as he talks and
talks -- in the same expository tone as before,
without raising his voice. It drowns out most of
his words -- at most we catch only odd phrases of
all the following -- but he seems not to hear it
any more than the clamor of other things torturing
his soul.
CABLE (CONT'D)
That was what Klute told me -- you
were negotiating for him to buy
that list. And I'm in a position to
pay a good deal more for it than he
can. Do you understand? I'd like
you to acquire it on my --
(beat)
Miss Daniel, do you not understand?
(beat)
Miss Daniel, I can't tell whether
you understand me.
(beat - still reasonably)
Is this something Klute just
invented? Is this a trap for me,
Miss Daniel; does Klute know about
me?
He turns and lifts a phone (one of the extension
phones situated around the loft) -- though up to
now he's given no evidence of even hearing the
ringing. He just stands holding the phone for a
time, then lowers it back on the receiver. With a
sort of absolute quiet --
CABLE (CONT'D)
You have no idea what I'm talking
about.
BREE
Yes -- Jane McKenna's book -- I
could make a phone call.
CABLE
No, you're frightened, you're
pretending. Well -- Klute knows
about me then. Does everybody know,
can you tell me?
BREE
Yes.
CABLE
Then it doesn't matter what I do
any more, does it?
Pause. Then he shudders slightly.
CABLE (CONT'D)
You people know nothing about pain.
We CUT TO --
EXT. STREETS - DAY (NIGHT)
We see Klute -- probably in MLS -- running along
street. He tries for a cab -- misses it -- halts
the next by expedient of cutting bodily in front of
it. The Driver starts to lean out to object. Klute
mashes him back inside, enters the cab. We CUT BACK
TO --
INT. GARMENT BUILDING - DAY (NIGHT)
MLS, the two FIGURES: CABLE, BREE. They are
somewhat separated -- Cable has gone to look down
from one of the arched windows of the loft, while
Bree remains in place. She is a prisoner, we can
suppose -- when we cut closer we'll see her eyes
continually shifting, her mind calculating her
chances -- but he hasn't molested her. He bears her
no animus at this point. His manner is rather
quiet, undetermined. He feels some relief that the
thing is, in effect, over -- and some puzzlement
about what to do (with either her or himself) now.
He returns toward her.
CLOSER: BREE, CABLE
Nearing her again, he gestures several times,
apologetically, seeking words.
CABLE
I've got no idea what I shall do.
He happens too close; she can't avoid shrinking.
CABLE (CONT'D)
I'm not going to hurt you,
absolutely, I'm not.
BREE
Will you let me go then?
He seems not to have heard the request. He sits for
a moment. An intellectual interest, a curiosity.
(Meanwhile, perhaps, we see her starting to slip
her shoes off, in hopes of running.)
CABLE
It puzzles me so badly. I've done
terrible things but I can't
consider myself a terrible man.
I've killed three people and I'd
still want to say it was accident,
do you see?
BREE
(tries again, slowly)
If you'll let me go I could tell
them what --
CABLE
(unhearing, resumes)
Tom Grunemann discovered me -- we
were here on business together, he
discovered me with Jane McKenna.
Then I suppose it was the -- the
contempt I saw in his face and the
certainty that sooner or later he'd
use it against me. Within the
Company. I endured that as long as
I could, do you see?
BREE
I'm sorry, I'm just frightened.
Yes.
CABLE
Excuse me Miss Daniel?
BREE
I said yes, I see.
CABLE
(doubtingly)
Oh no, I don't think --
BREE
Tell me. I'll listen.
(pause)
I just want you to tell me.
He rises, approaches her -- apparently taken in,
credulous, grateful, wondering --
CABLE
You're willing to listen? You want
me just to keep talking?
He hits her.
CABLE (CONT'D)
That's what you do, isn't it; you
make a man feel accepted.
That's what you all do. Your stock
in trade a man's weakness.
He hits her again.
CABLE (CONT'D)
Why don't you ask for mercy? My
God, what mercy has anyone given
me?
INT. ELEVATOR - KLUTE ASCENDING - DAY (NIGHT)
EXT. GARMENT BUILDING ROOF (DIRECTLY ABOVE FABER
LOFT) - DAY (NIGHT)
Klute has gun out - as he carefully makes his way
across the roof. Man in hotel window across street
holding drink - watches him with amused curiosity.
Klute spots entrance to stairway.
INT. GARMENT BUILDING: KLUTE - DAY (NIGHT)
Klute goes downstairs to back entrance of Faber
loft. He slips inside. He hears THE SOUNDS OF THE
BEATING -- a stirring of feet and indistinct impact
sounds, a murmur of voices (but all quite muted,
undramatic). He maneuvers through lanes of
garments, trying to gain a line of sight. He
understands what's going on, strains to intervene,
but can't disclose himself. At a point, he drops to
hands and knees, slides underneath the garment
racks, drawing closer to Cable, trying to gain
position. We intersperse his progress with further
Bree-Cable fragments, as for instance --
FRAGMENT: CABLE, BREE
CABLE
You're a person of no value, you
have no value --
KLUTE, SHIFTING CLOSER
Klute works his way steadily closer -- under
steadily increasing pressure, as the pursuit and
beating continue as SOUNDS, O.S. Even close at hand
the noises are ambiguous -- the clatter of
footsteps, grunts, a slap of flesh -- rather than
distinct. Once or twice we hear CABLE'S VOICE
clearly enough to make out words --
CABLE (CONT'D)
-- Is that contempt? Is it?
(then)
No, I'm the one who feels contempt.
-- and once or twice a CRY from Bree.
Klute tries to gain aim --
P.O.V. TO BREE, CABLE
-- but Cable is too close upon her, and they are
too steadily in motion.
KLUTE
Klute moves on -- moves on -- gains position --
springs.
CABLE
Cable catches the sound, whirls, screams --
P.O.V. TO KLUTE
Klute closes with him, knocks loose Cable's pistol
- contends for it again, knocks it loose again.
EFFECT -- under -- SIRENS.
CABLE, KLUTE
Cable breaks loose, backs a step -- backs another
step -- and then, turns and runs unhesitant against
one of the windows, exploding it outward with him,
both frame and glass.
EXT. WIDE SHOT: BUILDINGS - DAY (NIGHT)
We see the body tracing its quick path down the
dark side of the building.
EXT. DOWNSHOT FROM LOFT TO STREET (KLUTE'S P.O.V.) -
DAY (NIGHT)
EXT. BASE OF BUILDING: CABLE'S BODY - DAY (NIGHT)
The sound of SIRENS a little LOUDER.
INT. GARMENT BUILDING: KLUTE, BREE - DAY (NIGHT)
Klute turns from looking down, moves to where Bree
kneels on the floor. He hunkers down.
In a gentle-enough VOICE, but matter-of-factly
withal -- as if to a child --
KLUTE
Come on.
(pause)
Come on.
(Note: also shoot in MSL, without dialogue, with
SIRENS O.S. full up.) Then we CUT TO --
INT. KLUTE'S APARTMENT - DAY
KLUTE is packing to leave. We follow him about as
he carries clothing from closet and bureau, folds
it into his suitcase on the table. We hear the
familiar FOOTSTEPS on the stairs. Bree's KNOCK. He
lets her in, keeps on about his business. His
expression is sober; hers is quite tentative.
BREE
Hi.
He doesn't at least expel her. She ventures in,
sits on the table, swings her heels, watches him
pack. His arm impairs him. At length --
KLUTE
I got a call from Ross this
morning. Cable owned a plot of
woodland -- he'd go there on
weekends. They found Tom
Grunemann's body buried there.
They've notified his wife.
BREE
Oh.
(pause; then sharply --)
Well it wasn't us city people that
did it -- your fine rosy-cheeked
country boy.
KLUTE
Mm.
BREE
You're going back?
KLUTE
Mm.
Pause. She compresses her lips, slips down from the
table, starts smartly out of the room.
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Wait.
She returns and sits on the table again, waits. But
Klute doesn't seem about to say anything more --
goes on packing.
BREE
Well suppose I hadn't come
downstairs. Would you just have
folded up and sneaked away?
KLUTE
(slowly)
No. I was going to come up. I
wanted to ask you to marry me.
(pause)
BREE
You wanted to, or you are?
KLUTE
I am.
BREE
You could at least look at me!
He complies, stands and looks, folding a necktie.
But now she finds she has to look away. Somewhat
brokenly --
BREE (CONT'D)
Look -- yes. I mean thanks, but --
don't you think we better be
realistic?
KLUTE
About what?
BREE
Look at me. I'm pretty and sort of
clever and very well intentioned,
and dear God I'd tear your heart
out!
KLUTE
I don't think so.
He resumes packing, continues through the
following.
BREE
How can you not think so? You know
the things I can do.
KLUTE
(unclearly)
They don't scare me any more.
BREE
What?
KLUTE
Doesn't scare me. I think we could
handle it.
Thereafter he guards his silence, staunchly goes on
packing, as she comes at the thing from various
sharp angles.
BREE
Please, I'm a city person. I'm sure
it's just as good as here but I'm a
city person, that's all, I am!
(pause)
Hell I know what it's like. I was
in Jersey once: the frogs go bra-a
p all night!
(pause)
What'im I supposed to do? Mend your
socks and sing in the church choir?
(pause, choking) )
Do you not believe I love you? I'm
honestly, honestly just --
He has almost finished packing -- returns toward
the suitcase with the tin CLOCK and electric FAN,
tries to fit them in as conversation continues.
BREE (CONT'D)
Look, why should it be yes or no?
Can't we keep it going and see? I
mean we can keep in touch and visit
each other and see. People do that,
that's realistic.
KLUTE
OK.
BREE
(bitterly)
You don't believe that either, do
you? Why can't you see my side?
KLUTE
Can you use these?
He sets the fan beside her, hands her the LOUDLY
TICKING clock. She holds it in her lap, numbly.
He's packed -- closes various drawers, leaving in
good order -- snaps the suitcase shut, lifts it
stiffly down from the table. She remains sitting.
BREE
Can I carry something for you, to
the car?
(he shakes his head)
Will you kiss me?
KLUTE
No. I'm sore.
He moves to the door, pauses, half-smiles --
KLUTE (CONT'D)
Well --
She smiles back. He goes. We hear the entryway door
opening and closing.
She slips down off the table. We CUT TO --
EXT STREET OUTSIDE BROWNSTONE - DAY
Klute is, let's say, about seventy feet on his way
when she appears at the front door, calls after
him.
BREE
Hey.
He turns around and stops. He walks slowly back to
her.
CLOSER: BREE, KLUTE
He arrives in proximity to her. Then the following
events in more or less the following order:
He looks at her inquiringly. She responds by
sitting down, plunk, on the grubby front step of
the Brownstone.
Having stood for some time -- during which she has
offered only twitching motions of her hands -- he
sets down the suitcase.
Having set down the suitcase, but derived no
answer, he reaches out one arm, and leans against
the building front.
She nearly arrives at the level of statement.
Fretfully, indecisively --
BREE
Oh heck --
(pause)
Oh heck --
Then, as a man not to be dallied with, he picks up
the suitcase again. She looks at him strickenly,
but it doesn't precipitate her into speech.
He puts it down again.
And then -- then, after all, goddamit, he reaches
out, grabs her wrist, and simply hauls her along,
suitcase in one hand, Bree in the other. As she
yanks, shouts, struggles --
BREE (CONT'D)
I haven't decided yet!
(beat)
I haven't decided yet!
(beat)
I haven't decided yet! --
THE END
