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The Day the
Earth Stood Still

Original Screenplay
Edmund H. North
February 21, 1951

Pages 100 to 110

 


Page 100


261. MED. SHOT - INTERSECTION

In this side street, too, an Army vehicle is standing.


262. TWO SHOT - HELEN AND KLAATU

Their eyes meet for a moment, neither willing to conjecture what this might mean. The very quietness of the operation is ominous and menacing. Their faces show grave concern.


263. INT. STAFF CAR - CLOSE SHOT – COLONEL

COLONEL
(into radio)

Attention, Zone 5-- report when target vehicle passes your position.

264. EXT. TAXI MED. CLOSE SHOT

shooting through the window at Helen and Klaatu, who are growing more tense and nervous.


265. MED. SHOT - INTERSECTION

shooting over the back of a jeep mounting a machine gun as the cab passes the intersection. The driver picks up his radio and reports into it.


266. MED. CLOSE SHOT - WEAPONS CARRIER

shooting through the windshield as the driver reports by radio, his eyes shifting to follow the moving cab.


267. INT. TAXI - TWO SHOT - HELEN AND KLAATU

Helen is biting her lips nervously. She steals a sidelong glance at Klaatu to find him staring ahead, deeply preoccupied and concerned.

HELEN
(trying to give him encouragement)
It's only a few blocks to Barnhardt's.

KLAATU

I'm worried about Gort. I'm afraid of what he might do -- if anything should happen to me.

HELEN
Gort?
(puzzled)

But he's a robot. I mean -- without you, what could he do?

KLAATU
(slowly)

There’s no limit to what he could do. He could destroy the Earth.

Page 101
267 Continued

KLAATU
(with great urgency)

If anything should happen to me, you must go to Gort. You must give him this message: "Klaatu barada nikto." Please repeat that.

HELEN
(shocked and bewildered,
she repeats nervously)

"Klaatu barada nikto."

KLAATU
(gravely)
Remember those words.

Helen nods, repeating the words soundlessly.


268. SERIES OF CUTS

of vehicle drivers reporting by radio as their eyes follow the progress of the taxi. (These should be shot so we don’t hear what is said.)


269. CLOSE SHOT - COLONEL IN STAFF CAR

listening to these reports. Then he speaks into his transmitter with quiet tension.

COLONEL
(into radio)

Attention, Zone 5. . . Section number 2 -- block off Tenth Street at Massachusetts… All vehicles close in.

The Colonel motions to his driver and the staff car pulls out.


270. EXT. STREET - MED. SHOT

as a convoy of eight vehicles moves down the street going very fast and swings around a corner.


271. SERIES OF CUTS

of individual vehicles that have been waiting at intersections, as they pull out and down the main streets to converge on the taxi.


272. MED. SHOT

at a major intersection, as the convoy of eight vehicles previously seen dashes through the intersection and stops. The cars quickly arrange themselves so that they form a roadblock, completely sealing off the street.


Page 103

273. INT. TAXI

shooting over the driver's shoulder. The cab is proceeding down the street. When the road block comes into range of its headlights. The driver, who has been getting uneasy, turns to face his fares accusingly.

DRIVER

Hey, what's this all about?

As he slows his cab down, Helen leans forward into scene. Frenzied, she is about to urge the driver on when Klaatu puts a restraining hand on her shoulder.


274. EXT. STREET - MED. SHOT

shooting down the street from the barricade, as the taxi stops. Army cars are closing in behind the taxi, so it is trapped. The cab door ovens and Klaatu steps out, making a run for the entrance to a pedestrian underpass.


275. MED. CLOSE SHOT - JEEP

It is one of the lead vehicles in the group coming up behind the taxi. It mounts a .30 caliber machine gun and, with the Jeep still moving, the gunner fires a burst at Klaatu.


276. MED. CLOSE SHOT - RIFLEMAN

He’s on one of the vehicles that form the barricade. He takes a bead on the running figure of Klaatu and fires.


277. CLOSE SHOT – KLAATU

He has almost reached the underpass. His hand is on the railing when he slumps to the ground, badly hit. In a moment, Helen rushes into scene, dropping down to hold Klaatu's head in her arms. He looks up at her with a feeble smile. Then his face takes on an expression of urgency.

KLAATU
(weakly, insistently)
Get that message to Gort… Right away --

Klaatu is unable to say any more. He is dead. Helen looks around wildly, helplessly, with tears and terror in her eyes.


278. MED. SHOT

as the soldiers pile out of their vehicles and close in

on the place where Klaatu lies. He is their first and all-important concern, and Helen finds herself pushed out of the way, toward the edge of the growing crowd of soldiers.


279. CLOSE SHOT

Shocked and, staggered by what’s happened, she realizes she must get to Gort. Taking advantage of the milling confusion in the dark, she edges toward the pedestrian underpass until she can slip into its entrance without being noticed. And she disappears.

DISSOLVE TO:

Page 104

280. INT. BUILDING ENCLOSING SPACE SHIP – MED. SHOT – GORT - NIGHT

In the eerie light of the huge building, the great robot stands encased in a solid block of clear, transparent plastic. As CAMERA MOVES IN slowly, we hear a low whirring sound, as of power being generated. A faint glow, visible through the plastic, emanates from Gort's body. His eyes, which seem to express rage, shifts as though he were straining to break out. As the whirring sound and the glow of Gort's body increase in intensity, the sharp edges at the top of the ice-like block melt into roundness and the plastic starts to drip away. (About 150 folding chairs are arranged on the floor near the space ship for the meeting tonight.)


281. EXT. BUILDING - MED. CLOSE SHOT - TWO SOLDIERS

The whirring sound can be heard faintly from inside. The two soldiers standing guard at the door hear the sound and listen apprehensively. The two men exchange an uneasy glance. After hesitating a moment, one of them decides to investigate. He turns and goes inside the door.


282. INT. BUILDING - MED. CLOSE SHOT - THE SOLDIER

As he stops and looks up at the robot, his eyes go wide with terror.


283. CLOSE SHOT – GORT

Gort is an awesome and terrifying sight. His head is free now and he seems to be straining against the plastic, which is dripping down the sides of the block.


284. CLOSE SHOT - SOLDIER

He glances around nervously to see that his companion has entered the building and is staring up at the robot, bug-eyed. Slowly the second soldier moves up beside the first. Wordlessly, they bring their rifles up to the ready and click them off safety. In spite of their terror, they advance slowly toward the robot.


285. CLOSE SHOT - GORT

The whirring sound is ominous and his body glows brightly. And his eyes are fixed on the two advancing figures.


286. MED. CLOSE SHOT - TWO SOLDIERS

as they move toward Gort.


287. CLOSE SHOT - GORT

From inside him comes a new and terribly sharp crackling. sound. And from his eyes two pencils of light dart out. After a moment the crackling sound stops and the light goes off.


Page 105

288. REVERSE SHOT

from same angle as scene before last. But the two soldiers have utterly disappeared.


289. FULL SHOT

as Gort resumes breaking out of the plastic. There is no sign of the two soldiers.


290. EXT. MALL - MED. CLOSE SHOT – HELEN - NIGHT

Hurrying along a footpath, nervous and distraught, she pauses for a moment, looking at the entrance of the building. Then she starts determinedly across the grass toward the entrance.


291. MED. SHOT

PANNING with Helen as she approaches the entrance fearfully. Rallying all her courage and determination, she forces herself to step inside.


292. INT. BUILDING - MED. CLOSE SHOT – HELEN

as she enters the huge, weirdly lighted building. She stops short as her glance falls on the awesome figure of Gort. Loneliness and terror grip her and she wants to run -- but she realizes she can't.


293. MED. CLOSE SHOT –GORT

He has seen Helen and his flashing eyes bore into her. His upper body and arms are free now, and the plastic is rapidly melting away.


294. CLOSE SHOT - HELEN

She is held fascinated by the robot's staring eyes. For another moment it looks as if she would, break and run. But she summons all her courage, and moves slowly toward Gort, whose legs are still held captive.


295. MED. SHOT - HELEN AND GORT

as she moves slowly, fearfully toward him.


296. MED. CLOSE SHOT – GORT

The plastic is dripping off his legs now. With great effort, he pulls his legs free and steps out of the stuff. A huge figure in the heavy shadows, he moves slowly and menacingly toward Helen.


297. MED. CLOSE SHOT - HELEN

as she stops advancing, rooted to the spot in fear. Then she starts backing away, keeping her eyes on him.


Page 106

298. MED. SHOT – HELEN AND GORT

As the great, hulking figure approaches, Helen can’t stand her ground. She turns and runs wildly toward the far end of the building. Gort follows her with unhurried, inescapable strides. Unwittingly, Helen has run into a corner, and the robot is closing in on her.


299. MED. CLOSE SHOT – HELEN

Her eyes go wide with terror as she realizes she’s trapped. In a wild effort to run around him, she stumbles and falls to the floor. Immobilized with fright, she lies breathless, looking up at him. Then she gives a piercing scream.


300. TWO SHOT - HELEN AND GORT

as the great robot bends over her menacingly, arms outstretched as though to grab or smash her.


301. CLOSE SHOT - HELEN

All hope gone, she is blessed with a moment of lucidity, and she remembers the message Klaatu told her to deliver.

HELEN
Gort -- !
(with desperate clarity)
Klaatu -- barada -- nikto.


302. CLOSE SH0T - GORT

He pauses as he hears the words. His face doesn't change expression, but the words obviously have an effect on him. He hesitates thoughtfully for a moment.


303. TWO SHOT - HELEN AND GORT

Helen watches him in an agony of suspense. Then the robot slowly bends down, picks her up in his arms and starts walking toward the space ship.


304. MED. SHOT

PANNING with Gort as he carries Helen, speechless with fright, to the side of the ship. He touches the side, and the ramp moves slightly out. He mounts the ramp, still carrying Helen, and disappears into the ship with her. And the ramp closes silently behind them.


305. INT. SMALL CORRIDOR - SPACE SHIP

CAMERA FOLLOWS as Gort carries Helen through the dimly lighted corridor into the main cabin, where he flips a switch that lights up the cabin. The robot proceeds to a small door leading off the main cabin and disappears with Helen inside it.


Page 107

306. INT. SMALL CABIN - FULL SHOT

This is revealed as a weirdly equipped laboratory, the walls of which are lined with the most complex array of mechanical and electronic apparatus. Gort sets Helen down on a stool and indicates for her to stay there. Too terrified to move, Helen watches as he busies himself with the apparatus. He starts flipping switches and turning dials. As a result, lights begin to flash and there's a strange series of mechanical noises.


307. CLOSE SHOT - HELEN

Unable to guess the reason for these preparations, she is gripped with a terrible fear.


308. FULL SHOT

Ignoring Helen completely, Gort finishes his work. Then he moves to the door and goes out, closing the door behind him. Helen rushes to the door and searches frantically for the knob -- only to find, to her terror, that there is none. Frenziedly she beats on the solid metal door.


309. EXT. SPACE SHIP – MED. SHOT

as the ramp comes down and Gort steps out. With grim, determined strides he starts toward the entrance of the building as the ramp silently closes.

DISSOLVE TO:


310. INT. POLICE PRECINCT STATION – NIGHT

The Colonel who was in charge of Klaatu's apprehension is speaking into a phone at the desk of the Police Sergeant. Standing by are three or four Army officers, among them a Captain and a Lieutenant.

COLONEL
(into phone)

Yes, sir, we’ve got the body here now…Downstairs in a cell... No question about it, General -- he's dead all right... Yes, sir… Yes -- I understand.

The General has apparently hung up and the Colonel does likewise, turning to the officers in the room.

COLONEL

General Cutler’s coming down here right away.

(to the Lieutenant)

Take a squad of men, Lieutenant, and post a guard around that cell.

(to Captain)

Captain, don't let anyone in or out of the building.

Page 108
310 Continued

The two officers mutter their "yes, sirs" and start off about their business.

DISSOLVE TO:


311. INT. JAIL CORRIDOR – NIGHT

A squad of armed soldiers, led by the lieutenant, is admitted to the corridor by a Police guard and they start marching down the corridor toward a cell at the far end.


312. INT. CELL - POLICE STATION

This is a cell on the ground floor. In the far wall is a heavily barred window, beyond which is as alley. In  f.g. are Klaatu's feet, stretched out on a crude table. As CAMERA HOLDS, the huge figure of Gort appears outside the barred window, Seeing Klaatu, he reaches up and yanks out the steel bars as though they were chicken wire. With a crushing blow of his knee he crumbles the brick and mortar below the window and steps inside the cell. He moves without interruption toward the body of Klaatu.


313. INT. JAIL CORRIDOR

Hearing the sounds of clattering metal and mortar, the soldiers race down the corridor toward the cell.


314. MED. SHOT

shooting over the backs of the soldiers as they reach the cell and look inside. There they see the giant robot picking up the body of Klaatu and starting deliberately toward the gaping hole in the side of the building. They raise their weapons and fire at Gort, but the bullets have no effect on him. Continuing uninterruptedly, he steps over the debris and disappears, carrying Klaatu in his arms.

DISSOLVE TO:


315. INT. SPACE SHIP BUILDING - MED. SHOT

as Gort enters the empty building, still carrying the body of Klaatu. CAMERA PANS with him as he strides over to the ship. The ramp opens and Gort goes inside. Then the ramp closes after him.


316. INT. LABORATORY CABIN IN SPACE SHIP

Alone in the cabin, Helen is still terrified. She looks up, startled as the door opens and Gort enters, carrying Klaatu's body over to a long counter. Once again he starts fiddling with knobs, switches and dials. As Helen watches, speechless, he starts to fasten strange-looking electrodes to Klaatu’s wrist and ankle.


Page 109

317. EXT. POLICE PRECINCT STATION - NIGHT

shooting from the outside, near the front entrance to the building, through a window into the main room where the Police Sergeant's desk is. The Lieutenant who was ordered to guard Klaatu's cell is excitedly reporting to the Colonel how Gort broke in and took Klaatu’s body. Considerably agitated, the Colonel snaps orders to the other officers, glances at his watch and motions for the Lieutenant to follow him. He and the Lieutenant cross to the door and CAMERA PANS with them as they come outside the building, hurry down the steps and get into a staff car. Several other Army vehicles join the staff car as it roars away from the curb.

DISSOLVE TO:

Page 110

318. INT. SPACE SHIP BUILDING - MED. SHOT – NIGHT

A good many of the 150 chairs are filled, and more guests are still arriving. There is no one to greet them at the door, so they wander in and seat themselves.


319. INT. LABORATORY IN SPACE SHIP

Gort is still working over the body of Klaatu. From a socket in the wall he pulls a strange-looking hypodermic needle on the end of a cord or tube and gives Klaatu a shot in the arm.


320. CLOSE SHOT – HELEN

as she watches, fascinated in spite of her terror.


321. FULL SHOT

Gort fiddles with the dials again and there are electrical cracklings and sputterings. Suddenly he flips a switch and all sound ceases. Gort removes the electrodes and watches Klaatu. CAMERA MOVES IN on Klaatu and we see him start to breathe. In a moment his eyelids flutter. Then his eyes open and he looks around.


322. MED. CLOSE SHOT

as Klaatu slowly lifts himself to a sitting position. Helen watches breathlessly as he glances around the room, as though to orient himself. Then he lowers his feet to the floor and stands up. He blinks uncertainly, then smiles at them.

KLAATU
(with a grateful glance at Gort,
he turns to Helen)
Hello.

HELEN
(staring at him)
I -- I thought you were –

KLAATU
(nodding, with a smile)
I was.

HELEN
(looking at
Gort in awe)

You mean he has the power of life and death?

KLAATU

No -- that is a power reserved to the Almighty Spirit.


Page 10 Page 12

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