measured tones:
ANDY
It was very bitter. She said she
was glad I knew, that she hated all
the sneaking around. She said she
wanted a divorce in Reno.
D.A.
What was your response?
ANDY
I told her I would not grant one.
D.A.
(refers to his notes)
"Ill see you in Hell before I see
you in Reno." Those were the words
you used, Mr. Dufresne, according
to the testimony of your neighbors.
THE THING
Screenplay by
Bill Lancaster
From the story "Who Goes There"
by Don A. Stuart
SECOND DRAFT
March 4, 1981
CAST
MACREADY 35. Helicopter pilot. Likes chess. Hates
the cold. The pay is good.
GARRY 46. The station manager. Stiff. Ex-army
officer. Wears a handgun.
CHILDS 33. Six-four. Two-fifty. Black. A
mechanic. Can be jolly. But dont mess.
BLAIR 50. Sensitive. Intelligent. Unassuming.
An a
measure up in a series of
test cases, the President will
support full integration within
three years time.
Surprised -- maybe even startled -- DeHaven flips through
the report, absorbing by osmosis.
WHITE HOUSE #2
Its your gender-blind Navy,
Senator. Surely youre not going to
balk now.
DEHAVEN
Well, its just that askin you all
to integrate the Navy is like
sending a man to do a womans job.
(a bea
stiff white blouse.
She sprays herself with dime store cologne.
CUT TO:
EXT. HALLWAY
Christine opens the girls room door; she looks both ways.
No one is around; she saunters down the hall.
Page 2.
ANGLE ON A DOOR MARKED BROOM CLOSET
Christine opens this door. She looks into the closet.
There is a very nervous thirteen-year-old BOY waiting for
her inside.
CHRISTINE
Hi, Jimmy.
Christine slips insid
measures.
Cutbacks? With an election
next year, it might...
You want the tooth fairy to come,
youre gonna have to put some teeth
under the pillow.
Agreed. With what weve done,
were now in a position to take stock...
make our judgments regarding
the staffing and expenditures...
and we will take a long, hard,
critical look at all...
Im just trying to figure out what kind of
idiot shows up his first
stiff and
grotesque.
MORAN lurches back in shock as the raveling net LIFTS from
the waters surface...
...the face of Carl Heine. Turned to the sun.
Moran reels away as his young deputy, ABEL MARTINSON, turns
to throw up over the gunnel behind him.
CUT TO:
INT. CORONERS LAB - DAY
The face of HORACE WHALEY, coroner, gazing down. A shading
of regret behind the professional mask. Carls face is
reflec
livering his valedictory. He is a
rare bread -- a battle-scarred innocent.
AARON
...and finally to the teachers of
Whitman High School, I dont have the
words to express my gratitude which
may have more to say about the quality
of the English Department here than
my own limitations...
He awaits a laugh and gets only the weird sound of collective
discomfort.
AARON
...that was, of course, not mean
Phony.
[Honk] Ooh!
- Im Mrs. Caloway. - Hi.
- And this is Grace. - Hi.
No applause and trophies here, Im afraid.
Just the fruits of our good, honest labor.
Hi.
Workin stiffs, huh?
Boy, I remember those days.
Wow! Youre the biggest cow I have ever saw.
Well, if youre in charge, Ill take that as a compliment.
- Uh... - And if youre not...
I guess Ill just have to sit on you.
Mom!
Hey, Im only k
stiffs
gotta work for a living, you know,
not like some guys I know.
- So how was the vacation?
- Fantastic.
- Great.
- Listen, Andy,
theres something I wanna
talk to you about.
Now, its not exactly the way
we hoped it would be, but...
You got a minute?
No, its a sharp.
And fingers like that.
OK?
OK, Melanie,
I think thats enough for today.
- Remember to practice those scales.
- Yes, Mrs. Richard
stiff
leave me?
[Clearing Throat]
Um, I believe that
what the bereaved...
is trying to express
is that the sudden death...
of her only father has
left a great gaping void...
in her bank...
in her life.
Carrigan wonders what he has
left her to fill it up with.
Hmm. Lets see.
Bobcats, owls,
snakes.
Daughter: Carrigan.
Whipstaff Manor in Maine.
And?
And Im late for lunch,
so if youll excuse me.
Are