[Hushed voices in the background]
[Grunts]
Aah.
Cooperative as ever, abigail.
Woman, whispering: it's the worst play i've ever seen.
Man, whispering: i can't believe
Sidney bruhl wrote it.
Good evening, mr. Bruhl.
How'd it go?
Man on tv: you want to be alone.
[Audience laughing and applauding]
Man on tv: the lines are trouble.
But you don't have to look your best.
[Audience laughing]
Ohh.
[Telephone rings]
Aah!
Ohh. Sidney?
Darling?
Oh, darling, i've been so anxious!
How's it going?
What do you mean it's a disaster?
Oh, sidney, you always think that on opening night.
Of course it's not a disaster.
They're laughing, aren't they?
Sidney...
Are they laughing?
Sweetheart...
Sidney...
They're not laughing at all?
[Clack]
My god. Who could ever have believed
It would end this way?
Who?
Who?!
[Applause]
Well, bruhl, you want to know who?
I'll tell you who.
My lawyer,
My accountant,
My proctologist,
Even my goddamn wife.
Yeah, she told me, she said, "you produce
"Another crock by that putz sidney,
You deserve to go broke."
Even my goddamn wife!
She should know, seymour. It's her money.
Putz!
Listen, pal, you and me
Been in this business a long time, right?
Long enough to know it ain't your opening night crowd
That hands down the verdict.
So just relax, kid.
Count your loot,
And drink your orange blossom.
Thanks, burt.
The critics are gonna love you, mr. Bruhl.
You got my promise, ok?
Here we go.
[Turns on tv]
Man: our drama critic, stewart klein.
Sidney bruhl's new play,
Which opened tonight at the music box,
Is billed as a comedy-Thriller.
So much for truth in advertising.
[Tv knob clicking]
Well, theater lovers, there is bad news tonight.
Bad sets, bad costumes, bad direction, bad actors,
And from playwright sidney bruhl,
A spectacularly bad play.
Well, sidney bruhl's new whodunit murder most fair
Opened tonight at the music box.
But there's no point in you folks going there,
'Cause i'm gonna tell you who done it.
Sidney bruhl done it.
And what's inexcusable is he done it in public.
Well, they weren't real raves, sidney,
But they certainly weren't what i call bad.
I'm doing the only sensible thing!
I'm getting pissed!
And i'll see you in easthampton in the morning.
Conductor: easthampton.
Easthampton.
Cabby: that'll be $52.
Aah!
Oh!
Every time i come in this bloody house,
You scream!
I have just been to the worst opening night
Of my bloody life--
And that is no small boast--
I was called a putz by seymour starger,
And i had to come back home on the bloody train!
Why didn't you take a limousine?
Because i can no longer afford a bloody limousine!
Of course you can. I can, and everything i have is yours.
Don't you understand?!
I want to pay for my own bloody limousines!
Myra, i have had 4 bombs in a row!
And you know, they deserved to bomb, because they stank!
Murder most fair was total shit!
Because i'm written out.
Out!
I can no longer cut it, my darling.
Do you know what happened to me tonight?
I passed out in the train,
And i came to in the terminus at montauk!
End of the line!
Bloody symbolic.
My christ...
This has been some kind of walpurghisnacht.
Oh, darling.
Oh.
Darling, i won't let you do this to yourself.
Darling, listen to me.
Darling, you're a wonderful, wonderful writer!
You are just going through a streak of bad luck!
And! And to add bloody insult to injury,
This came to the theater tonight. Tonight!
What, darling? What?
This is what.
A thriller in 2 acts. One set, 5 characters.
A juicy murder in act one, terror in act two.
An ironic and astonishing resolution,
Good dialogue, laughs in all the right places,
Very, very commercial, and easy to cast!
Ha ha ha ha ha!
Darling, what's funny?
What's funny?
I'll tell you what's bloody funny!
It was written by some ignorant, infant asshole
In the seminar i gave last year at college,
Name of...
Clifford anderson.
Oh, li-Listen to this.
Listen to this.
Uh, blah blah blah,
"...Without your guidance and inspiration..."
Uh, blah blah blah,
"...Therefore, it is only fitting
"That you should be the first person to read it.
"If you find it..."
Blah blah blah,
"...Your own great work, i'll consider my time well spent,
"And the fee for the seminar
More than adequately rewarded."
Oh, my darling, that's very nice. Touching.
"P.S.
"P.S. Please excuse the carbon copy.
"The local xerox machine is on the fritz,
"And i couldn't stand the thought
"Of waiting a few days to send my firstborn child
Off to its spiritual father."
Ohh.
Would 'ems wike to frow up?
Oh.
Little son of a bitch even types well.
[Breathing heavily]
Wait a minute.
Not so little.
I think i remember him.
Obese.
Yes, i do remember him.
He was the glandular case that sat in the front
And never took his piggy little eyes off me.
Darling, is it really that good?
Is--Is it really that good?
It couldn't be, could it?
I mean, a first attempt by a total amateur?
I'll tell you how good that is.
Even a gifted director couldn't hurt it.
Myra?
Darling, this is just--
Do you realize this is the first opening night ever
That i couldn't be with you?
Darling, i felt so bad.
Darling, i was so anxious.
I know, darling.
I should have given more thought
About you being left at home.
Myra?
Yes, darling?
Myra. Myra.
Yes?
I must be able to trust you, darling.
Oh.
You cannot smoke.
You know that, don't you?
You taking your pills?
No.
Now, everything's going to be all right
Provided you take reasonable precautions.
Don't make me worry about you
Every time you're out of my sight.
Oh, darling, i am so sorry,
But i was so anxious.
That's not your job, anxiety.
Anxiety's my job, you got that?
I've got that, darling.
Myra: how does mr. Anderson's play read when you're sober?
It's worse than i thought.
It's flawless.
So...so maybe you should do something about it.
What i should do is beat the fat bastard
Over the head with that mace over there,
Bury him in a hole
Big enough to accommodate his bloat,
And then send his little masterpiece off
Under my own name.
There's the best idea i've had in 10 years.
Yes, darling,
It's so unfair, isn't it?
Hmm?
I mean, what's the point in owning a mace
If you don't use it?
[Laughs]
Darling, do you know what i was thinking last night?
Why don't you produce the play?
I mean, you've been involved in production for over 20 years.
You certainly know as much about it
As someone like seymour starger.
Darling, though i might be capable
Of killing clifford anderson,
I am not up to the criminal behavior
Of a broadway producer.
I daresay not.
Well, have you thought about collaboration?
I don't want any help in killing clifford anderson.
I want to strike the blow myself.
Darling, seriously.
Have you thought about collaborating on the play?
On deathtrap?
Surely, if it's as good as you say it is,
It wouldn't hurt if it got a little bit
Of the old sidney bruhl polish and pizazz.
What do you think, my darling darling?
And don't tell me that an absolute amateur
Wouldn't be thrilled at the chance of working with you.
You mean, i sex it up a little
And then split 50-50, huh?
But of course i'd get top billing.
Why not? On the basis of who you are.
You sure you don't mean who i was?
Sidney!
You were and are...
The author of the murder game,
The longest-Running thriller
In the history of broadway.
God.
I hadn't realized.
You mind the failure as much as i do,
Don't you, myra?
I expect it was rather fun
Being married to that sidney bruhl.
Ah, well.
Nothing recedes like success.
Oh, darling, call him.
Call him now. Where does he live?
Up in quogue.
You don't like the mace?
No, definitely not.
Blood on the carpet.
Then the next day helga ten dorp's out there
Picking up psychic vibrations.
Helga ten dorp from holland?
I hardly think that's likely.
Oh, i knew it! I knew you'd gone blank with boredom
The other night at nan's.
They never stopped talking about it.
Helga ten dorp, she's taking the prisky cottage for 6 months.
Paul wyman's representing her.
A big book and u.S. Promotion.
My god, darling, paul was impersonating her
For 20 minutes the other night.
Oh, is that what he was doing?
I thought he was finally coming out of the closet.
Ha ha ha ha.
Anyway, about miss ten dorp,
I don't think paul's agency would handle her, darling,
If she weren't genuine.
Oh, listen, nan and tom had her over for dinner last week.
She told tom all about his backaches,
All about the money he lost in silver futures,
And all about his father's thing for tall women.
Oh, and she found a set of keys
That nan lost in 1969, darling.
They were right there under the clothes dryer.
You know, right this minute,
She's probably down there with her radar
Picking up your blips.
My word.
That does give one pause.
She's really fantastic.
The european police
Believe implicitly in her, darling.
That's half of why she's here.
She's supposed to be resting up
From pointing at murderers.
Is the larder up to another pot of tea?
Hmm.
Look, the same bloody key ring
From both millie and tom.
[Laughing]
Darling, you know, i really do think
That you should call mr. Anderson.
Wait a minute.
The fat one didn't stay the full week,
And his name was quen-- Quincy?
Something beginning with a "q."
Anderson. Anderson.
I wonder if anderson was the one with the stammer.
[Laughing]
My god, they all seemed so dim and underdone.
Would you listen to me?
Did you hear what i said?
I think you should call mr. Anderson.
You have not got a thing to lose.
Myra.
What?
Have i gone through everything?
Yours and mine?
Is that why you want me to phone this guy?
No, darling, it's not the money.
I'm ok, which means you're ok, dopey.
Darling, you're a writer.
All writers go through periods like this.
All you need is a change of pace.
Anything.
A collaboration.
To work with someone young.
Younger.
Don't you see?
By teaching mr. Anderson,
You'll get yourself started again.
Darling, really,
I think it is a god-Sent opportunity.
I really do.
Call him.
The mace would be quicker.
Oh, sidney, be serious.
Sidney, what's the matter with you?
Oh, my god.
Oh, my god. You did have a bad night, didn't you?
[Laughs]
I think that you're thinking that after last night
You actually would kill to have another hit play.
Do you know what this play would net its author
In today's market?
Between $3 and $5 million.
And that is without the deathtrap t-Shirts.
Now, if that isn't a thinking man's motive for murder,
I don't know what is.
"362-1894."
[Dialing phone]
Hello.
Is this, uh, clifford anderson?
Sidney bruhl.
Yes, i have,
And i must say, in all sincerity,
This is a very promising first draft.
A trifle unsteady at the odd moment,
But it has all the makings.
Oh, yes.
I know that feeling so well.
I thought the murder game was finished
The first time round,
But then i gave it to someone
With real theater experience.
They took it in hand and helped me revise it.
I hate to think what would have happened
If i had sent it out in its original form.
Well, actually, it was george s. Kaufman.
Yes, but he wouldn't take any credit,
Though i urged him to.
But, um, listen,
What sort of reaction have you had from other people?
Oh.
No one at all?
Well, uh, that's, uh, that's very flattering.
I mean, but you must've shown it to someone.
I mean, uh, your wife, your friends,
Um, other people at the seminar?
Oh, i see.
Well, that sounds like an ideal situation for a writer.
Yeah.
Oh, yes, of course.
Yes, another thriller.
It's about a woman with esp.
It's based on--On, uh, helga ten dorp.
You know, the dutch psychic?
She's a neighbor of ours.
It's called the frowning wife.
Yes, well, that's just a working title.
I loved deathtrap, incidentally.
Both the title and the play.
Well, yes, i have,
But i mean too many to go over on the phone.
As a matter of fact, i'm free this evening.
Yes.
Why don't you drive over?
It's not very far.
Oh. Hmm.
Well, i tell you what, you get a train,
And i'll come and pick you up
At the easthampton station.
All right?
The what?
The 7:29.
Oh, that'll be fine.
Oh, uh, um, and would you bring the original copy with you?
Yes.
I--I think it's best that we have 2 copies to read from.
And the carbon's a little bit hard
On these weary old eyes.
Yes, well, we'll make that 7:29.
Um, yes.
Well, i'll see you then.
Oh, and, um, clifford,
Um, i may be a few minutes late,
I have some errands to run. Yes.
So wait for me by the station,
And i'll be along eventually.
I'll be in a brown mercedes.
Yes. All right.
Well, bye-Bye, then. I'll see you later.
What errands do you have to run?
Oh, i thought you said something about library books.
Picking them up, taking them back.
No, i didn't.
I--I don't think i-- I don't think i did.
Well, i thought you did.
I did?
The xerox has been mended.
But he wants to wait a couple of days
In case i have any small suggestions.
No one else has read it.
No one else even knows he's working on it.
He's house-Sitting for a couple who are in europe,
And he's unmarried.
His car...
Is in the garage for repairs.
[Laughs]
So, no one will see you picking him up.
That's right.
Why did you ask him to bring the original?
Because we need 2 copies.
I don't want him
Leaning over my shoulder all evening,
Jeering at my ring- Around-The-Collar, do i?
Yes, but won't he have another carbon copy
Lying around somewhere?
And notes and rough drafts and outlines.
And on opening night of my dazzling triumph,
His gray-Haired old mother
Will come tearing down the aisle screaming,
Closely followed by
The quogue and easthampton police departments.
[Flips turn signal]
Hi, mr. Bruhl.
Ohh.
Wow.
This is beautiful.
I frequently fantasize about high-Tech--
Something you just hose down.
Hello.
Oh, thank you.
Here we are, darling.
This is clifford anderson. My wife myra.
Hi. Pleasure to meet you.
So nice of you to come, mr. Anderson.
No, no. I am very proud to be asked.
Oh, boy!
[Clifford whistles in amazement]
Clifford: is--Is this the mace
That was used in murderous child?
Sidney: yes.
And this here-- See this small one here?
That's the dagger from the murder game.
Wow.
Be careful. It's sharp.
The prop one was substituted in the second act.
Mmm.
Oh, g--
In for the kill, right?
Yes.
Myra: the train must've been late.
Was it?
Uh, no, mr. Bruhl was.
Train was on time.
I had to get some gas,
And frank insisted on poking around
Under the hood for 10 minutes.
Oh, my god.
Gunpoi--
Do you know that gunpoint
Is the first play that i ever saw?
I was 12 years old.
Young man, if you're trying to depress me,
You're right on target.
Oh, i'm sorry.
But really, that's how i got hooked on thrillers.
Angel street did it to me.
"Bella, where is that grocery bill?
"What have you done with it...
You poor, wretched creature?"
I was 15.
Sounds like some awful disease
That's passed down
From generation to generation, doesn't it?
Yes, it's called thrilleritis malignus.
The fevered pursuit of the one set,
5-Character moneymaker.
Oh, hmmph. I'm not pursuing money, mr. Bruhl.
Well, i mean, i might like to have some
If i could have a place like this to work in,
But that isn't the reason that i wrote deathtrap.
You're infected, all right.
But you're still in the early stages.
Would you like something? Would you like a drink?
Yes, please. Can i have some ginger ale?
Of course.
Sidney, would you like a scotch?
I believe i'll have a ginger ale, too, darling.
These aren't all from your plays, are they?
Good god, no.
I haven't written that many.
Friends give me things, you know,
And i, um, prowl the antique shops.
Now there's a disease.
I found that one the other day
In, uh, sag harbor.
18th century burma.
Oh, boy, that is beautiful.
As you can see,
I'm taking very good care
Of my spiritual child.
Lock and key.
Oh, i've got the original.
It's not in a binder, though--For the xeroxing.
Makes no nevermind.
Thank you.
I've got the first draft here, too.
How many did you do?
Uh, just the one.
It's kind of a mess, but i think you can decipher it.
There are some scenes i've cut.
I had a feeling there was a diane and carlo scene
I wasn't seeing before the murder.
That's right!
See, i thought the act might run too long.
Good instinct.
What have you got in there?
Uh, let's see, i've got the outline,
From which i've departed considerably, though.
I made it the way that you suggested,
Page per scene, loose leaf.
Thank you.
And i've got some notes that i've jotted down
But never got to use.
Everything was just in one envelope,
So i just grabbed it.
It's a 2-Hour walk to the train station,
So i had to leave right after we talked.
2 hours? Mmm.
To deathtrap.
Deathtrap.
Deathtrap!
And it'll be toasted with more than ginger ale someday
If sidney's right about it, and i'm sure that he is.
I'll be quiet.
Darling,
This is clifford's first play,
And i am its first reader.
I wonder if he wouldn't rather this discussion was just...
Between us two hacks.
Of course.
This ok?
Don't be embarrassed to say so, clifford.
No. No, i don't mind mrs. Bruhl being here.
In fact, i like it.
Makes me feel a little bit less
As though i've been summoned to the principal's office.
Uh, you're welcome to read the play, too, mrs. Bruhl,
If you'd like to.
I'd like to. Thank you.
I wish you'd mentioned on the phone
That you wanted myra to read it.
I'd have asked you to bring another carbon.
I don't have another one, but she can read this one,
And we could pass the pages back and forth.
I can move over here next to you.
You don't have another carbon?
No, i just have the one.
See, i thought i'd be xeroxing the originals--
Wait a second. I want to think.
Let me think for a moment.
Mr. Anderson, sidney is simply bursting
With creative ideas about your play.
I've never seen him so enthusiastic.
He gets so many plays from aspiring playwrights,
Plays that are supposedly ready for production,
And usually he just laughs
And says the most disparaging things.
I know he could improve your play tremendously.
He could turn it into a hit
That would run for years and years
And make more than enough money
For everyone concerned.
Is this what you meant by "i'll be quiet"?
No, i won't be. I will not be quiet.
I'm gonna say something that's been on my mind
Ever since your telephone conversation.
It is very wrong of you to expect sidney
To give you the fruit of his years of experience,
His hard-Earned knowledge, without any quid pro quo,
As if that stupid seminar were still in session.
But he offered--
It's wrong of you to have made that offer, sidney!
I am the one in this household
Whose feet are on the ground,
Whose eyes are on the checkbook.
I'm gonna make a suggestion to you, sidney,
And it's gonna come as a big shock to you,
And i want you to give it your grave and your earnest
And your thoughtful consideration.
Sidney, will you do that for me?
Will you promise that you'll do it for me, sidney?
[Exhales]
Put aside the play you're working on.
Yes.
Yes,
Put aside the play about helga ten dorp
And how she finds keys
Under clothes dryers and murderers.
Just put it aside.
Put it aside
And work with mr. Anderson on his play.
Collaborate with him.
That's the suggestion i'm making, sidney.
That's what i think is the fair,
The sensible, the rational thing to do.
Deathtrap by clifford anderson and sidney bruhl.
Put aside the drowning wife?
I thought it was "frowning."
Frowning? What sort of title would that be?
The drowning wife.
No, sidney, it will keep.
Sidney, people are always interested
In psychics who can point at someone
And say, "that man murdered that man!"
[Breathing heavily]
Anyway, sidney, please, put it aside.
Please, sidney.
Do for mr. Anderson what...
What george s. Kaufman did for you.
That was a very persuasive speech,
And obviously sincerely felt.
Although how it must have sounded
To clifford--
Well, i sort of feel as though i'm on the spot here.
Yes, you are, really.
Myra has put you there.
As a matter of fact, she has put us both there.
I just thought i should bring it up now.
Right now before anything--
Um, may i just say,
Um, first of all, i'm overwhelmed.
I mean, i'm really honored and staggered
That sidney bruhl would actually consider the--
You know, there i was, i was 12 years old.
I was sitting in that theater and now i'm here--
We get--We get the gist of the message, clifford.
But, um, you see, the thing is, uh, look.
It's as if i went to a doctor,
One of the world's leading specialists,
And he recommended surgery.
Well, even--Even with all my respect
For his eminence, his experience,
I still want to get a second opinion, wouldn't i?
Oh, i mean, i'm sure that your ideas are terrific.
When i hear them,
I'm probably going to hit my head and say,
"Wow, why didn't i think of doing it that way?"
But, uh, i think you're right, mrs. Bruhl.
I don't think it would be fair for me to hear them now
Without some sort of an understanding or arrangement.
And, uh, to be perfectly honest with you,
Without having heard them,
I really feel that deathtrap is pretty good as it is.
What i ought to do, i think, is just xerox a few copies
And send them off to those agents
That you recommended in the seminar.
And, uh, well, if they say it needs major rewriting,
I'll be back here begging you to do what mrs. Bruhl suggested.
We can make whatever arrangement you think is fair at that time.
Maybe the same one you had with mr. Kaufman.
Um, i really hope i haven't offended you.
Not at all.
Oh, mr. Anderson, please.
Agents only know about contracts.
They don't know about creative...
Don't, myra!
Don't beg!
He'll think he has the wealth of the indies in there
And we're mr. And mrs. Long john silver.
I would never think anything like that.
Really, i am very grateful to you
For going out of your way to help me.
But the truth is i'm not really.
Myra here has just been rattling on for a moment.
The fact is, i do not wish to set aside
A play as timely and inventive
As the drowning wife
In order to do wet-Nurse work
On something as speculative
As deathtrap.
Why--Myra, sit down. Don't hover!
Sit down!
Do as you said. Show it to some agents,
And then, if you decide that a major rewrite
Is in order, get in touch.
Who knows, i might hit a snag.
It's happened before.
Thank you very much, i will.
Though i doubt that i shall this time.
I already have the drowning wife
Completely outlined
And i'm halfway through it.
And i have a play ready to go next.
Based on the life of harry houdini.
Jeez, there's been so much television stuff on houdini.
Oh, yes, lousy stuff. Phony and pathetic.
In reality,
Houdini's life was extraordinarily dramatic.
He's always been an idol of mine.
These are a pair of his handcuffs.
Sidney.
He always made his own magical apparatus,
Did you know that?
Extraordinary craftsmanship.
Take a look.
Sidney. Wow!
Sit down, myra.
My god, sidney, for god's sakes,
I don't even believe what you're thinking.
I must apologize for myra's suspicions, clifford.
But a few years back, we had a nasty experience
With a plagiaristic playwright,
Whose name we will not mention.
So now she gets alarmed if i so much as tell a fellow writer
What language i'm writing in.
Don't take it personally.
Oh, have a-- Have a good look at those.
They're quite remarkable.
Jeez, they really seem like very solid,
Escape-Proof cuffs.
Give them a try.
Huh! Well, you mean put them on?
They cost me $1,300.
Wow! Let's see.
Firmly manacled?
Yeah, it sure seems that way.
Now turn your wrists like this,
Now, turn, press, pull.
No, you're not doing it right.
It's got to be all in one single moment.
Turn, press, pull.
Both: turn, press, pull.
I guess i'm just not houdini.
It's all right. I have the keys here.
Somewhere.
Don't fuss with them, clifford, you'll ruin them.
Sorry.
Key, key, key. Where are you, little brass key?
I wonder if i put it up there somewhere.
[Whistling]
Um...
I forgot to mention that i should be getting
A phone call any minute now.
There's a girl that's coming to see me at, uh, at 8:30.
It's about what time it is now, isn't it?
You see, i--I couldn't reach her before i took off,
So i just left her a note in the hall mirror,
Telling her where i am and giving her this number.
Uh, so she can call and find out
What train i'll be taking back,
So she can pick me up at the station.
I mean, one 2-Hour walk a day
Is just about enough for me.
So i hope you find the key pretty soon,
Otherwise, you'll have to hold the phone for me.
How's she going to get in to read the note?
Oh, she has a key.
Ah. You said in the car you didn't know anyone in quogue,
Except a few tradespeople.
No, you see, she's from islip.
Her name is marietta kelnofski.
She teaches at stoney brook. Phys. Ed.
How'd you get this number? It's not listed.
I've had it for a long time.
I got it from mrs. Beecham at the university.
I'm very friendly with her.
That's before i decided to send deathtrap
To the music box.
Beecham?
Yes. The short red-Haired lady
With the hearing aid.
I hope she gave you the right number
Because we changed it a few weeks ago.
An obscene caller was boring us,
And i don't remember notifying old southampton college.
What number did you give ms. Kelnofski?
Well, i don't remember.
324-3049
Or 324-5457?
Uh, the first one, it was 3049.
Ah, the new one.
I must have notified the university
And completely forgot about it.
How strange and how untypical of me.
Well, uh, could you go on looking for the key, please?
Certainly.
Sidney!
What?
My heart won't take it.
Did you take your pill?
Uh-Uh.
Why are you so anxious?
You must know that i'll find the key here somewhere.
Oh, sidney!
Egads, i do believe that you two thought
I was going to take that mace
And do a vincent price, didn't you?
You can't write a play like that
And not have a mind that envisions possibilities.
True, very true. I'm paranoid myself.
What's your excuse, o loyal and loving wife?
11 years of tender marital relations,
And she apparently believes me capable of, well...
There's a lesson in there somewhere, isn't there? Hmm?
Ahem.
Here we are, clifford. Uncuff yourself.
Deathtrap is promising, but it's not that promising.
Good.
I think your best invention so far
Is the name marietta klenofski.
It's lovely. Congratulations.
Well, thanks.
Mrs. Beecham's hearing aid however,
That was a bit heavy.
Oh, i hoped it was the kind of fine detail
That you always told us to try for.
Are you sure this is the right key?
Egads, houdini opened them in a milk can
10 feet under water, and you--
Aah!
Aaah!
[Myra screaming]
Shut up, myra!
Right on the rug.
One point for neatness.
Well, my darling,
Your heart seems to have held up quite well.
It can convalesce on the riviera.
After the opening of deathtrap.
We'll go to prison for life.
No, we will not.
A young would-Be playwright...
Walks away from his house-Sitting job.
No. The police won't even yawn.
Leaving his clothes and his typewriter.
Why not? Who can figure kids these days?
Especially would-Be artistes.
Maybe he realized he wasn't going to make it,
So he ran off to preach ecology
Or join the reverend moon. Who knows?
What are you going to do with him?
Bury him behind the garage.
No. In the vegetable patch.
Easier digging.
Why don't you take a brandy or something, darling?
I am going to be a winner again.
I'm going to be the envy of all the people i envy.
All your dear friends
Are going to see you living on my money.
Myra, would you mind helping me
Carry the body, please?
Myra, it's done.
There's no point in my getting a hernia.
Myra, come and help me carry the bloody body!
Hurry up!
Take this other end.
Quickly!
Come on!
Aah!
Don't do that.
Come on, now.
Thank god he wasn't the fat one.
Did you scrape your shoes off before you came in?
We're out one rug, but i saw some lovely ones
At bloomingdale's the other day.
I've tidied up the study, darling.
All the props are back--
I have a feeling you're about to deliver a speech.
Oh, i've just been trying to understand
How you could do it, sidney.
Bearing in mind your disappointments,
Your embarrassment at our financial situation,
But i can't.
And i don't know how you're going to be able
To feel like a winner
When we'll both know that it's his play.
I can't understand that either.
I mean, you are...
Completely alien to me, sidney.
And that just can't be since 5:00.
I mean, you must always have been very different
From the man i thought you were.
I don't think the police are going to be
As disinterested as you do either,
So i wouldn't want anything to happen
That would embarrass you or be--
Look like we were being suspicious
If they came to question us.
Well, how could they? He disappeared in quogue.
This is easthampton.
Mm-Hmm.
By checking into his past associations.
I mean, his name and address
Were on the return envelope, weren't they, honey?
Anybody at the theater last night could have seen it,
They could have remembered it, right?
If they do come,
I'll simply say that he did write to me,
Asking for a secretarial position.
He sent me his résumé, and i threw it away,
Which i know i shouldn't have done, constable,
But then i've been so busy night and day
Writing this play.
Now, which one was he?
Was he the fat one? The thin one?
Or was he this one?
This one?
Ah, yes, the one who is so interested
In the hare krishna movement.
Sidney?
In a month or so, if we haven't been arrested...
Sidney!
What?
I want you to leave.
We'll have a few arguments in people's living rooms.
You can write them for us, little tiffs about money
Or you ogling nan wesson.
Oh, i wish you could take the vegetable patch with you,
But since you can't, you'll buy it from me, ok?
As soon as the money starts rolling in
Before you go to the riviera.
You'll buy the goddamn vegetable patch,
You'll buy the house, you'll buy the whole 9.3 acres.
We could get buck raymond or maury escher
To set a fair price.
[Laughs] darling, you've had such a painful--
Aah!
Don't touch me!
Myra, you have been through
A shocking and painful experience
And you are not yourself.
Neither am i.
Behind all the sidney bruhl dialogue
I am peeing the sidney bruhl pants.
I'm terrified of being caught
And absolutely guilt-Ridden
About having been insane enough to do it.
I'm going to give half the money
To the new dramatists league.
I swear it.
Now is no time to talk about it. Anything.
I mean, in a week or so,
When we're both ourselves again,
Everything will look a lot cheerier.
You are yourself. Right now. And so am i.
[Doorbell rings]
Go ahead. He sent me a résumé, officer.
It's lottie and ralph, come to yammer about the party.
It's probably helga ten dorp
And her famous pointing finger.
[Doorbell rings]
It is lottie and ralph. Damn them.
I've got to let them in.
Are you up to facing them?
No. You go-- You go upstairs.
Alone?
Jesus christ.
Dear lady-- Aaah!
[German accent] it's only me.
I am your neighbor from the house of prisky.
Uh, please, will you let me come in?
Hello. Hello.
I'm helga ten dorp, mr. Bruhl.
It's most urgent i speak to you.
I called information,
But that lady will not tell your number.
Please, will you let me come in?
Yes, yes. Please.
I am friend and client of paul wyman.
I apologize for so late i'm coming,
But you will forgive when i makes the explaining.
Oh, you forgive my costume!
I do running morning and night.
Uh, this shines in dark.
I don't get hit by traffic, yeah.
Yeah.
There's a room with pain.
No, not kitchen, no.
Sidney: excuse me, miss ten dorp.
Pain.
[Gasps] just like i sees them.
Pain.
Pain, pain, pain!
Neither of us--
Why keep you such pain-Covered things?
Those?
They're antiques and souvenirs from my plays.
I'm a playwright.
Ja, sidney bruhl.
Paul wyman tells me.
Paul sells my book when finished.
This is my wife myra.
How do you do?
My dear, what gives you such pain, dear lady?
Oh, well, nothing. Really.
Oh, no, no. Something pains you.
Paul tells you of me?
I am helga ten dorp. I am psychic.
Yes, he told us.
I wanted to talk to you--
I always know i feels the pain from here.
And more than pain.
Since 8:30, when begins the merv griffin show.
I'm on next week, you will watch.
Oh, yes, yes, certainly.
Will you make a note of that, myra?
Thursday night. I call the information,
But the lady will not tell me number.
I say, "it's urgent, you must tell me number.
I'm helga ten dorp. I'm psychic."
She says, "guess the number."
Well, i try,
But i see only the 324, which is everybody.
Because the pain gets worse.
And more than pain.
More than pain?
Ja, something else here.
Something frightening.
No, no, no, thank you, it will interfere.
What will?
Uh, the drink you were about to offer me.
Must keep unclouded the head. Never drink.
Were you going to offer her a drink?
Yeah.
Was used many times by beautiful woman,
But only pretending.
That's fantastic.
That was used every night
In my play the murder game
By tallulah, a beautiful actress.
Will be used again by another woman.
Not in play, but because of play...
Because of play, another woman uses this knife.
You must put away these things.
Yes, yes, i will.
In a month or so, i'm going to sell the whole collection.
I'm fed up with them anyway.
May be too late.
Listen, my dears,
I do not enjoy to make unhappy people,
But i must speaks when i see something, ja?
Yeah.
There's danger here.
Much danger to you and to you.
There's death in this room.
Something that invites death,
That--That carries death.
It's a deathtrap.
One says this in english, the deathtrap?
Yes, yes, that's the title of my new play.
That's where you're getting it from.
There is a death in the play.
That's what you're responding to.
I work at that desk over there.
Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Yeah.
It feels like real death.
I try to be convincing.
I act everything out as i write it.
Man...in boots... young man.
Watch out for him. Here in this room he attacks you.
He attacks me?
Ja, with one of those.
Comes as friend to help you. To--
To work with you, but attacks.
Is confusion here. Young man in boots.
He sits in this chair and he talks of 2 people.
Smith and colonna? No, one person.
Small, black, buns over ears, no, ribbon?
Is in your play,
Is such a black man, this smith colonna?
No, i don't know that name.
Do you know that name, darling? Colonna?
No, i don't know that name.
Remember what else i tell you.
Dagger is used again by woman because of play.
And the man in boots attacks you.
Of these 2 things i'm certain.
All else is confusing.
Oh, but the pain is less now, ja?
Ja. No--Yes!
I mean, no. I never had any pain to begin with, really.
What an extraordinary gift. I've--
I've always been skeptical about esp,
But, well, after this...
Whoo! Tonight,
Not in many years have i had such a feeling.
Like i was 20 again.
Have you always had this gift?
Ever since childhood?
Oh, especially in childhood.
My parents didn't wrap christmas presents.
Why wasting paper?
And then later, you know,
In my teens ages walking with boys.
Ugh, such images.
Would you like that drink now?
I'd very much like to talk to you.
Thank you, you know, but i must go to house.
I am very tired.
But you will come and take dinner with me sometime? Ja?
I will tell you all my life.
Is very interesting.
It would make good play,
But first book.
When you were a child,
You lived in large house with yellow shutters.
Eh?
Yes!
Good night.
Oh, my dear, be careful.
Right. No boots. Good night.
Oh, remember thursday night.
Merv griffin.
Sidney: would you open the window, darling?
[Sighs]
Why don't you take a pill?
I don't want a pill.
I want a drink. I want a brandy.
[Sighs] no, i'll get it.
Shall i bring one for you?
Bring the bottle.
[Creaking]
Sidney?
[Creaking]
Sidney!
There's something out there.
What?
There's something out there.
Myra, now, come on.
I heard it. Sidney, don't leave me!
Don't leave me, sidney.
Sidney, don't leave me, please!
Oh, sidney, please!
There's nothing down there.
I heard it, sidney. I heard it.
Myra. I heard it!
No, sidney! Myra!
Myra! Sidney, i heard it.
Myra, you're coming downstairs. Sidney!
We've got to go...
I don't want to go.
And get the brandy.
I'd rather not go.
There is nothing there.
You got to go down there once and for all and satisfy me...
No!
And satisfy yourself.
There is nothing down there.
There is something. I saw it.
It's just the wind.
And it's blowing the leaves--
Sidney, i don't want to do this.
Blowing the leaves against the windows.
It's right here. I heard it.
Listen, luv, you're overwrought
And no wonder in the condition you're in. Come on!
I don't want to do this.
I cannot let you do this--
Honey, i'm not going to look.
You've got to look. Look! Look!
Aaah!
Nothing there.
See, it's nothing.
Let's have that drink.
It wasn't locked.
Well, that's hardly surprising, everything considered.
Oh, yes.
[Sighs]
I suggest you sip this one.
Oh, thank you.
I'm sorry.
Sidney?
What? What is it?
I have to say something.
Sidney?
Yeah?
Part of me tonight-- Oh, sidney--
Some terrible, unknown part of me--Aah!
Oh, god...was hoping that you would do it.
At the same time that i was terrified that you would,
Part of me was really hoping.
I saw your money. I saw the name and...
You tried to stop me.
I did?
Yes, you did your best.
Now...
Darling...
This was my doing and my doing alone.
Do you understand?
Mm-Hmm.
If anything goes wrong,
I don't want any confusion
On that point...
Mm-Mmm.
Whatsoever, darling.
None at all.
But nothing will go wrong.
I promise you.
Just believe in me, myra.
Please. Please believe in me.
Mmm.
Believe.
Do you think it's possible...
That murder is an aphrodisiac?
Mmm. Ha ha ha.
Up we go.
Ha ha ha.
Look at that moon, darling.
Isn't that moon beautiful?
Open the window, darling.
Aaah!
Sidney!
Aaaah!
Listen, all i did was help carry you.
Oh, no.
Ohhh!
[Gasping]
It worked. She's dead.
Yes, of course.
She's had minor heart attacks over much less.
For future reference, clifford...
That styrofoam log hurts.
Sorry.
You did it much harder
Than you did in the motel room.
Well, christ, what about that helga ten dorp lady?
I almost had a heart attack out there myself
When she says i was going to attack you.
God!
"Ja. Is a very confusing image."
Thank god for that.
Perhaps it's a good job she came.
Now she'll be telling everybody
That she felt the physical pain of the oncoming attack.
Every little bit helps.
I've been telling people for days
That myra was a bit under the weather.
Oh, christ.
If only that goddamned lousy production
Had worked...
Even halfway.
I'd have had a movie sale.
There would have been enough.
We could have just taken off.
It didn't work, sidney.
And you knew it wasn't going to
From the second week of rehearsal.
I didn't want to kill her.
I didn't.
Well, this is not exactly what they call
Involuntary homicide.
I'll get my things.
There's no hurry.
I'm going to wait a few minutes
Before i call the ambulance.
Also, we don't want anyone
Working miracles of resuscitation, do we?
Come and clean yourself up and give me a hand.
What if that madame ten dorp comes back?
I don't see why she should.
The pain has stopped, hasn't it?
Cripes!
Why you burning it? There's nothing incriminating.
Still, i'll say i was getting rid of manuscripts
As the grim reaper struck.
The closer you stay to the truth the better.
Farewell, deathtrap.
Would that you were the genuine article.
I really am going to try something on esp.
That was an awfully impressive demonstration the lady gave,
Despite the mistakes.
Now, i'm going to make the call now,
So you go and get your things.
Well, how long you think you're going to be?
Well, at least 2 hours.
I may have to go with her. I don't know.
Well, ciao.
Ciao. Oh, cliff.
The floorboards upstairs creak,
So, do a quick washup,
Get into bed,
And stay there.
I'll buy that.
Hello? Th-This is sidney bruhl.
I-I'm at 10 hookpont lane.
Could you please send an ambulance
As quickly as possible?
My wife has had a coronary.
Please, come immediately.
Thank you.
Good-Bye.
Minister: accept the soul of our sister
Myra elizabeth maxwell bruhl
In the name of the father
And of the son
And of the holy ghost. Amen.
[Typing]
That must have been quite a welfare office.
Oh, it was.
You know, everybody had a really poignant story.
Well, they're creating the play, really.
They're just doing it for me.
It just writes itself out?
Yeah, that's right.
No notes? No outlines?
Well, this isn't a thriller, sidney.
It's not dependent on intricate plotting
And contrived theatrics.
I mean...
See, these are real people.
And all i'm doing is just bringing them on,
Letting them pour out their dreams and frustrations.
You know, like the clerks
With their pettiness and frustration.
And the clients with their bitterness
And their battered self-Esteem.
I've really lost interest in thrillers, sidney.
What i'm doing here is relevant.
Even though you said that word,
I am still going to let you stay here.
Let me see a few pages.
Ah, i'd rather wait till the whole thing's done.
I'll just give it to you in one glorious bundle.
Do you mind?
Of course, what's another half hour?
Nothing doing?
Why don't you have helga ten dorp over?
I don't know,
Maybe talking with her might spark something.
You do like to live dangerously, don't you?
No way. I do not want her on the premises.
Never again, thank you.
Oh, i don't know.
Maybe not when the moon is full,
But any other time, why not?
I mean, christ, look at the egg she laid
On the griffin show. That was pathetic.
Yes. She was pretty rattled.
[Doorbell rings]
I'll go.
We don't want to break the flow, do we, dear?
Porter.
How are you, sidney?
Oh, i'm not too bad, thanks.
There are a couple of things--
I had to be in the area
And i just decided to take a chance--
Uh, thank you.
You feel up to a few papers?
Why not? I'd be glad of the break.
Would you like some coffee?
Of course i would.
Sidney: this is clifford anderson, my secretary.
My friend, porter milgrim.
How do you do, sir?
How do you do?
Sidney: i would say my attorney, but he'd bill me.
Ah, well, i'm going to bill you anyways.
It's a business call.
Look at that.
Isn't that a beauty?
Partner's desk.
Mmm. Where did you find it?
I happened on it last week.
It makes more sense
Than cluttering up the place
With 2 single ones.
And it is deductible, porter.
Well, uh, shouldn't i go get the groceries now?
And you and mr. Milgrim can talk in private.
Would you mind?
No. I have to do it sometime. Might as well go now.
Oh, wait a second, porter.
Hold on, clifford.
Porter: take your time, sidney.
I haven't started the clock yet.
I like this room-- Has character.
It's a pleasure to be working here.
He's looking well.
Well, just in the last few days, really.
You know, it was pretty bad last week.
He was crying every night.
You could hear him right through the walls.
He was drinking, too.
Ahh.
But he'll be all right.
You know, his work's a great solace to him.
20 do it?
Oh, it should do.
We just need salad things, milk, paper napkins.
I'm going to gibson's.
Got the keys to the car? Yeah.
Oh, and yogurt. Any flavor but prune.
Well, it's very nice meeting you
Or see you later,
Whichever it turns out to be.
Pleasant young fellow.
Good-Looking, too.
I guess.
Do you think he's gay?
Oh, didn't strike me that way.
I have a sneaking suspicion he might be.
Still, so long as he does his job
And doesn't fly on little fairy wings into my chamber,
I suppose it's none of my business.
Besides, how people would talk
If i'd taken on a female secretary, right?
If she were under 80.
That's why i called clifford.
Good to see you looking so well, sidney.
That's the main reason i've come.
I was delegated by the wessons and the harveys.
That young man's been discouraging all callers,
And we were afraid you might be
In worse shape than he was letting on.
Obviously that's not the case.
No, but i'm not up to socializing yet.
But i'm coming through.
The work is a great solace.
That's what he said.
Bring that damn thing out on the porch.
Let's at least deal with it in the sunlight.
Right.
And the next item on the agenda is your will.
Now that myra's gone, you ought to look it over.
As it stands, if anything should happen to you,
Your cousins in england would inherit.
Do you want to leave it that way?
I'll deal with it later.
You hang on to it, porter.
Well, don't put it off.
This is the third item:
This is only approximate
Because i don't have up-To-Date appraisal
On the real estate yet,
But this is what you can anticipate...
Roughly...give or take a few thousand dollars.
I had no idea there was this much.
Porter: well, old man...
You've gotten off cheap.
Sidney: yes, i'm aware of that.
What's the procedure?
You dictate and he types?
Oh, no, i type the first draft
And then he types... and types and types.
He also does the letters.
That what he was doing before--Letters?
Oh, no. He's trying to write his own play.
Oh, the seminar, of course.
Yes, he started yesterday,
Will probably finish tomorrow.
Well, i hope he's not stealing your esp idea.
Have you discussed it with him?
What in the world makes you say that?
Well, whatever he was working on,
He locked it up in this drawer.
Unobtrusively, but i noticed.
No, not unobtrusively. Slyly.
Then again, maybe he was afraid you'd steal his idea.
Oh, the dreams and frustrations
Of welfare workers?
He worked in a welfare office?
Yeah, that's where he was before.
Oh, well, then it was only force of habit.
People in large offices often lock their desks.
I'm sorry if i worried you, sidney.
Suspicious legal mind.
He's probably exactly what he seems--
An honest and helpful young man.
Completely trustworthy.
No doubt.
Oh, that, uh, check from the insurance company--
Has it come yet?
No.
Well, i'm sure it's something you'd rather not do yourself.
Would you like me to get after them?
Would you mind?
I'll write them first thing in the morning.
I'd appreciate that, porter.
When are you coming to town to have dinner?
Oh, in a week or two,
I'll be ready to face the world again.
Good.
Good-Bye, porter.
I'm proud of you, sidney.
Shit.
Bloody old-World craftsmen.
[Car engine, screeching tires]
Where have you been?
Gibson's.
Then i stopped by the jeans shop.
Got mauled by that bitch nan wesson.
She thinks i'm standing between you two.
And so you are, luv.
I'll put away.
Clifford: no, that's all right. I'll do it.
You shopped. I'll put away.
I know you want to get back to your welfare office.
Well, only literarily.
[Coins clank]
Change is in the bowl.
[Typing]
Cliff, can you come in here a sec?
Where are you?
What's going on? Hello?
Where the hell were you?
I--I thought you hadn't heard me,
So i--I ambled round through the dappled day.
I thought you might like one of these.
I had a sudden craving as in the commercials.
So, you've lost your interest in thrillers?
Mm-Hmm.
No taste for the intricate plotting,
The 2-Dimensional characters.
You want to do something real...
And meaningful... socially relevant.
Hey, give me a break, will you?
I mean, your idea will start coming in a minute.
"Deathtrap.
"A thriller in 2 acts by clifford anderson.
"Characters. Julian crane,
"A playwright. Doris crane, his wife.
"Victor madison, crane's protégé.
"Inga van bronk, a psychic.
"The action takes place in julian crane's study
In the crane home in easthampton, new york."
How the hell did you--
"Stage left. A brick fireplace,
"Practical to the extent
"That paper can be burned in it.
"Center stage, french doors,
"A post-Colonial modification,
"Opening out to a shrubbery-Flanked patio.
"The room is decorated with a collection
Of antique weapons and shackles."
A nice selection of which
I'm about to use any minute, clifford.
Would you like me to explain?
What? That you're a lunatic with a death wish?
Ha ha ha.
I've got the same wish you have, sidney.
A success wish!
This is not going to bring you success!
This, you asshole,
Is going to bring you 20 to life in maximum security!
Listen to me. Come on.
It hit me that night
When you were looking for the key.
This can make a terrific thriller.
It will make a terrific thriller.
In which someone like me and someone like you
Give someone like myra a fatal heart attack?!
Absolutely right. At the end of act one.
Clifford, i hate to ask this,
But could you give me
Your own special definition of success?!
Being gangbanged in a shower in the state penitentiary?!
Oh, jeez, i knew
You were going to have reservations about it.
Reservations?!
I am standing here petrified, stupefied, horrified!
How's that for bloody reservations?!
Come on, sidney, listen.
Look, there is no way for anybody to prove
What did or did not cause myra to have a heart attack.
Ha ha!
A--A playwright,
A writer of thrillers,
And living in long island!
Sidney, come on, babe, babe, babe,
If i could change things, i would, but i can't.
Now, look, it's got to be a playwright.
Who else can pretend to be about to receive
A finished work that can make a ton of money?
Uh, a composer, a novel--
Why am i discussing this?!
Oh, check.
A surefire, smash-Hit symphony. Uh-Huh.
And does a novelist or a composer know
Where to get a chain that squirts blood
Or how to stage a convincing murder?
It's got to be a playwright who writes thrillers,
'Cause, i mean, i don't know,
Arthur miller probably has old sample cases
Hanging on the wall. Uh...
I can make it bridgehampton, not easthampton.
Why make it anywhere?!
Why make it?!
Ha ha! Because it's there, sidney.
That's mountains, not plays!
Plays are not there until some asshole writes them!
Oh, oh, come on. Oh, hey, hey, come on.
It's all right. Sh-Shh. Just sit down. Sit down.
Come on, sit down. Come on.
It's all right.
Hey, sh-Shh. Listen to me.
Sh-Shh. Ok? Now, think for a minute, all right?
Just think about everything
That happened that night.
Now, try to see it
From an audience's point of view.
See, everything that we did to convince myra
That she was seeing a real murder
Would have exactly the same effect
On an audience, wouldn't it?
Didn't we write a play? Didn't we rehearse a play?
Didn't we plan it? Didn't we execute it?
Wasn't she the audience?
We did it! And it worked.
It worked perfectly,
And nobody can prove
What really happened here, nobody!
And what are you going to say
To the men from the times when they ask you,
"Didn't you work for sidney bruhl,
"And didn't his wife have a heart attack
At about the same time you came here?"
Uh...no comment.
Well, i have a comment.
No! Absolutely and definitely no!
I have a name and a reputation.
Somewhat tattered, perhaps,
But still good for dinner invitations
And summer seminars.
And i wish to live out my years
As the man who wrote the murder game,
Not as the faggot who knocked off his wife.
Why, look! A brick fireplace!
I wonder if it is practical
To the extent that paper can burn in it.
Stop right where you are, fella.
You burn that and i'll go right out of here
And write it someplace else.
Now, you give it to me.
Give it to me!
Thank you.
You know, we really,
Really shouldn't get angry with each other, sidney.
You see, that's--That's not what i want.
Of course not.
Let's, uh...talk about exactly what it is...
You do want.
Certainly.
I want a shortcut, and i really don't give a shit
Whose property it cuts through,
If you understand me.
And you think that that play, that wild concoction of...
Of truth, of fact.
Clifford, my dear,
Those facts are the most outlandish and preposterous...
Set of circumstances entertaining enough
To persuade an audience to suspend its disbelief.
Opening lecture.
You're an excellent student, clifford.
Student, companion,
Lover... collaborator.
We're going to write deathtrap, sidney,
You and me. I mean, it's perfect.
Ha! Oh, christ, what the hell do you care
If the publicity gets a little sticky?
Come on, don't be such an old nellie.
I mean, just look around you! Jesus christ,
You don't have to read hustler. You know?
Just read, uh...
Village voice, people magazine.
Sidney, i'll tell you something.
Everything that you have ever thought of
And a hell of a lot that you haven't
Is in print and on the screen.
I mean, babe, it is a tidal wave.
All the news is fit to print and show.
Sidney, nobody gives a shit
Who did what or who they did it to.
All they want is to be in on it.
I mean, you killed your wife?
That's ok. Why don't you abuse your kids,
Poison the well, flog bats?
As long as you get on television,
Talk about it afterwards.
You know i'm right, don't you?
Sidney, you ever hear of somebody
Turning down a party
Where they think they can meet nixon or vesco
Or any one of those big guys that got away with it?
Now, listen.
I've given this a lot of serious thought,
And i really think if there's some talk about us
And about myra, it can help the play.
Well...
You really have given it some thought, haven't you?
Who knows? You, uh, you may be right, but, uh...
But what?
Let's be honest, clifford, and i mean...
Really honest.
If you had the choice between turning out just a hit play
And turning out a hit play with dangerous origins,
You'd choose the latter, right?
Clever old sid.
Now, level with me, luv.
Those little brushes with the authorities--
In your infancy, as it were,
Before you matured and settled down, so to speak--
Did any of the--The courts
Or the social workers or the shrinks...
Did anybody ever use the word...
What word, luv?
"Sociopath."
I-Isn't that what it's called?
That's what it's called.
Does that word... frighten you, sidney?
Oh, no, it doesn't frighten me.
It does, however...
Give me pause.
Clinically, it means, as i'm sure you know,
It means one who has no sense of moral obligation whatsoever.
Now, if, and i repeat, if
I decide to kick over the traces
And actually write deathtrap...
With me.
Oh, yes, of course, with you.
If i decided to enter
Into such a risky and exciting collaboration,
I wonder if, um...
If what?
I wonder if it would not be--
Well, just a trifle starry-Eyed of me
To contemplate a partnership
Where i could count on no sense of moral obligation whatsoever.
Are you trying to say
That you don't think that you can trust me?
How clearly you put it.
That's up to you, sidney.
You can trust me.
You can always trust me.
You just have to be sure about one little thing.
And that is?
You just have to be sure
That whatever happens, i need you.
For instance,
Like i need you now.
Would you count the ways?
Sure.
One--It's a little academic, perhaps, but nevertheless,
I know that scene one is still coming out
A little stilted and heavy-Handed.
Of course i could help you fix that.
Then do it.
God knows i could do with half the royalties
Of a good, solid hit.
Porter just gave me the figures
On myra's estate.
It was a bit of a shock.
Even smaller than i thought.
42,000 lousy bucks.
There's the house and land, of course,
But i can't even sell any acreage
Until the will goes through probate,
And he says that will take nearly 2 years.
You're not going to live long on that much.
What about the insurance?
Minimal.
My offer's open, sidney.
I'll do it!
They can wag their damn tongues off.
I'll blush all the way to the bank.
Ah! You mean it?
Ta-Da!
Bruhl and anderson.
We'll make it bridgehampton, not easthampton.
Oh, what the hell, who cares?
I don't believe it. Me, clifford anderson,
Actually collaborating with sidney bruhl!
Don't kid a kidder, cliff. That's from act one.
Here you go.
Happy new year.
Deathtrap.
I think we might have a problem with act two, 'cause...
Uh-Oh. How so?
Well, we've got a murder in the first act.
We got 2 murders, as a matter of fact.
I think that act two might be a letdown.
Not necessarily.
Maybe we should bring in a fifth character.
A detective like a long island version
Of the one they had in dial m, huh?
Inspector hubbard.
Yeah, i think inga van bronk
Should come in again, too.
Good. Now, you go on drafting act one, clifford,
And let me do the thinking about act two.
[Thunder]
[Knock on window]
It's helga.
It's only helga, mr. Bruhl.
You're not mr. Bruhl.
Uh, mr. Bruhl isn't here.
Oh.
Is very wet.
Oh, sorry.
Uh, why don't you come in?
Ok.
Whoo.
Uh, mr. Bruhl should be back in a minute.
You are, uh...
I'm clifford anderson.
I'm his secretary.
I'm helga ten dorp.
I'm psychic.
Uh, yes, i know.
In fact, mr. Bruhl told me about you.
He said you were actually able to predict his wife's death.
Ja. Ja, was much pain right here.
Hmm.
Very sad. Such a nice lady.
Ay, this room.
He is well, mr. Bruhl?
Oh, yes, ma'am, he's just fine.
In fact, he's gone out to dinner for the first time since--
He said he'd be back around 10:00.
Should be about that now.
It will be big storm.
Much wind and rain,
Lightning and thunder.
Again trees will fall.
Are you sure?
Ja, was on radio.
I come to borrow candles.
Are none in cottage.
You have?
Well, i'm sure he must have some.
Why don't you sit down, ma'am?
Thank you.
Boots?
You wear boots?
Oh, yes, ma'am.
Practically everybody does these days.
They're very comfortable.
Uh, you are for long time secretary to mr. Bruhl?
Uh, no.
Actually i came here about 3 weeks ago
After his wife died.
[Car pulls up]
Excuse me.
Ah, mr. Bruhl.
Bloody bore porter is.
Glad you're back. Mrs. Ten dorp is here.
Oh, helga, how nice to see you.
How good you get home before storm.
Miss ten dorp says we're in for a bad one.
She came to borrow some candles.
Do we have any?
Yes, there's some upstairs.
I saw you on the merv griffin show.
It wasn't a very good night, was it?
What is it?
Is man i warn you of.
Man in boots who attacks you.
Warn me?
Oh, yes. In the turmoil of myra's death--
Is he.
Candles are not why i come.
I have many candles. But again tonight,
I feel danger here in this room.
The feeling, very strong.
You should not have him here.
Oh, this is weird.
This is absolutely amazing.
Do you know,
I decided just tonight to dismiss him?
I was discussing this with my lawyer.
Now, i felt uneasy about him last week,
And i asked my lawyer to check on him.
[Gasps]
Smith-Corona?
Is his?
Why, uh, yes.
Corona, not colonna.
You must send away this man at once.
Oh, i was going to.
Well, give him his notice, at least.
And i shan't put it off now that you've warned me.
But tell me,
Are you positive that you saw him attacking me?
Very sharp, very clear.
Like tv with cable.
Ah, thank you.
Ja, i take 2.
There's plenty more.
Oh, no, no, 2 is enough.
Clifford: it's really blowing up out there.
Ja, sometimes they get it right, these weathermen.
You want i should stay?
No, there's no need.
You're going to get very wet out there, you know?
I'm not afraid of rain.
Good night.
It was very nice meeting you.
She told you
I'm man in boots who attacks you, ja?
Ja.
She noticed them just before you came in.
I told her you were giving me karate lessons
And we were attacking each other all over the place.
The closer you stick to the truth, the better.
Old bat.
Listen, i finished act one.
Well, your evening was better spent than mine.
I've ended it with julian on the phone.
"Oh, god, how can i go on without her?"
Yeah, he wants the doctor to think he's upset, right?
The dialogue's a bit tin pan alley,
But your timing couldn't be better.
I've got act two ready to go.
Terrific.
Well, at least i think i have.
There are 2 bits of business i'm not sure will work.
Mm-Hmm.
We'll try them, and if they do,
We'll go through the whole thing scene by scene.
It's really full of surprises.
Ah. Let's hear them.
Oh, shit, i'm fed up with this weather.
Cliff, check the upstairs windows, will you?
Just made it.
It's really going to be a bitch.
So, what's the bits, the business?
Uh, they're in the final scene.
Yeah?
Uh, victor has spilled the beans,
And our detective has come to beard julian in his den.
Right?
Julian goes berserk,
Shoots the detective in the left arm.
Left.
But there's only one bullet in the gun.
I'll explain that later.
Now, he's got to get to the upstage wall,
Grab a weapon, and finish him off.
Now, the first question is,
Can a one-Armed inspector in very good physical condition
Stop a two-Armed, middle-Aged playwright?
And the answer has to be no.
So let's try it.
Uh, me julian, you detective.
Right over here.
Why?
Don't you remember the seminar?
When in doubt,
Physicalize. Physicalize.
Come on.
Ok.
All right, so my left arm is out of commission.
Yes.
Uh-Huh.
You ready? Yeah.
Go!
[Thunder]
Voila.
It works.
I scratched your neck.
Oh, i'll survive.
Now, the next bit is less strenuous
And very brief.
Glad to hear it.
Uh, come up here.
Now i'm the detective...
And you're julian.
Ok.
Now take the ax off the wall.
Uh, this one?
Yeah.
Ok.
No, it doesn't look natural that way.
Well, it feels natural this way.
Uh, try it the other way.
The other way.
No, it really doesn't feel natural this way.
Put it back the way you had it, then.
Ok.
Yeah, feels--
Feels better this way.
Good.
Uh, i'll tell you what, cliff,
Put the ax down on the floor.
Stand very still, clifford.
We're going to say good-Bye.
This weapon from gunpoint...
Is now full of live bullets, luv.
I loaded it myself last night.
I just can't have the play written, cliff.
And i honestly cannot think
Of any other way to stop you but this.
And i do not wish to join
All the ex-Mistresses of ex-Presidents
And former cia assassins
And happy hookers
Lining up to-- To tell tom snyder
And phil donahue how it was.
That's not my style.
It's just not me, is it, luv?
It's not going to be you either, luv,
Spending the next 25 years slaving away
At crappy jobs for no money.
You have got a very firm grip on unreality, sid.
46 years old, you're written out,
You're practically broke.
I'm afraid i told you a little fib.
Between the insurance which arrived a few days ago,
And what myra really left,
I'll have about a million dollars.
Plus, of course,
This quite valuable property.
And i do hope to have another hit play someday.
Hope springs eternal.
You shit! You'll never get away with this.
Why not?
Such wildly extenuating circumstances.
I asked porter to have you checked out in riverhead,
Do a serious rundown.
And i spent this evening listening to his report.
Porter was shocked,
Very disturbed at this possibly quite dangerous young man
I had innocently taken into my place.
Porter insists that the sooner i send you packing,
The better.
So i come home,
And i give you your notice.
But you become abusive and violent.
Luckily, i get to the gun.
I'm truly sorry, cliff.
I shall miss you.
You opened up certain doors for me,
And for that i'm grateful.
Oh, god.
This is going to be even harder than i expected.
Good-Bye, clifford.
Bye, sidney.
[Click]
Bang bang.
Sorry the click is so anticlimactic, sidney,
But i needed the bullets from that gun...
For this one.
Now sit down, dum-Dum. Sit down!
Right in that chair, thank you.
Reversal, sidney.
Remember?
You stressed it in the seminar, first day.
But you see, the problem was,
I had this terrific first act--
I just couldn't think of what came next.
You see, dialogue's a snap for me,
But i still have little problems with plotting.
And that was very frustrating,
Particularly because i'm sharing bed and board
With the old master plotter himself.
Let's see.
I think you're about a 42 regular.
You can put your gun down, sidney.
Unlock them, please.
[Thunder]
Ha.
It's corny but effective.
Well, there i am with my problem.
See, sidney's not going to help me--
Well, not voluntarily.
This--I know that from square one,
'Cause sidney uses 3 kinds of mouthwash
And 4 kinds of deodorant--
Not for him the whiff of scandal.
But i think to myself,
Is there a way that maybe i can harness
That 17-Jewel brain
And get it to work for me all unwittingly?
So i go on drafting act one,
And every time i leave the room,
I put it inconspicuously in the drawer. Ha ha.
So inconspicuously in fact,
That for a day and a half,
Smart old sidney doesn't even notice.
And then dull old porter comes in
And twigs right away.
Oh, what a relief.
So, on we go with my scenario.
You rifling my desk,
Confronting me with the evidence,
Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
You're a prick, you know that?
Duh, sticks and stones, sidney.
Ha. Hey, sidney, here we are, huh?
Bruhl and anderson.
Now, i write, and sidney thinks.
Hmm.
And i really don't sleep much.
Uh, last night, for example,
I hardly got a wink
With all your elephantine tiptoeing around.
Tin pan alley dialogue?
God, do you think i'm stupid?
That was dummy dialogue, dummy!
To keep you comfy while you're plotting.
For every wooden line i wrote there,
There's an aerial one up here.
I am going to burn this shit myself when i leave here.
Now you give me the key, please.
And you put them on.
Oh, and i do thank you for act two, sidney,
But we're not going to have a long island detective.
Julian's lawyer is the fifth character.
Julian finds out in scene one
That victor is actually writing the real deathtrap
About doris' murder.
He pretends that he will collaborate--
Through the arm of the chair.
Don't be stupid.
Put the handcuffs through the arm of the chair.
Thank you.
Yes. Old julian pretends that he will collaborate.
Meanwhile, he has his lawyer
Do some checking up on victor,
Knowing that there are some charges to be found...
Most of them very, very unfair.
Scene 2...
Julian sets victor up
For what will look like a murder in self-Defense
By getting him to act out bits of business
From the play.
Unh! Unh! Uhh!
God, that's nice, sidney!
I mean, wow!
That is simple. It is workable.
It's gonna play.
I'm really in your debt.
So, julian shoots victor,
Who's a handsome, charming, wonderful kid
That julian has led astray, seduced--
You big creep.
Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah.
But at the very next moment,
Inga van bronk and the lawyer come in.
See, she's called him
Because she's been getting bad vibes all night.
They met at doris' funeral.
Now, victor lives just long enough
To tell the truth about himself and julian...
And about doris' funeral.
And then...
Julian shoots himself...
Curtain.
Is that it?
What do you mean, "is that it"?
They're both dead, dummy. The play is over.
Julian shoots himself?
That's exceedingly feeble, clifford.
I'd be glad to think about it some more.
No, no. That's ok. I can fill in the holes.
Now, here's the big surprise, sidney.
Are you ready?
[Gasps]
I'm not gonna kill you.
Ha.
Hey, i just wanted a hit play. Ha ha.
And i'm really not the total sociopath
That you'd like to think.
Sidney, i'm gonna pack, i'm gonna call a cab,
And i really hope that i can get one in this storm
Because otherwise you're going to have to sit there all night.
When the cab is safely at the door...
I'm going to give you the key
And unlock one wrist.
You will tell people that you gave me my notice.
I accepted it with grace.
But if you hassle me in any way,
You will be opening up a very messy can of worms.
If you don't bother me
Between now and the opening of deathtrap,
I'll say, "well, yes, i got the idea years ago.
"I worked for sidney bruhl for a few weeks, but i left...
"'Cause i was so depressed
"At the way he kept humping beautiful women...
Out of grief for his wife."
[Thunder]
Electrical effects by god himself.
So long, sidney.
It's really been educational.
Sidney: cliff?
Cliff?
You can come down.
Those were houdini's handcuffs.
[Thunder]
[Creak]
[Creaking]
[Creak]
[Thunder]
Hang in there, long island light.
[Thunder]
Jesus!
[Thunder]
They're gone.
[Thunder]
Oh, shit!
Shit! Shit!
Candles. Ah, candles.
Matches, matches, matches.
Oh, shit! Matches.
Matches, matches.
Helga: matches.
Candle.
I came to help.
Such troubles.
But not trouble for you.
Trouble from you!
Well, strictly speaking, helga,
I'd say we're both in a spot of trouble.
Now you will want to kill me, ja?
First mrs. Bruhl-- Somehow you do that.
I'm right, ja? Then the boy...
No. You've got it wrong.
He killed myra.
And tonight, he tried to kill me.
Then why you need burn evidence
If evidence prove he did it?
Ja, i don't think.
[Thunder]
That's not evidence, helga.
It's a manuscript, a play.
A play? About death?
I will read.
[Thunder]
You will not kill me with beautiful woman's dagger!
I will not allow that!
I don't wish to make violence, mr. Bruhl, but--
There are no bullets in that gun, helga.
It's a stage prop.
If you don't believe me, check it out.
Ja, maybe i check it by pulling trigger.
Suit yourself.
But it's just as easy to check it by--
If no bullets in gun,
Then you don't let me cross room to fireplace.
[Thunder]
Aah!
[Gun drops]
Sidney: i thought i heard the gun drop.
Heh. You dropped it, didn't you, helga?
[Thunder]
Let go of the knife, helga.
Get back, helga! Get back!
[Thunder]
[Gasps]
[Audience gasps]
Ahh!
Actress: inga, you're well out of this!
[Laughter, applause]
Bravo!
Ha ha ha! Helga, baby,
We've got ourselves a smash!
What a play you wrote!
We're gonna make ourselves a fortune here, helga!
Waste not, want not!