Blue Hotel

"BLUE HOTEL" Screenplay by James Agee 1949 UNPRODUCED TITLE on black screen above center: NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE UNITED STATES o.s., quiet, but swiftly louder, the humming, then hammering of rails; then over this, increasing SOUND, the SOUND of a hoarse, old-fashioned train whistle coming swiftly nearer: two long blasts, one short, one long, which trails down and out. Over the fading train whistle and increasing train SOUND FADE IN: TITLE below center: TOWARDS THE END OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY Start the rapid SOUND of a train bell. SWOOP SOUND of bell and train up suddenly two seconds before CUTTING TO: CLOSE SHOT -- A TRAIN (NITE) Instantly bring SOUNDS of train and bell up as loud as the audience can stand. A transcontinental express-train crosses through r.s. to l.s. at frightening velocity. CAMERA is pulling back from a close shot at medium height of the train. In the train's wake, a long, luminous ruche of snow is raised, filling the screen, and slowly sinking, as SOUNDS dwindle o.s. As the last snow settles to the ground, and the SOUNDS die o.s., the CAMERA ends its pull-back about 12 feet off the ground in a LONG SHOT -- EXT. A STATION, A SMALL HOTEL, A SMALL TOWN, THE PRAIRIE -- IN DARKNESS AND SILENCE It is not snowing and the night sky is overcast but the snow on the ground gives off enough light -- using infra-red if need be -- to establish the station (extreme l.s.), the hotel (dead center), the edge of the town (extreme r.s.).