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P L A Y B A C K An original Screenplay by Raymond Chandler Final Draft March 24, 1949 Property of Universal-MCA Hollywood, CA. USA FADE IN: EXT. OPEN LANDSCAPE WITH RAILROAD TRACKS -- DAY LONG SHOT A STREAMLINER coming TOWARDS CAMERA which is off to one side of tracks. The landscape has pine and fir trees and is a northern Washington landscape. As the streamliner passes, the CAMERA PANS around following it and stops. The streamliner tears off into the distance and in the foreground is WE SEE a RAILROAD SIGN -- "EVERETT WASH" DISSOLVE TO: INT. STREAMLINER IN MOTION - CORRIDOR -- DAY SHOWING OPEN DOORS OF FOUR ROOMETTES Through the windows can be seen the landscape through which the train is passing. In the first roomette, counting from the left, is a well- dressed, rather wise-looking FEMALE, young, smart. She is making up her face. In the second is a middle-aged couple, a CANADIAN IMMIGRATION INSPECTOR and a CANADIAN CUSTOMS INSPECTOR. In the third, BETTY MAYFIELD is seated near the window, turning over the pages of a magazine. She is about 27 years old, beautiful, blonde, and has a remote troubled expression, as though her thoughts were far away. The fourth is empty. There is a man's suitcase in evidence on the seat. LARRY MITCHELL enters from the left. He is tall, good-looking, young, with superficial charm and rather too much self-assurance. He glances in at the woman in the first roomette, stops in the door and leans against it.