Vertigo (1983 re-issue)

" V E R T I G O " By Alec Coppel and Samuel Taylor Draft 9-12-1957 EXT. SAN FRANCISCO ROOF TOPS - (DUSK) - CLOSE SHOT We see a close view of a roof parapet and the curved rail of a fire escape. In the bag, are large skyscrapers with all their windows fully lit in the late winter afternoon. This background is used for the CREDIT TITLES of the picture. After the last card has FADED OUT, we HOLD on to the empty parapet, when suddenly a man's hand reaches and grips the top of the rail. It is followed by another hand and, after a beat, we see the face of a man in his early 30's. He is an Italian type, with rough features. He turns quickly and looks below him and then turning back, springs up over the empty parapet and is lost from view. We STAY on the EMPTY SCENE for a second or two as we HEAR the scraping of boots on the iron ladder. Someone else is coming up. Presently, two more hands and the head of a uniformed policeman with cap and badge starts to climb over the parapet. The CAMERA PULLS BACK so that by the time he has completed his climb, he is in full figure. He dashes out of the picture drawing his gun.Immediately following him over the parapet, a detective in plain clothes climbs over. This is JOHN FERGUSON, known as SCOTTIE. He too pulls a gun and dashes out of the picture. EXT. SAN FRANCISCO ROOF TOPS - (DUSK) - LONG SHOT A vast panorama of the San Francisco skyline. Nearer to us are three tiny figures running and jumping over the roof tops.