KESSELRING, Joseph

Arsenic and Old Lace

BREWSTER RESIDENCE - SITTING ROOM - INTERIOR DAY

In the forefront of the room, Teddy Brewster is playing Mozart's Turkish March on the harpsichord. He looks a bit like late President Theodore Roosevelt. And he is dressed like the President was dressed on the official pictures we've got of him... And, like the President, he is wearing a pince-nez.

In another corner of the room, Abby Brewster is having tea with Reverend Harper, Elaine's father. She looks like an old English lady, a bit like Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.

ABBY

Reverend Harper, I do hope you don't disapprove of Mortimer just because he's a dramatic critic and takes your daughter to the theater every night.

REVEREND HARPER

It's not so much that I disapprove of his being a critic, but no man, no man with this published attitude on marriage...

Close-up on the book Reverend Harper just took on the table :

«Marriage, a Fraud and a Failure, by Mortimer Brewster».

REVEREND HARPER

...should take any man's daughter anyplace...

He sneezes.

REVEREND HARPER

...at any time.

He sneezes again, louder this time. Teddy stops playing and there

is a puzzled look in his eyes.

TEDDY

I must be catching cold.

ABBY

(to Teddy)

No, dear. It was Reverend Harper who sneezed.

(to Reverend Harper)

Bless you.

Teddy puts back in his pocket the handkerchief he had taken out

and starts playing again.

ABBY

We mustn't be angry with Mortimer. He's so very much in love with her. And Sister Martha and I are so happy about it. He used to come to see us only occasionally, and now,now he's in Brooklyn six nights a week.

BREWSTER RESIDENCE - EXTERIOR DAY

The two cops, Brophy and O'Hara, are mounting the steps to the

Brewster sisters house.

BROPHY

Remember now, watch your language.

O'HARA

Besides, you know I'm not a swearing man.

BROPHY

You'd be surprised what they'd consider swearing.

He rings the doorbell.

BREWSTER RESIDENCE - SITTING ROOM - INTERIOR DAY

At the sound of the doorbell, Teddy stops playing.

ABBY

Oh, will you excuse me ?

She gets up from her armchair.

ABBY

No, no, Teddy, dear. Thank you. I'll go.

She goes to the door and opens it.

ABBY

Oh, come right in, Mr. Brophy.

The two cops get in.

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