The Psycho
TITLES AND CREDITS
Crude white-on-black spray paint.
FADE UP ON:
INT: BEDROOM -- MORNING
STRAIGHT-DOWN ANGLE ON the PSYCHO lying in bed staring at
the ceiling. He is blond, handsome, tall, and muscular. He
wears black briefs and LOVE is tattooed on his arm. WE HEAR
the soft ticking of an alarm clock on the bedside table.
The alarm goes off. As he sits up and shuts it off, WE SEE
pills scattered on the table.
The room is shabby and disordered. There is a hot plate, a
few pieces of Goodwill furniture, torn shades without
curtains. The walls are scrawled with quotations about love
-- everything from the Beatles (ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE) to
Robert Browning (O LYRIC LOVE, HALF ANGEL AND HALF BIRD,
AND ALL A WONDER AND A WILD DESIRE!) WE SEE some of these
in TILTED, TIGHT SHOTS. On one wall is a giant handmade
calendar with days Xed out. It's mid-February.
The Psycho gets dressed in makeshift combat gear including
dogtags and spit-polished army boots. Spotting an
imperceptible fleck of dust on the gleaming toe of a boot,
he carefully brushes it away.
He rips off a strip of bedsheet and ties it around his head.
He pulls an aluminum suitcase from under the bed. It is
fitted with state-of-the-art guns. He tapes an automatic to
his ankle, conceals a sawed-off twelve-gauge in his jacket,
stuffs his pockets with ammo, and grabs an assault rifle.
The Psycho is ready to start his day.
INT: HALLWAY -- MORNING
While locking the door, the Psycho sees the MILKMAN down
the hall, a milk carton in each hand. He whips out the
shotgun and cuts loose. The milk cartons explode as the man
goes down.
The Psycho steps over the body and heads for the street.
EXT: STREET -- MORNING
As he comes down his tenement steps, a pretty black HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT skates by, books slung over her shoulder.
The Psycho squeezes off a burst that sends her crashing
into the curbside garbage cans, scattering her schoolbooks
on the sidewalk. The skate wheels spin to a stop.
The Psycho strolls past her, eyeing a tall office building
across the street. He walks toward the entrance.
INT: OFFICE BLDG. LOBBY -- DAY
The Psycho crosses the lobby and steps into an empty
elevator. A LITTLE BOY and GIRL get in after him. The Little
Girl looks up at him and smiles. He smiles back. The doors
close and WE SEE the floor indicator rise.
INT: TOP FLOOR -- DAY
The bell dings as the doors open. The Psycho exits without a
backward glance. The children lie sprawled on the floor.
The Psycho disappears into a stairwell door marked ROOF.
EXT: ROOF -- DAY
The Psycho takes out a sniper scope and snaps it on the
rifle. He braces against the building and sights on an
elderly couple in the park.
Through the scope, WE SEE the OLD MAN in the crosshairs
feeding PIGEONS. The rifle shot startles the pigeons, and
the Old Man slumps on the bench.
The scope swings to sight on the OLD WOMAN.
EXT: STREET -- DAY
TWO COPS are taking a coffee break in the patrol car as the
second shot rings out.
MALE COP
Let's roll!
He peels out as his female Partner hits the siren.
EXT: OFFICE BUILDING -- DAY
The cop car skids to a halt, and the Cops race into the
building. WE HEAR sporadic rifle fire in the distance.
INT: LOBBY -- DAY
The Cops rush into the lobby. A badly shaken SECURITY GUARD
meets them.
GUARD
He's on the roof.
FEMALE COP
How do we get up there?
GUARD
(pointing the way)
Take the back stairs.
INT: STAIRS -- DAY
The Cops run up the steps with drawn guns.
The sound of random gunfire gets louder. They reach the roof
and, pressed against the wall, edge open the outside door.
EXT: ROOF -- DAY
Encircled by spent cartridges, the Psycho unloads round
after round on the unsuspecting city below. He doesn't hear
the Cops sneak up behind him.
MALE COP
Freeze! Drop it!
The Psycho throws down the rifle.
As the Cop moves in to cuff him, the Psycho snakes out the
ankle gun and blows him away. The other Cop fires but
misses. The Psycho wings her. She tries to make it back to
the stairs, but he nails her again and she tumbles down the
steps.
INT: LOBBY -- DAY
The Psycho leaves, ignoring the cringing Guard.
EXT: OFFICE BUILDING -- DAY
He passes the abandoned cop car -- doors flung open, cherry
top whirling.
EXT: STREET -- DAY
On his way home, he spies a pair of rabbits frolicking in a
pet store window. He sprays the window with bullets,
shattering the glass.
EXT: TENEMENT -- DAY
He wearily mounts the front steps. It's been a long day.
INT: HALLWAY -- DAY
He steps over the Milkman, careful to avoid the pools of
milk splattered on the linoleum.
INT: BEDROOM -- DAY
Unlocking the door, the Psycho enters his room, and tosses
the guns aside. He picks up a can of spray paint and X's
out the day on the calendar -- February 14.
Sweaty, exhausted, he throws himself on the bed. In the
STRAIGHT-DOWN ANGLE, WE SEE him staring at the ceiling.
WE SLOWLY PUSH IN
On the Psycho.
He shuts his eyes. Music begins -- a scratchy old version of
"Funny Valentine."
INT: HALLWAY -- DAY
In a dreamy, drifting HAND-HELD ANGLE, WE SEE the Milkman
twitch.
INT: OFFICE BLDG. STAIRS -- DAY
WE FLOAT toward the Cop. She jerks alive and tries to stand.
EXT: PARK -- DAY
The Elderly Couple start to move.
INT: BEDROOM -- DAY
WE PUSH IN TIGHTER on the Psycho.
INT: HALLWAY -- DAY
The Milkman gets to his feet. He presses the doorbell of the
NEIGHBOR'S apartment. She answers -- a saucy woman in her
forties -- and gives him a big kiss.
EXT: STREET -- DAY
A good-looking black HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT in a varsity jacket
picks up the roller skater's books. A little chagrined, she
sits on the curb adjusting a skate.
BOY STUDENT
Are you okay?
GIRL STUDENT
I'm fine.
He helps her to her feet, still holding the schoolbooks.
BOY STUDENT
I'll carry these.
INT: OFFICE BLDG. LOBBY -- DAY
The elevator doors open, and the Little Boy and Girl exit
holding hands.
EXT: PARK BENCH -- DAY
The Old Man gives his companion a hug. She nestles her head
on his shoulder.
EXT: OFFICE BLDG. -- DAY
The Male Cop reaches under the car seat, pulls out a satin
heart-shaped box of chocolates, and hands it to his Partner.
INT: BEDROOM -- DAY
WE PUSH IN TO HEAD SHOT of Psycho. He grins.
EXT: PET STORE -- DAY
Through the unbroken window, WE SEE, in addition to the
pair of rabbits, dozens and dozens of baby bunnies.
INT: BEDROOM -- DAY
WE PAN DOWN to the dogtags around Psycho's neck and MOVE IN
FOR ECU. They read: CUPID.
Music ends -- "Each day is Valentine's Day..."
FADE TO
BLACK
Unproduced screenplay by Michael O'Donoghue
My Funny Valentine
My funny valentine, sweet, comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable, unphotographable
Yet you're my favorite work of art
Is your figure less than Greek? Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speak, are you smart?
But don't change a hair for me, not if you care for me
Stay, little valentine, stay! Each day is Valentine's Day