American Werewolf in London Script
FADE IN
1 MAN’S FOOTPRINT
on the moon.
EXT. MOON
Camera begins to pull back slowly, straight up - the
song "Moon Shadow" by Cat Stevens begins. Once we are
high enough to see the entire moon, the main title is
superimposed.
An American Werewolf in London
We continue to retreat from the moon, looking on as it
grows farther from us, continuing credits until the
full moon is the size it appears to us from earth.
2 EXT. CROSSROADS ON THE MOORS - NIGHT
Tree branches enter into the frame, the camera pans
down and we see a truck approaching. We are at a
crossroads in the moors, looking sinister enough to
have earned their literary reputation.
The truck stops at the crossroads, the DRIVER,
mustached and wearing tweeds, boots, and a muffler,
climbs down.
"Moon Shadow" ends.
CUT TO:
Loud bang of the back grating on the truck as it slams down. Revealed among the sheep are two rudely-awakened young American boys. They look exhausted. They both carry backpacks, two American kids on a jaunt in Europe. They are both in their late twenties. It is very cold and they clamber out of the truck none too happily. Pushing sheep aside they step out and stretch. JACK GOODMAN AND DAVID KESSLER
They’ve been cramped for hours.
TRUCK DRIVER
Here, lads, East Proctor and
all about are the moors. I go
east here.
JACK
Yes, well thank you very much
for the ride, sir. You have
lovely sheep.
TRUCK DRIVER
(as he clambers back
up on his truck)
Boys, keep off the moors.
Stay on the road. Good luck
to you.
DAVID
Thanks again!
He drives off. LONG SHOT of the two boys as the lorry
pulls away. Surrounding them are the moors. They put
on their packs, David points to the signpost pointing
towards East Proctor.
EXT. ROAD ON THE MOORS - NIGHT
As they walk, their breath visible:
JACK
Are you cold?
DAVID
Yes.
JACK
Good.
They walk on, finally:
DAVID
Jack.
JACK
David.
DAVID
You’re not having a good time
are you?
JACK
Oh, I don’t know. I mean look
around. Isn’t this a fun
place?
The camera shows us the moors - desolate, cold,
foreboding.
DAVID
Well, I like it here.
JACK
I’m sorry. Northern England
first, Italy later.
DAVID
Right.
They walk on.
JACK
Do you think she’ll meet me in
Rome?
DAVID
I think Debbie Klein is a
mediocre person with a good
body.
JACK
Debbie is not mediocre and she
has one of the great bodies of
all time.
DAVID
She’s a jerk.
JACK
You’re talking about the woman
I love.
DAVID
I’m talking about a girl you
want to fuck, so give me a
break.
JACK
Well, anyway, do you think
she’ll be there?
DAVID
I don’t know.
JACK
(like an announcer)
Rendezvous in Rome starring
Jack Goodman and Debbie Klein.
The love affair that shocked
Europe! See torrid lovemaking
at its most explicit! See
Jack and Debbie expose their
lust in the sacred halls of
the Vatican! Never has the
screen dared....
DAVID
If you don’t stop, I’m going
to kill you.
JACK
I have to make love to her.
It’s very simple. She has no
choice really.
DAVID
It just fascinates me that you
can spend so much energy on
someone so dull.
JACK
It is impossible for a body
like that to be dull.
DAVID
We’ve known Debbie what, since
the eighth grade? How many
years of foreplay is that?
JACK
She says she `likes me too
much’.
David just laughs and laughs and laughs.
DISSOLVE
TO:
3 EXT. EAST PROCTOR MAIN STREET - NIGHT
David and Jack entering East Proctor. It is brightly
moonlit. East Proctor consists of a few shops, all
closed, a petrol pump and a pub. East Proctor has a
very small population and the place looks empty. David
and Jack enter the middle of town and look about. The
camera sees what they see. A few shops, dark and
shuttered. Light and laughter come from the pub.
4 EXT. THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB - NIGHT
Its traditional shingle shows a ferocious wolf’s bloody
head on a pike, and tells us the pub’s name, "The
Slaughtered Lamb".
JACK
The Slaughtered Lamb?
DAVID
Of course, The Slaughtered
Lamb. Why else would they
have a severed fox head on a
spear as their symbol?
JACK
That’s a wolf’s head.
DAVID
Of course, The Slaughtered
Lamb. Why else would they
have a severed wolf’s head on
a spear as their symbol?
JACK
That’s not a spear. It’s a
pike.
DAVID
A severed wolf’s head on a
pike as their symbol.
JACK
David, before we go in there I
want you to know that - no
matter what happens to us -
it’s your fault.
DAVID
I assume full responsibility.
JACK
Okay.
DAVID
Shall we?
5 INT. THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB - NIGHT
The pub was apparently "modernized" sometime in the mid-
fifties. Its traditional Englishness combines with
greasy stainless steel and glass. It is populated by
mostly pale young men with longish hair. Several older
men are ruddy complexioned and sport large mustaches.
Four or five are watching a chess game. Two men are
playing darts. The conversation is loud and there is
often laughter. But there is something unsavory about
these people. A look of leanness and poverty. They
seem inbred and somehow sullen. We establish the types
and the general level of noise in the room.
The door opens revealing David and Jack. There is dead
silence and all are staring in a not friendly way at
the two boys who are made uncomfortable by all the
strange attention. They give each other a "what?"
look, then turn to the assembled populace.
DAVID
Hello.
JACK
Nice to see you.
FACES
Silent and staring.
CUT TO:
DAVID AND JACK
DAVID
(smiles)
It’s very cold outside. May
we come in?
The WOMAN BARKEEP nods. The boys walk carefully over
to a table and very self-consciously remove their
packs, place them on the floor, and sit down at the
table. There is a long, awkward wait. The Woman
finally comes over to them.
JACK
Do you have any hot soup?
WOMAN
No.
DAVID
Well, do you have any coffee?
WOMAN
No.
JACK
Hot chocolate?
WOMAN
We’ve got spirits and beer.
If it’s something hot you
want, you can have tea.
JACK
Then you have some hot tea?
WOMAN
No.
JACK
Oh.
WOMAN
But I can heat some up for you
if you’d like.
DAVID & JACK
Yes, please.
As the Woman turns to prepare the tea, everyone resumes
what they were doing; talking, drinking, playing chess
and darts, and the boys breathe easier.
JACK
Nice looking group.
DAVID
Listen, at least it’s warm in
here.
JACK
Look at that.
CUT TO:
JACK’S P.O.V.
On the wall is painted a red pentangle (a five-pointed
star) and on either side burns a yellow candle.
DAVID
What about it?
JACK
It’s a five-pointed star.
DAVID
Maybe the owners are from
Texas.
The Woman brings them their tea.
JACK
(to Woman)
Remember the Alamo?
WOMAN
I beg your pardon?
DAVID
He was joking. Thank you.
WOMAN
Joking? I remember The Alamo.
I saw it once in London, in
Leicester Square.
Jack and David look startled. One of the CHESS PLAYERS
explains:
CHESS PLAYER
She means in the cinema, that
film with John Wayne.
(turns to board)
Checkmate.
DAVID
Oh, yes, of course.
JACK
Right, with Laurence Harvey
and everybody died in it. It
was very bloody.
CHESS PLAYER
Bloody awful if you ask me!
This sends everyone into gales of laughter. Jack and
David smile politely.
CHESS PLAYER
Here, Gladys, Tom. Did you
hear the one about the
crashing plane?
WOMAN
No, but we’re about to.
Laughter.
CHESS PLAYER
You be quiet, woman, and let
me speak.
WOMAN
(heavy sarcasm)
Quiet, everyone! Hush! Shhh!
Uproarious laughter.
CHESS PLAYER
All right, laugh then. I
shan’t tell it.
WOMAN
Oh, come on, tell us.
CHESS PLAYER
No. You’ve had your chance.
The men all coax him to tell the joke.
JACK
(to David)
Ask them what the candles are
for.
DAVID
(to Jack)
You ask them.
JACK
(to David)
Listen, that’s a pentangle, a
five-pointed star. It’s used
in witchcraft. Lon Chaney,
Jr. and Universal Studios
maintain it’s the mark of the
wolf man.
DAVID
(to Jack)
I see. You want me to ask
these people if they’re
burning candles to ward off
monsters.
JACK
(to David)
Right.
DAVID
(to Jack)
Wrong.
The drinkers have gotten the Chess Player to tell the
joke as everyone knew he would.
CHESS PLAYER
Oh, all right. There was this
airplane over the Atlantic on
its way to New York. It was
full of men from the United
Nations.
WOMAN
That’s very funny, that is.
Uproarious laughter.
JACK
(to David)
Go on, ask them.
DAVID
(to Jack)
You ask them.
CHESS PLAYER
Here now, let me finish! So
halfway over the ocean the
engines run low on petrol so
they have to lighten the
plane. So they heave out all
the baggage, but it’s still
too heavy. So they chuck out
the seats, but it’s still too
heavy! Finally this Froggy
steps up and shouts "Viva la
France" and leaps out. Then
an Englishman....
DART PLAYERS
Hear! Hear!
CHESS PLAYER
(undaunted)
...steps up and shouts `God
save the Queen!’ and leaps
out. But the plane is still
too heavy. So the Yank
delegate from Texas steps up,
shouts, `Remember the Alamo!’
and chucks out the Mexican.
This is apparently the funniest joke the inhabitants of
East Proctor have ever heard. The laughter is
uproarious, choking, knee-slapping, incredible. As the
Chess Player goes to take a drink of beer, the Dart
Player gasps out...
DART PLAYER
Remember the Alamo!
...causing the Chess Player to spit out his beer
causing even harder laughter. Complete hilarity.
JACK
Excuse me, but what’s that
star on the wall for?
Dead silence. A dart lands in the wall. David and
Jack are understandably bewildered. The villagers look
hard indeed.
DART PLAYER
(angry)
You’ve made me miss.
JACK
I’m sorry.
DART PLAYER
I’ve never missed the board
before.
DAVID
Jack, we’d better go.
JACK
What do you mean? I’m
starving.
DART PLAYER
There’s no food here.
The villagers look threatening and David’s voice is a
bit urgent.
DAVID
Come on, Jack, shall we go?!!
JACK
Apparently so.
The boys pick up their backpacks and move uncertainly
for the door.
WOMAN
(to men)
You can’t let them go.
DAVID
(worried)
How much do we owe you?
CHESS PLAYER
Nothing, lads. Go, God be
with you.
DAVID
Uh, thank you.
WOMAN
Wait! You just can’t let them
go!
DART PLAYER
Go! And stay on the road.
Keep clear of the moors.
DAVID
Yes, well, thanks again.
CHESS PLAYER
Beware the moon, lads!
David pushes Jack out.
6 EXT. THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB - NIGHT
It is very cold.
JACK
What the hell was that all
about?
DAVID
I don’t know. Let’s see if
there’s an inn or something up
the road.
JACK
Beware the moon?
DAVID
Come on, I’m freezing.
They start up the road into the night.
7 INT. THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB - NIGHT
It is quiet.
WOMAN
You can’t let them go.
DART PLAYER
(angry)
Should the world know our
business?!
CHESS PLAYER
It’s murder then.
DART PLAYER
Then murder it is! It’s in
God’s hands now.
The wax drips from the Pentangle’s candles onto the
floor.
DISSOLVE
TO:
8 EXT. A ROAD ON THE MOORS - NIGHT - DAVID AND JACK
walking on the road surrounded by darkness.
DAVID
That was weird. I guess
leaving was the best idea.
JACK
I don’t know. Now that we’re
out here and it’s three
degrees, I’m not so sure I
wouldn’t rather face a blood-
thirsty mob.
DAVID
Well, not quite a blood-
thirsty mob.
They keep walking.
JACK
What do you think was wrong?
DAVID
I have no idea.
JACK
Maybe that pentangle was for
something supernatural.
DAVID
I see and they were too
embarrassed to talk about it,
because they felt so silly.
There is a flash of lightning that sends a ghostly
illuminating sheet of light over the boys’ faces. The
clap of thunder follows loud and rumbling.
DAVID
Please don’t rain.
Downpour. The boys are walking in a deluge.
DAVID
Of course.
They walk getting soaked.
JACK
Say, David....
DAVID
I’m well aware of how pleasant
the weather is in Rome at the
present time thank you.
Jack spreads his arms and sings.
JACK
Santa Lucia...Santa Lucia.
9 INT. THE SLAUGHTERED LAMB - NIGHT
The rain is loud on the roof and beating on the
windows. The gathered continue to drink, play chess
and darts, but all are silent and contemplative.
WOMAN
Perhaps they’ll be safe in the
rain.
The Chess Player slams his hand on the table. Shouts:
CHESS PLAYER
No one brought them here! No
one wanted them here!
WOMAN
You could have told them!
DART PLAYER
Are you daft? What do you
think they’d say? They’d
think us mad.
WOMAN
Listen!
The rain is subsiding. There is a very faint howl.
WOMAN
Did you hear it? We must go
to them.
DART PLAYER
I heard nothing.
CHESS PLAYER
Nor I.
The camera lingers as the Chess Player’s hard face
shows the man’s struggle. Another howl. The Chess
Player turns suddenly.
10 EXT. ROADSIDE ON THE MOORS - NIGHT
David and Jack are now completely out of sight from
East Proctor surrounded by darkness and wet. There is
a light drizzle. They are standing, listening. The
drizzle stops.
JACK
Did you hear that?
DAVID
I heard that.
JACK
What was it?
David begins to walk, Jack with him.
DAVID
Could be a lot of things.
JACK
Yeah?
DAVID
A coyote.
JACK
There aren’t any coyotes in
England.
DAVID
The Hound of the Baskervilles.
JACK
Pecos Bill.
DAVID
Heathcliffe.
JACK
Heathcliffe didn’t howl.
DAVID
No, but he was on the moors.
JACK
It’s a full moon, `beware the
moon’.
Another howl, this one long and loud. It is a very
inhuman noise, terrifying, and closer this time.
JACK
I vote we go back to The
Slaughtered Lamb.
DAVID
Yeah.
They are both visibly worried and walk briskly back
from where they just came. Although after a bit of
fast walking they are getting nowhere. They stop out
of breath.
DAVID
We’re lost.
Another bloodcurdling howl.
JACK
Shit! David, what is that?
DAVID
I don’t know. Come on.
JACK
Come on, where?
DAVID
Anywhere! I think we should
just keep moving.
A growl. A low guttural growl comes from out of the
darkness. We stay on the boys, but we hear something
out there. It starts to walk.
DAVID
It’s moving.
JACK
It’s circling us.
And indeed it is. The boys strain to hear its four
footfalls and they turn slowly, following it. A snarl.
JACK
Fuck.
We hear the wolf-monster stop (for that’s what it is -
we know it’s there even though we’ve not seen it). It
sits breathing heavily.
DAVID
What’s the plan?
JACK
(nervously)
Plan?
DAVID
(not too relaxed
himself)
Let’s just keep walking.
They do and David keeps talking as they walk.
DAVID
That’s right, a lovely stroll
in the moors. Tra-la-la,
isn’t this fun?
The thing stalking them seems to speed up. The boys
hesitate as they sense it run past them. It stops.
DAVID
It’s in front of us.
JACK
Do you think it’s a dog?
Jack and David strain to see what waits ahead of them.
BOYS’ P.O.V.
Something is waiting in the darkness. Its hulking
shape is barely discernible, but its eyes glow eerily
and its breath is visible.
JACK
Oh shit. What is that?
DAVID
A sheep dog or something.
Turn slowly and let’s walk
away.
The boys keep talking as they move faster and faster.
JACK
Nice doggie. Good boy.
DAVID
Walk away, Jack.
JACK
Walking away, yes, sir. Here
we are walking away.
They are in a full-out run by now. After a few minutes
flight they stop, panting.
DAVID
See anything?
JACK
No.
A moment of quiet, then a howl.
DAVID
It sounds far away.
JACK
Not far enough. Come on.
They walk briskly.
DAVID
Jack?
JACK
Yeah.
DAVID
Where are we going?
JACK
I’ll tell you when we get
there.
DAVID
Well. I’m glad we...WHOAA!!
David shouts as he slips suddenly in the mud, scaring
Jack, and us, and himself a great deal. He lays
startled on the wet ground for a moment, then he and
Jack laugh.
JACK
You really scared me, you
shithead.
DAVID
Are you going to help me up?
Jack takes David’s extended hand to help him up when
THE WOLF MONSTER SPRINGS!
EXT. MOORS - NIGHT
The lunging beast brings Jack down in one fell swoop.
David falls back on his ass. Jack is screaming and
struggling as he is torn to shreds. David scrambles to
his feet and runs in complete panic. Jack’s screams
and the wolf’s roars combine.
JACK
Jesus fuck! David! Please
help me! Please! David!
Shit! Help me! Oh God!
EXT. ROADSIDE ON THE MOORS - NIGHT
David runs and runs. Finally he falls, out of breath.
DAVID
Jack? Oh my God, Jack!
He gets up and runs back to find Jack a torn and bloody
mess on the ground. He stares in horror.
DAVID
Jack....
EXT. NIGHT - VARIOUS FLASH CUTS
THE WOLF SPRINGS! The camera adopts David’s P.O.V. as
he fights the dark savage shape on top of him. Fangs
clamp down on his shoulder when shots ring out and the
hulking form rolls off of him.
EXT. ROADSIDE ON THE MOORS - NIGHT
David, dazed and bloody, looks and sees the men from
The Slaughtered Lamb armed with shotguns and torches
running towards him. Looking over at his attacker,
instead of a wolf he sees a very old, naked man laying
in the mud riddled with bullet holes. As the villagers
crowd around, David falls back and faints.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
11 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
David is in a small, clean and very white hospital
room. He lays on his back in bed, his shoulder
bandaged and his arm plugged into a bottle of plasma.
There are several cuts and abrasions on his arms and
face, but he really doesn’t look too bad. He opens his
eyes slowly, blinks, and tries to sit up and look
around, but is unable to because of the pain. He calls
out....
DAVID
Jack?!
...and passes out. However his shout has fetched a
nurse. She is ALEX PRICE, very English, very
beautiful. She goes to the bed.
ALEX
Mr. Kessler?
She looks into his eyes, lifting the lids with her
thumb, and then checks his chart at the end of the bed.
ALEX
Mr. Kessler?
David remains unconscious. Another young nurse, MISS
GALLAGHER, comes in.
MISS GALLAGHER
He all right?
ALEX
Yes, I should think. He
called out just now.
MISS GALLAGHER
He’s an American, you know.
Dr. Hirsch is going to fetch
round one of those Embassy
fellows to see him.
ALEX
Chart says he’s from New York.
MISS GALLAGHER
I think he’s a Jew.
ALEX
Why on earth do you say that?
MISS GALLAGHER
I looked.
ALEX
(smiles)
Really, Susan, I don’t think
that was very proper, and
besides, it’s common practice
now.
A voice startles the girls.
DR. HIRSCH
Yes, Miss Gallagher, Miss
Price is quite right.
DR. HIRSCH enters. He is an older man wearing the
customary lab coat. A very commanding and reassuring
presence. The girls are embarrassed.
ALEX
Dr. Hirsch, Mr. Kessler cried
out a minute ago.
DR. HIRSCH
Miss Gallagher, surely you
must perform some function
here at the hospital.
MISS GALLAGHER
Yes, Doctor.
DR. HIRSCH
Then get on with it.
MISS GALLAGHER
Yes, Doctor.
She exits. Dr. Hirsch begins to examine David. Alex
watches. Dr. Hirsch turns to Alex.
DR. HIRSCH
Can I be of service, Miss
Price?
ALEX
Dr. Hirsch?
DR. HIRSCH
Go about your duties.
ALEX
Yes, Doctor.
She starts to exit.
DR. HIRSCH
Oh, Miss Price?
ALEX
Yes, Doctor?
DR. HIRSCH
What exactly did he call out?
ALEX
He said `Jack’.
DR. HIRSCH
That would be Jack Goodman,
the boy who was killed.
ALEX
What happened to them?
DR. HIRSCH
The police report said an
escaped lunatic attacked them.
He must have been a very
powerful man. Although I
really don’t see that it is
any of your concern, Miss
Price.
ALEX
No, sir. Of course, sir.
Good day, Doctor.
She exits as Dr. Hirsch continues his examination,
looking into David’s eyes.
12 EXT. DENSE FOREST - DAY
The camera is handheld, running furiously through the
almost dense greenery. On the soundtrack are the
footfalls and heavy breathing of the runner. The
camera abruptly stops and turns, sharply looking about,
the panting continuing. The breathing gets louder and
harder, then too loud when we:
CUT TO:
13 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
David opens his eyes quickly, the silence and whiteness
contrast sharply with the preceding fantasy. Standing
beside the bed are Dr. Hirsch and MR. COLLINS. Mr.
Collins wears a bow tie and is holding a briefcase.
DR. HIRSCH
Hello, David. I am Dr. Hirsch
and this is a countryman of
yours, Mr. Collins.
DAVID
Where am I?
DR. HIRSCH
You’re in a hospital in
London.
DAVID
London? Where’s Jack? I had
a strange dream.
DR. HIRSCH
I should think so after your
recent traumatic experiences.
DAVID
The guy I was with. Is he all
right? How did I get to
London?
DR. HIRSCH
(quietly)
Now, David, I want you to
prepare yourself; your friend
is dead.
David jolts up in bed and shouts.
DAVID
What?
The sudden exertion and strain hurt.
DAVID
Ow, shit!
He sinks back down.
DAVID
Jack’s dead?
MR. COLLINS
Mr. Kessler, I am Mr. Collins
of the American Embassy here
in Grosvenor Square. Both Mr.
Goodman’s parents and your
parents have been notified of
your injuries and everything’s
in order.
DAVID
Everything’s in order? What
are you talking about?
MR. COLLINS
Mr. Goodman’s body has been
air-freighted back to New York
for burial and your parents
have wired funds for your stay
in the hospital until you are
well enough to fly home.
DAVID
(controlled tears)
You don’t crate and ship Jack
like some side of beef.
(approaching hysteria)
Who the hell are you people?
What’s going on here? Where
is Jack? I demand to see him!
DR. HIRSCH
(holds David down,
calls out)
Miss Price! Miss Price,
please!
DAVID
(shouting)
Get your fucking hands off me!
What the hell is going on
here?
Alex enters amidst David’s shouting and confusion.
MR. COLLINS
(distraught, clutching
his briefcase)
I realize how upsetting this
must be for you, Mr. Kessler,
but please try to refrain from
hysterics.
David continues shouting and struggling.
DR. HIRSCH
Prepare a hypodermic, please,
Miss Price.
The shot is administered and David is held down by Dr.
Hirsch and Alex until his breathing becomes more
normal.
MR. COLLINS
Now, Mr. Kessler, try not to
excite yourself. Everything
has been arranged. I shall
come back to check on your
progress and send a report to