King Kong - 1933 Screenplay

(Changes - 9/6/32)

Hotel corridor. Denham running toward camera, followed by pop
eyed bell-boys, clerks and waiter.

Door to Driscoll's room opens, and Driscoll staggers out,
almost colliding with Denham.

DENHAM
Jack! He's climbing up, outside
there.

DRISCOLL
He got Ann. He's taking her up.

DENHAM
The roof! Quick!

They rush off.

CUT TO roof of hotel. Denham and Driscoll run in. They see
KONG, holding Ann, going over another roof. He goes out of
sight.

DENHAM
What'll we do?

DRISCOLL
(turning to go)
Fire Department searchlights.
They'll keep him in sight.

CUT TO - motorcycle cops.

Crowd pointing and shouting.

Policeman turning in alarm.

Hook and ladder.

KONG climbing. Cornice breaks.

Cornice crashes on man.

Firehouse, searchlights coming out. Siren.

Mounted police ride out.

Crowd in street.

Searchlights on roof.

1ST FIREMAN
Where is he?

2ND FIREMAN
He went that way.

1ST FIREMAN
He may have fallen.

Searchlight settles on Kong on distant roof.

1ST FIREMAN
There! There he is.

2ND FIREMAN
He's still got the girl.

Another searchlight picks up Kong.

3RD FIREMAN
He's turned. He's going back.

Police station, cops run out with guns.

Wall of windows, full of heads, craning.

Cop telephoning from street-box.

Roof with searchlight. Kong not seen. Light moves to and fro,
looking.

2ND FIREMAN
Where's he gone?

Two policemen enter.

1ST COP
Can you see him?

2ND FIREMAN
No. Lost sight of him half and hour
ago.

Crowd in street. Two men looking up.

1ST MAN
They say he's disappeared.

2ND MAN
Well, what could he hide in?

1ST MAN
Gee, I hope he don't come down in
the street.

2ND MAN
You said it.

Police Station. Sergeant at desk with phone. Denham and
Driscoll pacing the floor. Phone rings.

SERGEANT
(into phone)
Yes? Yes...No, not
yet...Headquarters is broadcasting
the reports.
(he hangs up)

THE LOUDSPEAKER
Kong, the giant ape, is still at
large. He has not been seen since
midnight. The whole city is
aroused. We are hoping for a report
at any moment.

Driscoll sits down with a groan and puts his head in his
hands. Denham rests a hand on his shoulder.

DENHAM
Snap out of it, Jack. They're bound
to find him when morning comes.

DRISCOLL
I can't do anything. Ann's out
there -- somewhere --

DENHAM
But we're pretty sure he won't hurt
her.

DRISCOLL
He may have dropped her. She may be
lying somewhere.

THE LOUDSPEAKER
Attention, all stations! Kong has
been seen again. He is on the roofs
of the warehouses at 41st Street.
He is going toward the East River.
He is still carrying Ann Darrow.

Driscoll leaps up, clutching Denham.

Phone on desk rings.

SERGEANT
(answering it)
Yes?...Yes, the report just come
in...I don't know. What can we do
without killing the girl, too?

DENHAM
If he puts Ann down --

SERGEANT
(into phone)
It'll be daylight in an hour. Keep
him in sight.

THE LOUDSPEAKER
Kong is going West. He is making
for the Empire State Building.

DRISCOLL
(to Sergeant)
If he goes up there, what can we
do?

SERGEANT
We won't be able to get near him.

THE LOUDSPEAKER
Kong is climbing the Empire State.
He is still carrying Ann Darrow.

DENHAM
That's licked us.

DRISCOLL
There's one thing that hasn't been
tried.

SERGEANT
What?

DRISCOLL
Airplanes. If he should put Ann
down -- if they could fly near
enough to pick him off -- without
hitting Ann --

SERGEANT
You're right! Planes -- as soon as
it's daylight --
(he turns to phone and
starts to call)