Screenplay by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler
Based on the novel "Double Indemnity In Three Of A Kind" by James M. Cain
Above the closed, double-plate glass doors is lettered: "PACIFIC BUILDING". To the left of entrance there is a drugstore, closed, dark except for a faint light in the back. The man comes stiffly up to the doors.
(CAMERA HAS MOVED UP WITH HIM).
He tries the doors. They are locked. He knocks on the glass. Inside, over his shoulder, the lobby of the building is visible: a side entrance to the drugstore on the left, in the rear a barber shop and cigar and magazine stand closed up for the night, and to the right two elevators. One elevator is open and its dome light falls across the dark lobby. The man knocks again. The night watchman sticks his head out of the elevator and looks toward entrance. He comes out with a newspaper in one hand and a half-eaten sandwich in the other. He finishes the sandwich on the way to the doors, looks out and recognizes the man outside, unlocks the door and pulls it open.
Hello there, Mr. Neff.
Neff walks in past him without answering.
Neff is walking towards elevator. Night watchman looks after him, relocks door, follows to elevator. Neff enters elevator.
Neff stands leaning against wall. He is pale and haggard with pain, but deadpans as night watchman joins him.
Working pretty late aren't you, Mr. Neff?
(Tight-lipped)
Late enough.
You look kind of all in at that.
I'm fine. Let's ride.
Night watchman pulls lever, doors close and elevator rises.