Was able to read an early draft of the Rope movie script with a lot of differences from the final version, the final scene especially is almost completely different. Some of the changes under the cut.
Philip's name was originally spelled with two L's (Phillip)
The boys all attended Princeton.
Philip (and Brandon?) left "Princeton University to go tripping around the world for a year."
Brandon didn't used to date Janet, when she confronts him about Kenneth and David he just says: "I’m terribly sorry, sweetie, but it is a little difficult to keep up with your love affairs."
Brandon calls Philip "my dear Phillip" or "my dear fellow" three times.
Rupert doesn't joke about murder, that time was taken up by just Brandon ranting about superiority and making everyone uncomfortable.
When Philip asks Rupert to turn off the light while he's at the piano: "I always like to play in half-darkness. You can hear better somehow."
When everyone leaves and Philip's worried Brandon says: "Oh come on! You were just as excited about this as I was. Now it’s over and it couldn’t have gone more beautifully!"
When Philip yells that if he has a hangover it'll be all his, a direction in the script reads "Brandon hears what is behind this, He looks at Phillip who is really trying to control himself." He then "quietly-nicely" offers for them to go on a holiday.
Philip replies: "I’m scared to death, Brandy. I think we’re going to get caught."
As Rupert is coming back Brandon pleads with Philip to not get them caught: "Come on. Take another drink if you must. But get hold of yourself and keep your mouth shut. I’ll do all the-(the doorbell rings. A terrified pause, then, low and desperate): Phillip…please!"
Then the ending is very different, Philip makes a run for the door when Rupert reveals he has the rope, Brandon tackles him, Philip screams that Brandon made him do it before Brandon elbows him in the face and they both calm down. Brandon asks Rupert to leave, telling him it's just a problem between himself and Philip.
When Rupert says outright that he suspects Brandon of murder, Brandon leaves the room to get a gun-he didn't have it prior. Once Rupert opens the chest Brandon begs him: "Have mercy upon me. Sit down and judge me. I’ve got to explain." After some back and forth with Rupert he goes on:
Brandon: Yes! I wanted you in on this from the beginning, Rupert, in on it with us. The perfect murder. The perfect motiveless murder. But Phillip didn’t want you. He didn’t even want you here tonight but I insisted. I knew you were brilliant enough to find us out, but I wanted you to, Rupert, I wanted you to!
Brandon: Yes, Rupert, yes! I wanted you to know! I knew you, of all people, would understand because you have to, don’t you see?
Rupert then gives a different version of his speech and Brandon, who still has the gun, says he'll kill Rupert. Rupert challenges that it wouldn't be a perfect murder then, or unique. So Brandon tosses Rupert the gun and orders Rupert to kill him. It ends with Rupert firing the gun out the window and telling them: "You’re going to die, you swine, Die. Both of you! Die!"
In a later version when Philip has his drunken outburst Brandon tells Rupert: "I simply know from too much past experience that I can handle Phillip best alone."
And in yet another draft, Philip grabs the gun as he does in the movie and says to Brandon: "This is what you wanted, isn’t it? Somebody else to know. Somebody else to see how brilliant you are. Just like in school. Well, I told you he’d find out! (beginning to rant hysterically) But you had to have him here and now we’re done for Now he knows! Now he-"
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