An American Werewolf in London Page #11

Miss Gallagher and an ORDERLY appear at once.

MRS. HOBBS

Orderly, go at once to twenty-one

and restrain the patient.

The orderly exits.

MRS. HOBBS

Miss Gallagher, remain here at the

desk. I'll be in twenty-one.

She exits.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

It is bright, daylight, and Dr. Hirsch gazes thoughtfully

out the window.

DR. HIRSCH

You've never had bad dreams before?

DAVID:

(upset)

Sure, as a kid. But never so real.

Never so bizarre.

Dr. Hirsch crosses over and sits on a chair by the bed.

DR. HIRSCH

Did you get a good look at the man

who attacked you?

DAVID:

I've told you, it wasn't a man. It

was an animal. A big wolf or

something. A rabid dog.

DR. HIRSCH

(chewing on his glasses)

Yes.

DAVID:

Look, Dr. Hirsch, I know I've been

traumatized, but Jack was torn apart.

I saw him. A man can't do that to

someone with his bare hands.

DR. HIRSCH

You'd be surprised what horrors a

man is capable of.

DAVID:

Did you see Jack?

DR. HIRSCH

No. In fact, your wounds were cleaned

and dressed before you arrived here.

DAVID:

Did you talk to the police in East

Proctor? Did the cops go to The

Slaughtered Lamb?

DR. HIRSCH

I really don't know.

DAVID:

Then why the hell are you so quick

to disbelieve me? You yourself said

it must have taken incredible strength

to tear apart a person like that.

DR. HIRSCH

(rubs his forehead)

David, please. The police are

satisfied. I'm certain that if a

monster were out roaming northern

England we'd have seen it on the

telly.

DAVID:

You really think I'm crazy, don't

you?

DR. HIRSCH

Believe me. The Hound of the

Baskervilles was an invention of Sir

Arthur Conan Doyle's. And if you'd

read the bloody book, you'd find

that Holmes discovered your house of

hell a fraud, a fake.

There is an awkward silence as David sits and Dr. Hirsch is

embarrassed at raising his voice.

DR. HIRSCH

Now really, David. You're far too

intelligent to go on this way. When

you return to America I want you to

seek out a competent psychiatrist or

psychologist or something and stop

this nonsense. You'll be leaving

this hospital in three or four days,

please remain sane. At least until

you are no longer our responsibility.

Dr. Hirsch goes to the door.

DAVID:

Dr. Hirsch?

(pause)

I'd rather not be by myself.

DR. HIRSCH

Of course not, David. I'll fetch in

young Miss Price.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT

Alex sits next to David's bed. Her shoes are off and she has

her feet tucked up under her legs on the chair. The room is

dark except for the lamp by which she reads. She is reading

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain.

David is asleep. Alex reads for a bit, then puts down the

book and yawns. She gets up and stretches, a big spreading

arms and feet, fingers and toes stretch.

DAVID:

(quietly)

You're a very beautiful girl.

ALEX:

(embarrassed)

I thought you were asleep.

DAVID:

I was. What are you reading?

ALEX:

'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's

Court' by Mark Twain.

DAVID:

Do you like it?

ALEX:

I've just started it. My friend gave

it to me.

They look at each other.

ALEX:

What do you dream about?

DAVID:

I dream of death mostly.

ALEX:

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked

you.

DAVID:

It's okay. I want to talk to you.

They sit and look at each other for a while longer.

DAVID:

How old are you?

ALEX:

That's not really a very proper

question.

DAVID:

How old are you?

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