Dark City Page #20

SCHREBER:

(Cont.)

We've got so much to talk about, you and

I...

Schreber tightens the last of the straps. Walker is completely

immobile.

Schreber puts down the gun now and pulls out his leather bag we saw

him carrying earlier. He opens it and removes a glass syringe.

SCHREBER:

(Cont.)

I'm going to teach you things.

Things about yourself you didn't

know. Let me show you something.

Look at this syringe.

Walker stares blankly at him for a moment, then:

WALKER:

Why?

SCHREBER:

Look at it!

Walker reluctantly does so.

SCHREBER:

(Cont.)

Concentrate. Imagine the syringe

rising. Visualise it floating above

the table.

TIGHT ON WALKER:

SCHREBER:

(Cont.)

Do it!

WALKER'S P.O.V.

The syringe starts to vibrate, actually RISES INTO THE AIR - floats

stationary between Walker and Schreber.

WALKER:

It's a trick.

SCHREBER:

No it isn't. You are doing it! You

know you are doing it.

Suddenly the syringe spins towards the doctor, IMPALES itself in his

shoulder. He yelps, grabs it, pulls it out.

Walker looks amazed.

SCHREBER:

(Cont.)

You see!

Walker believes - he did do it.

SCHREBER:

(Cont.)

I can make you understand so

easily...

(points at syringe again)

Now you must relax.

He's tapping the side of the syringe, squirting out air bubbles.

SCHREBER:

(Cont.) (smiles)

You are not a killer, you are as

innocent as a new born babe.

WALKER:

You know who they are - the men

following me?

SCHREBER:

Ah, our friends in black... that's

rather complicated I'm afraid.

John, there has been an experiment,

a dangerous experiment. I arranged

it, but things did not go as they

should have. You have been left -

blank - I can fix that with this.

WALKER:

What is it?

SCHREBER:

It's okay. Everyone gets one -

very much like this...

(points to syringe)

But this one's special. It will

help you understand...

(lowers syringe to

Walker's forehead)

There might be some pain, but things

will be easier this way.

WALKER:

Who am I! Tell me, damn you! Tell

me who I am!

He lowers the syringe to Walker's forehead.

TIGHT ON WALKER'S RIGHT HAND - Walker suddenly finds THE STRAP IS

LOOSE...

SCHREBER:

Relax, John, in thirty seconds

you'll know everything.

Walker and lashes out, PUNCHES the doctor in the face. His glasses

go flying, and he falls to the floor, blinded, scrambling for the

spectacles.

Walker quickly frees himself from his remaining bonds. He undoes

the last strap around his ankles as the doctor replaces his glasses

and leaps at him trying to drive the syringe INTO WALKER'S FOREHEAD.

Each man tries to turn the syringe on the other. They fall against

a tray of medical instruments.

Walker is pinned down with the syringe INCHES from his face.

ANGLE ON THE DOOR - it bursts open. A SILHOUETTE is revealed,

aiming a gun.

BUMSTEAD:

Hold it!

Schreber and Walker FREEZE in mid-struggle, look at Bumstead.

behind him, the nurse stands startled in the hallway. No one moves,

no one knows what to do next.

Bumstead steps forward, throws handcuffs to Schreber.

BUMSTEAD:

(Cont.)

Put those on him.

Schreber complies. Bumstead keeps the gun levelled at both men.

BUMSTEAD:

(Cont.) (to Schreber)

What's going on?

SCHREBER:

He is more disturbed than I thought

inspector. I never thought he would

attack me the way he did, but I

don't want to press charges...

While Schreber speaks, Bumstead searches Walker, finds the revolver,

takes this. Also takes his wallet.

Bumstead doesn't notice Schreber edging towards a tray of

instruments.

BUMSTEAD:

(to Schreber)

I'd like you to come with me for

questioning.

Schreber nods silently. Then LASHES OUT with the scalpel SLICING

AIR an inch in front of Bumstead's face. Bumstead falls back, trips

on a table leg and hits the floor, dropping the GUN.

He immediately scrambles for it, aims at Walker who is fixed to the

spot, then whirls to see Schreber has FLED, the door swings in his

wake.

Bumstead runs to the door.

HIS P.O.V. - maze-like corridor stretches away into darkness on

both sides. No sign of Schreber.

EXT. CITY STREETS - NIGHT

Bumstead's BLACK SEDAN drives down a wide street between tall

buildings.

INT. BUMSTEAD'S CAR - NIGHT

WALKER and the INSPECTOR drive silently.

WALKER:

The doctor is crazy, you know.

(beat)

I guess insane people always say

that about their doctors, huh?

Bumstead ignores this.

WALKER:

(Cont.)

You think I'm the killer?

BUMSTEAD:

What I think, is of no consequence

right now.

WALKER:

I didn't kill anyone.

Bumstead says nothing.

INT. POLICE STATION/VARIOUS - NIGHT

A SHAKY FINGER presses down on the sticky surface of a page. It

pulls away revealing an inky finger-print.

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