Death and the Maiden Page #4

and the use of electric shock

on Paulina Lorca.

What?

I wasn't married then...

although Gerardo recruited me

into the student resistance.

He was my fearless leader,

but you never knew that.

If I'd given you his name...

he wouldn't be heading

an investigating committee.

Some other lawyer would be

investigating his death.

And in addition,

I accuse Dr. Miranda...

of raping Paulina Lorca on

fourteen separate occasions...

each time playing Schubert's

"Death and the Maiden"...

on a wobbly turntable

over cheap speakers.

Raped?

You never told me

you were raped.

I was. Of course I was.

This is crazy.

I've nothing to do

with any beatings or tortures.

Paulie, we have to talk.

- When was this?

- In 1977.

I wasn't even in the country.

I was in residency

in Barcelona for three years.

- Sure. I'll write a letter.

- Make a call!

Why don't we just drive

to the police station...

ask them to call for us?

Oh. We can't drive, either.

We have no car.

Our car had a flat...

and your car

has also had an accident.

Went right through the guard

rail and down the cliff.

I don't think you could've

survived such a crash, do you?

You're an expert on how much

punishment the body can take...

before death is the result.

That's what they called you

in for, wasn't it, Doctor?

This is insane. Is this a trial?

You're willing to be

an accomplice...

to kidnapping and murder, too?

I have to talk to you.

For God's sake, go ahead, talk.

Privately.

In your chambers?

All right, on the deck.

What a sad and beautiful man

Schubert must have been.

Only thirty-one when he died.

Did you know he was homosexual?

Of course you do.

You told me.

"He was a f*ggot.

"You don't like faggots.

You like a real man's cock."

I'm a gentleman. I'd never say

anything like that to a lady.

Enjoy it.

We won't be long.

Why didn't you tell me?

Why didn't you ask?

You knew.

You're an expert.

You've listened to hours

of testimony.

They did it to us all.

You told me everything else

the doctor did...

how he supervised the torture...

- I told you nothing.

- Nothing?

Actually, very little.

Almost nothing.

All these years because you

took it for granted that I knew?

There's a difference

between knowing the facts...

and hearing the details.

If I'd told you,

he'd always be between us.

We'd never be alone.

I understand.

Remember how young we were?

I miss us, Gerardo.

So we're here, Paulie.

We're still here.

I understand what you feel,

but even if he is guilty...

Even if?

Do you realize what you've done?

Yes, darling. Absolutely.

This is kidnapping, assault.

We'll go to jail

for twenty years.

Think what that'll do

to the movement.

It's the kind of excuse

the authorities look for.

We've given enough

to the movement.

I've given enough.

If you thought you

recognized him...

why didn't you tell me?

You wouldn't have believed me.

It doesn't matter.

It matters to me.

More than anything.

You have no proof.

- What will you do with him?

- Put him on trial.

This isn't a trial.

It's terrorism.

Do you love me, Gerardo?

We're supposed to be different.

We can't use their methods.

I'm giving him all

the guarantees he never gave me.

He has a lawyer.

I'll listen to his defense.

That's bullshit.

You've already convicted him.

The evidence

is your own testimony.

- Lf you want the real truth...

- The real, real truth.

You're not a reliable witness.

Because I'm crazy.

Any court

would tear you to pieces.

Five years ago

in the Taveli Cafe...

you heard a voice

you recognized...

I never said it was him.

You panicked on a bus when a man

touched your shoulder.

Stop it.

You can be cold, Gerardo.

I'm being truthful.

Isn't that what you want?

It's too serious

to spare your feelings.

You're not killing him.

Kill him?

You really think I'll kill him?

Why did you crash his car?

I didn't crash his car.

It's parked on the road.

I made that up to make him

think I mean business.

I'm not the secret police.

I have to create

the illusion of threat...

or he won't take the trial

seriously.

What are you trying to do to me?

Oh, my baby.

My poor, gentle baby.

I'd never do anything

to hurt you...

or the commission.

I don't want to stop you...

from finding the bodies

of the missing...

or getting the crimes on record.

I love you.

You're my life.

But you're only

investigating...

the cases of those

who are dead, who can't speak.

I can talk now.

I'm free for the first time...

since I was buried alone

with this terror...

until...

I've got him, Gerardo...

and he's the one I wanted,

the worst of them.

The others were thugs.

I expected them.

But he was a doctor...

supposedly there to make

sure they didn't kill me.

He talked about science

and philosophy.

- He liked to quote Nietzsche.

- Nietzsche?

"I think it was Nietzsche."

He was so friendly,

so thoughtful.

After a horrible session,

he gave me a shot.

To soothe me, he said...

to ease my suffering,

he said he would play music.

I want to tell you.

Do you really want me to?

Because I can.

You really think

you can stand it?

Well, I told you I was...

blindfolded.

They had me tied

to a table... face up...

except when they decided

to put me face down...

in a bucket of my own sh*t,

but this day...

the first day the doctor came...

they were being kind.

They had all these wires,

electrodes all over me...

and a metal rod,

like a penis, inside me.

When they shock you...

first it burns, and then...

and then your body jumps...

and it hurts where you're tied.

I was trying to scream

more where it hurt less...

a little trick,

but it didn't work.

The doctor came in.

He told them I'd had enough.

He sent them away.

He gave me a shot.

I felt warm.

That pain was gone.

I didn't think it could go,

but it was like magic.

He cleaned me up.

He put something on my wounds.

He told me I was safe...

and that he would play

"Death and the Maiden."

Did I like Schubert?

"Oh, yes," I said.

"I love his music."

I thanked him.

I thanked him and thanked him...

and we listened together...

like a couple of people

who care about each other...

and for the first few minutes,

he didn't do anything.

Then I heard him moving around.

It sounded like his belt

dragging on the floor.

I heard the change

in his pockets jangling.

I heard the whisper

of his clothes coming off...

and, suddenly,

he was on top of me...

slobbering sick ideas.

He pushed himself in.

And, God, it hurt...

like fire.

I screamed.

I screamed as hard

as when they shocked me...

but he wouldn't stop.

He wouldn't stop.

I love you.

Let me hold you, Paulie.

I don't trust you.

Understand? I can't.

I'm sorry. I know you hate me

saying it, but I am sorry.

And after he'd finished...

he turned the music off

and said good-bye...

with one of his pet phrases...

"No bones broken, right, baby?"

I know it's him.

I'm positive.

What do you want?

My first thought

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes