Frankenstein Page #7

VICTOR:

To say the least. I came here to expand my mind,

but honest inquiry seems strangled at every turn.

All we do is cling to the old knowledge instead of

seeking the new.

WALDMAN:

You disdain accepted wisdom?

VICTOR:

No, I embrace it ... as something to be used or

discarded as we advance the boundaries of what is

known.

HENRY:

(mutters to Waldman)

Now you've got him started.

VICTOR:

These are exciting times, Henry. We're entering

an era of amazing breakthroughs. Look at Edward

Jenner. He wasn't content to bleed people with

leeches, he pioneered a new frontier of thought

HENRY:

... yes, and thanks to him, smallpox has been

virtually eliminated. I've heard this speech

before.

VICTOR:

But you haven't listened, Never in history has so

much seemed possible. We're on the verge of

answers undreamt of ... but only if we have the

courage to ask the questions,

WALDMAN:

I understand your frustration. I was young once

myself.

(beat)

Walk me home. Something I'd like to show you.

(CONTINUED)

31

INT - WALDMAN'S HOME - WORKSHOP - NIGHT

The gaslights come up with a SOFT HISS. The first thing

Victor and Henry notice is an artist's nook situated

adjacent to big windows where the light would be best during

the day. Easels are lined with in-progress work on a variety

of subjects, everything from landscapes to anatomical

studies, all quite excellent.

The rest of the place is a laboratory crammed floor-to-

rafter with arcane equipment. Taking off his coat and

rolling up his sleeves, Waldman leads Victor and Henry down

rows of tables crammed with experiments and clutter.

WALDMAN:

You know for thousands of years the Chinese have

based their medical science on the belief that the

human body is a chemical engine run by

electricity? They say we all contain streams of

energy which flow through us like currents in the

ocean, or rivers in the earth.

They arrive at a table. Waldman roots through a tray of

knickknacks, holds up an acupuncture needle.

WALDMAN:

Their doctors treat patients by inserting needles

like these into the flesh at various key points to

manipulate these electric streams.

He directs their attention to an ancient Chinese silk on the

wall. It depicts the human body from front and side angles.

Acupuncture points are clearly marked.

VICTOR:

Preposterous.

WALDMAN:

I once saw it done, as a boy in Canton. My

parents were missionaries. The cure was nothing

short of miraculous.

(off their looks)

I've never forgotten it. Been fascinated ever

since.

HENRY:

It smacks of magic.

Waldman slides forth a steel pan and uncovers it to reveal

an enormous dead toad in dissection. Copper mounting pins

trail wires to a small panel of switches. The switches, in

turn, are connected to a series of galvanic batteries.

(CONTINUED)

32

Waldman starts throwing switches. Victor and Henry jump as

the toad convulses with motion. They watch, stunned, as

Waldman puts the toad through its paces: legs kick, feet

flex, mouth opens and closes, lungs breathe.

WALDMAN:

Magic. seems alive, doesn't it?

Waldman shuts the thing down, strips off his gloves, his arm

at the array of wires and batteries.

WALDMAN:

Electricity.

VICTOR:

It's utterly fantastic! This is the sort of thing

I'm talking about! We should be learning this!

WALDMAN:

Why? God alone knows what it means. Until it has

proven value, it's nothing more than a ghoulish

parlor trick. Hardly fit for the classroom.

VICTOR:

But the possibilities Combining ancient knowledge

with new? Something like this could change our

fundamental views!

WALDMAN:

It is a thrilling direction to explore. Thrilling

and dangerous.

(off his look)

Nature can be wonderful and terrible. Science is

not a realm for the reckless; it needs a

conscience. we must proceed cautiously. Assess as

we go.

(drapes the toad)

What I do on my own time is my own business. The

same holds true for you. You wish to expand your

mind? Fine, do so. You can even join me here, if

you like. But not at the expense of your normal

studies.

VICTOR:

I doubt that decision is still mine to make.

WALDMAN:

(waves)

Nonsense. Tonight you will draft an apology to

Professor Krempe...

(CONTINUED)

33

Victor starts to object, but Waldman overrides him with a

stern gesture for silence. Listen.

WALDMAN:

"...a sincere and heartfelt apology which you will

then read aloud to him before the assembled

student body and faculty.

VICTOR:

Why?

WALDMAN:

(draws close)

our profession needs talent like yours. Destroy

your career over an issue of pride? what a waste.

Waldman hands him the acupuncture needle. A gift. Victor

studies it, fascinated.

WALDMAN:

Go home, Victor. Write the letter,

INT - LECTURE HALL - DAY

DOLLYING VICTOR IN A SWW 360: He stands before the students

and faculty, reading his apology.

VICTOR:

... and I further wish to extend my sincerest

regrets to Professor Krempe for my display. My

behavior toward him was both rash and inexcusable

Up in the gallery, Krempe nods grudgingly to himself.

INT - FRANKENSTEIN MANSION - DUSK

Exquisite silverware goes CLINKING SOFTLY onto polished wood

as:

ELIZABETH (O.S.)

(laughing)

I knew held get himself in trouble.

TILT UP to reveal the expansive dinner table being set for

guests. KITCHEN STAFF are to-ing and fro-ing. Elizabeth

splits her attention between supervising and reading

Victor's letter, while Justine busies herself with a flower

arrangement. Willie gets underfoot. Father just sits.

JUSTINE:

Must've been a terrible row.

(CONTINUED)

34

ELIZABETH:

He was almost expelled for calling one of his

professors a "pompous ...

(glances to Willie)

... fellow.,,

FATHER:

He always was opinionated.

ELIZABETH:

(reads on, laughs)

He set things right with a proper apology ... and

now they've put him in charge of dissection lab!

WILLIE:

What's that?

FATHER:

That's where they cut things open and peer about

inside.

WILLIE:

Things? What sort of things?

Father is about to press on with the gory details, but

Elizabeth freezes him with a glance.

ELIZABETH:

It's far too ghoulish for your young ears.

The old man throws Willie a look. We'll talk later.

ELIZABETH:

The point is, your brother is a brilliant student

well on his way to becoming the finest-and most

compassionate doctor ever ...

INT - WALDMM'S WORKSHOP - NIGHT

A DISSECTED DOG convulses through its electronically-

induced paces. Kicking. Twitching. Tasting the air with its

dead tongue. TILT UP to reveal Victor at the switch.

Waldman leans close to observe. Softly:

WALDMAN:

Re-configure the leads?

VICTOR:

Numbers four and twelve directly into the nervous

system?

Waldman nods.

WALDMAN:

Worth a try.

(CONTINUED)

35

INT -.AUTOPSY ROOM - DAY

With Waldman at his side and Henry providing the tools as

needed, Victor instructs a freshman class in the internal

workings of a dissected corpse. Professor Krempe observes

from a distance.

VICTOR:

... and the medulla oblongata is the transition

between the spinal cord and the two parts I've

already named ... cerebrum and cerebellum. Any

freshmen feeling queasy yet?

(glances around, smiles)

All of you, from the look of it. We'll resume

your torture tomorrow.

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