Gothika Page #6

Shelley doesn't respond. Simply crosses over and headsfor the showers. Miranda gets dressed when a hand on hershoulder makes her jump -

(CONTINUED)

30.

CONTINUED:

IRENE:

Enough privacy for you?

MIRANDA:

Yes. Thank you, Irene.

But now Irene notices the blood seeping through thetowel.

IRENE:

What did you do?

MIRANDA:

Nothing. It's nothing -

IRENE:

What the hell did you do toyourself?!

And now the other patients are curiously watching asorderlies RUSH IN to haul her away.

INT. WOODWARD CORRIDOR - LATER

THROUGH a glass pane we see a NURSE bandaging Miranda's

arm. Parsons and Irene confer just outside the room.

IRENE:

I looked away for a second. It's

unacceptable, won't happen again.

PARSONS:

Not your fault. Patients alwaysfind a way to hurt themselves ifthat's what they want.

IRENE:

I just didn't peg her for acutter, that's all.

Parsons watches Miranda through the glass. She can't

look him in the eye.

INT. REC ROOM - LATER

Miranda (with her fresh new bandage) ignores the looksfrom the other patients as she rejoins them. SpotsShelley by the window furthest from the wardens. Scared.

SHELLEY:

Oh my God. Oh my God.

(CONTINUED)

31.

CONTINUED:

MIRANDA:

You saw it?

SHELLEY:

Listen, Doctor. Some people, they

have a gift. And in here, because

they categorize us as a bunch of

schizos, they refuse to

acknowledge that. It's like that

Hubble telescope that sees things

a trillion miles away but what

it's seeing is just reflected

light of a star that died a

thousand years ago? It's like

that. Doesn't mean you're crazy.

It only means your eyes open in a

different way.

Miranda tries to follow the convoluted explanation, buthas a sinking feeling.

MIRANDA:

What did it say?

SHELLEY:

On the telescope?

MIRANDA:

Did you see anything, Shelley?

Shelley glances around to make sure no one can hear.

SHELLEY:

That's not tile that wall is made

out of . It's a holographic

screen. All part of your mission,

isn't it?

Miranda shakes her head, feeling foolish. Walks away.

MIRANDA:

Thanks anyway.

SHELLEY:

(taps her forehead)

This is all we have. The rest is

dust.

INT. MIRANDA'S CELL - DAY

Pete and Miranda stare at each other. A tense beat.

(CONTINUED)

32.

CONTINUED:

MIRANDA:

It was you I called that night.

PETE:

Yes.

MIRANDA:

Did you mention that to the cops?

PETE:

No.

MIRANDA:

Why?

PETE:

I didn't think it would help you.

MIRANDA:

What does that mean?

PETE:

It means they wouldn't have let metreat you if they thought I hadany kind of involvement in whathappened.

MIRANDA:

And did you?

PETE:

Did I what?

MIRANDA:

Did I make it to your place? Did

I see you that night?

PETE:

No. We got disconnected and Icouldn't get through to you. I

sat there waiting all night.

Figured you'd changed your mind.

MIRANDA:

Why didn't you tell me this before?

PETE:

Because the only way you'll beable to accept these events is ifyou remember them on your own. Myjob is to assist you in processingthat information because you'renot in a frame of mind to do it byyourself.

(CONTINUED)

33.

CONTINUED:

She stares at him. Queasy.

MIRANDA:

You're changing the subject.

PETE:

The subject is you don't trust me.

MIRANDA:

Right now I don't trust anyone.

She tries to read his face. Reminds herself of who Pete

is and what he means to her. He points at her bandaged

arm.

PETE:

You want to talk about today?

She takes a resigned breath, slowly shakes her head.

Wishing she could wake up from this nightmare:

MIRANDA:

I want to talk to my lawyer.

PETE:

I think that's premature.

MIRANDA:

I can't help what you think.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

EXT. WOODWARD INSTITUTE GARDEN - DAY

SPRINKLER SYSTEMS doing their thing: THWIP, THWIP,

THWIP... The female patients are out in the gardens fortheir freshly dose of air. BOOM DOWN TO Miranda alone at

a bench. A cigarette appears before her, being offeredto her:

JENNA:

You a Marlboro girl?

Miranda sees Jenna looming above her, shielding the sun.

MIRANDA:

I don't smoke, thanks.

(CONTINUED)

34.

CONTINUED:

JENNA:

All we have is our health,

cupcake.

(sits beside her)

What I do is quit constantly,

start again. Drives them all

crazy. One day I quit threetimes.

MIRANDA:

Huh.

Jenna lights her smoke, blows out the match slowly.

Miranda turns and checks the building entrance as Jennarambles on.

JENNA:

They allow me one match at a timeand pretend they're not watching.

Check it out:
salivating goonnumber one at three o'clock, oh-

so-inconspicuous goon number twoat five o'clock.

Miranda follows Jenna's gaze. Sure enough, she's beingclosely watched by two orderlies.

MIRANDA:

What did you set on fire to windup here?

JENNA:

Very perceptive, Doc. I burnt

down the building where I worked.

I found a baby at the doorstep,

called the cops -- of course thebottom feeding pricks nevershowed. It's beside the point,

really.

Miranda shrugs. God knows what Jenna is talking aboutbut who is she to say? Once again, Miranda checks thebuilding entrance and now sees Parsons emerge. She

rises -

MIRANDA:

Phil.

He keeps walking. Headed to the parking lot beyond.

MIRANDA:

Phil!

(CONTINUED)

35.

CONTINUED:

He turns. His first instinct is to smile. But he checks

himself, reminding himself of her new status. Slips intohis best professional face:

PARSONS:

Hello, Miranda.

MIRANDA:

I wonder if I could talk to you.

PARSONS:

Of course.

(checks his watch)

Well, actually, I'm about to...

MIRANDA:

Your staff meeting's done andThursdays you don't schedulesessions until the afternoon.

This will just take one minute.

Promise.

Impressive. She remembers his schedule perfectly.

PARSONS:

True.

(points)

But the Sheriff wants to ask me

some questions.

She follows his look to the parking lot where SheriffRyan emerges from his patrol car. Miranda nods.

MIRANDA:

It's about Pete.

PARSONS:

What about him?

MIRANDA:

Perhaps he's not the mostqualified person to be treating

me.

His tone is fatherly yet direct.

PARSONS:

Are you complaining about hismethods or are you referring tothe nature of your pastrelationship with him?

This surprises her.

(CONTINUED)

36.

CONTINUED:

MIRANDA:

What did he tell you?

PARSONS:

He explained there might be aconflict of interest because he

has feelings for you. You two

engaged in a kiss at one point.

Am I right?

MIRANDA:

Yes.

PARSONS:

I told him we're all grownups hereand the fact is he's the best doctor

on my staff. As such, and given theseverity of the charges you face, Iconsider him the most qualified personto assist your recovery. Now, if

you'll excuse me, Sheriff Ryan isnot a patient man.

Stonewalled in the simplest of ways, she's left feelinglike an idiot. Watches Parsons join the Sheriff by his

car. The two men shake hands when suddenly Irene runspast her, yelling -

IRENE:

Hey! Chloe!

Now two ORDERLIES race past. Miranda looks over to see

what the fuss is all about. Chloe is on top of aninstitute staff member we haven't seen before, a round

black woman named CONSUELO. Punching her -

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