Logan's Run Page #10

The machine vaguely resembles an enormously complicated x-ray table

on an angle -- the great slotted laser heads overhanging it and

Integral with it. From the cryonic receptor base there is a steady

exhalation of cold -- the vapor seeping steadily downwards, blurring

the endlessly looped and tangled tubes and wires and containers

Which join in solid state circuitry so that any random or

involuntary twitch of a patient will be instantly compensated by an

equivalent move of the laser head -- keeping the focus precise.

At one end -- where the halves of the Mark III join, is n console of

switches and dials -- lights nod servo-recorders which control the

operation from the first injection of cold to the final healing

vacuum drafts and scar burnishing. With the air of a magician

demonstrating, Doc goes to the console and flips switches. Instantly

the table responds -- the platform tilting, the crab-like laser arms

descending flexing -- small vapor jets oozing as the beams slash

harmlessly across the table. Beaming, Doc turns it off and the whole

apparatus subsides.

DOC:

I designed it myself.

(slightest beat)

What'll it be ...a face job or

a full-body job?

LOGAN:

Just the face.

DOC:

Fine....Holly will get you ready.

You're in good hands, believe me.

Holly comes forward and unbuttons the collar on Logan's tunic.

As Holly brushes her fingertips lightly down Logan's arms:

DOC:

Holly works here because she gets a

lift out of watching the Table...

(smiles)

and other things. I'll be back in a

minute.

HOLLY:

He's going to sterilize himself.

LOGAN:

Do I have to undress?

HOLLY:

Not for your face.

Logan follows Holly to the Table. (Jessica remains behind with Doc

who speaks to her with soft urgency).

DOC:

You shouldn't have brought him here.

JESSICA;

I didn't bring him -- what's

the difference. He's blinking.

He wants to run.

DOC:

Run!? He's a Sandman.

JESSICA:

I tell you he's running. I know.

DOC:

Maybe...Maybe. But I wish he'd

gone somewhere else.

(a beat, a shrug)

All right. He gets a face.

144X1THE SURGICAL TABLE - LOGAN AND HOLLY

Logan lies down.

The Table ripples...accepting his weight prisoning and positioning

him.

HOLLY:

(leaning - close to

Logan)

I like dark hair. Have him give you

dark hair.

DOC'S VOICE

All set?

HOLLY:

Um huh. Would you take a picture

of him, Doc? I'd like you to give

his face to somebody else.

DOC:

Why not?

Doc pushes a button...there is a tiny FLASH.

DOC:

Do you have anything special in mind?

LOGAN:

I don't care...Just get it over

with.

DOC (smiling)

Hurry...hurry...hurry.

HOLLY (whispering)

Dark hair.

LOGAN:

Holly'd like dark hair.

DOC:

Holly'd like a lot of things.

(studying Logan's face)

We can start by narrowing the

cheekbones.

Doc presses buttons on the control board. Jessica, who is standing

next to Doc, is slightly startled as the Table begins to HUM...as a

pair of laser beams separate themselves from the overhead cluster

and extend toward Logan, forming inner cones as they approach.

CryoJector needles start to close in on them, nearing their faces

and shoulders slowly...the visible cold streaming off the points.

A vibrobeam begins to KEEN.

SOUND:
An insistent chiming.

Doc hears the sound and turns with the martyred air of a man who's

been called to the phone too many times. He turns to a phone-like

apparatus nearby, shifting the table into neutral as he turns. The

table and the laser heads stop moving.

DOC:

(as if speaking on a phone)

Hello

(listening)

Yes

(listening)

Yes, they are.

(listening; his expression

changing)

Done.

Doc turns back to the console, pausing to stare intently at Logan,

then up at the brightly smiling Holly. Something in his look

registers, and Holly's smile fades. Now Doc engages the machine

again...

DOC:

Pay attention, Sandman. I'm

proud of this machine.

As he speaks he presses and an arm sweeps downward and into position

near Logan's face. It pauses as

DOC:

With this one there's no waiting

for scar burnishing. It's all in

one...watch now...

The laser arm sweeps across Logan's forehead and cheeks, leaving a

bright trail of blood as

DOC:

But here's the improvement. Instant

healing---before you feel a thing.

Watch now...

Doc pushes a special button and the arm sweeps back along the track,

spraying healing fluid. Magically the blood vanishes and the skin is

moist and whole.

144X2THE SURGICAL TABLE - LOGAN

His face tense--he knows something's wrong. Over him Holly's bright

face with its rapt look. She's not sure, but she enjoys whatever's

happening.

144X3BACK TO DOC

who is playing the console as he speaks.

DOC:

Perfect depth adjustment on this

one, Sandman. The beam will cut

through that uniform and just

exactly through the skin beneath--

absolute precision. Watch now

And the machine does its stuff, slashing through Logan's tunic--a

seam of blood following the rip.

DOC:

Of course, it doesn't mend uniforms,

Sandman, but otherwise it does

everything, doesn't it? Just

imagine what would happen to you

if the healing stopped functioning.

And the arm moves back again, spraying the healing fluid into

Logan's new wound. Again the blood disappears.

Suddenly Doc's look is ferocious. He turns off the healing switch

and punches buttons fiercely. The laser arms begin to move wildly

and the SOUNDS become shrill. Holly looks alarmed.

HOLLY:

No! You're scrambling the table.

He'll be cut to pieces, Doc.

DOC:

Damn right! It was a trap. They

know!

LOGAN:

No - I'm Running!

Machine begins to WHINE LOUDLY.

Jessica tries to turn the machine off...Doc starts to wrestle with

her as:

145-145X4INTERCUT: CLOSE ANGLES - THE CLUSTER ABOVE LOGAN

Moving.

HOLLY:

Watching two stun beams lower.

Doc knocks Jessica down. She is groggy on the floor as

The stun beams lance into Logan's cheeks.

The Table holds him, biting into his right leg below the knee.

146-148QUICK CUTS OF DOC AND HOLLY

Watching intently as:

149-150CLOSE ANGLES - LOGAN AND THE CLUSTER ABOVE HIM

As surgical beams slit his shirt from the shoulder to the waist

leaving two threads of blood. A vacu-head dips to suck the blood

away neatly.

151ANOTHER ANGLE - LOGAN

As Logan desperately sucks in his belly....trying to flatten himself

into the Table.

152-153CLOSE ANGLES - LOGAN AND THE CLUSTER ABOVE HIM

As laser blades cut into his face....followed by a spray of healing

liquid on the cuts.

154CLOSE - ON HOLLY

Excited....flushed....as:

155CLOSE - ON LOGAN AND THE CLUSTER ABOVE HIM

As two wide blades of light sweep downward....and hover three inches

above his neck....and keep lowering ....HUMMING loudly....and one

inadvertently frees Logan's right arm.

156CLOSE ON - DOC

Shocked as Logan reaches for his gun.

157CLOSE - ON LOGAN AND THE CLUSTER ABOVE HIM.

As dozens of laser beams slash toward Logan....he twists away....and

breaks off....jumping off the Table.

Doc rushes Logan holding what appears to he a frozen police billy.

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