Lost Highway Page #14

CUT TO:

INT. PRISON - WARDEN'S OFFICE - DAY

The Daytons are ushered in by the guard. The Warden is

standing behind his desk. Dr. Rogoff is standing to one side,

and next to him is Captain Henderson. The Daytons stand just

inside the room for a moment before the Warden extends his

right hand.

WARDEN:

I'm Warden Clements. This is Captain

Henderson and Dr. Rogoff. Please,

sit down.

Bill and Claire move to the chairs in front of the desk and

sit down. The Warden, Dr. Rogoff and Captain Henderson all

sit down.

WARDEN:

Mr. and Mrs. Dayton, as you were

told over the phone, your son, Peter,

is here.

Claire Dayton removes her sunglasses. She and Bill wait -

the warden is searching for words.

WARDEN:

He... He was discovered this

morning... in a cell on death row.

Bill and Claire look at each other - bewildered.

WARDEN:

A cell that was supposed to be

occupied by an inmate named Fred

Madison.

BILL:

The wife killer?

WARDEN:

Yes.

CLAIRE:

How is this possible, Warden?

The warden shakes his head.

WARDEN:

...Tell me, what was Peter's condition

the last time you saw him?

Bill and Claire look at each other again - briefly.

BILL:

His condition? What do you mean?

WARDEN:

His physical condition.

BILL:

(hesitates)

Same as always. Pete takes care of

himself.

Bill and Claire look at each other once again.

CLAIRE:

I saw him before he went to the garage

day before yesterday. He's a mechanic.

Look, is he okay? Can we see him?

The Warden looks at Dr. Rogoff.

DR. ROGOFF

He has a hematoma on his forehead

and a condition called blepharitis...

that's redness and swelling around

the eyes.

BILL:

Was he in a fight?

DR. ROGOFF

These conditions don't indicate a

fight.

CLAIRE:

But what is the cause then?... And

how did he get in that cell?

DR. ROGOFF

He can't talk. Or won't.

BILL:

That doesn't sound like Pete.

DR. ROGOFF

Your son has experienced some sort

of trauma, I'm afraid. We were hoping

that the two of you could help explain

the cause of the trauma and how he

came to be here.

CAPTAIN HENDERSON

You don't know Fred Madison?

BILL:

No... Only what was in the news.

CAPTAIN HENDERSON

Do you think Pete knows him?

CLAIRE:

I wouldn't know how.

WARDEN:

(to Claire)

You say you haven't seen your son

since the day before yesterday?

CLAIRE:

When he went to work, right.

WARDEN:

What about yesterday?

CLAIRE:

He didn't come home.

BILL:

Sometimes he stays at a friend's.

CAPTAIN HENDERSON

Any particular friends?

BILL:

A girl's, a buddy's. I don't know.

He's his own man; he comes and goes

as he pleases.

CLAIRE:

I want to see him.

WARDEN:

Yes, and we need to talk to him...

if we can.

(to Dr. Rogoff)

Mel, let's get Peter in here.

Dr. Rogoff leaves the room. While he's gone, nobody talks,

increasing the tension. Dr. Rogoff returns with Pete Dayton,

dressed in his own clothes: jeans, boots, sport shirt. Pete's

forehead is lumpy and his eyes are red and swollen. He can

walk, but unsteadily.

Pete looks around the room - sees his parents.

Claire jumps up.

CLAIRE:

(tenderly)

Pete...

She and Dr. Rogoff help get Pete settled in a chair. Bill is

taken aback at the sight of his son, but says nothing.

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