Mumford Page #13

MUMFORD:

Maybe... but you're the one whose

ass is dragging.

SOFIE:

(laughs)

Is that the technical description of

what I've got?

MUMFORD:

Is she against you getting help?

SOFIE:

We don't discuss it.

MUMFORD:

Something's bothering her.

SOFIE:

Oh, we've all disappointed her. Me,

especially, but Dad, of course. She

thinks my brother's all right, but

she didn't expect much. It's what

happens when you "marry beneath

yourself"...

Sofie suddenly seems to be fading.

MUMFORD:

Please... forgive me.

SOFIE:

What?

MUMFORD:

Negative thinking makes everything

more difficult. If you're going to

have enough strength to do this, we

have to talk only about positive

things. All right?

She looks at him, unsure if he's serious. It seems so corny.

But she agrees.

MUMFORD:

Okay then... Are you positive your

mother's a b*tch?

(she laughs, surprised)

Just kidding.

SOFIE:

You've got a funny idea of funny.

MUMFORD:

(seems worried)

I've offended you!

SOFIE:

No.

MUMFORD:

Really? What would it take?

She laughs again; surprised again. He's got her off balance

makes a "rim shot" sound.

SOFIE:

Is this the treatment?

MUMFORD:

Sorry... I'm done.

SOFIE:

'Cause I'll tell you, none of the

others have tried this approach.

They've come to the corner. He gestures to ask -- "shall we

cross?" She considers for quite a while, gauging her strength,

then, still on his arm, steps off the curb --

SOFIE:

(absurdly unconvincing)

Hey, 'Just do it!'

THEY CROSS OUT OF FRAME as we HEAR:

MUMFORD (O.S.)

I want you to tell me all your

symptoms.

EXT. PATH BY RIVER - DAY

ANOTHER DAY. They're dressed differently. Sofie seems more

vigorous.

SOFIE:

I'm embarrassed. The list is so long.

MUMFORD:

Be specific.

SOFIE:

Well... I'm tired all the time,

obviously. I always feel like taking

a nap. But when I try to sleep, I

have trouble.

(Mumford nods)

My muscles ache. And my joints. I

feel like an old person, or like I

did back when I used to work out too

hard... What else?...

INT. MUMFORD'S OFFICE - DAY

CLOSE ON COMPUTER SCREEN. Under the list of Signs and

Symptoms:
"Sore throat."

MUMFORD (V.O.)

Sore throat?

SOFIE (V.O.)

Uh-huh.

ON THE SCREEN:
"Low grade fever... Painful lymph glands...

Irritability..."

MUMFORD (V.O.)

Low grade fever?

EXT. PATH BY RIVER - DAY

Sofie nods.

MUMFORD:

Painful lymph glands?

(yes)

Forget fulness... irritability...

depression?

SOFIE:

Yes, yes, and definitely yes. Also...

I get confused.

MUMFORD:

Yeah, most people have that. It's

confusing here.

SOFIE:

Where?

MUMFORD:

Life.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC FIELD - DAY

ANOTHER DAY. Mumford is leading Sofie through the lightest

set of calisthenics ever devised. Now they're doing waist

bends and arm waving. Even so, it's taking everything Sofie's

got.

SOFIE:

I don't know if I mentioned the

headaches.

MUMFORD:

Did you get headaches before this?

(Sofie:
yes)

But you get more now? Or more severe?

SOFIE:

No, not really. They're about the

same. My marriage was one long

headache.

MUMFORD:

So the headaches may not even be a

part of this?

She considers that, reluctantly agrees.

MUMFORD:

I can give myself a headache

instantly.

SOFIE:

Is that like a party trick?

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