Mumford Page #14

MUMFORD:

All I have to do is have two

conflicting thoughts at the same

time... Like I'll think -- 'Taking

these walks is going to help Sofie

get better.' But then I'll also think --

'Mumford, you just enjoy taking these

walks and you're kidding yourself

about the benefits.'

Sofie's not sure how to take that. She looks away.

MUMFORD:

There... I've given myself a real

whopper.

SOFIE:

You actually address yourself by

name in your thoughts?

(Mumford laughs)

So you really think having two

opposing ideas in your head does

some kind of damage?

MUMFORD:

Sometimes, yeah... pulling in two

different directions at once. It

makes tiny little tears in our fabric.

SOFIE:

Well then, my life has been some

kind of huge rip.

INT. BOARDING HOUSE (IN HENRY FOLLETT'S FANTASY) - DAY

The handsome Newcomer of Follett's fantasy comes down the

steps from the attic wearing a sleeveless undershirt, towel

thrown over his shoulder. He goes into the bathroom off the

second floor hall and begins to wash up. [Again, Follett's

fantasy world is in BLACK & WHITE.]

FOLLETT (V.O.)

The town was a rube's heaven, but I

found work my first day out down at

Old Man Sutter's gas station and

diner. I knew his stacked young wife

was going to be a problem, but, hey,

life is full of problems. Back at

the boarding house, I was washing up

when I heard a load of yellin' and --

IN THE BATHROOM MIRROR, the Newcomer's POV: a nubile teenager,

17 going on 35, in a tight cheerleader's outfit, comes up

the stairs and stops at the top to turn and yell back down

at her mother. Her dialogue distant and echoey:

LANDLADY'S DAUGHTER

...get off my case! You don't like

any of my friends...

FOLLETT (V.O.)

...I got my first look at the

landlady's daughter.

The LANDLADY'S DAUGHTER looks up and sees the Newcomer

watching her through the half-open bathroom door. She gives

him a petulant, white-hot look, then turns on her heel and

goes into her room at that end of the hall. She bangs her

door behind her, but it bounces open again about a foot. The

Newcomer, still watching in the bathroom mirror, now has a

view of the bureau mirror in the Landlady's Daughter's room.

In there, seemingly oblivious, the girl quickly strips off

the top of her outfit, revealing a '50's-era white bra.

FOLLETT (V.O.)

Lucky for me, she was plenty upset

but not too careful.

Suddenly, in mirror reflection of mirror, the Landlady's

Daughter meets the Newcomer's smoldering stare and her lip

begins to curl.

FOLLETT (V.O.)

Or maybe it wasn't an accident at

all --

MUMFORD (V.O.)

Mr. Follett.

FOLLETT (V.O.)

-- 'cause in that instant I saw the

beginning of a vixen's smile and I

knew --

MUMFORD (V.O.)

Henry!

Mysteriously, the door to the girl's bedroom slams shut,

cutting off the Newcomer's view. He looks with surprise into

his mirror -- it suddenly shatters.

INT. MUMFORD'S OFFICE - DAY

Follett sits up abruptly on the couch and twists toward

Mumford, agitated.

FOLLETT:

What?

MUMFORD:

Stop now.

FOLLETT:

Why? I'm paying for this.

MUMFORD:

Not for this. Not me, you're not.

FOLLETT:

(challenging)

You find it distasteful, don't you?

MUMFORD:

It doesn't matter how I feel about

it. It's how you feel about it that

matters.

FOLLETT:

I enjoy it. Does that make me some

kind of pervert? Just because a man

has a rich imaginative life --

MUMFORD:

You didn't come to me because you

have a rich imagination.

FOLLETT:

No?

MUMFORD:

You came because it's taking over.

You're in its grip.

FOLLETT:

I never said that.

Mumford's tone suddenly picks up a touch of steel.

MUMFORD:

Where's your wife, Henry?

Follett flinches, settles back down onto the couch, sulking.

MUMFORD:

Where's your wife, Henry?

FOLLETT:

Go to hell.

MUMFORD:

(softer)

I didn't hear you.

Follett mutters something to himself, then is silent until --

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