Mumford Page #15

FOLLETT:

We got divorced.

(petulant)

I had to get rid of her. She couldn't

satisfy me.

MUMFORD:

(shouts, Follett jumps)

What?!

Follett seems to shrink in size. They've been here before

and he doesn't like it.

FOLLETT:

(softly)

I was... never satisfied.

MUMFORD:

(normal again)

Now we're back on track.

Again, Follett says something under his breath.

MUMFORD:

What's that?

FOLLETT:

(long beat)

You are so mean.

EXT. HIKING TRAIL - MAGIC

Mumford strides up the trail on his late day excursion. He

comes around a bend and is surprised to find Skip waiting

for him, looking serious.

MUMFORD:

Hey, Skip.

SKIP:

Doc. I know we're not supposed to

get together till Wednesday...

MUMFORD:

That's all right. What's on your

mind?

Mumford indicates that Skip should walk with him up the trail.

SKIP:

How many sessions have we had now,

Doc?

(Mumford tries to

remember)

Six. And it's been good... like we

were two buddies hanging out. Just

shootin' the sh*t.

MUMFORD:

Yep.

They walk in silence for a while.

SKIP:

This is really hard. Everything I

want to say is hard...

EXT. BIG ROCK LOOKOUT POINT - MAGIC

Mumford and Skip come out of the trees, climb onto the big

rock, and settle down. The sun is falling over the town of

Mumford.

SKIP:

...We're like friends, almost... who

trust each other.

He checks Mumford's reaction. Mumford nods, offers Skip water,

who turns it down. Mumford takes a swig.

SKIP:

I want to tell you something, Doc,

but before I do, I need to ask you a

question... Because, for me to tell

you this thing -- well, I haven't

told anybody about this. It's the

biggest secret I've got.

MUMFORD:

Sometimes it's best to keep a few

things just for ourselves.

SKIP:

You're a shrink, Doc. Aren't I

supposed to be able to tell you

everything?

MUMFORD:

It's just a thought.

Skip, even more unsure now, looks away, at the town below.

SKIP:

That really relates to the thing I

want to ask you... I've noticed that

sometimes, not a lot, but sometimes,

when we're hanging out, throwin' the

ball... or that time we went

bowling... sometimes you'll like --

(gets it out fast --)

-- tell me things about your other

patients.

Mumford lets that hang a few moments, then acknowledges it

silently. Now Skip is even more nervous.

SKIP:

Hey, maybe that's all right! I don't

know all that much about psychology

or therapy or... ethics, so maybe

there's something I missed... or

something...

MUMFORD:

You're concerned that maybe I can't

be trusted with a secret.

SKIP:

I trust you. Definitely. No question.

But, yeah, I'm a little concerned. I

mean, you're not supposed to tell

anyone about your patients'

problems... are you?

Mumford looks at Skip for a long moment.

MUMFORD:

That is correct, Skip. I'm going to

have to take a long look at that.

The conversation seems to end there. Skip's not sure where

to go next. Finally --

SKIP:

Yeah, well... what I was gonna tell

you --

MUMFORD:

-- Skip. Knowing what you do about

me --

SKIP:

Doc, I trust you! You've listened to

me better than anybody... maybe ever.

(leans in, intense)

And this secret I've got, I can't

stand it anymore. I don't know if

I'm some kind of --

Skip looks around at the darkening woods, though clearly

there's no one around.

SKIP:

-- I don't know if I'm a pervert or

what. It's taken me this long to get

where I can come out and say it... I

can't back away now. I can't spend

another day not knowing if I'm nuts.

Skip closes his eyes for a second and gathers himself.

SKIP:

All right, I'm just gonna tell you,

as simple and direct as I can.

(one last spasm of

doubt)

And you understand that this is a

big secret? Just between us?

(Mumford does)

Okay. You know I've got this gift

for certain kinds of... machines.

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