Mumford Page #35

As the Landlady and the Cheerleader retreat out the door,

Althea the Nurse sways forward toward the bed bearing bandages

and a bowl of steaming water, a lascivious look of concern

on her face.

FOLLETT (V.O.)

...and she had ways to make you feel

better they didn't teach in nursing

school.

Althea the Nurse places a bandage over Follett's eyes,

BLACKING OUT THE SCENE.

INT. MUMFORD'S OFFICE - (PRESENT) DAY

Mumford sits beaming at Henry Follett on the couch. Mumford's

glance takes in the clock and he stands up, signalling the

end of the session. Follett snaps out of his revery and gets

up.

MUMFORD:

I'm very happy for you, Henry.

Mumford, surprisingly, takes Follett's hand and shakes it

vigorously.

MUMFORD:

I feel like we're making real progress

here.

FOLLETT:

Me too, Doc. And I can't tell you

what that package meant to me --

Mumford stops him with a "don't mention it" gesture. Follett

accepts and goes out the back door. Mumford is pleased someone

still wants to use that door.

Mumford returns to his desk and begins reading some papers

when he HEARS the entry door to the waiting room. Not

expecting anyone, he checks the clock, then goes to his office

door and opens it.

Sofie is standing there, very agitated, just about to knock.

She peers past him to see if he's alone.

SOFIE:

I need to talk to you... Doctor. Can

I come in?

MUMFORD:

Of course.

Sofie sits on the couch. Mumford sits in his chair, facing

her. Her voice is as strained as her manner.

SOFIE:

We haven't met in this office since

that first time. This is how a real

professional and his client are

supposed to see each other.

Mumford waits.

SOFIE:

It might've been more appropriate if

we had followed a traditional approach

to the doctor-patient relationship.

MUMFORD:

Is something wrong, Sofie?

SOFIE:

Yes, something's very wrong, Dr.

Mumford.

MUMFORD:

You're upset.

SOFIE:

How intuitive! That must take years

of training right there. Maybe you

can guess what has upset me.

Mumford considers a long moment, several scenarios racing

through his mind. Finally, carefully --

MUMFORD:

Is it something you've heard about

me?

SOFIE:

No, it is not something I've heard

about you! It is someth--

(stops suddenly)

Why? Is there something I should

have heard about you?

MUMFORD:

Why don't you tell me what's on your

mind?

Sofie suddenly finds it difficult to look into his eyes, she

looks around frenetically for a moment. Then, indicating the

couch --

SOFIE:

May I?

Mumford gestures "of course." Sofie swings her legs up and

lies on the couch so they can no longer see each other's

face. (It's the most vigorous movement she's yet shown us.)

This seems to help Sofie a bit.

SOFIE:

All right... I'm going to come right

out and say this, because that's

what your shrink is for, right, so

you can tell him what's bothering

you?

MUMFORD:

Um-huh.

SOFIE:

(tone still rough)

First of all, I have been feeling

much better lately. I don't know if

the syndrome is over -- if it's just

run its course or something -- but I

feel a hundred per cent better than

when I first came to you.

MUMFORD:

I'm glad.

SOFIE:

Given that, I'm obviously not going

to be judging things in the most

realistic way.

MUMFORD:

I don't follow you.

SOFIE:

(sharply)

I'm saying that since I'm doing so

much better -- which I attribute to

you -- I'm liable to misinterpret

some of my feelings.

MUMFORD:

(tentative)

Okay...

SOFIE:

The point is this -- I am not a blank

page. I did not just fall off the

turnip truck. Do you know what I

mean?

MUMFORD:

I think so.

SOFIE:

I know a little about psychology. I

took three different courses in

college. It's true, none of them

were above the two hundred level,

but I took them... And there was one

concept I remember very well.

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