Mumford Page #6

Althea stares at him a long moment. She knows he's right.

Tears well up in her eyes and roll down her cheeks. She grabs

another Kleenex. In the midst of the torrent she tries to

talk, but it's undecipherable:

ALTHEA:

Mmmmfffstttubll abbittmm.

MUMFORD:

Hmm?

Althea uses three new tissues to dry up her face.

ALTHEA:

I said... you must come out to the

house for dinner on Thursday.

MUMFORD:

Really? You think so?

ALTHEA:

Yes. Jeremy will be home for the

weekend. And you can meet the kids.

Mumford considers, then nods his assent.

EXT. MUMFORD'S STREET - MAGIC

Mumford hurries up the sidewalk carrying two grocery bags.

He's late. The modest houses are close together on this pretty

street, which rises out of the main business district, seen

beyond Mumford.

EXT. THE DUPLEX HOUSE - MAGIC

Mumford comes to the house where he lives. He heads down the

driveway toward the stairs that lead up to his apartment.

The front yard is completely fenced. Lily, the owner of the

restaurant, is almost visible in there working among the

greenery of a lush garden. Her friendly dog, AINGE, sees

Mumford, leaps easily over the fence and does a circle around

Mumford, who has no free hand to pet him.

MUMFORD:

How ya doin', Ainge? Evenin', Lily.

LILY:

Doc.

(doesn't look up)

Ainge...

The dog leaps gracefully back into the yard. Mumford hurries

up the stairs.

INT. MUMFORD'S APARTMENT - MAGIC

Mumford comes in and puts the bags down on the kitchen

counter. He goes directly to the table by his main chair and

picks up the TV remote. He switches it on and changes the

channel. The opening segment of UNSOLVED MYSTERIES is just

beginning. It previews the stories on that evening's episode --

disappearances and unclosed cases -- with Robert Stack

hosting.

CLOSE ON MUMFORD'S FACE as he watches. Only when the whole

show has been previewed does he seem to relax. He leaves the

show on as he goes into the kitchen and begins unloading the

bags.

INT. COOK'S HARDWARE STORE - DAY

Mumford is comparing different stepladders. MR. COOK, the

sixty-ish proprietor, has been watching from a distance, but

now --

COOK:

Dr. Mumford.

MUMFORD:

(doesn't really know

him)

Mr. Cook.

COOK:

Could you come with me please?

Mystified, Mumford follows Cook through the door into the

back.

BACK OF THE STORE. Cook motions for Mumford to take the seat

of honor in the work area, but Mumford prefers to stand.

Cook has a little trouble figuring how to start. Finally --

COOK:

I know I shoulda come to your office.

I was gonna, actually, but then when

you walked in here today...

MUMFORD:

Uh-huh.

COOK:

It's my daughter Sofie... she's gotta

problem.

MUMFORD:

What's that?

COOK:

We're not sure. She's been to all

kinds of doctors in the city and

they've said different things. Some

of 'em are callin' it --

(wants to get this

right)

-- Epstein-Barr virus, and the rest

are callin' it... Chronic Fatigue

Symptom...

MUMFORD:

Syndrome... Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

COOK:

That's it -- syndrome. So you know

all about it?

MUMFORD:

No... a little. There's a lot of

debate about it.

COOK:

Yeah, I got that. Some people think

it's all in their heads.

(more intense)

It's been so bad she's had to move

back here to Mumford and live with

us. And I'm not sure that's the best

thing, either...

MUMFORD:

Why's that?

COOK:

Oh... a lot of things. Several

different factors. Will you see her,

Doctor Mumford?

MUMFORD:

Sure. Why don't you bring her up to

my office at 3 tomorrow afternoon.

Cook nods, but looks worried.

COOK:

I'm not sure she'll come. She's in a

mood. Do you ever go to somebody's

house?

MUMFORD:

Generally that doesn't work out so

well. It sends the wrong message to

people who need to make a change.

Cook is quick to agree; he doesn't want to make waves. But

he's worried.

EXT. MAIN STREET - DAY

Mumford is walking up the busy sidewalk carrying his new 5-

foot stepladder hooked on his shoulder. Folks greet him.

Suddenly Lionel appears in front of Mumford, who stops.

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