SHIVERS Page #9

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FORSYTHE:

I'm ready for you now, Brad.

Parkins gets up and follows Forsythe into one of the

examination rooms.

INT. EXAMINATION ROOM -- LATE AFTERNOON

Once inside the examination room, Forsythe closes the door

and hands Parkins a hospital tunic.

FORSYTHE:

Now, you just take off all your

clothes, put this on, and hop up on

to the table over there, OK? Doctor'll

be in to see you in a few minutes.

PARKINS:

(as Forsythe begins

to leave)

You don't have to go. I'm not shy.

FORSYTHE:

Don't be a tease, Brad. I'm still

working, you know.

Forsythe leaves. Parkins chuckles to himself -- 'still life

in the old boy yet' kind of feeling -- and begins to undress.

INT. TUDOR'S LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

Tudor staggers into the living room from the bathroom, wiping

his mouth with a facecloth. He sits down on a chair facing

the sliding glass door which leads to the apartment's balcony.

He breathes heavily, gasping for air. His expression is a

dazed one and he mumbles incoherently. After a moment's rest

he rises, opens the glass door, and steps out on to the

balcony.

EXT. TUDOR'S BALCONY -- NIGHT

Tudor hangs on to the railing of the narrow concrete balcony,

gulping down the air, scanning the lights of the tower

opposite.

Suddenly the muscles of his neck go tense again, his mouth

seems to gape open at the extreme limits imposed by muscle

and jawbone, his hands fly up to his mouth in an attempt to

keep down whatever is about to come up.

Hanging over the railing of the balcony like an ocean traveler

in a rough sea, Tudor finally gives up the struggle and hangs

on for dear life as he retches, gags, moans, and finally

vomits.

EXT. GROUNDS BELOW TUDOR'S BALCONY -- NIGHT

Two elderly women, Vi and Olive, are taking a leisurely

evening stroll at the base of Tudor's tower. They both hold

small transparent umbrellas over their heads and walk gingerly

along the path bordering the lawn.

Suddenly the liquid, fleshy thwack of the parasite vomited

by Tudor from high above hitting one of the umbrellas is

heard. A large splotch of blood spatters the first lady's

umbrella just off center, as though it has been hit by a

heavy, blood-soaked sponge. The force of the blow almost

twists the umbrella from the first lady's frail hand, and

she gives a little cry of surprise.

Her companion extends a hand to help the first lady keep her

balance, then gives a slightly more startled cry when she

sees the blood.

The first lady examines her umbrella as well, but does not

react with such surprise.

FIRST LADY:

(examining the bloodied

umbrella)

Aw. Poor birdie. They're always

crashing into tall buildings. It's

such a shame, such a shame. The

windows fool them, you know.

The creature, the second parasite to emerge from Tudor's

body, lies in the grass, away from the bright cones of light

thrown by the tower's lawn lamps. We can barely make out its

bloody, twitching form.

Beyond the parasite is a basement window through which is

visible a large laundry room complete with washers and dryers.

The window has been propped open a couple of inches by a bar

of laundry soap.

The first lady makes a move to find the injured creature,

but her companion tightens her grip on the old lady's arm.

COMPANION:

Come along, Olive.

FIRST LADY:

Oh, Vi! Maybe the poor thing's just

been hurt. Maybe we should look for

him!

COMPANION:

(pulling Olive along)

Don't be silly, dear. It's in heaven

now, whatever it is. Won't help at

all for you to get into a fuss and

muddle over it. Now come along and

let's finish up our little evening

stroll and get you tucked up in bed

in front of the color TV.

The two women walk off down the path, Vi's voice fading away

in the shadows.

COMPANION:

You know what a restless night you

have if you don't get your two hours

of color TV, dear, so let's bustle

along and get our walk over with,

shall we...?

INT. ST. LUC'S EXAMINATION ROOM -- NIGHT

St. Luc is examining Mr. Parkins. Parkins sits on the

examination table with the hospital tunic on.

St. Luc presses gently around Parkins' abdomen in the area

of the navel.

PARKINS:

Ow! Better take it easy. There's a

lot of pressure in there!

St. Luc stops pressing and takes up his stethoscope. He begins

to percuss the old man's abdomen.

PARKINS:

Want me to breathe deeply?

ST. LUC

Just breathe normally.

St. Luc finishes percussing, removes the stethoscope from

his ears, and stands back thoughtfully.

PARKINS:

(confidentially)

Good shape for an old man, eh?

ST. LUC

(after a pause)

Mr. Parkins, what makes you think

you caught these lumps of yours from

a young lady?

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