The 9th Life of Louis Drax Page #2

Why is that a stupid question?

Because I'm never going to grow up.

Why not?

Welcome to the coma bay, Louis.

We're gonna look after you here.

Okay, darling?

One, two three.

I'm intrigued as to the genesis

of his condition,

this accident that he had.

Dalton hasn't briefed you?

- Who's he?

- She.

Inspector working the case.

Nobody from the police has contacted me,

but I suppose they'd have no reason to.

Well, didn't you see

the news this morning?

It wasn't an accident. He was pushed.

Pushed? Who pushed him?

- Here's the results on two.

- Okay. He's fit to go.

- His father.

- Louis' father?

- Mmhm.

- Where is he now?

On the run. It's a manhunt.

All very dramatic.

They'll be posting an officer at reception

as a precautionary measure,

better safe than sorry.

I feel badly for the mother.

I don't think she has many people.

Yeah, no worries.

You can call me Allan

or Dr. Pascal if you like.

Most people call me Pascal.

You're in a coma, Louis.

It's like sleeping, just deeper.

You know, I have quite a few theories

about the state you're in.

I think that some people

don't want to wake up.

They feel they can't come back

until they feel safe.

You can feel safe here, Louis.

What happened to your arm there,

Louis Drax?

It was an accident.

An accident? What kind of accident?

I was digging a grave, and I slipped.

A grave? For who?

A grave for a human,

a big fat one with chubby cheeks.

You've been having a lot of accidents.

Well, I'm accident-prone. So what?

Sometimes the accidents are big,

and sometimes they're small.

So I guess the big ones are the ones

where you end up in the hospital, right?

That's not all bad.

Hospitals can be kind of fun.

Well, I don't like the pain.

I hate that part.

But the recovery is okay.

Jell-O.

Ice cream.

Nice ladies bringing you more Jell-O.

Yeah, and then they make a fuss over you,

and then you don't have to go to school.

Hmm, you ever find yourself

actually being relieved

when you get to the hospital 'cause you...

'cause you feel safe?

You think I do it on purpose, don't you?

I didn't say that. Why would I say that?

I read your book yesterday.

Subject changer.

It wasn't that bad, actually.

I liked the part where you

hypnotized the Sikh.

Do you hypnotize a lot of your patients?

- Mmm, some of them.

- But not me?

Don't think so. I don't know.

Haven't decided yet.

Not sure it would help.

Because I'm a Whacko Boy?

Because you're a special boy.

Am I a typical disturbed child?

The concern is that Peter Drax

might reappear.

Is there a member of staff

on duty here at all times?

Yes, two.

And we have a strict

registration process for any visitors.

Are we not safe?

Just keep an eye out.

But you don't know where he is.

I didn't say that.

Is there anything you can

tell us about the boy,

anything that might be helpful

from a medical point of view?

Louis was a bit disturbed.

He had been seeing a therapist,

a Dr. Michael...

Perez.

Um, disruptive at school,

no friends, doesn't fit in.

The other kids called him "Whacko Boy".

Now, looking through his records, there's

a recurring theme of physical trauma.

It's difficult to get

to the bottom of that one.

His therapist thinks that he may have been

self-harming for attention.

But the admissions go back to infancy.

I noted this also.

So there's a history

of violence from the father.

What's the chances that this boy

is going to wake up?

Well, based on his most recent EEG,

I have diagnosed

a persistent vegetative state.

Which means?

It means not good.

I spoke to Dr. Janek this morning

about your awareness accretion theory.

He said that your methods are radical,

that you believe in your patients

when others don't.

Well I don't know

how radical my methods are.

I just believe that Louis

can still sense things.

Though he may appear to be far away,

he's still with us in some way.

Do you think that the brain

is the same as the soul?

I mean, if Louis' brain is damaged,

is he still Louis?

He's still Louis.

We just need to find a way through to him,

track him down, coax him out.

You think he's hiding?

I didn't say that.

You said, "coax."

Seeing and thinking are the same thing

when your eyes are closed,

like a dream, but you choose what happens.

You remember bright lights

and grown-ups yelling,

and everything feels cold inside.

So you think of the sun...

how warm it feels...

Bring back my Bonnie to me, to me...

Clouds...

and the moon...

and the cold...

water...

monsters...

and "squeak, squeak" and "hubba hubba"...

and happiness...

and sadness...

and men have no honor...

and death.

Your mouth tastes of blood...

And you're high up like a balloon.

I'm sitting by your bed right now.

She's talking to you

like you're a baby again.

When I squeeze your hand like this,

maybe you can feel it.

And she would do anything for you

because she's so glad

the danger didn't kill you.

Keep telling me your story.

This thing happened one day.

My dad took me to Sea World.

We stayed in San Diego

for the whole weekend

so that we could give Mom a rest

because we were both men, and sometimes,

men can be too much of a good thing

and give you a headache.

Good afternoon, everyone,

and welcome to Sea World.

My name is Jennifer,

and I'm back up here on the rocks.

Which means, hey,

we're pretty much ready to go!

Louis, come on, buddy.

How about you? You guys excited...

Hey, Louis, come on,

it's starting, come on.

Thanks.

You're going to miss the dolphin show,

come on.

Up first...

Peter.

- Hey. Wow.

- When we were there,

my dad ran into someone he knew.

He looked like he was going

to vomit in his mouth.

What a surprise, hi.

But he just kissed her

on the cheek instead.

This must be Louis.

- Who are you?

- I'm Caitlin.

Uh, this is my husband, Alex.

Alex, this is Peter and Louis.

Ah. So you're the famous Peter.

How come your children are Chinese?

- Louis. That's not polite.

- It's fine.

They were born in China.

Do you know about adoption?

I'm sure you do.

Well, Mei and Lola came into

our lives two years ago,

and then right after,

we had a lovely surprise

when Jerome came along.

Like a bolt from the blue.

My name is Jennifer,

and on behalf of myself...

- Nice to see you.

- Yeah, yeah, no, um, good to see you.

Let's have a big round

of applause for our dolphins!

Seafood special, shrimp supreme,

two orders of fries, and a beer.

- Thanks, man.

- Thank you, sir.

All right, buddy.

Who was that lady at the park?

Um, just someone

I used to... used to know.

We used to be... friends.

Good friends, actually.

- Hey, Lou-Lou...

- Did you use to sex her?

Well...

we used to be married.

Married?

Yes.

A long time ago.

Oh.

Hey.

It's okay to be angry with me.

You had the right to know.

No. Why should I be angry?

You're married to Mom now.

You wouldn't have made me otherwise.

You'd have made two Chinese children

and a baby with a big stupid face

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