The Body Snatcher Page #10

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Fettes nods. MacFarlane claps him jovially on the back.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

You're a good lad, Fettes.

(looking at Fettes more

closely)

But you look a bit pale to me. I'm

dining at Hobbs. Come along with

me and have a bit of the joint and

a glass of ale. It will put new

life in you.

He takes the boy's arm and they start from the room.

EXT. EDINBURGH STREET -- NIGHT

The pavement is glistening from a recent rain and there is a

hint of fog in the air. It is the dinner hour and the street

is fairly well peopled. On one corner by the light of a

flaring torch a pamphleteer is selling his wares. On the

other corner the street singer stands chanting her ballad;

the dolorous phrases reciting the tale of a dead knight

deserted by his horse, his hound and his leman fair.

MED. FULL SHOT -- the singer. MacFarlane, with top hat, cape

and carrying a cane swings briskly past her with Fettes, more

soberly dressed, at his side. They stride out of scene.

EXT. HOBBS PUBLIC HOUSE -- NIGHT

MacFarlane with Fettes in tow comes breezing up. With a

lordly gesture he ushers Fettes before him into the public

house.

INT. HOBBS PUBLIC HOUSE -- NIGHT

It is bright, warm and cheerful. A huge fire is roaring in

the fireplace and before it is a rack spit turned by a spit

boy who sings as he turns. (Song to be supplied.) On the

spit is a young porker with forelegs and hind legs stretched

to elongate him before the fire. The porker has just

recently been put on the spit so that he gleams pale white in

the warm glow of the fire.

MED. FULL SHOT -- at the door. Fettes, followed by

MacFarlane comes in. Fettes looks shyly around him while a

man servant takes his hat. MacFarlane boldly flings his hat

and cape to the attendant and strides forward toward the

fireplace. He extends his hands and looks at the slowly

turning porker.

MACFARLANE:

(to Fettes)

We'll have a stiffener or two of

hot rum and by then we will be able

to meet this fellow on fairly equal

terms of warmth, eh Fettes?

From behind them comes an insinuating voice.

GRAY'S VOICE

A fine "specimen" isn't he, Toddy

MacFarlane?

They both twist around quickly.

REVERSE SHOT -- on the opposite side of the room where he has

hidden from them by the high walls of the divan, a sort of

inglenook built away from the fireplace, is Gray. This is

"common" section of the inn. He sits with a loaf of coarse

bread before him and a glass of stout at his elbow. He is

grinning. Without rising, Gray beckons.

GRAY:

Come, Toddy -- come. Sit down here

with me.

MACFARLANE:

Don't call me that confounded name.

GRAY:

(still grinning)

Well, then, Doctor MacFarlane --

although I've known a time, Toddy,

when you liked the name. Aye, and

many are dead now who called you by

it; rough and wild ones they were,

too. But come Toddy, sit down here

with your young friend.

Fettes looks in surprise from the doctor to the cabman,

utterly confused at the familiarity of this man's address.

MACFARLANE:

(coldly)

Mr. Fettes and I have professional

matters to discuss.

GRAY:

Medicine? That'll keep. Sit down.

As MacFarlane hesitates, angry and most anxious to refuse,

Gray lowers his tone to a sly confidential murmur.

GRAY (cont'd)

You wouldn't want it said of you

that you refused a glass to an old

friend.

MacFarlane shrugs.

MACFARLANE:

We'll buy you a glass, Gray.

He motions to Fettes to sit down. Fettes takes a seat and

MacFarlane sits down beside him. As Fettes sits down beside

him, Gray turns to him in a confidential manner.

GRAY:

I'm a pretty bad fellow myself, but

MacFarlane is the boy -- Toddy

MacFarlane --

He chuckles, shaking his head as if in appreciation of the

most sinister sort of villainy. MacFarlane is angry. Fettes

is confused and unable to orient himself in this strange

relationship between the great anatomist and the lowly

cabman. Gray turns to MacFarlane.

GRAY (cont'd)

Come, Toddy, order for your friend.

MacFarlane lifts his hand to beckon to the waiter.

GRAY (CONT'D)

No, on second thought, let me

order.

(as the waiter comes up)

We'll have a bowl of hot punch and

a cut off the loin from that fine

porker.

The waiter looks at Gray dubiously, unused to such a

sumptuous order from so humble a customer.

GRAY (cont'd)

(catching the look)

You needn't worry, waiter, I'm with

my friend -- the great Dr.

MacFarlane -- he wants to sit here

with the commonality.

The waiter nods, looks from MacFarlane's tense and angry face

to Gray's grinning countenance, turns and makes off to the

kitchen. For a moment the three men sit silently, MacFarlane

encircled in the iron ring of his anger;

Fettes tongue-tied and abashed and Gray gloating over the

doctor's discomfiture. Finally Gray breaks the silence.

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