The Body Snatcher Page #12

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LONG SHOT -- a small group of children. The CAMERA PANS WITH

these children as they run, laughing and shouting, across the

lawn of the ramparts. When they run past the little

wheelchair in which Georgina is seated, the CAMERA HOLDS ON

Georgina. She turns her head to watch the children run off.

Then she turns and looks the other way to where her mother

and Fettes are standing by the ramparts, deep in

conversation. The CAMERA PANS WITH her gaze. They are out

of earshot of the child talking in low, confidential tones.

MRS. MARSH

You have his promise, then?

FETTES:

Yes.

Mrs. Marsh looks over at Georgina, then back to Fettes.

Fettes turns and looks over at Georgina.

FETTES (cont'd)

There will be great pain connected

with it, ma'am. During the

operation and afterward -- great

pain and shock --

MRS. MARSH

(almost breathing the

words)

-- pain -- and shock. She's brave

enough, but I don't know about

myself. Now that it seems so

close, I wonder if I dare trust my

child into any but God's hands.

Maybe He knows best.

FETTES:

Ma'am, is you'll allow me, I'd like

to give you cause for courage --

Dr. MacFarlane is a great man -- I

think he's the greatest man in

medicine. God would not have given

him such gifts if they were not

meant for Georgina's cure.

Mrs. Marsh looks at him gratefully.

MRS. MARSH

(sincerely)

Thank you, Mr. Fettes.

MED. CLOSE SHOT -- Georgina. Seated in her little wheel

chair, she is cuddling a porcelain-faced doll of the period.

Suddenly she hears something in the street far below. It is

the clop-clop of horse's hoofs and the ringing of wheels on

the cobble stones. She looks up and tries to raise herself

in her wheel chair to see over the parapet. She is unable to

do so. She calls out to her mother.

GEORGINA:

Mommie! Mommie!

MED. FULL SHOT -- Georgina in the f.g. Fettes and Mrs. Marsh

turn to go toward her.

GEORGINA (cont'd)

Push me to the wall, Mommie. I

think I hear him.

Fettes takes a few long steps and comes up to the wheel

chair.

FETTES:

Hear him?

GEORGINA:

The white horse. The horse that is

going to greet me when he sees me.

FETTES:

(as he starts to wheel the

chair toward the parapet)

An old acquaintance, eh?

Georgina nods. He gets her as far as the wall and she looks

over. She peers down, then turns back with a look of

disappointment on her face.

DOWN SHOT -- from the Ramparts. On the street below a

carriage is passing drawn by a brown horse.

MED. CLOSE SHOT -- Georgina and Fettes.

GEORGINA:

(disappointed)

It was a brown horse.

Mrs. Marsh comes up.

MRS. MARSH

A cabby told her his horse would

say "hello" to her the next time he

saw her. Georgina has been looking

everywhere for that horse.

Fettes looks at the child, smiling, then leans down so as to

bring himself on a level with her.

FETTES:

Why do you want the white horse to

bid you "good-day"?

GEORGINA:

He was a nice horse.

FETTES:

Maybe there's another reason.

Maybe you haven't friends enough.

Could that be it, Georgina?

Georgina looks at him, thinks a moment, then nods her head.

GEORGINA:

Of course -- I don't have friends.

That's because I can't walk. I try

to make myself used to it.

FETTES:

One shouldn't get used to the wrong

things, Georgina. You want to walk

and run and play.

MRS. MARSH

(not knowing the direction

or purpose of Fettes'

conversation; breaks in)

Really, Mr. Fettes -- I thought you

at least would know how much

Georgina wants that.

Fettes nods.

FETTES:

Aye, but I still wonder how much.

GEORGINA:

(with dreadful sincerity)

I want it --

FETTES:

But you'll have to stand great

pain, Georgina. Greater pain than

you ever dreamed of in the worst

time of your sickness. Do you want

it that much?

Georgina nods.

FETTES (cont'd)

Then, Dr. MacFarlane will make you

well.

He smiles at her and although this direct conversation about

her illness has brought tears to her eyes, Georgina smiles

back at him and Mrs. Marsh, looking down at them, smiles too.

In her eyes also are tears.

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