The Body Snatcher Page #14

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Joseph looks up again.

FETTES (cont'd)

-- do you happen to know where

Gray, the cabman, lives?

Joseph nods.

FETTES (cont'd)

Well, tell me.

Joseph leans meditatively on the desk.

FETTES (cont'd)

What do you want me to do, bribe

you? I'm cursed if I do. Tell me

straight out. Where does he live?

JOSEPH:

I'd gladly run with a message, sir,

for a florin. It's not much,

considering it's Sunday.

FETTES:

I only want his address.

JOSEPH:

He lives in the Westport --

Fettes nods.

JOSEPH (cont'd)

(in a last desperate

effort)

I'd gladly go.

But Fettes has already passed into the entry way.

DISSOLVE OUT:

EXT. DARK ALLEYWAY -- NIGHT

It is a crooked, narrow alley. The only light comes from the

ends. Fettes can begin to hear the ballad of the street

singer from the street toward which he is going. He pauses a

moment, listens, then walks forward into the darkness; the

song almost seeming to guide him through the dark alley.

He comes to the darkest portion of the alley. A sound from

the left attracts his attention. He comes to an abrupt halt

as something white and mysterious moves on a window sill at

his eye level. He takes a half step backward as a white cat

leaps down and scurries noiselessly across his path. Fettes

grins at his own fright and goes on. He passes through the

darkness and comes out into the dim light of the other

street. He comes to the street corner and on the corner

stands the street singer. She is singing her little song and

jingling a few coins in her begging bowl to attract the

attention of the few people passing by in this dismal street.

Fettes goes up to her. She stops singing.

FETTES:

Do you know where Mr. Gray lives --

Gray, the cabman?

The girl shakes her head.

FETTES (cont'd)

Well, thanks anyhow.

He takes a coin from his pocket and drops it into her bowl.

He goes off and the CAMERA MOVES IN to a BIG CLOSEUP of the

girl as she resumes her song.

LONG SHOT -- Fettes as he walks. This alley, like the other

grows darker toward the center. There is an arch leading to

a court. Fettes turns left under this arch.

EXT. GRAY'S DWELLING AND STABLE -- NIGHT

It is a tiny, narrow squalid building. He looks at it, sees

the name, "John Gray -- Cabman" written on a board across the

door, goes up to it and knocks. As there is no answer, he

pushes the door open and steps into almost Stygian darkness.

INT. GRAY'S STABLE -- NIGHT

Fettes gropes his way along the wall toward the stairs.

Suddenly from the darkness looms a tremendous white figure.

It is the cabman's horse. His first momentary fright over,

Fettes pats the horse's nose, passes on to the stairs, climbs

the brief flight of steps leading to a door from under which

comes a ray of light. Again he knocks. A voice shouts out

to him.

GRAY'S VOICE

Come in -- come in.

Fettes thrusts open the door and looks around to see the room

in which he finds himself. It is a large loft-like room,

furnished with odds and ends of poor furniture. The best

pieces in the room are two dilapidated easy chairs that have

obviously seen better days. On one wall some spare harness

is hung. A great battered wardrobe contains Gray's clothes.

The floor is covered with two worn Turkey carpets. There is

a bed on which the bedclothes are untidily tumbled. There is

a washstand and pitcher. Quite evidently Gray uses this

chamber as a combined living, dining and bedroom as well as a

kitchen. This last is the purpose to which it is being put

as Fettes enters. Gray, in shirt sleeves, is crouched over

the embers of the fire in the hearth, stirring some sausages

in a frying pan. The kettle steams busily on the hob. On a

small table near the fire is a loaf of bread, a jug of ale, a

wooden trencher, a clasp knife and a fork. As Fettes enters,

Gray rises and goes to meet him with the frying pan still in

his left hand.

GRAY:

So it's the young doctor come to

see me. I'm honored -- honored --

There is a curious, almost triumphant undertone in his voice.

GRAY (cont'd)

Here, take this. It is the most

comfortable chair.

He guides Fettes to a chair and Fettes, without removing his

coat, sits down.

With quick servile civility he crosses to the taboret, gets a

glass and bottle and brings it back with him. He pours a

glass for Fettes.

Fettes takes a swallow.

GRAY (cont'd)

And to what do I owe this honor of

this visit? Some business, was it,

of Dr. MacFarlane's?

FETTES:

Dr. MacFarlane didn't send me. I

came of my own accord.

He breaks off, taking another swig from his glass.

FETTES (cont'd)

What are the chances of your being

able to get us a "subject"?

GRAY:

(shaking his head)

It would be difficult -- very

difficult. There was a dog that

bothered me during the last job --

people seem so concerned about dogs

-- all in all it raised the very

mother and father of a row. I'm

told the kirkyards are to be

guarded.

(pausing)

But I would not like to say that it

would be impossible to get a

"subject".

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