The Body Snatcher Page #17

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FETTES:

But, I didn't ask him to kill.

MACFARLANE:

Who would believe that? And you

know, someone else might recognize

her. She was as well known as the

Castle Rock.

MacFarlane looks over at him.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

I should advise complete

dissection.

MacFarlane starts to pull back the canvas from the body.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

I'll help you, of course.

Fettes hesitates. MacFarlane throws back the canvas sheet.

MED. CLOSE TWO SHOT -- Fettes and MacFarlane.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

I want the whole centrum myself for

spinal work -- you know why --

Fettes understands, smiles and moves forward to help the

doctor lift the body.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. MACFARLANE'S LIVING ROOM -- DAY

It is a bright afternoon and there is no fire on the hearth.

Mrs. Marsh is seated on the sofa and Meg sits beside her. A

tea service on a small table is between them. Georgina's

empty wheel-chair is in evidence.

MEG:

(pushing a cup of tea

toward Mrs. Marsh)

Have a drop -- it'll help.

Mrs. Marsh shakes her head. Between her hands is a

handkerchief which she is twisting nervously.

MRS. MARSH

I couldn't swallow it.

She makes a nervous desperate gesture with her handkerchief;

glances wildly at the clock.

MRS. MARSH (cont'd)

How long has it been?

Meg Cameron also glances at the clock.

MEG:

Only twenty minutes.

MRS. MARSH

(desperately echoing)

Only twenty minutes.

INT. ANATOMY ROOM -- DAY

LONG SHOT. The room no longer has its ordinary arrangements.

The tables and benches have been pulled up around the central

marble-topped table for use as an impromptu grandstands.

Students are standing on the tables and benches, peering down

in tense and silent excitement at something on the table.

There is the sound of a child's groan; a gasp of pain.

CLOSE FULL SHOT -- the circle around the table. Georgina

partially covered by a sheet, lies on the slab. MacFarlane

in shirt sleeves and apron bends over her. Richardson and

some other students are close around him. Fettes crouches at

the head of the table; his face near that of the child. This

is a very low camera setup which hides the actual business of

the operation from the audience, but which allows them to see

the reactions to it on the faces of the students.

MACFARLANE:

Here is where you must watch

closely, gentleman -- closely -- it

is the very heart of the matter --

FETTES:

Wait, Doctor -- wait! The child's

fainting.

The two big students who are holding the tiny thin arms of

the girl to hold her down look questioningly at MacFarlane.

MACFARLANE:

Give her some brandy if you want.

Fettes shakes his head.

FETTES:

She's unconscious.

MACFARLANE:

Pulse?

RICHARDSON:

Slow -- but not too alarming.

MACFARLANE:

Let us proceed.

He bends to his work again.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

(commenting as he goes)

-- and the final step -- we push

the ganglia to one side -- then we

make the actual osseous incision

here -- so -- it is done -- the

repair is effected and nothing left

to do but replace the tissue and

let nature heal what is no longer a

defect -- merely a wound --

RICHARDSON:

(softly; but with feeling)

Bravo!

MACFARLANE:

(to Fettes)

I'll be finished with her in an

instant. Then you can consider her

your patient, Fettes.

Fettes looks his gratitude.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. ANATOMY ROOM -- DAY

It is late afternoon and only MacFarlane is there working at

his desk. Suddenly Joseph comes in from the entry on tiptoe.

He gets up to within a few feet of MacFarlane before

announcing himself.

JOSEPH:

Doctor --

MacFarlane wheels around.

MACFARLANE:

What the devil is the matter with

you -- forever creeping about.

What do you want?

JOSEPH:

Mr. Gray --

MACFARLANE:

I don't wish to see Mr. Gray.

Behind him Gray, grinning, comes out from the darkness of the

entry way and stands listening. The doctor is unaware of his

presence. He turns back to his work.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

You tell him that there will be no

more business between us.

Gray grins even more broadly, then he clears his throat with

a rumbling couch. MacFarlane turns around.

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