The Body Snatcher Page #20

---

MACFARLANE:

(thumping his hand on the

table)

The same. Look here, Gray --

He picks up two glasses.

MACFARLANE (CONT'D)

I fitted them together like this --

(he puts the two glasses

together)

-- so that it was right. Yet she

won't walk.

Gray looks at him. He is grinning his malicious grin. With a

sudden sweep of his hand across the table he knocks down the

glasses.

GRAY:

You can't build life like you put

together blocks, Toddy.

MACFARLANE:

What are you talking about? I am an

anatomist. I know the body. I know

how it works.

GRAY:

And you're a fool, Toddy -- and no

doctor. It's only the dead ones

that you know.

MACFARLANE:

I am a doctor. I teach medicine.

GRAY:

Like Knox taught you? Like I taught

you? In cellars and graveyards? Did

Knox teach you what makes the blood

flow?

MACFARLANE:

The heart pumps it.

GRAY:

Did he tell you how thoughts come

and how they go and why things are

remembered and forgot?

MACFARLANE:

The nerve centers -- the brain --

GRAY:

But what makes a thought start?

MACFARLANE:

(fuzzily)

In the brain, I tell you. I know.

GRAY:

You don't know and you'll never

know or understand, Toddy. Not from

me or from Knox would you learn

those things. Look --

He points to a mirror behind MacFarlane's head. MacFarlane

looks into it.

MIRROR SHOT showing MacFarlane looking at his own face and

the evil face of Gray just behind him.

GRAY (CONT'D)

Look at yourself, Toddy, could you

be a doctor -- a healing man --

with the things those eyes have

seen? There's a lot of knowledge in

those eyes, but there's no

understanding. You'd not get that

from me.

MacFarlane whirls around.

ANOTHER ANGLE - MacFarlane facing Gray.

MACFARLANE:

I am a doctor - a good doctor. I

could make her walk, but she won't

- she won't --

GRAY:

(almost kindly, as he

pours a drink)

Here, have another glass,

MacFarlane. I'll take you home and

we'll be friends again -- now that

you know that you're Knox's man and

my friend -- aye, forever.

MacFarlane swallows the drink at a single draught.

MACFARLANE:

I'm my own man and I'll have no

more to do with you, Gray.

Gray lifts his eyebrows quizzically.

MACFARLANE (CONT'D)

Why should I be afraid of you? What

are you holding over me?

GRAY:

I'll tell you what, Toddy. It's

because I ran down the streets with

the mud and the stones around my

ears and the mob yelling for my

blood. It's because you were afraid

to face it -- and you're still

afraid.

MACFARLANE:

No, I'm not afraid. Tell!

Shout it from the housetops!

(dropping his voice)

And remember this -- they

hanged Burke -- they mobbed

Hare -- but Dr. Knox is living

like a gentleman in London.

MacFarlane rises drunkenly to his feet, There is a threat of

physical violence in his manner.

GRAY:

(somewhat placatingly; for

the first time not

completely master of the

situation)

Aye, Toddy, there is something

in what you say.

MACFARLANE:

There is much in what I say, Gray,

and if you have any regard for your

neck you'll leave now and stay away

from my house, my school, and from

me.

GRAY:

I have no wish for a rope cravat.

I've never liked the smell of hemp,

so I'll bid you good night, Doctor

MacFarlane.

Gray picks up his hat and starts off out of scene. MacFarlane

slumps back into his seat. His hand reaches out for the

whiskey bottle. He starts to pour another drink.

DISSOLVE:

INT. GRAY'S STABLE - NIGHT

By the light of a single lantern, Gray is unharnessing his

horse. He leads it out from between the shafts and into its

stall. There is a furtive sound before him as the door to the

street slowly moves open. He wheels quickly as a slight,

hunched figure sidles through the door. Gray waits until the

figure walks into the range of the lamp and is revealed as

Joseph. Then he speaks.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes