The Body Snatcher Page #22

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GRAY:

You are lately come to Scotland,

Joseph?

JOSEPH:

I come from Lisbon.

GRAY:

But still you may have heard the

peddlers of verse cry out their

names on the streets.

He begins to sing in a rough croaking voice.

GRAY (CONT'D)

"The ruffian dogs, the Hellish

pair. The villain Burke, the

meager Hare --"

JOSEPH:

I never heard that song. But what

did they do?

GRAY:

Eighteen persons they killed and

sold the bodies to Dr. Knox at ten

pounds for a large and eight pounds

for a small. That's good business,

Joseph.

Joseph nods appreciatively, then looks concerned.

JOSEPH:

But where did they get those

people?

GRAY:

That was Hare's end. Ah, you should

have seen him on the streets, when

he saw some old beldam deep in

drink how he cozened her!

He mimics, tipping an imaginary hat.

GRAY (CONT'D)

"A good-day to you Madame Tosspot,

and would you like a little glass

of something before you take your

rest? Come with me to my house and

I'll make you my guest. You shall

have quarts to drink if you like."

(appreciatively)

Ah, how he cozened them.

JOSEPH:

We could do that. But when he had

them there, then what?

GRAY:

(beginning to sing again)

"Nor did they handle axe or knife

To take away their victim's life --

No sooner done than in a chest

They crammed their lately welcome

guest."

Gray rubs his hands together.

JOSEPH:

I don't understand the song. Tell

me plain how they did it.

GRAY:

(rising)

I'll show you how it was done,

Joseph. -- I'll show you how they

"Burked" them.

He reaches out for Joseph's face. Joseph interposes his arm.

GRAY (CONT'D)

No, put your hand down. How can I

show you, man!

Joseph lets his hand swing to his lap. Gray clasps Joseph's

nose between thumb and forefinger, cupping Joseph's chin hard

against the heel of his palm.

CLOSE SHOT - Joseph with Gray's hand holding his nose and

mouth.

GRAY'S VOICE

This is how they did it, Joseph.

Suddenly his hand tenses. Joseph's eyes dilate with terror

and his head jerks to one side violently as he attempts to

tear his face from the grasp of Gray's hand.

MED. CLOSE SHOT - Gray steadily clutching Joseph's face. He

throws himself upon the other man and the chair slowly goes

backward. ANOTHER ANGLE. The two men are on the floor. Gray

is lying across the body of his victim, his hand still

clutching Joseph's nose and mouth. Joseph struggles

convulsively, throwing his arms and legs about, trying to get

at Gray's body which lies athwart him. With his free hand

Gray pins down Joseph's right hand. The man is helpless. The

violence of his movements grows less and less. For a moment

he is still; then he struggles again.

CLOSE SHOT - Joseph. He is making a final desperate effort

to pull away from Gray's hand, then his face muscles relax.

His eye's close.

CLOSE FULL SHOT - Gray and Joseph. Gray looks down at his

victim. Joseph is at last unconscious. Gray gets to a

kneeling posture, but still keeps his hand on Joseph's nose

and mouth.

ANOTHER ANGLE. The cat walks up and rubs itself against

Gray's left arm. He lets go of Joseph's hand and pats the

cat, still keeping his grip on Joseph's mouth and nose.

CLOSE SHOT - Gray as he examines Joseph. Evidently, Joseph is

dead enough to suit him and he lets go his grip.

FULL SHOT as Gray gets to his feet. He crosses the room to a

cupboard, opens it and takes out a square of folded canvas.

He starts back toward Joseph and stops on the way to pick up

Joseph's glass from the taboret. He drinks the remainder of

the liquor in it. Gray kneels down beside Joseph and begins

to wrap the canvas about the body. Suddenly, a thought

strikes him, and he puts his hand in Joseph's coat pocket. He

fishes out the money he had given him. He begins wrapping the

canvas around the body again.

DISSOLVE:

INT. ANATOMY SCHOOL - NIGHT

FULL SHOT. The School is in darkness -- except for thin

moonlight which filters through the shutters, making strange

pattern with the shadows. There is no sound until, abruptly,

a key turns in the lock of the outside door. It opens and

through it comes the figure of Gray in his stove-pipe hat and

caped coat. Over his shoulder he carries a long, limp and

apparently heavy bundle wrapped in sacking. Cautiously,

without a sound he carries his grim burden toward the

curtained recess.

MED. SHOT at recess. Gray comes into shot. He pushes his way

through the curtain, which falls back into place, hiding him

from view. Sounds come from behind the curtain; bumping,

shuffling sounds. Then Gray's hand appears momentarily as it

throws out a bundle of sacking. After a grunt of effort

comes a heavy splash as something is dropped into the big vat

o.s.

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