The Body Snatcher Page #27

---

DISSOLVE:

INT. ANATOMY SCHOOL - NIGHT

Only the night light is burning over the door at the entry

way. The school is lit by its swinging light.

Out in the street can be heard the familiar clop-clop of

Gray's horse and the ringing of the iron wheels on the

roadway.

The CAMERA on DOLLY TRACK MOVES SLOWLY TOWARD the entry door.

The outer door can be heard opening. There is rustle and

noise in the dark entryway. By this time the CAMERA is

CLOSEUP on the door as MacFarlane with a canvas-wrapped

bundle on his shoulder comes through the doorway, and goes to

a FULL CLOSEUP of his face. He starts forward.

MED. FULL SHOT - MacFarlane as he throws the body down onto

the table. He stands there for a moment looking down at it,

then the noise of a door opening on the stair landing causes

him to turn and look up.

MED. FULL SHOT - the stairway. Meg is seen at the head of

the stairs, looking down.

ANOTHER ANGLE - MacFarlane is seen from Meg's viewpoint.

MACFARLANE:

Where is Fettes?

MED. FULL SHOT - the stairway as Meg begins to descend.

MEG:

He's gone. I sent him away. I'll

not see another boy harried

and torn and made miserable like

you, Toddy.

MacFarlane looks at her as she descends the stairs. There is

silence as she crosses the room. She comes to stand beside

the table.

MEG (CONT'D)

(pointing to the bundle)

You've been with Gray again.

MACFARLANE:

Aye.

Meg turns away as if to start for the stairs. He stops her.

MACFARLANE (CONT'D)

You'd better look at the face.

She looks at him.

MACFARLANE (CONT'D)

You'd, better.

Meg resolutely walks up to the table, lifts the canvas and

looks down at the face.

MACFARLANE (CONT'D)

I'm rid of him forever.

Meg looks at him.

MACFARLANE (CONT'D)

He'll not come here again --

sneaking and whining and bullying.

Meg is still silent.

MACFARLANE (CONT'D)

Now he'll serve a good purpose --

and tomorrow when the last bit of

him is dissected, demonstrated and

detailed in the students'

notebooks, then at last there's an

end to him.

Meg still looks at him silently and thoughtfully, then with a

slight shake of her head she starts away.

MACFARLANE (CONT'D)

(rubbing his hands

together)

Next day I'll take his horse and

cab to sell at the Pennycuick fair.

(pauses; then makes an

expansive movement with

his hands)

Then not a trace left -- rid of him

forever.

At the foot of the stairs, Meg turns to him.

MEG:

You're not rid of him.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

EXT. THE RAMPARTS -- DAY

A little boy rolling a hoop goes past the camera. Behind him

come running a little convoy of children, laughing and

shouting. When they have passed the camera, Fettes enters the

scene. He is dejected. His hands are in his pockets and his

head is down as he walks toward Georgina and her mother.

Georgina is in her wheelchair. Her head is turned as she

watches the children run out of sight.

FETTES:

Good morning, Mrs. Marsh.

MRS. MARSH

Good morning, Mr. Fettes.

GEORGINA:

I thought this was a school day.

FETTES:

I am not at the school anymore.

I left last night.

Mrs. Marsh looks at him.

MRS. MARSH

Left Dr. MacFarlane?

Fettes nods. Mrs. Marsh looks at him and then takes his

elbow.

MRS. MARSH (CONT'D)

(to Georgina)

Play by yourself a little. I'd

like' to speak to Mr. Fettes.

DOLLY SHOT - as Fettes and Mrs. Marsh walk slowly away from

Georgina.

MRS. HARSH

This is serious, Donald. What has

happened?

Fettes shakes his head.

MRS. MARSH

It's not because of Georgina --

because of Dr. MacFarlane's

failure?

FETTES:

It's not the failure. I feel that

MacFarlane has taught me nothing.

He taught me the mathematics of

anatomy but he couldn't teach me

the poetry of medicine.

MED. FULL SHOT -- Georgina. She is playing with her doll.

Suddenly, from far below her she hears the clop-clop of a

horse's hoofs and the rumble of iron wheels. She looks up and

listens.

MED. FULL SHOT - Fettes and Mrs. Marsh.

FETTES (CONT'D)

That's why I don't want to go on. I

feel MacFarlane had me on the wrong

road --a road that led to knowledge

but not to healing. If there had

been any healing in the man,

Georgina would be walking now.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes