The Body Snatcher Page #3

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THREE SHOT -- Georgina, Mrs. Marsh and Dr. MacFarlane.

MRS. MARSH

(rising)

Dr. MacFarlane?

He half-bows in acknowledgment.

MRS. MARSH (cont'd)

I'm Mrs. Marsh -- this is my

daughter -- Georgina.

She fumbles in her reticule and pulls forth an unsealed

letter which she passes to the doctor.

MRS. MARSH (cont'd)

Dr. Maximillian of Leyden asked me

to present this to you. He thought

you might examine my little girl.

While she is speaking, Dr. MacFarlane has opened the missive.

MACFARLANE:

(as he reads)

Maximillian -- a very famous

colleague of mine. I'm delighted

to honor his request.

With an expansive gesture he points to a door. Mrs. Marsh

pushes the wheel chair toward the living room door.

DOLLY SHOT -- the entrance to the sitting room.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

(over the child's head to

Mrs. Marsh)

Born paralyzed?

The little girl shrinks from him at the bluntness of this

question.

MRS. MARSH

No. It was an accident.

INT. SITTING ROOM -- AFTERNOON

Although it is late afternoon the lamps have been lit in this

part of the house. Mrs. Marsh wheels the chair into the

middle of the room and then stands to one side so that Dr.

MacFarlane can examine the child. Meg Cameron stands by the

window.

MACFARLANE:

Was the paralysis immediate?

MRS. MARSH

No, Doctor. She seemed to get

better, then about six months later

she began to complain of pain in

her back --

MACFARLANE:

How long after that was the

paralysis complete?

MRS. MARSH

Nearly a year.

MACFARLANE:

Any attacks of pain since?

MRS. MARSH

Yes, Doctor.

MACFARLANE:

Is her pain sporadic or constant?

MRS. MARSH

It comes at intervals. They used

to be months apart -- but they've

been growing more frequent --

(catch in her voice)

much more frequent.

MACFARLANE:

(directly to Georgina)

See here, child, when you have this

pain in your back, where is it?

GEORGINA:

(setting her jaw)

I don't know.

MACFARLANE:

Point to where it hurts. You can

at least do that, can't you?

GEORGINA:

I don't know.

MACFARLANE:

(angrily to Mrs. Marsh)

This is useless, ma'am.

He leaves the sentence unfinished and goes toward the center

of the room. Mrs. Marsh leans down beside the chair.

TWO SHOT -- Mrs. Marsh and Georgina.

MRS. MARSH

Please, darling, don't be so

stubborn.

Georgina darts a glance in MacFarlane's direction.

GEORGINA:

(whispering)

Mother -- he frightens me.

MED. FULL SHOT -- the door in the background. There is a

soft rap at the door and then almost immediately it opens and

Fettes comes in. He looks about, sees the doctor busily

engaged with a beautiful young woman and a sick child. He is

embarrassed and tries to withdraw.

FETTES:

Excuse me, Dr. MacFarlane --

MACFARLANE:

Come in, boy -- come in.

Fettes closes the door behind him and stands rather shyly,

not knowing what to do or say.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

Perhaps you can do something with

this young lady. I can't get an

aye, yes, or no out of her.

FETTES:

(protesting)

But, Doctor, I only wanted to speak

to you --

MACFARLANE:

(interrupting)

Come -- it's a chance to try out

your bedside manner, Fettes. Take

a look at the child.

Fettes walks up shyly to the child.

TWO SHOT -- Fettes and Georgina. Fettes stands abashed and

awkward before the clear-eyed glance of the little invalid.

He smiles at her. The child smiles back.

GEORGINA:

Are you a doctor, too?

FETTES:

Not yet.

GEORGINA:

You'll be a good doctor. I know

all about doctors.

Fettes smiles.

FETTES:

That's a nice chair you have.

He pushes it. It rolls a little.

FETTES (cont'd)

Useful, too. Where did you get it?

It isn't English, is it?

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