The Body Snatcher Page #8

---

Fettes looks over at him.

JOSEPH (cont'd)

A lady is asking for you.

FETTES:

What lady, Joseph?

Joseph shrugs. Fettes, seeing that he'll get no

enlightenment from him, turns to the students.

FETTES (cont'd)

If you gentleman will excuse me --

He starts for the stairs. There is a snicker of laughter.

Richardson leans over and with two deft movements brings the

arms of the skeleton back into fighting position.

INT. MACFARLANE HALLWAY -- DAY

Mrs. Marsh sits there. Broad beams of sunlight flood in from

the front windows. She is speaking with Meg Cameron. Meg is

standing looking down at her.

MEG:

Why do you come here? The Doctor

said he wouldn't operate.

MRS. MARSH

I've already told you I didn't come

to see Dr. MacFarlane.

MEG:

Then whom do you wish to see in

MacFarlane's own house?

It is at this moment that the door opens and Fettes comes in.

Meg takes one glance at him.

MEG (cont'd)

(almost under her breath)

So it is in that direction that the

wind blows, eh? It will get you

nothing.

With that she turns on her heel and goes off to a little door

on the left.

MRS. MARSH

(rising)

Good morning, Mr. Fettes.

Fettes bows formally. It is obvious he is pleased, yet very

puzzled to see her. He comes down and takes her hand.

FETTES:

You asked to see me, ma'am?

MRS. MARSH

(impulsively)

I want you to help my little girl.

FETTES:

I'm only a student.

MRS. MARSH

Georgina told me how kind you were

to her. It gave me hope you might

intercede for us with Dr.

MacFarlane.

FETTES:

I don't know that I can do that,

Mrs. Marsh.

MRS. MARSH

Did he tell you about Georgina?

Fettes nods.

MRS. MARSH (cont'd)

Then he must have told you that

this disease is progressive -- that

it will grow worse -- that soon she

will not be able to move at all.

Fettes nods again. Mrs. Marsh lays her hand on his arm and

looks directly into his eyes.

MRS. MARSH (cont'd)

And you won't ask him to help?

FETTES:

I didn't mean it that way. I meant

only that I am not in a position to

ask favors.

MRS. MARSH

Ask this one favor --

FETTES:

(very much moved)

Of course I will.

Mrs. Marsh smiles at him.

MRS. MARSH

Georgina was right. You are a kind

man.

She extends her hand and Fettes takes it.

FETTES:

I'll do what I can.

He walks with her to the door, lets her out, closes it behind

her and then turns and starts back the way he came.

INT. THE ANATOMY ROOM -- DAY

MacFarlane is present and now in contrast to the disorder

under Fettes the students are busy and absorbed. They are

working at their tasks. MacFarlane, with two or three around

him, is helping one of the students, Gilchrist.

MACFARLANE:

(enthusiastically)

In an adult this muscle can apply

more than one hundred seventy-five

pounds of pressure? Double that

and you get the full strength of

the human jaw.

(jocularly)

That, gentlemen, is to chew our

food and bite our enemies.

The students laugh; that peculiar laugh common to students

and soldiers when a superior makes a joke. It is at this

moment that Fettes starts down the stairs. MacFarlane looks

up.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

Here, Fettes, life can't be all

skittles and ladies --

This sally provokes a low murmur of appreciative laughter

from the students. Fettes, discomfited, joins the group.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

(pulling a watch from his

pocket)

It's time for our luncheon. I've a

bit of beef to discuss and --

(bowing slightly)

I leave you all to whatever

arrangements you have made to serve

the inner man.

FULL SHOT -- Fettes as he takes up a small bundle wrapped in

a handkerchief and starts for the door.

MED. SHOT -- MacFarlane as he starts for the stairs. He

passes a table where Richardson is bent over his work, which

is out of scene.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

Well, I see you have that arm

you've been yearning for,

Richardson.

RICHARDSON:

Yes, sir. This fellow must have

been a great one at hurling the bar

-- beautiful biceps. Burke and

Hare would never have got the best

of this fellow.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes