The Body Snatcher Page #9

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MacFarlane's head jerks up and he looks directly at

Richardson.

MACFARLANE:

What did you say?

RICHARDSON:

I was making a joke, sir.

MACFARLANE:

(passing on)

It's a poor subject for jest,

Richardson -- particularly for a

medical student.

He turns abruptly away and starts toward the stairs.

GILCHRIST:

(to Richardson)

What did you say to His Imperial

Highness?

RICHARDSON:

Nothing but a merry word about

Burke and Hare --

GILCHRIST:

That's nothing for him to get upset

about. They're dead and buried --

Richardson shrugs.

DISSOLVE:

EXT. GREYFRIAR'S CHURCHYARD -- DAY

Fettes comes along the street toward the gateway. Suddenly

he stops and looks at a small crowd which has gathered around

the gate, all talking very excitedly and peering in over each

other's shoulders. He stands and looks.

MED. FULL SHOT -- the crowd at the gate. The people draw

back making way for Mrs. MacBride who comes out.

MED. CLOSE SHOT -- Mrs. MacBride as she makes her way through

the crowd. She is crying and in her arms she carries the

dead body of the little dog.

ANOTHER ANGLE -- SHOOTING FROM behind Fettes. Mrs. MacBride

comes through the crowd and starts across the street toward

him.

CLOSE SHOT -- Mrs. MacBride and Fettes. Fettes looks at her.

MRS. MACBRIDE

(as she passes him)

They killed his wee doggie too --

little Robbie.

(passes on)

CLOSE SHOT -- Fettes as he watches Mrs. MacBride. From

behind him comes the sound of the street singer's song.

DISSOLVE:

INT. MACFARLANE'S STUDY -- LATE AFTERNOON

MacFarlane is seated on a high stool at a work table. He has

before him two large bones and is measuring these with a pair

of dividers and marking down notations in a notebook. While

he works he whistles "The Blue Bells of Scotland." There is

a knock at the door.

MACFARLANE:

Come in!

He looks over his shoulder to see Fettes as he enters then

turns back to his work. Fettes comes up and stands beside

him. MacFarlane makes a notation in the notebook and then

looks up.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

Well, Fettes -- where have you

been? I didn't see you at the

afternoon session.

FETTES:

I don't think I can go on, sir.

MACFARLANE:

(whirling around on the

stool)

What the devil do you mean? You

have your lodgings, a certain

stipend -- I thought I had arranged

everything for you --

FETTES:

I saw the woman whose son's body

was delivered last night.

MacFarlane nods.

FETTES (cont'd)

That man took the body from

Greyfriar's. I knew the woman.

I knew the little dog on the grave.

He killed the dog.

MACFARLANE:

And that's why you don't want to be

a doctor, Fettes?

FETTES:

Not if I have to be party to things

like that, Dr. MacFarlane.

MacFarlane studies him for a moment. He then gets up from

the stool and puts his hand on the boy's shoulder.

MACFARLANE:

Fettes, I was an assistant once. I

had to deal with men like Gray. Do

you think I did it because I wanted

to? Do you think I want to do it

now? But I must and you must.

Fettes shakes his head. MacFarlane puts his other hand on

Fettes' other shoulder.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

Ignorant men have dammed up the

stream of medical progress with

stupid and unjust laws. If that

dam will not break, the other men

of medicine have to find other

courses. You understand me,

Fettes?

Fettes nods.

FETTES:

But this woman -- and her son --

MACFARLANE:

I'm sorry for the woman, Fettes.

But her son might be alive today

had more doctors been given the

opportunity to work on more human

specimens. As for me, Fettes, I

let no man stop me when I know I'm

right -- when I know that I need

those lifeless subjects for my

student's enlightenment and for my

own knowledge. And if you're a

real man and want to be a good

doctor, you'll see it as I see it.

There is a long pause. MacFarlane lets his hands drop to his

sides.

MACFARLANE (cont'd)

Well, boy?

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