The Elephant Man Page #13

He stops and casually looks about. He takes a swig of his

gin, then starts up the stairs.

ATTIC WARD:

Merrick as before the light is very dim. We hear the echoing

footfalls of the Night Porter coming up the stairs. Merrick's

head immediately comes up from his knees. As it does, a small

object falls from where his head rested.

He picks it up and puts it in a pocket of his cloak. it is

the portrait of the beautiful woman, which he saw in his

dream.

Suddenly the door swings open and the Night Porter, bottle

in hand, is standing there. He walks into the room and sees

Merrick's shape on the bed.

NIGHT PORTER:

Here he is, the old fiend of the

night, the terror of the London.

Let's have a look at you. Let's see

what makes 'em scream...

He turns up the light and sees Merrick clearly. The Night

Porter jumps back, awe struck.

NIGHT PORTER:

Cor Blimey!

Merrick is trembling. The Night Porter, hardly able to believe

his eyes, moves slowly toward Merrick. He is afraid but as

he reaches the bed, Merrick flinches back. The Night Porter

grins, his fear gone now. He is in control.

NIGHT PORTER:

So this is the Elephant Man. I ain't

never seen nothing like you before.

What the bleedin' hell happened to

you?

Merrick cowers as far away from the Night Porter as possible.

NIGHT PORTER:

Oh... dumb, eh?

He takes a big swallow of the gin and smiles.

NIGHT PORTER:

Good. I likes people what can keep

quiet.

He offers Merrick his bottle with a swift, almost jabbing

motion. Merrick pulls away from him.

NIGHT PORTER:

Like a drink? Go on... Go on have

some. No? You should try being more

sociable, mate.

He tentatively presses the bottom of the bottle up against

the hanging growth on Merrick's chest. Encouraged, he touches

him with his fingers. Merrick makes a small whimpering sound.

NIGHT PORTER:

(grinning)

You and I are going to be good

friends, we are. And, I've got lots

of friends who I know would like to

meet you. And they will, mate...

they will.

He moves to the door and turns.

CLOSE-UP of Night Porter's face.

NIGHT PORTER:

Welcome to the London.

He moves out the door and it closes. In the bed, Merrick

looks at the door with terror as the heavy footfalls of the

Night Porter recede down the stairs.

WHITECHAPEL ROAD

We see a horse's head in CU, snorting steam into the chill

morning air. The horse is harnessed to a milk wagon parked

in front of the London. Through the open back of the wagon

we see the MILKMAN, and past him Treves, walking towards us.

MILKMAN:

Here early again, eh Mr. Treves? If

you don't mind my saying so, sir,

with your early habits, you'd 'a

made a fine milkman.

TREVES:

Good morning, Charley. I'll keep

that in mind!

Treves walks up the path into the hospital.

HALLWAY (MORNING)

Treves, carrying a bowl, crosses the upper hall and starts

to the narrow stairway to the Isolation Ward. Over his

shoulder we see him knock twice on the door. As the door

swings open, the camera pushes past him and we see the room.

The lamp is still burning, but Merrick is nowhere to be seen.

Treves enters, looking about for him.

TREVES:

Mr. Merrick?

There's movement in the corner beside the bed. Merrick rises

slightly from the shadow. The light from the lamp hits his

frightened eyes.

TREVES:

....Good morning... John. I've brought

your breakfast.

Treves is unsettled by the sight of Merrick cowering down on

the floor.

Merrick begins to babble. Treves enters the room, placing

the bowl on the table and going to Merrick.

TREVES:

What are you doing down there? Come

up John, come up on the bed. The

cold floor is bad for you. I won't

hurt you, come on now...

He helps Merrick up onto the bed and goes back to the table

for the bowl.

TREVES:

You must eat. We must keep your

strength...

He has turned back to the bed, but Merrick has slipped to

the floor again, still trying to hide himself in the corner.

TREVES:

...What on earth is the matter with

you?

He puts the bowl down again and goes back to Merrick, who

seems very upset at leaving his hiding place.

TREVES:

Now please, John, you must do as I

say. Come up from there.

He starts to help Merrick up, but Merrick just presses himself

farther back in the corner, still babbling. There are two

raps at the door. Treves goes to it and lets Mothershead in.

MOTHERSHEAD:

Good morning, Mr. Treves. It'll be

his bath-time soon. Has he eaten?

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