The Elephant Man Page #14

TREVES:

Not quite yet, Mrs. Mothershead.

There seems to be some difficulty

this morning.

They both look at the bed. Merrick has almost disappeared

under it.

MOTHERSHEAD:

Won't come out, eh?

TREVES:

No, he's very upset about something.

MOTHERSHEAD:

Just being obstinate, sir. I'll handle

it.

She goes to Merrick and takes hold of his left wrist.

MOTHERSHEAD:

Alright, my son, none of this fuss.

Come up from there, this instant.

She starts to force him up from the floor. Merrick is moaning

now, still trying to get away.

TREVES:

No! Don't pull at him like that. We

don't want to frighten him more than

he already is.

By this time Mothershead has almost got him back on the bed.

MOTHERSHEAD:

Honestly, sir, you must be very firm

with this sort. Otherwise they'd lay

about on the floor gibbering all day

long. All he understands is a good

smack.

They help Merrick settle back on the pillow. Merrick is still

making desperate, unintelligible sounds.

TREVES:

He's had his share of "smacks",

Mothershead. I expect that's what

drives him under the bed. We must

use patience and understanding with

this man.

MOTHERSHEAD:

Perhaps you've got the time for that,

Mr. Treves, I certainly don't. I've

got an entire hospital to look after,

and you have your real patients.

Don't waste your time with him sir,

it's like talking to a wall. I don't

mean to be harsh, but truthfully

what can you do for him? I'll be

back later for his bath. And Mr.

Carr Gomm would like to see you when

you have a moment. Good day sir.

She exits. Treves shuts the door behind her and turns back

to the bed.

TREVES:

(to himself)

What good am I to you...?

He goes to the bed and sits down in front of Merrick, angered

by his own seeming uselessness in the situation.

TREVES:

...What is my purpose? ...It's so

important that I understand you. I

want to help you, I want to be your

doctor...

(directly to Merrick)

but I can't help you unless you help

me, unless I know what you are

feeling. I believe there's something

back there, there's something you

want to say, but I've got to

understand you. Do you understand

me?

Merrick hesitates, then starts babbling again.

TREVES:

No! You are going to talk to me! We

are going to show them! We're going

to show them that you're not a wall.

We are going to talk! Do you

understand? Nod your head if you

understand me!

Slowly Merrick nods yes.

TREVES:

You do understand me! You understand.

Now you're going to say it. I've got

to hear how you say things. Now,

very slowly, say "yes."

Treves carefully mouths the word.

TREVES:

"Yes."

Merrick is still hesitant, from years of fear, but his eyes

betray a growing excitement. Slowly, he tries to talk, his

voice a tremulous whisper.

MERRICK:

Yyyy... Yyye... yyyess.

TREVES:

(grabbing Merrick's

arm)

Yes John!

Throughout their dialogue, Merrick is still very garbled,

but he no longer babbles. He makes a great effort to speak

slowly, to form words the way Treves forms them, to be

understood.

MERRICK:

...Yyes

TREVES:

Yyyess.

MERRICK:

Yyess.

TREVES:

That's much better. I could understand

that "yes".

MERRICK:

(pleased)

Yes!

TREVES:

Very good! Oh yes! Now listen. I'm

going to say some things to you and

I want you to repeat them... um... I

want you to say them back to me. Do

you understand? I'm going to say

some things to you and I want you to

say them back to me. Do you

understand?

MERRICK:

Yes.

TREVES:

Excellent! Now, say... "Hello"

MERRICK:

Hello...

TREVES:

My name is...

MERRICK:

My... name is...

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