The Elephant Man Page #15

TREVES:

John Merrick.

MERRICK:

John... Merrick

TREVES:

Say "Merrick".

MERRICK:

Merrick...

TREVES:

Say "Mmmerrick."

MERRICK:

Mmmerrick.

TREVES:

Say "Mmmerrick."

MERRICK:

Mmmerrick.

TREVES:

Well, that's alright. I understand

you. Now, say the whole thing again,

Hello ...

MERRICK:

(haltingly)

Hello... my name is... John Merrick.

DISSOLVE TO HALLWAY

Mrs. Mothershead comes out of the kitchen with a supper tray

and walks down the hall, passing the open ward door. We see

nurses serving patients their supper. Nora comes out of the

ward with a tray which she holds tightly against her. A bowl

of soup is spilling on her apron. She catches up with

Mothershead. They speak as they walk.

NORA:

Oh, Mrs. Mothershead, please forgive

my behavior yesterday. I'm sorry if

you're having to do extra work on my

account. It was just seeing it...

MOTHERSHEAD:

Patients here are not "its". They

are either "he's" or "she's", but

that's alright, Ireland. This one's

going to be more work for all of us.

Good God girl! Mind your broth.

Mothershead continues on. Nora guiltily watches her go.

ISOLATION WARD:

Treves and Merrick are absorbed in their work. A knock comes

at the door.

TREVES:

Come in.

Mothershead enters.

TREVES:

Why, my dear Mrs. Mothershead, how

good of you to join us. Mr. Merrick,

will you please introduce yourself?

MERRICK:

(hesitantly)

Hello, my name is John Merrick.

MOTHERSHEAD:

Good Lord, Mr. Treves!

TREVES:

(exuberantly)

We've made tremendous strides today,

Mothershead. He listens and repeats

with great attention, and this

certainly isn't easy for him.

MOTHERSHEAD:

Parrots can do as much, Mr. Treves.

It's all very nice, but I don't see

the point. You know they won't let

him stay here.

TREVES:

(lowering his voice)

I'm sure that if Mr. Merrick made a

good impression on the hospital

committee they'd see that he's the

exception to their rule. Now I'm not

expecting miracles. I'm not saying

he'll be able to read or write, but

I do think that I can get him to

speak for himself. I'm going to

arrange things with Carr Gomm right

now.

(to Merrick)

That was very good, John, very good.

That's all for today. We shall do

some more tomorrow. Mothershead?

Mrs. Mothershead sets the tray down beside Merrick.

TREVES:

I'll see you soon.

He and Mothershead exit. Merrick watches the door close. He

sighs quietly, looks about, and sees the Bible on the bedside

table. He picks it up and, gently runs his fingers over the

cover.

RECEIVING ROOM - THE LONDON

There is total pandemonium in the receiving room. The room

is filled with screaming men, women and children. Two drunken

women have been fighting with broken bottles and are now

covered with blood and cuts. The women are still hysterical,

one minute they're sobbing, then in an instant screaming and

intent upon fighting again. The crowd keeps them apart. Two

Bobbies stand in the background making no move to intercede.

To the side we see Bytes watching everything. It is still

too violent a scene for the Nurses to come to the women's

aide and they stand up in the front of the room waiting.

Bytes makes his way along the side of the crowd waiting for

a chance to get behind the Nurses and on into the hospital.

Now the women begin sobbing again and things quiet some. The

Nurses come forward into the crowd. Bytes moves over closer

to the hallways. When the Nurses have all gone into the crowd

he seizes the chance and disappears into the hospital.

CUT TO:

Bytes appears and walks down hospital hallway looking about.

CARR GOMM'S OFFICE

The door opens and Treves enters.

CARR (V.O.)

Ah, Treves...

Treves sits in the armchair. Carr Gomm is sitting at his

desk.

CARR:

Have you contacted the British Home

and the Royal Hospital?

TREVES:

Ah, no sir. I had planned to see

them in the morning.

CARR:

Good! How is the patient?

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