The Elephant Man Page #20

CARR:

I don't understand.

TREVES:

Tell me, John, how did you know the

rest of the 23rd Psalm?

MERRICK:

(hesitantly)

I... I used to read the Bible every

day. I know it very well. The Bible,

and the Book of Common Prayer. The

23rd Psalm is very beautiful.

ISOLATION WARD:

A few minutes later. We hear voices inside the room.

CARR (V.O.)

It was a great pleasure to meet you,

Mr. Merrick.

MERRICK:

I am very pleased to meet you.

CARR:

I hope we can talk together again

sometime. Good day.

The door opens and Carr Gomm and Treves come out.

TREVES:

(to Merrick)

I'll be right back.

He closes the door.

CARR:

I want to see you in my office as

soon as you're through up here. We've

a good deal to discuss.

He starts down the stairs.

TREVES:

Of course, sir. Thank you, thank you

very much.

Carr Gomm stops on the stairs.

CARR:

Treves. Well done.

TREVES:

Not me, sir. Mr. Merrick. He succeeded

in spite of my shortsightedness.

ISOLATION WARD:

Merrick is on the bed, propped up by pillows. The door opens.

Treves comes in, shuts the door and leans against it. They

look at each other for a moment.

TREVES:

Why did you let me go on like that,

teaching you what you already knew?

Why didn't you tell me you could

read?

MERRICK:

You did not ask me.

TREVES:

I never thought to ask. How can you

ever forgive me?

MERRICK:

Oh, no do not say that. You have

been so kind to me. I was afraid to

say too much. People always want me

to be quiet. You wanted me to speak,

but I was afraid. Forgive me.

TREVES:

We do have a lot to talk about, don't

we?

CARR GOMM'S OFFICE

Carr Gomm is seated at the window, looking out silently.

There is a knock at the door and Treves enters. He quietly

closes the door and walks to the window. Carr Gomm never

moves.

CARR:

Can you imagine what his life has

been like?

TREVES:

Yes, I think I can.

CARR:

No you can't. You can't begin to

know, no one can.

Carr Gomm suddenly stands and faces Treves.

CARR:

You are quite right, Treves, this is

an exceptional case. And I quite

agree that the committee should see

Mr. Merrick.

TREVES:

I could easily arrange...

CARR:

No, not that way. Broadneck and the

others don't like to deal with

patients directly. It makes them

queasy... Do you have any photographs

of Mr. Merrick?

TREVES:

Well, yes.

CARR:

Excellent. We shall present them,

along with the other particulars of

the case to the committee. I want

them to see, exactly, how horribly

his body has been affected. You and

I shall vouch for his inner qualities.

TREVES:

Do you think they'll go along with

us?

CARR:

Of course they will. They're

reasonable men.

ISOLATION WARD:

Merrick is in bed, very tired. It's been an exhausting day.

Suddenly the door opens and Mothershead comes into the room.

Merrick looks up at her very apprehensively. She walks over

to the bed, picks up the Bible from the table, opens it and

hands it to Merrick.

MOTHERSHEAD:

Read it.

Merrick looks down at the Bible.

MERRICK:

Thou heardest my voice; hide not

thine ear at my breathing, At my

cry.

Mothershead backs slowly to the door, deeply disturbed. She

stares at Merrick for a moment.

MOTHERSHEAD:

Credit where credit is due. You'll

have the paper every morning at

breakfast.

She quickly turns and exits. Merrick looks down at the Bible.

It is open to "Lamentations".

HALLWAY - THE LONDON (NIGHT)

As before the lights are going off in one hallway after

another. The hallways are empty, dark and silent. We hear

the great iron door close with a bang.

ISOLATION WARD (NIGHT)

Merrick is in his bed as always. He holds the portrait of

the beautiful woman, gazing at it longingly. He hears a door

close far away in the silence of the hospital.

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