The Leech Woman

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Well, that's a novelty,

your refusing anything with alcohol in it.

I'm not used to seeing you sober

this time of day.

If you're trying to humiliate me,

you did that years ago.

Everybody knows I drink.

I don't try to hide it.

Drinking and my feelings for you

are both bad for me.

I know that.

What can I do?

I can't reach you without crawling

into the bottle.

When I'm there,

I can at least pretend that you love me

and that our marriage

is what a marriage is supposed to be.

It's interesting to watch a bottle baby

defend her weakness.

One thing I can say for you,

your approach is always different.

Today it's complete submissin.

I can't even get a rise out of you.

You know, I think I like you better

when you're sloppy drunk and violent.

That's the real you

and that's the one I like,

the one that hates me and

gives me a chance to hate back.

Ah!

Now, that's when

we're at our best,

when we cut through

the superficial surface

and get down to the fact

that we're a cruddy pair.

The only difference is

I know what I am, and you...

You try to hide what you are

in the fumes of whiskey.

Did you say whiskey?

Here's to you, whiskey,

the guardian

of all frustrated wives.

Now, be a good girl and

take your guardian and go home.

I've got some

experimenting to do.

You know I don't like to be

distracted when I'm working.

Unless, of course,

you've changed your mind

about helping me

with my experiments.

You need more than me

to be successful in whatever you do.

Just go on butchering your guinea pigs.

They can't put you in jail for that.

As a doctor, I resent the word "butchering"

almost as much as I resent looking at you.

I don't know

why you came here today,

but whatever it was,

speak up and then get out!

You know something?

I've just decided

to do you a big favor.

I'm going to give you

that divorce,

so you won't have to look

at my face any longer.

I tried making it over

for you.

Plastic surgery can't bridge

that 10 years between us.

Only love could make you

look at me differently,

and you never had that,

not even

in the beginning.

You're...

You're getting sloppy.

Another couple of drinks and you're liable

to forget about the divorce

and we'll be right back

where we started from.

Go on home.

Call Neil and tell him

to start the proceedings.

Tell him to use any grounds,

whatever he wants.

Just let him

get on with it.

You've got what you want.

Why can't I have a little one for the road?

Just enough to make me numb.

I think that did it.

I can't feel anything,

inside or out.

I beg your pardon.

Doctor, there's someone

in the office to see you.

That's all right, Sally.

Mrs. Talbot was just leaving.

Yes, l...

I was just leaving.

Finally.

Well, I know you advertised for old women,

but the one in the office looks like she came

right out of a mummy's tomb.

There's something peculiar about her.

She gives me the creeps.

Old women always give me the creeps,

but remember, it's worth millions if I can

ever find a way to make them young again.

Shall I show her in?

Yes, but first get rid of that glass

and that bottle.

Neil?

I'm on my way home now.

Can you meet me there in about 30 minutes?

No.

No.

No, everything's the same.

I'm afraid it's all over.

Yeah.

Goodbye.

Mrs. Talbot, you will never divorce

your husband.

You won't have to. He will die.

His death will give you life,

a new way of life.

You may run away but you're gonna

never escape me.

You are the one

in my dreams of blood.

There. That's all.

It's remarkable.

Corpuscle count, blood pressure, teeth,

all indicate extreme old age.

Would you help her up?

I'd be tempted to believe you

if you had a birth certificate.

That is my birth certificate.

The brand of the Arab slaver who stole me

and my mother from Africa,

and sold us across the sea

140 years ago.

140 years ago?

I was more fortunate than most.

My mother comforted me.

I learned much from her,

things that you'd want to know.

What things?

When we are alone,

I will speak.

Sally, would you mind?

Now, what did you learn from your mother

that you think could be of value to me?

I am of the Nando people

who once lived in Tanganyika,

beyond the Kalambo Falls.

I thought they were all dead,

but now I hear

that many of my tribe still live

deep in the wilderness.

I want to go to them.

You will give me the money to go.

And why should I do that?

Are you not trying to find a way to make

the old young again?

Only to make them younger.

Nothing can reverse the aging process.

Nothing that you would know about.

Help me down, please.

This is all that remains

of my inheritance,

a few pinches of the life-giving Nipe

my mother left me.

Nipe? What is it?

I don't know.

All that I know is that it has kept me alive

many years beyond my time.

And if I would be young again,

I must return to my people.

Are you saying this powder

will make you young again?

No. That slows the approach of death.

There is another substance that

must be mixed with it to make one young.

I don't know what it is. It's the secret

of the high priest of Nandos.

I'm a man of science.

I don't pay for mumbo jumbo.

I won't take any more of your time.

You can get your coat.

Then return the Nipe.

There are other scientists.

One might even ask for a demonstration

before he tells me to go.

A demonstration?

Get me a glass of water.

Now we must wait a few minutes

and then you can examine me again.

Then you will see for yourself

if the Nipe hasn't slowed the aging process.

All right. I'll run the tests again.

If this powder does as you say,

you'll have all the money you need

to return to your people.

Mrs. Talbot, I know this is painful,

but it's one of those things

that have to be done

when you plan a divorce.

Now, you and Paul own everything jointly.

Is that right?

Then let's start with the furniture.

Could you set a value on it?

It's trash. Everything's trash.

It'll make a difference to you

later on, believe me.

Nothing makes a difference.

It's all old trash.

Like me. Old trash.

I think you've had it

for tonight.

You get some sleep.

No.

I'll take you up

to your room.

No, I don't want you to go.

Mrs. Talbot, please...

Don't, please don't leave me alone.

Mrs. Talbot.

No, no.

You know something?

You know what she said?

She said, "You are the one

in my dreams of blood."

That's what she said.

I'm gonna get you a doctor.

No.

You're drinking yourself into the DTs.

No, I don't want...

Now, come on.

I don't need a doctor.

Sit down here while l...

I don't want a doctor.

Neil, I'm glad you're here.

You're just the man I wanted to see.

Well, since I'm

representing your wife,

don't you think it would be more ethical

if you got another attorney?

What for?

Your divorce.

Divorce? Who said anything

about a divorce?

Come, both of you. Let's go to the bar.

I've got a story to tell you that's fantastic.

Come on, June, sit down.

You're looking at the most powerful

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