The Man Without a Face Page #6

- He is, yes.

- He is? Oh, that's a relief.

The Lansings are in quite a state. They had a family melodrama there.

He was very upset when he arrived. I'm sorry I don't have a telephone. I would have called.

- I hear you're tutoring Chuck.

- Yes, that's correct.

- Fine. Can I see him?

- He's asleep. I'll...

- Where would that be?

- Upstairs.

It's all right. I'll just take a peek, see if he's all right...

What's goin' on?

- It's time for you to go home, son.

- It's all right. Nothing to worry about.

- You've given a lot of people a fright.

- I don't wanna go. I'm staying here.

- Charles.

Your mother's worried. She's on her way back.

I don't care. I'm staying here!

- Why don't you get your clothes and let's go.

- No!

Charles... I want you to get dressed and go with Chief Stark.

What?

You have to. It'll be all right.

Why d'you lie to me the other day?

I don't know.

You like your teacher, don't you?

He's my best friend.

Charles...

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Is that why you divorced him?

Cos he was psycho?

That was wicked of Gloria.

Charles, it was just wicked.

Your father wasn't...

Your father was a wonderful man.

But he had problems, and when he drank...

..we just couldn't handle it.

He hurt us, didn't he?

Oh, my poor boy.

My poor Chuck. Oh, what a time you've had.

Y'know, I always blamed you.

I know, baby, I know.

It's all right.

Charles, why didn't you tell me you were going to see Mr McLeod?

I wanted to, but I didn't think you'd let me go.

You're mad, aren't you?

No, Charles.

See, he's my tutor, but he's also my friend.

I can tell him anything.

Last night, did he... or at any other time...

..did he...touch you?

Yeah, sure.

How did he touch you?

Why are you asking me this? I told you he's my friend.

Just tell me.

Chief Stark told me something about your friend.

A boy was killed in a driving accident.

I know, he told me. So what?

He went to prison for three years.

The boy that was killed was a pupil of his.

He was in the car with McLeod and they were having...

He was abusing the boy, Charles. Do you understand what that means?

No.

No. You don't want me to love anyone else, so you hate him. You hate him.

Charles!

- Charles, please! Listen to me! I'm only trying to protect you!

- You're a liar! Leave me alone!

Get out of my sight!

Sorry.

Hello, Mrs Palin. My name is...

I know who you are. What do you want here?

I came to see Charles and I wanted to explain...

What you've been doing to my son?

I haven't done anything to your son.

What? You expect me to believe that?

How do they let people like you walk around?

You're being irrational. Let me...

What?! You want to see irrational? I'll show you irrational! Get out!

Get out!

Ah, Doctor.

Mrs Palin, this is Dr Talbot. He's come all the way from Bangor to see us.

Hello, Charles. Just call me Lionel.

John Wayne.

- And how do you feel about that?

- What do you mean?

Do you feel good about seeing John Wayne, or does it make you uneasy?

I don't know. Why do I have to feel anything?

You don't. But you don't want to keep things hidden that could hurt you.

There's no right or wrong answer here...OK, Chuck?

Let's try another.

- It's a very sensitive issue, Mr McLeod. The mother's concerned.

- Have you talked to Charles or not?

- Yes, we have.

- Then what do you need a meeting for? What did he say?

I can't discuss that. We just want a little meeting.

You mean a trial.

It's just an informal get-together to get the facts straight.

You don't even need a lawyer.

Mr McLeod, I would appreciate it if you didn't try to see the boy now.

Not till after the meeting.

I'd appreciate it.

I came here to get away from your meetings and...

Seven years I've lived here... alone in this house, and in peace.

Maybe it would have been best all around if that's the way things had stayed.

- You promised me!

- How can I possibly let you take that exam after everything that's happened?

Nothing's happened! Nothing! Why won't you believe me?

It's out of my hands. The authorities will decide if there's anything to decide.

Oh, my gosh, I cannot live here! I can't live here!

- There's perfectly good schools in Connecticut.

- I'll run! I will run!

OK, Charles. OK, Charles. Charles, I'll talk to Gloria.

It's not Gloria I can't live with.

I'm sorry.

Do whatever you want, all right?

Mr McLeod, I'm afraid we're getting too old to stay open so late.

You'll just have to come back at our regular hours. Sorry for your trouble.

Charles, would you please take this out to the car and give it to Carl?

Good luck in the exam.

Thanks.

Oh, oh. I got it.

Here. Careful, it's fragile.

I got it.

Put Gloria's in first. Mum's too. Put mine in last for easy access.

Mom!

A**hole!

MR MCLEOD!

MR MCLEOD!

I'm not allowed to talk to you, Norstadt. You have to go.

No! No!

- I want to know!

- You always want to know!

I want to know the truth!

About what? Life? Religion?

Why did you go to prison?

I was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. You can look it up.

Did you? The boy in the car, the boy that died. Did you molest him?

What do you think, Norstadt?

Stop playing the teacher. Tell me!

I think you've already made your mind up, haven't you?

Looks like I've fallen off that pedestal you put people on. Strictly pass or fail, isn't it?

I don't know what to think!

You're just lazy! I couldn't teach you a thing!

- Just tell me!

- Did I ever abuse you?

Did I ever lay a hand of anything but friendship on you? Think, Norstadt, reason.

Did I? Can you imagine me ever doing so?

Then what about the past? What do you see?

- Tell me you didn't. I'll believe you.

- No! No, sir!

I didn't spend all summer so you could cheat on this question.

I'm sorry.

I didn't know what to think. I'm sorry.

It's all right, Charles. It's not your fault.

You're a good student, Charles.

You're a very good student.

You better go.

Goodbye.

Sequari deum.

Gentlemen, we're ready.

Good luck.

You have five minutes left in section A. Five minutes.

Pencils down.

In section B, you will translate the passage from Cicero,

on the value and nature of friendship.

Pencils ready.... Begin.

Mr McLeod, I'd like to introduce Miss Fletcher from Children's Aid,

Dr Talbot, Judge Sinclair, Mr McDowell from the DA's office.

Is your legal counsel not with you?

- I was told that this was an informal meeting. Isn't that right?

- Oh, no, that's correct.

William, why don't you begin?

Why didn't you go to the mother and make sure that Charles had told her about the tutoring?

Because I...

- You've never taught, have you?

- Taught? No.

- You can't teach a thing without giving away your trust.

- I don't follow.

Let's say I was teaching you, as a lawyer, to be honest.

I couldn't trust you to tell the truth, then run round the courts to see whether you were lying.

Not unless I was absolutely sure that you were lying.

Perhaps you should tell us about Patrick Scott.

What would you like to know?

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