The Sessions

HILLMAN:
Mark O'Brien has been going

to UC Berkeley since 1978.

That's O'Brien in the motorized gurney

heading for class last week.

He had polio

when he was six years old.

The disease left his body crippled,

but his mind remained sharp and alert.

And since he wanted to be a writer...

...Mark O'Brien entered Cal

to major in English and learn his trade.

He wrote this poem for us about school

here and about graduation.

MARK:

"Graduation."

Today I hear the crowd's applause

Receive congratulations from my friends

Today I ask if I've found

a place among the rest

Who studied, read, wrote

And passed the test in cap and gown.

Today I hope you see a man upon this stage.

Mark O'Brien teaches us that courage

and perseverance overcome obstacles.

With Mark O'Brien at UC Berkeley...

...Bill Hillman,

Channel 5 Eyewitness News.

(AIR HISSING)

MARK:

"Breathing."

Look, you

This most excellent canopy, the air

Presses down upon me

At fifteen pounds per square inch

A dense, heavy, blue glowing ocean

Teasing me with its nearness and immensity

And all I get is a thin stream of it

A finger's width of the

rope that ties me to life

Sh*t.

Okay, just focus.

Scratch with your mind.

Okay, your mind.

Scratch with your mind.

(MEOWS)

Good morning.

(DOOR CLOSES)

JOAN:

Good morning.

You're late.

"Joan."

I swear this was one crazy b*tch

Who'd swing me about enough to scare me

But careful enough so she could say:

"Now what was all the yelling about?"

"You polios are screamers. Always were. "

I didn't say a word.

I typed my skinny novel in my head

And thought about revenge.

(WATER SPLASHES)

Would you mind if I asked you

a favor?

What, you need help moving furniture?

I need an advance on my pay.

Like, two weeks.

Now, that's not exactly

asking too much, is it?

What if you don't last

another two weeks?

It was a real drag that I was no longer

allowed to use my other gurney.

The self-propelled one.

It had caused a couple

of spectacular accidents.

Basically, in spite of all the mirrors,

I couldn't see where I was going.

BRENDAN:
Mary's fear and apprehension

slowly gave way to pride and purpose.

Elizabeth, pregnant

herself with Saint John...

...felt the power of this wondrous woman.

It was Elizabeth, and her absolute faith...

...that gave Mary

the courage she was lacking.

And she gave thanks, saying,

my soul doth magnify the Lord...

...and my spirit hath rejoiced

in God, my savior.

May the spirit of the Lord be amongst you

and remain with you always.

CROWD:

Amen.

MARK:
I'm definitely a true believer, but

I believe in a God with a sense of humor.

A wicked sense of humor.

One who created me in his own image.

Hello. I don't think we've met.

I'm Father Brendan.

I'm Mark O'Brien.

I knew Father Seamus very well.

I'm sorry that he's not here any more.

As are many others.

I'll do my best to fill his shoes.

You'd like me to hear

your confession?

Yes, I would.

I told my attendant to come back

in half an hour. Is that okay?

I'm in no rush.

I can be a bit time-consuming...

...but I'm worth the trouble.

I'm here for you, Mark.

MARK:

Okay.

This is not exactly a confession.

I haven't yet done the deed.

I was sort of hoping

to get a quote in advance.

What's on your mind?

The most immediate thing on my mind

would be one of my attendants.

Joan.

I'm thinking of getting rid of her.

It's an evil thought, but I can't help it.

Is she dishonest?

Or incompetent?

No. Neither of those.

She looks at me the wrong way.

It's that "You need me

more than I need you" look.

I'd like to show her she's wrong just for

the evil satisfaction it will give me.

Is that a sin, Father?

Well, it obviously troubles you.

Yeah, it troubles me a lot, because

what if it's really just a power trip?

You know? Yeah, me against her?

Me against the world?

I really wouldn't worry about that.

The question is

whether you like having her around.

I can't stand her.

Well, then get rid of her.

If I were in a position to choose,

I'd find someone nice.

Even if it was a power trip.

Then I have your blessing to fire her?

Unofficially, yes.

That's good enough for me.

Hey! Ha!

MARK:

"Amanda."

Amanda would have been a pretty girl

To touch, to hold, to kiss.

Do you have any experience?

No. None at all.

That sounds perfect.

So how long can you stay out?

Three or four hours.

Yeah?

Depends on how much fun I'm having.

As she glided through crowds of lives

She couldn't leave me lying there

Dried-out bubble gum

Stuck on the underneath of existence.

She took me on a picnic once

With her boyfriend and another couple.

Lust crackled in the air.

And what did the boyfriend think?

That I was in his way?

I'm always in somebody's way, I thought

The sun in my eyes.

And?

And what?

And do you touch him?

What do you...? Yeah.

I do everything.

Do you have other questions?

Gross.

What?

What'd you say?

Okay, look, no need to be defensive, okay?

I'm not exactly threatened by this guy.

Yeah? Why not?

God, he's much more a man

than you are.

So, what does your boyfriend think of me?

He's an a**hole.

Doesn't matter what he thinks of you.

I'm interested in the opinion

of an a**hole.

He thinks that you

are some kind of Svengali...

...and that you're gonna hypnotize me

into your cult.

He's right.

He says he can already see changes.

MARK:

Her perfect, pale skin...

...her Tudor court face...

...her strong, fleshy legs

Drove me to ecstasies of despair.

Want me to do that?

(MARK MOANS SOFTLY)

All I wished for were hands that moved...

...just to touch her.

That would have been enough.

So with a gentle, fearless

heart she took me in.

I thrived in her garden...

...and wanted more.

AMANDA:

Okay.

Shirts, shirts, shirts.

Oh.

This you must have.

(WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY)

What? What is it?

I love you.

Um...

Did she reciprocate your feelings?

She didn't seem to.

Sometimes people can be very shy

about their emotions.

Well, in case

she didn't get it the first time...

...I told her again that I was in love

with her and I wanted to marry her.

Thinking it might swing things.

Did it?

Yeah.

She left.

Amanda could have been a pretty girl...

...to touch, to hold, to take to bed.

I wish I knew what to say to you.

Welcome to the human race.

Every day, somebody breaks

somebody else's heart.

And as I said, I'm here for you.

I just wish I had something

more useful to offer.

All I have are these vague ideas

about life and death...

...that we priests are equipped with.

Have you considered

sharing your feelings with a therapist?

Not really.

Yeah? Father?

I think I need a hug.

A hug?

Yeah.

BRENDAN:

There you go.

(GATE OPENS)

Hi. Vera?

Yes.

Oh, hi, I'm Rod.

Hi.

I... I usually do 4 to midnights...

...but we could switch if necessary.

(AIR HISSING)

Have you had any experience?

Some.

(PHONE RINGING)

Would you get that, please?

(VERA CLEARS THROAT)

Hello.

It's Sandy from Pacific News Service.

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