The Silence of the Lambs Page #4

Dr. Hannibal Lecter is lounging on his bunk, in white pajamas,

reading an Italian Vogue. He turns, considers her... A face

so long out of the sun, it seems almost leached - except for

the glittering eyes, and the wet red mouth. He rises smoothly,

crossing to stand before her; the gracious host. His voice

is cultured, soft.

DR. LECTER

Good morning.

CUTTING BETWEEN THEM

as Clarice comes a measured distance closer.

CLARICE:

Doctor, we have a hard problem in

psychological profiling. I want to

ask for your help with a

questionnaire.

DR. LECTER

"We" being the Behavioral Science

Unit, at Quantico. You're one of

Jack Crawford's, I expect.

CLARICE:

I am, yes.

DR. LECTER

May I see your credentials?

Clarice is surprised, but fishes her ID card from her bag,

holds it up for his inspection. He smiles, soothingly.

DR. LECTER

Closer, please... Clo-ser...

She complies each time, trying to hide her fear. Dr. Lecter's

nostrils lift, as he gently, like an animal, tests the air.

Then he smiles, glancing at her card.

DR. LECTER

(continuing)

That expires in one week. You're not

real FBI, are you?

CLARICE:

I'm - still in training at the

Academy.

DR. LECTER

Jack Crawford sent a trainee to me?

CLARICE:

We're talking about psychology,

Doctor, not the Bureau. Can you decide

for yourself whether or not I'm

qualified?

DR. LECTER

Mmmmm... That's rather slippery of

you, Officer Starling. Sit. Please.

She sits in the folding metal desk-chair. He waits politely

till she's settled, then sits down himself, faces her happily.

DR. LECTER

Now then. What did Miggs say to you?

(she is puzzled)

"Multiple Miggs," in the next cell.

He hissed at you. What did he say?

CLARICE:

He said - "I can smell your c*nt."

DR. LECTER

I see. I myself cannot. You use Evyan

skin cream, and sometimes you wear

L'Air du Temps, but not today. You

brought your best bag, though, didn't

you?

CLARICE:

(beat)

Yes.

DR. LECTER

It's much better than your shoes.

CLARICE:

Maybe they'll catch up.

DR. LECTER

I have no doubt of it.

CLARICE:

(shifting uncomfortably)

Did you do those drawings, Doctor?

DR. LECTER

Yes. That's the Duomo, seen from the

Belvedere. Do you know Florence?

CLARICE:

All that detail, just from memory...?

DR. LECTER

Memory, Officer Starling, is what I

have instead of view.

A pause, then Clarice takes the questionnaire from her case.

CLARICE:

Dr. Lecter, if you'd please consider -

DR. LECTER

No, no, no. You were doing fine,

you'd been courteous and receptive

to courtesy, you'd established trust

with the embarrassing truth about

Miggs, and now this ham-handed segue

into your questionnaire. It won't

do. It's stupid and boring.

CLARICE:

I'm only asking you to look at this,

Doctor. Either you will or you won't.

DR. LECTER

Jack Crawford must be very busy indeed

if he's recruiting help from the

student body. Busy hunting that new

one, Buffalo Bill... Such a naughty

boy! Did Crawford send you to ask

for my advice on him?

CLARICE:

No, I came because we need -

DR. LECTER

How many women has he used, our Bill?

CLARICE:

Five... so far.

DR. LECTER

All flayed...?

CLARICE:

Partially, yes. But Doctor, that's

an active case, I'm not involved. If -

DR. LECTER

Do you know why he's called Buffalo

Bill? Tell me. The newspapers won't

say.

CLARICE:

I'll tell you if you'll look at this

form.

(he considers, then

nods)

It started as a bad joke in Kansas

City Homicide. They said... this one

likes to skin his humps.

DR. LECTER

Witless and misleading. Why do you

think he takes their skins, Officer

Starling? Thrill me with your wisdom.

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