The Snake Pit Page #11

I know it... here.

But you don't quite

understand it all here?

It doesn't matter. You may never know

why everything happened...

but now you do know how and where

it started, and that does matter.

Look. It's as though

you were in a dark room...

like this one.

Now, and you wanted

to turn on the light...

but you couldn't because

you didn't know where the switch was.

Now you do.

You may never know why turning

that switch makes the light go on.

But you don't have to.

As long as you know where it is...

you don't ever have to be afraid

of being in the dark again.

And that, I'm sure,

you'll be able to do very soon.

Come along, ladies!

Keep going. Keep going.

Take a seat

right down there.

Hold it a second, will you?

For the benefit of those

of you who are new here...

and for those who might

have forgotten the rules...

I'm warning you that nobody

is allowed to dance...

with the same person

more than three times.

Jitterbugging is out.

No cheek-to-cheek stuff. Understand?

That's what you say.

No cheek-to-cheek stuff.

See? Over there. She's the one

I was talking to you about.

Watch me.

- Oh.

May I have some, per fervore.

Is he the one?

He certainly goes for your kind.

Don't you say "my kind."

You just remember where I came from.

Quiet, ladies, please.

Quiet!

Got a cigarette?

Here.

Hey, I thought you said one! Two's

all I have left for the whole evening.

My, you've

certainly changed.

They could let a girl light

her own cigarette, at least at a dance.

We ain't gonna

burn the place down.

It's just to prove to us

that we're still sick.

You know, I'd like to see you when

you really are you. I mean, your kind.

- My kind?

- Yes. I'm sorry.

Don't be sorry, because I'm

not what you think I am.

I'm sorry.

Hey, kid,

just take it easy.

Forgive me. Sometimes I just like to nestle

on somebody's shoulder to get myself balanced.

Well, I hope this is

the last time I'll see you here!

Who's she?

Hello, hello, hello. Hello, Cecilia.

Look, I may be nutty,

but I'm not that nutty.

Oh, pardon me. I hope

I don't have to see you again next time.

Hey, girlie,

how about a dance?

No, thank you.

I don't dance.

Oh, come on.

Don't be shy.

Go ahead, Virginia.

Dance with the gentleman.

I won't be long, Hester.

Do you mind if we dance

on that side?

- There's a friend I'd like to watch.

- Okay.

You're a gorgeous dancer,

even if I say it myself.

- Thank you.

- Oh, you're welcome.

That was very nice.

Thank you.

Are you all right, Hester?

I didn't really want to dance.

- May I have the next one, ma'am?

- Sure, kid. Sure.

That one

must be really sick.

Likes to nestle

on my shoulder.

- Good evening, Doctor.

- Good evening, Miss Sherman.

Doctor, could I

have a parole?

Go on and enjoy the dance.

We'll talk about it tomorrow.

- Hello, hello, hello. Hello, Doctor.

- How are you, Miss Newman?

- Enjoying yourself?

- Yes, thank you.

May I, madame?

Come on.

You know the rules. I've already

danced with you, three times.

What are you talking about? The dance

has just started. We danced only two times.

- Three times.

- Are you sure?

Absolutely.

Maybe I am crazy.

What about you?

Come on. Let's dance.

You're all right, Hester. Nobody's

going to hurt you. I won't let them.

Don't you remember?

What do you want to say, Hester?

Don't be afraid. Say it.

When I first came to the hospital,

I was just like you.

I guess I'd still be the same way

if it hadn't been for...

someone who kept talking to me

and made me feel I wasn't alone.

- Anything wrong?

- No, Miss Vance. Everything's all right.

- Hello, Mrs. Cunningham.

- Hello, Doctor.

- Having a good time?

- Oh, yes, Doctor.

- I got it all figured out.

- Sorry, but l...

I promised this dance

to somebody else.

To him? Hmm.

You'll be sorry.

Well, go ahead.

I'll take the next one.

Well, what are you

waitin' for? Go ahead.

I hate to be a nuisance,

but could we stay close to Hester?

They tell me you're the first one

Hester's ever let come near her.

- Becoming quite a doctor, aren't you?

- Oh, no.

It's just that

sometimes a sick animal...

knows better how another

sick animal should be treated.

You know, Doctor,

it really isn't fair.

You know everything about me,

practically from the time I was born...

and I don't even know

your first name.

Miss Vance wasn't going to let

Hester come to the dance.

I promised

to keep an eye on her.

I'd like to know it now.

- What?

- Your first name.

- Mark.

- Mark. Are you married?

Oh, no. Can you imagine me sitting in front

of a fireplace with a lot of kids around?

- Any family? Brothers? Sisters?

- No.

Look, you may be getting well, but

not well enough to question your doctor.

I suppose

I am getting better.

Time doesn't pass as fast as it used to,

and then you get selfish again.

I mean, if you have three cigarettes,

you don't give away two.

Yeah. Some selfishness

is a good sign of sanity.

- And there's another thing.

- What is it?

I'd rather tell you

some other time.

Well, as long as you think you're

getting selfish, I've good news for you.

You're going to staff.

- Staff?

- Yes.

##All the friends I knew ##

# Goin' home, goin' home #

# I'm a-goin' home #

# Quiet like some still day #

# I'm just goin' home #

# It's not far, just close by #

#Through an open door #

#Work all done, care laid by #

# Goin' to fear no more #

# Mother's there expectin' me #

# Father's waitin' too #

# Lots of folk #

# Gathered there #

#All the friends I knew #

#All the friends I knew #

# Goin' home, goin' home #

# I'm a-goin' home #

# Quiet like some still day #

# I'm a-goin' home #

# It's not far #

#Just close by #

#Through an open door #

#Work all done #

# Care laid by #

# Goin' to fear no more #

# Mother's there #

# Expectin' me #

# Father's waitin' too #

# Lots of folk #

# Gathered there #

#All the friends I knew #

##All the friends I knew ##

# Home #

# Home #

# I'm goin' home ##

Am I? Am I going home?

Well, well, well. Quite a change

from the last time I saw you here...

when you knew your

Social Security number so well...

and took such a strong dislike

to Dr. Curtis's finger.

My Social Security number. 342... No.

156... No.

47... No, no. What is

my Social Security number?

So your husband applied for your release

again, eh? What are you thinking about?

I was thinking about

my Social Security number.

Oh, that. Don't worry. We all

know how well you remember it.

It's just that if you want to ask me

any other question, I'm sure I can answer it.

That's all right. I guess we have

enough information to take your word for it...

unless there are

any objections.

- Dr. Terry?

- No, Dr. Gifford. Unless Dr. Kik...

- No.

- Anybody else?

Yes, I would like to ask

a question, if I may.

- Go ahead, Doctor.

- According to this,

Virginia is one of the patients...

with whom Dr. Kik seems

to have achieved remarkable results...

by applying psychotherapy

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes