The Snake Pit Page #7

- Dr. Gifford, this must be

stopped before it's too late.

- Stop what?

- Come, now. Come. This is easy.

Take your finger away.

Please take it away.

Don't tell me you don't know your own age.

It's really a simple question.

Don't do that. Don't do that!

Come on. Stop it.

Get in there before l...

Please! Please!

Come on. Cut it out.

Nobody's gonna hurt ya.

Now, cut it out, I said.

You're waking everybody up.

- Hi, Dot. Everything okay?

- Oh, just dandy.

Well, how's it going today, society lady?

Here. I brought you a lovely supper.

Tomato juice cocktail.

- Make you feel like a million.

- Thank you. I don't care for any supper.

You'd better be careful. We had

a little "ouble-tray" with her this morning.

She "icks-kay"

and "ites-bay." Get it?

- Yeah. One minute,

completely "uts-nay," and the next...

- It isn't nice...

to call a person "uts-nay"

in this place.

- See what I mean?

- Well, how about it, society lady?

- My name's Cunningham, Mrs. Cunningham.

- I know. "Mrs. Cunningham."

- What's yours?

- Jones.

- Miss?

- Don't rub it in. Come on, now,

or you'll get it through a tube.

- I don't want any.

- All right, Nurse.

- May I have it?

- Yes, Doctor.

I do wish you'd drink a little of this.

It'd make you feel much better.

I know your kind. Your voice is sweet,

but it drips with poison and lies.

- I know you and I hate you.

- I don't blame you for being angry...

but I want you to know that if

you need me and want to talk to me...

I'll be here.

Get away from there

before I report you.

- This is my place.

- Excuse me. I didn't know it was reserved.

Well, how many times do I have

to tell you? Or don't you remember?

Miss Green,

Virginia's on the rug!

You get off the rug,

Virginia Cunningham!

Come on! Come on!

Get off of there!

I've told you a dozen times,

we do not walk on our rug.

- Why not?

- Because we don't! Understand?

We're the only ward

that has a rug.

It's clean, and we mean

to keep it that way.

Why don't you

hang it on the wall?

Your wisecracks might have been appreciated

in other wards, but in 12 they don't go over.

- Is this 12?

- Well, what did you think it was? One?

- How long have I been here?

- Too long.

Now, just remember to keep your big feet

off that rug, and don't let me catch you again.

My big feet?

All right, ladies,

don't crowd.

- ##No gal maid has got a shade ##

- Emma!

- # Sweet Georgia Brown #

- Emma, you get off that rug!

#Two left feet, but, oh, so neat

is Sweet Georgia Brown #

- You get off this minute!

- Oh, do let her finish, please! She's good!

#You wanna know why

You know I don't lie #

# Not much, it's been said

she knocks 'em dead #

- Emma! Emma! Emma. Come on, Emma.

- #When she lands in town #

#When she came

It's a perfect shame when she mows 'em down ##

Miss Johnson, Virginia's

on the wrong side again.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

I didn't see the seating chart.

- Huh. Alibi Al.

- Over there, Virginia.

- Hello, hello, hello. Hello, Virginia.

- Hello.

Hello. Hell's low

and heaven's high.

That's what you think. If you know what I know,

you'd laugh on the other side of your face.

Not being two-faced like some people

I could mention, I say hello again.

- No talking, ladies.

- You see?

Now, now, Countess,

enough is enough.

- Save some for Virginia.

- Thank you. That's very kind.

Save some for Virginia.

Save some for Virginia.

Save some for Virginia.

Hey, nursey, nursey,

how about another cup of coffee?

Here you are.

- Food's awful here, anyway.

- Ah, you said it.

Doesn't matter.

I'm not too hungry.

Oh, that's a good girl. Dr. Kik will be

pleased that you're eating again.

I should have told you the Kraft people

bought out the Alden chain.

Besides, I never thought they'd

be asking you questions like that.

Oh, Robert, that man, he's dangerous.

He can't be left loose.

- Hello, Doctor.

- Good afternoon.

Why don't the nurses

do something?

That's the doctor I was talking to you

about the other day.

What did you say, dear? I was thinking

about that terrible little man.

- You mean Dr. Curtis?

- Curtis? Who's Dr. Curtis?

Thanks. The guy that

just went through the room.

He's head

of women's reception.

It must be me again.

I thought he was a patient.

But, Robert, I'm sure there's

something wrong with him.

Yesterday he came into our ward

and asked me why I bit his finger.

He must be crazy or something,

saying I bit him.

I never saw him before

in my life.

I think they better put him in one of those

tubs they're always threatening me with.

Robert, I didn't

bite him, did I?

Did I?

I guess you did.

Anyhow, that's his story.

- I don't understand. When?

- At the staff meeting.

- But, Robert, it isn't like me

to go around biting people.

- Forget it.

Anyhow, next time you want to bite

somebody, don't make it such a big shot.

I'm sorry. I know it isn't funny,

but I can't help laughing.

Is he such a big shot?

- He's over Kik, and Kik's

pretty important here.

- Did you say Kik?

Yes. As a matter of fact, I've been

wanting to talk to you about him.

- I wish you wouldn't.

- Viginia, it wasn't Kik who sent you to staff.

It was all my fault.

I was too anxious to get you

out of here. Kik told me I was.

As a matter of fact, he's the only one

who said you weren't ready...

the only one who tried to stop it,

but he was overruled.

- Good night, ladies.

- Good night, Miss Jenkins.

Good night,

Miss Jenkins.

What's the matter, honey?

Miss Jenkins!

Miss Jenkins, Virginia's sick!

Miss Jenkins,

Virginia's sick!

All right. I heard you

the first time.

Is it a sharp pain?

- Where?

- Here.

A little indigestion,

I guess. It'll pass.

Funny how it hurts

just in this one spot.

- Sorry. It's a little tender.

- Call Dr. Kik.

Tell him I think

it's appendicitis.

- Do you think you can walk?

- Yes, I guess so.

Come with me.

You know... You know, I begged

the nurse to let me put on a dress.

- Still in great pain?

- No, I feel much better now.

I promise not to tell

Miss Jenkins...

that your appendix was taken out

years ago on one condition...

that if you decide to grow another one,

you'll do it during the day.

I tried to see you this afternoon,

but I was afraid to tell the nurse why.

- And what is the reason?

- I know now that you didn't

really want to get rid of me.

Sit down,

Mrs. Cunningham.

Maybe I just imagine it now, but I think

somehow I knew I shouldn't leave the hospital.

I wanted to leave, and yet I didn't.

Does that make sense, Doctor?

Yes, it does. And the fact that

you realize it shows you're getting better.

- You really think I am?

- How would you like to be moved up to one?

One? But that's the best ward,

and they say the food's so good there.

I'd like to see you

gain weight.

Besides, they aren't so crowded, and we'd

have a better chance to have long talks.

Yes, Doctor.

Tell Miss Davis the patient

from five is here. Dr. Kik's patient.

This is your room.

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