The Snake Pit Page #9

Yes, but he couldn't

make me love Queenie.

I really don't know

what to do with that child.

- Virginia, will you please eat your dinner?

- I'm not hungry.

It scares me how she's getting to be more

and more like my sister Annie...

always thinking

everything turns around her.

And Father let her get away with it, just

because she was the baby of the family.

Oh, don't worry.

I know what I'm doing.

It's high time she realized she isn't

going to be the only child in the family.

- Virginia, please, will you eat your dinner?

- No.

Then go on up to your room, and you're

going to stay there until you do eat it.

Go on.

I don't know why, but she just

makes me so nervous lately. L...

Virginia, you know

that that's no place to leave your doll.

Virginia, take your doll

as your mother told you.

I will just sit here, and she

can't never make me do anything.

And I will not eat,

and I'll get thin like nothing.

And then I'll run away, and they can't

find me because I won't be there.

And he'll be sorry,

and he'll cry.

And I won't let him

love me anymore...

because I don't care.

Yeah, I don't care

if he hates me.

I don't care because

I just don't care about him anymore.

I hope you'll break to pieces

and they bury you...

so I'll never

have to see you ever...

ever again!

Then what happened?

I don't know. Nothing. Nothing.!

Why are you crying?

The doctor came.

Who was sick?

It was Father. Ohh...

Wishes sometimes seem

to come true, don't they?

But I didn't want him to die.!

I didn't.! I loved him so.!

But you're not going away,

Mommy, are you?

You'll love me, please,

won't you?

But my mother got married

soon afterwards...

and somehow I always felt she didn't

like me because I reminded her of Father.

I'm sorry.

It's silly, isn't it? Crying about something

that happened such a long time ago...

something

I can hardly remember.

I don't think it is at all.

A little crying sometimes helps a lot.

I suppose so.

May I go, Doctor?

Yes. I'll see you tomorrow.

Mrs. Cunningham...

did your mother ever tell you

what your father died of?

I think she said...

Is it called uremia?

A very serious illness, which

usually takes many years to develop.

Oh.

Well, tomorrow then,

Mrs. Cunningham.

Yes, Dr. Kik.

Why, it's only a piece of rag.

Just a simple piece of rag.

- The doctor says you may

write for an hour each day.

- Why?

I understand you're a writer.

Isn't that what they do?

You will use the machine

only during rest hour.

I suppose you'll

make a great racket.

I don't want to bother anybody.

I don't have to write.

Dr. Kik says you're to write.

There'll be no argument, please.

Well, go ahead.

Might as well start right now.

What shall I write about?

How should I know?

You're supposed to be the writer.

What's the matter?

Go ahead.

I'm sorry. I can't write when people

are watching me. I never could.

Look, Virginia... and I say this

only for your own good...

being a writer is nothing

to be so excited about.

It doesn't set you above

the other ladies, you know.

- If you really were a writer...

- Do I tell you how to be a nurse?

All right, lady, I've tried

to be patient with you...

but you just haven't

any spirit of cooperation.

All you have is an exalted idea

of your own importance.

If it weren't for Dr. Kik,

you'd never be here.

I know now

why you hate me so.

It's because you're in love

with Dr. Kik, that's why.

Miss Davis! Wait a minute!

Please, Miss Davis.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean

what I said. Really, I didn't.

Please forgive me! Please!

Don't tell Dr. Kik about it!

Get back to your room!

Miss Davis, please, please!

Well, well, well.

We'll miss you, my dear.

- What do you mean?

- What do I mean?

You'll be out of here, I'd say,

in about 10 minutes, maybe less.

No, she can't send me away!

I must stay here! I promised Dr. Kik!

Miss Davis here?

- Miss Bixby.

- Yes, Miss Davis?

Bring Virginia here.

- Anybody seen Virginia?

- Yes, of course.

- Where is she?

- Find her yourself.

Virginia.!

Miss Davis,

Virginia isn't anywhere in the ward.

Of course she is.

She must be hiding somewhere.

- Virginia.!

- Virginia.! Virginia.!

I can't find her anywhere, Miss Davis.

I can't imagine where she could be.

Ridiculous.

She couldn't get out of the ward.

I'll find her myself.

I know all their tricks.

Virginia, we know you're in there.

Unlock that door and come out at once.!

Call an attendant.

Virginia, you know you can't get away

with this. We'll break down the door.

I won't come out! I won't come out

until you send for Dr. Kik!

Dr. Kik is away,

but your husband is here.

- Robert?

- Yes.

I don't believe it.

It isn't visiting day.

We sent for him.

He's waiting in the hall.

Perhaps they notified him

as soon as I was missing.

He could've

gotten here by now.

Are you coming out

or not?

Where... Where is he?

No! Robert!

Where is he? Robert!

Where are you!

Robert, where are you!

Where are you! Wait!

No! No! No, no!

No! Oh, they were lying to me!

You're liars!

Liars! Liars!

You're all liars! Liars!

Good afternoon, Dr. Kik.

May I help you?

Thank you.

Is Dr. Terry upstairs?

He was a few minutes ago.

Oh, here he is.

- Oh, hello, Terry.

- Hello, Kik.

I'm glad you're back.

- How is she?

- She's not very good.

I tried my best to make them keep her in

reception, at least until you returned, but...

- I know. May I see her?

- Yes, of course.

Thank you.

She refused to talk

to anybody but you.

Later she started calling

for her husband again.

- I suppose you know what happened in one.

- I do.

- You say she was calling for her husband.

- Yes. I sent for him.

He talked to her

for a few minutes yesterday.

- Go ahead.

- Thanks.

Look, Kik, if there's anything I can do

to help get her back into reception...

- just let me know.

- Thanks, Terry.

I'm patient 95312.

I've committed no crime.

I have no delusions

or hallucinations.

I demand to know why I'm being

kept here against my will.

I'm not guilty! I'm not guilty! They

tried to harm me and do away with me...

all because of $17 million!

Hello, Mrs. Cunningham.

Hello, Dr. Kik.

This is Dr. Terry,

Mrs. Cunningham. He's a friend.

Sorry, Doctor.

I guess I wasn't up to one.

- I tried, I really did,

but I just couldn't make it.

- It wasn't your fault.

Dr. Terry, do you mind

if we take this off?

- Miss Vance.

- But, Doctor, the instructions we got...

It's all right.

Oh, Doctor, why do I do those things?

I hate myself for it.

I don't want to do them,

but I can't help it. I just can't help it.

But you're still my doctor,

aren't you, Dr. Kik?

No, Mrs. Cunningham.

Dr. Terry's in charge of this ward.

But I'm sure he'll let me come

and see you whenever you need me.

Of course. Anytime.

We still have many things

to talk over.

He's not my doctor anymore?

What's going to happen to me?

Now, like I said, 17 females surrounded me.

"Don't shoot," I told them.

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