The Thing Page #14

MACREADY:

Nauls found this yesterday. It's

ripped just like the clothing on the

Norwegian we brought back. The same

thing was happening to Bennings'

clothes when it got to him. Seems

these Things don't imitate clothes.

Just flesh and bone.

The men look from one another. Silence. MacReady picks

it up and examines the label.

MACREADY:

Size large.

(grins)

What do you wear, Clark?

Clark stews.

CLARK:

So what?

NORRIS:

I wear a size large, too.

MACREADY:

So do I. So do most of us.

The uneasiness in the room grows.

MACREADY:

Doubt if it got to more than one or

two of us. But it got to someone.

(beat)

Somebody in this room ain't what he

appears to be.

A pause as all eyes travel from man to man.

SANCHEZ:

(scared)

Well, what we going to do?

Norris turns to Dr. Copper and Fuchs.

NORRIS:

Can there be... some kind of test?

To find out who's what?

DR. COPPER

A serum test possibly.

FUCHS:

Right. Why not?

GARRY:

What's that?

DR. COPPER

It's a simple blood typing test.

This Thing's blood chemistry is

different than ours. Basically we

mix someone's blood with

uncontaminated human blood. If we

don't get the proper serum reaction

-- then that person isn't human.

CHILDS:

Whose uncontaminated blood we going

to use?

DR. COPPER

We've got blood plasma in storage.

GARRY:

How long will it take you to prepare

this?

DR. COPPER

A couple of hours.

GARRY:

Well, get to it.

Garry unhinges a key from his belt and hands it to Dr.

Copper. Dr. Copper and Fuchs head for the infirmary.

PALMER:

How's that Thing get to the dogs? I

though we stopped it in time.

MACREADY:

Copper thinks they swallowed pieces

of it during the fight.

PALMER:

And that was enough?

DR. COPPER (O.S.)

Garry. The rest of you! Come here!

INT. INFIRMARY

The men rush in. Fuchs and Copper stand by the open

plasma storage refrigerator. The inside is a mess of

dried blood. The bladders have been ripped open. Copper

is ghastly pale.

DR. COPPER

Somebody got to the blood...

sabotaged it.

NAULS:

Oh, my God.

A horrified silence.

MACREADY:

Was it broken into?

FUCHS:

No. Somebody opened it. Closed it.

And then locked it.

Sanchez twitches, terrified.

MACREADY:

Well, who's got access to it?

DR. COPPER

I guess I'm the only one.

GARRY:

And I've got the only key.

Several pairs of eyes turn to Garry.

MACREADY:

Would that test have worked?

DR. COPPER

I think so.

NORRIS:

Somebody else sure as hell thought

so.

MACREADY:

Who else could have used that key?

GARRY:

Ah... no one... I give it to Copper

when he needs it...

MACREADY:

Could anyone have gotten it from

you?

DR. COPPER

I don't see how... when I'm finished

I return it right away.

NORRIS:

When was the last time you used it?

DR. COPPER

(uneasy)

A day or so ago... I guess.

Garry senses the nervous and inquiring eyes on him.

GARRY:

I suppose... well, it's possible

someone might have lifted it from

me. But...

CHILDS:

That key ring of yours is always

hooked to your belt. Now how could

somebody get to it without you

knowing?

GARRY:

(upset, flustered)

Look, I haven't been near that...

that refrigerator.

Silence as the men continue to stare. Sanchez is

perspiring.

GARRY:

Copper's the only one who has any

business with it.

The eyes shift from Garry to Copper.

DR. COPPER

Now... wait a second, Garry, you've

been in here on several occasions...

FUCHS:

And the Doc thought of the test.

CHILDS:

(anger)

So what?! Is that supposed to leave

him in the clear?! Bullshit!

Sanchez bolts out the door. Stunned for a beat, the

others chase after him.

GARRY:

Hey, Sanchez!

SANCHEZ:

in terror, runs at top speed through the narrow corridors.

Opening and shutting doors. The others are in pursuit.

They shout for him to stop.

CUT TO:

SANCHEZ:

as he reaches a small armory. A glass case set into the

wall. A half dozen rarely used guns are inside. He tries

the handle. Locked.

He hears the clamor of feet and voices as the others are

nearing. He breaks the glass and grabs a shotgun. Then a

box of shells. He frantically tries to load, but is too

nervous.

The others arrive at the end of the hallway. Garry pulls

his handgun and points.

GARRY:

Put that down!

SANCHEZ:

(trembling)

No.

GARRY:

I'll put this right through your

head.

No one doubts Garry's sincerity.

SANCHEZ:

You guys going to let him give

orders? I mean he could be one of

those Things.

The other regard Garry tensely. No one oblivious to the

fact, that Sanchez just might be right.

MACREADY:

(calm)

Put it away, Sanchez. Just put it

away.

Still trembling, he tosses the shells back into the broken

case, leans the gun against the wall and begins to sob.

Nauls skates over to comfort him.

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