Wolf Page #4

...and a CAT scan, which means

you'll have to spend the night.

- Out of the question.

- What?

You could have a concussion

or a possible blood clot.

No one feels this good

with a concussion and a blood clot.

Mr. Alden. So good to see you again

so soon, sir.

It's nice to see you too, Will.

Robert Keyes, my counsel.

- Counselor, nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you, Mr. Randall.

- Sit down, Will. Sit down.

- Thank you.

You're deliberately goading

the top writers of this house to leave...

...and become part

of some totally improbable scheme...

...that hasn't a hope of succeeding.

And being writers,

they're too goddamn stupid to know it.

Well, you may very well be right,

Mr. Alden.

They might not succeed,

but it won't hurt them to try...

...and if they fail,

any publisher will be glad to get them.

- And you with them?

- Yes. That will be part of the deal.

But it doesn't matter whether

we start a new publishing house...

...or go to another publishing house.

At least seven first-rate writers

are going to leave MacLeish House...

...because they don't like

its policies.

And when I issue that press release,

which I intend to do in the morning...

...the reputation and value of this firm

will take a giant nosedive.

Well, you're a worse son of a b*tch

than Stewart.

Yes.

But I still have

those two big drawbacks:

taste and individuality.

Maybe I can overlook them.

All right. Call it off. Keep your job.

I'd never have fired you

if I'd known you were this ruthless.

Thank you.

But before I do anything,

I want a deal memo...

...granting me additional powers

and additional monies...

...and I want it

by tomorrow morning.

- I won't agree to that.

- Oh, yes, you will.

I'd do it anyway.

What do I know about publishing?

- I'll tell Stewart.

- Don't.

Don't tell anyone

until the deal is signed.

- Then I'll tell Stewart.

- Okay.

- Were you able to reach Ms. Alden?

- Not yet.

Any appointments?

Dr. Vijay Alezais at 4.

He's called three times

to make certain you're coming.

He sounds like he's over 100.

If you wanna cancel,

you'll have to do it yourself.

I was just boiling water for tea.

Perhaps you will join me.

Come.

I won't take much of your time.

No. Take. I am not a busy man.

So you were bitten by a wolf

in Vermont...

...on March 8th.

Very auspicious.

- Very suspicious?

- Auspicious. Very auspicious.

On March 8th...

...the moon was the closest

it's been to Earth in a hundred years.

Well, that is auspicious.

What I'm curious about is...

...if my symptoms could be related...

...to the release of a chemical

caused by an animal bite.

Something that medical science

has overlooked...

...but that tribal lore might possibly-

Well, among my people, there is only

one explanation for your symptoms...

...is that you are becoming a wolf.

- But you don't believe that.

- Why not?

We must remember that man

has only been out of the jungle...

...for 25,000 years.

Please, sit down.

Thank you.

Life is mystical.

It's just that we are used to it.

Catholicism itself.

A religion so mystical...

...that even primitive tribes

can be converted to it.

The stigmata, the return after death,

the Day of Judgment, heaven and hell.

All so incredible and so ordinary.

But we are used to it.

Honey, sugar, Sweet'N Low?

Yeah, anything. Honey.

Honey.

Yep.

I don't have honey.

I just asked out of habit.

You should be visiting a shaman

who will tell you the rules.

I can only tell you the theory.

- Well, do you know any of the rules?

- Very few.

Only that the wolf rests by day

and prowls by night.

But is always present.

That he grows inside a man

he's entered until the first full moon.

And then he consumes him...

...killing all but his nature

and his heart.

Not a great prognosis.

But, of course,

not all who are bitten change.

There must be

something wild within.

An analog of the wolf.

Well, that lets me out.

Among my people...

...I'm known as the guy least likely

to have an analog of the wolf.

Your people are wrong, Mr. Randall.

Sometimes, one doesn't even need

to be bitten.

Only the passion of the wolf

is enough.

Dr. Alezais...

...what I would like to know,

and not that I subscribe to any of this-

Neither do I, really.

Only to the possibility.

But out of curiosity...

...is there supposed to be any way

to stop this metamorphosis?

Supposedly, there are herbs

and rites and amulets.

I don't know the rites.

I don't have the herbs.

But I did find something for you

when you called. Yeah, it's here.

This is one

of the most powerful amulets.

It must be worn next to the skin

and never taken off.

If it works, there is said to be

a great pain and weakness...

...while the wolf struggles to emerge

and the charm holds him at bay.

Sometimes drives him out.

I have no idea if any of it is true...

...but it's yours.

Oh, no, I...

It's a gift.

And, in return,

I would like a favor from you.

If it's in my power.

I was recently told that I'm dying.

Speaking of mystical

and terrifying experiences.

I would like you to bite me.

What?

I would like you to bite me.

I can't ask you to transform me

with your passions...

...so I ask you to honor me

with your bite...

...and I, too,

will become a demon wolf.

You'd rather be damned than die?

Damnation is not a part

of my system of beliefs.

The demon wolf is not evil...

...unless the man he's bitten is evil.

And it feels good to be a wolf,

doesn't it?

Power without guilt.

Love without doubt.

Excuse me...

...I just can't.

Okay.

I understand.

Okay.

You keep the amulet...

...and if you decide to believe...

...perhaps you will give me your gift.

It has been a privilege.

I've never seen one like you.

- Hello?

- Laura. I've been trying to call you-

Don't hang up.

Will you let me explain?

- No.

- Why?

Because, first of all, I'm not a fan

of men who mysteriously disappear.

- And second of all-

- Hey, listen to me. I had an accident.

I sleepwalked last night.

I hit my head

and knocked myself out.

And I drove to the doctor's

at 6:
00 this morning.

But it didn't occur to you to come back

to the cottage and tell me?

No. No, it didn't occur to me to come

knocking on the door of your cottage...

...at 6:
00 in the morning

with a scalp wound...

...and ask you

to take care of me again.

And finish drying. The sound

of that towel is driving me crazy.

Are you telling me that you hear

what I'm doing over the phone?

Yes, it's one of my new gifts.

Laura...

...please, can I see you?

Can we have dinner tomorrow?

I'm at the Mayflower.

Laura?

I'll be at your hotel

tomorrow evening at 6.

You better be there.

And you better look like you fell.

I will be, and I do.

Room 825. What did you make-?

Make me for breakfast?

"I'm not only the president

of the Hair Club for Men.

I'm also a member. "

- For Christ's sakes. Hold it right there.

- Hold it right there.

Put your hands on the cage.

Hands on the cage.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes