No ratings.
Detective Jack Will. must stop deranged Dr. Lovegood while discovering their shared past. |
Dr. Lovegood
written by
Solum Anderson
Ext. River - NIGHT We can hear a man whistling. We see DR. LOVEGOOD walking down an old stone bridge. He comes upon a young woman who is laying on the ground. He bends down and looks at her. The woman appears to be under the influence of a drug. Isabella Johnson Doctor, am I going to be ok? Dr. Lovegood Yes, my dear. Everything is going to be fine. He reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a vial. He opens it and puts it up to her mouth. DR. LOVEGOOD Here, drink this. It will make the pain go away. She opens her mouth and Dr. Lovegood pours the liquid into her mouth. After a moment she goes limp and her eyes glaze over. DR. LOVEGOOD Your beauty was too much for this world, it had to take you. (he runs his hand down her face.) Don't worry, my dear. I'll fix this. I'll save all of them. He picks her up and throws her body off of the bridge. He stares at where her body disappeared. After a moment he walks away slowly, whistling. Int. Jack's Office - day JACK WILLIAMS sits with his feet up on his desk reading something. He looks tired and is nodding off. When he finally closes his eyes his door swings open and he is startled back awake. John Ryton Williams! Jack rushes to his feet. Jack Williams Ah, good morning, Chief. JOHN RYTON Jack, you look terrible. Have you been drinking again? Jack leans against his desk. JACK WILLIAMS No! Maybe... I don't know, I can hardly remember... (he rubs his eyes) Yesterday. JOHN RYTON Well freshen up! I've got somethin' for ya. JACK WILLIAMS Another case? Chief, I'm already in the middle of one. He motions to the papers strewn about his desk. JOHN RYTON I'm aware. I'm putting some one else on that case. You've got bigger fish to fry. JACK WILLIAMS What is it? Another missing child? Bank robbery?... Murder? JOHN RYTON Yes. JACK WILLIAMS What? Ryton throws a folder down on Jack's desk. JOHN RYTON This one's fresh. Just found this morning. Jack opens the folder and looks at the contents. JACK WILLIAMS Is- Isabella Johnson! You can't be serious! JOHN RYTON It woes me to say it. JACK WILLIAMS Ah, she was just a kid... Have you told 'er ma yet? JOHN RYTON Going over tonight. JACK WILLIAMS First Paul, then Rob, now her? Who's next? Roosevelt? JOHN RYTON I'd rather not find out. That's why I'm putting you on this killer's case. You're my best man. Ext. RIVER - Day JohN RYTON (v.o.) I need you to go out and inspect the crime scene. Jack walks up on the crime scene. There is a police officer there as well as a doctor who is inspecting the body. Officer Higgins Mornin', Jack. Jack WILLIAMS Morning. Jack walks past Higgins and goes down to the bank where the body and a field doctor are waiting. Higgins follows. JaCK WILLIAMS So, doc, what is it? Doctor Well, I'd say she's been dead for at least 12 hours. Body mutilated around the chest. Her blood's a lot thicker than it's supposed to be, and her breath smells like urine. Pause. JACK WILLIAMS Urine? DOCTOR Yes, I don't know why. Probably just the river. Jack sniffs. JACK WILLIAMS The river doesn't smell like urine. DOCTOR Again, I don't know why. I might be able to find out during the autopsy. I'm just waiting for the gurney and the car. Jack turns to Higgins. JACK WILLIAMS Anything else of interest? OFFICER HIGGINS Nope. This guy's really good at covering his tracks. JACK WILLIAMS Any other bodies? OFFICER HIGGINS Not recently, but there have been 11 other bodies found in this area. Pause. Jack looks at Higgins. JACK WILLIAMS 11? OFFICER HIGGINS Yup. JACK WILLIAMS Oh- ok... Where did this one come from? He gestures to the body. OFFICER HIGGINS We think it came from that bridge over there. Jack and Higgins both walk over to the bridge. Jack looks around and over the sides but can't find anything. JACK WILLIAMS Well, Gary, I don't think there's any value I can add here. OFFICER HIGGINS Yeah, I don't think there was much you could have done here anyways. Thanks for coming out. JACK WILLIAMS Just doin' my job. Jack starts to walk away but Higgins stops him. OFFICER HIGGINS Hey, uh, Jack. JACK WILLIAMS Yeah? OFFICER HIGGINS Look, I'm real sorry... I know how close you two were. He looks in the direction of the body. OFFICER HIGGINS If there's anything I can do... Jack smiles a sad smile. Jack WILLIAMS It's alright, Gary. I have my own way of working through these things. I'll be fine. Pause. OFFICER HIGGINS Ya know, we need to do something together. Ever since you got that promotion we've just been drifting farther and farther apart. How about we hit the bar? You still owe me a drink, ya know. JACK WILLIAMS I'd love to, but I have... Other things I need to attend to. Maybe some other time. OFFICER HIGGINS (sadly) Ok. Jack walks away. Int. Lovegood's shack - night We see Dr. Lovegood is mixing things on a table. He checks a list every once an a while and adds different things to a vial. When he is done he shakes it and looks at it swirling around in the glass. He turns to the operating table in the room where his next victim is laid. Dr. LOVEGOOD Alright, Tommy. I think it's just about done. There is a little boy on the table. He is limp and pale. Tommy Will this make me feel better, Doctor? Dr. Lovegood walks over to the bed after picking up a syringe. He puts the syringe into the glass and fills it with the liquid. DR. LOVEGOOD Yes, Tommy. I do believe it will. Stay still now. Dr. Lovegood injects the liquid into Tommy's arm. After the syringe is empty he puts it down and sits Tommy up. Dr. LOVEGOOD So, how do you feel? Pause. Tommy suddenly throws up a lot of blood and starts crying. DR. LOVEGOOD Oh dear. Dr. Lovegood wipes the blood from Tommy's face and comforts him. DR. LOVEGOOD There, there. Don't cry. I can make the pain go away yet. Dr. Lovegood gets up and walks over to his shelf. He pulls out the same vial he used on the young woman. He puts it in his jacket pocket. DR. LOVEGOOD Come, Tommy. He helps him off of the table. DR. LOVEGOOD I have one more trick up my sleeve to get you better, we just have to go somewhere else first. They leave. Int. Police station - night Jack walks into the door and heads for his office. As he reaches for the door knob he is stopped. John RYTON Williams. Jack WILLIAMS Yes sir? JOHN RYTON Did you see the body? JACK WILLIAMS I did, but I couldn't find any clues or evidence of anything. This guy's good. JOHN RYTON Ah, well... maybe the autopsy will reveal something. I'm off to the Johnson's to fulfill my... (he sighs) Duties. He starts to leave. JACK WILLIAMS Hey, uh... Chief. Ryton stops. JOHN RYTON Yes? JACK WILLIAMS Can I go with you? Mrs. Johnson was like a mother to me... I want to be there to comfort her, if I can. Pause. Ryton smiles. JOHN RYTON Well. I don't see why not. That's very kind of you. A side of you I rarely see. Do you need to grab anything? JACK WILLIAMS No, I'm ready to go. JOHN RYTON Alright then. Let's get this over with. INT./EXT. The Johnson's - Night Jack and John approach the door. Ryton knocks and a worried MRS. JOHNSON answers the door. Mrs. Johnson Oh, hello Jack. Hello sir. Is something wrong? Jack WILLIAMS Mrs. Johnson, this is John Ryton, Chief of police. He needs to speak with you. MRS. JOHNSON Oh! JOHN RYTON Yes Ma'am, I have something to tell you, but it would best be told in private. May we come in? MRS. JOHNSON (now very worried) Oh, yes. Come in, come in. They all go to the living room. MARY ANN runs up to Jack. Mary Ann Jack! She hugs his legs. He bends down and ruffles her hair. Jack WILLIAMS Hey kiddo. Mrs. Johnson and John sit down. JOHN RYTON Jack, this is something that this lovely girl might not want to hear just yet. Would you take her to her room? Mrs. Johnson suddenly gets emotional Mrs. JOHNSON Oh, Mr. Ryton don't tell me! Jack WILLIAMS Come on, Mary Ann. He picks her up. Mary ANN But I want to hear what he has to say. JACK WILLIAMS Not now. Int. Mary Ann's room - Moments LATER Jack enters the room and closes the door. He sets Mary Ann down and she runs and jumps on her bed. Mary Ann What's that man telling grandma? JACK WILLIAMS Oh, it's nothing. (quickly changing the subject.) Hey, did you ever fix that rocking horse? MARY ANN Oh yeah! She jumps off her bed and runs over to her horse. She gets on it and starts rocking. MARY ANN It was broken but grandpa fixed it! Jack WILLIAMS That's wonderful. There is a wail from the other room that is quietly silenced. MARY ANN What's wrong with grandma!? She gets up and starts to run to wards the door, but Jack stops her. JACK WILLIAMS Hey there little lady, we can't go out there right now. Jack carries her back to the horse and sets her back down on it. He sits next to her. JACK WILLIAMS So you said your grandpa fixed this horse? Mary ANN Yeah. He did. JACK WILLIAMS Wow, your grandpa's very smart. Say has he gotten any better? MARY ANN No, he's still sick. He hasn't hardly been out of bed. JACK WILLIAMS Oh. MARY ANN He's starting to smell really bad. He smells like poop and his breath smells like pee. Pause. JACK WILLIAMS Pee? MARY ANN Yeah. Pause. JACK WILLIAMS Say, I'm going to go talk to your grandpa. Will you be a good girl and stay here for me. MARY ANN Ok. JACK WILLIAMS Thanks. Jack gets up and leaves the room. He closes the door behind him. Int. Mr. Johnson's room - Moments later We see Mr. Johnson laying in his bed. Jack knocks on the door and he enters. When Mr. Johnson sees Jack he smiles. Mr. Johnson Oh, hello Jack. Jack WILLIAMS Hello Mr. Johnson. MR. JOHNSON What are you doing here? JACK WILLIAMS I'm here on official business... would you mind if I- He quickly leans forward and smells Mr. Johnson's breath. Mr. Johnson leans away. MR. JOHNSON Now what are you doing boy?! Jack leans back slowly and looks at Mr. Johnson with a solemn expression. JACK WILLIAMS Mr. Johnson. Are you drinking your own urine? Mr. Johnson is taken aback. MR. JOHNSON Y- yes. But only because the doctor is telling me to! Pause. JACK WILLIAMS Doctor? No doctor on this side of the Mississippi would ever tell a man to drink his own urine. MR. JOHNSON But he does! He's from the Red Cross. He says he's going to cure me. JACK WILLIAMS What's this doctors name? MR. JOHNSON Dr. Lovegood. Pause. Jack is shocked. JACK WILLIAMS Doctor... Lovegood? MR. JOHNSON That's what I said isn't it? He's with the Red Cross, what does it matter if his methods are a little... strange? JACK WILLIAMS Because, Mr. Johnson. Because Dr. Lovegood was expelled from the Red Cross 7 years ago. Pause. MR. JOHNSON What? JACK WILLIAMS If we're talking about the same man... MR. JOHNSON How do you know we are? It could be some other Lovegood. Jack looks at Mr. Johnson JACK WILLIAMS No. No, it wouldn't be. It's him. MR. JOHNSON How do you know Dr. Lovegood. Pause. JACK WILLIAMS He... I knew him during the Great War. How are you seeing him? I thought you were bed bound. MR. JOHNSON He's been coming to see me. JACK WILLIAMS When? MR. JOHNSON Every Thursday. JACK WILLIAMS Today's Thursday. Has he come today? MR. JOHNSON He will in three hours. Tony looks at the clock in the room. JACK WILLIAMS Mr. Johnson, It'll be midnight in three hours. MR. JOHNSON Yes, I don't know why he comes at that time, but he says it has to be at night. JACK WILLIAMS I... I think I've gotten everything I need. Good night Mr. Johnson. Jack starts to leave. MR. JOHNSON Jack? Jack stops. Mr. JOHNSON Don't judge me, son. I'm just trying to get better. Jack WILLIAMS I don't blame you. I blame your luck. Jack leaves. Int. Johnson's Hallway - Moments later Jack walks past the Johnson's maid who is cleaning. JACK WILLIAMS Hey. Maid Yes? JACK WILLIAMS Tonight, as you might know, a Doctor is going to visit Mr. Johnson. MAID Yes, every Thursday. JACK WILLIAMS Yeah, he's going to come tonight, let him. But that man is a quack. He's going to kill Mr. Johnson before he cures him. If he ever comes back after tonight call the police immediately. MAID Yes sir, I will. JACK WILLIAMS Good. He walks over and picks up the telephone. He dials a number. JACK WILLIAMS Hey Gary. How about that drink I owe ya? CUT TO: Ext. Outside Johnson's house - night Jack and Gary sit in Jack's car across the street from the Johnson's house. Jack is looking through a telescope,. OFFICER HIGGINS I thought we were going to the bar. Jack WILLIAMS We are. Just after we do a little bit of work. OFFICER HIGGINS Work? I got off work 5 hours ago! Jack looks at Gary. JACK WILLIAMS Do you want the drink or not? Gary sighs. OFFICER HIGGINS Fine. Jack looks back through the telescope. JACK WILLIAMS Here he comes! They both start whispering. OFFICER HIGGINS Let me see. Jack hands him the telescope and he looks. Officer HIGGINS Why is he dressed like that? JACK WILLIAMS Can't say. They see Dr. Lovegood knock on the door and be let in. OFFICER HIGGINS What now? Pause. JACK WILLIAMS We wait. int. MR. JOHNSON'S ROOM - night We see Mr. Johnson urinating into a cup, anything sensitive out of frame. Dr. Lovegood is standing behind him faced the opposite way digging through his bag. Mr. Johnson picks up the cup. The camera pans up as he picks it up. He looks at it. Dr. Lovegood walks over to him. Dr. LOVEGOOD Drink it. It will make you feel better. Mr. Johnson hesitates but drinks the urine (not actually urine on set). He gags but continues to drink any ways. When the glass is empty he climbs back into bed. Dr. LOVEGOOD I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling any better. I do have a couple of other treatments we can try. Hmm... He is looking at a stack of papers. He flips the page. DR. LOVEGOOD How about... He digs into his bag and pulls out a hand full of pills. He counts 7 and puts them on Mr. Johnson's night stand. DR. LOVEGOOD Take one a day starting tomorrow. I will be back at the same time next week to check in on you. If that doesn't work then... Well, I'm sure it won't be a problem. He packs up and leaves. Ext. OUTSIDE JOHNSON'S HOUSE - later Jack sits looking at the Johnson's house. Gary is asleep next to him. When Dr. Lovegood exits the house Jack hits Gary on the chest to wake him up. Jack WILLIAMS Here he comes. OfFICER HIGGINS (groggy) Wha-... oh. Jack starts the car and they start to follow him down the road. They follow slowly at first, but Dr. Lovegood looks behind him, and after seeing the car, speeds up. They speed up as well until Dr. Lovegood breaks out into a run. OfFICER HIGGINS Floor it! They race down the road until Dr. Lovegood ducks into an alley, which he finds out is a dead end. He turns around to see Jack and Gary blocking the exit and jumping out of the car. Lovegood pulls out a gun and points it at the men. Dr. LOVEGOOD Get out of my way. OFFICER HIGGINS (yelling, gun out) Put the gun down! Jack WILLIAMS Stand down, Gary. Gary looks at him confused. Jack WILLIAMS Put the gun down. Gary slowly lowers his gun. Jack looks at Lovegood. JACK WILLIAMS Is it really you, doctor? Lovegood stares at him for a moment before lowering his gun slightly. Dr. LOVEGOOD As I live and breathe. Jack Williams. OfFICER HIGGINS You know him?! Jack ignores Gary. JACK WILLIAMS Are you really going to take my life after you saved it, doctor? Please, put the gun down. DR. LOVEGOOD I'm sorry, Jack. But I can't let you stop me. I have more lives to save. JACK WILLIAMS Please, doctor. Can we talk? DR. LOVEGOOD I think you want to do more than talk. JACK WILLIAMS Doctor, you're not saving people, you're killing them. DR. LOVEGOOD Saving the lives of millions will be worth a few casualties; And since I almost have the cure for the contagion, I can't let you stop me. JACK WILLIAMS Docto- Dr. Lovegood cuts him off. DR. LOVEGOOD I'm sorry, Jack. But you're not going to convince me other wise. Please step aside. JACK WILLIAMS Doctor, we can- DR. LOVEGOOD 3. Gary puts his gun back up. OFFICER HIGGINS He's doing something! DR. LOVEGOOD 2. JACK WILLIAMS Doctor, please. DR. LOVEGOOD 1. Dr. Lovegood shoots a bullet to the right of the two men. They jump aside and behind the car and Dr. Lovegood sprints past them. Gary leans over the front of the car and starts firing in his direction but Jack tackles him. OffICER HIGGINS What are you doing?! Jack WILLIAMS I need him alive! Gary springs to his feet and starts looking for Lovegood, who has disappeared. OFFICER HIGGINS Great. (turns to Jack.) We could have had him! JACK WILLIAMS I need him alive. OFFICER HIGGINS Why? The guy's a killer. What difference does it make if he breathes or not? JACK WILLIAMS It... (sighs.) I'll tell you over that drink. Int./Ext. Lovegood's shack - NIGHT We see Dr. Lovegood running down a path in the woods. He comes upon his shack and throws himself against it and points his gun down the path from which he just came. He breaths very heavily. After he is sure no one is following him he enters the shed. Inside he throws his bag down and rushes over to his shelf. He digs around until he finds the vial he used on the woman and boy. He puts it into his jacket pocket. He goes over to his desk and pulls out another bullet and replaces the one he fired. He leaves quickly, slamming the door behind him. Ext. Trenches 1918 - day BEGIN FLASHBACK: There is text on screen that says "THE GREAT WAR (WW1)". We see four soldiers sitting in a trench eating. Jack is among them. They are talking. Soldier 1 This stuff gets more sour every day. Soldier 2 Usually happens when they're just about out. We'll have to go hungry until the next shipment. Jack WILLIAMS I thought it was coming two days ago. Soldier 1 Well, there is a war going on. A gunshot is heard. All of the men jump up. Distant soldier Germans! More gunshots can be heard. The men start to move and a grenade is thrown in front of them. Jack rushes forward, grabs it and throws it out of the trench. They brace themselves and it goes off. They start to move again, but a German soldier jumps around the next corner. They shoot him. Jack runs around the corner but is instantly shot by two German soldiers. The other men immediately shoot the Germans and start to drag Jack back. CUT TO: Int. Medical tent 1918 - later We see Jack being wheeled into a medical tent. He is writhing in pain and people are trying to hold him down. He is rolled right next to Dr. Lovegood. Dr. LOVEGOOD (flatly) What is it? Nurse Bullet wounds, six or seven. Someone grabs Jack by the head and forces a cloth onto his face. It is chloroform and he slowly stops struggling. We can see Dr. Lovegood remove the bullets one at a time and drop them into a dish next to him. We can hear bullets and a bomb go off far in the distance. The nurse looks nervous, Dr. Lovegood is unfazed. Part of the way through the surgery Jack starts to wake up. DR. LOVEGOOD He's waking up. Someone gives him another rag-full of chloroform. We cut to Dr. Lovegood finishing wrapping him in bandages. He wipes his brow with a towel. Dr. LOVEGOOD He'll live. Bring in the next one. They roll Jack away. Nurse Doctor, you've been at it for 14 hours. DR. LOVEGOOD (yelling) BRING IN THE NEXT ONE! He takes a drink from a glass and sets it down on a table. END FLASHBACK. CUT TO: Int. Bar. - Night Same shot as before. The camera pans up to Jack and Gary sitting at a bar. Jack picks up the cup and takes a sip. OFFICER HIGGINS 5 hours? JACK WILLIAMS Yeah. On me alone. Legends say he was at it for 31 hours before collapsing out of exhaustion. OFFICER HIGGINS So what happened to him? JACK WILLIAMS Well, he stayed with the Red Cross for a few months, but after a while his behavior became more and more aggressive. Eventually they had to expel him. After that he became a hermit. I tried to keep up with him, but he's really good at not being found. Pause. OFFICER HIGGINS Wow. Pause. OfFICER HIGGINS I have to ask... Why is he making them drink their own urine? JACK WILLIAMS He was expelled from the Red Cross for adopting... unorthodox medical treatments, like the plague doctors used to use. They though it would heal you. OFFICER HIGGINS Ew. Pause. Jack takes another sip from his cup. OFFICER HIGGINS So how do we find him? JACK WILLIAMS That's the hard part. int./EXT. THE JOHNSON'S - Night Dr. Lovegood bangs on the door of the Johnson's until the maid answers. He pushes past her and goes to the dining room where the Johnson's are eating soup. Mr. JOHNSON Doctor? What are you doing here? Dr. LOVEGOOD After doing some thinking, your condition is much worse than I originally thought. I need to hospitalize you immediately. MR. JOHNSON What, I'm not- DR. LOVEGOOD (yelling) Mr. Johnson! We need to go now! He grabs Mr. Johnson and almost drags him out of his chair. Mrs. JOHNSON Doctor, what is this? Dr. Lovegood drags Mr. Johnson to wards the door. DR. LOVEGOOD Don't worry Mrs. Johnson. Your husband will be fine. I'll make sure of it. They leave. The maid and Mrs. Johnson stand there shocked. The maid comes to and picks up the telephone and calls the police. John Ryton answers John RYTON Hello?... What?! Ok, I'll call him immediately. Ryton calls the bar. Int. BAR. - moMENTS LATER The bartender is cleaning glasses when the telephone rings. He picks it up. Bartender Hullo? He looks over his shoulder. BARTENDER Yeah, he's here. Pause. BARTENDER Uh huh. (he turns to Jack) Jack. Telephone. Jack gets up and answers the phone. Jack WILLIAMS Hello? John RYTON Jack. Lovegood went back to the Johnson's. He took Mr. Johnson. JACK WILLIAMS What! Gary looks over. Jack wiLLIAMS Where's he going? John RYTON The maid called and said they were going down South Street. JACK WILLIAMS Well where are they going? JOHN RYTON Down South Street, get to it! Ryton hangs up the phone. Jack runs back over to Gary. OfFICER HIGGINS What is it? Jack WILLIAMS Lovegood's got Mr. Johnson. Jack grabs his coat and they run out of the bar. Ext. Road - Night We see the maid following Dr. Lovegood & Mr. Johnson from a distance down South Street. They turn off the road onto a path leading into the woods. She follows. They come upon Dr. Lovegood's shack. The maid watches from behind a tree while Dr. Lovegood helps Mr. Johnson up into his shed. She starts back to wards the road. int. Car - Night Jack and Gary are speeding down the road. They are yelling at each other. OffICER HIGGINS I don't see them! Jack WILLIAMS They're probably farther down the road. Gary looks out the window. OFFICER HIGGINS Are you sure this is South Street? JACK WILLIAMS Yes! I'm positive. OFFICER HIGGINS Well then where are they?! JACK WILLIAMS I don't know! OFFICER HIGGINS I think you took a wrong turn. JACK WILLIAMS Let me drive! Ext. ROAD - moments later The maid emerges back onto the road. Jack sees her from a distance and pulls over. They jump out of the car and run to her. Maid Jack! They're over here, this way! They run down the path. Int. LOVEGOOD'S SHACK - Night We see Mr. Johnson laying on Dr. Lovegood's operating table. Dr. Lovegood grabs a bowl and knife from his shelf. DR. LOVEGOOD After thinking about your symptoms more, I realized that you are much sicker that I thought originally. Mr. JOHNSON What's wrong with me, doctor? DR. LOVEGOOD You have the contagion. We need to get it out of your blood stream. I'm going to preform an operation called blood letting. Don't worry, doctors have been doing this for hundreds of years. It's safe. As Dr. Lovegood is about is about to make an incision there is a shout from outside. Jack WILLIAMS Lovegood! Dr. Lovegood freezes and slowly turns to the door. Mr. JOHNSON Jack? Dr. LOVEGOOD Stay here, Mr. Johnson. I'll be right back. Dr. Lovegood walks over to his desk and grabs his gun before stepping out of the shed. Mr. Johnson looks worried. Ext. Lovegood's woods - moments later Dr. Lovegood is very calm when he exits the shed. He shuts the door behind him and holds his gun to his side. Dr. LOVEGOOD I don't know how you found me, but I'll give you 10 seconds to leave. Jack starts to step forward. JACK WILLIAMS Doctor- Dr. Lovegood is now screaming DR. LOVEGOOD STOP! Dr. Lovegood points his gun at him. Jack freezes. DR. LOVEGOOD Jack, I can't let you stop me. I am doing something too important. I'm going to save people lives. JACK WILLIAMS If you're going to save them, why are people dying? DR. LOVEGOOD My method is not perfect, but I'm almost there. I almost have the cure. There are going to be casualties. You of all people would know. JACK WILLIAMS What do you mean by that? DR. LOVEGOOD You know the horrors of war. You've seen it first hand, so have I. You've seen your fellow soldiers die by the bullet, but I've seen them die because they were rotted out from the inside by the contagion. Pause. DR. LOVEGOOD You could help me, Jack. You're a man of power, you're respected. We could work together. JACK WILLIAMS No, doctor. Pause. DR. LOVEGOOD I was afraid you were going to say that. Pause. Dr. LOVEGOOD Heaven, forgive me for what I need to do. He crosses himself before he starts firing at them. They all scatter. Jack pulls out his gun but Dr. Lovegood shoots him in the leg. Jack drops his gun and begins to crawl away. Gary runs over and starts to drag Jack the other way, but Dr. Lovegood shoots him. Gary collapses and doesn't move. JACK WILLIAMS Gary! Dr. Lovegood slowly approaches Jack. DR. LOVEGOOD You might not believe me, but I'm very sorry, Jack. I don't want to do this. JACK WILLIAMS You're sick! DR. LOVEGOOD No, Jack. You are. Dr. Lovegood raises his gun and pointes it at Jacks head, but before he can pull the trigger he is shot. We see that the maid picked up Jack's gun and shot Dr. Lovegood. She has a panicked expression on her face. Dr. Lovegood yells in agony before falling down. He grabs his stomach and is breathing heavily. Jack crawls over to him. Dr. Lovegood speaks through coughs Dr. LOVEGOOD I'm sorry I couldn't save them, Jack. All I wanted to do was- Int. Lovegood's house 1919 - Day BEGIN FLASHBACK: We see Dr. Lovegood standing in his living room. He has a butler with him. Dr. LOVEGOOD Save people! I saved so many lives during the war! (he picks up the letter and waves it around) How could they do this to me?! He crumples up the letter and throws it. He sits down on his couch and his Buttler brings him a drink. He takes it and rubs his forehead. Dr. LOVEGOOD I can't stop thinking about the war, Jarvis. All of the things I could have done. Buttler Jarvis You saved countless lives, sir. The papers view you as a hero. DR. LOVEGOOD I don't care what the papers say! There are still more lives to save. I can fix this, Jarvis, And I will! END FLASHBACK. Ext. LOVEGOOD'S WOODS - NIGHT Dr. Lovegood lays dead on the ground. The maid comes over to Jack and hands him his gun. He puts it back in his holster and tells her. Jack WILLIAMS Go get the car. CUT TO BLACK: Int. Hospital - Day Jack and Gary lay on hospital beds. Jack's leg is wrapped in bandages and Gary's shoulder is bandaged as well. Gary is asleep. The maid sits in-between them. Ryton enters the room and addresses the maid. John RYTON Thank you for staying with them. Maid Is there anything else I can do? JOHN RYTON I think you've done your fair share, you're free to go. MAID Thank you. (she turns to the men.) Get well soon. She leaves. Ryton sits in the chair next to Jack's bed. John RYTON Mr. Johnson's down the hall. The doctors had to do a lot of work on him, but they say he's going to be fine. Pause. Jack is silent. John RYTON The doctors say you'll be able to walk again in a couple of months. Gary's going to be fine too. I'm putting you boys on paid leave while you recover. Pause. JACK WILLIAMS What happened to him? Pause. JOHN RYTON He's dead. Jack closes his eyes and sighs. JohN RYTON It's OK. We won't publicize this. He'll die a war hero. JACK WILLIAMS No. Send it to the press. There's no reason the public shouldn't know. Pause. JOHN RYTON They wanted you to have this. He hands him Dr. Lovegood's mask. John RYTON The doctors were really impressed by your story. They wanted you to have a keepsake. Jack stares at the mask. Ryton gets up. JOHN RYTON I'll let you two rest. Get well soon. He starts to leave. Jack WILLIAMS What about my cases? He stops. JOHN RYTON You need rest, Jack. They'll still be waiting for you when you get back. He leaves. Jack looks down at the mask then over at Gary, who is still sleeping. He looks at the mask again before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep. FADE TO BLACK. CREDITS ROLL. THE END.
|