The Elephant Man Page #6

The room is fairly dark owing to the oppressive overcast sky

seen through two windows. There is also a large sink, a

cupboard containing dressings, gags, manacles, emetics and

other unattractive things, and two hard chairs.

TWO STUDENTS and two other DOCTORS, MR. FOX and MR. HILL,

are present. The two Students are pulling with constant

pressure on a rope tied to the patient's leg. Treves and Mr.

Fox are working on a chest wound caused by a machine accident.

There are gear-wheel marks getting progressively deeper as

they near a great open gash. Mr. Hill places a cotton mask

over the patient's nose and mouth and applies drops of

chloroform. The patient struggles, but soon his moans subside

and he is unconscious.

TREVES:

How long has this man been here?

FOX:

Three quarters of an hour.

TREVES:

Mmmm. Hodges, Pierce come closer.

Mr. Hill, take hold of the rope

please. It's a machine accident. I

expect you'll be seeing a good deal

of this.

The two medical Students come forward. They stare uneasily

at the gaping wound, which bubbles each time the man takes

an agonized breath.

Treves and Fox quickly and expertly tend the wound as Hodges

and Pierce look on.

TREVES:

(off handedly)

Abominable things these machines.

One can't reason with them.

FOX:

What a mess.

Treves now notices that the student's faces have gone a trifle

ashen.

TREVES:

What got you into medicine, Hodges?

HODGES:

My father, sir. He's built quite a

successful practice. I hope to take

it over one day.

TREVES:

Is that your case as well, Pierce?

PIERCE:

Yes sir. Though of course I do have

a great desire to help my fellowman.

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