Read Online Dreamsongs - Volume II by George R. R. Martin - Free Book Online
Authors: George R. R. Martin
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CAT
She stands by the window, dressed in a
hospital gown now, looking out over the city lights like one entranced. The
gash over her eye has been stitched and bandaged.
Cat pushes back her sleeve to expose the
bracelet clasped around her forearm. She raises her arm, palm down, points it
toward the window and the city beyond.
TIGHT ON CAT’S ARM
as she makes a fist. Inset deeply into the
coiling metal are three matte black SLASHES, roughly parallel, sinuous,
suggestive.
Now those slashes begin to GLOW: very faint
at first, a dim BLUE. Slowly, deliberately, Cat moves her arm from right to
left and back again. The blue glow BRIGHTENS when she swings toward the east, DIMS
when her fist points west again.
CLOSE ON CAT
Her face solemn, her concentration fierce.
She sweeps her arm back and forth again; the glow BRIGHTENS and FADES.
She turns her arm over, opening her
fingers.
TIGHT ON CAT’S HAND
As a HOLOGRAM springs to vivid life in her
palm: a small, three-dimensional EARTH, turning slowly. She holds a miniature
world in her hand. Strange swirling SYMBOLS run across its face, like stock
quotations on an electronic ticker.
Behind her, we HEAR the sound of a door OPENING.
RESUME CAT
She whirls. The globe winks out at once.
REVERSE ANGLE - ON TOM
A uniformed POLICEMAN opens the door for
him. Tom is carrying her clothing, neatly folded. He can see how jumpy she is.
TOM
Did I startle you?
I’m sorry. I just wanted to see how you were doing.
He closes the door behind him. Cat seems to
relax.
TOM
I brought your
clothes. We washed them for you.
Tom places the pile of clothing on the bed.
TOM
There’s a new pair
of jeans in there. Your pants were, ah, beyond salvage.
ANGLE ON CAT
Cat crosses the room and snatches up the
clothing. She clutches it tight against her chest.
ANGLE PAST CAT ON TOM
A little taken aback by the fierce
possessiveness.
TOM
I know how you
feel. My girlfriend is always throwing out my favorite shirts.
Cat slips out of the hospital gown, letting
it puddle on the floor at her legs. She is naked underneath. We see her bare
back as Cat starts to dress.
She does it without a trace of
self-consciousness or shame. Tom turns his back, more embarrassed than she is.
She pulls on the silvery undershirt, SNIFFS
at the jeans, steps into them. Tom keeps up a stream of talk.
TOM
I didn’t catch your
name. I’m Dr Lake. Thomas,
(nothing)
We’ve got you down
as a Jane Doe. For the paperwork. The office wants to
know if you have
any medical insurance, Jane.
CAT
is dressed now. She crosses the room to the
door, tries to open it. It’s locked.
TOM
It’s locked. I don’t
think the cops want you going anywhere right now.
Cat SLAMS a fist against the door.
TOM
Look, I know the
food’s not great, but there are worse places to spend the
night.
Cat moves to the window. She looks down.
She starts to push at the glass, looking for a way to open it.
TOM
Don’t get any
ideas. We’re four floors up. Besides, this is a modern hospital.
None of the windows
open.
Cat gives up, turns away angrily.
CLOSE ON TOM
A dawning suspicion in his eyes.
RESUME
Cat retreats to a corner of the room, sinks
down to the floor. Her stare is sullen, angry. Tom looks at her thoughtfully.
TOM
You knew what I was
saying. About the window.
Cat watches him. Her face gives nothing
away. Tom moves closer, smiling despite himself.
TOM
You little con
artist. You hear me.
Cat turns her head away from him.
TOM
This would be a lot
easier if you’d talk to me. She ignores him.
TOM
Come on. Say
something. Anything. Name, rank, phone number, I don’t
care. What’s your
sign? What’s your favorite color? You like anchovies on
your pizza?
(nothing)
Fine. I
She stands by the window, dressed in a
hospital gown now, looking out over the city lights like one entranced. The
gash over her eye has been stitched and bandaged.
Cat pushes back her sleeve to expose the
bracelet clasped around her forearm. She raises her arm, palm down, points it
toward the window and the city beyond.
TIGHT ON CAT’S ARM
as she makes a fist. Inset deeply into the
coiling metal are three matte black SLASHES, roughly parallel, sinuous,
suggestive.
Now those slashes begin to GLOW: very faint
at first, a dim BLUE. Slowly, deliberately, Cat moves her arm from right to
left and back again. The blue glow BRIGHTENS when she swings toward the east, DIMS
when her fist points west again.
CLOSE ON CAT
Her face solemn, her concentration fierce.
She sweeps her arm back and forth again; the glow BRIGHTENS and FADES.
She turns her arm over, opening her
fingers.
TIGHT ON CAT’S HAND
As a HOLOGRAM springs to vivid life in her
palm: a small, three-dimensional EARTH, turning slowly. She holds a miniature
world in her hand. Strange swirling SYMBOLS run across its face, like stock
quotations on an electronic ticker.
Behind her, we HEAR the sound of a door OPENING.
RESUME CAT
She whirls. The globe winks out at once.
REVERSE ANGLE - ON TOM
A uniformed POLICEMAN opens the door for
him. Tom is carrying her clothing, neatly folded. He can see how jumpy she is.
TOM
Did I startle you?
I’m sorry. I just wanted to see how you were doing.
He closes the door behind him. Cat seems to
relax.
TOM
I brought your
clothes. We washed them for you.
Tom places the pile of clothing on the bed.
TOM
There’s a new pair
of jeans in there. Your pants were, ah, beyond salvage.
ANGLE ON CAT
Cat crosses the room and snatches up the
clothing. She clutches it tight against her chest.
ANGLE PAST CAT ON TOM
A little taken aback by the fierce
possessiveness.
TOM
I know how you
feel. My girlfriend is always throwing out my favorite shirts.
Cat slips out of the hospital gown, letting
it puddle on the floor at her legs. She is naked underneath. We see her bare
back as Cat starts to dress.
She does it without a trace of
self-consciousness or shame. Tom turns his back, more embarrassed than she is.
She pulls on the silvery undershirt, SNIFFS
at the jeans, steps into them. Tom keeps up a stream of talk.
TOM
I didn’t catch your
name. I’m Dr Lake. Thomas,
(nothing)
We’ve got you down
as a Jane Doe. For the paperwork. The office wants to
know if you have
any medical insurance, Jane.
CAT
is dressed now. She crosses the room to the
door, tries to open it. It’s locked.
TOM
It’s locked. I don’t
think the cops want you going anywhere right now.
Cat SLAMS a fist against the door.
TOM
Look, I know the
food’s not great, but there are worse places to spend the
night.
Cat moves to the window. She looks down.
She starts to push at the glass, looking for a way to open it.
TOM
Don’t get any
ideas. We’re four floors up. Besides, this is a modern hospital.
None of the windows
open.
Cat gives up, turns away angrily.
CLOSE ON TOM
A dawning suspicion in his eyes.
RESUME
Cat retreats to a corner of the room, sinks
down to the floor. Her stare is sullen, angry. Tom looks at her thoughtfully.
TOM
You knew what I was
saying. About the window.
Cat watches him. Her face gives nothing
away. Tom moves closer, smiling despite himself.
TOM
You little con
artist. You hear me.
Cat turns her head away from him.
TOM
This would be a lot
easier if you’d talk to me. She ignores him.
TOM
Come on. Say
something. Anything. Name, rank, phone number, I don’t
care. What’s your
sign? What’s your favorite color? You like anchovies on
your pizza?
(nothing)
Fine. I
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