Neither Angels Nor Demons
SCENE 2: DOC'S CABIN, LATE AFTERNOON.
(The woman is lying on a cot, groaning softly. Her dirty, worn clothing has been removed. Doc is finishing cleansing and treating her injuries.)
DOC: What in God's name did you do to deserve this?
(The woman doesn't answer, just continues groaning.)
DOC: The good news is you just might live, although it is unclear what form your appearance will take.
(Doc finishes tending to the woman and tucks her in with a clean sheet and a blanket. He moves off to a chair across the room and pours himself a glass of whisky from a full bottle.)
Cut to:
SCENE 3: DOC'S CABIN, THE NEXT MORNING.
(The whisky bottle is half empty. The woman stirs. Doc wakes bleary eyed and takes a moment to remember why a woman is sleeping in his cabin. He shuffles over and peers at her.)
DOC: You awake?
(The woman makes small sounds and slowly opens her eyes, trying to focus on Doc's face.)
DOC: Well, now. Possibly cross-eyed, possibly not — time will tell. … How do you feel?
WOMAN (WEAKLY): Where am I?
DOC: Madam, you are a patient in the medical clinic of Doctor Amos Cochran.
WOMAN: Where?
DOC: Deadwood, Dakota Territory.
WOMAN: How did I get here?
DOC: Nevermind that. How are you feeling?
WOMAN: Hurtin', but better than in a long spell.
DOC: I do not doubt that.
(He holds up two fingers.)
DOC: How many fingers?
WOMAN: Four?
(Doc gets up to get something, pauses midstep, and turns back.)
DOC: What is your name? Do you remember your name?
WOMAN: Annabelle.
DOC (WISTFULLY): Annabelle.
(He stares past Annabelle, lost in memory; then shakes his head and looks at her.)
DOC: Annabelle, then. Let us hope you are recalling your name better than you are counting my fingers.
Cut to:
Scene 4: Doc's cabin, midday.
(Doc is finishing preparing a broth for his patient. He carries the soup pot and a big spoon over to her bedside, pulls up a chair, and sits down.)
Doc: If you are going to regain your strength, you have to fortify yourself. I am no cook, as you will soon discover, but I can attest to the healthful qualities of this concoction. In other words, it will not kill you. So, open up.
(Annabelle opens her mouth obediently like a child, and Doc spoon feeds her. She swallows and smiles weakly. After several mouthfuls, there is a light, persistent knocking at the cabin door.)
Doc: Enter, damn it!
(Alma Garret enters, carrying a paper-wrapped parcel, which she sets on the table.)
Alma: Good day, Doctor.
(Doc turns away from Annabelle and stands, startled.)
Doc: Good day, Mrs. Garret! Please excuse my earlier greeting, if you could call it that.
Alma: I made no notice of it, Doctor. It is I who should apologize for disturbing you at your work.
(Alma nods and smiles at Annabelle, who smiles back at her.)
Doc: You disturb me not at all, Mrs. Garret.
Alma: Ellsworth. I am Mrs. Ellsworth now, Doctor.
Doc: Yes, of course. Mrs. Ellsworth, Annabelle.
Annabelle: Ma'am.
Alma: I thought you might find some use for a few niceties, Annabelle, which a woman needs and the good Doctor may not have nor even appreciate.
Annabelle: I will try …
(More knocking is heard at the door.)
Doc: Must be my cooking. Come on in!
(Martha Bullock enters with a basket of food and a dress box.)
Doc: Mrs. Bullock.
Martha: Doctor … Mrs. Ellsworth.
Alma: Mrs. Bullock.
Martha: My husband has informed me that you have a new patient in your care, Doctor.
Doc: I do indeed. Mrs. Bullock, Annabelle.
Annabelle: Ma'am.
(Martha tries to smile at Annabelle.)
Martha: It was that news which prompted my visit, Doctor. I seem to have been overly enthusiastic in my baking and cooking today, Annabelle, the results being far more than my husband and … my husband and I can consume. I am hoping that you and the Doctor will relieve us of the surfeit.
(Martha hands the basket to Doc. Annabelle smiles at her.)
Doc: Thank you kindly. Your full recovery is now assured, Annabelle.
Alma: We would expect no less an outcome in your care, Doctor.
Doc: You flatter me, Madam. I can only hope my limited knowledge and skill do not confound your expectations on some future occasion.
Alma: That is my hope as well.
Martha: I must return to my work, Doctor. Annabelle, my husband and I wish you the best of health.
Annabelle: Thank you.
Doc: Allow me to see you out.
Alma: I, too, should be on my way, Annabelle. Be well.
Annabelle: Thank you.
(As they near the door, Martha hands Doc the dress box.)
Martha: Please accept a few articles of clothing for her, Doctor. I have saved them from before I was… before… . They are of no use to me.
Doc: I assure you they will be of use to her, Mrs. Bullock. I thank you very kindly for your generosity.
(Martha leaves.)
Doc: Mrs. Ellsworth, thank you.
Alma: My pleasure, Doctor. Good day.
Doc: Good day.
(Alma leaves.)
(The woman is lying on a cot, groaning softly. Her dirty, worn clothing has been removed. Doc is finishing cleansing and treating her injuries.)
DOC: What in God's name did you do to deserve this?
(The woman doesn't answer, just continues groaning.)
DOC: The good news is you just might live, although it is unclear what form your appearance will take.
(Doc finishes tending to the woman and tucks her in with a clean sheet and a blanket. He moves off to a chair across the room and pours himself a glass of whisky from a full bottle.)
Cut to:
SCENE 3: DOC'S CABIN, THE NEXT MORNING.
(The whisky bottle is half empty. The woman stirs. Doc wakes bleary eyed and takes a moment to remember why a woman is sleeping in his cabin. He shuffles over and peers at her.)
DOC: You awake?
(The woman makes small sounds and slowly opens her eyes, trying to focus on Doc's face.)
DOC: Well, now. Possibly cross-eyed, possibly not — time will tell. … How do you feel?
WOMAN (WEAKLY): Where am I?
DOC: Madam, you are a patient in the medical clinic of Doctor Amos Cochran.
WOMAN: Where?
DOC: Deadwood, Dakota Territory.
WOMAN: How did I get here?
DOC: Nevermind that. How are you feeling?
WOMAN: Hurtin', but better than in a long spell.
DOC: I do not doubt that.
(He holds up two fingers.)
DOC: How many fingers?
WOMAN: Four?
(Doc gets up to get something, pauses midstep, and turns back.)
DOC: What is your name? Do you remember your name?
WOMAN: Annabelle.
DOC (WISTFULLY): Annabelle.
(He stares past Annabelle, lost in memory; then shakes his head and looks at her.)
DOC: Annabelle, then. Let us hope you are recalling your name better than you are counting my fingers.
Cut to:
Scene 4: Doc's cabin, midday.
(Doc is finishing preparing a broth for his patient. He carries the soup pot and a big spoon over to her bedside, pulls up a chair, and sits down.)
Doc: If you are going to regain your strength, you have to fortify yourself. I am no cook, as you will soon discover, but I can attest to the healthful qualities of this concoction. In other words, it will not kill you. So, open up.
(Annabelle opens her mouth obediently like a child, and Doc spoon feeds her. She swallows and smiles weakly. After several mouthfuls, there is a light, persistent knocking at the cabin door.)
Doc: Enter, damn it!
(Alma Garret enters, carrying a paper-wrapped parcel, which she sets on the table.)
Alma: Good day, Doctor.
(Doc turns away from Annabelle and stands, startled.)
Doc: Good day, Mrs. Garret! Please excuse my earlier greeting, if you could call it that.
Alma: I made no notice of it, Doctor. It is I who should apologize for disturbing you at your work.
(Alma nods and smiles at Annabelle, who smiles back at her.)
Doc: You disturb me not at all, Mrs. Garret.
Alma: Ellsworth. I am Mrs. Ellsworth now, Doctor.
Doc: Yes, of course. Mrs. Ellsworth, Annabelle.
Annabelle: Ma'am.
Alma: I thought you might find some use for a few niceties, Annabelle, which a woman needs and the good Doctor may not have nor even appreciate.
Annabelle: I will try …
(More knocking is heard at the door.)
Doc: Must be my cooking. Come on in!
(Martha Bullock enters with a basket of food and a dress box.)
Doc: Mrs. Bullock.
Martha: Doctor … Mrs. Ellsworth.
Alma: Mrs. Bullock.
Martha: My husband has informed me that you have a new patient in your care, Doctor.
Doc: I do indeed. Mrs. Bullock, Annabelle.
Annabelle: Ma'am.
(Martha tries to smile at Annabelle.)
Martha: It was that news which prompted my visit, Doctor. I seem to have been overly enthusiastic in my baking and cooking today, Annabelle, the results being far more than my husband and … my husband and I can consume. I am hoping that you and the Doctor will relieve us of the surfeit.
(Martha hands the basket to Doc. Annabelle smiles at her.)
Doc: Thank you kindly. Your full recovery is now assured, Annabelle.
Alma: We would expect no less an outcome in your care, Doctor.
Doc: You flatter me, Madam. I can only hope my limited knowledge and skill do not confound your expectations on some future occasion.
Alma: That is my hope as well.
Martha: I must return to my work, Doctor. Annabelle, my husband and I wish you the best of health.
Annabelle: Thank you.
Doc: Allow me to see you out.
Alma: I, too, should be on my way, Annabelle. Be well.
Annabelle: Thank you.
(As they near the door, Martha hands Doc the dress box.)
Martha: Please accept a few articles of clothing for her, Doctor. I have saved them from before I was… before… . They are of no use to me.
Doc: I assure you they will be of use to her, Mrs. Bullock. I thank you very kindly for your generosity.
(Martha leaves.)
Doc: Mrs. Ellsworth, thank you.
Alma: My pleasure, Doctor. Good day.
Doc: Good day.
(Alma leaves.)
