SCENE SEVEN: PANTS ON FIRE
*The scene begins back in the group session, with Adam wrapping up the groups' session. Penny is noticeably absent from the group, but Adam continues nonetheless.*
ADAM: …so to finish, I want you to remember what I told you the first time we met as a group. We are the only ones in control of our destinies. It's not up to the bottle, or the needle, even the wife! Only you have the power to take control of your own lives…and your addictions. But you aren't alone…you have me…and everyone else here. Thanks everyone! Coffee and cake is on, as always…I hope you all stick around. If not, I'll see you this time next week!
*Most of the group stay, besides Edwin who leaves immediately. Eric goes to leave, but Adam pulls him over.*
ADAM: Hey, Eric! Hold up, buddy. I feel like I didn't really get a chance to welcome you to my program. It's always nice to welcome new faces personally into our family.
ERIC (shakes his hand): Thanks.
ADAM: Look, its normal policy to extend the option of a personal one-on-one session to all new members…free of charge. What do you say?
ERIC: I don't think it's really…
ADAM: It's a really positive experience. And it's a lot easier sharing when it's just you and me…not so many judgemental ears around. Just think about it, OK? Talk to my assistant on your way out, she can give you my details.
ERIC: Yeah, maybe I will. Thanks.
*Eric leaves the room. The scene switches to Edwin, who is walking about the empty corridors of the centre. He lights a cigarette, and mumbles to himself, when he hears a noise coming from down the hallway.*
EDWIN: Bloody smokes are gonna kill me…hello? Who's there?
*There is no response. Edwin shuffles down a corridor. Behind him, we see a door swing open. A dark figure stalks Edwin from behind. Back in the room, Adam is talking to an animated Antonio, when a loud scream is heard. Adam goes to check out the source, but is nearly bowled over by Samantha, who runs into the room in a panic.*
ADAM: What the hell was that?
SAMANTHA: It's Edwin!
ADAM: Ed?
SAMANTHA: He's been attacked! Lying in a corridor, bleeding…
*Antonio faints. Adam rushes out into the foyer, and runs down the corridor that Samantha points to. On the floor lays Edwin, bleeding from knife wounds on his arm. Eric runs over and bends over, feeling for a pulse. As he does, Edwin bursts to life and sits up suddenly, panting hard. Adam yells, and falls back against the floor, smacking his head on the wall. Eric walks up to Edwin and begins to examine his wounds.*
ADAM (yelling): Fucking hell!
EDWIN (feigning pain): Aah! I'm dying! I'm dying!
ERIC: Leave him to me.
ADAM (annoyed): What are you, a doctor?
ERIC: Used to be.
EDWIN: Please…make it stop. It hurts so bad…
ERIC (clinically): It's a flesh wound…the knife hardly even nipped you…you should consider yourself sorry, a few inches further around and the knife would have plunged straight into your chest.
*Eric, excited, points to Edwin's sternum, who looks scared.*
ADAM: Wait…what…a knife? Ed, what the hell happened?
EDWIN: I was just having a fag when I heard a noise down a corridor…when I went to check it out, the guy jumped me!
ADAM: Patients aren't supposed to carry weapons in here…shit. Sam, take a look around and see if you can find it, please.
SAMANTHA: Got it.
*Samantha hurries down the corridor, searching all over for the knife.*
ADAM: Ed…did you see who did this to you?
EDWIN: I didn't get a look at him.
ADAM: Tell me the truth, Ed.
EDWIN: I did!
ADAM: The whole truth.
EDWIN (blubbering): That was the whole truth! I didn't even see…
ADAM (snapping): I said the fucking truth! Stop lying to me, now.
EDWIN (gulps): I…I dunno. It was weird.
ERIC: Weird?
ADAM: Define weird.
EDWIN: Weird as in…he was wearing a costume. So I couldn't tell who it was.
ADAM (worried): What kind of costume?
EDWIN: I dunno…black cloak…white mask. Typical Hollywood horror movie shit, you know? It was the knife I was more concerned about.
*Adam stands over Edwin, looking increasingly concerned. His face flickers for a second, almost showing fear. He shakes this off, and looks down at Edwin with contempt.*
ADAM: Bullshit.
EDWIN: Huh?
ADAM: This is the second time this month you have tried to harm yourself.
ERIC: Actually, based on the wounds…and the lack of weapon at the scene…I can't see how he could have done this to himself.
ADAM (ignoring Eric): Looks like we'll have to put you on suicide watch again.
*Samantha runs back into the area.*
SAMANTHA: No sign of any weapon. Should I call the police?
ADAM: No…there's no need to get the cops involved.
SAMANTHA: We're obliged to call the cops if there are any…
ADAM: I said no! Call security, Sam. They can take Ed to his room.
*A shocked Samantha scurries away.*
EDWIN (screaming): No! You've gotta believe me, I didn't do this!
ADAM (sighs): We have a lot of work to do, Ed. I thought the dishonesty was leaving your system. I'm very disappointed.
EDWIN: But I'm telling the truth! It wasn't me!
ADAM: I'm sure you didn't. We'll work through this together.
*Two burly security guards enter, and grab Edwin by the scruff of the neck. He yells in pain and anger.*
EDWIN (desperate): Fine, I did it! It was me, there was no other guy. Now will you let me go?
ADAM (smug): He admits it! Thanks for making this so much easier. Take him away, boys.
*The guards drag a screaming Edwin down the hall away from a smug Adam and shocked Eric. Samantha walks back up the hall to usher out a group of interested onlookers, including Antonio. Adam grins at Edwin, and begins to moon-walk out of the corridor.*
ADAM: Reverse psychology. Get it?
ERIC: You didn't listen to me. There is no way that those wounds were self inflicted.
ADAM: Oh? And how could you tell?
ERIC: I know a thing or two about stab wounds.
*Adam and Eric are now at the reception desk, where Samantha sits, toying on her computer.*
ADAM (to Samantha): See that he stays overnight, at least. I'll come back and deal with him tomorrow. And get Dr. Gellar in; with all due respect to Eric here, I think we need a professional to deal with the wounds. Keep an eye on him.
SAMANTHA: Got it. Good luck for tonight, Adam.
*Ignoring Eric, Adam walks towards the door in a rush to leave. Eric, annoyed, cuts him off.*
ERIC: What was that all about?
ADAM: What was what about?
ERIC: What kind of shrink are you? Where was the trust? Can you seriously just disregard what Edwin had to say, and leave the building whistling to yourself? That seems a bit cold, even to me.
ADAM: Look, Eric, Edwin is a pathological liar. You can't believe a word out of that man's mouth. For the six months I've been seeing him, I don't think he has said one honest word to me. This is just a desperate cry for attention. Trust me, I'm the expert.
ERIC: The expert with what, a year of experience? Couldn't you see the fear in his eyes? I could practically smell it. Why are you so afraid of admitting he might be telling the truth?
ADAM (grabbing Eric by the collar): Don't you dare call me afraid.
ERIC (intimidating): Get your hands…off me.
*Adam composes himself, and releases Eric. He breathes heavily.*
ADAM: I'm sorry…I don't know what came over me.
*Eric brushes Adam off him, and heads for the exit.*
ERIC: I might take you up on the one on one session. I think you have a lot of issues to work through, Doctor.
*Eric grins, and exits the building, leaving Adam looking extremely pissed off. Adam's phone beeps and he checks it. He has a message from Tony's phone…which reads "You shouldn't have involved Sidney Prescott. Now, the game changes". He slumps against the wall, and looks at the broken window in front of him. He looks worried. Very worried indeed.*
END SCENE
