THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS
by
Ted Tally
Based on the novel by
Thomas Harris
INSIDE THE PRISON -
Dr.Lecter is standing with his back towards Clarice. She
steps hesitantly into the space, her eyes fixed on him.
DR. LECTER
(without turning)
Good afternoon, Clarice.
She stops in front of him, holding case files.
CLARICE
I thought you might want your drawings
back... Just until you get your view.
DR. LECTER
How very thoughtful... Or did Crawford
send you here for one last wheedle - be-
fore you're both booted off the case?
CLARICE
I came on my own.
He spins in his swivel chair, stops neatly. A coy smile.
DR. LECTER
People will say we're in love.
(Beat)
Pity you tried to fool me, isn't it? Pity
for poor Catherine. Tick-tock…
He spins again in his chair, playfully.She circles the cage,
trying to keep his face in sight.
CLARICE
"William Rubin"... You made him up,
didn't you?
DR. LECTER
Clarice... you're hardly in a position
to accuse me of lying.
CLARICE
I think you were telling me the truth
before. Tell me the rest now.
DR. LECTER
Everything you need to find is right
in these pages.
CLARICE
Then tell me how.
DR. LECTER
Simplicity, Clarice. Of each particular
thing, ask:what is its nature...? What
does he do, this man you seek?
CLARICE
He kills w-
DR. LECTER
No! That's incidental.
He stands up quickly from his chair and steps closer to
Clarice.
DR. LECTER
what need does he serve by killing?
CLARICE
Anger, social resentment, sexual frus-
DR. LECTER
No, he covets. That's his nature.Do
we seek out things to covet? Make an
effort to answer.
CLARICE
No. We just -
DR. LECTER
No. Precisely. We begin by coveting
what we see every day.
CLARICE
All right, then tell me how -
DR. LECTER
No. It's your turn to tell me,
Clarice. Why did you run away from
that ranch?
CLARICE
Dr. Lecter, when there's time I'll -
DR. LECTER
This is all the time you'll ever
have.
CLARICE
Later, listen, I'll -
DR. LECTER
I'll listen now. After your father's
murder, you were orphaned. You were ten
years old. You went to live with
cousins, on a sheep and horse ranch in
Montana. And - ?
CLARICE
And - one morning I just - ran away…
She turns from him. He presses closer.
DR. LECTER
You started what time?
CLARICE
Early. Still dark.
DR. LECTER
Then something woke you. What was it?
CLARICE
Screaming! Some kind of - screaming.
Like a child's voice...
DR. LECTER
What did you do?
CLARICE
Got dressed and went downstairs... out-
side... I crept up to the barn...
DR. LECTER
What did you see, Clarice?
CLARICE
Lambs. The lambs were screaming…
DR. LECTER
They were slaughtering the spring
lambs?
CLARICE
Yes...! They were screaming.
DR. LECTER
So you ran away…
She shakes her head, unwilling - or unable - to say more.
DR. LECTER
You still wake up sometimes, don't
you? Wake up in the dark, with the
lambs screaming?
CLARICE
Yes…
DR. LECTER
Do you think if you saved Catherine, you could
make them stop…?
CLARICE
Yes! I don't know…I don't know.
DR. LECTER
Thank you, Clarice.
CLARICE
Tell me his name, Dr. Lecter.
DR. LECTER
Brave Clarice. Will you let me know if
ever the lambs stop screaming?
CLARICE
Yes. I'll tell you.
Dr.Lecter’s eyes widen, crackling at this touch, like sparks
in a cave.
DR. LECTER
Good-bye, Clarice.
