Presentation script for:
THE GIFT
FADE IN:
INT: PSYCHIATRIST'S OFFICE – DAY
A DISTANT DOORBELL AND MURMUR OF VOICES
DR. SOLOMON PRESTON SPEAKS INTO A HAND-HELD RECORDING DEVICE:
DR. PRESTON :
Under the terms of my contract
with the Montrose school district,
today was my last mandated visit
with Gabriel Lynch. Given the
the boy's desperate state, I
hope to convince his parents to
authorize continuation
of treatment. I've requested an
urgent meeting with them to ...
Hears three sharp raps on the office door.
DR. PRESTON:
(Clicks off the recording device and places a hard copy file in his desk drawer)
Just a moment, please.
(Crosses the room and opens a door)
DR. PRESTON:
Mrs. Lynch, Mr. Lynch thank you for
coming on such short notice.
(Gestures towards a small sitting area)
DR. PRESTON:
Would either of you like coffee? I've
a fresh pot brewed.
DELPHINE LYNCH:
No thank you, Doctor. Morris and I
shared a thermos of coffee and a tuna
salad sandwich on the drive over here.
(Smoothes her dress and seats herself)
DELPHINE LYNCH:
We've just received an overseas order
which requires a quick turnaround.
Since you implied this matter
needed to take precedence, naturally
Morris and I dropped everything …
MORRIS LYNCH:
What my wife is trying to say
is that your panic over
our son's welfare is disappointing
considering your professional
reputation. We were led to believe that
you've had a great deal of experience in
the area of child psychology. You, of all
people, should be able to handle the
irrational moods of a teenage boy.
DOCTOR PRESTON:
Indeed Mr. Lynch, my years of
experience have given me a pretty good
barometer for the real and the imagined.
Gabriel's distress is real, and I might
add, understandable given the
circumstances.
MORRIS LYNCH
Don't think you can intimidate me
and my wife (Voice rises) with your
high and mighty tone. A piece of paper on
your wall from some fancy
university, doesn't give you the right
to sit there and judge us!
DELPHINE LYNCH:
(Pats her husband's hand)
Calm down, dear. Remember your blood
pressure.
(Condescendingly)
Have you ever experienced the loss of
a child, Doctor Preston?
DOCTOR PRESTON:
No, I have not. But I am experienced
in counselling grieving parents.
DELPHINE LYNCH:
Then you have no personal knowledge
of the kind of burden our family has
had to endure.
(Moves to the edge of the couch)
DELPHINE LYNCH:
Our eldest child's selfishness has left
my husband and myself forced to put up
with the humiliation of strangers
knowing our business. We are
private people, Doctor Morris, who simply
wish to be left alone.
(Leans back and crosses her arms)
DOCTOR PRESTON:
What about Gabriel's feelings? Have
you considered that stealing a car
might be the desperate act of a grieving,
confused child? The suicide of an
adored older brother is probably the
most terrible thing he's ever had to
endure.
Morris Lynch:
I think I know what's going on here
(Chuckles) Today was your last state-paid
visit with Gabriel, wasn't it? This guilt
trip you're laying on us is all nothing
more than a ruse to get us to continue your
treatments with him. Not a bad business
ploy. Seems we're really not that different
after all, Doc.
DOCTOR PRESTON:
(Places his elbows on his knees and locks together the fingers of his hands)
Mr. and Mrs. Lynch, I need you to
understand the events you have put
into motion with your Christmas
gift to Gabriel.
MORRIS LYNCH:
That gun was brought all the way
from Austria by my grandfather.
Now that Gabriel is the eldest child,
we felt it was a very appropriate gift.
DELPHINE LYNCH:
I don't understand what you're getting
at Dr. Preston. That gun is going to
be worth a lot of money someday. Even
more important, it's a reminder to our
son of the hard-working middle class
people that sacrificed indulgences
and extravagances so the next generation
could have an easier life.
DOCTOR PRESTON:
You don't find it the least bit
inappropriate that you should give your
only remaining child the gun his older
brother used to shoot himself?
(The Lynchs rise and head for the door)
DOCTOR PRESTON (Follows):
I'm just asking for a month longer.
If it's the money, I'm sure we can
negotiate a payment plan.
(Mr. Morris exits. Mrs. Morris faces the psychiatrist)
DELPHINE MORRIS:
You doctors all have a God-complex.
Well, let me tell you something,
Doctor Preston, Gabriel is OUR son, and
we feel he's old enough to understand
there's no place in this world for weak men.
It's our responsibility to toughen him
up. So, you see, we have no intention of
lining your pockets with any of our hard
earned cash. We're going to be just
fine.(Patronizing smile) Thank you for all
you've done for us, Doctor Preston. Have a
pleasant evening!
FADE OUT
