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COPY THE PROS
“Silence Of The Lambs”
Revised by: Déous Gennari

DR. LECTER’S CELL
Is coming slowly INTO VIEW… A small Cell about arms distance in diameter. A single light shines on him. Bullet proof glass is all that stands between them.Clarice stops, at a police distance from the cell, clears her throat. Dr. Hannibal Lector is standing already ready to great her like the gracious host…. A face so long out of the sun, it seems almost bleached – except for the glittering eyes, and the wet red mouth. His voice is cultured, soft.

DR. LECTER
Good morning.

CLARICE
Dr. Lecter… My name is Clarice Starling. May I talk with you?

CUTTING BETWEEN THEM
As Clarice comes a measured distance closer.

CLARICE
Doctor, we have a hard problem in psychological profiling. I want to ask for your help with a questionnaire.

DR. LECTER
“We” being the Behavioral Science Unit, at Quantico. You’re one of Jack Crawford’s, Aren’t you?

CLARICE
I am, yes.

DR. LECTER
May I see your credentials please?

Clarice is surprised, but fishes her ID card from her bag, holds it up for his inspection. He smiles, soothingly.

DR. LECTER (CONT’D)
Closer, please… closer…

She complies each time, trying to hide her fear. Dr. Lecter’s nostrils lift, as he gently, like an animal, tests the air. Then he smiles, glancing at her card.

DR. LECTER (CONT’D)
That expires in one week. You’re not real FBI, are you? Agent Starling

CLARICE
I’m – still in training at the Academy.

DR. LECTER
Jack Crawford sent a trainee to me?

CLARICE
We’re talking about psychology, Doctor, not the Bureau. Can you decide for yourself whether or not I’m qualified?

DR. LECTER
Mmmmm… That’s rather slippery of you, Agent Starling. Sit. Please.

She sits in the folding metal desk-chair. He waits politely till she’s settled.

DR. LECTER (CONT’D)
Now then. What did Miggs say to you?
(she is puzzled) “Multiple Miggs,” in the next cell. He hissed at you. What did he say?

CLARICE
He said – “I can smell your cunt.”

DR. LECTER
I see. I myself cannot. You use Evyan skin cream, and sometimes you wear L’Air du Temps, but not today. You brought your best bag, though, didn’t you?

CLARICE
(beat)
Yes.

DR. LECTER
It’s much better than your shoes.

CLARICE
Maybe they’ll catch up.

DR. LECTER
I have no doubt of it.

CLARICE (shifting uncomfortably)
Did you do those drawings, Doctor?

DR. LECTER
Yes. That’s the Duomo, seen from the Belvedere. Do you know Florence?

CLARICE
All that detail, just from memory…?

DR. LECTER
Memory, Agent Starling, is what I have instead of view.

A pause, then Clarice takes the questionnaire from her case.

CLARICE
Dr. Lecter, Maybe you would care lend us your view…..

DR. LECTER
No, no, no. You were doing fine, you’d been courteous and receptive to courtesy, you’d established trust with the embarrassing truth about Miggs, and now this ham-handed segue into your questionnaire. It won’t do.

CLARICE
I’m only asking you to look at this, Doctor. Either you will or you won’t.

DR. LECTER
Jack Crawford must be very busy indeed if he’s recruiting help from the student body. Busy hunting that new one, Buffalo Bill… Such a naughty
boy! Did Crawford send you to ask for my advice on him?

CLARICE
No, I came because we need –

DR. LECTER
How many women has he Skinned, our Bill?

CLARICE
Five… so far.

DR. LECTER
All flayed…?

CLARICE
Partially, yes. But Doctor, that’s an active case, I’m not involved. If
you could –

DR. LECTER
Do you know why he’s called Buffalo Bill? Tell me. The newspapers won’t
say.

CLARICE
I’ll tell you if you’ll look at this form.
(he considers, then nods) It started as a bad joke in Kansas City Homicide. They said… this one likes to skin his humps.

DR. LECTER
Witless and misleading. Why do you think he takes their skins, Agent Starling? Thrill me with your wisdom.

CLARICE
It excites him. Most serial killers keep some sort of – trophies.

DR. LECTER
I didn’t.

CLARICE
No. You ate yours.

A tense beat, then a smile from him, at this small boldness.

DR. LECTER
Send that through.

She rolls him the questionnaire, in his sliding food tray. He rises, glances at it, turning a page or two disdainfully.

DR. LECTER (CONT’D)
Oh, Agent Starling… do you think you can dissect me with this blunt little tool?

CLARICE
No. I only hoped that your knowledge –

Suddenly he whips the tray back at her, with a metallic CLANG that makes her start. His voice remains a pleasant purr.

DR. LECTER (CONT’D)
You’re sooo ambitious, aren’t you…? You know what you look like to me, with your good bag and your cheap shoes? You look like a rube. Awell-scrubbed, hustling rube with a little taste… Good nutrition has given you some length of bone, but you’re not more than one generation from poor white trash, are you – Officer Starling…? That accent
you’re trying so desperately to shed – pure West Virginia. What was your father, dear? Was he a coal miner? Did he stink of the lamp…? And oh, how quickly the boys found you! All those tedious, sticky fumblings, in the back seats of cars, while you could only dream of getting out. Getting anywhere – yes? Getting all the way – to the
F…B…I.

His every word has struck her like a tiny, precise dart. But she
squares her jaw and won’t give ground.
CLARICE
You see a lot, Dr. Lecter. But are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? How about it…? Look at yourself and write down the truth.
(she slams the tray back at him) Or maybe you’re afraid to.

DR. LECTER
You’re a tough one, aren’t you?

CLARICE
Reasonably so. Yes.

DR. LECTER
And you’d hate to think you were common. My, wouldn’t that sting! Well
you’re far from common, Officer Starling. All you have is the fear of
it.(beat) Now please excuse me. Good day.

CLARICE
And the questionnaire…?

DR. LECTER
A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava
beans and a nice chianti… Fly back to school…little Starling…Fly, Fly Fly….Fly, Fly Fly

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Déous Gennari
DR. Hannibal Lector
Silence Of The Lambs

Analysis

1. DR. Hannibal Lector
2. 10:00 am
3. Pierce Correctional Facility – Maximum Security
4. Maximum Security Exercise Cell
5. Multiple “LIFE” sentences, cannibalistic nature, gourmet cook, educated

• Moment before: Hannibal was told of a visitor and chains secured tightly to the floor.
• Present: Calmly awaiting arrival of guest
• Moment after: When Hannibal i9s escorted back to his cell he begins to draw from perfect recall memory Agent Clarice Starling.

Immediate Goals/Objectives: To be calm and polite as to not startle guest. Lour them in and devour.

Obstacles: Agent Starling is young but cunning, Ambitious and naive a bit innocent. Hard to not like her.

Tactics: Be cold and precise – sincere. Like a scalpel. Be sophisticated.

Internal Aspects:
1. Similar to me: DR. Lector is well rounded, educated, and precise
2. Unlike me: He is a Ph.D. He is a serial killer
3. DR. Lector at first is intrigued and amused by Starling. But as an owner would be to a pet. Then as a DR. to a patient, as a mentor to a student. Then as a parent to a child

External Aspects:
1. Posture: Straight and Sophisticated
2. Mannerisms: Calm, sadistic, and slightly aggressive for fear factor and fun
3. Voice: Deep, frighteningly calming, Hungry
4. Attire: Prison Jump Suit

Aspects of Ethology: Albino Tiger – Sneaky, cunning, quite, Likes to play with its pray, Unique and beautiful, powerful and graceful