Mindgame Read Free Page B

only limited?
    FARQUHAR: Because in the end one of them turned round and killed him. That was when I took over.
    STYLER: Do you still use psychodrama?
    FARQUHAR: I’m more selective about the patients I apply it to and I have to say that one of the first things I did when I inherited this office was to have a decent alarm installed. ( He points to the button on his desk .) But yes, I’m trying to continue the work that Ennis began.
    There is a sudden, terrible scream from outside; the demented, blood-chilling howl of a wild man. STYLER springs up. FARQUHAR appears not to have noticed it.
    STYLER: What the hell was that?
    FARQUHAR: What?
    STYLER: Didn’t you hear it?
    FARQUHAR: I’m sorry?
    STYLER: It came from outside.
    STYLER goes over to the window and looks out.
    FARQUHAR: There’s no one outside.
    STYLER: But I heard them.
    FARQUHAR: It came from B-wing. This is Wednesday night. They have scream therapy.
    STYLER: It’s not Wednesday. It’s Thursday.
    FARQUHAR: No. It’s the twenty-first. Wednesday.
    STYLER: Are you sure?
    FARQUHAR: I’m quite certain.
    STYLER: ( Turning from the window .) Do you mind if I smoke?
    FARQUHAR: My dear fellow, your personal habits are entirely your own concern.
    STYLER: No. I mean — do you mind if I smoke now?
    FARQUHAR: You want a cigarette?
    STYLER: Yes.
    FARQUHAR: Please. Go ahead.
    STYLER: Thank you.
    STYLER takes out a crumpled packet of ten Embassy cigarettes. He takes one out, puts the packet on the desk, then searches his pockets.
    That’s strange.
    FARQUHAR: What?
    STYLER: I seem to have forgotten my lighter.
    FARQUHAR: No lighter?
    STYLER: I’m sure I put it in my pocket this morning.
    FARQUHAR: When you left London.
    STYLER: Yes.
    FARQUHAR: You have your cigarettes?
    STYLER: Yes. But I’ve forgotten my lighter. You wouldn’t have a match?
    FARQUHAR: I’m afraid I don’t smoke.
    STYLER: Aah…
    FARQUHAR: And as a security measure I don’t keep matches in the office. Maybe Nurse Plimpton will havesome when she arrives. ( Annoyed .) Where is Nurse Plimpton?
    STYLER: Dr Farquhar, why won’t you at least consider what I have to say?
    FARQUHAR: About your book?
    STYLER: Yes. Obviously I’ve only skimmed the surface, compared to you. I’m a populist and I’m not ashamed to admit it. But even so, if you read my books, you might surprise yourself. You might even be impressed by their honesty if nothing else.
    FARQUHAR: You wrote about Chikatilo?
    STYLER: Yes. And after that I wrote another book which covered nine more serial killers including Nilsen, Sutcliffe and Dahmer.
    FARQUHAR: What was it called?
    STYLER: Bloodbath. Inside the Minds of Nine Serial Killers .
    FARQUHAR: And did you get there? Inside the minds?
    STYLER: I did my research.
    FARQUHAR: There is one thing I’d be interested to know, Mr Styler. Why do you write these books? What’s your interest in these people?
    STYLER: Well, I suppose I’m trying to illustrate one aspect of the human condition; the relationship between good and evil. That’s what it really comes down to. The fact that humans are capable of acts of extreme evil as well as extreme good.
    FARQUHAR: Saints or sinners.
    STYLER: Exactly.
    FARQUHAR: But taken to extremes.
    STYLER: It’s only natural for a writer to be interested in extremes because that’s where the essence of human nature will be in sharpest focus.
    FARQUHAR: So why didn’t you choose saints? ( Pause .) Bloodbank. Inside the Minds of Nine NHS Nurses .
    STYLER: Well. I suppose sin sells better.
    FARQUHAR: And this next book of yours…
    STYLER: It’s going to be very big. I have a publisher, a very reputable house. They’ve been talking to the Sunday Times and we may have a serialisation. The Americans are interested…in fact the publishers were queuing up at Frankfurt. All this on a three-page outline. Come on, Dr Farquhar! Six one-hour interviews. That’s all I