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original_lavi) wrote2007-10-10 07:46 pm
Quid Pro Quo
Prompt was only pure dialogue. I love dialogue. This made me never want to write narration again.
It's interesting - I began this with the vague intention to do some clever parallel work, so at the climax I would cleverly draw out the story of what brought her there - and then as it went along, I realized that wasn't necessary at all, and that the aim of the story was to make as many Hannibal Lecter references as possible. Whee.
“Hi Sarah, I’m so glad to finally meet you. Thanks so much for coming in today, I really do appreciate how hard it must have been for you. Can I get you a soda? I have some cookies over here –“
“No.”
“All right. …Do you like that painting?”
“I didn’t come here to talk about a painting.”
“No, but it might help ease the atmosphere a little. Charles Parish – have you heard of that artist before?”
“Have you read any of Thomas Harris’ books?”
“I don’t think I have….”
“Hm. You ought to, with your work. He wrote once about a crazy guy who ate a painting, trying to not be crazy anymore.”
“Well, that’s interesting. Did it work?”
“For a little while. Do you know what else Thomas Harris wrote? I bet this’ll ring a bell.”
“What?”
“Hannibal Lecter. And do you know what Hannibal Lecter was doing when he first got caught?”
“Tell me.”
“Working as a psychiatrist.”
“Ahahaha. I do recognize what a big step it must have been for you, coming here.”
“I’m not worried. He never ate people in his office, it could’ve spoiled the carpet. Anyway, they all deserved it, especially the first.”
“You don’t think he would – bother about you?”
“I’d stay out of his way. I haven’t done anything as bad as his victims, anyway.”
“Do you really believe that, Sarah?”
“I’m here because –“
“Please, say it. I prefer the truth, even when they say they were bribed or lost a bet or it was the dying wish of a great-aunt.”
“I’m only here because it’ll shut my brother up. As long as I walk in and out of here once every couple weeks, even if nothing changes, he’ll shut up. And God, all I want is a little peace and quiet after every fucking thing. Also, I think you’re way too young and ignorant of everything about me to be of any help at all, and who ever said I wanted help to start off with. I’m doing fine. And really, I don’t know how you got through so many years of psychology without ever reading about Hannibal Lecter, Christ.”
“Thank you, Sarah.”
“There’s no need to thank me for insulting you. Unless of course you read it as I’m finally venting my anger….”
"Perhaps you’ll let me be as blunt as you are –“
“Are you happy, Sarah?”
“…Who is happy? And I’m really not trying to play games. How many people manage to be happy these days? Why should I be special?”
“I’m not talking about everyone else. You can feel better – whatever definition of happy you choose – about the past.”
“Can I have a pony, too?”
“It’s up to you, Sarah. You said you’d come in here for your brother’s sake, or for your peace and quiet – how do you want to spend the hour? Fighting, or actually trying a little? I can already tell you’re intelligent – I ask you, what’s there to lose? What are you ultimately risking? Give me a chance, Sarah.”
“I already did.”
“Well, tell you what. If you set up another appointment in two weeks, I promise I’ll have something read of The Red Dragon to talk about with you. You can lecture me all you like about my naïve and ignorant interpretations of it. How does that sound? Let’s see, what is it – quid pro quo, Clarice?”
“…Oh my God, you did not just – you just pulled it out of one of the awful movies or probably not even that – augh –“
“Aha, is that a smile? Yes! Score one for the naïve psychiatrist!”
“But do you even know how inappropriate it is to be quoting Hannibal Lecter to me –“
“Not yet, but I look forward to finding out from you and the books. So, two weeks from today?”