Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17
INT. HANNAH’S ROOM IN ST. VINCENT DUNN HOSPITAL — AFTERNOON
Hannah, visibly flustered, is sitting up in her bed. Linda is watching her from across the room. Linda has one hand on the doorknob, as if she is trying to escape. She has her phone in the other, like she might escape into that, too.
HANNAH
There’s no reason why they need to keep me
locked away in here. You know it isn’t fair.
It isn’t logical. They’ve put me through
all the tests, and even more than that,
that they can make an excuse for.
LINDA
And you know
that sometimes you don’t know the whole story.
HANNAH (aiming to kill)
They wouldn’t do this to me if I was a boy.
They think I’m delicate.
LINDA (hurt by remembering)
They certainly did
everything they could to help your father.
PAUL (IN PHONE)
Hey! It’s going to be alright, Han.
You just need a little help.
Hannah clenches her bedsheets into a tight knot. Her face turns pale.
HANNAH
That’s not my dad. I don’t want that thing in here.
LINDA
No, Han. You’re angry because you know he’s right.
We could try again with the counselor.
What you need is prayer — and somebody
to talk to. Someone who can give you the
advice you need to hear.
HANNAH
I’m not going back to talk
with somebody whose only job is to
remind me that it’s a sin to want to be
what I’m not.
Linda pleads silently to her phone. She opens the door and takes a step into the hall before turning back to Hannah.
LINDA (venomously)
Just listen to the doctor.
Linda leaves the room, closing the door quietly behind her. Hannah stares at the wall after the door has clicked. She waits for a moment, until it is clear that no one else is going to disturb her peace, before pulling Shelly’s phone out from under her pillow.
HANNAH (manipulating the phone)
You’d think that, for an institution most
people trust with their lives, this would be
a little harder than it really is…
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