Lab Journal Entry #44

[matril]

"Request"

Int., same motel room. TORI adjusts the camera, sitting in bed expectantly, nervously. After she fidgets a bit, WALTON enters

WALTON
Sorry for the delay. My shift ran late today.

TORI
It’s fine. You don’t have any obligation to come here in the first place. I really appreciate what you’ve done.

WALTON
(Notices something is up) Tori? Are you feeling okay? (Puts hand to her forehead) You’re a little warm.

TORI
I’m not feverish. (Coughs) I’m pretty sick, though.

WALTON
You just need more rest. You’ll be back on your feet any day now.

TORI
(Forces eye contact) Isn’t there something in the Hippocratic oath about not lying to your patients?

WALTON
(Sighs) Your condition isn’t very promising. But if you’d just let me get you to a hospital –

TORI
You know I can’t. They can’t know who I am.

WALTON
Are you sure the police are actually looking for you? I mean, as a suspect? They might just be concerned for your safety.

TORI
It doesn’t matter. I can’t go back home. I can’t face my father and brother again after everything I’ve done.

WALTON
Have they tried to contact you?

TORI
(Pause, then very softly) Every day. I just have to ignore it.

WALTON
Tori –

TORI
This isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about, in any case. There’s something else.

WALTON
What is it?

TORI
(Coughs) I might get better. But I probably won’t. (Reacts to WALTON’s dismay) It’s not your fault – you’ve done everything you can. I know you have. But there was never really any chance of saving me. My health has been deteriorating for a long time now. It can’t be helped. (Pause) There’s something else you can do for me.

WALTON
(Very quietly) What?

TORI
If I die (holds up a hand against a protest) if I die, someone will need to take care of the monster. You know more about it than almost anyone else. You know it needs to be destroyed.

WALTON
(Quailing) I – I can’t.

TORI
You have to. Please. Promise me you will. (Pulls knife out, offers it to WALTON) Promise me.

WALTON
(Hand shaking, slowly accepts knife) I will try.