EXT. JONAS TALBOT'S OFFICE - DAY
A door with a translucent window has letters etched upon it, reading : JONAS TALBOT, Ph.D., CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST.
INT. TALBOT'S OFFICE
JONAS TALBOT, a thin man of about forty years, balding, sits upon his office sofa listening to the first of Jole’s cassettes.
ROBERT sits near TALBOT as his small tape player, set upon a table between them, is heard. He watches the doctor curiously.
JOLE (V.O.)
I know what Kelly really meant when she was talking about memories ...the pain. I just hope Susan will be safe.
ROBERT's shuts off the player.
TALBOT watches the player, thinking.
TALBOT
Woah.
He eventually looks at ROBERT.
ROBERT
Exactly. Can we go anywhere with this?
TALBOT
I'm not sure. I mean, that is a lot for a young man that age to go through, but...
ROBERT
Not enough to hold legally.
TALBOT
It depends on the person, really.
From his briefcase, sitting next to him, ROBERT removes his legal pad and a pen. He prepares to take notes.
ROBERT
When you and your colleagues did your preliminary analysis for the DA's office, Councilmen Jacobs mentioned that Jole spoke of being able to heal...people, I guess? Did you hear any of that?
TALBOT looks away from Robert, bites his lip, and soon sits forward and speaks in a slight whisper, as if someone was listening.
TALBOT
Actually, he did. But I'm not sure if you can use it.
ROBERT
Why?
TALBOT takes a breath.
TALBOT
Jole sat in my office for two minutes without saying a word, letting me ask questions, then out of no where he asks me...
INT. TALBOT'S OFFICE - WEEKS PREVIOUS
JOLE
Did it hurt when she did it?
JOLE sits upon Talbot's therapeutic sofa, arms crossed, and never taking his eyes off the psychologist. He wears a county holding uniform, but less dirty than before.
TALBOT is dressed more professionally than previous.
TALBOT
Excuse me?
JOLE
Did it hurt when you heard she did it?
TALBOT'S VOICE is heard, as he looks JOLE over cautiously.
TALBOT (V.O.)
I looked into his eyes, and in their caring richness...I knew what he meant.
TALBOT
Yes.
JOLE
Have you...
JOLE looks at TALBOT carefully.
JOLE
You haven't forgiven yourself, have you.
TALBOT is reluctant.
TALBOT
It still hurts, if that's what you're asking.
JOLE
Why do you think it hurts?
TALBOT moves away from JOLE.
TALBOT
I don't know.
JOLE
You cared for her?
TALBOT
Yes.
JOLE
You loved her?
TALBOT approaches JOLE slowly.
TALBOT
...yes.
JOLE
Were you attracted to her?
TALBOT
No.
JOLE
And it hurt her.
TALBOT sits across from JOLE.
TALBOT
Yes.
JOLE
It made her...what?
TALBOT
Hurt...herself.
JOLE moves to the magazine table, sitting in TALBOT’S face, taking TALBOT’S hand.
JOLE
Why didn't you...
TALBOT pulls back.
TALBOT
She was a patient. And I loved her. I fell in love with her, but I couldn't touch her. Because she was...my patient.
JOLE
So, you told her.
TALBOT
Yes.
JOLE
And you blame yourself.
TALBOT
Yes.
JOLE
And you still haven't let go of the guilt.
TALBOT takes a moment.
TALBOT
...no.
Silence fills the room. JOLE leans forward and looks TALBOT directly in the eyes. TALBOT, embarrassed, looks at him as well.
JOLE
I can help.
TALBOT looks away.
TALBOT
You can't, nobody can help...
JOLE brings a finger to his lips to silence TALBOT.
JOLE
I can.
TALBOT
Nobody...
Suddenly, JOLE lashes out at TALBOT, gripping the sides of his head, startling him.
JOLE then takes a deep breath and blows in TALBOT's face as hard as he can. TALBOT is thrown backwards out of JOLE's grip as if something punched him.
INT. TALBOT'S OFFICE - PRESENT DAY
TALBOT and ROBERT continue.
TALBOT
I don't know what he did, but after that...I sleep better, to say the least.
ROBERT is skeptical.
ROBERT
So, you're saying he CAN heal?
TALBOT
I don't know. Whatever you want me to say to keep that man out of prison, I will.
ROBERT
Really.
(beat)
Why?
TALBOT leans in.
TALBOT
If YOU met a dog that could sing,...would YOU want to put him in a muzzle?
ROBERT ponders.