UNDERGROUND

by Macosta

  Part 4

  - On the way to the best Mental Hospital in the UK, Big Bill, Frank Sue have now formed a closer bond and although Big Bill was undoubtedly the man in charge he always let people work for him for an opinion and encouraged people to speak their mind.

  Big Bill: “You know Frank when I started out in this business I was younger than you. One thing I learned from the studio executive at the time was, never rule by fear. Everybody feared him and that stopped people from telling him the truth. I can see you have something in your mind. C’mon spell it out.”

  Sue: “Why do we have to drive around in this truck? Everyone uses people carriers these days. (Big Bill looks at Sue and rolls his eyes up looking back at Frank)”

  Big Bill: “Is this what’s bothering you, the Limo?”

  Frank: “I don’t think anyone is upset here. I just think that we should approach the doctor in a different way. That’s all.”

  Big Bill: “What you mean in a different way? We just need a signature of release from this guy. I got a brown envelop in my pocket, you been corresponding with him, he agreed to see us, it can only mean one thing. The guy wants money. I don’t think he’s going to give us a mental valuation of the fruit cake.”

  Sue: “Fruit cake! This is going to fun.”

  Big Bill: “Ok. I tell you what. I let you do the talking. If things get out of hand I step in.”

  Frank was surprised with the vote of confidence. All of sudden he felt a huge responsibility over his shoulders. This wasn’t about looking good in a suit and driving around in top of the range sports car to impress and make people believe you were someone in Hollywood. It wasn’t about having balls and brag your way in. This was about doing it for real. Frank had a lot to prove, mostly to himself.

  Arriving at the hospital the building stood detached on a park like grounds. The park had big trees and a well kept garden with plenty of grass area.

  Few patients in pajamas style clothes and robe wondered around the grass area, doted around here and there were some male and female nurses. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful.

  In the building the receptionist dressed in nurse uniform, the same as the ones outside, personally takes the three to the doctor’s office. Passing by a few patients, again all was tranquil.

  Big Bill:” It sure looks calm around here. You always expect to see a bit of pandemonium, patients with helmets banging their heads on the wall. That kind of thing.”

  Receptionist: “There’s a ratio of one professional trained staff for every 5 patients. There are some extreme patients but they’re well cared for.”

  Big Bill: “Indeed. (He says looking around like some sort of inspector)”

  Doctor Patel: “Come in. Come in. How nice to see you. Just in time for some afternoon tea.”

  Big Bill: “Afternoon, morning and evening. This country runs on Tea. Ha, ha, ha.”

  Doctor Patel: “Ha, ha, ha. Yes indeed. Our national beverage.”

  Frank: “Nice to finally meet you Mr. Patel”

  Doctor Patel: “Pleasure is all mine. Funny! Having you standing here. It’s like I’ve know you all my Life.”

  Frank: “Likewise Mr. Patel. I feel exactly the same.”

  Big Bill: “Well since you two seem to be so in touch with each other, I just let Frank tell you our plans.”

  Frank: “I have here the poster I promised you in my last letter. Albela 1951

  Doctor Patel: “I can’t believe my eyes. This is amazing.”

  Dr Patel eyes doubled in size and almost popped out. It was the poster of a film he saw as a child, when he lived in India before his parents had moved to the UK. Like Frank Mr. Patel loved the cinema. It’s the story of a dispatch clerk (Bhagwan) dreams of becoming a stage star. His success as singer and dancer is aided by the reigning star Asha (Geeta Bali) with whom he falls in love. The love story is intercept with tragedy in his home, the death of his mother (Pratima Devi), estrangement from his father (Badri Prasad) and the villainy of his brother-in-law (Nihal).

  Back at the office:

  Big Bill: “This is going better than I thought. (He says whispering to Sue)”

  Sue: “If he signs the release form does that mean the writer goes today? Where is he going to stay?(She whispers back)”

  Big Bill: “Well we can’t drive him to his mom everyday. I was thinking he could stay with…”

  Sue: “What!!!(The Scream interrupted Frank and Mr. Patel that were getting on like a house on fire)”

  Doctor Patel: “Would you like to see Mr. Douglas?”

  Walking into the long hospital corridor Bib Bill couldn’t help it but to make a comment to Mr. Patel.

  Big Bill: “I was saying to your nurse earlier on, everyone here seems quite normal Mr. Douglas must be quite easy to handle? (Big Bill stops near a patient standing on the corridor and grabs his hand giving him a strong hand shake) Hi buddy, how you doing today?

  As if a rage of furry had engulfed the patient, he screams so loud that he could be heard in the garden. He jumps on Big Bill pulling his hair and biting him on the shoulder. Frank, Sue and Mr. Patel desperately try to take the patient of Big Bill’s back, but such was the grip they couldn’t pull the two men apart. Big Bill screams in a mixture of fear and pain as the patient jammed his teeth in Big Bill’s skin. Total pandemonium engulfed the corridor. Patients screaming and running in all directions and nurses running to aid Big Bill.

  Back at Mr. Patel office the nurse raps a long bandage on a shell shocked Big Bill. Mr. Patel walks in with Paul Douglas, the author of UNDERGROUD the international best selling book in years.

  Paul Douglas stands a tall figure, just like his father in the framed pictures back at the cottage he towers above all of us. He has distant look in his eyes and a face of a man tormented by someone or something.

  Paul is calm and hardly says a word, when he does speak the room goes silent.

  Paul Douglas: “When do I start filming?”

  Big Bill: “When do I start filming?” Excuse me. Did I miss something? (The nurse that applied the bandage had already left the room at Mr. Patel request. There was only Frank, Mr. Patel, Paul Douglas, Sue and Big Bill in the office)

  Frank: “Yeah, I forgot to mention that Paul will play the part of the mysterious creature in the film. (Frank says with a cheery expression on his face)

  Sue: “So that’s what this is all about.”

  Frank: “And there’s another thing.”

  Sue: “Let me guess. Mr. Patel is in it as well.”

  Frank: “Yep. (Frank says with another cheery expression on his face) It’s the only way we can go forward.”

  Sue: “This just gets better and better. (Sue says throwing her arms into the air)”

  Doctor Patel: “It’s only fair; after all you will need a trained member of staff for any eventuality.”

  Sue: “Oh. And I suppose you have acting experience and license?”

  Big Bill: “Well, these are all technicalities. We can work this out. I think it’s a great idea. Paul is quite tall and according to the book the creature is a big sucker.”

  Doctor Patel: “I have Bollywood in my veins. I have seen more movies than all of you put together (Mr. Patel gives a long speech on how he was born to be on the big screen and how his father pressured him to become a doctor. That’s when out of the blue Mr. Patel starts a dance routine just like the ones you see on an Indian film. He dances around the room moving his arms and legs, he dances, singing in his native language)

  Big Bill: “These psychiatrists are all mad.” (Big Bill whispers to Frank)

  Mr. Patel accompanies them to the car and after hand shakes and good buys the Limo drives out onto the main road.

  In the limo at one end sits Paul Douglas, at the other end of the long Limo, Frank, Big Bill in the middle and Sue look on at Paul.

  Paul has a disturbing look on his face, staring at them from the other end of the limo Paul doesn’t remove his eyes for a second from the trio, he’s totally fixated on th
em, like a hawk zooming in on its pray.

  The three look at each other and feel an uneasy, the limo drives on to London.