May 9, 2003 Transcript
"Try "they'd rather be burned at the stake than accept any help at all.'"

(Alexis is sitting in a chair outside Judge Farmer's chambers. Cameron enters from the elevator)

Cameron: Well, the dawn breaks. I was confused as to why Judge Farmer would have me in to review your case a second time so soon after the first. Obviously, you requested it.

Alexis looks up at him and nods.

Alexis: I did request it, and I'm asking that you be reasonable and remember that you are my doctor, not my keeper.

Alexis stands up and enters chambers. Cameron follows.

Cameron: Ahem. Have I challenged you in some way? (He shuts the door)

Alexis: (rifling through a file with her back to him) You are acting insufferably smug.

Cameron: I just got here.

Alexis: (she turns around to face him) I don't want to be handled anymore. This is my case, this is my life. I have a right to be present when any decisions are made on my behalf, and I have a right to do everything that I can to push forward a resolution that would award me permanent custody of my daughter.

Cameron: So, what, you're going to yell at the judge, bully her into seeing things your way?

Alexis: I'm going to demonstrate that I'm a competent, rational woman, ready to resume my life and all the responsibilities that go along with it as a woman, as a mother, and as an attorney.

Scott enters.

Scott: Well, I met this really attractive blond at the car wash, but I'm not having dinner with her tonight because I have to deal with another crazy episode in "Alexis Davis' comedy hour."

Alexis: Scott, this is a simple case review. There's really no need for you to be here.

Alexis sits down.

Scott: Yes, there is. I'm the prosecuting D.A., My input is vital. (He sits on the edge of the judge's desk and looks down at Alexis, pointing his finger at her) I'm not going to turn my back so that you can pull another trick. Because if this is another stunt, I'll make sure that they lock you up and they throw away the key.

Alexis crosses her arms over her chest and looks disgusted.

[end scene]

Everyone is standing as Judge Farmer enters the room. Then they sit.

Alexis: I want to thank you very much for taking the time for this review.

Judge: What's the purpose, ms. Davis?

Scott: Well, I can answer that.

Judge: You'll get your turn, Mr. Baldwin.

Alexis: I would like to clear up any misconceptions that you may have regarding my past behavior and my present mental state.

Cameron: I can speak to that, your honor. Alexis has been making a sincere effort to regain control of her life and is progressing --

Alexis: While I'm very grateful for Dr. Lewis' excellent care, he does seem to have this alarming tendency to speak for me. In any case, I'm perfectly capable of speaking for myself.

Judge: She has a point, Dr. Lewis.

Alexis: Thank you, Your Honor. I've been making excellent progress in my D.I.D. Treatment, and I've had several successful visits with my daughter, Kristina, and Kristina and I could both benefit from more sustained contact.

Scott: (points finger in the air) I object.

Alexis: We're in an office, not a courtroom.

Judge: You're in my chambers. I run this review. What do you have to offer, Mr. Baldwin?

Scott: Well, Alexis went to a lot of trouble to prove that she was crazy, not to mention attacking me in public. Now she wants to take all that back. She expects you to just bang your gavel, give her her job, her kid back. Let's forget about the knife-wielding lunatic. I mean, if that doesn't prove that she's delusional, I don't know what does.

Alexis looks disgusted.

[end scene]

Alexis: As usual, Mr. Baldwin is completely out of line.

Scott: Why, because I'm telling it like it is? She and her so-called therapist (points at Cameron) are trying to take advantage of your generosity, of your compassion. She's flipping back and forth like a Mexican jumping bean -- sane, crazy, sane, crazy. He has lost all objectivity. And this outpatient therapy -- it's not working. She should be shipped to a padded cell at Ferncliff. My opinion.

Alexis: (to Scott) While you're at it, why don't you just tie me up and burn me at the stake and condemn me as an instrument of Satan for wanting both my daughter and my career?

Scott: That works, too.

Alexis: (to Judge Farmer) District Attorney Baldwin's obscure vendetta notwithstanding, I respectfully request that my court-ordered therapy be cut back, that my law license be reinstated, and I further request another review in another month regarding custody of my daughter, Kristina. I have several copies of precedents - (she begins to hand them to the judge)

Judge: I don't need to see them. I find all this very disconcerting. Dr. Lewis, your last report indicated ms. Davis had made peace with her illness and was making progress towards managing it.

Cameron: (rising from his seat) That's true, Your Honor.

Judge: Not from what I can see. It's clear Ms. Davis is in deep denial and no closer to being cured than the day I originally pronounced sentence. Your mandatory therapy will continue on the schedule put forth by this court, and another review will take place when I deem it appropriate. Dr. Lewis, I'll expect your weekly reports to continue.

Cameron: I understand, Your Honor.

Judge: And I'm giving you fair warning. If Mr. Baldwin is right, and I start to believe your objectivity is compromised, I will appoint another psychiatrist. Mr. Baldwin, please stay. I need a word with you on another matter. Ms. Davis, Dr. Lewis, that will be all.

They both leave, upset about what the judge has said. Outside the office, Cameron pushes the button for the elevator.

Cameron: Nice going, Alexis. Maybe at our next session you can explain why you insist on being your own worst enemy.

Cameron enters the elevator. Alexis motions for him to get into it. She doesn't follow.

[end scene]

A security guard, Greg, opens a door to a file storage room for Cameron.

Cameron: Greg, you're a lifesaver. I can't believe I left my keys at home.

Greg: No problem, Dr. Lewis. Just be careful. Don't close the door while you're inside. It locks automatically.

Cameron: Thanks for the warning.

Greg: Working kind of late tonight?

Cameron walks over to a file cabinet and starts to go through it.

Cameron: I'm working with a particularly exasperating patient. I'm trying to channel my frustrations.

He pulls out a file.

Greg: I guess some people just don't want to get better.

Cameron: Try "they'd rather be burned at the stake than accept any help at all."

He looks at Alexis' file. He begins to daydream about Alexis as Joan of Arc.

[Crowd shouts]

Alexis as Joan of Arc spits water out of her mouth. She is being manhandled by two men.

Scott: You've all witnessed it! She floats!

Edward: Proof she's in league with the devil!

Alan: Burn her! Burn her!

Scott: Burn her!

Elizabeth: Burn her!

A.J.: Burn the witch.

Alexis: I am not a witch, for heaven's sakes. I'm an independent woman who happens to make constructive, informed decisions of my own life, and I forgive all of you for being backwards and insular and feeling threatened by me.

Alan: Did you hear that? Did you hear that? She speaks in tongues!

Monica: Get rid of her before she wreaks havoc with her evil spells!

[Crowd shouts]

Alexis is pushed up onto a platform and tied to a stake.

Judge Farmer: It has been proven to my satisfaction that this woman is in league with the bad powers.

All: Ooh!

Judge Farmer: Alexis Davis, you are hereby sentenced to burn at the stake until you are ashes and dust. (The judge starts to laugh)

Alexis is disgusted.

[Cheers]

Cameron: Your honor, if I may. Granted, Alexis Davis is willful and misguided. (A choir begins to be heard in the background) But evil? I say nay. This woman is an outsider both by nature and by nurture -- or, shall we say, the lack of same? She overcompensates by assuming an annoying air of superiority, using arcane legal terminology, hiding behind an air of icy professionalism. But underneath, she's a frightened little sparrow with a heart and a soul. I beg you, be compassionate, show mercy, and let her live.

All: No. No. Burn her.

Alexis: That was the most chauvinistic, condescending, self-righteous crap I have ever heard in my entire life.

[Crowd murmurs]

Monica: Well?

Alexis: I don't need to make excuses for my behavior, which happens to be perfectly reasonable and perfectly justified. You're the one who's overcompensating. You really shouldn't be intimidated by me just because I happen to be a woman and I'm smarter than you.

All: Ooh!

Cameron: Well, somebody hand me a torch.

All: Burn her! Burn her! Burn her! Burn her!

The daydream ends just as Cameron begins to burn her at the stake. Someone enters the room and shuts the door.

Cameron: Don't --

Alexis: I've been trying to reach you. You haven't returned any of my phone calls.

Cameron: Because you're either certifiably insane or satanically possessed. Or both!

Alexis wonders why he's so upset.

[end scene]

Alexis: There's no need to be insulting. You don't have to keep insulting me. It's not helping. I'm already upset enough. I just -- I just went in there and said what I thought that I should say. And you didn't.

Cameron: There was nothing left to say. You said it all at a review that you arranged without my consultation or knowledge.

He puts away her file.

Alexis: It's obviously made you very angry so that you didn't try very hard to push for endorsing my progress to the judge.

Cameron: You haven't made any progress, Alexis! You never will because you won't admit there's anything wrong. You won't even entertain the idea that you might be wrong or mistaken or, god forbid, human.

Alexis: Why are you attacking me?

Cameron: That's a really good question because we both know that I'm wasting my breath, so I'm going to stop. Here's what I will do. I will continue to file inaccurate and misleading reports with judge farmer, and in the fullness of time -- if you can possibly keep your mouth shut -- you'll get your life back. That's the extent of how far I'm willing to go. Now, if that's not good enough or far enough, then, by all means, feel free to petition for another doctor. I will welcome the chance to be rid of you.

Alexis: Fine. Fine. I won't take up any more of your time.

She tries to open the door but it won't budge. She turns around and looks at Cameron.

Alexis: (deadpan) Oh, no.

Cameron: That's right, Alexis. You, in your infinite wisdom and infallibility, have managed to lock us in.

Trumpet music plays that we heard in Cameron's daydream.