SCENE 17

Scene 17 opens in the area outside the testing auditorium. The post-test crowd is divided into a few groups. Richard wanders out in a daze, beat down by the exam. He happens to be walking next to a random med student who also just finished the exam. After Richard being in a daze is established, they talk as they walk.

Random Stud

Wow, feels good to be done.

Richard

in a daze

Yeah.

Random stud

Hey, is the forearm muscle present only in 80% of people the palmaris longus or the flexor carpi ulnaris?

Richard looks at him in a daze for a moment. Finally the question registers.

Richard

Um, oh. Yeah I think I put flexor digitorum profundus for that one.

Random stud

grimaces, as if he were just exposed to an awful smell

Oh that's definitely wrong. Hey, have a great break!

Richard

smiling sarcastically

You too.

Random stud walks off. Richard sees Taylor saying goodbye to a few studs, wishing them a great break. Richard passes a stud who is looking up answers in a textbook and walks up to Taylor.

Taylor

Hey dude.

Richard

How do you think you did on that test?

Taylor

Who cares, man. It's over. We're done.

Richard

Does that mean you did okay?

Taylor

No. It doesn't mean that. Let's get drinks.

Richard

Drinks?

Taylor

Drinks. Malty beverages.

Richard

looks at his watch

It's a bit early, isn't it? I try not to drink before noon.

Taylor

Well it's noon somewhere. I'm going to drown the prospect of doing anatomy for a third time in Mexican beer.

Becker and Shoopa are walking together, talking. They pass Richard and Taylor.

Richard

Hey guys. What did you think of that test?

Shoopa

It was...

she nods, considers her answer

a fair test.

Richard

stares at her for a moment, and speaks a little disbelievingly

You think it was a fair test.

Becker

to Shoopa

That question on where the spinal accessory nerve re-enters the skull was not fair.

Shoopa

That's true. It enters the skull in two places, and both of them were listed, right.

Richard

bewildered

Two places.

Becker

Hey, you fellas have a great break!

Richard and Taylor return the comment and Richard waves goodbye to Shoopa, who is already walking away from him, with Becker. Richard looks at Taylor expectantly.

Taylor

Hey dude, my blood alcohol level is subtherapeutic. Are you coming to the Loon, or what.

Richard

I'm going to chat with the dean. I'll meet you there in a bit.

Cut to Richard walking out of school, toward his car. He passes campus police officer Cooter talking to his nightstick.

Cut to the Loon. Richard and Taylor have been drinking in a booth for a few hours, they're laughing about something.

Taylor

Dude, after the salamander incident, I'm not getting near your place.

Richard

Yeah, if I end up doing the year again I can always blame Skeeter.

Taylor

Oh right, how was your meeting with the dean?

Richard

I'm in the middle of the third quarter.

Taylor

I feel terrible for you.

Richard

It's unacceptable.

Taylor

Think of the low-lifes you're beating out.

Carolyn appears and sits down with Taylor and Richard.

Carolyn

all smiles

Sorry it took me so long to get here fellas, I was busy planning my cruise.

Taylor and richard

Nice.

Carolyn

nodding, as if she's bragging

Going to St. Martin with the sis. Leaving on Monday.

Waitress appears.

Carolyn

I'll have your favorite martini.

Richard and Taylor are impressed with the drink selection, they ooh and ahh.

Carolyn

Come on guys, we're one eighth done with med school!

Bartender appears again with Carolyn's drink.

Taylor

raises his glass

To being one eighth - or in my case three tenths - done with medical school.

They knock glasses.

Carolyn

What were you guys talking about?

Taylor

Richard doesn't like competing with his fellow students.

Carolyn

I don't like it either!

Richard

I don't mind competing, as long as I come out on top.

Carolyn

All my life I've studied until I mastered the material, and did well. Now I study until I master the material and get a C.

Taylor

So the way it works is that everyone masters the material, but they can't give 200 A's.

Richard

I don't master the material.

Carolyn

ignores Richard's comment, speaks to Taylor

Right! So they test us on the details.

Taylor

Whoever memorizes the most details wins.

Pause.

Richard raises his glass.

Richard

To losing.

They knock glasses.

Richard

How am I going to get along without you guys for three weeks?

Taylor

smiles

With difficulty.

Carolyn

Don't worry, we have three semesters' worth of details to memorize together when we get back.

Taylor raises his glass.

Taylor

To details.

They knock glasses. Fade to black. Music continues for a while, to mark the end of Part I.