Daily Dialogue — May 25, 2017

DR. TAYLOR: Good morning.
ALEX: Morning, Missus.
DR. TAYLOR: How you feeling today?
ALEX: Fine. Fine.
DR. TAYLOR: Good. May I? I’m Doctor Taylor.
ALEX: Haven’t seen you before.
DR. TAYLOR: I’m your psychiatrist.
ALEX: Psychiatrist? Do I need one?
DR. TAYLOR: Just part of hospital routine.
ALEX: What are we gonna do? Talk about me sex life?
DR. TAYLOR: Oh, o. I’m going to show you some slides, and you’re going to tell me what you think about them. All right?
ALEX: Oh, jolly good. Do you know anything about dreams?
DR. TAYLOR: Something, yes.
ALEX: Do you know what they mean?
DR. TAYLOR: Perhaps. You concerned about something?
ALEX: No. No, not concerned, really, but, uh, I’ve been having this very nasty dream. Very nasty. It’s like, uh…well, when I was all smashed up, you know, and half awake and unconscious-like, I kept having this dream. Like all these doctors were playing around with me gulliver. You know, like the inside of me brain. I seem to have this dream over and over again. Do you think it means anything?
DR. TAYLOR: Patients who’ve sustained the kind of injuries you have often have dreams of this sort. It’s all part of the recovery process.
ALEX: Ah.
DR. TAYLOR: Now, then, each of these slides needs a reply from one of the people in the picture. You tell me what you think the person would say. All right?
ALEX: Righty right.
DR. TAYLOR: “Isn’t the plumage beautiful?”
ALEX: I just say what the other person would say?
DR. TAYLOR: Yes.
ALEX: Isn’t the plumage beautiful?
DR. TAYLOR: Oh, yes, well, don’t think about it too long. Just say the first thing that pops into your mind.
ALEX: Cabbages. Knickers. Uh, It’s got a…a beak.
DR. TAYLOR: Good. (Switched slides) “The boy you always quarreled with is seriously ill.”
ALEX: My mind is a blank. Uh..the boy…and I’ll smash your face for you, yarblockos.
DR. TAYLOR: Good. “What do you want?”
ALEX: Ah, No time for the old in-out, love, I’ve just come to read the meter.
DR. TAYLOR: Good. “You sold me a crummy watch. I want my money back.”
ALEX: You know what you can do with that watch? Stick it up your arse.
DR. TAYLOR: Good. “You can do whatever you like with these.”
ALEX: Eggiwegs. I would like to smash ’em. And pick ’em all up and throw — -oww… Fucking hell…
DR. TAYLOR: Now, there, that’s all there is to it. You alright?
ALEX: Hope so. Is that the end, then?
DR. TAYLOR: Yes.
ALEX: I was quite enjoying that.
DR. TAYLOR: Good. I’m glad.
ALEX: How many did I get right?
DR. TAYLOR: Oh, it’s not that kind of a test. But you seem well on the way to making a complete recovery.
ALEX: When do I get out of here, then?
DR. TAYLOR: I’m sure it won’t be long, now.

— A Clockwork Orange (1971), screenplay by Stanley Kubrick, based on the novel by Anthony Burgess

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Hospital, suggested by Angry Cyborg. Today’s recommendation by Will King.

Trivia: Stanley Kubrick’s first solo screenplay.

Dialogue On Dialogue: The dialogue here — reportedly improvised by Malcolm McDowell — is key to demonstrating that Alex has not been reformed. It sets up the ensuing behavioral re-training program.