Drawn Up From Deep Places

stand there, get him up on the bank!

FIRST BOY

What for? Not like we can help.

SECOND BOY

It’s not what we can do, fool, it’s what he’s got on him!

SPLASHING SOUNDS as he starts dragging JACK out.

FIRST BOY

All right, all right—I’m not stupid, y’know.

MORE SPLASHING as they get JACK onto the bank; TWIN THUMPS as they collapse. SECOND BOY begins going through his pockets.

SECOND BOY

Bloody hell, what’s this? No rings, no cutter, no bloody nothing!

FIRST BOY

Looks a right toff, though. And that red hair.

SECOND BOY

Unlucky. Besides—

A WATER-CHOKED COUGH interrupts him. Dead silence. Another, deeper cough.

FIRST BOY

(Dumbstruck)

He’s alive!

SECOND BOY

I see that, booby! All right, all right. Run and get the doctor.

FIRST BOY

Up at the madhouse?

SECOND BOY

Is there another? Come on! I’ll stay and watch him.

FIRST BOY runs off. JACK keeps coughing until his fit subsides. Ragged, uneven breathing sets in.

SECOND BOY

(To himself)

Yeah, I’ll just watch him.

(Rummaging in JACK’s coat)