The Snake Pit (1948)

Leo Genn: Dr. Mark Kik

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Quotes 

• Virginia Stuart Cunningham : It was strange, here I was among all those people, and at the same time I felt as if I were looking at them from some place far away, the whole place seemed to me like a deep hole and the people down in it like strange animals, like... like snakes, and I've been thrown into it... yes... as though... as though I were in a snake pit...

  Doctor Mark Kik : A snake pit?

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Later, weeks later, I understood. I remembered once reading in a book that long ago they used to put insane people into pits full of snakes. I think they figured that something which might drive a normal person insane, might shock an insane person back into sanity. Did you ever hear of that?

  Doctor Mark Kik : Yes.

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Well, it was just as though they'd thrown me into a snake pit. And I was shocked into thinking that maybe I wasn't as sick as the others... and I really might get well.

• Virginia Stuart Cunningham : [sighs]  It's funny.

  Doctor Mark Kik : What is it?

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : Everything you've said seems to make sense. I feel as though I know it,

  [places hand on her heart] 

  Virginia Stuart Cunningham : here...

  Doctor Mark Kik : But you don't quite understand it all, here?

  [points, with his pipe, to his head] 

  Doctor Mark Kik : Don't worry, it doesn't matter. You may never know *why* everything happened, but now you do know *how* and *where* it started, and that *does* matter. Look, it's as though you were in a dark room, like this one...

  [turns off light switch] 

  Doctor Mark Kik : ... now. And you wanted to turn on the light. But, you couldn't, because you didn't know where the switch was. Now you *do*. You may never know *why* turning that switch makes the light go on, but you don't *have* to. As long as you know *where* it is, you don't ever have to be afraid being in the dark again. And that, I'm sure, you'll be able to do very soon.

• Dr. Jonathan Gifford : Now now, doctor, we're not trying to minimize the importance of the treatment you're giving your patient.

  Dr. Curtis : The trouble is for you each case is 'the one,' and for us it's one of thousands.

  Doctor Mark Kik : Yes, Curtis, one of thousands, even millions. But only by trying to make each case 'the one' can we really help the patient.

  Dr. Curtis : I happen to have here some of the more recent statistics. Ah yes, here they are. Sometimes even we doctors must face reality.