Vanilla Sky Deleted Scenes – Dr. Pomeranz (Extended)
INT. HOSPITAL CONFERENCE ROOM – DAY
A dashing-looking surgeon dripping with confidence, Dr. Pomeranz, talks with David.
DR POMERANZ
The cranial structure was based on thirty pins fastened by
small panels and bits of bone from the manicle . . . and it
seems the cartilage grafts have maintained your cheek
structure. Unfortunately, because you were in a coma,
immediate plastic surgery was impossible.
DAVID
(voice over)
Doctors. Their power is in jargon. So you study up . . .
DAVID
Is that the procedure for all bilateral periorbital hematomas
in a LeFort III fracture of a comatose patient?
DR POMERANZ
(pleasantly surprised)
In a LeFort III – absolutely. The potential for sub-cranial
brain damage was too great.
DAVID
(voice over)
. . . you do your best.
David consults a list he’s made.
DAVID
And beyond the cheek grafts, Dr Pomeranz, is, are the pins
fastened with any kind of aluminum which could ionize
and cause that pressure in my head? Because I’m ready for
another operation. This isn’t vanity. My arm isn’t working
well either.
DR POMERANZ
At this stage of treatment, we’ve done everything we can.
DAVID
What about neo-laser technology? I know there’s a process
because I read about the Rees-Jones operation.
Angle shifts to reveal three other doctors in the room listening.
DR POMERANZ
Yes, we are working on a process. But it . . . you’re
specifically not at the stage where we can experiment.
DAVID
Experiment. Use me.
DR POMERANZ
The headaches will go away –
DAVID
These are more than headaches. This is a steel plate
slicing through my every thought.
DR POMERANZ
We’re not cowboys. We can’t just wing it.
DAVID
Because I can’t think straight most of the time.
DR POMERANZ
We can increase your medication.
DAVID
Yes. Medication.
DR POMERANZ
And there are things we’ll continue to investigate. But
there are so many others who’ve not been able to benefit
aesthetically from plastic surgery as you have –
DAVID
This isn’t about vanity, Dr Pomeranz! (keeping rage bottled)
This isn’t about vanity. This is about functioning in the
world. It is my job to be out there functioning. I’ve got the
money, and I’ll pay any amount. Invent something. Play
jazz. You say you’re the best face man in New York City.
Fucking prove it.
OTHER DOCTOR
We could do something about about your arm.
DAVID
Fuck my arm!
Dr Pomeranz looks over to a young assistant.
DR POMERANZ
Nobody here takes your feelings for granted. We did prepare
something for you, based on the preliminary examination.
DAVID
Tell me. Bring it on.
DR POMERANZ
It’s something useful in the early stages of rejection. It’s a
facial prosthetic. It was two weeks in the making.
The assistant opens a black leather-bound box. In it is the mask –
molded from David’s own face, locked in a pleasant, bland
expression.
DAVID
A facial prosthetic.
DR POMERANZ
The aesthetic replacement does work. Emotionally, and
actually.
OTHER DOCTOR
(helpfully)
And the plastic in the aesthetic shield also filters out
abusive rays, and assists in the regeneration of cells.
DAVID
So it’s an aesthetic regenerative shield.
DR POMERANZ
That’s correct. Exactly.
THIRD DOCTOR
And the ergonomics of the plate-barrier allow it to reflexively
interact with the movements of your own face.
DAVID
I see –
DR POMERANZ
It’s a helpful unit.
DAVID
Good. Because for a minute there I thought we were
talking about a mask.
Beat.
DR POMERANZ
It’s only a mask if you treat it that way.
DAVID
No, it’s great. This completely takes care of Halloween. But
what about the other 364 days of the year?
DR POMERANZ
David. We search for solutions. And sometimes a small
miracle arrives.