Today is the last day in a six-part series, which began on Monday, August 13, Alfred Hitchcock’s birthday. Several of his more “troubled” characters are in therapy. Those therapy session transcripts are here for you to read. 
Leave a comment for each day during the series and you’ll have a chance to win a copy of  my book: The Alfred Hitchcock Triviography and Quiz Book.


Day Six

August 18 – 10:00 a.m.

Re.:  “Know the Truth, and the Truth Shall Set You Free.
           
Determined to keep the group on task, Dr. Peterson has given each patient an assignment during their last session. She instructed them to bring a list of their three best qualities. Norman is absent from this session because he is still undergoing shock treatments.
Dr. Peterson:  “Let’s start with Scottie. What do you feel are your best qualities?”
Scottie:  “Well, I’m sensitive, loyal, and . . . and persistent.”
Brandon [snickering]:  “I think that’s called obsessive-compulsive, Scottie.”
Dr. Peterson:  “Here we go again. Brandon, you and Charlie will have to refrain from sarcasm if we are to work through some of these issues. Good, Scottie. Tell us how you see yourself as persistent.”
Marnie [whispering]:  “Uh oh.”.
Scottie [bragging]:  “I knew that there was something odd about Judy. She reminded me of Madeleline, but there was more to it than that. I pursued it until I found the truth.”
Dr. Peterson:  “And what was the truth, Scottie?”
Scottie [sobbing]:  “The truth was . . . was . . . that in my mad attempt to have the woman I loved, I killed her. I frightened her and drove her over the edge. I turned Judy into Madeleine, and Judy died just like Madeleine. True, Judy was a bit low class, but I should have left well enough alone. What good did it do me?”
[Brandon stifles a comment by biting his fist. Charlie has muffled his face in his pillow.]
Dr. Peterson:  “You were a victim, Scottie. You were set up, a pawn in Gavin Elster’s plan to murder his wife. And your persistence in finding the truth almost led to your own death. But don’t you feel free now that you’ve shared this with the group?”
Brandon:  “The damn truth didn’t set me free.”
Dr. Peterson:  “What is the truth, Brandon?”
Brandon:  “The truth is I should have never invited Jimmy Stewart, I mean Rupert Cadell, to my party. I almost got away with murdering an insignificant moron.”
Marnie:  “Knowing the truth gave me peace and freedom. “
Lady Henrietta:  “Are you sure, dear?  Seems to me that being given the choice between marriage of prison doesn’t offer a woman much freedom.”
Charlie:  “Good point, Lady H.”
Lady Henrietta [now standing]: “Shut up, you arrogant bastard.”
Dr. Peterson:  “Let’s continue after lunch, shall we?”
[C. D., MD]
Dr. Peterson rubs my temples to try and quill the headache creeping up her spine.

Later in the day:
August 17 – 6:00 p.m.
Re.:  Cut!
           
After a long break, Dr. Peterson gathers the group and gets right to the point.
Dr. Peterson:  “What do you think about Lady Henrietta’s question, Marnie?”
Marnie:  “I though I was here to deal with the death of my mother.”
Dr. Peterson:  “Do you blame your mother for your kleptomania?”
Marnie:  “Not any more, once I understood what we both went through.”
Dr. Peterson:  “Then why are you here?”
Brandon:  “Yeah, Marnie, tell us why you are here. Could it have something to do with that hostility that is steaming from your ears?”
Marnie [shouting]:  “I said I was no longer angry at my mother!
Dr. Peterson:  “But you are angry?”
Marnie:  “But I love Mark.”
Brandon [scoffing]:  “Sure, every newly married woman jumps into a swimming pool to drown herself the morning after her wedding night.”
[Marnie’s head snaps and she glares at Brandon.]
Marnie:  “What happened on my wedding night is none of your damn business, you controlling, conceited, little rich boy!”
Lady Henrietta [gently]:  “We all saw the movie, Marnie,”
Marnie [shouting]:  “That’s right. It was just a movie, and we’re just figments of Hitchcock’s fantasies. Even you, Dr. Peterson. One and off screen you were one of his obsessions, and you just sit here acting as if you have all the answers. Well, I have a few questions. And answers. What will become of all of us once these movies are over and the lights go up? I, for one, am checking out of this crazy profession. I should have stayed in television commercials. You, Dr. Peterson, you will grow tried of your patient-husband and probably run away with some charismatic Italian director. And you, Lady Henrietta—has anyone here noticed that Dr. Peterson and Lady H. could pass for identical twins?—how does that work, with mirrors? Mr. Oakley will do his penance by filming Bible documentaries, and poor Norman will never be able to shake the stereotypic role of a madman. He’ll be trapped in Psychosequels for the rest of his life. And you, Brandon, you’ll survive because you are too amoral to be defeated. And furthermore—”
[To everyone’s surprise, Hitch enters the room.}
Hitchcock:  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I have been watching you banter and have come to the conclusion that it is time you all returned to the safety of the screen where you can do no one, including yourselves, any harm. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to deal with a silly young actress who thinks she is going to marry some Monacan prince.”
[C. P., MD]