Twisted Minds

Tome-wan

MUSKRAT FARM - PIG BARN - NIGHT-

WILL GRAHAM is relaxing in Mason's chair, stroking Verger's SUCKLING PIG swaddled in a blanket on his lap. MASON VERGER, bloody-nosed and annoyed, stares at a confident Will. "Why would Dr. Lecter wanna kill me?"

"This isn't about you. This is about me. Killing you would just be a hoop for me to jump through.

It's sauce for the goose that you're not particularly likable." Will strokes the pig like a baby. "I like me." Will chuckles darkly; "You just stole your sister's womanhood."

"She weaponized her uterus. Shouldn't have been waving it around like a gun." Mason says defensively. If it was Caroline...Mason wouldnt have to just worry about Hannibal...No. No. Its almost laughable. If it was Caroline, Will would take the uttermost pleasure in killing him. "Then it was self-defense."

"Damn right."

"And butchery."

"Are you lecturing me on butchery in my own slaughterhouse?"

"I wouldn't deign. You could disappear me with a wink. I heard about the "embalmed beef" scandal."

"What did you hear?"

"One of the Verger packing plants in Chicago was investigated for dangerous conditions. They found several whistle-blowing employees had been rendered. Inadvertently." Will points out. Mason Laughs; "Canned and sold as Li'l Ivy's Pure Leaf Lard. A favorite of bakers everywhere. We didn't lose a single contract."

"Blame doesn't stick to the Vergers. If I kill Hannibal Lecter, that's going to stick to me." Mason studies Will, very curious what game he's playing. "It is providence itself when a destiny like yours couples with a man as resourced as I am."

"I'm just pointing out the snare around your neck. What you do about it is entirely up to you."

HANNIBAL LECTER'S OFFICE - NIGHT-

"I'm not deceiving you, Dr. Lecter. I'm just pointing out the snare around your neck. What you do

about it is entirely up to you."

"You put the snare around my neck. Why did you tell Mason Verger I want to kill him?"

"I was curious what would happen. It's true, isn't it? You do want to kill him. Or you want me to.

Either way, you'd like him dead. I'm just giving you a little nudge."

"Mason is discourteous. Discourtesy is unspeakably ugly to me."

"Are you thinking about eating him?"

"Whenever feasible, one should always try to eat the rude."

"Free-range rude." Hannibal studies Will, curious. "Would you join me at the table?"

"Mason Verger's a pig. He deserves to be somebody's bacon."

"You have more reason to kill Mason Verger than I do."

"You gave me that reason. Maybe you should kill Mason during your next session. Can you explain my actions? Posit my intentions? What would be your theory of my mind?" Hannibal sitting across from Will, mid-therapy.

"I have an understanding of your state of mind. You understand mine. We're just alike. This

gives you the capacity to deceive me, and be deceived by me."

"Mason may be intending to kill me during our next session."

"Then you'll have to kill him first." Will holds Hannibal's gaze. Steady and implacable. "You said you were curious what would happen. I want you to close your eyes, Will. Imagine what you would like to happen." Will closes his eyes.