Return of the Lambs

Piano

Dr Lecter opens the door to see a young boy with a white cane and his mother. They exchange pleasantries in Czech and the boy steps over the threshold into Dr Lecter's apartment.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, Dr Lecter teaches Damek the piano. The boy has a natural flair for it and the parents pay well.

He leads Damek to the piano, ever aware of Starling's eyes on him from the table.

"There is someone else here," Damek announces suddenly as he begins the piece, "a woman. I can smell her perfume."

Startling speaks no Czech so Dr Lecter says,

"Yes, Clarice. She's American, you know. She is going to be my wife, one day, we were eating a late breakfast when you arrived. Would you care for some food, Damek?"

"Yes, sir." The boy says quietly, closing his eyes fully.

Dr Lecter walks with him to the table and looks at Clarice with warmth.

Around children, he acts completely normal, gentle, as though he is aware of a personal line that even he cannot cross.

He remembers Mischa, how he had cared for her.

In each child, he sees the little sister he lost.

Though it didn't stop him from sending the Tooth Fairy to the home of Will Graham, knowing that little Josh Graham would be there.

"This is Damek Izak." Dr Lecter announces in English, setting out the bowls in particular spots around the boy, "Bread is at twelve o'clock, cheese at one and honey at two."

Damek uses his hands to find the food and places it on his plate, Dr Lecter cutting him a slice from the loaf with infinite patience.

"You teach children the piano?" Starling asks with a note of disgust.

"Come now, Clarice." Lecter smiles as he settles in his chair, "The children enjoy their piano lessons. Damek's parents live in an apartment next door and collect him promptly after each lesson. We enjoy our chats, don't we, Damek?"

The boy smiles at Lecter as though he is a fond uncle.

"He teach me some English." Damek says slowly, "I like this."

"He teaches me some English," Lecter corrects firmly, "I like that."

"You are very beautiful," Damek tells Starling.

"How...how do you know?"

Damek smiles.

"Because Dr Jakub is happy, he smiles since I arrive and when talking about you, he relaxes. I sense it."

Dr Lecter laughed and took hold of Starling's hand.

"So intriguing is our young Master Damek. Tell me, Damek, does Clarice like me?"

Damek frowns and then smiles widely.

"She is sad, but she looks at you a lot. I think she does."

A knock at the door.

Dr Lecter answers it and brings the boy's mother inside, who stares at Starling with wary eyes as she gathers up her son.

"This is my fiancée, Clarice." He tells her in Czech, "We are getting married in a few days."

Mrs Izak smiles at Starling shyly and murmurs a greeting. Starling replies, her eyes fixed on Lecter.

"American?" Mrs Izak asks.

"Yes, an old friend from my time over there."

She hesitates and says in English,

"You are a lucky woman to marry Dr Jakub."

Starling almost chokes but manages a pained smile as Lecter kisses her on the head fondly, his hand circling her waist for a moment and pulling her close to his side.

He guides them out with typical decorum, discussing the next lesson with Damek as Starling stares out across the river.

'He wants to marry me.'