Curtis Ames and Luka in “Murmurs of the Heart”

Curtis Ames

[crushing Luka's hand in a vice] Tell me how it feels. Tell me - tell me what it's doing to you.

Luka

[groaning in pain] I can, uh... I can feel, uh... crashing of the metacarpal heads. Ah... the digital nerves being compressed. I'm losing... sensation, motor control.

Curtis Ames

You know what I mean, you know what I mean?

Luka

I don't.

Curtis Ames

[raises his foot to kick the vice again] You know what I...

Luka

I don't, I don't! Wait, wait, wait! Stop, please!

Curtis Ames

Then tell me... how it feels!

Luka

[gasping for breath] Just stop it...

Curtis Ames

[shouting] Come on, Luka! Come on! You see people in pain, EVERY DAY! Tell me how it feels!

Luka

[gritted teeth] You son of a bitch...

Curtis Ames

See, do you feel me? Now?

Luka

What do you want from me, huh? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? [tries to stand but collapses in pain, gasping] I can't... do it without my hands. I'm a doctor. I have a wife, a child!

Curtis Ames

[It's hard, right?

Luka

Is that what you want, huh? Is that what you want? I won't be able to take care of my family! I won't be able to do anything, I'm nothing, okay? I'm NOTHING! You wanna kill me, huh? Is that what you want, you wanna kill me? Kill me now!

Curtis Ames

Now you get it, now you say something! Now you finally understand a little!