Episode #05
Immediately After #04
Teaser
outside Tim’s hospital room:
Paula and Bill are silently looking into the room. Enter Molly and
Claire.
Claire
How is he? Is he gonna be okay?
Bill
We don’t know yet, Claire. They’re still at work on him.
Claire
I can’t believe this is happening.
Claire breaks down into tears and Paula pulls her aside.
Molly
Dad, what happened? I tried to ask Claire, but she was so nervous that she
could hardly speak on the way over.
Bill
He was just laying there, unconscious, when all of a sudden he started to
shake. It looks like a seizure of some sort.
Molly
Oh no. (beat) Do they think he’ll pull through?
Bill
They’re not sure. Dr. Smith came out a moment ago and very briefly spoke
to us, but he had to rush back in to work on Tim.
Molly
Dad, we can’t lose him. Claire can’t lose him. And most importantly,
that baby can’t lose him.
Act I
at Sarah’s apartment:
Sarah and Brent are sitting on the couch, watching TV.
Sarah
I can’t watch this anymore. It’s terrible.
She reaches for the remote.
Brent
Go ahead. The only thing I’ve been watching anyway is you.
They cuddle up.
Sarah
You sure know how to make me feel special. (beat) I’ve never
felt this kind of connection with anyone before in my whole life – well,
besides my mother, but you know what I mean.
Brent
I certainly do.
Sarah
It’s kind of ironic, you know?
Brent
What? Why?
Sarah
No, I mean, I met you at work a couple of months ago and all of a sudden
we just sort of hooked up. And my sister, she met this guy Craig at work
and they’ve been spending a lot of time together.
Brent
Speaking of your sister, nothing else has popped up with this stalker business,
has it?
Sarah
Nope. For the last week or so, everything’s been very quiet. Except
for Tim …
Brent
What a family. Actually, they have no leads on Tim’s shooting yet. It
doesn’t look good. There don’t seem to have been any witnesses,
the bullet was such a common one, and of course Tim hasn’t been able
to make a statement yet.
Sarah
I don’t know if it would be better if it was a random thing, or an
intentional shooting.
Brent
I really don’t think either is a great option, but I’d tend to
say it was prearranged. After all, all his money and I.D. was on him when
we found him. Very few muggers shoot a guy and leave all his possessions
on him without helping themselves.
Hold on Sarah’s confusion.
outside Tim’s hospital room:
Paula and Claire are speaking in the foreground. Molly and Bill are in
the background speaking.
Paula
Claire, I know this is a difficult time for you, what with being pregnant
and Tim being in the hospital. But I want you to know that we think of you
as family and you’re welcome to stay with us any time at all.
Claire
Thanks so much, Paula.
They hug.
Claire
I’m considering taking my maternity leave now, because I’m not
gonna be a very effective nurse in this condition – all nerves and very
pregnant.
Paula
That sounds like a great idea. (beat) So, would you like to move into
our house? You need people around, especially being so pregnant. You never
know what might happen.
Claire
I think I might just take you up on your offer. Are you sure that you and
Bill won’t mind?
Paula
Not at all. In fact, I could use someone around to talk to. Bill’s at
the restaurant working all day, Molly’s been with Craig a lot, and Jason
is always at the rink.
Claire
It sounds like you’ve got yourself a deal. Thank you so much, Paula.
Paula
Believe me, it’s our pleasure. Let’s go tell Bill and Molly.
They go over to Bill and Molly.
Paula
Guys, guess what? Claire is gonna move into the house for a while –
at least until Tim is better.
Molly
Oh, Claire, that’s great. It’ll be so nice to have you around.
Bill
Paula, isn’t it interesting that within a few weeks we went from having
only Jason in the house to having three of them?
Paula
They leave, they move back in. What can you do? I think the important part
is that we’ll all be together during this difficult time.
Molly
I’m with you on that, Mom.
Bill
Maybe someone should call Sarah and tell her about Tim. And Jason, too.
Molly
I’ll give Sarah a call.
Molly takes out her cell phone and moves to the side.
Paula
We won’t be able to get in touch with Jason for a while. He’s at
the rink.
Bill
You’re right. (long beat) Well, I guess we should just wait until
they’ve made some progress with Tim.
Paula
Claire, come over here and have a seat. It should be a while.
Claire
Okay.
She starts to approach them to sit down.
Claire (thinking)
Paula, you wouldn’t even begin to imagine the real reason I’m moving
in with you guys.
Act II
at Sarah’s apartment:
Sarah
Your theory makes sense, but I have one question: Who had it in for Tim?
Brent
None of us seem to know, and his wife didn’t even know. We’ll have
to wait till he wakes up.
Sarah
I guess so. But that—
Telephone rings. Sarah answers. One-way conversation.
Sarah
Hello? Sarah Fisher—(beat) Oh, hi, Molly. How’s
it—(long beat) Oh no! Is he okay? (beat) Yeah, I’ll
be right there. Don’t worry. Bye.
Brent
Who was that? What’s wrong?
Sarah
My brother is having a really bad seizure and they don’t know if he’s
gonna make it. Come on.
They run out of the apartment. Hold on the door.
at the hospital:
Claire is off to the side. Bill, Paula, and Molly are in the foreground.
Claire approaches.
Claire
Okay, I got Sarah on the phone. She and Brent are coming right over.
Claire puts her phone away.
Paula
Okay. It’s important that we’re all together right now, especially
if …
Bill
Don’t put that in your head, honey. Tim is gonna be fine.
Paula
But Bill, don’t you see that it’s not alright? Tim is laying there
half-dead right now, moving a little bit closer with every second. If those
doctors don’t do something quickly, we’re gonna lose him!
Claire
She’s right. If only I could help …
Molly
Why can’t you? You have the medical training.
Claire
I’m not really qualified to perform emergency procedures. And I think
I’d probably break down in there. It’s a little bit of an emotional
time.
Bill
Well, I’m sure Tim will be just fine. It’s just a matter of time.
Molly
Could anybody think of anyone who may have wanted to shoot Tim?
Bill
I couldn’t, but you never know if he has enemies at work or something.
Still …
Paula
Something serious would have had to happen for a coworker to shoot him out
in an alley at night.
Molly
Unless it was something so serious that he was hiding it from all of us.
Claire, did he ever—
Claire
If he’d said anything that obvious, I would have reported it by now.
He never made any comments that led me to believe he was in danger.
Bill
There’s a missing piece of the puzzle somewhere … And it’s
lying right under our noses, I’m almost sure of it. Maybe one of us
even knows it already, and doesn’t realize it.
Claire
I wouldn’t be surprised. So many weird things have happened already.
Molly
I don’t get it. (beat) Maybe Tim didn’t even know he was
in danger, though.
Paula
That’s always a possibility. But it seems a little unreasonable.
Molly
Yeah, I guess you’re right.
Enter Dr. Smith.
Dr. Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Fisher—
Paula runs over to Dr. Smith.
Paula
Dr. Smith, what happened? Is Tim okay? Did something go wrong?
Bill
Paula, calm down. Let the doctor tell us. Now, Dr. Smith, what were you going
to say?
Dr. Smith
I need to talk to all of you about Tim’s condition.
Out on Bill, Molly, Claire, and Paula, all anxiously awaiting his words.
Act III
at the hospital:
Bill
What’s wrong, Doc? Is Tim alright?
Dr. Smith
Well, we managed to save his life a few minutes ago. As a matter of fact,
most of his vital signs are up.
Paula
Thank God! I was so worried!
Dr. Smith
But …
Paula
What do you mean, "but"? I thought you saved him!
Dr. Smith
We did, but his seizure was caused by an adverse reaction to some of his
medication. Unfortunately, this is the medication that’s keeping him
rested. Otherwise, he’d been in terrible pain, despite being unconscious.
Paula
So take him off of it!
Claire
It’s not that simple, Paula. If he were in constant pain, Tim might
suffer another attack … likely worse than this one. And there’s
only so much you can do after a certain point.
Dr. Smith
Well-said, Nurse. The question is: Do you want us to continue with his medication
and risk more attacks, or take him off the medication? Keep in mind that
there’s less chance of attacks if he’s off the medication, but
if he does have one then, it’s likely to be fatal.
Enter Sarah and Brent.
Sarah
How is he?
Bill
Dr. Smith here was just telling us that Tim’s reaction to a certain
medication caused this seizure. If we take him off of it, though, there’s
still of a chance of more attacks … but they might be fatal.
Sarah
Oh my God! What are we gonna do? Claire, you’re a nurse … what
should we do?
Claire
Honestly, I just don’t know. One way or the other, it’s still a
dangerous and risky situation. It’s a personal choice that the family
has to make. You guys have to decide whether to leave him on it or not.
Paula
We have to? You’re just as much a part of his family as we are. This
decision might affect us all. So what should we do?
Dr. Smith
Why don’t you all take some time to think this over, and I’ll be
back in a little while?
Bill
Okay. Thanks, Dr. Smith.
Exit Dr. Smith.
Bill
I personally think we should take him off it. There’s a smaller risk
of attacks with him off of it. It’ll only happen if he experiences great
pain, the doctor said.
Paula
Yes, but he could die without the medication!
Bill
And he could die with it!
Claire
I have to side with Bill. Tim might not have any attacks if he’s off
the medication, and if he does there’s still a small window of opportunity
to save him.
Molly
It’s a difficult decision.
Sarah
It really is. But I’m for taking him off it.
Molly
Me too. It seems a little more logical.
Enter Jason.
Paula
Jason! What’re you doing here?
Jason
I finished early at the rink, so I decided to come see Tim. How’s he
doing?
Paula
Not much better. He had a terrible attack, and then Dr. Smith told us that
if we don’t take him off a certain medication, he might die from more
attacks. But it’s the painkilling drug, and if we leave him on it he
might suffer fatal attacks.
Jason
I’d go with taking him off it. What about everyone else?
Bill
I’m with Jason.
Molly
Me too.
Sarah
Take him off it.
Claire
I don’t know. (beat) I guess there is less risk in taking him
off it, so let’s do it.
Paula
Well, I’ve been outvoted, so I guess we’ll take him off it.
Molly
Okay, everyone, I’ve gotta go. I’m meeting Craig in twenty minutes.
(beat) Bye!
Exit Molly. Paula moves away from the group.
Paula (sotto voce)
Tim, I wish we didn’t have to play God with your life, but it’s
the only way. Oh, I hope you recover soon.
Act IV
at the restaurant:
Molly is standing in second-in-line, waiting. Exit first person in
line.
Woman
Hello, how may I help you this evening?
Molly
I have a reservation. Simmons, party of two.
Woman
Oh, Mr. Simmons is already in the dining room – right there.
Molly
Yeah, I see him. Thanks.
Molly goes over to the table.
Molly
Hi, Craig.
Craig
Hi, Molly. How’s everything going with your brother?
Molly
Not well. (beat) Not well at all. He had a huge complication because
of his medicine, and that led to an almost-fatal attack.
Craig
Ouch. (long beat) So, how are you? No more problems or anything?
Molly
It’s strange, actually. I got those two "messages" about a week ago,
but then they stopped. Just like that. I wonder if this person just felt
threatened by the police or something.
Craig
Could be, but the police didn’t really do anything. It’s hard to
trace handwriting on a car.
Molly
I know. I just hope he – or she – isn’t planning some grand
way to frighten me to death. At least I’ve had time to recover my nerves.
And you were so helpful with that. I can’t thank you enough.
Craig
I was just looking out for a friend. (beat) And now, it seems that
you’re strong enough to be a little more than friends.
Molly
Craig – I never really … I never really thought about it before.
Craig
I knew I brought this up too soon. I knew it. (long beat) Well, then,
let’s have dinner. What are you gonna get?
Molly
Craig, we can’t just change the subject like that. I never would’ve
thought you felt that way about me.
Craig
It’s making you uncomfortable, isn’t it?
Molly
No, no … Actually, I’m flattered. I kinda like it, to tell the
truth.
Craig
So tell me, then, would you be willing to be a little more than friends?
Hold on Molly’s surprise.
at the hospital:
Paula is standing with Bill by Tim’s door.
Paula
I can’t just stand here. I’m gonna go crazy.
Bill
What do you wanna do?
Paula
I’m not sure. (long beat) Actually, I’ve got an idea. I’m
gonna go visit Courtney.
Bill
Okay. See you later.
Paula walks down the hall and enters Courtney’s room.
Paula
Hello?
Courtney
Mrs. Fisher! Hi! Thanks for coming to visit me.
Paula
It’s my pleasure. I haven’t seen in you in so long.
Courtney
I know!
Paula
Jason feels so bad about your injury, and I’m trying to convince him
it’s not his fault.
Courtney
Me too. But he won’t listen.
Paula
Listen, Courtney, are you alright with him skating with someone else?
Act V
at the restaurant:
Craig
So do you think you’re ready to move this relationship further along?
Molly
I think so, Craig. I think so. I just hope I’m ready emotionally.
Craig
I’m sure it’ll all work out for the best. For instance, if this
whole business hadn’t happened, then we’d never have become friends.
Molly
Right you are. Well, if this is a date, then I’ve gotta go freshen up.
I’ll be right back.
Exit Molly.
Craig (sotto voce)
Oh Molly, I am gonna make you the happiest woman on Earth.
in Courtney’s hospital room:
Courtney
Yeah, I guess. He can’t pause his career because of me.
Paula
But you’ve been partners – and friends – for so long now …
Courtney
That’s part of it. (beat) I know Jason’s not interested,
but I’d like to be a little more than friends.
Out on Paula’s surprise.
End of Episode #5
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