The British Are Coming! By: Emma Day
BEFORE YOU READ THIS...!
1) This is an attempt at writing an ER episode rather than an ER
story. Consequently, it doesn't have the strong single narrative
thread seen in most fanfic. I wanted to see if I could write an
episode, and all I can say is, it's much harder than it looks
on TV!
2) All medical dialogue is VERY dubious. I apologise if the
characters are prescribing lethal doses of inappropriate drugs,
or doing any other apparently bizarre medical things. Similarly,
the trauma scenes might end a bit abruptly, basically because
I got stuck on what they would do next!
3) I've introduced a new character, of my own invention. I would
just like to add that I started work on this before I heard the
rumour that the English actress Alex Kingston has landed a
role in ER. Great minds think alike!!
Well, I hope you enjoy it - any comments gratefully received.
Mail me at 106625.3210@compuserve.com
"THE BRITISH ARE COMING" by Emma Day
PROLOGUE: THE ER
It's a quiet summer morning in the ER. A young woman enters from
upstairs.
She's short, petite, almost delicate to look at. Her hair is
long and dark, but tied up in a French plait; her complexion is
pale and her eyes are large and dark. A heavy bag is slung over
one shoulder, and she shifts it awkwardly as she looks about her,
deciding where to go. She's not nervous or distressed: if anything,
she looks excited.
Mark Greene hurries past, eyes fixed on a chart. She watches him for
a moment, before spotting the admissions desk. Readjusting her
heavy bag, she makes her way towards reception. Jerry is on duty,
his fingers and mouth full of donuts. Gratefully easing her bag
to the floor, the woman speaks; as soon as she does so her accent
betrays her as English.
LUCY: Hello. I wonder if you can help me? I'm looking for Dr Greene.
He should be expecting me.
JERRY [nods slowly, and speaks around a mouthful of donut]: You're
English, right?
LUCY: Yes...
JERRY: Thought so. I'm good with accents.
LUCY: Oh...right.
[There's a pause, and when it appears that Jerry isn't going to add
anything else, she speaks again.]
LUCY: So is Dr Greene here? [rummaging in her bag] I have
another name too somewhere [she pulls out a piece of folded paper]
Dr Weaver?
JERRY [a light goes on in his head]: Oh, you're here to see Dr Greene!
[Lucy stares at him in amused astonishment.]
JERRY: I'll page him.
CAROL [bustles up to the desk, and leans over it towards Jerry]:
Jerry, page Benton. Doug needs him in trauma 2.
JERRY: Well I was just...
CAROL: Now, Jerry.
JERRY [He shrugs apologetically at Lucy, and turns to page Benton]:
Sorry.
LUCY: That's okay
CAROL [looks sideways at Lucy, figuring out who she is]:
Can I help you?
LUCY: I'm looking for Dr Greene. [Nodding towards Jerry] He
was about to page him for me.
CAROL: You're Lucy Tennant?
LUCY [smiles in relief - at least someone knows who she is!]: Yes.
Yes I am.
CAROL [shifts the files she's carrying into one arm, and holds out her
hand]: Carol Hathaway. I'm the Nurse Manager.
LUCY: Pleased to meet you.
CAROL: You just flown in then?
LUCY: This morning. Dr Greene asked me to come in and do all the
admin before my first shift. He said if I was here by ten...
CAROL [nods, and looks about her. No one else is free, as usual.
Shifting the heavy files again...]: I don't think he's busy. Come on,
I'll find him.
[Lucy follows Carol down the corridor towards the doctor's lounge.
They weave their way through the usual load of slightly disorderly patients.
Lucy gets jostled by a drunk involved in an altercation with a patient,
if slightly weary, nurse. Jet lagged and disorientated - nothing is
familiar, nothing is quite like it should be - Lucy steps back, alarmed.
Carol comes to her rescue, and calmly seats the mouldy old drunk in the
waiting room.
She turns to Lucy, her face deadpan.]
CAROL: You'll love it here.
LUCY [brushes at the dirty fingerprints the drunk has left on her
clean shirt, and tries to regain her composure. She's embarrassed,
and comes over a trifle acerbic]: It's nothing I haven't seen before.
CAROL [shrugging]: Sure.
[They carry on down the corridor to the doctor's lounge. Carol pushes
the door wide open revealing Mark sitting at the desk, engrossed in
paper work. He looks up at the sound.]
CAROL [holding the door for Lucy]: Visitor for you, Dr Greene.
LUCY [walks half into the room, uncertain. Everything's a lot
bigger and more abrasive than she's used to - even the people
seem larger, somehow]: Hello. I hope I'm not too early...
MARK [stands up, confused at first and then suddenly he remembers.
Looking at his watch he cringes slightly, failing to hide it -
"Oh shit, I forgot!"]: Dr Tennant, I'm sorry! I was meant to
meet you ...[walking forward, he holds out his hand] Mark Greene.
LUCY [shakes his hand, and smiles. He forgot I was coming!
Great start. Still, he seems friendly enough]: It's nice to
meet you Dr Greene.
MARK: Mark, please.
LUCY [smiles again, and looks about her. Suddenly it hits her.
Here she is - this is where she'll be spending most of the next
two years! In Chicago - in America! Wow! Suddenly she's excited
again, and full of anticipation. THIS IS IT! She speaks quietly]:
So this is it!
MARK [nods]: This is it all right. Welcome to Cook County General,
Dr. Tennant.
ACT 1
ADMISSIONS DESK
Connie and Haleh are chatting.
CONNIE: So, you met the new doctor yet?
HALEH [shakes her head]: Carol said she's kind of stuck up.
CONNIE: Where's she from again?
HALEH: Some London hospital. Saint Thomas', or something.
[Mark walks up to the desk, and starts working on the files.
Connie casts a significant look in his direction.]
CONNIE: Well, I don't envy her, wherever she's from.
Susan Lewis is a hard act to follow.
[Mark's attention engages at the mention of Susan's name, but
he doesn't look up from his work.]
HALEH [glances at Mark, and raises her eyebrows]: You bet. She was a
pretty good doctor too.
[Connie and Haleh giggle quietly, Mark frowns and looks like he's
about to say something when...BANG the doors open and two EMTs
belt in. Mark rushes over, the nurses following.]
MARK: What you got?
EMT: Fifty-six-year-old male, Michael Rius. Probable heart attack.
Crushing substernal chest pain radiating down the left arm. Sweating
like a pig.
MARK: How long?
EMT: About two hours - since breakfast. He thought it was
indigestion.
MARK: Must've been a hell of a breakfast. [They reach Trauma 1]
Okay, thanks, we'll take it from here.
[The patient is vaguely conscious, and his head is flopping
backward and forward on the gurney. The ER staff disappear into
the trauma room, while the EMTs watch through the door for a
moment, before heading back to the ambulance.]
INSIDE TRAUMA 1
MARK: Intubation tray and get the monitors set up.
[Connie rushes for the intubation tray, while Haleh sets up the heart
monitor and respirator. Mark inserts the tube and then listens to the
man's chest.]
MARK: Okay, let's get a chem 7, cardiac enzymes, and a coag panel.
CONNIE: ST wave is up - he's in fib!
MARK [looks up at the heart monitor]: Paddles!
[Connie pushes the crash cart over, handing Mark the paddles,
while Haleh cuts the man's shirt from his chest.]
MARK: Okay, 200. Clear! [no response...] 250. Clear!
[The monitor bleeps into life again, slowly] Right, let's
try atropine, six milligrams IV push.
[The trauma room doors open, and Kerry Weaver hurries in. Mark is
concentrating on the heart monitor and listening to the patient's
chest. He's deep in thought.]
KERRY: Do you need a hand Mark?
MARK: No, I got it. [He thinks for a moment] Haleh, call
cardiology and tell them he's on his way.
KERRY: You're going for angioplasty, already?
MARK: Yeah, why?
KERRY [shrugs]: I thought you might consider TPA at this
stage, but it's your call.
MARK [turning back to the patient, irritated]: Yes it is.
[Kerry bites her tongue and leaves: Mark watches her go
with a none too friendly expression. Haleh and Connie are
looking at each other, eyebrows raised.]
MARK: Haleh...cardiology?
[Haleh leaves the ER sharing a meaningful look with
Connie as she departs.
We follow her to the reception desk where Carol is
chatting with Jerry.
Haleh gets on the phone, just as Doug saunters up.]
CAROL: Doug! Just the man I need!
DOUG: That's what they all say.
CAROL: Yes, but I actually mean it. [She hands him two files]
Suspected German measles in 2, and a foreign body in the
nasal passage in 4.
DOUG [shaking his head and grinning]: I knew there was a
reason I went into peadiatrics!
[Mark emerges from the trauma room, with the MI patient
being wheeled on a gurney.]
MARK: What did cardiology say?
HALEH: Cath lab's ready and waiting.
MARK: Good. [He looks down at the man who is vaguely conscious] You're
going up to the cardiology department, Mr Rius. They're going to
take care of you up there.
[It's not clear if the patient understands, or even hears what Mark's
saying. Mark nods to the orderlies, who hurry the man towards the
elevators. Once he's seen them go, Mark turns back to the desk.
Doug is just walking away.]
MARK: Doug! [Doug turns] Can you make a staff meeting in about half
an hour?
DOUG [grimacing]: I think I might be busy.
MARK: It wont take long, it's just to welcome Lucy Tennant.
DOUG: This Weaver's idea?
MARK [looks a little defensive]: No, actually it's mine. I thought it
might be nice, you know, welcome her to the team, that kind of thing...
DOUG: You've definitely been spending far too much time with
Morgenstern!
MARK: Just be there.[Doug grins and turns to go. Mark shakes his head,
and turns back towards the desk, to face the smiling nurses.]
Don't worry, you're all invited too!
CAROL: Can't wait.
EXAM ROOM 2
[Doug enters, reading through the patients' charts. There are two
children sitting on the bed, a boy aged about nine and a girl of eleven.
Both children have a rash on their face. Behind them stands a man,
obviously their father, and standing to one side, as far away as possible, is a
young woman. She looks about six months pregnant. The father is cross,
and the children are silent. Doug looks up and smiles as he enters.]
DOUG: Mr Brooks? Hi, I'm Dr Ross.
BROOKS: Jim Brooks. Look doctor...
[Doug ignores him and looks down at the two children.]
DOUG: And I guess you guys are the patients? [The boy exchanges a glance
with his sister. She nudges him gently, and he looks away. Doug grabs a
stool, and sits down in front of them.] Okay, let's take a look.
BROOKS [is irritated, and impatient]: It just came on overnight. They
were fine yesterday. It's typical, the kid next door had German measles,
and Janet didn't bother telling me! I can't believe it, even of her! I
mean she knows Lynda's pregnant, for God's sake!
[Doug continues his examination in silence for a moment. Then he speaks
to the boy]
DOUG: It's Sam, right? [Sam looks at his sister before nodding] Okay,
Sam. Can you take off your T-shirt? I want to take a look at your chest.
[Sam pulls off his shirt: the rash is all over him]
BROOKS: What about my wife, doctor, will it damage the baby?
DOUG [Still concentrating on the child, he speaks to the father. He's
obviously unimpressed with the man's lack of concern for his children]:
I very much doubt it, Mr Brooks. [Then, looking up at the children he
addresses himself to the girl] Now let me see, if this is Sam, you must
be Joanne? [Joanne nods silently. She looks tense and unhappy] So, were
you guys playing out in the yard yesterday?
JOANNE [her voice is low, hard to hear]: No.
BROOKS: I don't have a yard. We live in an apartment.
DOUG [still talking to the children]: So, what did you do yesterday?
JOANNE: Watched TV.
DOUG: All day? You didn't go out at all?
LYNDA [stirring from her position at the other side of the room] : I
took them to the mall.
DOUG [looking up at her]: You didn't go to a park or anything?
LYNDA [defensive]: No...they only just flew in yesterday. They were
tired. Look, will this take long? I have to get to work.
DOUG [turns to examine Joanne]: Flying eh? Where've you been?
JOANNE: Nowhere.
BROOKS: They've come to stay with me for the summer.
DOUG: I see. So, where d'you guys live the rest of the year?
JOANNE: Wichita Falls, Texas.
DOUG: Texas! So you're a cowboy then Sam?
SAM [grinning]: No.
DOUG [tousles his hair]: Okay, you can put your shirt back on.
BROOKS: So, what about my wife?
DOUG: Your wife is fine. Why don't you both take a seat outside?
BROOKS: What for?
DOUG: I want to run some tests.
BROOKS: What tests? It's just German measles. [He pauses] It IS just
German measles, isn't it?
DOUG [ushering the man towards the door]: It's just routine, Mr Brooks.
[Malik is passing in the corridor outside, and Doug grabs him]
Malik show Mr and Mrs Brooks to the waiting area, will you?
[Muttering protests, they follow Malik. Behind them, in the examination
room, Sam and Joanne exchange a worried glance.]
OUTSIDE THE ER
[Lucy Tennant approaches the door. She holds a letter in her hand,
which she stuffs into her pocket as she enters. She's nervous,
and excited.
It's her first shift. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she enters.]
ER
[Chaos. The EMTs are back with a hit and run. Mark and Kerry
Weaver are dealing. They disappear into the trauma room just as
Lucy enters. She stops and watches the swinging door for a moment,
before heading towards the doctor's lounge.]
TRAUMA 1
MARK [getting ready to move the patient from the gurney to the bed]:
Okay, on my mark. One, two, three.
[They shift the woman onto the bed, and the EMTs depart with the
gurney. The ER staff get busy.]
MARK: Kerry, will you intubate please?
KERRY: Sure.
[Carol grabs the intubation tray, and swings it towards Kerry.]
CAROL: BP's dropping.
MARK: She's in shock. Start two large-bore IVs, normal
saline, wide open.
[He's listening to the woman's chest and looks concerned.]
KERRY: I'm in!
MARK [very concerned]: No breath sounds, hyperresonant on
the left side. She's got a tension pneumo. Get me a chest tube, stat!
DOCTOR'S LOUNGE
[Most people are assembled, but no one's very interested in being
there.
Lucy is standing at the back, looking small and nervous. Mark is
late.]
DOUG: So, if Mark doesn't turn up, you think we can all sneak off
early?
HALEH: Well, I'm on my breakfast break in five, so he'd better hurry.
CONNIE: What's this all about anyhow?
HALEH: Don't know, but it better not disturb my breakfast.
DOUG: We're welcoming Susan's replacement.
HALEH: Is that ALL? I've got work to do!
[No one notices Lucy, who is trying to sink into the wall she's
leaning on. Her pale face has turned pink with embarrassment.]
CHUNI: I think it's a nice idea!
DOUG: Maybe, but it's obvious what's going on here. Mark's just
overcompensating because she's Susan's replacement, and he doesn't
want anyone to think...
[Before he can expound his theory further, Mark hurries in, with
Carol on his heels.]
MARK: Hi. Okay, sorry I'm late, but this wont take long.
HALEH: Well, I'm on breakfast in three minutes!
MARK [looks at her, slightly irritated]: All right! Urm...
[He looks around, and eventually spots Lucy. She's dying! Mark waves
her over. With great reluctance she prises herself away from the wall,
and makes her way through the crowd. Those concerned look a little
sheepish, but stifle their giggles.]
MARK: Okay, this is Dr Lucy Tennant, she's a second year resident,
and will be with us for the rest of this year. She's over from England,
so I'm sure we'll all be even more friendly than we usually are.
[He turns to face her...] Lucy?
[Startled, Lucy blushes again. Speak? Me? She clears her throat.]
LUCY: Hello everyone. It's nice to meet you all...I'm really excited
to be here, and... [She runs out of words. The room falls into silence
and the stony faces of the ER staff watch her implacably. It's not
what she's used to.]
MARK [comes to the rescue]: Well, I'm sure we all hope that you'll
settle in okay, but please ask if you have any questions, about
anything at all.
LUCY [smiles, feeling like an idiot]: Of course. Thank you.
HALEH: Are we done?
MARK: Yes we're done. Thank you for your PATIENCE, Haleh. [Haleh
shrugs carelessly as she leaves, and Lucy watches her go with concern.
Mark leans towards her, speaking in a low voice.]
MARK: Don't worry, she's like that with everyone.
LUCY: Oh, I see.
[Doug approaches them as the rest of the staff file out of the room.]
DOUG: Mark, have you got a minute?
MARK: Sure. [He turns to Lucy] I'll join you shortly. Carol will
assign your patients and...
LUCY: That's fine. I'll be fine on my own.
MARK: Really? Okay. Well, just ask, you know, if you have any
questions...
LUCY: That's what I usually do.
MARK: Great. Okay, good. [He turns back to Doug as Lucy leaves the
lounge.]
ADMISSIONS DESK
[Jerry is still eating donuts, and is now wearing a large, ridiculous
looking Uncle Sam hat. He has draped Stars and Stripes bunting
haphazardly across the desk. Jeanie is trying to work, but the
bunting is getting in the way of the computer. Each time she pushes
it up, it falls down across the screen. At last she turns to Jerry in
irritation.]
JEANIE: Can we get this out of the way?
JERRY [protesting]: It's the Fourth of July!
JEANIE: I know that Jerry, but this is really in the way.
JERRY: Where's your holiday spirit?
JEANIE: You don't have to take it down, just move it out the way.
[Grumbling, Jerry licks donut and sugar off his fingers before getting
to work on the bunting.]
JEANIE [gives him a mischievous sideways glance]: You shouldn't be
wearing that hat anyway.
JERRY: Why not?
JEANIE [straight faced, working on the computer and not looking at him]:
Because of Dr Tennant. She's English.
JERRY: So what?
JEANIE: Well, you don't want to upset her.
JERRY [frowns, and then his eyes open wide]: You mean about
Independence day? I hadn't thought of that.
JEANIE [repressing a smile]: She might be offended.
JERRY: Do you think so?
JEANIE: You never know. Oh, watch out. Here she comes.
[Carol and Lucy walk up to the desk. Jerry whips the hat off
immediately, and tries to hide it under the counter. Carol
gives him a curious glance, but doesn't bother to ask what he's doing.
She gave up on that a long time ago. Lucy doesn't even notice the
fuss.]
CAROL [consults the board, and picks up the relevant charts]: Okay,
you've got a choice. There's a wheezer in 4 or a fainting college
girl in 1.
LUCY: I'll take them both.
CAROL [shrugs]: Okay. You know where you're going?
LUCY [nods towards the examination rooms]: That way, right?
[Carol nods, as Lucy turns and walks away.]
JEANIE [looks up from her work]: She seems nice.
CAROL: A bit quiet.
JEANIE [turning back to the computer]: That doesn't mean anything.
She's probably just shy.
OUTSIDE EXAM ROOM 2
[Mark is looking through the window at the two children. They're
sitting quietly together, almost huddling. They look small and
frightened.]
MARK: So, what's the problem?
DOUG: The father thinks it's German measles. Apparently they were
exposed to it at home, before they came up to visit for the summer.
MARK [waiting for more...and?]
DOUG [continues]: It's not German measles. It's poison ivy. But they
say they've been inside for the last couple of days, and the rash is
all over them. These kids must have been rolling naked in the stuff.
MARK [looks back through the window]: What are you thinking?
DOUG: I don't know. Something's odd here. I'm going to talk to them
some more. [He looks down, awkward] The father is...not too concerned.
In fact he's quite...[looking up]...irritating.
MARK: You want me to talk to him?
DOUG [grimacing]: Would you mind? I just don't think I'll get much
out of him.
MARK [nods]: Is he in the waiting room?
DOUG: Yeah, Jim Brooks. Thanks Mark.
MARK: Sure.
ADMISSIONS DESK
MARK [walks up and talks to Carol]: How are we doing?
Carol: Not bad. Pretty quiet. Dr Tennant took the last two.
MARK: She did? I'd better go see how she's doing.
CAROL: She didn't look like she needed help. She's already
discharged one.
MARK: Discharged? Let me see the chart.
[Carol shakes her head, as she digs about and hands Mark the chart.
He reads it, flipping backwards and forwards through the papers.
Eventually he nods and hands it back to Carol, a little embarrassed.]
MARK: It looks okay. What else has she got?
CAROL: Nineteen year old girl, passed out during one of her classes
at school.
MARK: Exam room...?
CAROL: One
[Mark heads off, then stops and spins on his heel.]
MARK: Carol? Is there a Mr Brooks waiting?
CAROL: With the German measles kids?
MARK: U-huh
CAROL [nods towards the waiting area]: Guy fighting the drinks
machine.
[Mark looks over, to see Mr Brooks thumping angrily at the machine.
His wife is sitting nearby, fanning herself with a magazine. Mark
resigns himself.]
MARK: Thanks.
[He weaves his way through the waiting room, until he is behind Mr Brooks.
Brooks doesn't notice him.]
BROOKS: Give me my damned quarter back! [he thumps the machine again]
MARK: Mr Brooks?
BROOKS [turns to face him]: Yes, what?...Oh, hi.
MARK: I'm Dr Greene. Could I have a word with you?
BROOKS: About the kids?
MARK [nods]: Yes. Why don't we go somewhere quieter?
BROOKS: Are they okay? The other doctor said he had to do some tests...
MARK [starting to usher Mr and Mrs Brooks away]: They're fine.
[Mark leads them into a quiet corner, and draws a curtain around.]
MARK: Now, this might seem a strange question, but are you sure the
kids weren't playing outside yesterday, or this morning?
BROOKS: Look, what is this? We already told the other doctor - what
was his name? Ross? [Mark nods] We told him they've been inside the
whole time they've been here.
MARK [nods again]: All right. The thing is, what your kids have
seems to be a rash from poison ivy.
BROOKS: Poison ivy? [He smiles] Then there's no risk to the baby?
MARK [looks over at Lynda, who is smiling at her husband]: No,
none at all.
BROOKS: Oh, that's a relief. Thank you doctor...?
MARK: Greene.
BROOKS: Well, we wont waste any more of your time. We'll just
grab the kids and go.
MARK: The children are still with Dr Ross. We're trying to figure
out how come they're covered in poison ivy, when they've been inside
for the last two days. You got any ideas?
BROOKS [shakes his head]: Who knows what those kids do with themselves?
They're a mystery to me, and I'm their father.
MARK [smiles in shared sympathy. Rachel seems like a mystery to him
sometimes]: Has anything like this happened before?
BROOKS: I don't think so. [He looks awkward] They don't live with me,
you see. Their mother might know, but she probably wouldn't tell me.
MARK [nods in understanding]: I see. [He stands up] Well, Dr Ross
is talking to them, so perhaps he can get to the bottom of it.
LYNDA: Dr Greene? [Mark turns] Is this going to take long?
I have to get to work.
MARK: Probably not long.
BROOKS: If they're not sick, we can go anyway, right?
MARK: Sure. But we'll give them something for the rash. It's pretty
unpleasant.
BROOKS: Oh, right. [He shakes his head, grumbling] This is a great
start to my vacation!
EXAM ROOM 1
[Lucy is examining a girl, about 19 years old, who looks faint and worried.
A boy, Joe, about the same age, is sitting nervously beside her.]
LUCY: Have you ever fainted before, Rebecca?
REBECCA: No. Never.
LUCY: Can you describe what happened?
REBECCA: Well I had an eight o'clock class, and I overslept, so I got up in
a hurry, and skipped breakfast. I was really hungry, but I didn't have
time to eat. And then in the class I started to feel really nauseous, so I
went to the bathroom, and on the way there I fainted.
LUCY: Are you taking any medication?
REBECCA [looks away when she answers]: No.
LUCY [her suspicions are aroused. She starts to take Rebecca's blood
pressure]: If you've taken anything illegal, you should tell me. It wont
go any further than me, but I need to know.
[Joe gives her a significant look, but Rebecca shakes her head slightly.]
REBECCA: I've never taken anything like that. I promise. [She rubs
absently at her left thigh, and winces slightly. Lucy doesn't notice, as
she's concentrating on taking Rebecca's blood pressure]
LUCY: All right. [She watches the blood pressure gauge for a moment] A
little high. Right, I just want to run a couple of tests, so I'll need a
urine sample.
REBECCA: I don't know if I can stand up, I still feel pretty light headed.
LUCY: Well, the other option's a catheter, I'm afraid.
REBECCA [her eyes go wide]: I'll make it to the bathroom.
LUCY: Good. A nurse will be along shortly to tell you what to do, and
she'll also take some blood.
[Rebecca nods, and Joe reaches out and holds her hand.]
LUCY [smiles at them]: Don't worry, there's nothing to it. I'll come back
and talk to you later. Okay?
REBECCA: Okay. Thanks Doctor.
[Lucy smiles again, and leaves the room. Just as she walks out the door
she bumps into Mark, who's about to check up on her. He turns and walks
with her along the corridor.]
MARK: So how's it going? I'm sorry I've left you on your own...
LUCY: I'm fine, thanks Mark. I prefer to just get stuck into it, you know?
MARK: Yeah, I'm the same. So, what you got here?
LUCY [frowns slightly]: I'm not sure exactly. Nineteen year old girl,
passed out in the middle of class, but no previous history. She says she
missed breakfast.
MARK: Not unusual I guess.
LUCY: No, but her BP's high, and she got quite evasive when I asked her if
she was taking medication. She insists it's nothing illegal.
MARK: You going to run a tox screen?
LUCY: Yeah, I think so. And a urinalysis. She's probably just pregnant.
MARK [nods in agreement, and smiles]: Probably. You know what these
co-eds are like!
LUCY [doesn't understand him]: Co-eds?
MARK: You don't know that phrase?
LUCY [shaking her head]: No.
MARK: It just means kind of free and easy college girls.
LUCY [with a straight face, feigning a disapproving voice]: Oh, well we
don't have any of those in England, you know.
[Mark is not quite sure what to make of her. He sort of half laughs, but
isn't comfy. Lucy looks at him sideways.]
LUCY: Only joking, Dr Greene.
MARK: Oh, right.
[Lucy smiles. She has a charming smile. Mark notices it for the first
time, and smiles back at her. They've stopped walking.]
CAROL [interrupts the conversation, shouting from the Admissions desk]:
Mark! GSW to the chest. EMTs are two minutes away.
MARK: Got it! [to Lucy] You free?
LUCY: Yep. Let's go.
[They get outside just as the ambulance pulls up and the EMTs jump out with
the patient.]
TRAUMA SCENE
Lucy impresses Mark, and the nurses, with her ability. In the trauma room
she's confident and highly competent. She saves the man's life despite the odds, and
Mark steps back and lets her take over.
LUCY: Okay, he's relatively stable now; let's try adenosine, six milligrams
IV push. And is the OR ready for us?
CAROL: Benton's up there, ready to go.
MARK: Need a hand on the way up?
LUCY: No, I've got it. [She flashes him her smile again] Thanks though,
Dr Greene.
MARK: You're welcome. And watch out for Benton. His bite's worse than his
bark.
LUCY: I'll be careful. Okay, let's go!
[They rush the patient out to the lifts. Mark watches them go, more
impressed with her than he'd like to be. No one can replace Susan, of
course, but Lucy is not only competent, but likeable too. She's different
from Susan, very different, slightly exotic, slightly confusing, but
definitely likeable. Lucy IS Susan's replacement. But can anyone ever
really replace her?]
ACT 2
EXAM ROOM 2
[Doug is pretending to examine the children. He's looking down their
throats, listening to their breathing and so on. In fact he's just talking
to them, but he's covering. He wants them to explain what's going on.]
DOUG: So, Joanne, how long're you guys in Chicago?
JOANNE: Three weeks and two days, not counting today.
DOUG: Three weeks and two days! That's pretty accurate.
[Joanne doesn't reply. She looks down, and scratches at her arm.]
DOUG: So, you enjoy staying with your Dad?
JOANNE: It's okay.
DOUG: I guess you must come up here quite a lot then.
[Mark enters, but when he sees Doug in conversation he stops just inside
the door.]
JOANNE: We have to come until we're sixteen. It's in the divorce.
DOUG: Oh, I see. [He knows Mark is there, and casts half a glance towards
him. He's afraid of the direction the conversation is taking: he knows
where his friend is sensitive. But he presses on nonetheless] And what
happens when you're sixteen?
JOANNE [with unexpected heat]: We're never coming again, are we Sam?
[Sam shakes his head in vehement agreement]
JOANNE [looks over at Sam]: I'll have to keep coming until he's sixteen
too though.
DOUG: Why's that?
JOANNE [shrugs - "isn't it obvious?"]: Otherwise he'd have to come on his
own.
DOUG [nods in understanding, and turns his attention to the boy]: So how
about you Sam? You don't like coming here either? [Sam shakes his head -
"no"] How come? Chicago's a pretty cool town, isn't it?
SAM: I miss my Mom, and Solo.
DOUG: Solo? Who's Solo?
SAM: My dog.
[Mark has been watching the whole thing. The children's words nestle into
his gut like ice. Is this how Rachel feels? He's staring at them,
terrified.]
[Doug sits down in front of the children, chin resting on his hands. He
looks at them for a while, but neither of the children say anything.]
DOUG: So Sam, when did your neighbour have German measles?
SAM: At Christmas. He had to stay home when...
JOANNE [nudges him violently and hisses at him]: SAM!
[Sam slaps a guilty hand over his lips - he's let the secret out.]
DOUG: Christmas was a long time ago, Sam. [He sighs, and looks earnestly
at the children] You know, I don't think you guys have German measles at
all.
[Sam immediately looks to his older sister, but Joanne is transfixed,
staring at Doug in sudden despair. Her plans are falling apart. Doug
reaches out and touches her arm.]
DOUG: It's okay Joanne. You're not in trouble.
[Mark is watching the scene, bemused. He doesn't yet understand what's
happening, but Doug knows.]
DOUG: Will you tell me what's going on?
[Joanne continues looking at him for a moment, before her face crumples
into tears, and she hangs her head. She reminds Mark of Rachel, and he
watches with concern.]
[Sam reaches out and puts his arm around his sister. He whispers something
to her, trying to make her laugh, but she can't.]
DOUG [watches them in real pity]: Can you tell me, Sam?
SAM [asks his sister in a whisper and she grants her permission with a
nod]: If we had German measles, Dad would've sent us home, because it
might hurt his baby.
DOUG [nods. That's what he suspected]: How did you get the rash?
[Sam looks down, confused. It was meant to be a secret. Should he tell?]
DOUG: It's all right Sam, I'm not cross. I just want to make sure you and
your sister are going to be okay.
[Sam looks over to Joanne, but she's still crying, and can't help him. He
looks back at Doug, who smiles encouragingly. After a long, uncertain
pause, he speaks.]
SAM: It's made by poison ivy. We put in on last night.
DOUG: Last night?
SAM: When we were in bed. We brought it from home, in a bag with water in
to keep it alive.
JOANNE [lifts her head, and wipes her nose, trying to speak through her
tears]: We just wanted to go home. Please don't tell my Dad, he'll really
hate us then.
[Mark grimaces in the background.]
DOUG: I'm sure your Dad won't hate you, Joanne.
[Joanne's face is lifeless, and she says nothing. She doesn't believe it
She looks down, hopeless, miserable.]
SAM [is still hopeful]: Can you tell him we've got German measles?
DOUG: I'm sorry Sam, I can't do that.
[Sam's face falls and Doug shifts awkwardly in his chair]
DOUG: If your Dad is mean to you, if he hurts you, you can tell me, and
then you wont have to stay with him anymore.
JOANNE [looks up, shocked, almost embarrassed at the insinuation]: No! He
doesn't do that.
SAM [shaking his head]: No. He doesn't hurt us.
[Doug sighs. Not physically, perhaps, but the hurt in these children is
palpable.]
DOUG: Okay. Then I'm going to give you something to help stop the itching,
and then you're going to have to go with your Dad.
[Joanne and Sam look resigned, dull, lifeless, withdrawing from a painful
world.]
[Doug stands up, and walks to the door where Mark is standing. They
exchange a look, and leave the room.]
OUTSIDE EXAM ROOM 2
[Doug runs a hand through his hair, and sighs.]
DOUG: It's tough.
MARK [is horror struck by what he's heard. He refuses to believe that
Rachel might feel like this. It's just these kids, that's all. His cold
fear is evident in the snap of his voice]: They're just playing up.
DOUG [looks up sharply]: It's more than that. Didn't you see their faces?
MARK [almost hopeful]: You think they're abused?
DOUG [shakes his head, and studies his toes]: No. No more than any other
kids who only see their father ...[he falters to a halt, suddenly aware of
who he's talking to. Sighing, he shakes his head] They just seem so hurt,
you know? I remember that feeling.
MARK [is feeling decidedly uncomfortable; defensive anger is bubbling below
the surface]: Not every father is like yours, Doug.
DOUG: I know. I know that. [He takes a deep breath] So what are we going
to tell Mr Brooks?
MARK: The truth. What else?
DOUG: Come on Mark, we don't have to. I'll just say it was an allergic
reaction...
MARK [interrupting, irritable now]: He has a right to know. They are still
his kids.
DOUG [beginning to catch Mark's anger, scowls]: He was more worried about
his pretty new wife than his kids.
MARK: We can't lie to him.
DOUG: I'm not going to lie. I'm just going to be economical with the
truth.
MARK: Tell him the whole truth, Doug.
DOUG: What good's it going to do?
MARK: It's not our choice. HE'S their father!
DOUG [Other, older, deeper anger is rising to the surface]: Is he?
Father's raise their kids Mark. They don't just see them when they feel
like it!
MARK [is stunned, and guilt, justifiable or not, makes him angry]: What're
you saying Doug?
DOUG [holds his hands up to placate]: Not you...sorry, I wasn't thinking
I didn't mean you.
[Mark glares at his friend, too angry and hurt to continue the conversation.
What if Doug's right? What if Rachel feels the same? Does she hate visiting him?
Does she hate him?]
MARK: Just tell the father what happened, and get the kids out of here. We need the room.
DOUG [still angry]: You're being totally unreasonable! It's just poison
ivy for Christ's sake - what does it matter if the father doesn't know?
These kids are just trying to deal with a tough situation. You know the
wife's pregnant? Can you imagine how that makes them feel? They just want
to go home.
MARK [is furious, but trying to keep his voice down]: Doug you're a
doctor, not a social worker! [He pauses] Anyway, I already told Mr Brooks
about the poison ivy.
DOUG [stares]: Oh, I see. Well that's just great.
MARK [clips his words angrily]: You wanted me to talk to him, so I did. He
has a right to know.
DOUG: Yeah parent's have all the rights, don't they? No one gives a damn
about what the kids want.
MARK [snaps angrily back]: Kids don't know what they want!
DOUG [words are on the tip of his tongue, hurtful words about Rachel, but
he swallows them. Trying to repress his anger, he adopts a different
tack]: Why don't you talk to them Mark? YOU see if they know what they
want.
MARK [dissembling]: I don't have time.
DOUG: Really? [He begins to walk away]. You're not afraid of what you
might hear, are you?
[Mark watches him go with a frown, and then turns and looks at the children
through the Exam Room window.]
ADMISSIONS DESK
[Jerry is organising a 4th of July trip to the lake front, where there's
going to be a large fireworks display, barbecue, funfair - the works.
Jeanie, Carol and Haleh are working at the desk with him.]
JERRY [turning to Jeanie]: So, are you coming to the fireworks then?
JEANIE: I don't know yet Jerry. What time does it start?
JERRY: The big kaboom starts about nine.
JEANIE [nods, considering]: Maybe. I've got an early start tomorrow
though...
JERRY: Come on, it's only once a year, and the hot dogs are great!
JEANIE: I'll think about it.[To the nurses] How about you guys?
CAROL: Yeah, sounds like fun. And I have two days off coming up!
[Mark walks up, still irritated from his conversation with Doug.]
CAROL: You coming tonight?
MARK: Coming where?
JERRY: Fireworks by the lake - it's gonna be good. Fairground and everything.
MARK [shakes his head]: I don't think so.
CAROL: Come on, it'll be fun.
MARK: No, thanks. I might go see Rachel.
CAROL: I thought you were on early tomorrow?
MARK: I am.
CAROL [raises her eyebrows]: That's a long trip for a short evening.
MARK [his irritation with Doug makes him snap at her]: She's my daughter,
I can see her when I like!
CAROL [backs off]: Sure, why not?
[Mark is embarrassed. He looks up, about to apologise, when Lucy
approaches the desk.]
JERRY [hisses]: Don't mention the fireworks!
MARK & CAROL: What?
LUCY [She's slightly shy of all the people, but pleased to see Mark. She
smiles at him, and he cheers up without realising it]: Jerry, have the
labs come back on Rebecca Pourroy?
JERRY: Yeah, hang on. [He rummages around until he finds the documents.
In the process, getting the chart caught up in the bunting that is still
draped across the desk] I'm sorry about this, Dr Tennant. [Lucy shrugs] I
hope it doesn't offend you?
LUCY: You hope what doesn't offend me?
JERRY: The bunting.
LUCY [She looks down at the bunting, puzzled. She is genuinely confused.
Afraid she's being teased, she looks to Mark, but he's just as perplexed.
Cautiously she asks]: Why should I be offended?
JERRY: Well, you know. Because of what day it is.
[Jeanie is listening in high amusement, and exchanges a laughing glance
with Mark, who just shakes his head in confusion.]
LUCY: What day is it, exactly?
JERRY [awkward now]: You know, urm, 4th of July?
LUCY [has caught on, and she's going to take him for a ride. But she keeps
her face blank]: And what's significant about that? The day after the
3rd?
JERRY: No! [he's shocked at her ignorance] It's Independence Day!
LUCY [shakes her head dismissively]: Oh, that's not today.
JERRY [looks around at the others with an astonished smile - it's not every
day he gets to out-wit a doctor]: I think you'll find that it is!
LUCY [shakes her head]: It's the sixth.
JERRY: What?
LUCY: Independence was declared on the sixth of July.
JERRY: You're kidding!
LUCY: Nope. All they did was sign it on the fourth. Sorry, Jerry [she
shrugs] There goes two hundred years of tradition, eh?
JERRY [is sceptical. He looks about him for support]: She's kidding,
right?
MARK: Don't look at me! I'm just a doctor.
LUCY: Thanks for reminding me though Jerry. I'll have to dig out my
regulation black arm-band.
[Jerry doesn't know what to make of that. Is she joking? Mark understands,
and smiles; something about her entertains him. Lucy turns and walks away, shaking
her head and smiling a little as she reads the lab results.]
MARK [turning to Jerry]: What on earth made you say that?
JERRY: What?
MARK: Jerry, I doubt she really cares about a two hundred year old war.
JERRY: But Jeanie said...
[Mark turns to her, and she flashes him an innocent smile. He groans.]
MARK: I'll be in the canteen if anyone needs me. Anyone sane, that is!
[Just as Mark leaves, Doug sidles up to the desk. He's looking a little
furtive.]
DOUG: Carol, where's Mark?
CAROL: The canteen. You want me to page him?
DOUG [quickly]: NO! [a little calmer] No. I'm just about to discharge the
Brooks kids in 2. Where's the father?
CAROL [nodding towards the waiting room]: Back row.
DOUG: Thanks. [He hurries off towards Mr and Mrs Brooks, and sits down
next to them in the waiting room. He's explaining something.]
OUTSIDE EXAM ROOM 2
Mark is on his way to the canteen. He passes Exam Room 2, and sees the two
Brooks children sitting quietly by themselves. He keeps walking for a
moment or two, before he stops and reluctantly turns around. Standing
still for a moment he considers, and decides. With some trepidation, he
returns to the room and enters.
EXAM ROOM 2
MARK [enters, closing the door behind him]: Hi. My name's Mark Greene.
Can I talk to you for a while?
SAM: Are you a doctor too?
MARK: Yes I am. [He sits down in front of them: he's nervous.] I hear
that you guys were pretending to be sick, because you don't want to stay
here with your Dad. Is that right? [The children are silent. Mark
presses on]: I also hear that you don't want us to tell your Dad that you
were faking. [They maintain their silence, and Mark awkwardly clears his
throat. This is harder than he anticipated] I think your Dad should know
that you're unhappy when you come here, don't you?
JOANNE [sullenly breaks the silence]: No. He'd just be mad.
MARK: Why would he be mad?
JOANNE [shrugs]: He always is.
MARK [is flummoxed]: Well, have you told him what it is that makes you
unhappy?
JOANNE: What's the point? [Her voice is tinged by a sudden anger] We
still have to come. It's in the divorce.
MARK [looks down, thinking]: It's only in the divorce because your Dad
wants to see you. If you tell him how you feel, I'm sure he'll try and
make things better for you.
JOANNE [bitterly]: He doesn't care.
MARK: Now, I'm sure that isn't true. He probably just doesn't know how
you feel. And he wont, unless you tell him.
JOANNE: He does know, but he doesn't care.
MARK: How can he know, if you don't tell him?
JOANNE [sudden angry tears are standing in her eyes]: I did tell him. I
told him it was my best friend's birthday party tomorrow; I told him I
didn't want to come this week.
MARK [quietly, unsure of himself]: And what did he say?
JOANNE [it's as though a dam has been opened within her. Anger floods into
her small frame, making her voice tremble as she fights to repress it]: He
was mad at me. He said he couldn't get any other time off work. He said I
should be looking forward to seeing him.
MARK [watches Joanne with pity. But instinctively, he understands her
father's perspective]: Your Dad must really miss you guys. He probably
couldn't wait to see you.
JOANNE [her voice is too bitter for a child of eleven]: He doesn't even
want us here! We just get in his way. I hate him. I wish he was dead.
SAM [speaks up for the first time]: Shhh! Jo! Mom said you mustn't say
that in case it comes true.
JOANNE [is crying angry tears]: I don't care! I hope it does come true!
[Mark is astonished at the venom in her voice, but he's overwhelmed with
pity too. He tries to put a comforting arm about her shoulders, but she
pushes him angrily away]
JOANNE [tries to control herself. She stifles her tears and brutally
represses the sudden flood of anger. She looks up at Mark with serious,
hurt-filled eyes]: We just want to go home.
MARK [meets her gaze with his own]: I have a daughter, called Rachel, and
she lives with her Mom. But if I thought she was unhappy when she came to
see me, I'd do everything I could to change that. And I'm sure your Dad
would do the same, if he understood. You have to tell him.
JOANNE [her anger has disappeared, ruthlessly suppressed. In its place is
despondent resignation]: There's no point.
[The door to the exam room opens, and Chuni enters.}
CHUNI: Oh, hi Mark. I've just come to give these guys their antihistamine.
MARK [gets to his feet]: Okay, go ahead. [He turns back to Joanne] Will
you think about it?
JOANNE [shrugs]: There's no point. [She stares at him for a moment] Are
you going to tell him what we did?
MARK [can't meet her gaze, and looks away]: I think he has a right to know.
He IS your Dad.
[Joanne says nothing. Her face is expressionless as she retreats within
herself. Mark looks at her once, before he turns and walks to the door.
Just as he opens it, Joanne speaks in a terribly cold, controlled voice]
JOANNE: He's NOT my Dad, Doctor Greene. He's just my father.
[Mark is momentarily halted by her words. With a grim expression he leav=
es
the room.]
ACT TWO
EXAM ROOM 1
[Rebecca is still lying on the bed. As Lucy enters, Rebecca suddenly
throws up in a bowl Joe is holding. Lucy rushes over, and helps ease her
back into the bed. She finds a damp cloth and hands it to Rebecca, who
wipes her mouth.]
LUCY: Still feeling rough, eh?
[Rebecca nods mutely. She's frightened and upset.]
LUCY [sits down next to the bed. She's serious]: I want to talk to you,
Rebecca. It's about your test results.
[Rebecca's eyes widen, and she looks over at Joe, really frightened now.]
LUCY: The level of oestrogen in your blood is very high, Rebecca. [She
pauses, hoping Rebecca will volunteer some information, but Rebecca doesn't
respond]: Are you taking the birth control pill?
REBECCA [quietly, looking away]: No.
[Joe looks over at Lucy, he's worried. Rebecca suddenly winces, and holds
her thigh.]
LUCY: What's the matter?
REBECCA: Nothing, just a cramp. I woke up with it.
LUCY [frowns, and stands up]: Rebecca, I don't think you're telling me the
truth. And if you don't, I can't help you.
JOE [gives Rebecca a steady look]: You have to tell her, Becky.
REBECCA: Shut up! [She rubs at her thigh again.]
LUCY: Whatever it is, it's okay. You wont be in trouble, but I have to
know.
[Rebecca glares at Joe, before glancing at Lucy. She's obviously
apprehensive. Lucy gives her an encouraging smile.]
REBECCA [looking down, ashamed]: I took the Morning After Pill.
LUCY [is stunned. Is that all? What's the big deal? She replies slowly,
carefully]: Okay. Well, it's not a form of birth control I'd choose, but
in an emergency there's nothing wrong with it.
REBECCA [takes a deep, relieved breath]: Thank God.
LUCY [is confused]: Why didn't you tell me before, Rebecca? We could've
saved a lot of time here.
REBECCA [is chagrined, and looks up at Lucy, confused and upset]: The
doctor told me not to tell anyone. He said that some doctor's say it's the
same as an abortion, and that they wouldn't treat me if they knew what I'd
taken.
LUCY [stares, astonished]: What doctor told you that?!
REBECCA: Dr Rennie, at the campus medical centre.
LUCY [shaking her head]: Of all the irresponsible, ridiculous things to
say. I can't believe it!
[Rebecca is clearly relieved, but winces again and rubs at her leg. Lucys
amazement suddenly dissolves as she takes in the meaning of Rebecca's leg
pain.]
LUCY: Rebecca, how long has your leg been hurting?
REBECCA [is surprised by Lucy's suddenly urgent tone]: Since this morning.
I probably slept funny.
LUCY: Let me see. [She pulls the gown back, and feels Rebecca's leg.
There's a lump. Lucy's very concerned now, but tries not to alarm Rebecca]
Rebecca, I think you may have something called a thrombosis. Do you know
what that is?
REBECCA [shakes her head, eyes wide. She's terrified]: No.
LUCY [clasps her hands together, trying not to frighten the girl more than
is inevitable]: It's a blood clot in your vein, Rebecca. It can be very
dangerous, so you're going to need an operation straight away.
REBECCA: Oh my God!
JOE: Was it caused by the pills?
LUCY: It can be a side effect, yes. In this case it probably was.
[Rebecca begins to cry, and Joe puts his arm around her.]
JOE: It's going to be okay. Don't worry. I'm going to stay right here.
REBECCA: I'm sorry. This isn't how I imagined it.
JOE [frowning, looking miserable]: Me neither. I'm the one who should be
sorry, Becky. It's all my fault.
[He holds her close, as she begins to cry some more.]
LUCY: I'm going to send you up to surgery straight away Rebecca, but Joe's
right. Try not to worry.
[Slightly awkward, Lucy leaves the room, rushing back to the admissions
desk. It's empty. Damn it! Where IS everyone? She flings open the door
to the doctor's lounge, and startles Mark, who's pouring himself a cup of
coffee. He spills it.]
LUCY: Sorry, Mark, but I've got a kid with a deep-vein thrombosis in One.
I need to get her up to the OR now, but I can't find anyone!
MARK: Thrombosis? Are you sure?
LUCY [frowns at him]: I'm sure. Why? D'you want to check for yourself?
MARK [forcing himself to trust her]: No, no. I'm sure you're right.
[He walks quickly towards her, and is on her heels through the door.
There's still no one about]: You go find an orderly, I'll call the OR.
[He frowns, and mutters as he dials] Where the hell's Jerry?
[Someone answers the phone.]
MARK: Yeah, hi. This is Mark Greene in the ER. We have a kid with a
deep-vein thrombosis, who needs to get up there right now. [He nods] U-huh,
yep. That's great. She's on her way. Thanks.
LUCY [returns - a couple of orderlies with a gurney are trailing behind
her. She calls to the orderlies]: Exam room one...[then runs back to the
admissions desk] Is it okay?
MARK: They haven't got a bed, but they said send her up anyway.
LUCY [smiles]: That sounds familiar! Okay, see you later. [She turns to
dash off, but looks back] Thanks for your help Mark.
MARK: Sure. I'll just go look for the rest of my staff now!
[She grins, and he smiles back. He just can't seem to help doing that for
some reason.]
CAROL [hurries towards the desk, looking about. She sees Mark]: Mark!
You seen Doug?
MARK [shakes his head]: Not recently, why?
CAROL: There's a kid in four. Doug's got the chart, but hasn't been in to
see him yet.
MARK: They been waiting long?
CAROL [grimaces]: Couple of hours.
MARK [frowns]: I'll deal with it. What's the problem?
CAROL [a smile touches her lips]: Foreign body in the nasal passage.
MARK [sighs]: I knew there was a good reason I didn't go into paediatrics.
[He heads towards the exam rooms, but turns to Carol as he leaves] When
you find Doug, send him down with the chart, will you?
CAROL: Sure.
EXAM ROOM 4
[There's a five year old boy and his mother in the room. The boy is
sitting on his mother's lap, and she's trying to keep him entertained with
a book. But they've been waiting for a long time, and the child his
restless. Mark enters:]
MARK: Hi, I'm Dr Greene.
JEAN: [looking up from the book]: At last!
MARK: I'm sorry you've had to wait, Mrs...?
JEAN: MS. Brodie.
MARK: Okay, Ms Brodie, let's take a look at your son. What's his name?
JEAN: James.
MARK [to the boy]: Hi James. I hear you've got something stuck in your
nose. Is that right?
JAMES: [nods shyly, leaning back into his mother]
JEAN [smiles down at her son, and strokes his head reassuringly. Looking
up, she addresses Mark]: He was sticking Sugar Puffs on his lip, to make
a moustache like his Dad. Then he sniffed, and up they went.
MARK: Sugar Puffs?
JEAN: Right up there. I looked with a flashlight, but I didn't want to go
poking about and hurt him.
MARK: No. Of course not. [Resigning himself] Right, let's take a look
[He finds a small flashlight] Okay James, I'm just going to take a look in
your nose. Is that okay?
JAMES [looks nervously at his mother].
JEAN: It's all right sweetheart. Just tip your head back for the doctor
[gently she pushes his chin back].
MARK [crouches down in front of the child, shining the flashlight up his
nose. He strains to see]: A-ha. Yep, it looks like there's a couple up
here.
[He angles the light differently, and as he does so, it shines into the
boy's eyes. The light makes him sneeze - ATCHOO - right into Mark's face,
Sugar Puffs and all].
MARK [sits down suddenly, in surprise, dropping the light]: Well, that
solved that!
JEAN: Oh, I'm so sorry doctor! [She turns to her son] Why couldn't you have
done that two hours ago, James?
MARK [gets to his feet, and wipes at his face and glasses]: That's all
right Ms Brodie. [He smiles at James] That was quite a sneeze! I'm just
going to risk one more look to make sure it's done the trick. [Crouching
down, Mark retrieves the flashlight from the floor, and peers into James'
nose again.] All clear!
JEAN [is embarrassed]: I hope I haven't wasted your time doctor?
MARK: No problem. [He gets to his feet and turns to James] And you, Sugar
Puffs straight into the mouth next time, right?
[James nods shyly.]
MARK: Good. I don't want you back tomorrow with them in your ears or
something.
[James smiles, and Mark winks at him.]
JEAN: Thanks Doctor.
MARK: Sure.
[Doug enters, holding the boy's chart. Mark turns, still irritated with
Doug, but hiding it in front of the patients.]
DOUG: Carol asked me to drop this in.
MARK: Thank you Dr Ross. [Taking the chart] Actually, we're just done.
DOUG: Okay [he starts to leave the room}
MARK: Hold on. [He smiles a goodbye at the Brodies, and follows Doug out of
the room.] So, did you discharge the Brooks kids?
DOUG: Yep.
MARK: And you told the father the truth?
DOUG [is silent for a while, staring down at his shoes. At last he looks up]:
No, I didn't Mark.
MARK: Tell me you're joking.
[Doug meets the challenge in Mark's eyes, but says nothing.]
MARK [is angry]: I told you to tell him, Doug. You're not getting away
with this. [He turns on his heel and stalks toward the admissions desk]
ADMISSIONS DESK
Jerry is there, modelling a Stars and Stripes waistcoat.
MARK: Jerry. Have the Brooks kids left yet?
JERRY: Who?
MARK: German measles? Guy fighting the Coke machine?
JERRY: Oh, them. [He frowns] Isn't that them? [He nods towards the
stairs, where the family are about to leave the ER]
MARK [doesn't answer, but runs over to the Brooks family]: Mr Brooks!
[Brooks turns when he hears his name called.] Mr Brooks, could I talk to
you for a moment?
BROOKS: What about? We're just leaving.
MARK: I know. I just want to tell you something that I think you should know.
BROOKS: What do you mean? About the kids?
MARK [looks down at the two children. They are watching him with pleading
eyes. Mark begins to falter]: Ah, yes. That's right...
BROOKS: Dr Ross said they were fine.
MARK: Yes. Yes they are. But he didn't tell you everything. I just think
you should know that...[he glances down at them again. Joanne mouths
"Please don't" at him, Sam's hand slips into his sister's. Mark's words
stumble to a standstill. He looks back towards Mr Brooks]
BROOKS: Well? What's the problem?
MARK: I think you should know that...[his eyes flick backwards and
forwards between the children and their father as he speaks]...that your
kids...are...great. You have great kids Mr Brooks, and they deserve to be
happy. And listened to.
BROOKS [looks like he suspects Mark of being a little crazy]: That's it?
MARK [takes a deep breath]: Yes, that was all.
BROOKS: Well, thanks doctor, it's kind of you to say so. [He pauses
awkwardly. Mark feels like an idiot, and Brooks doesn't understand what's
going on. After a long few moments he speaks] Well, we'll be off then. C'mon kids.
[Brooks turns and heads up the stairs, holding his wife's arm. Joanne and
Sam wait a moment before they follow.]
JOANNE: Thanks for not telling.
MARK: You should tell your Dad how you feel.
JOANNE: Why? He doesn't care. Otherwise he wouldn't have left us, would
he?
BROOKS [calls down to them from halfway up the stairs]: Joanne, Sam, come
on! I've already spent a fortune in parking.
[The two children turn immediately and trot up the stairs after their
father. Mark watches them go, disturbed by Joanne's words, and worrying
about Rachel.]
ADMISSIONS DESK
[Lucy steps out of the elevator, back from taking Rebecca up to the OR.
She wonders over to the admissions desk to fill out the paper work. Carol
is working there, as is Jerry, still wearing his festive waistcoat]
LUCY [talking to Carol]: Can I ask you something?
CAROL [looking up from her work]: Sure.
LUCY: I just had this girl, who'd been told that some doctors would refuse
to treat her if they knew she'd taken the Morning After Pill. Is that true?
CAROL [shrugs]: Happens sometimes.
LUCY: Really? Doctor's refuse to treat women who've taken it?
CAROL: Well, not here they don't. But some places. If the doctor has
strong opinions...
LUCY [shaking her head]: That's outrageous. How can they still be allowed
to practice?
CAROL: They're not breaking any laws.
LUCY: I'm amazed. I'm really amazed.
[Mark walks past the desk, deep in thought, and disappears into the lounge.
Doug hurries after him a few moments later, his face a thunderhead. Lucy
watches them in surprise, and looks over at Carol with a question in her
eyes.]
CAROL: They're friends. Most of the time. But occasionally things get a
bit tense. They'll be okay.
LUCY: Right. [She pauses] Mark seems nice.
CAROL [looks up again]: Yes, he's great. [Turning back to her work she
adopts a casual tone: she's trying to put Lucy on her guard] But he's
suffering from a broken heart right now.
LUCY: Oh?
CAROL: Susan Lewis. The doctor you're replacing? Well, they had this
kind of thing going.
LUCY: I see.
CAROL: But it never actually got going, if you see what I mean.
LUCY [understanding and smiling]: Ooh. Unrequited love? The worst kind!
Very dangerous.
CAROL [smiles too, warming to Lucy]: He should really have a warning sign
round his neck - DANGER! Stay clear for at least twelve months!
[They both laugh.]
ACT THREE
DOCTOR'S LOUNGE
[Mark is sitting at the table, talking on the telephone. He deliberately
has his back to Doug who is getting ready to leave.]
MARK: ...and I thought we could go see the fireworks together. [He
listens, his brow creasing into a frown] Well, I'm sure they wont mind if
you go with me instead...Oh I see, a sleep-over.[He looks unhappy, but
hides it in his voice] No, that sounds like fun...No, no I don't mind.
You have fun - and don't stay up too late!...Okay, I'll see you soon
sweetheart. I love you....Okay, 'bye.
[He hangs up the phone with an unhappy sigh. Still ignoring Doug, he turns
to sign-off a pile of files that are stacked next to him. The stony
silence in the room is thick enough to taste. Eventually Doug speaks.]
DOUG: So, you told Brooks the truth then?
MARK [purses his lips, still working on the files, and not looking up]:
No. I didn't.
DOUG [is surprised, and turns to look at Mark]: Why not?
MARK [feeling foolish, but still angry]: Joanne asked me not to. I...[he
sighs and looks up] I don't know if I was right. If those kids don't tell
their father how they feel, how will he know?
DOUG: It's up to them to tell him, Mark. You're a doctor, remember? Not
a social worker.
MARK [cringing slightly]: I really said that, didn't I?
DOUG: Forget it. I'll just add it to the "Mark Greene list of pompous
comments".
MARK [chagrined, but slightly offended]:Pompous? Thanks.
DOUG [pulls up a chair and joins Mark at the table]: Don't worry about it.
The "Doug Ross list of crass and insensitive comments" is much longer. [He
pauses] I didn't mean what I said about absent fathers.
MARK: Yes you did.
DOUG: Well, maybe. But I was talking about my father, as you well know.
I'm sure you are a great father to Rachel.
MARK: Am I? If I was so great, I'd be living with her, wouldn't I?
DOUG [looking earnestly at Mark]: It wasn't your fault.
MARK: But I'm not there, am I?
DOUG [gets to his feet]: There's no point in looking back Mark. You've
still got the rest of your life to be a good father.
MARK [looks up at Doug]: You know, sometimes you almost sound smart.
DOUG: I do my best. [He heads for the door] Carol said you aren't coming
tonight?
MARK: Coming where?
DOUG: To the fireworks.
MARK: Oh. Are you going?
DOUG: Yeah, with Carol.
MARK [considers]: I don't know...
DOUG: Come on! It'll do you good.
MARK: Well, I might see you there.
DOUG: Make sure you do.
OUTSIDE THE ER
[Lucy is on her way home. She's walking towards the El, holding a letter
in her hand and looking for a mail box. Mark runs up behind her.]
MARK: Hey! Lucy!
[She turns, surprised to hear her name called out in a city full of
strangers.]
LUCY: Oh, hi Mark!
MARK: Heading for the El?
LUCY: Yeah.
[He walks with her.]
MARK: So, how was your first day then?
LUCY: Good. I think. Everything's so new, you know? But I enjoyed it.
MARK: I'm glad.
LUCY: Jerry's a bit of odd though. Did he really think I'd be offended by
the Fourth of July? Or was he just taking the mickey?
MARK [confused]: Taking the...what?
LUCY [surprise]: Mickey?
MARK: Taking the mickey? You've got me there.
LUCY: Really? You don't say that over here?
MARK: Never heard it.
LUCY: Oh. Well, it kind of means making fun of, teasing.
MARK: Taking the mickey? Okay.
LUCY: So, was he?
MARK: Jerry? No. I'm afraid not.
LUCY [can't stop herself from giggling]: No way! I can't believe it!
MARK: You'll get used to him.
[There's a pause between them. Mark is psyching himself up.]
MARK: So, do you want to come see the fireworks this evening?
LUCY [delighted to be asked]: Oh, I'd love to! Really?
MARK [pleased at her enthusiasm]: Sure. It'll be fun.
LUCY: Yeah! I really didn't want to miss it - it's an all American
holiday, right? And when in Rome...!
MARK [laughing]: Then you'll have to try the hot dogs. Chicago has the
world's best hot dogs!
LUCY: Really? I thought Chicago had the world's best pizza?
MARK: Well, that too. But on the Fourth of July, you have to have hot
dogs!
LUCY: You're on, then! [She grins at him in excitement] This is going to
be fun!
[They're almost at the El station when Lucy remembers the letter in her
hand.]
LUCY: Oh Mark, is there a post box around here?
MARK: A mail box? Yeah, right over there. [He points over the road]
LUCY: Great. I'll just post this.
MARK: Writing home?
LUCY: Yeah. [She looks a little guilty.] My first I'm afraid! And
Edward's already written me two!
MARK [not quite wanting to know]: Edward?
LUCY: My fiance I'll be back in a sec. [She dashes across the road]
MARK: Right. [He sighs - fiance: of course!]
[Lucy returns, still smiling]
LUCY: Ready to go?
MARK: Sure. You know, I think I can almost smell the hot dogs from here!
[They head off together up the steps to the El.]
FIREWORKS DISPLAY
[Jerry, Jeanie and Wendy are standing together laughing, while Doug and
Carol are chatting a little apart from the rest. There's a funfair behind
them, and the evening is just fading into dusk. Doug suddenly sees
something over Carol's shoulder.]
DOUG: Guess who I see?
CAROL [turns around]: Who?
DOUG: Mark, and Lucy Tennant!
CAROL: Lucy? I warned her about Mark.
DOUG: Doesn't look like she listened. [He waves an arm in the air] MARK!
Over here!
[Mark and Lucy make their way through the crowd. Mark's carrying a hot dog
in each hand.]
DOUG: Glad you could make it. Nice to see you Lucy.
LUCY: Hi.
MARK: Well, you know, I thought I'd introduce Lucy to the heights of
American culture.
CAROL [glancing up at the sky]: And, it doesn't get much higher than this!
DOUG: Was that a joke?
CAROL: Obviously way over your head. [They both chuckle]
LUCY [looks at Mark, who is still holding the hot dogs]: So, is the idea
to eat those things, or just hold them all evening?
MARK: What? Oh! Sorry - here have one.
LUCY: Thanks. [She takes a big bite]
MARK: Good?
LUCY [nods and tries to speak through a mouthful of hot dog]: Definitely
the best hot dogs in the world.
MARK [grins]: What did I tell you? You'll love it here!
LUCY: I think I will.
[The first fireworks explode overhead, and they both look up into the night
sky. Lucy is bubbling with excitement: a new job, a new country and new
friends - the possibilities seem endless and the future looks very bright
indeed. Mark is just enjoying the moment; he's enjoying the company of
his old friends, he's amused by Lucy's contagious excitement and is happy
to be just where he is, just when he is. For a rare moment everyone is
happy!]
THE END!!