By: Laura and Caroline Vw Vixen64@aol.com
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This is my first attempt at writing an ER fanfiction, but it's more like an episode than a story. Send all comments to Vw Vixen64@aol.com whether positive or negative. I am also considering writing a sequel. This fanfiction is my ideas on what the 4th season premiere might contain. All characters are property of Warner Bros. "Just Like Starting Over" Act 1 Scene 1 Cut to show Carol lying asleep on a rumpled bed, dressed in a silk chemise. It is early morning, the sun is just beginning to shine through the window. She yawns, stretches, and reaches over to the empty space on the other side of the bed. Carol (groggily) Doug? Camera focuses on the rumpled pillow beside her that was obviously recently occupied. Carol (confused) Doug? Show Carol slip on a robe and move slowly to the kitchen. She opens the fridge and takes out a carton of milk. Carol (murmuring to herself) Where is he? Show Carol walk to the window and look outside. Something catches her eye. It is Doug, sitting in his car on her driveway. His hands are on the wheel, but it doesn't appear like he is about to leave. He puts his head in his hands and sighs. Then he puts the key in the ignition, starts the engine, and disappears. Show Carol head back to the bedroom and lie down again, but she doesn't close her eyes to fall asleep. END OF SCENE 1 Scene 2 Cut to show Benton enter the infant ICU. He is slightly disheveled. He heads over to the incubator and watches his baby for a few minutes. His thoughts are interrupted by Dr. Tabash, who approaches him. Dr. Tabash Dr. Benton. Benton Oh, good morning. Dr. Tabash You're up early this morning. Benton Yeah, I just wanted to see how he was doing. Dr. Tabash I'm afraid I have some....bad news- Benton (suddenly alert) What is it? Dr. Tabash It is apparent that your baby has slight brain damage. Benton Brain damage. Dr. Tabash Yes-it's minor, but the baby will most likely suffer down syndrome, cerebral palsy, retardation...or anything similar to it. Benton And you're certain? Dr. Tabash I can never be totally certain about what will occur...but there is brain damage. That's all we can be certain about now. Benton sighs, obviously troubled. Dr. Tabash I suggest you alert the child's mother of the current circumstances-but only what she must know. Benton Are there any other-complications? Dr. Tabash None that I am aware of right now, but anything could happen. This is a very...uncertain time. All you can do is hope for the best. Close on Benton's reaction. END SCENE 2 END ACT 1
Roll opening credits Act 2 Scene 1 Cut to show Jerry, Randi, Carol, and Anna at front desk. Enter Doug. Doug (taking off coat) Good morning! Randi (grumbling) Morning... Anna (looks up and smiles) Hey, Doug. Doug Anything in on Charlie? She show up again? Carol No...not yet. Doug jerks his head up at the sound of Carol's voice. She turns her head away from him. Doug (frowning, head tilted down, biting lip) I'll have to look for her again tonight. Anna Is she always like this? Doug (grinning) Always. Jerry (interrupting) There's a kid with a rash in Exam 5... Anna (hurriedly grabs patient file) Got it. Doug (looking over her shoulder at patient file) I'll supervise- Anna I don't need you there. Doug (joking) I know. But I'm coming anyway. After all, I am your superior... Anna (makes face at him) Don't remind me. Camera follows Doug and Anna walking down hall together, laughing. Carol watches them, confused and hurt. She sighs. Close on Carol's expression. END SCENE 1 Scene 2 Morning in the lounge. Carter is sitting at the table with a bowl of cereal and a comic book. He is a mess. He looks up when Doyle enters and watches her put on her lab coat. Doyle (yawning) Good morning. Carter Yup. Doyle What are you reading? Carter Spiderman. Doyle (smiling) (teasing him) Cute. Shouldn't you be studying med for your first day? Carter C'mon doc. Cut me a little slack. (he grins) Green enters the lounge. Mark Is she picking on you again, Carter? Carter nods emphatically. Mark continues. Mark Hey, listen you two, you're going to have to get along for awhile. Doyle is going to be your supervisor during your intern year, Carter. Carter (disappointed) I have to intern all over again? Mark Afraid so. I tried to reason with the board, but they wouldn't hear it. Doyle (more than happy to be named Carter's superior) I'll go easy on you, John. Carter (ignoring) She's two years younger than me! Greene So? Doyle looks at Carter angrily. Mark Dr. Doyle is first year resident and the best I have to train you for ER. I really hope we don't have to discuss this again. Greene leaves. Doyle I would've expected different from you. She exits, unnerved. Carter puts his head in his hands and sighs. END SCENE 2 Scene 3 Cut to show Carol lying on the couch in the lounge. She is quiet, alone, sipping a can of Coke. Enter Doug. Doug (embarrassed) Oh, hi Carol.... Carol (sitting up quickly) Hey. Carol sits silently, moodily. Doug So... Carol How's everything going with that Big Brother thing? Doug Oh...yeah. Fine. Just fine. I'm spending Sunday with some eleven year old named Michael Ryan. You know, typical case. His dad left before he was born- Carol (quickly) Yeah, I know. Doug (uncomfortable) About last night.... Carol becomes quiet again. Doug I don't know what it meant to you. Carol (upset) Neither do I. Doug I know that I want to see you again. Carol You see me every day... Doug (scoffing) Not like that...like it used to be. Carol I don't want that again. Doug You know what I mean. Carol nods. Carol Why don't we just take it a little slower this time? Doug I wouldn't call last night "taking it slow". Carol (smiling) Well, from now on. Doug (a little hurt) Is that the way you want it? Carol Doug, you've got to understand. I've been through so much with you...good and bad. And worse. I just can't trust you totally, not until I know you're not going to hurt me again. Doug nods. Doug (biting lip) I guess this is for the best. Carol (grinning) And we can see other people... She gets up from her seat on the couch. Carol I gotta go...I'll see you. She drops a kiss on his forehead and exit. Doug looks lost in thought. Close on Doug's expression. END SCENE 3 END ACT 2 Act 3 Scene 1 Cut to show Benton talking to Carla the OR locker room. He sounds upset, a little frightened. Benton Carla, there's a little problem...with the baby. Carla (worried) What is it? Benton Dr. Tabash found some minor bleeding-in the baby's brain. Carla Oh my god! Benton (apparently upset too, but he takes her hand) Shhh. It's ok. He's going to be all right. Carla (biting her lip) Just what is going to happen to him? Benton We're not certain now-most likely retardation. Carla (tears in eyes) Peter, what are we going to do? Benton Carla, nothing is positive at this time. We just have to hope for the best... He squeezes her hand and continues. Benton I think it's time we decided on a name for him. Carla (trying to smile) Are you in the mood for an argument? Benton grins ruefully. They walk down the hall together, hand in hand, trying to comfort each other. END SCENE 1 Scene 2 Cut to show Doug still in the lounge, toying with a coffee cup. He is sitting tensely at the table, looking a bit rumpled. Mark You've been here awhile. Doug (looking up) Oh, yeah. Mark So it's been pretty quiet all day, huh? Doug Yeah...I only had a couple of cases. Mark (becoming quiet) That's good. Doug Feeling better? Mark (biting lip) A little. Doug So you've finally gone into therapy... Mark (sheepishly) Yeah. Doug With who? Pomerantz? Mark (adamant) God no....I'm going to Dr. Crawford. He's got a private practice downtown. Mark stops abruptly and continues. Mark It would be too, well, I just couldn't deal with Nina. Doug (smiling) I think I understand. Mark So how're things with you and Carol? Doug (scratches head) I don't know. Mark (looks up again) What do you mean, you don't know? Doug (slightly embarrassed) Well, we're at an awkward point. I slept with her last night... Mark Don't tell me. Doug (shaking his head) No! No, it's not like that. Mark Well, what is it like? Doug I left this morning...I didn't even say goodbye. Mark Oh, god. Doug (sits down, pulls up chair) And then today I talked to her a little...about where we're going. Mark (sharply) And? Doug She's scared...not of commitment, of me. He sighs and puts the coffee cup on the table. Doug She's afraid I'll hurt her again. Like before. Mark (troubled) Doug, you've got to understand that it's going to take a while for Carol to trust you again. She trusts you as a friend right now. But she has to trust you on other levels, on all levels, before she can totally commit to you. You're going to have to gain that trust back. Doug I know. I know. Doug grins slowly. Doug Isn't it funny, now I want commitment, and she doesn't? Mark Yup. Doug So what should I do? For now? Mark Tell her how you feel. Doug (scoffing) Oh yeah, sure. Mark (serious) Think about it, Doug. Mark Ok? Doug (sighs) I'll try. Doug gets up from table and heads toward the door. Doug And Mark? Mark (absentmindedly) Huh? Doug Thanks. Doug leaves. Close on Mark, sitting alone in the lounge. END SCENE 2
Scene 3 Cut to show Doyle passing the front desk. Jerry sticks out a clipboard and calls out to her. Jerry Dr. Doyle...there's a guy with leg pain in Trauma 2. Doyle Ok...where's Carter? Randi Want me to page him for you? Doyle (looking over chart) Yeah, tell him to meet me in Trauma 2 right away. Show Doyle heading towards Trauma 2. Doyle Hello, Mr. Alexander. So you've been having some pain in your lower leg? Patient Yes...I was climbing a ladder outside of my house and I fell. Enter Carter. Carter You paged me? Doyle Yeah. Mr. Alexander fell down a ladder, looks like a torn ligament to me. Carter Send him down to X-Ray. Doyle I was already planning to...I know what to do. Carter Did I say you didn't? Doyle No, but- Carter Then what's the problem? Doyle (ignoring him) Mr. Alexander, we're going to have to put you through some X-Rays...if you'd just wait here a moment one of the nurses will be with you. Doyle looks at Carter, annoyed, and leaves the room. END SCENE 3 END ACT 3 Act 4 Scene 1 Cut to show Doug walking down a street, alone. He is bent over to protect himself from the wind. It is dark out, maybe 10:00. He has on a barn coat and wrinkled khakis, his hands are shoved deep in his pockets. His head is down in thought. Show Doug nearing Carol's block. Doug (muttering) Mark was right...I should tell her... Show Doug quicken his pace and approach Carol's house. He starts up the porch but stops suddenly whe he notices a car in the driveway. It is Toby's. There is a light on in Carol's bedroom, but as Doug looks up, it switches off. Doug looks down again, then at the window one last time. He shrugs sadly, slowly backs away from the house, and heads down the street. END SCENE 1 Scene 2 Cut to show Carter and Doyle conferring over X-Ray. Carter (decidedly) It's a torn knee ligament, fractures to the patella and tibia- Doyle (head down, looking at the chart) Nothing serious. Carter Mmm-hmm. I'll talk to Anspaugh and then we'll send him up to the OR to repair the ligament. Doyle That's fine... Carter Maggie? Doyle (absentmindedly) Huh? Carter Sorry if I'm being a pain. It's hard, you know, to start all over- Doyle (nodding) I know. It's ok. Just try not to take it out on me. Carter So I'm forgiven? Doyle (smirking) Yeah, this time. Carter grins. Doyle turns and head out the door. Close on Carter's eyes that trail after her. END SCENE 2 Scene 3 Cut to show Anna lounging in a chair at her motel, channel surfing. She is dressed in flannel pajama pants and a T-shirt. We hear a knock on the door. Anna (sighs and drops remote on the floor) Geez... Knock again. Anna Coming! Camera follows Anna to door. She turns the knob. Show Doug, a bit rumpled, standing in the doorway. Doug (grinning) Am I interrupting anything? Anna (looks surprised, runs hand through hair) No, not at all. Come in. Show Doug step inside. Through the door we hear Doug's voice say "So do you want to get something to eat?" END SCENE 3 END ACT 4 Well, that's it guys. Write all comments to Vw Vixen64@aol.com. I need your input! Please tell me if I should continue this with a sequel!