Message-Id: <9305191547.AA02846@hardrock> Sender: mav@hardrock-e1 Date: Wed, 19 May 1993 08:49:05 -0800 To: alt-ql-creative@cisco.com From: mav@isi.com Subject: And A Child Shall Lead Them, Act I ACT I ESTABLISHING SHOT - EXT. DAY Hospital front with the words "Monterey Children's Hospital." CUT TO: INT. HOSPITAL ROOM Sam wipes his misting eyes and redeposits the chart. When he makes eye contact with the doctor trying to get back under the covers, one of the tubes pulls out . Not a pleasant experience. Dr. Saul makes a face and starts to walk over as Sam tries desperately to put back the needle. DR. SAUL Young man, what do you think you're doing? Stop. I'll have one of the nurses do it. That'll teach you next time to go wandering. Eh? He pats Sam's head. The doctor's features and pleasant though professional manner remind Sam of his own father. DR. SAUL (continuing) You're awfully rambunctious today. SAM (covering) Well, you know... DR. SAUL Must be the sunshine. The parents, now beside the bed, start doting over him. Rebecca tucks in the covers, while Merl turns to Dr. Saul. MERL (sotto voce) How long? DR. SAUL Yesterday, I would have said hours, at most a day. But the way he's acting now...who knows? As they continue talking, Sam is distracted by the Imaging Door opening. Al appears with the handlink already quacking and concern on his face. OBSERVER Sam, I don't want to scare you, but there's something strange happening at the Waiting Room. SAM What? The doctor and Merl turn to Sam thinking he missed something they said. DR. SAUL Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman, let's go to my office for a bit. You take it easy, Pal. We'll be back in a moment. SAM (to Al) What's happening? While Al explains, Sam's pallor begins to turn ashen and he gradually breaths and perspires heavily. OBSERVER When you leaped, this boy... SAM Raymond Kaufman. OBSERVER Yeah, Ray. He leaped in. Not a pretty picture, Sam. He could barely breath, very weak and his, your body... SAM The aura of my body. OBSERVER Right, well, whosever body had a temperature of 105 . SAM Did Verbena stabilize? OBSERVER She didn't have to. SAM What? OBSERVER After a couple of minutes, his temperature was normal, his breathing got regular and..Sam, you OK? SAM (beginning to gasp) Al, what's happening to me? OBSERVER We were afraid of this. That's why I came as soon as I could. SAM (fading fast) But I'm not supposed to be sick... OBSERVER We know that. But something has changed. SAM How? OBSERVER We're still trying to figure that out. Until then, this is going to be a bumpy ride. Sam is now almost completely incapacitated. SAM Could it be all this medication? It's going into my body, which doesn't need it... OBSERVER No, Sam. You don't understand. There seems to be some kind of switch happening. The boy who leaped into the project is healing. SAM (scared) ...and I'm dying? There is a strained pause then Al tries to keep busy with the handlink, spewing positive 'Al-isms.' OBSERVER Don't worry, Sam. (pointing up) He wouldn't let you die. And we're full out working on this one. Ziggy says there's a 60% chance you're not even here for Ray. She says it has something to do with the parents. And the odds for your surviving this leap are... SAM Al, I don't feel... With violence, Sam is suddenly in the throes of a seizure. Air is barely able to pass through the parched lips and filled lungs. He struggles with every breath. OBSERVER Sam? Oh, God. Sam! The machine registers erratic lines and a piercing sound emanates. The room is quickly filled with nurses and doctors. "Code Blue" echoes the halls. Dr. Saul and Ray's parents enter. The latter are quickly escorted out when Rebecca becomes too emotional and Merl tries to shake her out of it. On the bed, Sam's eyelids flit and his eyes roll back. The sheets are ripped off and the paddles to restart his heart are brought out. The effort of the team is extraordinary, but painful for Al to watch. Though choked up and trying to keep his eyes on the rescue, Al turns his head, listening to an unheard voice. OBSERVER (continuing) It's not good. Come quickly. TIGHT CLOSE UP on Al's hand as it is magically filled with the slender hand of a woman. PULL-BACK to see the materialized, tearful Donna - Sam's wife. Dressed in hospital garb, she is very pregnant and extremely distraught. Al hugs her close. OBSERVER It's all right, Donna. He won't die. I know it. DONNA Al, he doesn't deserve this. OBSERVER No, but I think God wanted the little boy back in the waiting room to be free of the pain, if just for a moment. DONNA But the price, Al. He's...he's dying. She starts to cry on Al's shoulder. CLOSE-UP Her hand, gripping Al's shoulder, suddenly tightens. OBSERVER What's the matter? DONNA I'm sorry. It's getting worse. Al's torn, but realizes there's nothing he can do for Sam. He starts to urge Donna away toward the Imaging Chamber door. DONNA No. I have to stay. I'll be fine. OBSERVER Verbena, cue the medical team in delivery. And Mrs. Beckett, you are not fine. Let's go. She struggles against him, then her face brightens. DONNA Al. Look. They turn to see the medical team all smiles. The machine beeps regularly. Dr. Saul pats Sam's head. Sam turns to him and weakly smiles back. He cannot talk - a tube is down his throat. SAM'S POV Past the excited nurses, a blurry vision of his friend Al outlined by the I.C. light shimmers in the background. CLOSE-UP on the tired face of Sam - until he sees Donna. There's an unquenched yearning there. He tries to reach her, his arm shaking with the effort. Unable to, a single tear makes its way down his cheek. DONNA (moved) Sam. OBSERVER Donna, you can't. DONNA He sees me, Al. I have to. Please. The two walk closer, Al supporting the struggling woman. DONNA Sam, I miss you so. And love you. Sam only has eyes for her eyes. They are losing each other in them, until a sharp contraction, brings a pained look to Donna's eyes. Sam looks at her frantically, concerned. He finally sees her bulging stomach and his eyes widen. DONNA (gently) Surprise, Daddy. We're going to have a baby. There's so much I've wanted to tell you... Donna wants to pull him in her arms, to wipe away his tears, but can only comfort him with her voice. Sam tries to smile. He's overwhelmed by the past moments. Al encourages her to leave. OBSERVER C'mon Donna. He needs to rest; so do you. And we all need a break. I'll be back, Sam. Chin up. Donna doubles over with another contraction, and Sam's eyes go to Al. OBSERVER (to Sam) She'll be all right. I promise. With a guiding hand, Al leads her reluctantly to the door. She turns back briefly to give him an encouraging smile. In an instant, they're both gone and Sam's fists clench not in pain, but in frustration. CUT TO: INT. IMAGING CHAMBER - In the distance a faint outline of the hospital bed can be seen, then vanishes with the door slam. Al is practically carrying the mother-to-be and a gurney is wheeled in. Verbena and several techs help Donna on. Katie Beckett, now grown and elegant, holds Donna's hand. KATIE (trying to be calm) How did he look? Donna bites her bottom lip. What can she say - "He looked like he was dying"? DONNA Like a little boy. Scared and tired. KATIE Is he OK? DONNA I think so. This leap isn't the same as others. OBSERVER (glaring) It's a good thing you have security clearance, Katie. KATIE Comes from being married to a military man. Al smirks. The entourage enters a brightly lit room. (Part II of Act I to follow) -------------------------------------------------- Christina Mavroudis Integrated Systems, Inc.