FADE IN:

TAYLOR HOUSEHOLD – EARLY MORNING

The front door opens and Tim comes into the house carrying a sleeping Bobby in his arms while Jill is carrying a sleeping Jillian in her arms. Lauren and Randy follow with a tired looking, but awake Wil.

LAUREN (gentle): Please behave for your grandparents and at school. (a beat) I want you to go to school today, Wil, because you need the distraction. (a beat) Did you bring your backpack?

Wil nods, but doesn't say much. Randy responds by giving Wil a gentle hug, which he accepts.

RANDY (concerned, quiet): Love you, Willy. (a beat) Will you please try to be happy today?

WIL (quiet): Okay, Dad (a beat) I…I love you too.

Randy releases Will and sighs tiredly.

TIM (quiet): I'll drop you two off at the hospital on my way to Tool Time and then drop by after the show's finished, all right?

Randy nods and watches as Tim and Jill carry Bobby and Jillian to the couches, lay them down, and cover them with afghans. Lauren takes a hold of Randy's arm as Tim and Jill come back.

JILL (sighs): I took a personal day today and I'll try to keep Bobby and Jill busy.

Randy nods and sighs. Tim and Jill both hug Randy and Lauren before Tim leaves with Randy and Lauren. Jill locks the door and puts an arm around Wil to try and reassure him.

JILL: Why don't you get a little more rest before school? The basement bedroom is free.

Wil nods and quickly disappears downstairs just as Mark comes down the stairs.

MARK (concerned): I got up to see Randy off to the hospital, but I heard someone leave.

JILL (sighs): Your dad just left with Randy and Lauren (a beat) How are you doing, Mark?

MARK (shrugs): Today's about Randy (a beat) I hope he doesn't die like Wilson did.

**FLASHBACK**

TAYLOR BACKYARD – 2010

Tim is rebuilding the gazebo with fresh wood and Wilson comes out into the backyard.

WILSON: Heidi-ho, good neighbor.

TIM (kind, turns): Hi there, Wilson (a beat) How was your appointment with the oncologist?

Silence fills the yard and Tim turns to see Wilson lean against the fence looking somber.

WILSON (somber): It's back and it's everywhere. (a beat) I'm dying, Tim.

TIM (upset): Isn't there some sort of chemical trial they could do?

Jill comes out and looks at the half-built gazebo and then sees Tim and Wilson.

JILL (kind): How's the gazebo coming? (a beat) How are you doing, Wilson?

Tim silently walks over to the fence and sighs. Jill knows that something is wrong.

TIM (upset): Wilson, there's got to be something more they can try.

JILL (concerned): Wilson, what's wrong?

WILSON (somber): My cancer's back and it's terminal. (a beat) Nothing they can do.

Jill's eyes widen and she begins to cry. Tim holds her gently while Wilson watches with sad eyes.

***END OF FLASHBACK***

TAYLOR HOUSEHOLD

MARK (upset): Wait…Dad said Wilson didn't quit chemo until 2011.

JILL (sighs tearfully): Your dad talked Wilson into fighting as hard as he could…Wilson tried again.

MARK (sighs): Wilson hung on til 2012, so he must have known that we needed him.

JILL (upset): We still do. (a beat) Randy's not going to end up like Wilson because they caught his cancer much sooner and there's better treatments for it then there was back then.

Mark hugs Jill and while they are hugging, Wil sneaks out of the basement and creeps to the front door with very little noise. He sighs and slips out of the house with his backpack on his back.

CUT TO:

DETROIT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL – EARLY MORNING

Randy is sitting on a bed in a hospital gown and Lauren comes into the room looking tired.

LAUREN (kind): You should be in the bed, Randy. (a beat) Are you planning on running away?

RANDY (sighs): We've got time to watch Tool Time. Why don't we?"

Lauren looks amused, but sits on the bed besides Randy and turns the room's TV on.

CUT TO:

TOOL TIME SET

Heidi is getting ready at the mirror that is backstage and Amy is sitting in a chair with hands over her barely visible stomach.

AMY (sighs): I talked with Dad and he called me irresponsible (a beat) What a hypocrite.

HEIDI (fixes her hair): Your dad has lots of problems, Amy. (a beat) That's why we divorced once your brother was old enough to be in school. I didn't want to put you and Timmy through that crap.

AMY: Uncle Tim was good to give you money til we were able to find a new house.

HEIDI (stunned): Amy, how did you know about that? (a beat) You were little.

AMY (shrugs): Uncle Tim and Uncle Al helped you move our stuff, Timmy, and I into the new house. (a beat) I was little, but I remember him begging you to let him help.

Heidi sighs patiently and Amy gets up. Heidi turns to look at Amy.

AMY: I'm like three months pregnant and I don't want this baby, but I want it to be happy.

Tim and Al walk in and Amy sighs before going off to the office.

TIM (kind): Hi there, everyone (a beat) Randy and Lauren are at the hospital.

The 'Tool Time' music suddenly plays and Heidi goes out. Al looks at Tim anxiously.

HEIDI (off-screen): Does everyone know what time it is?

AUDIENCE (off-screen): Tool Time!

HEIDI (eager): Here are your hosts…Tim, the Tool Man Taylor and Al Borland!

Tim and Al walk out on to the set and the interview station is set up. There are photos of different police, firefighters, and paramedics on the table along with framed medals. The audience cheers.

TIM (smiles): I am the Tool Man Taylor and you all know my assistant, Al Borland. (a beat) Today, we're going to do a salute to heroes today….whether they are in uniform or not.

Tim and Al walk over to the table and Tim gestures to two photos near the end of the table; one is of Wilson and one is of his family.

TIM (sighs): Heroes can be found everywhere and not every hero is in a uniform. (a beat) My wife is a hero in her own respect, but so are our sons…and our late friend, Wilson Wilson.

Al looks intrigued and the audience grows quiet.

TIM: Wilson was my mentor and an amazing friend who died several years ago from a cancer that he got from being in the Towers during the attacks of September 11, 2001. (a beat) Wilson was a freelancer speaker who was giving a presentation that day and he made it out before there was any sign that further trouble was coming. He didn't have any reason to go back in, but he did.

AL (intrigued): I didn't know that.

TIM (sighs): My middle son, Randy, was doing a story in the Towers that day and Wilson found out he was in there, so he went back inside when he was already out. Wilson got Randy out not long before the Towers fell and I will be forever grateful that my dear friend saved Randy's life.

The audience 'awws' and Tim sighs, a somber expression on his face.

TIM: Randy's currently facing his own battle with cancer that he too got from 9/11, but it's not as bad as Wilson's is and he's having surgery today to hopefully have it eradicated.

AL (shocked): You know what eradicated means?

TIM (sighs): I looked it up in the dictionary when I was planning the show with Lauren's help. (a beat) Anyway, people who battle serious illnesses are also heroes and are very, very brave…"

CUT TO:

DETROIT HOSPITAL

Randy looks at Lauren, deeply touched and astonished. Lauren smiles and hugs him.

RANDY (sighs): Thank you. (a beat) When did you talk to my dad?

LAUREN (smiles): When I went over to ask if they could keep the kids for today and to talk about the terms of the loan. (a beat) I wanted you to feel like you're a hero and very much loved.

Randy smiles and kisses Lauren just as a nurse comes into the room with an equipment cart.

NURSE (kind): Randy Taylor? I'm here to prep you and take you to pre-op.

Randy nods and Lauren stands up. Still holding tight to Lauren's hand, Randy lays down on the gurney.

CUT TO:

MARK'S RESTAURANT

Mark is sitting in his office and 'Tool Time' goes on a commercial break. Mark gets up and walks into the dining room. He is stunned to see Marty and Willow Wilson walk into the restaurant.

MARK (grabs menus and walks over to them): Uncle Marty, Willow, welcome to my restaurant.

MARTY (nervous): Uh, hi, Mark. (a beat) I didn't know you were working today?

MARK (nods): Do you two want a table?

WILLOW (kind): That would be very nice, Mark. Thank you.

Mark leads Marty and Willow to a table and they sit. Mark hands them the menus.

MARTY (nervous): I thought you'd be at the hospital for Randy today, to be honest.

MARK (kind): I'm going through a divorce and I have two kids to support, so I have to work (a beat) I plan to stop by the hospital later after Randy is back in his room. What can I get you?

MARTY (sighs): Promise not to tell your dad you saw me? (a beat) Willow and I…

WILLOW (smiles): Marty and I have been sort of seeing each other for a few weeks now.

MARK (eyes widen): Really? (a beat) I didn't know you swapped numbers.

WILLOW (kind): We met at this little support group for singles. (a beat) Are you okay?

MARK (kind): What do you want to eat? (a beat) You're adults, so it's your business.

Marty and Willow look at their menus while Mark waits, his expression uncertain.

CUT TO:

TAYLOR HOUSEHOLD

Jill is coloring with Jillian, Rachel, and Tommy at the table. Paper and crayons are scattered across the table and Jill is mostly watching while Jillian and Tommy focus on their coloring.

JILLIAN: Gramma Jill, can I make a nice card for Daddy? It might help him feel better.

JILL (kind): That's a great idea, Jilly (a beat) Let me find the card-making stuff.

Jill gets up from the table, but the phone suddenly rings and so she answers it.

JILL (concerned): Hello? (a beat) Oh, hi there Jeff. (a beat) Wait…what?

There is silence and Jill anxiously looks over at Rachel, Jillian and Tommy.

JILL (anxious): I'm babysitting Mark and Randy's kids since Mark's working and Randy's surgery is today. (a beat) What's Wil doing now? (sighs) When Marty gets back from lunch, can you please bring Wil over to our house and I'll talk to him? I know he's been having a hard time with Randy's illness.

Jill silently hangs up the phone and goes to the closet to find the right supplies, her expression troubled.

JILLIAN: Did Wil not go to school, Gramma? Is he at the tool shop? Daddy's gonna be mad at Wil.

JILL (sighs): Do you know what a secret is, Jilly?

JILLIAN: Yeah.

JILL: How about we keep Wil not being in school today a secret for right now?

Jillian shrugs and goes back to coloring. Jill silently walks over to her cellphone, which is lying on the counter, and silently sends a text to Lauren.

JILLIAN (worried): Wil's been making Daddy mad a lot lately. (a beat) Wil's being a brat.

JILL (sighs): We're not going to tell your Daddy about Wil skipping school because he's sick and needs to focus on getting better. (a beat) I sent a message to your mother on my phone about Wil and I said I would handle it so she could be with your dad. Uncle Jeff will bring Wil here in a little while.

Jill finds the craft box and brings it over to the table. Jillian, Rachel, and Tommy rummage through it.

CUT TO:

PRE-OP - DETROIT HOSPITAL

Randy is laying on a gurney with a surgical cap on his head with an IV in his arm and Lauren comes into the room wearing scrubs. Randy smiles groggily, but Lauren looks worried.

RANDY (groggy): I guess working here has its perks (a beat) They let you in?

LAUREN (sighs): For a few minutes until they're ready to take you into the O.R.

Randy sighs and nods, but his groggy smile fades at seeing Lauren's expression. Lauren sighs.

LAUREN (sighs): Wil…Wil isn't handling this well at all. (a beat) He blew off school.

RANDY (worried, groggy): Is he all right? (a beat) I've been so worried about him.

LAUREN (sighs): He went and hid out at your dad's hardware store. Your Uncle Jeff called your mom and will take Wil to your parents house (a beat) I know this isn't what you need to hear…

RANDY (groggy): Yeah, it is. (a beat) He's upset…he needs to know we love him.

LAUREN (nods): I'll go talk to Wil later on…after you're back in your room.

RANDY (groggy): Go now. (a beat) It'll give you something to do. I hate worrying you.

LAUREN (kind): I'll go over to the hardware store while you're in surgery, then.

Two nurses suddenly come out and wheel Randy into the O.R., leaving Lauren alone.

FADE TO BLACK

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