FADE IN:
TAYLOR HARDWARE (formerly Harry's Hardware)
Jeff is playing with a tablet at the counter and watching a teen wearing a hooded sweater snake through the aisles with a backpack slung over one shoulder. The teen is staring at nothing in particular.
JEFF (concerned): Excuse me, you have to leave your bag at the counter.
The teen turns and lifts his hood, revealing an anxious looking Wil. Jeff's eyes widen.
JEFF (surprised): Wil. (a beat, checks his watch) Do you have a spare right now?
WIL (sighs): No. (a beat) I blew off school cause my dad's surgery is today.
JEFF (confused): If your dad is at the hospital, why are you at the hardware store?
The door opens and closes and Jeff suddenly looks towards the door.
LAUREN (concerned): Wilson Timothy Taylor, what are you doing here?
Wil turns and faces his mother while Jeff anxiously holds his breath.
LAUREN (concerned): Are you okay, Wil?
WIL (sighs): Is Dad going to die from cancer like Grandpa's friend Wilson did?
LAUREN (confused): Wilson? (a beat) Your dad's cancer isn't that bad, Wil.
WIL (sighs): We moved here so Dad could have chemotherapy and radiation for it, though.
LAUREN (sighs, gives Wil a hug): Your dad wanted us to move back to Detroit so you kids could be close to both sets of grandparents. He and I also missed our own parents.
WIL (concerned): Dad's really sick and I don't want him to die, Mom.
LAUREN (gentle): After Dad has his surgery, he's going to have more treatment just to get rid of whatever the surgeons don't get. (a beat) That does not mean your dad is going to die.
WIL (concerned): He seems so weak and tired all the time.
JEFF (concerned): Medicine makes people that way. (a beat) I'm on a fertility drug…
Lauren and Wil give Jeff a look and Jeff silently excuses himself to the back room.
LAUREN: Look, Wil, why don't we go to lunch at your Uncle Mark's restaurant and then you can come back to the hospital with me? (a beat) Your dad should be back in his room by then.
WIL (brightens): Really? (a beat) Am I grounded for skipping school?
LAUREN (kind): I'll talk to your teachers. Just don't do it again, okay?
Wil nods and Lauren puts a comforting arm around him as they leave the store.
CUT TO:
TAYLOR HOUSEHOLD
Jill is sitting at the table with Tommy, Rachel, and Jillian and they're making get-well cards for Randy. The phone suddenly rings and Jill quickly gets up. As she picks up the phone, she frowns.
JILL (concerned): Where exactly are you?
There is a silence followed by loud banging on the door. Rachel and Tommy flinch.
DONNA (off-screen, angry): GIVE ME MY CHILDREN, MARK!
Jill hurries over to the front door and locks it before hurrying to the back door and locking it while Tommy, Rachel, and Jillian all look terrified. The banging increases before things go silent.
TOMMY (worried): Is Mommy going to take us from Daddy?
JILL (concerned): I'm going to call your dad and see what's going on, okay?
RACHEL (anxious): A guy in a black smock said Mommy isn't allowed to visit us cause she's sick.
Jill frowns as she picks up the phone and quickly dials the number of Mark's restaurant.
JILL (concerned): Mark, Donna's banging on the door and wants to see the kids (a beat) No, I didn't let her in. I locked the doors and called you. (a beat) Rachel said a judge said Donna's not allowed…
Silence filled the room as Jill nods several times before hanging up the phone.
JILL (quiet): Your dad wants me to keep you kids inside and busy. (a beat) How about naps?
JILLIAN (worried): Gramma, what about Daddy's cards?
JILL (sighs): You kids go take a nap and I'll fix us all some lunch. (a beat) Please?
Tommy and Rachel get up and go upstairs to their temporary rooms, but Jillian stays behind.
JILLIAN (yawns): Gramma, can I nap on the couch?
Jill's cell-phone suddenly buzzes on the counter and she checks it before smiling.
JILL (kind): Of course you can. (a beat) By the way, your mom found Wil and they're gonna go eat at your uncle's restaurant before they go to the hospital to see how your dad is doing.
Jillian nods, goes over to the couch, and makes herself comfy. She grabs the afghan off of the couch and covers herself with it before quickly falling asleep. The phone suddenly rings again, but Jill ignores it as she goes to the fridge to see what there is for lunch. The answering machine suddenly clicks on.
DONNA (upset, slurred): You can't take my kids away, Mark (hiccup) I'll get them back….
The answering machine clicks off and Jill looks unsettled.
CUT TO:
MARK'S RESTAURANT
Marty and Willow are sitting at a corner table, both of them silently poring over menus.
MARTY (quiet): Claire and Gracie are gonna be done their semester of university soon and they know I'm dating you. (a beat) This may seem a little forward, but they want to meet you.
WILLOW (surprised): You hardly ever talk about your daughters, Marty.
MARTY (sighs): I know (a beat) We kind of became estranged from each other after Nancy passed away because they thought what happened was my fault. I sometimes wonder if it was my fault.
WILLOW (concerned): How would Nancy's passing be your fault, Marty?
MARTY (sighs): I'd rather not get into it and ruin this happy moment.
As Willow nods, Lauren and Wil come into the restaurant and they quickly find a table.
WIL (quiet): Shouldn't we wait for Uncle Mark to seat us, Mom?
Before Lauren can reply, Mark comes into the dining room and notices Wil and Lauren at a table.
MARK (walks over to them): Hey Wil, hey Lauren. (a beat) Is it noon hour already?
WIL (sighs): I skipped school and hid at the hardware store til Mom found me.
MARK (nods): I get that. (a beat) Is Randy out of surgery yet, Lauren?
LAUREN: No, I left my number with the hospital and if we're not back, they'll call…
WIL (sighs): Do we have time to eat, Mom?
LAUREN (kind): Yes (a beat) Mark, could you please grab us some menus?
MARK (sighs): I actually have to run for a bit. (a beat) I have a problem.
LAUREN (concerned): I hope everything's all right, Mark?
MARK (concerned): Um, Donna's trying to break into my mom and dad's to see the kids.
Lauren gasps and Mark hurries out just as a waitress comes over to their table.
CUT TO:
EXT. TAYLOR HOUSE
Tim comes into the backyard and finds Donna standing there, staring into the kitchen where Jill is making lunch while Jillian sleeps on the couch in the living room.
TIM (concerned): Hi there, Donna (a beat) Mark didn't say you two were dropping by.
DONNA (tense): I'm NOT dropping by. (a beat) I came to take the kids.
TIM (frowns): Donna, your voice sounds funny. Have you been drinking?
Donna turns around and Tim backs away when he sees that she looks tired and her eyes are bloodshot.
DONNA (upset, slurred): Jill locked the doors when I showed up. I think she also called Mark.
TIM (concerned): How did you get over here? I thought you and Mark only had the one car…
DONNA (slurred): It's called a bus, Tool-Man (a beat) Can you let me in the house?
TIM (concerned): If Jill locked the doors, she probably doesn't want you near the kids.
DONNA (mad): They are MY children, Tim! Mark is not going to keep me away from them!
Tim steps back again and Donna lunges at Tim, slamming him into the fence just as Mark and several police officers come into the backyard. Donna scratches Tim's face and breaks into hysterical sobs.
POLICE OFFICER (steps forward): Ma'am, you're under arrest…
Donna screams and grabs Tim around his neck, choking him as the officers approach her.
MARK (upset): Dad! (a beat) Donna, you're choking my dad!
The officers gently pull Donna off of Tim and cuff her while Tim coughs and massages his throat.
MARK (concerned): Dad, are you okay? (a beat) Donna, how could you do that?!
TIM (winces): Mark, I'm fine (a beat) Would you be mad if I pressed charges?
Mark shakes his head as the officers lead Donna out of the backyard. Jill, who has seen the entire thing, unlocks the door and Mark helps Tim into the house. Jillian is still asleep on the couch.
JILL (alarmed): Tim, are you all right? (a beat) What happened out there?!
TIM (sighs): Jill, calm down. (a beat) Mark, what are you doing home from work?
MARK (sighs): Mom called cause Donna was freaking Tommy and Rachel out.
Tim winces and coughs and both Mark and Jill look at him, deeply worried.
JILL (concerned): Tim, Donna slammed you into the fence awfully hard. Do you need the ER?
MARK (sighs): I'm sorry about this. (a beat) She must have gotten a friend to bail her out…
TIM (concerned): Mark, have you thought about maybe going to a support group?
MARK (shrugs): Dad, I can run you to the hospital. (a beat) I'm not going back to work today.
Tim sighs and nods while Jill passes Mark the car keys.
MARK (sighs): If the police call while I'm gone, Mom, will you take a message? The last time Donna was arrested, I gave them this number, so they'll probably calls once she sobers up.
Jill nods and Mark helps Tim out of the house through the garage.
CUT TO:
DETROIT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Lucile Taylor-Leonard is sitting alone in the busy waiting room and frowns as she sees Tim approach the admissions desk with help from Mark. The lady at the desk gives Tim a look.
NURSE (calm): Hurt yourself on Tool Time again, Mr. Taylor?
TIM (winces): No, Marge. (a beat) There was a little incident at the house…
Marge sighs and hands Tim a chart, which Mark takes before helping Tim into the waiting room. Tim and Mark freeze at seeing Lucile sitting there alone. Mark then helps Tim sit close to Lucile.
TIM (concerned): Mom, what are you doing here? Are you all right? Does Art know you're here?
LUCILE (sighs): I'm here waiting for Art. (a beat) He's not well, Tim.
TIM (frowns): The boys didn't mention anything was wrong back when they had dinner with you two.
LUCILE (nods): Because Art didn't want to ruin the evening, but I guess I can't hide it forever.
Tim and Mark exchange a look and Lucile sighs, looking sad as she silently collects herself.
LUCILE: Back when Art first retired, he said it was because his hands didn't work.
TIM (concerned): He mentioned that when I was at the house making the toolbox.
LUCILE (sighs): When Art and I started dating, he told me the truth about his health and said he would understand if I left him, but I told him that I would stand by him. (a beat) Art's got Parkinson's.
Tim and Mark exchange a confused, concerned look and Lucile sighs.
LUCILE (kind): Art's here because he fell last night and we're worried that the disease might be progressing. He wanted to tell you, Tim…I wanted to tell you, but we didn't know how.
TIM (sighs and winces): Mom, I'm not good with stuff like this, but I want to try and be supportive.
A nurse suddenly comes into the waiting room and walks over to Lucile.
NURSE: Mrs. Leonard, your husband is asking for you.
LUCILE (stands): Of course (a beat) Tim, I'll call you when I know more, okay?
As Lucile walks off with the nurse, Tim frowns and sighs heavily and Mark looks concerned.
TIM (upset): What exactly is Parkinson's? (a beat) That doesn't sound too good.
MARK (sighs): I'll help you look it up on the computer when we get home. (a beat) Need help?
Tim shakes his head, sighs, and silently turns his attention to filling out the chart.
CUT TO:
PATIENT ROOM
Lauren and Wil are sitting on a couch in a private hospital room, both of them reading magazines. Suddenly, two nurses push a gurney containing a sleeping Randy into the room and Lauren gasps at seeing a bandage on Randy's neck and IV's in his arms. Wil silently watches as the nurses move the bed into position and make sure everything is in place. Lauren gets up and walks over to the bed.
RANDY (groggy): Lauren, hey (a beat) Did you find our rogue child? Is he safe?
WIL (gets up and walks over to the bed): Yeah, Dad; I'm right here. (a beat) I skipped school today…
RANDY (groggy, doesn't open his eyes): It hurts to talk...(a beat) Just know that I love you.
WIL (tears fill his eyes and he sighs): I love you too, Dad. (a beat) Just get some rest, okay?
RANDY (coughs and groans): We'll talk more after I've rested a little bit. (a beat) Behave.
A snore fills the room and Lauren puts an arm around Wil as they watch Randy sleep.
FADE TO BLACK
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