D.A.R.Y.L. - Back Where He Belongs

by David C. Chipman

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character's from the original Paramount Pictures film "D.A.R.Y.L." (or the novelization of an early draft script, adapted by N.H. Kleinbaum) . Any other characters I choose/need to add are mine.

Discharged to Suit Rental

Jane slowly got up, "I guess I should get the boy out of the scanner now…,"

Dr. Lamb nodded, and followed Jane out to the main room, "We're done Daryl,"

Jane nodded, operating the controls by the bed, to bring Daryl out of the hole, "Yes, we're done,"

Daryl sat up, "Can we go home now?"

"Well, " Joyce said, coming from the control booth herself, "I have some clothes from home for you upstairs,"

Daryl nodded, swinging his legs over the side of the table.

"Generally," Joyce explained, "they don't let patients leave the hospital in just one of the hospital's gowns…,"

Daryl nodded, "Oh, alright,"

"That's all you're wearing right now," Joyce said, as if Daryl needed reminding.

Daryl nodded, "I guess I should be wearing more, before going outside,"

Dr. Lamb nodded, Daryl's modesty code was working as expected, not that that had been a problem for a couple of years now, but it worked as a good basic test of his normal functioning.

Daryl slid off the side of the table, and walked over to the gurney, "Can somebody give me a hand, please?"

Joyce followed Daryl over to the gurney, and took his nearest hand in hers, "Certainly," she held the gurney for Daryl.

Daryl got up, and laid down on the gurney, "I'm ready to go,"

Jane came over and raised the side of the gurney with a nod, "Now you are,"

Daryl nodded back to her, "OK, thanks,"

"You're welcome," Jane said, turning back toward the control booth, "Now I need to call the transport office, to come and get ya, Daryl,"

Daryl nodded, "Can't you take me?"

Jane shook her head, "There are other kids who need looking at,"

Dr. Lamb nodded in agreement, behind Jane's back, thinking to herself, Better to forget what you've seen this afternoon.

Joyce stood beside the gurney, holding Daryl's hand absent-mindedly, "I'm sure they'll be back to get you soon,"

"OK, mom," Daryl said.

Jane grabbed the bars at the foot of the gurney, "I'll just get you out into the hall, Daryl,"

Daryl nodded, "OK,"

"I take it the MRI suite is shielded in some way?" Dr. Lamb asked.

Jane nodded, pulling the gurney toward the door, "Yes, doctor, that suite's walls, ceiling, and floor together make up a Faraday cage. Can somebody hold the door open for me?"

Dr. Lamb nodded, heading for the door.

"What?" Joyce asked.

Dr. Lamb shook her head, "Just making sure the same thing that brought him to the hospital can't happen here, that's all," then she pulled the door open

Joyce nodded slowly, "I take it, there are magnets in MRIs?"

Jane nodded, "MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, after all,"

Dr. Lamb nodded to Joyce, "In fact, I told the other doctor that he couldn't use the MRI equipment to examine him,"

Joyce nodded, looking relieved.

Dr. Lamb nodded in agreement.

Jane pulled the gurney through the open door, and pulled it to the side of the hallway, "Well, Daryl, it was nice to met you,"

Daryl nodded, holding out his hand, "It was nice to meet you as well,"

Jane shook his hand.

"Good bye," Daryl said.

"Good bye, Daryl," Jane said.

Joyce nodded.

Jane walked back into the CT Scanner suite.

"Well, now we wait," Joyce said to Daryl.

Daryl nodded, "I hope it won't be long,"

"So do I," Joyce said.

"Mrs. Richardson, that Washington event is due to happen in a couple of days, or at least begin then," Dr. Lamb said under her breath, standing beside Joyce, beside the gurney.

"What Washington event, doctor? Mom?" Daryl asked.

Joyce nodded, "Does Daryl need good clothes? A suit?," then said softly, "He doesn't have one,"

Dr. Lamb nodded, "Then get him one. I'm sure it could certainly impress,"

Joyce smiled, "Which would help, wouldn't it? I mean with the people we're going to be meeting with,"

Dr. Lamb nodded uncertainly, "It might impress,"

Another hospital orderly came down the hall, "Daryl Richardson?"

Daryl waved, "I'm here!"

The orderly stopped at Daryl's gurney, setting a clipboard at Daryl's feet, "Let's get you back to the emergency department,"

Daryl nodded, "Alright, Coming mom?"

"Right behind you," Joyce said, as the orderly pulled the gurney away from the wall, and started pulling it down the hall.

Dr. Lamb followed along with Joyce.

Soon the three of them were back in the Emergency department.

"Here we are," the orderly said, "Have a nice day!"

Daryl, Joyce and Dr. Lamb nodded, "Thank you," Daryl said.

The orderly left.

Joyce pulled a shopping bag out from behind a chair, "Well, here are your fresh clothes,"

Daryl nodded, "In the bag?"

Joyce nodded, pulling out shorts and a t-shirt, and other clothes.

Daryl nodded, "Thanks mom,"

"No problem at all, should we give you some privacy to get dressed?" Joyce asked Daryl, her glance shifting to Dr. Lamb.

Daryl nodded, "OK,"

Joyce and Dr. Lamb turned and walked out of the curtained cubicle, closing the curtain behind themselves.

Daryl got the hospital gown off, and quickly dressed in the clothes Joyce had brought from home.

"Done, Daryl?" Joyce asked through the curtain.

"Almost, mom," Daryl paused, "Just getting my shoes on,"

Joyce pulled back one of the curtains, "So, you ready to go get a suit?"

Daryl looked a little surprised, "Now?"

Joyce nodded, glancing at her watch momentarily, "Certainly. Why not? The stores are still open,"

Daryl nodded, understanding, as he finished tying his shoes, and stood up, "OK, Mom, I'm ready,"

Dr. Lamb had stood there, watching the scene, and stepped forward, "Daryl?"

Daryl turned to Dr. Lamb, "Yes, doctor?"

Dr. Lamb held out her right hand, "I'll see you and your family in Washington in a couple of days,"

Daryl nodded, shaking Dr. Lamb's offered hand, "Yes, doctor. I'll see you again then,"

Joyce nodded, her eye's misting slightly, "Good bye, doctor. Thank you for everything you've done today,"

Dr. Lamb shook her head, smiling warmly at Joyce and Daryl, "It's no problem at all,"

"Thank you, anyway," Joyce said, trying to restrain her emotions.

Dr. Lamb shook her head again, "Really, it's nothing. I'll meet you at Washington's National Airport, in person on Friday evening, things are already being arranged,"

Joyce nodded, "Thank you,"

Daryl was feeling nervous with the emotion from Joyce, so he headed for the door leading to the Emergency ward hallway, he turned, "Coming mom?"

Joyce broke out of her reverie, and started turning for the door herself, "Good bye for now, doctor,"

Dr. Lamb nodded, "Good bye, Mrs. Richardson," and followed Joyce to the door.

Joyce gently directed Daryl out into the hallway, and headed toward the Emergency ward exit.

"Oh, Mrs. Richardson!", Dr. Jameson was there at the Emergency ward desk.

Joyce stopped, with Daryl, and turned, "Yes?"

Dr. Jameson came forward, with a clipboard in his hand, "I have a hospital release and discharge form for you to sign, please,"

Joyce nodded, "Of course," she rummaged in her purse, "Do you have a pen there?"

Dr. Jameson smiled warmly, nodded, and took a pen from his lab-coat pocket, "Here you go,"

Joyce took the pen and the clipboard, quickly scanning the form attached to its surface, "Alright…," she signed the form next to where Dr. Jameson indicated with his finger: "Parent/Guardian Signature:".

Dr. Jameson took back the clipboard and his pen, "Have a good day!"

Joyce nodded, "You too," then she took Daryl's arm again, and continued walking to the exit.

Daryl let himself be led out of the hospital building, and into the attached parking garage. Once they entered the parking garage, he looked around, and at Joyce, "Where's the car?"

"It's in here," Joyce said uncertainly, as she looked around, and finally saw a painted letter-and-number code she recognized, "Ah, it's this way. Come on, Daryl," she said, leading him off to one side.

"There it is!" Daryl said.

Joyce nodded, "Don't forget to look both ways now, Daryl,"

Daryl looked in both directions for vehicles, "Nothing,"

Joyce nodded, and led Daryl across the roadway that ran between two rows of parking spaces, many with cars in them. Joyce looked around, "Busy place!"

Daryl nodded, "All these cars are for people in the hospital?"

Joyce nodded, "Or visiting someone, yes,"

"Where are we going?" Daryl asked, as the two came up beside the rear bumper of Joyce' car.

Joyce got the front passenger-side door open, "There's a large shopping centre between here and home," she started explaining.

Daryl got into the car while Joyce talked, and nodded.

Joyce closed Daryl's door once he was in.

Daryl started doing up his seatbelt.

Joyce opened her door, and continued as she got in, "There are a lot of stores there. In fact I think your dad, that is Andy, bought a suit at a store there,"

Daryl nodded, as Joyce got the car started.

Joyce glanced at Daryl hopefully, as she started the car, "We'll see what they can do for you at short notice,"

"How much notice do they normally need?" Daryl enquired.

"Normally about a week, if they need to make changes," Joyce said, pulling out of the parking space.

Daryl frowned, "But we only have a couple of days! I heard Dr. Lamb too!"

Joyce nodded, driving out of the parking lot, "I know. We'll see what we can do, Daryl. We might get in luck! You probably don't know it, but this is the time of year when people are getting married, and so there may be a selection of dress clothes for kids,"

"What does that have to do with things?" Daryl asked.

"Well," Joyce started explaining, "Children are often given some small part in the activities. So, they get dressed up in rented dress clothes, just like the adults do,"

Daryl nodded, "I think I understand,"

Joyce smiled, "Good," then she turned off the freeway, "We're almost there," and she pulled into the shopping centre parking lot.

Daryl looked around, "This is another busy place,"

Joyce nodded, driving carefully between the rows of parked cars, "Welcome to the big city, Daryl,"

"So, this is it?" Daryl asked.

"Well, the hospital was in the down-town. These are the suburbs. But of course they're getting closer to Barkenton every year it seems," Joyce said, ending on a tone of mild disappointment.

"Oh?", Daryl enquired, "What's wrong with that?"

Joyce shook her head, pulling into and empty parking space, "Me and Andy like the small town life…,"

"Oh," Daryl said, "What would happen to Barkenton?"

Joyce shrugged, undoing her seat belt, "I'm sure it'd still exist, it just wouldn't be the same some how,"

Daryl nodded, as he undid his seat belt, and was trying to understand, or at least seem like he did.

Joyce shook her head, about to open her door, "I'm sorry, Daryl. I shouldn't be burdening you with all this,"

Daryl shook his head back, reaching for the door handle on the passenger side, "No, it's Ok, mom,"

Joyce smiled, starting to open the driver's door, "Thank you, Daryl,"

Daryl nodded, opening the passenger door.

Joyce got out, with her purse over her shoulder, then closed the door and locked it.

Daryl got out and closed the door, Joyce came around and looked the passenger door.

"Now we can go," Joyce said.

Daryl held on to Joyce, looking around at all the traffic, and let himself be lead toward the nearest entrance.

Joyce opened the door, "In you go, Daryl,"

Daryl nodded, and went through the open door.

Joyce followed behind, letting the door close behind them.

Daryl looked around, softly exclaiming, "It's almost like an indoor street,"

Joyce nodded, heading for the nearest store-location display, "And here's the street map, and they list types of stores. Now, men's apparel…," Joyce used her index finger to scan down the list of stores, listed according to type, "Ah, here it is! 'Dan Miller's Dress Clothes for Men and Boys',"

Daryl nodded, pointing at a red circle placed at one of the entrances on the map, reading the label, "'You Are Here',-But we're right here…," he said pointing at his feet.

Joyce shook her head, putting her finger on the dot, "No, Daryl. This dot shows us where we are on the map,"

Daryl nodded, "And the store is at B3? Where's that?"

Joyce pointed out the coordinate markers on the edge of the map, "There's B…, and there's 3. Now, where they meet is the general area where the store is found,"

Daryl nodded excitedly, "I know where it is now!"

Joyce smiled, "Now we can go,"

Daryl headed off, "OK,"

"Daryl!" Joyce called heading after him.

Daryl stopped almost in his tracks, "Yes?"

Joyce smiled warmly, quickly catching up to him, "Let's stick together,"

Daryl nodded, "OK,"

Joyce took Daryl's hand, "That's better,"

Daryl relaxed, being lead to the store.

Joyce led Daryl into the store, "Hello?"

A store clerk came to them almost immediately, "Hello, Ma'am. How may we help you today?"

"I was wondering," Joyce started, "Whether you might have a dress suit in my son's size,"

The store clerk looked Daryl up and down, appraisingly, "Ah, we just might,"

"Thank you," Daryl said.

"No problem, young man. If you would come with me, please," The store clerk said, heading further back into the store.

Joyce and Daryl followed after the clerk.

The clerk stopped in front of a rack of suits in boys sizes, "May I ask if this is for a wedding, or some other special occasion?"

"It's for a special occasion," Joyce said.

The clerk nodded, as she pulled out a suit, dark grey with thin cream-coloured pinstripes, "Here you are,"

Joyce nodded, "Looks good. Now, stand up straight, Daryl,"

Daryl stood nearly ram-rod straight.

The clerk took the pants off the hanger, and held them up to Daryl's waist, nodding approvingly, "Looks good,"

Daryl glanced at the store clerk, back over his shoulder, "Can I try the jacket?"

The clerk nodded, and took the suit jacket off the hook, "There you go,"

Daryl took the suit jacket and put it on.

Joyce nodded approvingly, "That looks very good on you, Daryl,"

"Thank you, mom," Daryl said.

Joyce nodded again, "I think we'll take this suit, then,"

The clerk nodded, "Can I have the suit jacket back for a moment?"

Daryl nodded, "Oh, certainly," as he got the jacket off.

The clerk took the suit pants and the jacket and placed them on the hanger again, "I'll take these to the checkout for you,"

Joyce nodded, taking Daryl's hand, "Let's go and pay,"

Daryl nodded, as Joyce led him after the store clerk.

Joyce stopped at the counter, and the store clerk stepped behind it, laying the suit down on top of it.

"How would you like to pay for the rental?" The clerk asked, while putting the suit into a oversized clear plastic dust-cover.

Joyce pulled out a credit card, "With this,"

The clerk nodded, taking the card, "Yes, ma'am," she scanned the labels stuck to the insides of the suit jacket and the pants, at the back of the collar and waist, respectively, "That will be five dollars per day, for the rental,"

Joyce nodded, "Alright,"

The clerk handed back Joyce's credit card after having swiped it through a mechanical press, under a set of papers. The clerk then wrote one day price in the proper space on the paper, and then both the papers and the card were handed to Joyce, "I'll charge you for the first day now, then you can pay off the remainder of the rental charge when you return the suit,"

Joyce nodded her understanding, as she signed the papers with her pen, which she found this time in her purse, and handed the papers back to the clerk.

The clerk tore off the top piece of paper and handed it back to Joyce.

Joyce put things back into her wallet, and put them back in her purse.

The clerk held up the suit, "Here you go. Have a nice day,"

Joyce nodded, taking the suit, "And you as well,"

"Thank you," the clerk said.

Joyce lead Daryl out of the store, and back towards the mall entrance.

"I hope they're impressed, mom," Daryl said, as he walked through the door that Joyce held open.

Joyce nodded in agreement, "I certainly hope it helps,"

Daryl looked around at the parking lot, being late-afternoon/early-evening now, there were fewer cars parked in the lot, "It's not so busy out here now,"

Joyce nodded, "People have headed home, and so should we,"

"Yes, mom," Daryl said.

Joyce put an arm around Daryl's shoulders, as they both stepped off the curb.

Daryl smiled up at Joyce momentarily once they were in the roadway.

Joyce led Daryl back to the car.

Daryl stood by the front passenger-side door, while Joyce unlocked it, "Can I get in?"

Joyce nodded, heading for the back of the car, "Oh, of course,"

Daryl opened the door, and got in, and buckled his seat belt.

Joyce opened the hatch-back of the car and laid the suit down across the cargo area, then closed it with a thump.

Daryl looked back between the front seats, "Everything OK, Mom?"

Joyce nodded, coming up the opposite side of the car, and opening the driver's door, and asking as she got in, "What was that?"

"I ask if everything was OK?" Daryl asked, watching Joyce get into the car, as he sat back in his seat.

Joyce nodded, buckling her seatbelt, "Everything's fine, why Daryl?"

Daryl looked nervous for a moment, "The way you closed the back, sorry,"

Joyce shook her head, getting out her car key's, "Oh, I guess being here, in a place like this, is getting to me,"

Daryl nodded, "You really don't like the city getting bigger, do you?"

Joyce shook her head, starting the car, "No, but it happens. There isn't much you can do about it,"

"Oh, alright then," Daryl said.

Joyce smiled warmly, and patted Daryl on the hand, "That's right, Daryl. Don't worry about it. OK?"

Daryl nodded, "I won't. I guess I have other things to worry about right now?"

Joyce nodded slowly, almost not wanting to agree with him, she sighed, "That's right, Daryl,"

Daryl noticed that the car seemed to be idling, "Time to head home?"

Joyce nodded, putting the car in reverse, and backing out of the spot, "Yes, Andy should be home soon,"

Daryl smiled, "I hope he had a good day, once he got back to work,"

Joyce nodded, putting the car in 'Drive', "Well, he knew you were out-of-the-woods when he left, so I'm sure that would help,"

Daryl looked perplexed, "Out of the woods? What does that mean?"

"Oh," Joyce said, driving off, "It means you weren't sick any more,"

"But I wasn't sick, was I?" Daryl asked.

Joyce nodded, partly keeping her eye on the road, her head slightly tilted to one side in thought, "I'd say you were. Though it was that a part of you had become broken,"

Daryl nodded in understanding, "I should stay away from strong electromagnets,"

Joyce nodded in agreement, "Yes. I just wonder what is too strong for you,"

Daryl raised an eyebrow, "How common are electromagnets?"

"I think they're used in a lot of things. Your dad might have a better answer," Joyce replied, driving out of the parking lot, and back on to the free way.