TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD ALICE, HOSPITAL
13 YEARS AGO...
(Scene starts with 22-year-old Holli, sitting in a hospital waiting room)
HOLLI
(Chewing on her nails as a doctor walks out of the room next to her)
(Jumping up, stopping the doctor)
(To the doctor)
Is she okay?
DOCTOR
She'll be fine, she just fainted.
HOLLI
Fainted? You can't tell me she just fainted and that's why she was rushed to the hospital!
DOCTOR
Listen, Miss, there's more to it than that, but I would like to take a look over her blood tests one more time, okay? I'll be back out to report it- to Miss Makenzie first.
(Walks off)
HOLLI
(Sits down in chair, sighs)
(The door to outside opens and Garrett rushes in)
GARRETT
(To Holli)
Where's Alice!?
HOLLI
She's in that room, Garrett, but they won't let us in there. What are you doing here?
GARRETT
The police busted me.
(Points to the door, where two officers are standing)
They were gonna take me right off, but I convinced them to let me see Alice first.
HOLLI
Garrett, just go in there. I'll guard for you, okay? Just make it quick, I don't want to be your freakin' puppy guard.
(Scene switches to inside the hospital room)
GARRETT
(Enters)
Alice!
ALICE
(Turns over in her bed)
Garrett?
GARRETT
Oh god, Alice, are you okay?
ALICE
It's the stupid drugs, Garrett, I know it! And the doctors know it, too. They're making me go to rehab, I just know it.
GARRETT
The cops busted me, Alice, this is supposed to be quick. Alice, I was so scared when I saw you lying there.
And I have to tell you something, Alice. I've got HIV, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before.
ALICE
What!?
GARRETT
Listen, I've got a while to live, Alice, a while. But just in case I don't see you again, I wanna say that you're my
best friend and I love you like a sister. I've gotta go, Alice, them cops are gonna kill me.
(Turns around, leaving)
ALICE
Garrett!
GARRETT
(Turns his head)
Yeah?
ALICE
I love you, too. "Brother".
GARRETT
(Smiles)
ALICE
Bye, Garrett. Good luck with the cops. And the HIV thing. Don't die on me, buddy.
GARRETT
I'll try not to. Good luck with rehab.
(Opens door and leaves)
(Scene cuts to the waiting room, the doctor walks by Holli)
HOLLI
(Gets up and follows)
I need to be with her.
DOCTOR
(Turns around)
If it's alright with her, Miss. It'll be a pretty hard blow for both of you, I think.
HOLLI
What do you mean!? She doesn't have cancer, does she?
DOCTOR
(Opens door, motions Holli in)
HOLLI
(Enters, stands next to Alice, who's facing the other way)
Alice.
ALICE
(Turns around)
Hey, Hol.
DOCTOR
Miss Mackenzie?
ALICE
Yes?
DOCTOR
I have the results of the many tests we took. Is it alright to share them with your friend in the room?
ALICE
(Holding Holli's hand)
Yes, definitely.
DOCTOR
Okay. As you know, Miss Mackenzie, you had many drug addictions.
HOLLI
What!? Alice!
ALICE
Listen, Holli, we'll talk about it later, okay!? Let the doctor say the rest.
HOLLI
(Grits her teeh)
DOCTOR
I'm not sure how to say this, Miss Mackenzie, but you are HIV positive.
HOLLI
(Stunned silence)
WHAT!?
(Leaps up, pointing to the doctor's clipboard)
No, you have to be wrong! Did you double check it, huh?
DOCTOR
We took many tests, Miss, I'm 100 sure.
HOLLI
No! You have to be wrong! It's not right!
ALICE
HOLLI!
HOLLI
(Whips her head to Alice)
Tell him he's wrong, Alice!
ALICE
(Silent)
HOLLI
Tell him he's wrong!
ALICE
(Whispering)
Garrett had it.
HOLLI
What?
ALICE
GARRETT HAD IT, HOLLI!
HOLLI
No, Alice! You and Garrett- you never...
ALICE
(Turns to doctor)
It can be transmitted through needles, right?
DOCTOR
If they're not cleaned properly...
ALICE
(Turns back to Holli)
Heroin, Holli.
HOLLI
(Shakes her head)
No...
ALICE
I'm sorry, Holli.
DOCTOR
Hey, listen, it's not a death sentence anymore.
HOLLI
(Tears running down her face)
Okay, I'll enjoy for the next ten years.
(Storms out of room)
ALICE
(Looks down at the floor)