FADE IN:

TAYLOR HOUSE

The hall closet is open and things are scattered everywhere. The front door opens and Heidi comes into the house wearing tan pants, a shirt, and a jacket. The Tool Time theme plays.

HEIDI (pleasant): Today, we're on location at Tim's house and here's the host of our show…Tim the Tool Man Taylor!

Tim and Al come into the house wearing their toolbelts. They smile and wave.

TIM (pleasant): I am Tim the Tool Man Taylor and this is my assistant, Al Borland! (a beat) Today, we're going to install an elevator in the coat closet so that my son, Brad, and his wife, Marissa can get up and downstairs while they're recovering here.

AL (kind): On yesterday's show, we installed the elevator shaft and last week, we installed the door upstairs...(a beat) Today, we're going to install the car and maybe test it if we have time...

TIM (sighs): Let's get to it, Al. (a beat) Al, do you think the car will drive itself here?

AL (smirks): I don't think so, Tim. (a beat) Now, let's get started.

Tim and Al turn to the elevator car, which is sitting in the closet with a bunch of cables on top of it.


CUT TO:

CROWNE PLAZA DETROIT DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT HOTEL

Carrie and Jill walk into the lobby, both of them looking anxious.

JILL (annoyed): Carrie, I can't keep booking off work to come visit Mom if she's going to cancel at the last minute. (a beat) Is Mom even still in Detroit or did she go home?

CARRIE (anxious): Jill, honey, Mom's still here but she's very nervous.

Jill frowns, but follows Carrie into the restaurant. Lillian is sitting in a booth not far from the entrance and she looks tired, somber, and unusually pale. Jill and Carrie sit with her.

JILL (concerned): Mom, are you all right? You look tired.

LILLIAN (tired): Oh, Jill, it's just been a busy few days (a beat, sighs) I visited with Robin, Linda, and Tracy before I came to see you and Carrie. I thought we could spend some time together.

Carrie gives Lillian a side hug and Jill's worry increases.

JILL (concerned): Does Parker know you're here?

LILLIAN (upset): Jill, honey, Parker's back at home and asked me to come. I came because I wanted to talk to you, but then I heard about Brad and Marissa's accident. (a beat) I don't want to make you feel overburdened.

JILL (concerned): Mom, you're not a burden. (a beat) Tim can look after things…

LILLIAN (nervous): Well, actually…Parker asked me to give a request to Tim.

JILL (confused): A request to Tim? (a beat) You should talk to him about that.

LILLIAN (kind, nods): If he's not too busy. (a beat) I just want to make sure you approve.

JILL (nods): I can tell Tim whatever Parker wants to tell him, Mom.

LILLIAN (kind): Parker's slowing down a lot and he's preparing his affairs. He wants to know if Tim will be willing to make his tombstone whenever he needs it.

JILL (eyes widen): His tombstone? (a beat) Parker doesn't need this now, does he?

LILLIAN (reassuring): Parker really likes spending time with Tim and was very grateful for the arch you built for our elopement in your yard. (a beat) He trusts that Tim would build him…

JILL (concerned): Mom, I really think you should talk to Tim about this. The death of Mark's wife is still very fresh in everyone's mind and I'm not altogether comfortable…

LILLIAN (nods): That must be very hard for everyone to deal with right now.

CARRIE (a beat): Maybe we should go visit Mark's restaurant to cheer him up!

LILLIAN (warm): What a lovely idea (a beat) I want to talk to him anyway.

Lillian, Carrie, and Jill get up and leave the restaurant, smiles on all of their faces.


CUT TO:

DETROIT HOSPITAL

Brad is laying on his bed wearing shorts, a loose shirt, and one slipper. Marissa comes into the room wearing sweats, a loose shirt, and a cardigan with her hair pulled back in a ponytail.

MARISSA (quiet): Hi. (a beat, walks over to Brad): How are you feeling?

BRAD (sighs): A bit sore, but I just wanna get out of here. The school got a sub for me for the rest of the year, so we can spend time together.

Marissa silently sits on the edge of the bed and takes Brad's hand.

MARISSA (tired): That would be really nice. (a beat) Maybe we should take a vacation this summer. We've got the money and we haven't done anything other than camping…

Just then, Randy comes into the room looking tired, but happy.

BRAD (confused): Randy, what are you doing here? I thought you had work?

RANDY (calm): I'm here to drive you back to Mom and Dad's since Mom's visiting with Grandma and Aunt Carrie today. (a beat) Dad said he'd get the house ready for you two.

BRAD (disbelieving): What's going to be blown up or broken when we get there?

Marissa chuckles and gives Brad a warm look. Randy smirks.

MARISSA (slowly stands): I can walk. Brad needs the wheelchair more.

BRAD (concerned): Marissa, don't all patients…?

A nurse comes in with a wheelchair at that point and Marissa sits in a chair, silently watching as Randy and the nurse help Brad into the chair. The nurse looks at Marissa.

NURSE (concerned): You need a chair too.

MARISSA (tired, stands up): My doctor said I can walk to the car. (a beat) It'll help.

The nurse nods and wheels Brad out. Randy looks at Marissa anxiously.

MARISSA (kind): Randy, thanks for picking us up. (a beat) When I'm a little stronger, is there anything you and Lauren need?

Randy shrugs and gestures to the door. Marissa leaves the hospital room with him.


CUT TO:

MARK'S RESTAURANT

The restaurant is quiet, but ready for a lunch crowd. Tommy and Rachel are sitting together at a table near the kitchen quietly coloring pictures. Jill, Lillian, and Carrie come into the restaurant. Jill rings the bell and gasps when she spots Tommy and Rachel.

JILL (walks over to Tommy and Rachel): Hi there, you two. Is your dad here?

RACHEL (sighs): He's crying in his office, Gramma Jill.

Carrie and Lillian come over to Tommy and Rachel and Jill silently makes her way into the kitchen. She sees the kitchen staff hard at work and then spots Mark's closed office door.

JILL (knocks on the door): Mark? Mark, it's Mom.

The door opens and Jill goes into the office before closing the door. Mark is sitting at his desk dressed in his chef whites and silently working on a laptop. Jill clears her throat and Mark sighs before looking up, revealing that he has been crying.

MARK (exhales): I'm just going through Donna's things. She was part owner…

JILL (sits down in a chair on the other side of the desk): It's only been a little bit of time since the accident, Mark. It's okay if you're still crying. (a beat) I know you loved Donna very much.

MARK (sighs): I actually did love her, even with everything she did. (a beat) We were only married eight years and I loved her so much. I knew she loved me…at least she used to.

JILL (nods): It's okay for you to grieve and Tommy and Rachel to grieve…

Mark nods and sighs. Suddenly, noise fills the kitchen and someone bangs on the door.

VOICE: JILL, MARK!

Alarmed, Mark and Jill hurry out of the office and come back into the dining room just in time to see Carrie kneel next to their mother, who is sitting in a chair looking very tired. Rachel and Tommy look frightened. Jill frowns.

JILL (concerned): What happened?

CARRIE (worried): Mom almost passed out and I got her a chair.

JILL (hurries over to Lillian): Mom, you almost passed out?

LILLIAN (sighs): The doctor warned me not to travel, but I just wanted to come see you and Carrie so badly. (a beat) Parker wanted to come, but I said that would only worry you. I…I guess I can't hide it anymore. (a beat) Jill, I lied about needing Tim to make Parker…

JILL (anxious): You…you lied? (a beat) Why would you tell such a lie, Mom?

LILLIAN (upset): Because I didn't want to tell you that I was sick…not Parker!

Jill gasps and Mark looks horrified. Carrie pales and begins crying. Tommy and Rachel pout.

LILLIAN (anxious): I said it was Parker who needed help so I wouldn't have to admit it to myself, to you, and to everyone I care about. (a beat, sighs) I guess I can't hide it anymore.

MARK (anxious): Tommy, Rachel, do you guys want to go play on the computer in my office?

Rachel nods solemnly as she gets up and takes Tommy into the back.

Jill (sits at the table): Mom, what exactly are you sick with?

Carrie and Mark sit at the table and listen intently as Lillian begins to explain herself.


CUT TO:

TAYLOR HOUSE (HOURS LATER)

The front door opens and Randy comes into the house, looking nervous as he pushes Brad's wheelchair inside because he knows that either the project was either screwed up and called off or completed successfully. Marissa comes into the house and immediately sits in a chair near Jill's computer desk, the journey from the hospital proving tiring.

RANDY (concerned): Dad, I'm here with Brad and Marissa.

The closet door suddenly opens and Tim pops out, revealing a completely finished elevator that has taken the place of the coat closet. Brad and Marissa looked shocked.

BRAD (shocked): What happened to the coat closet, Dad?

MARISSA (confused): How did you make an elevator so well and so fast, Tim?

TIM (grins): This is the latest Tool Time remote project that actually took a few days, but we got it done. (a beat) The episodes will air after we come back from hiatus, but I figured you two needed a way to get around while you recovered here.

Tears fill Marissa's eyes and she embraces Tim before crying. Tim holds her gently.

BRAD (shocked): It was really nice of you to do this for us, Dad. Thank you.

Marissa releases Tim and Tim hugs Brad since Brad cannot get up without help.

TIM (kind): I'm working on building you some crutches too. (a beat) They're in the garage.

BRAD (sighs): Does it work?

Randy wheels Brad into the elevator and Marissa joins them. Tim finally squeezes in and presses a few buttons. The elevator closes and takes them up to the second floor. A newly constructed elevator door opens on the second floor and Randy wheels Brad out before Tim helps Marissa out. They walk over to the room that used to be Brad's bedroom.

TIM (opens the door): We made it as comfortable as we could for the two of you.

Randy wheels Brad into the bedroom and Marissa follows. There is a made queen size bed in the room along with a dresser, the closet, and Brad and Marissa's things in a bag. Randy helps Brad move from the wheelchair to one side of the bed and Brad sighs as he lies down.

BRAD (yawns): Hey, Marissa, how about a nap?

Marissa smiles and joins Brad on the bed, so Tim and Randy quickly leave to give them time alone. They take the elevator back downstairs and arrive in the foyer just in time to see Jill and Mark come into the house through the garage with Tommy and Rachel in tow.

MARK (tired): Hey kids, why don't you go change into your pajamas and I'll order pizza for us?

Rachel and Tommy nod and Tommy goes downstairs while Rachel goes upstairs, neither of them noticing Randy or Tim. Tim and Randy wander into the kitchen as Mark walks over to a drawer and opens it to find a menu.

TIM (concerned): You two are kind of late. (a beat) What did you guys end up doing?

JILL (anxious): Tim, do you think you and I could talk privately in the yard?

TIM (worried): Is this about the elevator? (a beat) I didn't blow up or put holes…

Jill motions for Tim to follow her into the yard and he does, his expression confused.

JILL (anxious): How would you feel about going to San Antonio for our summer vacation?

TIM (confused): To visit your mother and Parker? I think that's fine…why do you look upset?

JILL (sighs): When I went to visit Mom with Carrie today, Mom first told me that she wanted to ask you to build Parker a casket because he was slowing down. That turned out to be a lie…

TIM (confused): Parker's SEEN Tool Time and he's also helped me with the holiday lights. Why would he want me to build him something that important? (a beat) Is he dying?

JILL (tears up): No, Tim, Parker's fine and Mom just used him to cover up a lie about…

TIM (concerned): About what?

JILL (upset): About herself. (a beat) Tim, my mom came to Detroit to visit Carrie and I and we ended up going to Mark's because she was worried about how he was doing. While we were there, she fainted briefly and Carrie ended up taking her to the emergency room…

TIM (concerned): She fainted? Is that why you came home with Mark and his kids

JILL (exhales): Tim, my mom's got leukemia…(a beat) That's why she fainted…

Jill begins to sob and deeply stunned, Tim pulls her into his arms and holds her.


INT. KITCHEN

Mark hangs up the phone, having ordered pizza for everyone, and turns to see his parents hugging in the backyard. His eyes fill with tears and he catches Randy looking at him.

RANDY (concerned): Mark, are you okay? (a beat) Was it a rough day at work?

MARK (sighs): Mom, Aunt Carrie, and Grandma Patterson came to the restaurant today and Grandma fainted, so Aunt Carrie took her to the hospital. (a beat) She's got leukemia…

RANDY (concerned): Grandma's sick? (a beat) You just lost your wife and you must be…

MARK (annoyed): I know I just lost my wife, but I have to be strong for Mom. (a beat) Once Donna's funeral is over, I have to put my feelings away and be strong for Mom…I have to.

RANDY (concerned): Grandma being sick doesn't make your loss any less important, Mark.

MARK (anxious): This is just a lot at once, Randy. (a beat) And the kids had to hear it…

RANDY (concerned): If you ever feel overwhelmed, you can ask for help, Mark…

Just then, Tim and Jill come into the kitchen and Mark walks over and hugs his parents.

MARK (quiet): Pizza's on the way. (a beat) I'm really sorry about Grandma, Mom.

Jill nods and sighs as Randy walks over, immediately joining in a hug with her, Mark, and Tim.

FADE TO BLACK


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