INT. LOS ANGELES GENERAL HOSPITAL - EMERGENCY ROOM - LATER
THE DOORS to the emergency room BURST open a la ER -- we follow a guerney as it SWINGS around the corner -- it's NICOLE, and she's badly injured. HARRISON rushes to catch up. SLOW MOTION like a horrible nightmare: Several guerneys whizz by as Harrison struggles to keep up with Nicole. Students, some slightly injured, make their way into the ER. An EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE stops Harrison from following Nicole's guerney -- he nearly throws a fit, but he stops, in complete frustration. A distraught CARMEN and MARY CHERRY catch up to him and comfort him as they can. He rushes to the nurses' station...
CARMEN
(in tears)
Harrison --
HARRISON
I need to get in there, I need to be
with that girl who was just brought in --
NURSE 1
Are you the father?
HARRISON
No, I'm her brother -- wait, what?
NURSE 1
You're her brother?
HARRISON
Yes, I am her brother, but --
NURSE 1
You're still gonna have to wait here,
son. She's gonna be in surgery for
a while 'cuz she's lost alot of blood
and they're trying to see if they can
save her pregnancy --
Mary Cherry gasps behind her tears.
HARRISON
Pregnancy -- what?
NURSE 1
I'm sorry honey, I've got students
comin' in left and right, please -- wait
over there with your friends, okay?
She rushes off.
MARY CHERRY
My God, Joe...Nic's pregnant?
Harrison's in shock as he stares into the floor tiles.
MIKE
Harrison?
Harrison turns to see MIKE McQUEEN approaching -- his slow stride becomes quick as he notices Harrison's disheveled appearance and bloody tux.
MIKE
My God, what happened? Where's Brooke?
BROOKE
Dad!
MIKE
(fighting his emotions)
Oh my God, Brooke.
Mike turns to see BROOKE, being wheeled into the ER, her right leg a bloody mess. Mike rushes towards the guerney, and leans to hold her as she sobs.
BROOKE
Daddy...
Brooke breaks down his arms. Mike's tears are flowing profusely.
MIKE
God -- what happened?
BROOKE
I'm o.k., Dad -- it's just my leg --
MIKE
Where's Sam?
BROOKE
They're bringing her in...in a
separate ambulance...Dad...
MIKE
Oh honey...oh God...I hope to
God she's all right...I hope to GOD
she's all right --
Another guerney bursts through the doors and it's SAM, her left leg a bloody mess as Harrison rushes over.
HARRISON
Sam -- Sammy -- speak to me.
SAM
(groggy)
Harrison?
EMT 1
You're gonna have to move, son --
MIKE
Sam!
The guerney temporarily stops in the middle of the hall, as it is chaos inside the ER.
MIKE (cont'd)
My God.
SAM
(groggy)
I'll...be...o.k. Mike...how'd you get
here so fast...where's my mom?
MIKE
She's resting...she's fine.
(tears coming madly)
It's a girl.
He smiles, trying to hide his terror. Sam smiles.
SAM
I knnnew it.
(pauses)
Congratulations.
MIKE
You're gonna be all right, Sam. You're
gonna be all right...you have to be.
SAM
'Tis...just a flesh wound.
They move her guerney next to Brooke's.
SAM
Heeeeey stranger.
BROOKE
Sammy...God, Sam, are you o.k.?
SAM
I'm fffine, Brooke...it's just the meds. I
don't even need to go under...the knife.
(pauses)
Guess what?
BROOKE
What?
SAM
You...owe me twenty bucks.
BROOKE
Why?
SAM
It's a girl.
Brooke ekes out a smile. She starts to cry in happiness...then in worry.
SAM
Heeey...we'll be all right.
Her arm flops over as she reaches for Brooke's hand. Brooke brings
hers to Sam's and squeezes.
The techs whisk them both away as Mike tries to follow but is stopped
by an ER nurse. He looks around, much like Harrison did, and stops.
MIKE
(angry)
Will somebody please tell me what
the hell is going on?!
Carmen holds onto Mary Cherry as they sob. Mike moves to Harrison again.
MIKE
Harrison, for the love of God,
please -- tell me what happened.
HARRISON
(still shocked)
W...we were at the dance...everything
was fine...th...then someone started
shooting at everybody --
Mike turns away in disgust and anger, tears still creeping down his face.
HARRISON (cont'd)
The next thing I knew...I was on the floor...
on top of my sister...and she was bleeding...
I...I didn't know she...I didn't know she was --
Harrison breaks down in sobs. Mike takes him into his arms to comfort him. The nurse comes back...
NURSE 1
I'm sorry to interrupt, but did
you say you were the brother
of that blonde girl?
Harrison nods.
NURSE 1 (cont'd)
Come with me. We're gonna need
to get some blood quick, and I hope
to God you got the same blood type,
baby. Let's go -- now.
Harrison quickly composes himself and the nurse whisks him away. Mike sits down next to Carmen and Mary Cherry, shocked.
INT. L. A. GENERAL - EMERGENCY TRAUMA - LATER
PAN OVER a row of ER trauma beds, as students get treated for superficial wounds -- including LILY as she gets her arm bandaged. CARMEN and MARY CHERRY stand by, their eyes reddened and cheeks tear stained.
CARMEN
Is...is Josh going to be o.k.?
LILY
(teary)
I...I rode in the ambulance with him
and...I think it's just a wound on his
arm...but...I dunno, they were...they
were supposed to get the bullet out
and I dunno if they're operating or
what --
CARMEN
This...this is so not happening.
LILY
Do you guys know anything? Where's
Sam?
CARMEN
Brooke and Sam...they both got hit...
in the legs...I...I dunno. I think Emory
got hit...George did, too. And I saw Nicole.
(pauses)
It looks...it looks pretty bad, Lily.
LILY
It is pretty bad, Carm. Everything.
It's...
it's worse than bad.
MARY CHERRY
I don't think I've ever seen such carnage
in my life.
LILY
If Vice Principal Krupps had just listened
to me, maybe this could have been prevented --
She stops as Mary Cherry sobs loudly and excuses herself.
LILY (cont'd)
What's wrong with Mary Cherry?
CARMEN
Lily...you don't know?
LILY
Know what?
CARMEN
Vice Principal Krupps...is...
CUT TO:
EMERGENCY WAITING ROOM - SAME
FOCUS ON THE TV SCREEN up in the top corner of the room -- a NEWS ANCHOR WOMAN'S face fills the screen.
NEWS ANCHOR
-- dead, I repeat, one faculty member
of the Kennedy Cherry High School is
dead as is one state security guard --
no reports about how many others
injured...no reports about how many
students are dead or injured -- again,
I am live at the scene of the latest
tragedy to strike high schoolers in the
state...
HARRISON slumps back in his chair, watching with Mike.
MIKE
I'm gonna go see how Jane's doing, tell
her what's going on. Are you going --
HARRISON
Go ahead...I'll be fine.
BACK TO the TV SCREEN. The anchor lady rushes to catch up with one of the teachers -- it's a disheveled, bloody BOBBI GLASS.
NEWS ANCHOR
Excuse me --
BOBBI GLASS
Not now --
NEWS ANCHOR
-- excuse me, are you a doctor?
BOBBI GLASS
I said not now.
The news anchor cuts in front of Miss Glass and she sighs, annoyed.
NEWS ANCHOR
Are you a teacher here at Kennedy
Cherry High?
BOBBI GLASS
Yes, I'm a teacher --
NEWS ANCHOR
Can you shed some light on what
happened in there?
Miss Glass looks horribly annoyed as she wipes some sweat from her eye with her bloody hand.
NEWS ANCHOR (cont'd)
Please, tell us what you saw --
Miss Glass hesitates as she looks into the camera. Harrison leans forth in his chair.
BOBBI GLASS
Listen here, Lil' Miss Cokie wannabe.
(pauses)
I will not tell you that I saw one of
my own students fall into the arms
of her date due to the semi-automatic
gunfire ripping through her bowels.
I will not tell you that I sprinted over
to her despite the resounding protests
of my fellow staff members during said
gunfire only to feel completely
helpless as I felt the blood literally
spurting through my fingers as I pressed
my hands into her wound -- wounds.
She becomes increasingly angry.
BOBBI GLASS (cont'd)
I will not tell you how I had to
sit by and watch the fear wash through
her normally defiant steel blue eyes as
she started to lose consciousness in
her date's arms as he started to panic,
holding her shivering body against his tuxedo
and cumberbund saturated with her blood.
I will not tell you this because -- I DON'T
WANNA TO RELIVE IT.
The news reporter looks speechless.
BOBBI GLASS
Get your camera out of my face.
She storms off.
NEWS ANCHOR
Apparently the tone here at Kennedy
Cherry High is one of sadness, anger...
and confusion.
(pauses)
Once again, I am here live at the scene
and will be bringing you up-to-the-minute
updates and developments on the tragedy
unfolding here at Kennedy Cherry High School --
Harrison, frustrated and disgusted, gets up to switch the station -- the screen flashes with different shots of the school and different reporters at the scene. He becomes angry as he can't find anything else and starts to press the "OFF" button -- it doesn't work.
HARRISON
Damn it -- somebody turn this off.
Will somebody turn this damned thing
off ?!
He bangs the controls, attracting attention -- he picks up random items from the room and starts throwing them at the TV and storms out of the room.
ZOOM OUT to see him throwing a fit and ROBIN JOHN rushing to him from the end of the hall. He cries, falling against his mother's body.
INT. L. A. GENERAL - JANE'S HOSPITAL ROOM - SAME
JANE lies on her side in her hospital bed, resting. MIKE enters cautiously, but she hears him anyway.
MIKE
Hey.
JANE
Hey there, Daddy. Pull up a
chair.
She rolls over as Mike purses his lips and pulls up a chair and sits down. He takes her hand and squeezes, kissing it.
MIKE
How are you doing?
JANE
Oh...God...I feel like I passed
an anvil.
MIKE
Are you in pain? Should I get a
doctor --
JANE
No no, I'm fine. I may feel a little
stretched, but the doctor already
gave me something. Have you
been to see her?
MIKE
I...I was going to wait for you.
JANE
Oh, you shouldn't! You should be
passing out bubblegum cigars and
be the doting father...you've earned
it.
Mike manages a weak smile.
JANE (cont'd)
I wish Sam and Brooke were here.
I'm just so tempted to just grab the
phone and call them -- they'd be so
excited! Mm, gosh, but I wouldn't
want to interrupt their fun at the prom.
Mike dips his head, pressing his thumbs into his forehead. He starts to cry. Jane's smile withers.
JANE (cont'd)
Mike? Mike.
He continues to sob.
JANE
What's happened? What's wrong?
CUT TO
BROOKE & SAM'S HOSPITAL ROOM - SAME
CARMEN, MARY CHERRY, and LILY stand between SAM & BROOKE's beds. Carmen & Lily let the tears fall next to Sam's bed, as Mary Cherry comforts Brooke. Brooke smiles as she looks over.
SAM
You guys...I'll be o.k.
Carmen's tears are spilling like crazy.
SAM (cont'd)
They've just got me pumped up on
painkillers...lucky me, huh?
Carmen chokes.
SAM (cont'd)
Hey Brooke...how you doing over there?
BROOKE
Fine...I think they got me on the same
medication because I can't feel a thing.
MARY CHERRY
OhmahGod -- Brookie's paralyzed!
BROOKE
I'm not paralyzed -- at least I don't think
so.
(pauses)
But I don't think I'll be cheering any time
soon.
LILY
You guys both need your rest.
SAM
You know...despite the Robert Downey
strength meds, I don't feel like resting.
(pauses)
I can't.
CARMEN
Well...you have to.
(sniffles)
Let us do the worrying. God, Sam, I --
I should've been there --
SAM
Carm, don't say that. God only knows
what could've happened to you. You and
Mary Cherry are so lucky --
Mary Cherry breaks down and bolts out of the room.
SAM (cont'd)
Maybe someone should see if she's o.k.
CARMEN
Considering the fact that she literally saw
someone die in front of her.
BROOKE
Wait, what?
SAM
Someone died? Who? Oh my God, it
wasn't George --
LILY
No, it wasn't George -- it was...it was
Vice Principal Krupps.
BROOKE
Oh my God.
SAM
O.k. This is like...a living hell. I'm
going to wake up from this heinous
nightmare and find myself worrying
about how much time I have left
to do my face and hair for the prom,
right?
CARMEN
I'm...I'm sure all of us would like to
be able to turn back the clock. But...
even if we did...there's a chance that
everything would turn out the same...
or worse.
JANE
Let's thank God that they didn't.
The kids turn around to see JANE, being wheeled into the room in a wheelchair by MIKE.
JANE (cont'd)
(teary)
My God, Sammy, Brooke...
BROOKE & SAM
Mom?
Brooke catches herself and nervously glances at Sam. Sam smiles.
SAM
It's totally cool, Brooke. I've actually
wondered why you haven't used it more.
Mike wheels her in between the two beds as she smiles.
JANE
Well, I'm going to be hearing it three times
as much now.
SAM
We heard. Congratulations.
CARMEN
Yes, congrats.
LILY
We should go check on Harrison.
SAM
Wait, he was hurt? How bad?
CARMEN
It wasn't he who got hurt...it was
Nicole. She lost --
Brooke shakes her head to Carmen, out of view of Sam.
CARMEN (cont'd)
-- uh, she lost alot of blood. Harrison,
he handed over about a gallon of his blood
and it's still like...not working to help
much.
LILY
I hear it's pretty bad.
SAM
Oh my God.
She spaces for a second.
SAM (cont'd)
Go...go check on him. I know how much
he cares about her, even though she's not --
she's not really his sister.
LILY
Wait, she's not?
CARMEN
Does Harrison know this?
SAM
I...
BROOKE
She didn't get to tell him...you know...before.
LILY
Oh.
BROOKE
It's a long story. You guys...don't say anything
just yet, o.k.?
CARMEN
We won't.
BROOKE
Bye...give him a hug for us, 'kay?
The girls nod and leave...and there is a moment of tense silence.
BROOKE (cont'd)
Well, I wanna know when we'll get to meet our baby sister.
SAM
Yeah, Mom...have you officially named her
yet?
MIKE
Uh -- no, actually...we haven't had the time,
considering.
JANE
Sam...Brooke. I know the shock of all this is
making it easy for you guys to avoid talking
about it, but...but I can't. I can't avoid it.
I
need to tell you how terrified I was when
I heard about this.
SAM
But we're o.k.
JANE
So far as your lives go -- you still got injured and
Carmen was right -- it could've been alot worse,
and I don't want to imagine what it would've been
like had one or both of you --
MIKE
Jane, don't...don't even think about it.
BROOKE
Dad's right. It didn't happen...and we're both
here, we're both safe --
JANE
Are you? I thought that you would be safe at
the prom. A high school dance, for Christ's
sake -- if you can't be safe there, where can
you be safe? I mean, if this is what it's
like now
for you kids, I'm seriously considering
homeschooling your little sister.
SAM
Speaking of which...when can we see her?
BROOKE
Yeah, Mom -- Dad? When?
Jane, her eyes brimming with tears, smiles.
INT. L. A. GENERAL - MATERNITY WARD - A LITTLE LATER
SHOT: THE BIG GLASS WINDOW from inside the room. JANE is wheeled to the window by MIKE, as two ORDERLIES wheel SAM and BROOKE to the window. Mike points the baby out.
MIKE
She's right...there.
FOCUS on one of the babies.
Big smiles radiate from Brooke & Sam.
SAM
She's so tiny.
JANE
Oh believe me, she's not that tiny.
BROOKE
Oh -- she's so beautiful!
SAM
Mm, she musta inherited my genes then.
BROOKE
(jokingly)
No, way, she looks like I did when I was --
SAM
Hatched?
Brooke glares at her and taps the window.
SAM (cont'd)
Look, she's got brown hair, clearly a McPherson
trait --
BROOKE
She doesn't have any hair!
(shrugs, holds up a strand of her own hair)
Besides, do you really think this is natural?
They both laugh.
JANE
Oh boy...I can just see it now. You girls
are gonna be duking it out to see who
gets to be the model example, aren't you?
BROOKE
I don't think either of us are model examples.
SAM
Speak for yourself, Barbie. That little one's
gonna adore me and worship the intellectual
ground that I stand on.
BROOKE
There's no way I'd ever let her be turned into
your Mini Me, Sam.
Her expression fades.
BROOKE (cont'd)
But I'm serious, when I say that
neither of us are model examples. We've
both been through alot these past couple
of years and...I still think that we're both
trying to find out who we are and looking
to other people to define us hasn't been
helping much at all.
Sam nods.
SAM
You're right, Brooke.
MIKE
Well...I think you girls are turning out just fine.
JANE
I agree...but I also believe that those you do
look to for guidance help shape who you are,
whether their influence is positive or negative.
Your parents, your friends...sometimes your
enemies. It's just the way the world works.
(pauses)
I don't believe that there's anyone who didn't
at one point need someone else to help them
along.
BROOKE
Like Nicole.
(pauses)
I know...I know she hasn't been the greatest
influence on alot of us, but...she does set the
standard for self-preservation. Even you have
to admit that, Sam.
SAM
I do. As much as I hate to admit it...she's got
heart.
(pauses)
I just hope she makes it, if only for Harrison's
sake.
Just then, a solemn HARRISON comes walking down the hall towards them.
HARRISON
Hey.
SAM
Harrison! What...what're you doing in
the maternity ward?
HARRISON
Oh...well...I heard about the great news and
I just wanted to stop by, peek in on the newest
member of our clan.
He peeks into the window.
HARRISON (cont'd)
Don't tell me -- lemme guess...she's right...
there. The one with the brown hair.
He taps the glass.
HARRISON (cont'd)
Hey there.
Sam raises her eyebrow.
SAM
(quiet, to Brooke)
Told you.
Brooke rolls her eyes. Sam looks at Harrison as he stares at the new sister.
SAM (cont'd)
Harrison...are you o.k.?
Harrison's expression fades.
HARRISON
I...I was actually looking to talk to Brooke.
Sam nods, slightly disappointed.
JANE
Uh...Mike...I think it's time we go back.
Sammy...how 'bout keeping your tired
ol' mom company while she nods off?
SAM
Um...sure.
MIKE
Brooke --
BROOKE
I'll be fine.
She turns to her orderly.
BROOKE (cont'd)
I can get back on my own, thanks.
Mike and Sam's orderlies wheel them away quietly as Brooke's follows, leaving Brooke and Harrison at the window. He stares at the baby.
BROOKE
She's really beautiful, isn't she.
HARRISON
Yeah. Yeah, she is.
BROOKE
Harrison...I'm sorry about Nicole.
HARRISON
It's not like she's dead, Brooke.
BROOKE
But still...you have to face the fact that
she might not --
HARRISON
Funny how life works, huh.
(pauses)
She's so delicate...so small. She
doesn't know the meaning of life
yet...but she will when she feels
someone else's hands just...just
touch her.
(pauses)
It just takes a touch...to know
you're alive, doesn't it?
(pauses)
The same thing goes for love,
doesn't it?
BROOKE
I know how much...you've grown to
care about her. And I know that you
might possibly even love her --
HARRISON
You know...I'm tired of people
telling me how much they know about
how I feel about...about my sister,
or how much they "know" about who
she is...because they don't.
He looks away, overcome with a slew of emotions -- anger, sadness, despair. He attempts to recompose himself.
HARRISON (cont'd)
She was gonna tell me something,
Brooke..and now...and now I don't
know if she'll even get the chance.
BROOKE
Harrison...I...I think I know what
she was going to tell you.
(pauses)
It's the same thing Sam was going
tell you...before the shooting.
HARRISON
Hm. Wow...I guess I'm wrong, huh?
About people knowing more than I do?
'Cuz it looks like everybody else knows
much more --
He sighs.
HARRISON (cont'd)
Okay, I give -- what was it that they were
both going to tell me, that you obviously
also know? Just tell me.
Brooke braces herself for the first part.
BROOKE
She was going to tell you that she's
not really your sister.
Harrison looks at her, more shocked than ever. Brooke emotionally braces herself...
BROOKE
And I'm 99.9% sure that...oh
God, Harrison...I'm so sorry to
have to be the one to tell you this --
She turns away and looks at the newborns in the nursery and starts to cry.
HARRISON
You mean...you mean the...babe...
Brooke nods.
BROOKE
Yeah, I...I'm pretty sure.
Harrison's brows lift as his mouth crinkles in absolute sadness.
PULL OUT on the scene as he leans against the wall and buries his face
in hands and sobs.
END OF ACT 5