Silence Brings Relief
By Anna Bailie and Alison Robert
Scene 1
INT. ER. NIGHT
The camera is panning around the halls of the ER, going by the front desk where Malucci and a young woman are sitting, talking over coffee animatedly. Down the hall, a baby cries and as we go by Exam One we see a woman nursing the newborn child.
In Trauma One, there is a body under a white sheet lying on the table. Dr. Benton is standing in the door, looking at it impassively. In trauma two, another young woman is talking to a young Doctor. In the Suture Room. Dr. Greene is talking to his daughter.
We follow Dr. Weaver into the elevator and rise up to Surgery. In one Operating Room, Dr. Corday are hovering over a patient while the monitor whines. Finally, they give up.
Again, we follow a very angry looking Dr. Weaver to the elevator. She goes down back to the ER where we fade out.
ER
Scene 2
INT. ER. DAY
In front of the desk, Andrew is pulling down Easter decorations and places a skeleton on the desk next to a giant rabbit. He nods with appreciation and moves to pick up the phone.
The doors are pushed open by Dr. Greene and Dr. Corday.
CORDAY
So Rachel gets in at…?
GREENE
About six o'clock. She's going to grab a cab from the station to here.
CORDAY (They're now in front of the stairs)
And you're going to tell her?
GREENE
Yes. I think she'll be happy.
CORDAY
I hope so, she's never been that warm towards me.
GREENE
She'll be happy. Or she'll get no allownace.
CORDAY laughs, kisses Mark
See you later.
GREENE
Bye.
He walks back to the lounge where Malucci is hanging up his coat and pulling on his scrub shirt and stethoscope.
GREENE
Morning, Dave.
MALUCCI
Morning Dr. G. How's the little lady?
GREENE
Dr. Corday is fine.
MALUCCI
You look happy. Did ya….?
GREENE
I wouldn't complete that question if I were you, Doctor. (Leaves)
MALUCCI (Mock salutes)
Aye aye. He got some… Lucky.
Cut to the Ambulance bay doors. A group of young people- med students come in. The group is chatting. There are two girls, and three guys. The group approaches the desk with the two girls in the front.
FIRST GIRL
Hi…. We are the new Med students….Were loooking for….
SECOND GIRL
Dr Weaver…We're looking for Dr. Weaver.
ANDREW points
Over there.
SECOND GIRL
Thanks.
The group walk over to the door of the lounge where Dr. Weaver is talking to a not interested Dr. Malucci.
SECOND GIRL
Excuse me…are you Dr. Weaver?
WEAVER
Yes…
SECOND GIRL
We're the new Med students.
WEAVER
How old are you?
SECOND GIRL
Do you really want me to sue you for age discrimination?
FIRST GUY
She's eighteen.
WEAVER
And you expect me to believe you're a Med student.
SECOND GIRL
Ummm…yea…
WEAVER points to MALUCCI
Are you from Aruba like our beloved Malucci, here.
SECOND GIRL
Like I would be caught dead in an low expectation, loser, out of country university.
MALUCCI looks shocked but WEAVER smiles. She looks around at the other students.
WEAVER
So are these people just mutes who follow you around or do they actually talk?
FIRST GIRL
We talk. We just don't talk when we're bored. We let Ana talk when she's on a roll.
WEAVER
So you have names…
SECOND GIRL
I'm Anastasia Baldwin.
FIRST GIRL
I'm Amelia Hunter.
FIRST GUY opens his mouth to introduce himself when ROMANO appears behind him.
ROMANO
Are these the recruits?
WEAVER
They're the new medical students, yes.
ROMANO
Great, new guinea pigs. Alright, you guys, come with me. (Turns around and stalks upstairs, the three guys following him like a trail of baby ducks. Except Dr. Romano is not exactly the 'mother duck' type.)
WEAVER
The storm ascends and leaves my ER. Okay, so it looks like you girls are with us. (Turns rapidly and begins to give them the three minutes tour.) That's the front desk, that's the Exam rooms, that's the Trauma rooms. I'll get someone to actually tell you where things are. (Turns around and yells at Malucci who is making his way AWAY from her) MALUCCI! Since you AREN'T doing anything useful- why don't you give the students a tour?!
MALUCCI (Walks over slowly, forlorn- DOES NOT want to do this)
Sure Chief. (WEAVER smirks and walks away) Okay, rugrats, this is my turf and I do not want any smart aleck medical student bitches messing up my career.
AMELIA
Aw… Someone got their feelings hurt?
ANASTASIA
I thought sticks and stones hurt- not words. It's not like we hit you with a dictionary.
AMELIA
Maybe big words hurt his head.
ANASTASIA
That definitely could be it.
MALUCCI
Anyway, on with the tour.
AMELIA grins at ANASTASIA
The sensitive type.
The three of them walk down the hallway with MALUCCI ocasionaly pointing out something.
Scene 3
INT . ER. MORNING
The Doctor who we saw in the preview now comes out of the lounge. He is cute. He walks out towards the desk where Andrew is on the phone.
ANDREW
Morning Doctor Ryan.
RYAN
Morning.
MALUCCI now comes up to the desk.
ANDREW
Where are the med students?
MALUCCI
I loaded them off on Yosh, he was happy to complete the tour. (Sees Dr. Ryan) Kevin! How about the game last night! The Bulls totally annhialated the Knicks.
KEVIN
It was good. (MALIK comes up to the deak ) Speaking of basketball games, Malik- I believe you owe me some money. The Knicks bombed.
MALIK groans
I thought my team could pull it off. (Pulls out some cash)
WEAVER comes up to the desk.
Sorry to interrupt this testosterone party but we actually have patients to treat. Dr. Ryan- would you mind taking the diahrrea in Exam Two?
KEVIN (strained smile)
Sure thing. (Weaver walks away and Kevin turns to Malucci) Bitch.
MALUCCI
Too true.
Scene 4
INT. Surgery floor. Noon
Elizabeth is in her office, eating a salad and dictating charts.
CORDAY
… Mr. Blakely experienced no post surgical complications and now has been in recession for one week…
ROMANO raps on her door.
CORDAY turns off her recorder
What do you want, Robert?
ROMANO
There's an interesting rumour going around the hospital, Lizzie.
CORDAY
I swear I wasn't the one who leaked the Gretel story.
ROMANO
That wasn't it. (Pauses, shakes his head) Anyways- the rumour is that you and Greeney down in the ER are engaged.
CORDAY looks at him
It's true.
ROMANO
It's true?
CORDAY
Yes. We were going to announce it later today, but I guess some people guessed when I came into work wearing a diamond. (Holds out her hand)
ROMANO
I would have bought you a bigger one. (Leaves)
One of the med students appears at the door, holding a toothbrush.
Wasn't Dr. Romano here?
CORDAY
He just left.
STUDENT
Oh. Well, tell him I finished cleaning out the sinks.
CORDAY
He didn't.
STUDENT
He did.
Scene 5
INT. ER. Early Afternoon
KEVIN comes out of Exam Four and goes to the desk.
KEVIN
We can discharge Mr. Anderson.
ANDREW
Okay…
KEVIN walks towards the board, looking at the cases. He bumps into Ana.
KEVIN
Oh, sorry…
ANASTASIA
Yeah. But I should have watched out for people walking towards me.
KEVIN
Have we met?
ANASTASIA
I don't think so. I'm Anastasia Baldwin. But call me Ana. I'm a new Med Student.
KEVIN
Kevin Ryan. Second year resident.
ANA
Mind if I follow you around a bit today, looking at the cases?
KEVIN
Not at all. (Scans the board) Why don't we take Head Lac in Exam One?
ANA
Sure.
Scene 6
INT. ER. Afternoon
A trauma comes bursting through the doors.
PARAMEDIC
Good afternoon!
MARK comes from behind the desk
What do we have?
PARAMEDIC
African-American man, approxamitley 30 years old. Stab wound to the back. No ID, no wallet.
MARK
Look's like a mugging, someone get Peter down here! (They pull him into Trauma 1)
People being calling out things
B.P. 90 over 40!
Resps 60!
MARK
Okay, he's losing a lot of blood. Let's prep for lavage.
PETER comes through the doors
What's the case?
MARK
Thirty year old African man. Looks like a stab wound through the spleen.
PETER
Okay… (Comes over to take a look and stops) Oh my god.
MARK
What?
PETER
That's Frank Myers. We were buddies in high school.
HALEH
Frank Myers? Thanks for he ID . (Bustles out)
PETER
Dammit… We gotta get him to surgery.
MARK
There's no possible way we can move him. He's too unstable.
PETER
He's gotta get to an operating room!
MARK
Let me stableize him first.
PETER
Fine. Let's do this.
Scene 7
EXT. Ambulance Bay. Afternoon
A cab pulls up to the Ambulance Bay doors, and Dr. Carter steps out . he gives some money to the driver, pulls his bag over his shoulder and walks into the ER. Dr. Weaver is at the desk, signing a few charts.
WEAVER
Carter? Ready for your first day of work?
CARTER
As ready as I can be, I guess.
WEAVER
Great. Looks at the board. Why don't you get settled and maybe take a few of the smaller cases and work your way up?
CARTER nods
Sure.
CARTER turns around and heads into the lounge, opening the door to find ANA pulling on a shirt
ANA spins around
Whoa! Knock!
CARTER
Sorry. I don't think we've met, I'm Dr. Carter. I'm a Resident here.
ANA sticks out her hand
I'm Ana Baldwin. Med student. This is my first day here.
CARTER
Nice to meet you.
ANA pulls on a short lab coat
Same here. See you around. (Heads out the other door)
CARTER opens up his old locker, and it's completely empty. He looks at it and puts his bag in. He closes his eyes and rests his forehead against the metal.
Scene 8
INT. ER. Afternoon
ANA heads out of the lounge, over to the desk where AMELIA is looking through a stack of charts.
ANA
Hey! I haven't seen you all day!
AMELIA
Me either! How're things going?
ANA
Things are going very well, I met a very cute resident.
AMELIA
Good job! (checks her wrist- no watch) Dammit, I forgot my watch. What time is it?
ANA checks her watch
About two o'clock. We're on until eight.
AMELIA
We have six more hours?
ANA
I know.
AMELIA
This is going to be a long day.
The intercom beeps, Kerry looks up
KERRY
Can one of you girls get that?
ANA
What do we do?
KERRY
Say it's county and ask what's coming in.
ANA grabs the microphone and pushes the button
This is County- what's going on?
INTERCOM
This is 34. We've got a pregnant woman coming in,stabbed in the leg, full labour. She's 36 weeks.
ANA
How long 'til you get here?
INTERCOM
About three minutes. 34 out.
ANA turns to KERRY who's calling for MALUCCI
What do we do?
KERRY
We get prepped, you two can help.
Scene 9
INT. Lounge. Afternoon
CHEN is sitting crying on the lounge couch. MALUCCI walks in.
MALUCCI walks over to her.
Hey Babe, whats up?
CHEN wipes her eyes.
Nothing…
MALUCCI sits next to her and puts his arm around him.
There is something wrong.
CHEN turns away from MALUCCI.
Well… I think I might be…pregnant.
MALUCCI looks completely shocked
Who's the father?
CHEN begins to cry again.
I I I I don't know…
MALUCCI
How can you not know? Is it someone here at County?
CHEN
I think so…I think it might be whoever drove me home from that big ER staff bash.
MALUCCI
But… I drove you home…we didn't have sex…did we…
CHEN
I don't remember, I was too drunk.
MALUCCI
I… I…. I have to go. (Gets up and leaves)
Scene 10
EXT. Ambulance Bay. Afternoon
The Ambluance pulls into the Ambulance Bay, where Kerry is waiting with Ana, Amelia and Kevin are waiting for it. The paramedics jump out, pulling out the gurney.
PARAMEDIC
Lisa Walter, 25, stabbed in the leg. She's 36 weeks along in her first pregnany, she's dilated 4 centimetres.
KEVIN
HI, Mrs. Walters. How were you stabbed?
MRS. WALTER gasping for breath
I was walking along the lake, and this guy comes up to me and demands I give him all my money I hand over my purse but he thought I was hiding some money in my pockets and he stuffed his hand in my pocket and when there wasn't anything he stabbed me.
KEVIN
Okay now, we're going to fix up your leg and then see what we can do about your husband.
AMELIA is holding a clipboard
Do you want us to call your husband?
MRS. WALTERS nods
Yes, please. His number is 555-8052.
AMELIA
Okay, I'm going to go call him for you.
They pull the gurney into Trauma Two, move her over to the bed.
KERRY
Superficial wound, we just have to stop the bleeding. She's losing it fast.
KEVIN
Could it be an artery?
KERRY
I don't know, I just need some suction. (One of the nurses clears the wound) Dammit, looks like he just nicked it. We need to get her up to surgery.
KEVIN (has been examining her)
She just dilated another centimeter. She's not going to make it to surgery. We're going to have to repair it down here.
KERRY
Fine. Get me a scalpel.
MRS. WALTERS
What's going on?
KEVIN
Mrs. Walters we have to repair your leg, an artery was nicked by the knife and you wouldn't make it to surgery AND have the baby. We're going to repair it down here and then get you up to OB. We're going to put a local anesthethic on your leg so you're not going to feel a thing.
MRS. WALTERS
Okay.
Scene 11
INT. Deck. Day
Amelia is at the desk, dialing.
AMELIA
HI- I need to talk to Mr. Walters. Yes, hello sir, I'm Amelia Hunter at County General. Your wife has just been brought it, she was mugged and stabbed in the leg. (Listens) The baby is fine sir, but it is coming. I would suggest you get down here.
Scene 12
INT. Trauma 2. Afternoon
MRS. WALTERS is writhing in pain, tears streaming down her cheeks.
MRS. WALTERS
The baby…. Is coming…..
KEVINmoves and pushes drugs into her IV
KEVIN
Not yet…. We're giving you some drugs to keep it in there for a little while.
KERRYis working on her leg
KERRY
Dammit, I'm nearly there…. There! (Ties it off) Push the hormones…
Scene 13
INT. Desk. Afternoon
AMELIA is sitting at the desk. A man approaches the desk.
AMELIA
Hi, can I help you?
MAN
I'm Mr.Walters someone phoned about my wife.
AMELIA smiles
I'm Amelia Hunter I'm the one that phoned you. Your wife is doing fine. If you'll follow me I'll take you to see her.
AMELIA walks towards the Trauma Room Two doors.
AMELIA
You wait here while I go in and make sure everything is alright.
MR. WALTERS peers through the closed doors. AMELIA pokes her head out, a baby wails behind her.
AMELIA
Mr. Walters, why don't you come in and meet your son?
Scene 14
INT. Trauma 2. Afternoon
KEVIN and ANA are cleaning up the Trauma, KEVIN is finishing writing the chart. ANA turns off the monitors and shakes her head
ANA
That was… incredible.
KEVIN
Hmm?
ANA
I mean, I've watched videos on birth and all that, but being there, holding that woman's hand- it was amazing?
KEVIN smiles, puts down the chart.
I remember the first time I delivered a baby, I was in my last year of internship and this girl who couldn't have been older than fifteen came in. She was experiencing belly pain. She didn't even know she was pregnant- she had just thought she had gained a lot ot weight. So when she realizes it, she's screaming and crying and I was the only doctor there, so I was screaming and crying. In the end, she had twins. It's was really…. Very memorable.
ANA
It sounds it. Do you have anymore stories you could tell me… say, over coffee?
KEVIN
I think I might have a few.
Scene 15
INT. Corridor. Afternoon
CHEN is walking through the halls, reading a chart. She doesn't notice anyone- until she literally runs into MALUCCI.
MALUCCI
Listen, Jing Mei.
CHEN
You know what? Listening is the last thing I want to do right now, I have patients. (She keeps walking)
MALUCCI jogs beside her
You know, you're going to have to talk to me sometime you know. If I'm the father- (Chen pulls him into a curtain)
CHEN hisses
Do you want the ENTIRE hospital to hear? Fine. Talk.
MALUCCI
We need to discuss this. If I am the father, I'm going to want to take some responsibility.
CHEN
That'll be a first.
MALUCCI
I don't need to hear your jokes right now. Do you want me to take a paternity test once the baby is born?
CHEN
No. I'm pretty sure it's you. I am just really confused right now, I need some time to think. I'll call you. (She leaves)
MALUCCI sighs
AMELIA pokes her head into the room
Dr. Malucci- I saw you come in here, want do you want me to do about Mr. Boswoski?
MALUCCI
Who the hell is Mr. Boswoski?
AMELIA
The gangrenous toe in Exam Two you signed up on a few minutes ago.
MALUCCI
I'll be there, in a moment.
AMELIA
Are you okay?
MALUCCI
Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.
AMELIA
Well, if you ever want to talk.
MALUCCI
No. I do not want to talk (pulls her towards him, kisses her and then lets her go) . Allright, let's go visit Mr. Boswoski.
AMELIA
What the hell?
Scene 16
INT. Trauma 1. Afternoon
We're in TRAUMA TWO and Mark and Peter are still working on the Guy. But, on the monitor there are very few beats…. Mark steps back and looks at the monitor as it changes into a whine. Peter is still working….
MARK (To a Nurse)
How many times have we lost him?
NURSE
Three times in an hour.
MARK
Fine then. Let's call it….
PETER
No! We are not calling it, we can still save him!
MARK pulls off his gloves
No we can't, Peter. I'm sorry, but he's dead. (Glances at the clock) Time of death, 15:23.
MARK leaves and PETER looks down on the face of his buddy.
Scene 17
INT. Lounge. Late Afternoon
ANA is sitting in the lounge leafing through a large textbook. KEVIN comes in through the doors looking stressed.
KEVIN
Hi, Ana.
ANA
Hi. (Still looking through the textbook)
KEVIN
What are you reading?
ANA
A textbook.
KEVIN goes and sits next to Ana on the couch.
Whats your problem?
ANA
Nothing.
KEVIN puts his arm around her.
Maybe this'll cheer you up. (He leans and kisses her)
ANA closes her book and smacks him on the head. She gets up and walks towards the doors.
Doctors…(rolls her eyes and leaves)
KEVIN
What…
Scene 18
INT. Desk. Evening
Above the desk, the clock hits 6 o'clock. Andrew looks up
ANDREW
I'm going to make a dinner run. (Closes his eyes, and randomly pulls out a menu) Vittorio's Pizza it is. (Looks to Dr. Malucci) What sort of pizza d'you want?
MALUCCI
I'll get a medditeranian if someone will share it with me?
ANDREW
'Kay.
He walks down the hall where Amelia is coming towards the desk.
ANDREW
We're ordering pizza. What sort do you want?
AMELIA
Ooh- could I get a mediteranian?
ANDREW
Sure. That's two for medditeranian.
AMELIA
Who else wants that?
ANDREW
Oh, Dave.
AMELIA smiles and makes her way to the desk to stand beside MALUCCI
AMELIA
You're a Medditeranian boy?
MALUCCI
Huh? Oh… yeah.
AMELIA
I just drained Mr. Boswoski's toe. (Shudders) Got anything for me to do?
MALUCCI
Um, I don't think so.
AMELIA looks at him weird.
You are really out of it. (Walks away, slapping him on the butt) Wake up.
MALUCCI looks after her, leaning to watch her walk away
Scene 19
INT. Curtain 2. Evening
ANA leaning over an elderly women.
Now, Mrs. Platz take one of these with every meal and try not to forget.
MRS. PLATZ
I'll try.
ANA smiles at her and leaves. She walks up to KERRY.
I gave Mrs. Platz her pills, is there anything else I can do before I go get something to eat?
KERRY
Nope, just be careful of the coffee over at the Doc's.
ANA grins.
I will.
AMELIA comes to talk to ANA.
I heard about what you did to Dr. Ryan.
ANA walks toward the lounge doors.
Who told you?
AMELIA
Dave.
ANA
Does everbody know?
AMELIA grins at her.
If I have anything to do with it they will.
ANA shrugs.
Whatever… do you want to get something to eat with me?
KEVIN walks up behind her.
I do.
AMELIA
Sorry, I already ate. See ya later I have to go help Dave.
ANA turns around to look at KEVIN.
I guess it's just you and me then. (She smiles at him).
Scene 20
INT. Airport. Evening
Mark is waiting at the airport, above the door is a sign 'ARRIVING: FLIGHT 278 FROM ST. LOUIS'. A bunch of people come out, finally Rachel appears amid the mass of people.
RACHEL
Dad!
MARK gies her a hug
Hey- how are you doing?
RACHEL
Good.
MARK
It's great to see you! C'mon, let's go grab your stuff.
Scene 21
EXT. Ambulance Bay. Evening
An ambulance pulls into the Bay, Dave and Amelia come out to meet it.
The doors open to reveal a group of very ill looking kids, along with a very worried mother. The paramedic jumps out.
PARAMEDIC
A bunch of kids, ate some bad shell fish. Probably just need some compazine.
DAVE sighs
The glamour of a career in medicine.
AMELIA shoots him an amused glance
Oh stop complaining. (Helps mother herd the staggering kids into the ER)
Another Ambulance comes up right behind it, this time Kerry and Elizabeth are there to greet it, obviously prepared for a Trauma. And it very serious. A blood spattered Paramedic opens the doors.
PARAMEDIC #2
Major heart attack. Male 52, first heart attack but has a history of angina.
Elizabeth takes one look at him and grabs the gurney.
ELIZABETH
He is going straight to surgery.
KERRY
Go ahead…..
ELIZABETH pushes the gurney through the doors, almost running over Mark and Rachel.
(Calling over her shoulder) Major heart attack. Got to take a rain check on dinner!
MARK calls back
Okay!
RACHEL waves feebly
Hi Elizabeth.
But Elizabeth has already rounded the corner.
MARK looks at Rachel
Doc Magoo's?
RACHEL
Sure!
Scene 22
INT. ER Corrdior. Night
Amelia is carrying a bucket down the hall, an unpleasent look on her face. She comes to the drug locker. Dave is looking through the shelves.
AMELIA
We're going to need A LOT of compazine.
DAVE
I know, I know. Geez- how much bad shell fish could those kids have ate?
AMELIA
At least a bucket full. (Holds up the bucket)
DAVE crinkles his nose
AMELIA squeezes in beside him.
Where's the compazine?
DAVE
I don't know… I usually send one of the nurses in here to get drugs for me.
AMELIA
Oh you're so dependent.
DAVE
No! It's just- I don't know where the compazine is.
AMELIA scans the case.
Try right in front of you. (Steps a little bit in front of him, grabs a couple of boxes, Dave sniffs her)
DAVE
You smell nice.
AMELIA
Next to a bucket of puke, I bet I smell wonderful.
DAVE
No, you smell nice. (Her back is now against the case, he leans towards her and they are inches apart…. When KERRY arrives at the window)
KERRY
MALUCCI! I have eight kids barfing all over my floors, get their compazine right now!
DAVE leans back
Aye, aye, Chief. (Amelia slips under his arm and leaves the locker)
Dave finds her just outside the locker
DAVE
Somehow I seem to have worst timing in the world.
AMELIA
I know. Come on, we have six barfing kids to deal with.
Scene 23
INT. Doc Magoos. Night
ANA and KEVIN are sitting in a booth at Doc Magoo's. A waitress is taking there orders.
ANA
I'll have a tomatoe sandwich please, on brown bread.
KEVIN
I'll have a hamburger, with everything, and two coffee's.
The waitress leaves.
ANA
So do you have a girlfriend, a spouse, a significant other, a partner or a pet?
KEVIN
No…A pet? (Looks at her quizzicaly)
ANA
You'd be surprised…anyway so you're unattached then, how interesting.
KEVIN
What do you mean by that?
ANA
Well, you're an attractive young doctor without a girlfriend. Are you gay?
KEVIN
Hell no. (Gets up and moves to sit next her. He puts his arm around her)
ANA
I must say I am relieved.
Scene 24
INT. Doc Magoos. Night
MARK and RACHEL come into Doc Magoo's and find a booth. They sit down.
MARK
Sorry Elizabeth couldn't make it. As you saw, we're pretty swamped.
RACHEL
That's OK. I got used to it whenever you couldn't show up. (She pauses, looks out the window) Did you know that Mom and Craig are breaking up?
MARK sits straight up
No- I didn't. When did they decide.
RACHEL
Not too long ago. But they've been fighting for a long time. (Eyes Mark) I thought that was why you invited me here for the weekend.
MARK
No…. I invited you here to tell you something…. Elizabeth and I are getting married.
RACHEL
Oh.
MARK
Well?
RACHEL
Congratulations. I guess….
MARK
What do you mean by 'I guess'?
RACHEL
I dunno. I just don't really know her.
MARK
Well why don't you take this weekend as an opportunity to get to know her. For me?
RACHEL
Okay, I'll try…
Scene 25
INT. ER. Night
Opposite of first scene, starting in the ER and working around.
THE END
November 5, 2000